From intern to employee

Tom started as an intern at a print shop last spring. At first, he was only allowed to file documents, make coffee and fill the stapler. But he worked flat out, and his line manager soon noticed him. In September, he was offered a real job, with three months' probation.

The workload was heavy, because two colleagues were on sick leave and another was on paternity leave. Tom would often stay late to finish the orders, and he never asked to be paid for it. One evening, the managing director found him still at work at nine o'clock. She told him that he needn't have stayed so late.

A week later, Tom was called into her office. He was afraid that he had done something wrong, but she had good news. He had passed his probation, and he was getting a pay rise. What surprised him most was the company car that came with the job. He hasn't learnt to drive yet, so he's having lessons every Saturday.