“If you answer yes to the below, don’t send us your CVs. Instead Phone our Chief Executive Deborah Dawton for a 10 minute interview anytime between 9am on Monday and 5pm Friday… First come, first served. Don’t hesitate. Pick up the phone.”

Refreshing. Direct. Exciting. What a wonderfully straightforward way to find out if you’re the right fit for the job, and if the job is the right fit for you.

Well readers, I didn’t hesitate. I picked up the phone. And I am delighted to let you all know that I am joining the Design Business Association for a year as Head of Comms.

It was the job ad that told me everything I needed to know about working for the DBA.

Modern. Cool. Daring to be different.

Deborah told me afterwards it was her idea to just ask applicants to call in. Why not? Rather like dating, you can spend hours… days… sifting through profiles, identifying likely candidates, only to be disappointed when the ‘match’ turns out to be ‘good on paper’ but not in reality.

Communication matters. Chemistry matters. You can tell enough about someone in a five minute phone call to decide if they’re worth investing any more time in.

So a phone call, a meeting, and a coffee later, the rest – as they say – is history.

I’ll be handing in my BBC pass at the end of November, but I’m already poacher turned gamekeeper, and look forward to keeping in touch with all of you as the DBA speaks out on topics ranging from gender equality at work to investment in the creative industries, and of course, the vital role played by UK design businesses in our economy and our future.

And if you’re in the design world, I look forward to meeting you soon, at one of the DBA’s fantastic training courses or events, particularly the flagship Design Effectiveness Awards, where I hope to bring some ‘shiny floor show’ production to the table.

‘Strictly’ no pressure!