Richard Langford, area manager, sandwich delivery company Age: 39.
Career path: I was born in Cheltenham, England. In 1976 I began work as a clerical assistant in the Civil Service at Government Communications Headquarters in my home town. Nine years later I was transferred to London, and until 1987 worked for the Cabinet Office. I was then promoted and served in the Northern Ireland Office in London and Belfast doing administrative work.
In 1993 I was granted a five-year career break. I've now done what I set out to do and travelled extensively around Europe, the United States and Asia. I landed here in 1994, when it was still easy for Brits to get jobs. I was a part-time English teacher in Causeway Bay until I joined Shamrock in July 1996, having defected from another sandwich company.
Langford's Day:I'm single, and live on Cheung Chau island. During the week I wake up at 7 am and catch the 7.45 am ferry to arrive at the office in Hollywood Road at around 9 am. I used to have my own sandwich-selling beat in Central, but being area manager now as well as a sandwich deliverer I take different routes. If someone is sick I cover for them; if a round is not making money I might take that route to see what's wrong. Shamrock covers practically the whole of Hong Kong island, a large part of Kowloon and some areas of the New Territories.
The sandwiches are made at dawn in a kitchen in Sai Ying Pun and carted to our office by van. I check that each delivery person gets their allotment, then take mine and set off, some time after 9 am. The first week anybody does this job their arm aches, but you get used to lugging the basket. We take public transport, then walk from building to building. Our sandwiches are usually sold by 1 pm and we return to the office. I listen to any problems the deliverers may have had then I count the takings, balance the computer and bank the money. I also train staff and make sure they know about the sandwiches and what the fillings are. We now have to employ more locals - half of the delivery people are Chinese - and I make sure they know how to relate to customers, 95 per cent of whom are western. This job is okay; deliveries are fun because you get to know your clients and the walking is good exercise. I also get free food all week. Sometimes I come in on Saturdays to catch up on administrative work.
Ambition: My career break is up at the end of the month. I don't like London, but I can't be a sandwich-seller forever, so my most pressing ambition is to make the hard decision to stay or leave.
Salary: Between $10,000 and $15,000 a month. I'm paid according to sales, so if the company does well I get more.