I went through a month sitting in front of the computer searching for jobs.
Countless companies.
I spent a month going for countless interviews.
Each interview, I was in hopes that I will clinch the role and stop feeling rotten at home.
I have been working for 6 years, excluding teaching and tutoring assignments.
So to have no work really suck.
When I left IBM, there was substantial amount of money from the last payoff to last me for a while.
A long while, if minus the holidays and daily coffee joints and shopping.
But I was too bored and could not do without those.
So while I carried out my normal monthly responsibilities for 2 months, my mother was enjoying a little too much about me being at home.
It is true that the employment rate is rising.
I get called out for interviews at least twice a week but it was still tough to clinch a job.
A lot of people advised me to be patient and that God was picking out the best for me.
That my rezeki will be there but the truth is, I was getting very frustrated.
Frustrated being a couch potato.
Test after test came by and I was not mentally ready to live up to it.
Many times I failed.
After each position is being closed and I was not shortlisted, I feel very depressed.
My fiance and me will sit and run through the interviews and see where I had potentially went wrong.
Each interview would last on an average of 45 minutes.
Firstly, I was being picky with my job.
The minute I knew I would not like the scope and there would not be any advancement, probably my body language gave it away.
But there was no time to do that if I need to buy a house, what more, if there is enough rezeki, a resale house.
That hit me.
I began to prioritise and tried to ace every interview.
After 3 or so interviews, nothing worked.
I started to panic because I cannot wait for a job to fall from the sky and if all methods don't work, I wonder what will.
My fiance advised that I made a nazar.
I did.
Almost 2 weeks later, no news.
Then there was an interview which I liked the heads and directors.
Calm and composed people, they agreed to hire me.
I had my hopes high.
They reverted that their budget was not able to meet my requested remuneration.
We negotiated to an amount just a little higher than what I had in IBM. It sadden me but again I needed to prioritise.
With some help, I was called for an interview in another department in the same company on 1st February 2010.
I did the most thorough homework for this interview.
I was tired to go for more interviews.
I don't need interviews. I need a job.
I was their last interviewee.
I met the Director, shook hand, put on my million-dollar smile and took long strides down the hallway into the discussion room where the interview was held.
She, opened the interview saying,"So you know what is the job scope like?"
"Yes I have read them," I replied and looked at her.
"Do you have any questions?" she asked.
I thought she was kidding me but she was not.
I opened my folder and took out a print out and ran through the whole scope on my own and question her if the tools used were in house as mentioned. I asked if the scope was revenue focused and the kind of training I will have. I tied in with my experience in IBM and the kind of client experience I had.
She smiled.
I was doing a lot of talking.
I questioned her the teams which we needed to collaborate and even down to how many people in the team.
(Yes, I used the term "we".)
She asked me to described in 3 adjectives of which I did and elaborated.
She asked me why I wanted to work for the company.
The interview lasted no more than 20 minutes before she abruptly closed the interview and sent me out.
My heart sank.
I still smiled and walked out of the building.
Today I received a call saying that I was hired and asked the salary I was looking at.
I gave my highest of the lowest quartile I was willing.
"But she is offering you so-and-so."
I laughed and said,"That would be better wouldn't it. Thank you."
It was a deal.
Later this morning, I will be signing the documents with Microsoft and getting my pass and access ready.
It is all so sudden but I guess they are right.
When it is yours it is yours and I just needed to be a patient and trust His choices.
I requested to only start work this coming Monday so I can spend a little more time with my mother.
A big thank you to my family who continuously gave the endless support that I will be better off.
My mother called my father in the Philippines and my sister at work to reveal the good news.
Family being family, they will perk up just by knowing I was going to have an interview.
Thank you for the concern calls to ask how the interview went.
Thank you for the coffee outings to talk about the potential of the job.
Thank you for building dreams with me and giving me the assurance that I will be successful.
Thank you for being happy with me when receiving the news.
Thank you & I love you.
A heartfelt and sincere thank you to my dearest Fiance who never fails to be by me, sending me for each interview and waiting for me to be done, putting aside work for a while just for me.
Thank you for making sure that I was comfortable before my interview, making sure that I have eaten and did my homework, asking me potential questions as we drive to the interview location.
Thank you for the case studies after each interview.
Thank you for giving me the motivation.
Thank you for asking me if I had any grooming lessons before because he ended up buying for me these to bun up my hair and look less unruly.
He even had the sales lady to demonstrate in front of me so I can follow and he takes a video of it so I can watch it again in case I forget to bun up my hair.
*laughs*
Yes, I am THAT horrid!
Thank you for loving me for who I am and I love you.
Thank you to all the Twitterians who shared the joy with me, congratulating me especially my pom-pom-cheerleader cousin @kimirnaz and @foxxyram.
Thank you & I love you both.
It was a rough ride while it lasted and I am glad the waves have calmed down - in time.
I pray this is the beginning to happiness falling in place.
Insya Allah, Amin!
