The Phase of Job Search

Do you think you qualify for a job when u see a job advert? How sure are you that you get shortlisted?? If so, how sure are you that you get an offer after the interview??? After the interview, how sure are you that you will get an offer????

Well, in my limited experience this is something highly unpredictable. During the course of business education in UK, I was turned down by many employers indicating that they don’t have part time positions available; and for those responsible roles they were after talents who completed their studies. I waited for the completion of my course to approach the biggies. Meanwhile one of the market research companies occupied me as a research assistant for 2 months. This was quite handy near my home and it was only 15 hrs a week. This was my first job in UK and it bagged me a good exposure and more than that a referee to confirm that I am not unknown in this country in an employer perspective. It did get me some pocket money too…

I was delighted when I got a chance to do my dissertation with my University in one of their projects. Three months of dissertation, sometimes called thesis!!!
First month was just simply research, which I should confess that I didn’t do much. As it was just after the exams, it was taking a ‘break’. And meanwhile I approached many of the biggies in the country for a ‘MBA’ job. There is no clue on the number of applications I made. I would say a 50% of them didn’t even respond to me. Another 30% of them apologised saying that I didn’t have ‘commercial’ experience in this country and so they couldnt take me in. I wondered how this so called commercial experience can be experienced unless some one employs me? Rest of them came back and told me that they didn’t have roles that suited my profile then and would be in touch if something comes up. And I had this particular constraint of ‘location’ while applying for jobs as I wanted something local in and around North East England. When it comes to job market in North East, it is generally dull except for the industrial and chemical ones. These were one of the testing times in life. However, I wasn’t realising that days were getting numbered for my dissertation submission. Some evening say by early August I still remember SreeRaj commenting “ if this is the way you go by your dissertation work, I don’t see you submitting this year or getting the degree this year. Don’t worry, you can submit in Aug 2008...just another year”. This is his usual polished way of analysing and commenting on critical situations. There was this deep chill in me then. But he is the assurance master!!! “You still have time, almost 1 more month as the submission is only on 31st”, after I broke down to tears.

Having embarked on the project with a serious head, I realised how much of a work it was!...it was a huge piece of work and no way to lessen it as I was doing it for the University (voluntary though). I had these sleepless nights from there on. I managed to pass on the tension to my friend regarding the dissertation and triggered him too..Woohoo, I think I am good at that. The data collection for the project was a nightmare; had to do surveys, interviews, workshops, documentation, references and what not. At each point I realised again and again how late I was for this and was convinced that it could have been done much better if started a bit earlier. However, I did invest a lot of effort to get things done as I didn’t want to do it once more with a year of waiting. And finally the analysis, with SPSS. Lack of time didn’t get me to utilise the tool as intended. I managed with Microsoft products instead wherever possible. However, the final report was composed on 29th night and given for binding on 30th. Handed over on 30th, see a day in advance….

Meanwhile my first full-time job started on August 20th, 2007 with National Health Services. The application for this job was done sometime in June-July and I got an interview call unexpectedly in between the dissertation work; that too with 3 days notice. Preparation for the interview and dissertation went hand in hand on those days… However, things fell in place altogether at the end.

For this job, when I looked at the person specification, I was close to the requirements. But I did many applications in which I met all the requirements and some in which I exceeded the requirements. Unfortunately, none of them went productive. However, this application was done with little hope and interview was another story. SreeRaj drove me to Newcastle for my interview which was 40+ miles from home. Almost done 35 miles of driving and there goes an accident to the car infront of us. Luckily we were saved. Road Closed board infront of us and we were stuck! I couldn’t make it for the interview and thought that’s gone that way. But, luckily they were kind enough to re-schedule the interview for me to another date. I managed to travel myself to Newcastle this time in bus and figure out my interview venue. One hour of questioning, answering, discussing; I was left free and 3 days later I was offered the role. What would I say??? Was in 7th heaven; first job (the proper kind of full-time employment).

Eight months later: Applied for another interesting role with the same employer, but in a different business sector. I was sure I met the person specification for this role, but wasn’t sure if I would get an interview. But, I did. The interview was more focused and organised than I had expected. I didn’t realise that the clock hands turned for more than 270 degrees during the process and after the interview I didn’t know how to explain how it was. I didn’t hear anything back from them for more than a week. After a long wait, they offered me a role which was a band higher than what I had applied for. I was more than delighted this time. I was supplied the job description and person specification for this role on request during my notice period and I could fit into most of the requirements. Now, 6 months in the same role, I am on a steep learning curve and enjoying it.