We’ve all been there.
So here you are, sitting at your desk in your first full time job.
The pay is decent, the perks are good, and your boss is a surprisingly nice guy. The latest chapter of your life is off to a great start, but it didn’t come easy.
Just when you thought graduation was the end, you were so wrong. Next came the long and tiring job search that included late nights, random bouts of anxiety and maybe even a brief existential crisis. Still, at the end of it, you finally managed to kickstart your career.
In today’s world, it is a rite of passage that every millennial goes through. So, let’s take a look at the various stages we’ve all experienced on this tumultuous journey called the job search.
The Panic
It all begins with a trigger.
Maybe it was your over-achieving friend who subtly boasted about getting a position at a large multinational corporation, or that guy on a scholarship who already has a job waiting for him outside.
When you hear them speak the J word, your mind races with countless questions: What was I meant to do? What should I be doing for my career? Is my CV good enough? What if my industry isn’t hiring? Will I ever find a job??
This is when the pressure sets in. Immediately, you rush to your computer and brush off the virtual dust that has accumulated on your portfolio and resume. You begin to wonder if that one time when you helped your lecturer to buy lunch can be considered “work experience”, or if your honed ability to pull all nighters can be listed as a skill.
The Hunt
After you’ve cobbled together a decent enough resume and portfolio, the exciting part begins: The Hunt.
Job sites become your best friend. Every hour, you’re hitting the refresh button on InternSg, Jobstreet, JobsDB and the like. You suddenly remember that email you skimmed through about some university created job portal, and you begin to thank your school management for their smart thinking.
At the end of the day, the number of tabs on your browser is more crowded than Day 1 of Thai Artbox Singapore. Still, you’ve somehow managed to shortlist a couple of jobs that are either mildly or wildly interesting to you.
You quickly draft the most politically-correct and professional cover letter you can think of, take a deep breath, and click send on that plethora of email applications.
Now, you wait.
The Interview
A few days later, you receive your first reply. They want to meet you!
You throw on your nicest shirt, Youtube how to fold a tie, and slip on that pair of shiny leather shoes you rarely wear. You’re all dressed up and ready to go, and you stride towards your first interview.
You enter an posh looking office, and gawk at the modern facilities. Stunned by how shiny and new everything is, you begin to fantasize an exciting future here. However, it’s all broken by the sound of your name being called. You’re back to reality, and suddenly, you’re facing a stern faced interviewer.
You sit down cautiously and look your interviewer confidently in the eyes. They start off by asking you typical questions like, “Tell me more about yourself” or “Why did you choose this company”. No problem. You rattle off the pre-rehearsed answers you prepared in front of the mirror last night, and you nail that interview.
Once it’s over, you leave the office feeling like a million bucks.
The Rejection
After a few days, the euphoria dies down. You refresh your email inbox, but every email you get is either a spam mail asking you to buy some pipes from China or a Facebook game notification. Whenever an unknown number dials up, your heart skips a beat, but it turns out to be some insurance agent selling you a savings plan. You slump back on your couch.
Then, it finally arrives. A proper reply. You open it, thinking that you finally did it: you got a job! You are about to proudly change your work information on your Facebook profile until you read the sentence that says:
“We regret to inform you that we have found someone else better suited for this position…”
It’s okay, you tell yourself. They weren’t that great anyway. I’ll probably get the next one.
However, your email notification rings, and another rejection arrives…followed by another one. The rejections come in all shapes and sizes; some tell you that you didn’t “fit the team’s needs” or that your “skillsets were not appropriate”.
The rejection stings, and it’s a crushing blow. You lie on your bed for an hour lamenting life, but momma didn’t raise a quitter.
Like the fighter you are, you soldier on. Taking a deep breath, you go back to beginning the hunt.
Success!
It has been a few weeks, and you’re exhausted after going through the cycle multiple times. Application, interview, rejection, application, interview, rejection…
You’re googling self-help articles on how to get paid without getting a job, when it finally happens. Your phone rings, and you pick it up. You almost bark that “I’m not interested in your product!” when the voice mentions a familiar company name. Then, they say it:
“We are glad to offer you a position in our company…”
*Cue fist pumps*
The euphoria returns, and you immediately Whatsapp your friends and family, maybe even your ex if you want to rub it in.
You did it! You’re officially part of the club; you are a officially a working adult.
After all you’ve been through, you deserve to lift your chin up high. Congratulations, you’ve made it to the next stage of your life.
