I graduated college 6 months ago and suddenly realized I
gotta work (really?!).
This blog is going to be about those 6 months being a newbie
in the job market.
First chapter, Korea. Like most of everyone from a developing
country having a chance to stay in Korea, I tried to apply for jobs there just
to realize after properly 1 month of testing the market, this is not a place
for me. The treatment was bad. I didn’t even get rejection letters but just total silence to the point where I got to understand, “oh yeah, it means
rejection”. I felt like I was not worth a rejection and that feeling was even
worse than getting a “virtual slap in the face” from a rejection email.
Lesson: If I ever recruit people, I’ll treat them with
respect. Everyone deserves communication.
I actually got a job being a translator for a lab.
English-Vietnamese translation, of course. However, I rejected it because of
two reasons. One, I want to do what I studied or if it’s not anything related
to my major, it has to be interesting but translation was not. Two, the
benefits were way below the standard for a Korean with similar ability. I think
it was unfair and it was not worth it, I quit and flew back home.
Lesson: If it’s not worth it, don’t do it.
Chapter 2, Vietnam. Generally, I get jobs here much more
easily than I would in Korea. I’ve done 3 rounds of applications, one is for the
places I have connections, two is for big corporate’s management trainee
programs and three is for startups.
First round, I discovered 2 facts about life (this is going
to be dramatic). First fact is that our life is led by the choices we make. I
had an offer in a prestigious market research agency and I said no just because
I didn’t feel like it was a place for me. Thinking back to it, had I not
refused, would I have all the fun experience I have now? Second fact is that
people promise but it doesn’t mean anything. I was “promised” a job after 4
rounds of interview and 1 assignment (WTF?) then it was total silence ever
since. Oh well, life, it shits then we move on.
Lesson(s): Make choices on your own regardless of what
others say or promise and see what kind of rainbow unicorn cupcakes they will
bring.
Second round, corporates. Passing this level (imaging we’re
playing role-playing game), I learned this one big thing that every newly grad
needs to know, companies reject you not because you’re incompetent but because
you just don’t fit. Ok, some may argue you can apply to a place way out of your
league. Isn’t it also a “not fit” situation? I believe everyone has something
to offer. They just have to find the right place. Believing that you’re a loser
just going to drive you to a wrong path. The reason why I got this lesson was
that I was rejected by all the corporates I applied to. I actually got 2
rejection letters in one day that I felt so down I ate a whole box of
cholcolate and watched Friends all night (girl…). I talked to people and came
to realization, “why the hell do I need to be sad when I already hated the interviewers
from those companies? I would be glad if I were given a chance to learn the
corporate life but it is not my only path.” Later on, I found out dirty tricks
of those corporates who rejected me from a veteran in marketing industry.
Though it was not validated, I still felt so good I was not a part of such teams.
Lesson: : “You’re cute but I don’t think we can be
together.”
Third round, startups. I like startups, the environment, the
people, the energy, the eagerness and after working for one startup, I think my
relationship with startups is love-hate like Chris Brown and Rhinanna. It’s a
great enviroment to learn a shit tons of things because you’re made to do a
shit tons of things. However, it’s full of people with attitude and (maybe,
hopefully) ability. I’ll write an extensive post about startup later on but one
general point, startups are not worth the hype (what do you say, they are young
ambitious professionals who like to blow up things, LOL).
Lesson: It looks big but it ain’t, it’s just air.
I hope by reading this, you find some answers for yourself. Life
is great. Adventures are great.
p/S: My Mom complains how I’m still “at large” 6 months
after graduation but hey, why the rush? I have plans J
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