I GOTTA WORK?

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