After 4 weeks of looking for a job, searching up and down, asking anyone who has a job how they got it, being stupidly envious of them, feeling rather down myself, I finally got a response.
One day, I was checking my email on my phone just before lecture, and found this:
(grrr, I cant cut and paste in blogger, I think its because I am noob, so I have to type it)
---
Dear Sara,
Thank you for submitting your resume to UNSW Sports and Recreation,
We are currently interviewing for Customer Relations Officer positions (waiseh, sounds so yeng right). The position entails working early mornings, evenings and weekends, there are about 15 hours a week available. If you are still interested, we would like to offer you an interview this week.
Deborrah XXX (Customer Relations Supervisor) and myself are fairly flexible so if you can respond with a couple of suitable days and times, I will confirm asap. Alternatively, if you have already found work, I wish you all the best.
Have a wonderful day.
Kind regards,Betina xxx
Marketing and Customer Relations Manager
UNSW SPorts and Recreation.
-------
NO I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY OTHER JOB YET, AND YES I WOULD LOVE TO DO AN INTERVIEW AT LAST!
It was so stupid, because I applied for fast food restaurants (Mc Donald, Dominoes, and Subway), retail shops (clothes and shoes shop), and supermarkets (Coles and Aldi that is popular here) and still there was NO RESPONSE. Hardly any of them had the decency to say I was rejected. I hear from other friends that these places give no response as well. I was at my wits end here.
There was one point, I thought I finally landed a job at Gourmet Deli, cuz the guy was looking for someone to hire, and my friend (his manager knows him) recommended me to him. He liked me, told me that he would put me on consideration and even admitted it to my friend. I thought I would be getting a call to tell me the good news soon. But I waited, waited, and waited .... nothing. I got nervous, maybe I overestimated how good the informal interview was. 2 weeks later, I went there again and asked him how was everything and has he come to a decision yet. He said, "oooh no, I will give you a response in 2 weeks, yada yada." =.= People cant wait that long laaaa.
Holiday ended, Uni started. STILL NO JOB. As a last desperate attempt, I gave up on waiting for Gourmet Deli and started sending out resumes again. This time, Uni on campus jobs (I thought I have a very low chance there, because it is very high on demand). One of them was obviously UNSW Sports and Rec. I handed in my resume, the guy at the counter was saying there were a few girls before me asking for a job as well. Also mentioned it is most likely there will be no vacancy. Heart sank here.
At the end of the day, I resigned to my apparent fate, and just thought, I did my best.
The email from my (current) marketing director was an unexpected blessing, like suddenly finding out it is christmas day and you have stack loads of pressies (I love them, hehe) when you thought Santa labelled you a naughty child BY MISTAKE. Thank you GOD! Anyway, I had another thing to worry about now. DONT SCREW UP THE INTERVIEW!
If you followed me on twitter (I dont think you do, but i know Karen definitely did, MUAKS), I was nervous like hell. It was like a win lose situation, and I CANNOT LOSE (dun wanna job search again). So afraid. When I asked Khar Mun to test me on a few questions like 'tell me about yourself' (which should be easy), I stumbled on every word. I was that afraid, and being nervous took my confidence away. Also, I had no real office attire. I managed to scrape through with this. I wore stockings and the high heels Khar Mun gave me. I look fat :(
Amazingly, another stroke of luck, I was game on in the interview despite being a nervous wreck before. I did not stumble ONE BIT. Betina even liked my answer to some interview questions, which I swear I have no preparation whatsoever. HALLELUJAH! I knew I got it when I left the interview room. I just knew it.
After the interview, the stakes got even higher. Because I SINCERELY wanted to work there now. Not just for job and money, but because they were an AMAZING TEAM and reallty PROFESSIONAL. really, everyone there I asked says 'it is a great place to work, you will love it!". Oh God, salivate right? You dont hear that kind of thing often.
I did the interview on friday, they told me I will get a response (either hire or reject) by Monday. Which was great, cuz the stupid Gourmet Deli place made me wait when he gave me the impression I will get a response by next week. 2 days of waiting was torturous, but worth it.
I got the job. Great team, EVEN GREATER PAY, FREE sports membership, secure job for next 3 years, and looks freaking good in my resume (not coles, not something else, especially when I am doing marketing). I really and trully felt like I am the luckiest girl in the world.
on a side note, I did get an offer from Gourmet Deli in the end. AFTER 5 weeks and more. WTH. I am grateful for their inefficiency now.
p/s IBF (intenational bible fellowship) is great. The was a seminar on 'is there an absolute truth', the talk was one of the best. Wish you were there brenda.
Life gets better, just never give up.
XOXO, I wish all of you guys (friends and family) well. LEARN LOVE AND LIVE!
