Stuck in the Middle: at long last I have found a job
After 10 months of what can only be described as an incredibly painful job searching experience, it is with great relief I can now claim to be gainfully employed.
I you haven't read my recent tales of woe, please click here, here and here
It is fairly apparent that the bulk of Australians perceive the "worst recession since the Great Depression" as a bit of a non event. At face value, the predictions of a painful and protracted economic slump are seemingly incorrect.
However, it is also widely said that individuals do not really feel the brunt of a recession until they are out of work. Believe me, this is an entirely true comment.
It is the complete lack of opportunities which has made unemployment such a painful experience for me. Knowing that you are willing to work harder than most for lower wages, yet not being able to do so, is a confidence sapping and downright depressing experience.
It's not easy to 'keep your chin up'. It is in fact incredibly difficult not to become downright bitter about the whole experience, which in turn unconsciously erodes your attempt at a positive persona (which is vital to securing work).
I can honestly say that before finally securing this new job, I would have chased down 60 or 70 different avenues, only to be told that there was simply no work available (or to be pipped at the post when I was up against hundreds of applicants).
Too often the thought arises "what on earth am I going to do now". But you pick yourself up off the canvas and get back out there the next day. You know if you stop networking, stop trying, you'll head towards a dark, dark place from which there is often no turning back.
Believe me when I say that work defines you as a person. It gives you a sense of identity. From here on in, I will always have empathy for those who are unable to work.
Thankfully, I had the support of my partner and family, and luckily no mortgage or kids to support. Others aren't so fortunate.
Now they all want a piece of me
After this arduous journey, it is also with some frustration that I have experienced the 'when it rains, it pours' syndrome. In short, after chasing dead-end streets for months on end, I suddenly found myself in a position where I had three companies competing for my services, and another two requesting interviews.
I appreciate that this is simply a fact of the economic conditions shifting, but it still left me staggered - particularly when two of the groups were the same companies I had approached only months earlier asking them for an opportunity, only to be told "not in 2009".
I also had a long conversation with a recruitment consultant who told me why I should not accept a role offered because there were so many other opportunities in the pipeline for someone of my skill set. But needless to say, I was hardly in a position to turn down a role with a quality firm on decent money.
The said recruiter lamented the fact that her client was unable to find a candidate with the skills needed. Indeed, after having reviewed my CV, the company's CEO flew to Melbourne to meet me (a contrast with my previous experiences of funding all my own trips to Sydney).
This is a simple illustration of how employment markets, in various sub sectors of finance, can shift so quickly.
Don't give up the fight
A quick note to all those people out there who are still struggling to find an opportunity - don't give up. Keep networking. Don't feel embarrassed to call the same firm every few months.
I know for a fact that several companies I spoke to mid-year (who had no roles available then) are now seriously looking at hiring. Many cut too deep too soon in anticipation of a long and protracted recession.
Who's to say the downturn won't happen again (I personally believe our economy is a long way from being out of the woods), but at least for those still seeking employment, things are looking up.
Good luck - it will happen.
Have you got a job-searching story to share with other eFinancialCareers readers? If so, email apac.editor@efinancialcareers.com
