"How things can change!"
That statement hit me reall hard the moment I got news that my original offer to continue working in Germany got cancelled! I was told before I left by my supposed future boss to enjoy my hols back home. I even had tran-fuckin-sition! I left 2 thirds of my belongings in Bonn! Once home, I waited anxiously for the unconfirmed official offer...and after inquiring about it one week upon arriving, I got the worst ever reply. A warm, pleasant lady boss (supposed i thought) replied in the most cold, cruelly blunt way stating that they will not pursue the offer. Why? She promised to call to explain...but didnt. Very professional...PROFESSIONALLY BITCHY! I was left ruing what could possibly be a great future with the Yellow Company. At the end of the day, I was understood that my old dept bitchhead played a part in it. Bless her...
"How things can change!"
This was the 2nd time I was offered another position within the same company, albeit a different role. Alas all was not well too as again, the offer was cancelled. Excuse this time was they cant justify hiring me over a local. Err...ever heard of globalisation??
For this, I even went to Singapore for a face to face interview for the role in Bonn. Job scope was given, team mates told, everything except the legal paperworks. 3 days later and I called the Singapore office...only to be told of that stupid excuse. Strike 2...
In between, an offer within Malaysia (Yellow company again) which I rejected for the one in Bonn promised to get back to me if the Bonn thing didnt happen. It didnt, I got back to the Malaysian one...and no replies! 4 weeks later, another mail...this time saying I would be surplus to requirement. Strike 3...
"How things can change!"
This statement reflected how my life, which at one point was happily confirming the fact that I would be embarking a permanent role working abroad and building my life abroad, reacts to a broken dream, cruelly shattered by office politics! Who would have guessed it would become my worst nightmare!
Staying at home reflecting all this didnt help either. I will always end up being all furious and disappointed and really upset. Dream career down in the dumps, living abroad dreams crashed...i didnt even bothered bout the fact that most of my Zara's are still in Bonn! Having a pressuring mum didnt help either...plus situations at home made things much worst! At times my parents didnt want me to return to Bonn at all...confusing me sooo much more!
I didnt feel like going out...thanks heaps to some close friends who did pester me in the end (forking the bill out was definitely a good way...I owe them for sure!). I didnt bother replying mails or updating my friends abroad. Mood wasnt there at all...
"How things can change!">
In the pursuit job hunting in Malaysia...despite being overly confident yet the very desire to find a suitable, yet challenging company to suit my own personal and professional needs seems to be a huge obstacle for me to find that RIGHT job/company. Every single day waiting for a response equals to the ego glass getting thinner and thinner, ultimately making one losing the confidence that used to maketh the person in him. It definitely brings on the humility test! You ask yourself if you re even worth it! Its during these times words of encouragement from friends really, and literally pick you up!
Each day that goes by, felt like eternity in the job hunting world. Job portals, classifieds, networks, head hunting firms...tried all of it! I am just damn picky when it comes to jobs as much as I am picky on them girls.
"How things can change!"
More than 20 hours of interviews and several more interesting options, I have now embarked on a new journey with the ideal company which I believe suits my needs and wants and everything more. Its weird that I for one never thought of myself working in the consulting line...always thought it was a job that kills of your social life just so you can put up your nose real high and say "I'm a CONSULTANT for so and so..."
But nearly all the company that responded to me were in consulting, or so they said! Turns out...some of them were mere disguises...like a Sales job disguised in Consulting! Like, I so hate having a set of targets to achieve! Dont get me wrong...targets for sales vs career targets/goals are very different!
Ultimately it boiled down to two companies. One had me meeting my team leader on one day, a phone interview the next day with its managing director, a further interview with another director, managing director and HR on another day...boy, everyone except the cleaning lady interviewed me! The company is a well known headhunting firm but they re opening up their consulting branch within the APac region. Suffice to say, theres gonna be a lot of SALES (or Business Development) work involved. When they offered me...a desperate me would have just took it!
Nevertheless...I decided to reject it, hoping the answer which I so wanted will come. The answer came...positively! So after the endless wait...the roller coaster of emotional rides...the humility and ego shattering moments, I am up and running again...and hopefully will this blog too!
So where am I now?
Businessweek for September end issue placed it tops of their 50 Best Places To Launch a Career.
Although the survey was rather surfacial and very US centric. Plus, its for the bean counters, not the consulting line. But we all jump on cheap publicity anyways...
My nose aint high...but I can kiss my social life goodbye! Guess theres gonna be more adventures coming from "The Accidental Consultant"...how things can change indeed!
My last swipe to the Yellow Company...well I am not a bitter person. But despite only a year there...I bled YELLOW! I loved the job and most of the people, the culture and even Bonn! I was gonna be the rare breed that was gonna be loyal. I was so gonna be that super employee which have the critical skills they re yearning to find. Alas...it was not meant to be. Their loss then...
