Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Does No Relevant Working Experience = No Job Offer??

Just when I am feeling really desperate for a job, I took my courage to call up the companies which I have went to for interviews 2 weeks ago, to ask if the position that I have applied for has been filled.

Actually, all along I was told by my mother and brother to give a follow-up call about 1 week to the companies after the job interview so as to show my interest for the job. But I was always afriad to do so bcoz I felt that it is so embarassing to be so thick-skin and call up the company when obviously, they did not call me means they did not shortlist me.

Now that I have tried giving the companies a follow-up call, I realized that it wasn't that difficult and embarassing as what I previously thought. Instead, I felt proud of myself for doing it bcoz at least I know whether they have shortlisted someone, whether the position is filled or still open, or even why I was not shortlisted... so that I know if it is time to give up my wait for that particular position which I was wishing for... although it does not feel good to know that the position I like has been taken...

I am currently quite disappointed that one of the position which I was hoping for has been filled by someone else through their staff referral... Sigh... After calling up a few companies, I found out the main reason why I was not selected for the positions!! It is always bcoz they have found someone who has more experiences than me!! This is so irritating!!! Coz although employers always say that they do not mind to train fresh grads or someone with no experience though candidates with relevant experiences would be preferred, in the end they always select the people with experiences!!! In the first place, why give the fresh grads or candidates without experience false hope???!

After going to so many interviews but not being selected due to my lack of experience, I cannot help but to conclude that people without relevant experiences would never be able to gain the relevant experience bcoz they are not even given the opportunity to pick up the relevant skills, right??? In other words, as long as there are candidates with experiences competing with candidates without experience, candidates without experience will never stand a chance to get into the job they want even with their interest and willingness to learn! So eventhough employers may emphasize that having the right attitude is essential if you do not have the experience, I think this factor seems to be totally forgotten and ignored no matter how good the candidate's attitude and qualities are once they get to interview someone else with relevant experiences... Bcoz in the eyes of the employers, relevant experiences beat all other qualities!

Once again, I feel that I have wasted my time attending all the previous interviews!!! Many people think that the current job market is very good! That's just what they see on the surface... the actual fact is that the job market is good for employers and people with experiences, but not for fresh grads and people like me... bcoz with so many job candidates with and without experiences competing with one another, employers are at the advantage to choose the best candidate for themselves!

Frankly speaking, I sometimes feel kinda paiseh for blogging about my job search process and interview experiences here, bcoz I know some of my friends read my blog and they know that I have been jobless for so long... This is definitely not something to be proud about, but I still blog about it bcoz these are things which I cannot say during the interview!!!

And if you realized, I have not been blogging alot about myself recently... this is bcoz there's nothing much to blog about and nothing interesting happening recently... My current lifestyle is all about applying jobs, going for interviews and waiting for results... Besides this, I will go out with Deardear and friends over the weekends... That's about it... so... I am just living a super boring life now... Other than that, I can only say that I really need a job!!!!!! (And I know that I have been saying this since very long ago until now I am still saying it! =P)

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