All the unknowns

I'm going to say bye to my 17-week old job.

I thought I'll be happy to take a back seat & enjoy what I'm doing now. Very stable working hours, good welfare & renumeration. As a new joiner, I got my bonus (was still in probation then). But I'm not happy... even more so when I received the confirmation letter.

I don't like what I'm doing now... I don't feel connected to the world at all. And the people here are so arrogant. Those whom I'm close to consoled me "don't be too bothered... in no time you'll be like them (to be exact >> cold & living in their own world)". The problem is... I do not want to be like one of them! Perhaps I'm too used to small company, I don't feel I'm part of this 2,000 staff strength organisation.

I can't promise I'll like my new job. But at least it's an industry that I've always been interested in/familiar with and I didn't get it easy. No doubt I've ample years of marketing & PR experience, I can't find the same job once I move on... not even one that's close to it. In fact, I daresay there are no more than 3 who do the exact same job as I did, so it's a complete job switch for me whatever position I go for in whichever trade. And when I told people what I did in my previous job, everyone would look amused & said "oh, you've a very unique (read: strange) job".

I've applied for no less than 10 similar openings and it's like throwing stones into the sea. I clearly knew very unlikely they would hire someone who's not at all from the related industry but to me there's no difference (as I'd face the same situation in all other job applications as well). Let's put it this way... if you can get to select many candidates with relevant experience among the pool of applicants, how high would the chance be for the one without (relevant experience) to be shortlisted?

I hadn't gone full force in job searching when I asked my friend , DL, who's the Senior Manager of a hotel to look out for me. In fact I hadn't started going through papers & online job sites.

Since the prospective employers didn't want to respond to my application through proper channels, I wanted to go by the side door to get interview opportunities (not job offers as it's a ridiculous request to both my friends & the employers). My main purpose was to vie for a chance to meet the interviewers in person, to convince them that I could be the right incumbent they're looking for, I wanted to change their perception of me not having relevant experience would mean I'm out.
My plan was:
(A) to try obtain interview opportunities through DL's contacts
(B) if that didn't work, would approach my ex-boss' good friend, who's a GM from one of the established hotels.

DL was quick to offer help. He knew the Malaysian-based Sxxxxx Hotels & Resorts was hiring & said would get me an interview. Later on, he asked me to email my CV to the Director, HN, instead. When he told me that, I sensed half the chance of meeting was gone. Nevertheless I still sent mine to HN.

Followed up by a call the following day. HN didn't sound keen as he said he's looking for someone who's experienced & has a relevant base of network. And I was from totally different industry. Despite me trying to convince him, he said would discuss with his Asst Director & revert. I reckoned that it's a diplomatic way of rejecting as I waited for a week & there's no news. My hope of clinching an interview through contacts was sort of burst. I was disappointed.

Then I remembered one of my KL friends, Ben, told me his uncle owns Sxxxxx Group of Hotels. Was hesitating.... do I really want to move in this direction? Eventually, I made a call to Ben & he's so nice to agree instantly. He said there'd be no problem in getting me an interview but couldn't promise me a job. That's all I asked for. He also offered me another job opportunity, that is, to set up a Singapore office for him; he's in a completely different business.

He contacted the CEO of Sxxxxx, HC, who asked Ben to sms him my details. HC must have contacted HN as within hours, I got a call from HN. He'd arranged to see me with his Asst Director:) And he copied HC in all the emails he sent me. Not sure whether it's the fact that I secured myself an interview or the strong desire to prevail over the one who rejected me (guess it's a mixture of both), I was happy when I got the news. Yet worried. Was worried that HN would make things difficult for me to prove that I was someone "unemployable".

In less than a week, I've also met Ben when he's here on a business trip. We talked about his plans of setting up a Singapore office. I was a lil moved by the proposal given the prospects & freedom but lots of canvassing work needed as well as a big portion of uncertainties. I was given some time to consider & also to go through the Sxxxxx interview first.

Gone for the interview which I thought turned out well. HN was very professional, so I had worried too much.

Just when I was caught in-between decisions - to go for Ben's or this one (that's if I was offered the job), I received a call from HN.... & yes, I got the job! I accepted without second thought... which means I've already made a decision. Ben was such a nice gentleman, he gave his blessing & we agreed to meet the next time, whether in KL or Spore.

My present bosses know where & what I'll be moving into... no intention to hide from them. Afterall, they are truly wonderful bosses & I've always been told by my colleagues that I'm very blessed to have 2 of the best bosses in the organisation. When I told them my intention to leave & their attempts to retain me failed, they actually told me to go back if I'm not happy working in the new company. Everything was discussed & settled in absolutely amiable atmosphere. They weren't even the least bit upset with someone who's only worked for a few months & now calls it quits. Saying they're nice is really an understatement.

As for myself, it's the very first time in my life that I've gone the unconventional way (I mean job wise). During the interview HN told me there're more than 60 applicants but they shortlisted only 5. I know I was nearly out.
Taking this as a stepping stone... it's a mid management position... at least I don't need to start from scratch.