This is in response from me to my loving father who was making sure I'm not getting too discouraged about the job hunt and reminding me that the hiring process will pick back up in the new year.
From me:
Yep Yep. I've been told to stop looking until after the holidays. But I've also read articles (I've read lots of advice articles on everything associated with relocation...) that say giving up the job search during the holidays is silly because during this time of year, my competition will all be "at the mall" and also, it's not like ALL people who hire people ACTUALLY take the entire month of December off. If there's a contact to be made, it can't hurt to make it even though it may be a few weeks before the hiring process picks up again! The other thing the article mentioned was that the holidays are also a great time of year in terms of networking, because you never know who you're going to meet at a holiday party! So their advice was to treat everyone like they could have an impact on your future career success, to mind your manners at parties, and to not drink too much! And therefor to accept every social invitation that comes your way! I can do that!!
The other thing the article warned about was not having your expectations set on suddenly seeing a flood of new jobs come January. There really aren't any jobs for anyone right now, including for highly educated Dutch speakers, so I was told while making my rounds at recruiting agencies yesterday. And it was then suggested that I go work in a factory, because there ARE jobs on the production line... Excellent. I didn't jump on that opportunity... Perhaps I should have majored in Assembly Line studies.
Speaking of which, I went to a "speed date" career fair today that was pretty good, and we're going to a get-together in Utrecht, organized through an online community I've joined called InterNations that is geared toward "globally-minded people," which I consider myself to be! There are already 48 people signed up to be there! It's a situation in which it would be totally appropriate to network, but I think a lot of people also come just for the social aspect. The profile you create on the website has you put what you're looking for and what you're offering, so it does have a bit of a networking focus, but it's also just to help expats/international people connect with each other. I will definitely be on my best behavior, but I won't be disappointed if I don't get any job leads out of it. I don't want people who are there to be social to think I'm just there to find a job, and also it gets tiresome treating everyone like they might know someone who might give me a job, when I actually just need friends too! Also, I'm not "giving up" my Friday night just to network. If I'm at an event that starts at 7pm on a Friday, you can bet I'm there to be social as well!
I'm not feeling too discourage, but boy is this tedious. I wish I could be all done with this dumb job search, but it's different than anything I've ever experienced before because it's not like a project where I have a goal and I set deadlines and I finish it by a certain time being happy with the quality of my work. It just never ends! Bah humbug! I don't like this one bit! And I don't even feel like it's in my control! Obviously the more I try the better my chances will be, but it's not like I can just DECIDE to be hired. We'll see how it goes...
Why is it so hard for me to find a way to Save the World?? LOTS of people and places need my help, and all I want to do is make a difference because I know I CAN! I'm just being picky about the fact that I need to pay rent too. Pish posh, rent schment. I can't even make donations because I don't know when I'll next get a paycheck. :)
So I'm not getting discouraged, I'm just growing less pleased with the process, that's all. Thanks for making my employment your Xmas wish. I think it will be mine too. That's a good wish. Terry was complaining about his boss last night (not actually HIS boss, but close enough), and I was complaining that I don't have a boss! We both would probably actually really switch places right now if we could. I think he would be perfectly happy to quit and start the job hunt all over again and be unemployed and not paid for a few months (never mind that this isn't a real thought because that would be crap for his career), but that would require me being able to walk into a job with his salary, which I simply can't do, so we're just stuck! No switching! It's ok, we're helping each other. And you're helping us too :)
Thanks again for your input! Love you bunches!
xx
From me:
Yep Yep. I've been told to stop looking until after the holidays. But I've also read articles (I've read lots of advice articles on everything associated with relocation...) that say giving up the job search during the holidays is silly because during this time of year, my competition will all be "at the mall" and also, it's not like ALL people who hire people ACTUALLY take the entire month of December off. If there's a contact to be made, it can't hurt to make it even though it may be a few weeks before the hiring process picks up again! The other thing the article mentioned was that the holidays are also a great time of year in terms of networking, because you never know who you're going to meet at a holiday party! So their advice was to treat everyone like they could have an impact on your future career success, to mind your manners at parties, and to not drink too much! And therefor to accept every social invitation that comes your way! I can do that!!
The other thing the article warned about was not having your expectations set on suddenly seeing a flood of new jobs come January. There really aren't any jobs for anyone right now, including for highly educated Dutch speakers, so I was told while making my rounds at recruiting agencies yesterday. And it was then suggested that I go work in a factory, because there ARE jobs on the production line... Excellent. I didn't jump on that opportunity... Perhaps I should have majored in Assembly Line studies.
Speaking of which, I went to a "speed date" career fair today that was pretty good, and we're going to a get-together in Utrecht, organized through an online community I've joined called InterNations that is geared toward "globally-minded people," which I consider myself to be! There are already 48 people signed up to be there! It's a situation in which it would be totally appropriate to network, but I think a lot of people also come just for the social aspect. The profile you create on the website has you put what you're looking for and what you're offering, so it does have a bit of a networking focus, but it's also just to help expats/international people connect with each other. I will definitely be on my best behavior, but I won't be disappointed if I don't get any job leads out of it. I don't want people who are there to be social to think I'm just there to find a job, and also it gets tiresome treating everyone like they might know someone who might give me a job, when I actually just need friends too! Also, I'm not "giving up" my Friday night just to network. If I'm at an event that starts at 7pm on a Friday, you can bet I'm there to be social as well!
I'm not feeling too discourage, but boy is this tedious. I wish I could be all done with this dumb job search, but it's different than anything I've ever experienced before because it's not like a project where I have a goal and I set deadlines and I finish it by a certain time being happy with the quality of my work. It just never ends! Bah humbug! I don't like this one bit! And I don't even feel like it's in my control! Obviously the more I try the better my chances will be, but it's not like I can just DECIDE to be hired. We'll see how it goes...
Why is it so hard for me to find a way to Save the World?? LOTS of people and places need my help, and all I want to do is make a difference because I know I CAN! I'm just being picky about the fact that I need to pay rent too. Pish posh, rent schment. I can't even make donations because I don't know when I'll next get a paycheck. :)
So I'm not getting discouraged, I'm just growing less pleased with the process, that's all. Thanks for making my employment your Xmas wish. I think it will be mine too. That's a good wish. Terry was complaining about his boss last night (not actually HIS boss, but close enough), and I was complaining that I don't have a boss! We both would probably actually really switch places right now if we could. I think he would be perfectly happy to quit and start the job hunt all over again and be unemployed and not paid for a few months (never mind that this isn't a real thought because that would be crap for his career), but that would require me being able to walk into a job with his salary, which I simply can't do, so we're just stuck! No switching! It's ok, we're helping each other. And you're helping us too :)
Thanks again for your input! Love you bunches!
xx
No comments:
Post a Comment