The Job Hunt

Today is a perfect example of how some times fear gets the best of you and the best way to tackle any fear, is to simply focus on what you want. Just in case if you were wondering something horrible happened to me today, well no, on the contrary, it couldn't have been any better. Well, it could, but still, no complains.

We are all supposed to be looking for internships now. If you know me, you'll realize how I often drag my feet when it comes to official matters such as these. Making formal phone calls, enquiries and actually planning for something, put fluttering bugs in my stomach. It's a situation where I know I will have to do it sooner or later, but I was just too lazy to get started. Fine, I was scared. *blek* Cut me some slack.

Anyway, what motivated me was the uncertainties that were going around. What to do with my current hostel unit, where to live when I come back for final year, where to work, penang or KL, if in KL, do I need to rent a house, then what about transportation? Little details that were quickly unsettling me. But the greatest motivator of all, I need to have already done something before going home. I seriously don't need my mom nagging into my ears.

Therefore, I set out to make the perfect resume! I referenced how to make a good one from three different sources. Thank you Adrienne for fixing some phrasing for me. Then next, I went and look for a whole list of different companies in which to apply to. Even registered to jobstreet.com. This is my list of priorities:

1. Ad agency
2. Web company
3. Graphic design company
4. Balik Penang

I simply bombarded every single company I found with an email. Hee... there was a moment of panic as well, as I didn't know how to start the enquiry. Once again, thanks to the Australian llama, who perfected a good opening for me: Dear Sir/Madam ......

It was nerve wrecking checking up on the emails after the bombardment. The waiting game ensued. After one day, I got a reply. It was a request to view my port. Thus, I scrambled to assemble some of my better works into InDesign, saved it in PDF, and sent it! (Adrienne: Use PDF, more professional)

And thus, the waiting continues... (This was after sending a few copies of my port out to total strangers.)

And then the interviews came. I got myself scheduled to three different interviews. Even got a call today from a company that I was having some pretty high hopes for confirming my placement. It was pretty high, being accepted, but at the same time, that web company is like located in the middle of no-where rich man's land. And I could have slapped myself over and over for not remembering the allowance advertised!

A bit long winded here. But I'd like to record down all these fine details. My memory is giving up on me when it comes to little things like these. I don't want to forget, therefore I write. More on this in future posts.

Anyway, I went for an ad agency interview today, therefore the last minute printing of my port. I went on the KL transit for the first time! So cool lo, I tell you... if only all Malaysian public transportation was like that! Yea right.. I wouldn't mind giving the extra ringgit for such a comfortable speedy ride again. I good choice apart from going to Serdang KTM. Will keep that in mind for future reference.

Aiyo! I seemed to be deterred from my main point in every turn of this post. So, there I was, pretty tired after changing so many rounds of different trains and taxi, I finally got to the company. Truth be told, I was not bearing any hopes. In fact, I did think about canceling this interview when I got an offer from the web company. But like a wise guy used to say, choice is power. Nothing wrong with having more to choose from.

So I went. And was immediately impressed. The company (sounding like a reference to Prison Break) was small in size, but not so small that they deal only with below the line ads. They don't do tv commercials, but they have some pretty big clients under their belt. The woman who interviewed me impressed me a lot. Quoting Ken Goh: She managed to sell herself to me. As in, I'm sold on the impression of her... something like that. The company was what I thought to myself to get even before I started looking for jobs. Best of all, it's in a very convenient location. And opposite the building there's room for rents. AND... it's only RM3 by taxi away from the LRT station. Pay is low, but not about to get greedy here. Money has never been an issue when I thought of this internship, and it shouldn't be now too, even when I do have more choices now.

So, will be going for another internship with a web/ad company on Monday. So, wish me luck!


ps: I feel so incredibly lucky today... so lucky to the point where I am afraid of whatever bad that's going to happen. Nothing bad happened, but just a thought.

Printing my portfolio cost a bomb! A3 pintouts: RM 35, emergency black folder: RM 15.