So, the last few months, I've been aggressively looking for a new opportunity. I am actually surprised how much the job market has picked up. I am not joking when I say I have at least 1 interview scheduled everyday since September. It's definitely a lot of work and I keep running out of "game face" clothing. Here's the crazy process:
- Network like crazy - attend events, panels, etc.
- You reach out to the company/or a recruiter calls you
- Phone call with HR/ phone call with recruiter
- In-person meeting with recruiter
- In-person meeting with HR
- (If lucky) First round of interviews -2 to 3 people
- Wait for a few weeks for them to get back
- (If lucky again) Second round of interviews - 2 people
- Wait for a few weeks
- Third/fourth round of interviews (perhaps with the MD)
- "We'll be in touch" conversation
- Hear back or never hear back
The frustrating part is when you get to the 4th round, and then they tell you "they've changed direction." I've reached out to at least 16 different companies, and 14 of them I've had interviews with, 3 of them promising. An 87% response rate, and 18% conversion rate is not bad in the grand scheme of things. But man, it's definitely not a walk in the park.
I've also thought about setting up my own little business from our little apartment, but there are other things I'd like to learn first before that happens.
Hubby and I have been reassessing our situation and think that if we are both unhappy with our jobs, why don't we just go for what we really love? We have money in the bank and we have no kids. What if we put all of our junk in storage and travel the world... for a year! Yeah, my parents will be disappointed if we postpone having kids for another year, but hey, no regrets right?
That is plan B. If the job market does not love us back, then we will follow what we love the most instead.
In the meantime, wish me luck with the job hunt!
