We asked Get Ahead readers to send their Happy days... tales as we believe that the dark clouds of recession are slowly but surely vanishing and those who were laid off during 2008 and 2009 are getting back their jobs.
In the sixth part of this series, Abhishek Mohanty tells us how he motivated himself during those lean times. A fighter that he is, he was always sure of his ability to land up a good job.
Name: Abhishek Mohanty (Name changed on request)
Age: 25
Company/Sector: BFSI
Educational qualification: MBA
Work experience: 3.5 years
Background check:
I lost my job in January 2009. I was working in the support function (HR) of a well-known financial services organisation. I had to wait for 4 months to get another job.
How I got a job again:
I registered on all job portals. Even without a job, I took my job search very seriously as if it was a part of my daily regimen, just like office. I used to get up in the morning, browse through newspapers. Then from 10 am onwards I would call up companies on their boardlines and following up with consultants for pending candidatures. By 1 pm I used to prepare my own lunch and have it (that kept me busy and was a stress buster).
By 3 pm I got back to my routine activity of calling and follow ups. In the evening I browsed the Internet for vacancies and kept posting my resume.
My effort paid up as I got a total of 15 interview calls of which I converted 6 into offers.
I chose the best one for me amongst them. I never lost faith in my profession as an HR person and never thought of trying my luck for different profiles, like sales.
Click NEXT to read lessons Abhishek learnt from his unemployment.
Reader invite:
Do you have a similar tale to tell?
Did you lose your job and have now got a new one? Do you know someone who lost her/ his job, and got it back recently?
If you, your friends or relatives have a similar story to tell, to inform readers about the lessons that you have learnt, please write to us at getahead@rediff.co.in with the subject line 'Happy days are here again!' Your name and identity will not be disclosed unless you want it to.
Illustration: Uttam Ghosh
Lessons Abhishek learnt
Support:
I stay in Mumbai and, life over here is costly and demanding. I am fortunate to have close group of friends who helped me sustain during this time. My family was supportive as well; they never let me feel dejected.
Frankly there were moments, when I let go off oppurtunities, not wanting to settle for anything mediocre, but when new oppurtunities didn't come soon, there was panic and insecurity.
It is tough: the mood swings, the restlessness, and most viciously that feeling of immediate incapability, while you know that deep inside you have it in you to prove it to the world.
Lessons learnt:
- Save money. I had zero savings, and got saved because of my friends and family. Not everybody is that lucky
- Don't give up. Believe me, that's an old adage, but still works as magic. It's better to die fighting than throw your arms
- YOU, are your biggest motivator, cajole yourself, flatter yourself, admonish yourself and believe in yourself, that you are a tough nut
- Don't let people take you for granted. I have walked out on queer interviewers, who were more interested in how low a package I would join at, rather than how good a talent I would prove to be in their organisation
Reader invite:
Do you have a similar tale to tell?
Did you lose your job and have now got a new one? Do you know someone who lost her/ his job, and got it back recently?
If you, your friends or relatives have a similar story to tell, to inform readers about the lessons that you have learnt, please write to us at getahead@rediff.co.in with the subject line 'Happy days are here again!' Your name and identity will not be disclosed unless you want it to.
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