Day 4: End of Unemployment
'Our official working hours is from 9:ooa.m. to 6:00p.m., I'll see you on Monday. Do you have any other questions?'
'What is the dress code? Formal or smart casual?'
'You can wear this... Or you can wear t-shirt... Just as long as you wear something...'
With that, the interview room roared with laughter and I finally ended my 2 week long job search and 4 day long unemployment. When drawing money after the interview, I felt so much more confident and secure. I remember looking at clothes at Topman last Monday and I felt like I have no buying power although I just received my pay cheque for last month from Stalford Tuition Center. Everyday without a job was like an additional liability, spending money without assurance of a next pay cheque. I started feeling slightly depressed from the first day of my unemployment.. haha..
'Hullo, I saw your advertisement on the Classified jobs and I would like to apply for the position of accounts assistant..'
'We only want females. Thank you. Bye!'
That happened twice! On other occasions,
'No, we dun have that position but we have sales...'
'NO.'
Some other time,
'Do you want to be our store supervisor?'
'NO.'
From Recruit Express, a job agency, after an interview.
'Hi Fuda! There's a vacancy at Tampines to do admin in AIA's claims department.. Will you be interested? There will be no interview.. They'll accept you from your resume.'
'Admin in claims department.. I'll consider, but I'll try to find a job that gives me the experience that I want first.. Thanks Melissa..'
I must say this job search has been an enriching experience, and I never fail to impress my interviewers. ha.. Of course man.. haha.. (Egoistic me.. haha)
On my second interview with one of the directors of DW Biomagnetic Group,
'I spoke to my boss, because you only have 'A' Levels, we can't really give you an accounts job and you said you don't want any other admin job. But because I gave you really good remarks, my boss said you can join us and be a trainer, and at the career talk later, you can consider other options...'
'Oh, trainer sounds interesting... I may consider...'
'Yah, because of your appearance, you were polite and confident, you know, you can be a trainer.. But of course, you have to start doing some sales first; you must have the health knowledge first... So you can answer when your trainee ask....'
Anyway, I seriously doubt the benefits of such dubious products and I declined although it was alluring indeed.
Yesterday, I went to a modelling agency at Park Mall. No, I wasn't applying as a model; I applied to be their accounts assistant, to do some basic book keeping. Amazingly, I did the interview in mandarin! It felt like Chinese oral. ha... Anyway, they weren't looking for accounts assistants, but she seemed impressed and said she would check if they need an accounts assistant, which they were looking for a few months back but didn't get one and there was no further news till now. She seemed keen on employing me for 8 months to do their book keeping. However, she hasn't replied and I have already agreed to the 2 months temp job, to stand in for their accountant, to do simple invoices and "daily tasks" as she called it... Besides, I have 1 week to understudy the accountant - it'll be a good learning experience. I'm both exhilarated and stressed at the same time, since I will be the only finance person in the company during her absence... After the 2 months, they may decide if they need the extra help and keep me, or I will go relieve teaching!
Cheers,
Fuda
Oh, and pst, the office is in some really old and disgusting private residence along Stevens road... So hard to find sia... And so far.. But at least its near Orchard.. haha..
