I've been reallly busy because
1) I'm seeing this amazing man and
but I've been meaning to post smth like this for a few months..
Basically, it wasn't easy to get a job. I started my job hunt in mid may and only got my offer in mid July. I've always been (over)confident of my academic results and ability to find a job. I truly believed that it'd take me less than a month to land myself in my dream job: but that didn't happen.
It was really difficult to live for that 1 month when rejections kept on coming in. There was a day I got rejection emails from 2 companies and it was just nasty cause I was so sure I nailed those 2 interviews. Thankfully, I was hungover and with gr8 company that day. (mwah, thanks for the singing/cooking sesh baby)
Just wanna dish out some advice like a big girl and talk about this arduous road I've walked. For some context, I'm an outspoken girl who loves interacting with people. I have a joint degree in economics and actuarial science and 8 exams passed under IA. However, actuaries usually have desk bound jobs and pretty much deal with stats from 9-6. I'm very lucky and glad that my current job allows me to interact with the different stakeholders. So here goes:
1) Pick your victim:
In mid may, I went on different channels and pretty much sent the same resume to 10 companies. I was so sure of my capabilities that I even sent them out to companies who were looking for an Actuarial Manager who has at least 3 years worth of experience.
It was so dumb because rejections kept coming in to terrorize my ego. I got 4 interviews from that but those people who were interested in my resume (good results, 2 internships, scholarships, actuarial exams passed) weren't so much interested in my vibrant personality.
It was rough..
With respect to relationships, it's so important to find the right person. I dated someone who said things like "Could you be more possessive, I want that kinda girl who will call me every hour and check on me to make me feel loved"- and I was out la. Should have known then that it was a misfit and not drag things on cause it was terribly off at the end and he still owes me money.
I'm not saying this mentality is wrong: I understand that some people just need a koala bear to make them feel loved. I'm saying that I should have profiled my dates and not waste their time if I know that it wasn't gonna work.
But I tried la, I gave it my best shot, I did.
2) Be proactive:
After I got my second rejection letter in May, I decided to help out at the Actuarial Conference for Life. It was great and I got exposed to the various types of jobs/companies that are available in the actuarial market. I also got to know some good people from the conference.
This led to me helping out at the General Insurance (GI) conference where I was even more comfortable and took up the role of an Emcee/Clown during the social night. Some actuaries were impressed and came up to talk to me the day after, telling me to send my resume to them and describing how they think I'll do well in their companies. One of them is Fred (Chief Actuary in AXA) and this was how I eventually got my job.
With respect to relationships, I guess you just have to keep an open mind. I was quite convinced that I'll never find a partner cause everyone who likes me likes me for the wrong reason. But then this man came along with 3 stalks of flowers and blew me away. Always be receptive to what life may throw at you. There are many things we can control in life but things like fate and affinity is way beyond our control.
3) Don't be afraid to fail; keep trying:
Even with the contacts made in the conference, I had to deal with 2 rejections from 2 companies before I got my job. I got reasons such as "the work may be boring for you" and heard that I scored the highest for the round 1 case study but wasn't invited for round 2 interviews.
I was just dumbfounded as to how I should behave. Should I pretend to be the standard actuary and keep my mouth shut? or should I stay true to myself and hope to find a company who would love me for who I am?
I took the rougher path and this is what I really wanna share: If you have to fake it to make it through an interview, clearly the people are not interested in you, but this fake image that you portrayed. If you eventually got the job, you'll have to keep up that front for the whole of your career. Are you ok with that? I'm not.
To me, it's easier to just be who I am and if someone really appreciates that, they'll fight for you. This is exactly the same for relationship too. If you have to maintain a demure and pretentious front to make him fall in love with you, he didn't fall in love with you; just this image and picture you took hours to paint and this illusion you've created. Once you get comfortable with him, and lose the motivation to put up with the front, things will change- and it can't be helped cause he wasn't in love with you in the first place! (Some fools may be blinded by love. If so, good for you and I'm sorry for him!)
Why play the game and be stuck in the game when you can be yourself and just enjoy what life brings to you. Not everyone will love you, but someone does. Believe me.
4) Continue to (net)work hard:
I have 1 month worth of lunches arranged with people who've helped me along my job hunt and friends I wanna keep in contact with. Networking is so important in the small industry of actuaries. Reputation as well; so don't be complacent after you've landed yourself a job. Remember to bring something to the office every day!
When Jit and I first started hanging out, we saw each other every single day until he had to go for his reservist. This meant that I can't hang out every day with Fyona like I used to. It was different but I like it. However, that was the honeymoon period, and based on past experience, I need to have an outside life aside from my partner. If not it gets so routine and mundane that one day I may just fall out of it altogether. I try to make it a point to still meet other friends (mostly through lunches) and then have more things to share with him about.
What's next:
I wanna continue being loving and kind to the people in my office and people around me. Eventually there is bound to be politics but I see it as a challenge and can't wait to know more about myself when shit gets real.
Comments