How I did it within a month

As you know, I recently found myself a new job. While many of my ex-colleagues who have tendered or been retrenched are still struggling to secure themselves a job, they are starting to wonder how I landed myself somewhere new so fast.

Well, here are some tips which I would like to share with all of you, if you are ever planning to get out of a shithole or jump on a new wagon just because.

1. Your CV
When I first decided that I wanted to move on from my previous organisation, I started doing up my CV. Always, always keep your CV updated regularly. In fact, each time you have a new scope added on to your position, add it into your CV. No matter how small-scaled the scope is, it might be a key advantage for your next role.

For example, a large MNC is currently looking for a Receptionist and they need someone who has had experiences managing a mailroom. Coincidentally, you have just been asked by your Manager to manage the mailroom on an ad-hoc basis - thinking that it is not as important as it sounds.

Also, never take CV samples from Google and make it your own. Be orginial. Make references, if you need to. But, do not copy. Do not lie or make things up in your CV - you might get yourself in deep trouble if they find out that things in your profile are not true.

There are no rights or wrongs as to how you "style" a CV, but the content has to be powerful enough to let you earn the right job for yourself.

2. Upload your CV in the right places
Have you heard of Linkedin? Or Monster? Or even Jobstreet? These are key channels for you to be headhunted and contacted with regards to job vacancies.

Linkedin is a professional website for working adults to build their professional identity while staying in touch with colleagues, ex-colleagues and friends alike. You can also discover and be discovered for new opportunities in the market, based on your experiences and qualifications.

Monster, on the other hand, is a network platform where you can upload your CV and apply for jobs directly or get contacted for a job opportunity. Recruiters or professional headhunters are able to view your profile and contact you should they be interested in your profile.

Jobstreet is my personal favorite, with it being most user-friendly. It is where you look for jobs and you are able to conveniently search based on your own preference of industry or even salary range. And if you set your profile to public, recruiters or professional headhunters are also able to view yorur CV and contact you for job opportunities.

It is good to always make yourself look active, if you are really trying to find a job. Log in to these sites, even if no editing on your CV is required. It is more appealing for potential employers to contact active users on these platforms, to be honest.

3. Work hard
Keep yourself updated with available job opportunities in the market currently, and send out your CV to potential employers. Don't stop sending and don't give up. If you are desperate, it's not time for you to be picky either.

For me, I log in to Jobstreet every single day, in hopes of having at least 1 opportunity call per day. It will not be easy, but you have to work really, really hard. You have to be literally actively looking out for a job - even if it means applying for a job during lunchtime. Because I've realised that possibilities are 3/10, really. Which means, out of 10 companies which I've sent my CV to.. Only 3 of them will probably give me call to arrange an interview.

(And for me, kalau takde, takde terus. But bila ada, ada berederet. When I accepted this job offer, 2 other companies offered me at the same time the next day. Of course, I had to reject them. Alhamdulillah, semua rezeki ditentukan Allah SWT so we never really know!)

4. Register your CV with a recruitment agency
Now this really, REALLY helps a lot. There was a rumor I once heard from an unknown source, saying that recruitment agencies are out there to cheat you in all ways possible.

BULLSHIT LUH K.

Well, maybe some are. But first look at which agency you're dealing with. For some, even Recruit Express, will require you to pay some kind of fee once you have accepted a job offer. But that is only because they need some kind of a guarantee that you will not leave the job within the first 3 months. To be honest, it turns me off though.

And that's why I would only recommend agencies that operate globally, like Kelly Services or Adecco. These are professional agencies which will, in no way cheat you or your money. Their operations are monitored globally and they work just like an MNC, to put it simply.

For the past 2 jobs that I had within the last 3 years, they were placed by associates in Adecco. These guys work like.. I don't know, but some of them I know will literally go all out to help you.

I guess it's all about passion. If you're passionate about finding the right job for yourself, they're passionate about helping you as well.

I guess it all boils down to how much you want it.

5. Secure yourself an interview
When you get an invitation for an interview, go for it. You might not really like it afterall, for some reason, even though you applied for it.. But, you'll never really know until you try. Every interview is an opportunity - it depends on how well you do.

6. Ace during the interview
One way to prepare during an interview is to read up on the company's profile, so that you are able to ask knowledgeable questions along the way. Personally, I always consider interviews as a meet and greet; similar to meeting new people - which is what I have always liked to do.

And generally, for me, I talk a lot. However, some employees might take that as a weakness. Most, can be quite impressed with detailed answers to their questions.

Create a great impression during every interview, even if you don't really like the interviewer's face. Smile and don't make yourself look uncomfortable, even if you are. Never speak ill of your current or pass employers, as that would take you straight down goodbye lane.

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So, these are just some basic tips. If you want to know more, do comment or drop me an email at diyanah.wong@gmail.com - I wouldn't mind giving you more tips or in fact, answering any questions you have! Hehe. And I realise I'm starting to update this space every single day now.. That's 3 days in a row! Let's try to keep that habit, shall we?

Insya Allah, till we speak again soon!☺

First Anniversary

My husband and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary over the weekend, and it was beautiful. Alhamdulillah. Although, to be honest, it felt like a year went on too fast. So many things happened within 365 days of our marriage - the wedding itself, going on our first honeymoon together, my pregnancy and miscarriage, some health complications, and then another holiday together, and life went on as per normal for the rest of the days.

It seems too surreal, that we were actually celebrating a wedding anniversary and not any regular couple anniversary.

So, we both kept lying to each other (especially him) about where we were taking ourselves to celebrate. I had the day part of the event, where he already the second half of the event with dinner. He actually already told me to make my 19 Sept available (like I would make any other plans in the first place) as he had already made reservations despite it being the bustling F1 weekend. While I, only finally decided where to take him 2 days before the day itself!

Yes! We went to try golf! Well, the mini one to be exact - it's embarrassing enough trying to win him in this one. But it was fun, nonetheless, because it was something we both have never tried before! It was always bowling, or pool, or football or whatever else.. But it was never golf!

Me being sore loser me, had on a sour face because he won. But playing golf had us feeling abit like orang atas gitu.. Hurhur.

And so, throughout the entire day, I was trying to guess where he was taking me to dinner. I never expected anything fancy because, well.. He's just not that sort of guy. When I first asked him how much would dinner cost (just to have a hint on where and what type of food we would end up eating), he said "the budget" was around $40 to $50 per person.

I was definitely guessing one of those Breeks/Seoul Garden-ish kinda place. And then he went all, "We're eating somewhere in the East, somewhere in Downtown East." and I was wondering why the hell do we need to go all the way there for something like that? Obviously, it was something else.. So I guessed the Sakura International Buffet, but then I remembered there was one at Admiralty anyway.

Apparently, it got more and more intense and confusing when we took the bus towards Bedok from ECP. I kept asking where we were going, half hoping he'd give up and just tell me since we're going there either way. And the funny thing was that he admitted he didn't really know how to go there!

So, when we arrived at Bedok and was on the platform, he tricked me into thinking we were getting on the train towards Pasir Ris - which turned out to be a lie. We ended up hopping on the train towards Jurong East and then he said we were going to Jurong, which he admitted was a lie because I started whining that it was too far away. (I WAS HUNGRY!)

And then he said that we'll be alighting at Eunos. I believed him and did almost alight when the train arrived at Eunos, but it turned out to be another lie.

Sigh.

We ended up at City Hall, where we walked to Marina Square. When we arrive MSq, we walked three rounds around the mall just because my darling husband did not know the way there. I actually told him to just spill it and I will eventually help him find it because, well.. I know my way around the area well. But he refused because he didn't want to spoil the surprise - and that's how we ended up walking around MSq multiple times.

Entah nak marah, ke nak ketawa.

Nasib sayang.

After tawaf-ing the area for a good 15 minutes (and I was close to crying because I was sooooo hungry and tired), he finally found his way to take me to..

AquaMarine at Marina Mandarin! It was actually one of my initial guesses but I struck it off when he mentioned the budget. Now, I didn't see that coming at all.

Alhamdulillah, it was a dinner in a romantic ambience - something I never dreamed of experiencing with my husband, to be honest. I never liked dining in fancy restaurants with him, because I've always known that I am never an adventurous person when it comes to food and that would end up in a lot of food wastage.

However, it was really pretty and indeed, an experience for me. What was even more pretty was the cake that the staff presented to us towards the end - it was effortlessly amazing.

I couldn't get mad at him for his repeated lying, obviously, because the day ended so well. We also ended up bowling and then he finally opened the gift that I prepared for him. It was such a good day; I didn't want it to end.

Here's to a lifetime with you, sayang. To more fun times than sad times, to more adventures and new discoveries. To more joking, and more merajuk-ing as well. You have been an amazing husband with a lot of admirable strength.

I love you.. Till the end of time, insya Allah. ♥