Wincers Presaging Ignominy,

Looking for a job is a full-time job. The search is confusing as people offer conflicting advice. I started from an ambiguous position and it hasn’t helped my quest. Writing a thesis for a Ph.D lasts variable lengths of time and the stewdent may not be in control of how long they will take. The stewdent one year ahead of me was delayed by the receipt of data from a colleague. I could argue that I was delayed by the access to apparatus and then I underwent a somewhat prolonged period of verification with my supervisor. Other stewdents may be lazy and fail to write quickly. I was advised that companies would not take a risk upon someone who ‘was nearly finished’ as I was for months as I awaited my supervisor’s supervision.

There is the question of how to apply for jobs. Advice about the speculative application varies. I have not found this to be a productive route but I believe in being proactive. I have been told that 75% of jobs are not advertised. If that is the case, then for many people, 75% of companies do not exist. Part of my search has involved actually finding out about which companies are in the field. My own belief is that behind every brand is a potential vacancy.

A question I am commonly asked is about leaving university. For me, it is completely natural. The actual event was completely natural. I will discuss it some other time but it was rather symbolic in the manner it occurred. I’ve always been keen to see tasks completed well and on schedule. I did so whilst others flapped.

There was a time when I believed that I could do anything and my applications reflected that. I can do lots but now I’ve realised that other people cannot see that from a two page CV and my applications are now more focused. With the reports of unemployment, it’s easy to be swept up in the hype. I’ve consigned myself to patience and confidence in myself to eventually find my place. I’m searching for a job at the same time as mon frère and that’s an interesting contrast.

One of the major problems I’ve encountered is the slow pace of the application procedure. Sometimes it takes over 6 weeks for a reply offering an interview in a months’ time. In 10 weeks, outlooks change – that job may have become less favourable against another and the whole exchange becomes a waste of everyone’s time.

Interviews are something which do not faze me. I am not susceptible to nerves and it’s easier to see these as meetings or chats, despite the will to grasp the opportunity, rather than become stressed and erratic. Blunders will occur: in this life, I’ve had the incident when I hung up my coat whilst the employers were waiting to shake hands, the arguments and the jokes misunderstood. I’m sure there will be many more before I retire but being knowledgeable, relaxed and honest often overcomes most obstacles.