Yet another false hope

I arrived back to KL via MH1 last night from London.

Wanted to write about the short trip, but am now no longer in the mood.

Just now, the hiring manager informed me that they again decided to move forward with another candidate.

Extremely upsetting since I was expecting a good news, at long last.

But in the end, I was still not good enough.

In the end, the struggle goes on.

I wish I could immediately go on to the next job opening, but this company was pretty much my best bet at the moment. The job market has dried up and the available jobs are either incompatible with my profile or at the companies I'm not optimistic about.

Perhaps the biggest setback I've received so far. My default plan is to bear with my current job for the next 3 years and then take a sabbatical leave to further my studies abroad. All depends on when I would graduate with my bachelor's degree.

London calling

Alright so all sorted for departure today.

Got my boarding pass just on time. Thought I'd be declined boarding for MH4 today since it looked like the flight was full. But nay, there's always room for good ole me.

Boarding starts in 30 mins. Hope a goes well inshallah.

And hoping that I could get some piece of good news while I'm there. Anything would do - career, love, etc.

P/s : amende la aku buat gi London tengah2 bulan pose ni

MH4 28 MAR 2023

I've got a friend who travels overseas a lot because of duty.

He's actually a close friend. I was the best man at his wedding in Kedah in 2021.

Last year, he asked me to join him for his 1-week duty trip to Auckland NZ. I said OK but bailed on the last minute due to the usual heap of work at office that I couldn't find time to get my passport done.

I only renewed my passport last January in anticipation of travelling to job interviews overseas.

But that friend never let it go and kept bringing it up about me bailing on him on that occassion. Earlier this year, he let me know that he's got a UK trip during Ramadhan this year and that I better join him this time. I nonchalantly said sure why not. In my mind, I thought it wasn't such a terrible idea. Deeper in my mind, I thought I'd find a perfect excuse that neither him nor myself could blame me for not going.

That day is tomorrow.

Just a week ago it occurred to me what a chore it's gonna be. Having to find spring clothes and he told me just last week that I also have to find my own room. I thought he's booking it for both of us!

Anyway, all sorted now. I'm bunking in his room. Except for some laundry to be done, and confirmation on my flight ticket. I also managed to come up with an excuse to shorten my stay in UK by 2 days -- I had to balik kampung first for Ramadhan with family and my new semester starts 1st of April. If my ticket goes through, I'll be on board MH4 tomorrow 28/3 and come back on MH1 30/3.

I told my parents I was going but told them honestly, I didn't really feel like going. I was just going because I made a promise to a good friend and I knew if I skipped again this time, I would never hear the end of it.

Sometimes, I beat myself up for so easily making commitments to people even at my own expense.

On the upside, the last time I reluctantly took a trip, it gave me a clear mind to think of what I wanted to achieve for this year.

Here's hoping this trip would be just as fruitful (and not at all eventful).

Final exam results & interview day

Today (22/3) was a big day.

First, UKM published the last semester's results.
Ok, before that. I thought last sem (my first)was fairly easy. The classes were at a relaxed pace and the final exams were done online. At least 2 subjects had open book tests. I submitted all the assignments although half of them were late submissions. Bad, I know but I figured that's the least I could do to ensure I still get a passable grade which is anything above 2.00/4.00 GPA.

So, the final results?
Somehow and to my pleasant surprise, I got 3.79/4.00 which is the highest I've ever gotten in my uni studies. Even the highest I ever got during Diploma was 3.35/4.00.

Praise be to God.

Second, I did that interview meeting with the company (refer last 3 posts).

It was pleasant. Basically the hiring manager and me have known each other so it was rather friendly. All he needed from me was to consider the role of which he gave an overview during the meeting. He also wanted to know my salary expectation, to which I replied that it's still the same as before.

Oh, and I was wrong. This position was not higher than the one I initially applied for. It's actually lower but it's fine. It's just that I saw the requirements for this role were higher than the previous one and that's why I thought this was a higher position.

My only problem is that my notice period is 3 months. May have made a mistake to tell it during the interview but hey, if they really want me as much as I want them, I hope it won't be an issue.
Unless they decide to once again go with another candidate which from what he told me, is just one guy that he's supposed to interview this Friday.

I still pray very hard to God that I got this.

Please Allah, in this blessed month of Ramadhan, grant me this.

Still looking for a new job (part 3)

So the hiring manager replied to set the date on Friday. It's gonna be next Wednesday evening. 7 hours time difference between us so it's fair. Basically it's taking place in his first hour at the office and the last for me.

And it's also confirmed that the position he wants to discuss with me about is for Material Support Manager.

Hold up.

Manager? That's actually a higher position than the one I originally applied for.
In fact, it's gonna be the superior for the original position.

Oh God. I'm both excited and nervous. I've never applied for a Manager position. I never even thought of it. Reason is simple. I don't think I'm yet qualified and experienced for it. I'm not ready for such responsibilites, so I think. But then again, is anybody ever?

However, if such opportunity comes at the door knocking, I would of course grab it. Because I don't know if it will ever come again.

Now I have to really prepare myself for the meeting/interview.

I pray to God I get this.

Still looking for a new job (continued)

5. Material Support Service Representative (external, MNC, unsuccessful*)

* Attended the virtual video interview, the f2f session with the MNC's head for Malaysia, and the online session with the team manager in Spain between November and January. Nil update on the jobs portal, it's still showing "Under Review" as of today. Sent an email for status request to the HR Manager, e-mail bounced. I later learnt via Linkedin that she had left the org in December 2022.

Spoke with some people with experience there, they said they'd always let you know if you had been accepted/rejected, but in my case, since the status is still not updated after 2 months, I take it upon myself that I've been rejected. No problem. Just wish I'd known sooner so that I could quickly move on to the next job applications.

So yesterday, the hiring manager e-mailed me again. Confirmed -- they decided to move forward with another candidate.

However, the hiring manager asked if I was interested in another "newly raised position" which he thought I would fit in. And if I was interested, he'd arrange the meeting to discuss.

Took me 2 hours to process this but of course I then replied to let him know that I was interested and would like him to proceed to arrange the meeting.

But that was yesterday. It's been more than 24 hours and he hasn't yet replied with the arrangement details. Now I'm starting to wonder if I did something. Did I write properly that I was interested? Was my language too bad for him to comprehend? Did I take too long to reply? Worse, did the email even get delivered?

Gosh, the anxiety is gnawing at my insides.

Still looking for a new job

I think this has been the 3rd year that I've been floating my resumes and applying for jobs.

Only last year that I began getting invitations to interviews:

1. Senior Executive, PMO (internal, KIV)

2. Executive, Airport Ops (internal, successful but offer was blocked by my HOD because he wants me for no. 4)

3. Lead Document Control (external, unsuccessful) - didn't like it anyway, strong Malay-dominated culture

4. Senior Executive, Ops Support (internal, successful which is the position I've been covering since September 2020)

5. Material Support Service Representative (external, MNC, unsuccessful*)

* Attended the virtual video interview, the f2f session with the MNC's head for Malaysia, and the online session with the team manager in Spain between November and January. Nil update on the jobs portal, it's still showing "Under Review" as of today. Sent an email for status request to the HR Manager, e-mail bounced. I later learnt via Linkedin that she had left the org in December 2022.

Spoke with some people with experience there, they said they'd always let you know if you had been accepted/rejected, but in my case, since the status is still not updated after 2 months, I take it upon myself that I've been rejected. No problem. Just wish I'd known sooner so that I could quickly move on to the next job applications.

I'm really at my wit's end here since all my efforts seem fruitless so far. I've re-done my CV so maybe I should also start attending career coaching sessions too? Not that I can't afford it. It's just that I feel a little bit of shame that I don't even know how to sell myself to prospective employers.

Not that I'm giving up, though. I'll do whatever it takes.

Friday scares

Had 2 scares today.

First one was when I was driving to join a friend for lunch and Friday prayers at Putrajaya. Was passing Dengkil when the traffic in front of me suddenly halted. I managed to brake just few feet away from kissing the bumper of the car ahead of me (thanks to ABS, and keeping the distance) but the Bezza behind me couldn't and was already skidding before it swerved to left. Lucky there was no car in the left lane or I could've been sandwiched.

The second one was when I went to the mamak after prayers to buy an iced tea (today was a hot day). I looked at the road left and right, all clear, and when I was about to cross it, my right foot got stuck in the drainage cover and I tripped and fell on the road. Had the wallet in my right hand so that took most of the impact but I was thankful there was no incoming vehicle. Could have been much worse than just a sprained ankle.

Reminders of how things could go wrong in an instant despite us being careful enough.