Expectations vs Reality

Hello to everyone in the Professional network!

I've long wanted to share an interesting experience with you, and I finally found the time. Starting this story, I understand not everyone may agree, but I emphasize this is my perspective, and I'm ready for any negative comments.

Those who know me, or we have crossed paths, can confirm my willingness to help people looking for new jobs, expecting nothing in return. In one such case, a friend of mine mentioned her son was jobless. Without hesitation, I offered to meet him to see how I could assist. I gave my email and asked for his CV to understand his field and competencies for potential fit in the Job openings among my contacts. After a few days without receiving anything, I met his mother, she said the CV was sent the same day. It turned out to be in my Spam, not because of the content, but due to a pseudonym used, making it look suspicious. The CV was directly downloaded from a platform without edits. I requested a new one to be rewritten in English for our meeting in two days. On the day of our meeting, the English version CV arrived, still was the one from the platform and even less detailed. The hour for our meeting came, 20-21-year-old university student (private university with high taxes per year) and we started to discuss his interests:

- Share what you want to do, so I can help you with a potential interview through my network.

- I love cars and driving.

- Why not open a garage then? A hobby and job in one!

- I don't know much about cars...

- So, what do you want to do?

- I want to learn how to write code/programming. I'll join Academy X, complete their X-month course, and start earning. A friend did it and now earns well, so I'll quit university.

- Do you have any programming knowledge or experience?

- No, but I'll learn like my friend, who even cheated on his final exam and now earns great. I'll get there too.

- Passing the training and the exams doesn't immediately lead to high salaries. You'll need to gain experience, prove yourself, and see if it's the right thing for you, also the employer will have to evaluate your performance periodically and provide you constructive feedback for you to improve your skills and competencies. Don't think the Technologies sector pays high from day one. What will you do while studying with Academy X?

- I need a job, but it must pay at least 2000 net. My parents are planning to buy an apartment for me with a loan and I will have to cover part of it. Also, I need to have my spare time, to enjoy my life and I'll quit my current studies at the university. Also, I'll need a job offering me a home-office option as I'm planning to spend part of my time here and part of my time in my birth town/city.

I looked at him, it was strange, so many requirements, sort of a 1-year work experience (not in the corporate world, but in chains for electronics sale), no education, no unique set of skills and competencies to recognize. In addition to that low level of English, speaking, listening, and writing. I was direct:

- Listen, mate, you will have to lower the requirements and the expectations. By meeting me, there's no guaranteed job for you but more likely an option to have an interview where you will have to prove yourself as a bright young talent with potential and to impress the hiring manager and the recruitment team. You cannot define the conditions of employment, you have nothing to offer in particular so far, and in case of an interview and hiring/job offer, you will have to accept the company's conditions and to start developing yourself and building your reputation as a professional, as you are now at the beginning of your professional path. When it comes to the university, complete at least Bachelor's degree and don't leave, this is a mistake that I made back in the days and till today it's a stopper more or less for me. Let's agree on the following, here is my CV, check the structure, check the sections added, and check the length. Prepare one new English version, by following the example with mine, you can use help tool X, and let's catch up after Christmas and New Year. Then, we will check your language skills and potentially will see the openings on the market and my professional network.

Have a nice evening, enjoy the Holidays, and take care!

Second month in a row, that there's no answer from this young guy. However, I understood that he is still without a job. The worst thing here is that his mother shared with friends that I wasn't much of a help and also that I was expecting a CV of a COO for her son and me keeping in mind that he has very little work experience.

Briefly said, I wasn't expecting such a thing from the kid and also expressed my desire to help with guidance and shared what has to be improved. More or less disappointed but life will continue for sure :)

Now, let me share a few things and please accept everything as advice in aspects of your career development and to be successful while looking for a job:

1. When someone is offering help in the aspect of job opportunities, don't accept that as confirmation of employment. Those days are long gone and nowadays the best we can do is to recommend someone to reach an interview. Nevertheless, in the eyes of the hiring manager and the recruitment team, the candidate will need to have a particular skill or at least the potential to be developed further. Back in the days, I started my career without a recommendation or referral, not complaining but it's always easier when you have a contact to help.
2. Your CV is presenting you, before the call of the recruitment specialist or the face-to-face meeting with the company's representatives. Actually this is your interview invitation. An impressive, well-structured, and detailed CV/Resume in sort of two pages (the length may vary depending on the sector of course) will attract the attention of the Hiring team and might be the main reason for you to be invited for a job interview. It's not always about 5 years of industry experience or 10 certificates for accomplishments. If you start your career path just now, nobody's expecting huge experience in your CV. I still remember one candidate with very unique CV style and believe it or not, this was the main reason to be invited for an interview with me and the assistant manager. He performed excellently, presented himself very well, and answered our questions, basically amazing time spent during the interviewing process with the candidate, and after this guy received a job offer. Later on, he started working with us.
3. Make sure that you are applying for a position fitting your interests and career/development plans. It's very important to be fully aware of what you are looking for. Just a job to cover some expenses, a new starter position in a particular field to develop yourself further, or a job in fields that will represent real interest for you and combined will contribute to your professional development. Yes, the Technology sector sounds amazing, but definitely, this is not for everyone (and still not paying sky-high salaries from day one).
4. Don't expect amazing high salaries above 2000-3000-4000 net (for some companies above 2000 is a paygrade for senior positions) at the start, no matter the area of operation or business you will have to accept the company's offer as a Junior and step by step to achieve promotion. Still remember my first job in the corporate world for an outsourced project, just accepted the new starter position to gain experience (believe me the salary was quite below 2000). Later on in the same company, I was promoted to Team Lead for a temporary project and again accepted without hesitation and salary negotiation because of my development in the aspect of People management. Let's say that a high salary comes with years of hard work and dedication, once you have experience and a certain reputation as a professional in your field. One colleague made a joke once that I was sitting on the "Iron Throne" because of my position in the company. My answer was that the "Throne" was free for everyone willing to take on the responsibilities coming with the position. He never mentioned anything about it after. A high salary sounds sweet, but are you ready for every operational aspect and responsibility coming with the same?
5. Home Office or Hybrid model of work. When I started working at the age of 17, I wasn't the most disciplined employee. It took me years to build myself, to follow the rules, and to understand that additional responsibilities are coming with the job itself. No offense but when you are 20-21 with very little work experience the home-office operation or the hybrid model of work is not the best option for you. You need to communicate daily with experienced colleagues and supervisors to learn constantly and improve, to have constructive feedback sessions, to understand the operation and the company's needs in detail. The best way to do that is by visiting the office. After a year or two, when you are fully aware of all operational aspects and needs, and also know by heart your job, duties, and responsibilities, plus a strong work ethic, you can request a hybrid or home-office work and work that way with the approval of the company. Yes, the home office sounds sweet and nice but are you ready for such operation and do you believe that you will cover the working hours and the tasks assigned properly without having certain discipline and supervision?
6. Finish your studies. Some of you might say that I'm not ok and these days every company is looking at the experience of the candidate if he has 2,3,4 years of experience everything is fine. I'm ready to argue with that, as here my experience is talking, as I'm with incomplete studies in the field of Tourism-Bachelor. Even without a requirement for a university degree quite frequently candidates with such will be prioritized. Also if you try to submit your CV without a completed Bachelor's degree for an opening with a big corporation, there's a huge possibility of being rejected automatically from the system even with amazing experience behind. At least complete your education for your own self-esteem.
7. In the end, let's imagine that you have started a new job. You are there, you are working as a Junior and you are quite happy. Few things to consider and never forget:- focus on the training in the beginning, as the same will represent your daily duties with the company. Understand the job specifics.- understand the company's culture, rules, policies, and requirements. Make sure to follow those.- listen carefully to your direct Manager/Supervisor and accept constructive feedback rightly. Nobody is screaming at you, arguing with you, or fighting. Every feedback shared by him is linked to your development and improvement. - make sure that you are performing your duties as per the requirements, procedures, and policies of the company.- never forget that the first months of your employment (being 3 or 6) is the time for you to prove yourself as a valuable and dedicated employee, to understand is this your spot/job, and for the company to evaluate your performance and in the end to take decision in terms of contract (extension or end of the contract before the end of your test period).

Make sure to have always the right expectations and not exaggerated ones. Yes, people are talking, and numbers are flying here but behind those, there are some facts to face. To have a nice job and a big salary is a nice thing but there's a path to be chosen, not an easy and simple one. Be realistic always!

I hope all written here will help you youngsters and good luck with your job search!