How Do I get a Chance for Interview via Networking - Working at Fortune 500 Company

As you all probably realised, the world economy is picking up now. The covid-19 pandemic has started to get less and less severe in most countries, and to be fair no country would allow itself to starve from the stagnant economy. They have to open their border eventually. Added to that, the rise in commodity prices due to unfortunate events in Ukraine has raised the oil price to its highest.

As graduates, you'd probably look for a way to break through to the industry. Some might think that competencies are all you need. However, the petroleum industry, like many other industries, tends to be in a closed-loop, meaning that networking and recommendations go beyond what you might think. I have wrote about what things I wish I knew for my current role in here.

But today's story is where my networking goes a long way and provide me a chance to get an interview with one of the Fortune 500 companies (my current employer). In fact, the first job before my current employer is actually referred by my classmate in college.

In 2013, I was working as a petrophysicist for a KSO, which basically means joint body of a small company operator with NOC of Indonesia (Pertamina), operating in the Ramba field, Sumatra. I was learning a lot, first time handling 114 wells with clastics and carbonates reservoir definitely not a small feat for a year graduates. Nevertheless, I survived, but the company is struggling at the time, and suddenly I left with no choice but to find another company. During my time there, I actively discussed about petrophysics with peers from another company via a google grup domains, from IAGI (Indonesian Geology Association). I tried my best, to always active in the group, even though I rarely helpful with a limited experience I had at the time. But people there is very nice, a senior who always tried to help their junior peers (thanks pak BG!).

Finally, one day an email popped up in the group, someone is looking to hire a petrophycist for their company. What an opportunity!

However, as you can probably tell, they were looking for a senior position, not a junior position. Since I know the guy sending this email, I private email him and ask if there is a junior position for a similar role. And surprise, surprise, he said just send him my resume and he'll forward it to his Boss. No promise, but he'll try!

I send it that afternoon, and I got a call for interview, and email follow up just 3 hours after sending it. Thanks mas Naslin!

The interview was not smooth by any means, for whatever reason the hiring user which was supposed to interview me left me stranded for 2 hours. I almost lost the chance, but for what its worth, I eventually got hired, and luckily stayed till now. Almost 9 years now.

If I was to learn anything from this, is that I just knew that NO ONE asking that person who post the senior position job for another junior role. I repeat, NONE.

Lesson 1: To me, there is no harm asking something, even if the chance is slim. You'll miss 100% if you don't ask. Most of the job requirements is a wish list, if you check more than 50% of the requirements, I'd say take a shot at it.

In my case, I don't even make a cut, but I did it anyway, cause I know the guy, I can send the private email, and he help with the rest.

Lesson 2: always be kind with people, show emphaty, as we will never know that someone might be your Boss, your referral friends, colleague that you need help from. God knows. Networking isn't just say hi, but should be organic, and not an overnight relationship. You grow it a centimetre at a time, and someday the fruit of your labor would show up-- in any means that sometimes you don't realize.

Remember, you can only connect the dots backward (Steve Jobs).

Thanks for reading!

Till next time

-AAW