Sep 2023-Mar 2024: My looooong quest to find the ‘perfect’ opportunity for myself

I confirmed my acceptance of an offer letter to join one of the companies today. I don’t know if I should feel good about it or not. But here’s something I wanted to journal my thoughts about.

This whole job search process has been a humbling process for me. Not only did it make me face failures but it also made me realize that things may not always happen as we plan them to.

It started almost in September 2023, when I would come back home from work and spend my time looking around for opportunities and applying for them. I would do it, on and often and whenever I would have a chance to. The process seemed all the more difficult because I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do next. Although we had planned that we’d come to India way back in April 2023, I was much more relaxed and thought I should only give it a thought when the days were closer.

Through September, I made a list of sectors I thought I’d be interested in working on. It started with Fintech, Climate tech, FMCG, QSR space, ESG reporting, Public sector, etc, or even with my favorite dessert brand. Then I’d make a list of all the organizations already working in the space. Once I did that, I’d research the company, look for people working there, connect with them over Linkedin, and talk to them etc, etc. I would have also reached out to all my distant relatives and friends hoping to strike a match somehow. Not ending just right there, I brainstormed several dozens of ideas on what I could start my business on (Call it The Shark Tank effect or Mrs. Roongta effect! but I did so). I wasn’t stuck on doing a job or a business, I just knew whatever I did next had to be something I should be happy about and it shouldn’t be just a means to an end.

I kept on doing this process until the end. I’d say it was a bit tiring process, but I guess nothing in this life comes easy. Good things come to only those who work towards it. I don’t know if this process would help me in the future. But I just hope some other way it becomes a fruitful process. In the beginning, I was keeping track of all the companies I was applying for or was sending an email to, but let me tell you, the list was getting longer and I wasn’t able to keep track of it. If I were to give you an estimate of the companies I would have reached out to, it should be no less than 500-600!

In between spending time with family and friends, I gave a couple of interviews and some of it is something, I want to document.

1. It was only at the end of Oct 2023, that I gave my my first interview for a fintech startup in rural lending space. I gave 3 rounds of interviews for it. The first 2 went phenomenal, which were with the team I was going to work with. However, when I was supposed to have my round with the Co-founder, I was highly disappointed. As soon as the call started the founder asked me a question which I quote in his exact words “ Akshara, I have gone through your CV and everything seems impressive about your qualifications, etc. until 2019 (until I qualified), but what happened after that? Why is it taking a downturn after that? (For context, My first professional career stint was only after 2019 post qualification with Nomura)” At this point, I was flabbergasted by the question that the founder did not recognize my work. I felt it was disrespectful in a way to question the overall career trajectory of a person. Whatever role I have worked in, I have always had respect for it, since I have learned a lot in any kind of work that I have done. While they were ready to offer me a job, after my conversation with the co-founder, I denied their offer since I did not think I could work with a founder who does not respect his colleagues.
2. My second interview for the position of executive assistant to the CFO of a multinational tyre manufacturing company somewhere at the end of Dec 2023. Somewhere I think I was a little nervous during my first round of interviews and hence did not qualify for the second round.
3. My third interview was with a renowned D2C Startup in the hemp-based products space somewhere in late January, a place that I think was a professional nightmare. I know startups do not have an organized culture but this was way beyond my expectations. After 2 rounds of detailed interviews with the co-founder and their colleagues, when I tried to reach out to HR a week late, by way of calls, emails, or texts, I received no response! Again, I got to experience that HR ghosting is for real. It left me a little disappointed because I was hopeful based on my conversations. It does not end here though. A month later, when I reached out to the HR and the co-founder asking for feedback out of professional courtesy (only for closure!), the HR responded back saying that my emails ended up in her JUNK FOLDER!!!!!!!!! (The audacity here!). She still insisted on scheduling an interview and I also knew they hadn’t found somebody by then, so I agreed to it. 2 days later after this conversation, when I tried to reach HR again, I was ghosted AGAIN!!!!!!! (THE AUDACITY!!) Nevertheless, I was way past it and never thought about joining this company again.
4. My fourth interview process was with a leading payment gateway company somewhere in mid-February, which I got to give through the reference of a LinkedIn connection who had navigated conversations with the CFO etc. for scheduling an interview for me. ( Trust me, I am in disbelief and also very grateful when people go out of their way to help each other out!). I think I faced my true failure here since I was quite hopeful after my 2 rounds of interviews but unfortunately, it did not materialize.
5. My fifth interview experience was with one of the largest listed MNCs in the Biotech space which again left me flabbergasted. All went well on the technical and behavioral aspects of my interview. However, when the conversation was nearing its end, the interviewer had a question, which he said he “had to ask”. (I have no clue, what rule book “mandated” him to ask this). His question to me was “Are you planning to have a baby anytime soon?!!!!!!!!”. This question completely took me aback. No matter how much soever we talk about equal opportunities for men and women, questions like these sound incriminate and discriminating to me. I will always be left wondering about the relevance of this question and whether would it have been even asked if it were a male colleague. Nevertheless, I was sure to not go ahead with this company anymore.
6. My last and final interview process was with an Insurance company. To give you a brief context here, my brother made a list of contacts he had reached out to when he was doing his job search. I reached out to each one of them in the list by emails/ calls/texts hoping I’d hear from one. Fortunately, that’s how I spoke to HR this company ( I am very grateful my brother made that list and I will remember to do so too!). A few reasons that I liked during my interview process here: I felt welcomed by the managers (Always a green flag). They were nice and cooperative. Not once was I asked the question if I was ready to put in extra hours. (Always a green flag again! I think they were only concerned about whether I would stick with the organization for long, which I wanted to too.) The role was dynamic which is something I liked. The pay was on par. Although there were a few hiccups here and there, I think overall my expectations were met.

My learning from this whole process which I’d recommend to anyone going through the same:

1. Make sure your managers or the people you are going to work with are respectful of you and your boundaries. Having a good manager >>>> any pay scale.
2. If you’re a fresher, this advice is not for you. But for people with 2-3 years of experience: Job role >>>> any pay scale. You wouldn't be motivated for long or would stick around with the company if you don’t like the kind of work you’re doing.
3. Be shameless. Network, network, and network. The world is still kind. It can be a little demotivating when you don’t get a response. But you never know, there are still very kind people on the internet, who’d be genuinely interested in helping you out.
4. If you’ve already resigned from your previous job, remember to pursue hobbies that you’d have otherwise not been able to. It is important to keep your mind at ease during this phase while also learning something alongside. I read/cooked/researched a lot during this whole process to keep myself sane.
5. Lastly, be at it. There’s always light at the end of the tunnel!