It's the beginning of April 2011 and I am still unemployed. These past 3 FULL months, sometimes day and night, I have been on a pedal-to-the-metal job search. This is definitely one full-time job I will never forget! Thing is, I am a girl who won't just settle for anything or something I don't want with all my passion. I want what my heart wants, set my sights on it, and just GO FOR IT. I put 200% in, and am always blessed with an amazing outcome. I expect nothing less this time around. Hopeless job hunter? Nah, I call it being blessed with trust, faith, and diligence.
Major turning point, March 9, whipped me back into shape. I knew that I needed change, and fast. I was not getting anywhere, just spent too much time cleaning out my rejection-lettered inbox. Here is just an idea of what my experience has been like:
"Dear Ms. Davies,"
"Once again we thank you for your interest in our company. Much to our regret we have to inform you that we cannot consider your application for further short listing. We feel very sorry that your efforts have not been rewarded. But we want to clarify emphatically, that this denial is no negative valuation of your knowledge or abilities."
"We wish you good luck for your private and professional future."
"In the time since you applied, we have had the opportunity to review your profile in consideration for the position. After careful review, our hiring team has decided to not move forward with you for this role at this point in time. Any other positions you may have applied for will be responded to separately. We are sorry that we could not provide you with better news this time, but encourage you to continue to visit our career site for future opportunities."
"All of a sudden we have already found candidates for the Graduate Program. This is the reason why the planned Assessment Center will not take place. Therefore we can not consider your application moreover."
"Unfortunately, after careful consideration we have to inform you that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. We wish you every success in your future career."
So after 3 months of this, I was fed up. Patience was not my ally anymore in this war. I had wasted too much of my life in all the wrong places, or so I think. In the beginning it was so hard and nerve wrecking for me to just sit back and do nothing but write cover letters, enhance resumes, and so on. I was used to the day-to-day routine of having responsibilities in school and in my job. But, as you get used to most things, I got used to being patient. Can you be too patient?
May 9th, Ash Wednesday, the 1st day of Lent, patience heard my battle cry. Now, 23 days later, I can say and prove that I am winning. Patience can take that!
I decided that this Lenten season not only would my main goal be to develop a closer relationship with God and my spirituality, but also to put all of my trust in him and just let go. So while I let him work things out up there, I would search in places I've never searched before, in hopes that I would be led to where I should be after trying all possibilities.
Now Day 23 of 40 of my Lenten plans, I have:
- started my applications in the states while giving up my focus in the German job market and started interviewing for positions the very next day with the following progress:
- Round 1: Marketing company in Chicago, Dannon in Houston, Samsung in Little Rock, Staples in Little Rock, HypoVereinsBank in Munich, ISA in Austin, Red Bull in Austria
- Round 2: Staples, Marketing in Chicago, Samsung in LR
- Round 3: Staples (withdrew my own interest in position)
- forwarded 23+ good deeds out into the world
- read and studied the Bible each morning after I flick on the light and before I turn out my light at night, as well as my Little Black Book :)
- become conscious of my diet by giving up products with refined sugar and alcohol (except the occasional glass of wine...it's healthy!!), resulting in a 10 - 12 pound loss thus far
- plus other little extras that have just grown on me along my journey in the desert :)
My goal is to surface from these 40 days in the desert with my foot in the door of something I've been chasing for months and to have an even greater bond with the Lord. Can't wait to see what's in store! :)
Trust. Faith. Diligence
Therefore I tell you,
whatever you ask for in prayer,
believe that you have received it,
and it will be yours.
