I was busy doing what I usually do – getting up in the morning, having my breakfast, and sitting down with my laptop to apply for a job. After sending various applications through different job portals, mails or LinkedIn, I would settle down to study for CFA Level 2 exam and would continue till evening (of course, taking breaks in between). On one fine evening, I got a call. It was regarding the job I applied to one of the companies. As a matter of fact, I really didn’t remember that company because every day I used to apply in different companies and it is difficult to remember or keep a track of it. The call lasted for 30-45 minutes and I was unaware that it was the first round of interviews because the guy on the other side didn’t mention it. I answered everything that he asked without realizing that it was actually an interview. He asked me at the end when I can come for the test. I answered with a question that when he wanted me to? He replied ‘the sooner, the better’.

The next day, the HR called and told me that I cleared the first round and would like me there for other rounds. I asked her to mail me the job description and the address so that I can decide accordingly. I received the mail and the next thing I did was sending a text message to my sister saying –‘Hey, are you free? I am coming to Noida for the interview and I hope you are not leaving the city this week.’ Since she moved to Noida three years back, I hadn’t been there. Everything happened instantly that even I couldn’t figure out what’s going on. I landed in Delhi, the day before the interview. I had a mixed feeling – excited about the job but a disliking for the city. Though half of my relatives stay in Delhi or NCR but I never liked that place. All the way home from the airport, I was wondering how will stay here if I joined the company. But before joining it was important to clear the interview, so I focused on that keeping aside the random thoughts.

My interview process on the first day lasted for four hours- which comprised lots of written tests and a face-to-face interview. After clearing the face-to-face interview, I was eligible for another online test that held after a day gap which gave me some time to prepare. The online test too lasted for 2-3 hours. After giving so many tests, I wondered if I had sat for MBA entrance exam I would have cleared it. The next day I received the call regarding the test result. I cleared and was selected. After months of job search, I was offered a job in a different city that was never my preference. However, I was always ready to relocate but Delhi or NCR were never my first choice. With a hope in heart, I moved to Noida. I wish the city offers me a lot of opportunities and opens a new door to fulfill my goal. But one thing I realized, no matter what never lose hope. In a fraction of seconds, life changes before one could realize what is actually happening.

There was a dialogue in a movie that I recently watched, –‘there are two types of people – one, who is a “job person” and the other, a “career person”’. I am a “career person” because I didn’t comprise with the profile. I was determined that I would join the particular profile no matter how much time it takes to find. I would better stay jobless than joining a job that doesn’t belong to my area of interest. A piece of advice from my end – if you really want to set your career in a particular field, never compromise on the profile. The call not only changed my location but also the content of ‘about me’ page of my website. Now, I am not a ‘job-seeker’ but an ‘opportunity-seeker’ with a job!