My Longest Job Interview - Two Years and I still Failed
When I was working as a project manager during 2010s, I held another role as a technology and risk specialist. My manager told me that the risk specialist role is not available in Asia yet, but the company needed a resource to execute some risk management projects. Given that I do not have any experience in risk management, I should take up the challenge. When the role is available in my region, I will be the obvious candidate to take that role.
Since it is a new opportunity, I did my best to fit into the new role. I have to balance between 2 job roles. I did not know how managed, but I got all the projects done. In the 2 years, I have travelled and got to know many of the project stakeholders. When the role was finally available, the role was based in China and not in my home country. The concentration of the stakeholders was in China; therefore, new role should be based there as well. My two years job interview for the new role turned out to be a failure. I am disappointed but I am not angry as it was a logical business decision. There was no compensation or anything except a pat on the shoulder.
I literally worked 2 jobs on a single salary, and I got nothing to show for. It is only after more than 10 years my technology risk management skill becomes useful. A potential client who is building and managing data centre needed advice in insurance. The insurance agent could not understand the technical jargons while the client could not understand the insurance terms. So, I have been invited to act as the bridge between two parties. If I am successful, I will be able to expand my services into the data centre industry.
If I did not take up that risk specialist role, I would not be invited into the data centre meeting. All our actions lay down some kind of seed for the future. Many seeds will not grow but sometimes it takes more than 10 years to see the results of our efforts. Whatever that you are doing now, give it all your best. Take up as many opportunities as possible. Some opportunities may yield results. Many will not yield anything. While a few will give you returns that is beyond your imagination. So, make everyday count, make every action count.