As in the previous chapter I addressed the why part of the dream of moving to UK, in this part I want to address the how of the process. This is the process I had to invest a lot of my time and effort, and luck played its part as well.
(If you have missed the previous part: Chapter one: the Vision)
So after having visualised my dream I had to start working on it. Let me walk you through it.
- Job interviews:
So one month and 50 job applications later, I started getting acknowledgement emails. Some either stated straightaway that I did not fit the person specification while others realized a few replies later. I am not going to lie, it was frustrating!
The wait was long and my patience was getting shorter by the day. I checked my email a million times a day!
Finally I was shortlisted for an interview in a prestigious hospital for two posts. I jumped with joy. And then came along a few problems.
- Online Skype interview: I had to make sure I had a good internet connection, good lighting, background was neat and clean, good sound etc
- Dress code: Although it was online, I had to look professional and geeky chic. I opted for a blazer and let my sister do my makeup. And my specs added the geek factor.
- Time zones: So a 3 pm interview technically meant 19:30 in India.
- Accents: This was my biggest fear, of not being able to understand their questions. I watched a lot of British movies!
- Interview questions: Since this was my first interview ever in life I was so nervous. I watched a lot of YouTube videos to prepare basic questions (my weakness, strengths blah blah), read up about the hospital, the city it was located in, the type of visa I would need.
My first Skype interview experience:
So I was set and ready to go. I locked my parents and sister in their bedrooms to avoid interruptions. And I signed into my Skype account only to realize they had called me 10 minutes earlier and I had missed their call! I called up the hospital frantically but could not reach them. I tried calling them back, emailing them, only to be dejected.
I had missed the interview. I was so sad, anger and depressed. After all the preparation, I had failed.
However soon after, the second opportunity came through. A week later I was due to be interviewed by the same hospital. This time I was on my Skype account all ready to go 30 minutes prior. Finally the call came through. They asked me basic clinical questions and I answered them all. I was able to understand the accent perfectly well. All in all, I thought it went really well.
15 days went by and I did not hear back from them. So I emailed to find out and was informed the position was filled by some other candidate 5 years senior to me. They asked me to apply a year later.
I was really sad. So after two failed interviews I wanted to give up. I was getting impatient. I continued working in India and kept applying. However I had very little hope.
2 months later another opportunity came by.
I changed jobs in India to gain experience and get paid double than my previous one. The corporate trust induction training at the new place coincided with the scheduled UK interviews. I had made up my mind to give the interview a miss. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush, right?
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work”. – Thomas Edison
On an impulse I asked to be excused for 30 minutes from the training on the pretext of meeting my parents urgently; I ran back to my place (I lived 10 minutes away)
This time I did not have any make up on, I was wearing a formal shirt, and I wasn’t prepared with any questions, all I knew that the city had a famous football club (I don’t even watch football!).
So I threw a white sheet to cover up the mess in the background and waited for the Skype call.
The interview went on smoothly, they did ask me about the place and I sheepishly said I followed their football club. (Lol) I ran back to complete my training.
One week later they sent me the job offer.
I screamed, jumped, cried and danced. I had crossed the biggest hurdle so far. I was finally in!
I am going to conclude this part of my story with the best saying ever by my favourite author,
“When you want something, the entire universe conspires in helping you achieve it”. – Paulo Coelho
Copyright 2018 Chris Lemos All rights reserved
Typical that the first interview call came early! Oh well, there were better things around the corner… Well done! Waiting for chapter 3… X
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Thank you!! ❤️
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Doesn’t life work in mysterious ways?!! What an experience! And LOVE the quote by Paulo Coelho!!!❤
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It absolutely does! Right things happen at the right time..
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I could feel all the emotions that you must have felt the day you got your admit. So well written!
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Thanks a lot dear. I am glad you liked it. I was so nostalgic while writing this post!
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(I took the last quote in hindi, sounds better. Haha…
JK.😜)
(where are you from, u do know hindi right?)
Wow. That was tough. I could really imagine your happy face when u got ur job.
And all those failures, yikes! Already feeling them. I missed alot of opportunities earlier(in the context of studying, and not the job)…
And, your success is just motivational. And right now, when i want to give up, it’s given me hope and courage to face what is next.
Idk y, but i had been wanting to read such stories. And i am really glad u r writing yours. It is very much needed right now.
Thank you
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Even when you feel all hope is lost, pick yourself up, get on a smile and go on. You never know when opportunity will just walk through. All my lowest expectations got me great opportunities.
Yes I do know Hindi and remembered the quote in the movie ‘Om shanti Om’ 😬😬
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Yep. Noted.
Thank you so much for writing all this at this perfect time.
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Just glad u didn’t give up….:)
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Or else you would be bored in the UK!!
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A good lesson to never give up!! 🙂
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