My first step to go #extramile :)
I thought many times about doing a job for so many time but didn’t ever take initiative for that in my life. Then at one night I was thinking the same, I should apply somewhere for a job in order to make my career, in order to do something in life. It was Tuesday on 22-08-2017 when I laid down on my bed and thinking about it and then I came to a decision that in the morning I will go to 3 different companies and drop my resume and cover letter their in person in order to do job as a marketing executive in their company as I have to do something in life and it’s the time for me to just start it now.
So, the very next morning I woke, brush my teeth, took my breakfast and get myself ready for going to different companies probably more than 1 in order to go extra miles, as I decided the night. I do through research about the 3 companies where I really wanted to do a job, fill up an online application form where it is necessary and then took my customized resume and cover letters according to that 3 different companies and all my necessary documents and certificates with me, turned on a google map and go on my way.
The first stop of my journey was “Ideas by Gul ahmed” it is a leading fashion brand and their head office situated in Wapda town, Lahore. I reached there by 9.30 am and asked the receptionist to make my appointment with their HR manager, the receptionist asked why I wanted to meet with their HR manager. I told her about my meeting that I came here for a job after listening that she told me to wait there at a sofa and start making a call to the HR, after a couple of minutes she told me to go above at 2nd floor there HR manager is waiting for me. I asked the receptionist the name of the person who is waiting for me in order to create an impression on the HR manager, she told me that Miss Keshf is the name of HR who is waiting for you and she is going to conduct your interview on the spot. I became really nervous as I was there to drop my resume and cover letter only I didn’t even think of an interview but now I have to give my 100% at any cost so I calm down myself go upstairs and there was a woman in office waiting for someone, I knocked the door and greet along with a handshake to Miss Keshf by saying her name with a smile as “Assalam o Alaikum Miss Keshf, How are you?” She replied back in a very soft tone with a same smile on her face. After that interview goes on she asked me about myself, my goals, my education, why I wanted to join them. I told them each and every thing by being real in an interview. Then she asked in which department I wanted to do job. I told her that I am interested in marketing and want to do job in a marketing department then she asked me a question related to marketing that what is the difference between consumer and a customer. I explained her this question really well by giving examples and after listening to my answer she became really impressed and told me that she was really impressed by the way I answered all the questions but the sad news is there is no suitable job available at this time in marketing department for me as our main head office was in Karachi so more jobs are available there in spite of Lahore, would I like to work on any other department with us? I refuses the opportunity as marketing was my major and I don’t wanted to do work in any other department that is of my least or even no interest. The lady become sad and said I kept your CV with me and whenever there is a job available in a marketing department I will let you know about that asap. I show gratitude towards here by saying thank you so much for this favor and time you gave to me and asked for her personal email. She asked me; Why you wanted my personal email? I told her in order to write you a follow up Thank you email. A smile comes on her face and she instantly gave me her personal email address and said it was really nice meeting you hope we will meet again soon. I said In Sha ALLAH and do a handshake in order to say ALLAH HAFIZ and leave the office by keeping a smile on my face. Although it was first ever sudden interview and I become really nervous but alhamdullilah it all went really well and I succeed in it by giving my 100%.
I came outside of the office at 10.45 a.m and the next station of my journey was private company named as “Ruba Digital”. It is a group of “Haier Company” and they give electronic items to customers on installment basis. I start my car and started the google map. The main office of Ruba Digital was situated in Gulberg at “Ashiana Plaza”. I reached there at 11.25 and ask the receptionist to make my appointment with their HR manager. The receptionist said that I should give my CV to her and she will forward it to the HR manager. I insist her to make my appointment with their HR if he is busy right now I can wait. I will sit here and wait for him without disturbing her so that you HR manager will become free and I can meet up with him in person. I also included that I only need 5 minutes of the HR manager and not more than that. But unfortunately on that day there HR manager was actually really busy and has a very important meeting on other office where he has to go on time. So I was unable to meet the HR manager in person although I successful get the personal email of Mr. Naeem the HR manager of “Ruba Digital” so I have no option left other than that to drop my CV their at the reception and the receptionist told me that they will call me within a week for an interview. I left the office by showing gratitude and thanking the receptionist for their time and help and move toward my next station.
The next station of my journey was “Sefam Pvt LTd”. It is a company that owns 12 different most successful brands in Pakistan and I really wanted to be a part of it. I reached Sefam at 2 p.m, entered the office and told the man on a reception that I wanted to meet with their HR manager. He asked why I wanted to meet with him and after telling the whole story the same thing happens. He told me to give my CV and cover letter to him as he will deliver it to the HR manager because he is responsible for all these activities, as he is the one who takes the CV of all the persons who came in the office in order to drop their CV’s and within a week if there is a job available they will definitely call me for an interview. He added that it can even take more than a week if there was no suitable job available. I force him and try my best to convince him to fix my appointment with the HR, I can wait as much as the HR manager become available and I will just take his 5 minutes not more than that. But he refuses to do that and tell me to go. I became so much disappointed and ask for the personal email of their HR, and thank fully he provided me that. I show gratitude at the end and leave the office and after reaching home I send a thank you email to Miss keshf and a follow up email to Sir Naeem and Ali Nouman who are HR managers of “Ruba Digital” and “Sefam Pvt Ltd” respectively and show my passion, ability and skills to them through these emails. Still waiting for a reply or a phone call from them. Hope so I get the call soon.
I learn a lot from my this experience, I learn how to calm yourself in an interview, what actually an interview is, how recruiter talks with you, questions the things with you and was his attitude during an interview. And the challenges that I face during this process was, before this I never go to an office for an interview like this, I never face a recruiter, I never just sit alone with a person in a room talking with him/her in such an intense and nervous environment, it was all new and though challenging for me. And I overcome all these challenges by keeping my self calm and devoted and telling myself again and again that I have to give my 100% without any hesitation without any fear and I did it really well. But for the next time I try my best in order to fix an appointment with an HR manager by sending him a follow up emails or by making him a call but i will do my best to make an appointment with him and meet him at any cost for the next time. And from my experience you all get a chance to learn that always try and take initiate from now in order to go #extramile. This is my experience of taking initiative that I take in order to go extra mile. Start taking your own initiative in order to go extra mile and achieve what you wanted in life. Best of luck :)
