The job hunt: the light at the end of the tunnel

During my required consultation with Pole Emploi in early March, my designated counselor signed me up for workshops and a program called Acceler’emploi destined to help me improve my CV and job interview performance. In exchange, I need to commit to these programs as long as I am unemployed and subscribed to their services. 

And so, after three failed job interviews in April, I continued participating in the seminars. They took place once a week for an entire day via video conference. At the same time, I practiced what I have learned from these sessions and resumed sending out my job applications to existing offers. This time, I am wiser and better equipped. I knew better what to look for, how to bridge the qualifications the offers specify with my experiences and expertise. I have become more eloquent with my choice of words too. 

Two weeks into the Acceler’emploi program and simultaneously sending applications, my phone was ringing off the hook. In mid-April, I underwent nine interviews in two weeks for five leads. I was headhunted for one, and I received two job offers by the end of the second week of interviews.

Today, I will try, as briefly as I can, to recount these five leads so that I can describe the experience of:

  • how I handled multiple interviews

  • how I declined an offer

  • how I accepted an offer

  • how I informed the rest that I took another offer.

  1.  Part-time Remote Office Assistant

    Where: a European-based international social media analysis platform
    Recruitment process: Two weeks (and counting)

    First thing one fine Monday, April morning, I logged into MS Teams to attend my 10:00 a.m. scheduled interview. It was for a Prague-based international social media analysis platform. The position was nowhere near social media management but rather for a part-time office assistant job. For this posting, I would be in charge of the day-to-day operations of their Paris office. They needed someone comfortable and knowledgeable about French policies and protocols. Apparently, even with France being an EU member, it has separate protocols that complicate simple office procedures for international businesses. I would have served as the liaison officer between the Paris office and the global headquarters.

    Three weeks after the interview, I received a follow-up email. The HR personnel said they have not proceeded with the next phase of the recruitment process and are still undergoing the first interview. This email came as I am drafting this post. When this article gets published, I would have already informed them that I am no longer available to proceed to the next phase.

  2. CDI Program Assistant

    Where: a lifelong e-learning platform for a start-up
    Recruitment process: 5 days or so…

    This was the only interview I did sur place. All the other interviews were done via video conference. The following day after my interview with this online school, I received a call from one of the co-founders. They offered me the position. 

    That sounds like good news. Of course, this was the first job offer I received since I started sending out my CV and since I’ve gotten interviewed! And yet… 

    Okay, this is where things became…weird. My expectations of a job proposal are a detailed offer, followed by a written and formal offer sent by email. I should base my decision on an official offer, taking my time, no matter how interested I may be. However, for this offer, I could only assume they wanted a decision in an instant basing on their reaction. Which was odd, to say the least. Even with my enthusiasm, an offer for a permanent position needs to follow basic protocol—especially a permanent position (read: hard to replace and time-consuming to go through the recruitment process again).

    When I was offered the position by phone, I thanked them and asked for more details about the offer. They were shocked and asked what I meant by my request. I was equally stunned by the confusion. Nevertheless, I remained calm and said that I would want to know the package that comes with this position. I was promised I would receive an email with the details. Then, I asked when they would need a definite answer. They requested a quick and definitive answer the following day. Then we hung up.

    I had another interview that afternoon (see n°3), and so I waited for their email until my interview was over. Nothing. Before the workday ended, I sent an email telling the co-founder I was interested but would like to have more information to decide on my answer, as agreed.

    The following day, when I was supposed to answer, I still received no email. I called them later that afternoon and was told that they’d call me back.

    The weekend passed—still nothing. Finally, in the absence of an email and a callback, I decided to decline the offer by mail.

    Even after declining the offer, I received no response. This is just bizarre. I phoned several friends to ask if I did something wrong along the way. We all agree it is beyond usual. Strange, even. And very unprofessional. Being a start-up does not excuse anyone from communicating unprofessionally, even with candidates.

    Truth be told, I’m glad I didn’t waste another minute thinking about this offer. It would have been an awful experience if I had to work with this kind of atmosphere.

  3. CDI International relations coordinator

    Where: International business school based in Paris
    Recruitment process: Two weeks

    Among all five opportunities, this was what I was vying for. In addition to my CV and cover letter, I had a recommendation letter from one of my former colleagues. It was promising! 

    I received a call from the HR manager the following week after sending my application. I was scheduled for an interview later that same week. This would be the last interview I would do. 

    As you could imagine, eight interviews (fourteen in total) have elapsed before this one. At this point, I was my most confident ever. I had an outstanding recommendation, sufficient practice, and an HR manager who is really gifted to make applicants comfortable. Using her words: This is an exchange, to get to know you better. This is not a test

    The following week, I received news that I did not make it for the second round of interviews. They thought that I was overqualified and that I might end up leaving the position sooner than later with my advanced degree.

    Looking back, this question often came up. This position is quite far from what I used to do for the past five years. I might not have convinced them enough of my intentions of staying with this position. 

    I was disappointed because I wanted to work with my former colleague again. Additionally, Working with this school meant going back to my MA roots (both my University and this school are based in the same region). Also, I know I would do a good job being an international relations coordinator, advising students in exchange programs, as I used to do in my past jobs and volunteer works.

  4. CDI Planning assistant, language assistant

    Where: Business school based in Paris
    Recruitment process: Two weeks

    As I was preparing for the consecutive interviews I had scheduled for the entire week, I missed a call from a head hunter. It was unclear to me where they retrieved my profile and would later realize it might have come from Pole Emploi. I was being headhunted for a position as a planning assistant for a bachelor's degree program for a business school. I have no other information aside from the initial information provided, but who was I to refuse? I agreed to proceed with the next step. Another head hunter phoned me for the next days trying to match my profile to the job description. The ultimate question was tricky: the question of salary expectations. It turns out that they are offering lower than what I initially announced. Still, I reassured them that I am open to negotiations. More phone calls came, but I never got through the school's HR. The last call came when I have already accepted another offer (see n°5). I missed the head hunter's call as I was about to write her an email announcing the update on my application. I still chose to call her back. I never got through to speak to hear, but I left a message instead. She didn't return my calls nor answered my email.

    I guess she spared no time and moved on to another eligible candidate. 

  5. CDI Online program coordinator

    Where: International business school based in Paris
    Recruitment process: Two weeks (and very responsive!)

     Saving the best for last, the interview that got me a job. For this position, I went through three interviews: one with HR, another with the immediate manager, and the last one with the department director. In addition, I also had a four-item homework to do which gave me a concrete idea of what the position entails. Finally, when I got through three interviews, submitted the assignment, and after a series of phone calls, I had to provide two character references. All of these took place in two weeks. I could only assume that they made the phone call to my colleagues the following Monday morning. At 1:30 pm, I received a call from the HR director saying: well I guess you have to join us, Madame. 

    It was the coolest and breeziest way someone could offer me a job. Everything else that followed fit right into my expectation: the packages were explained thoroughly. The HR manager even drafted the mail while we were on the call. I felt valued and warmly welcomed right at that moment, even if I haven't even agreed to take the job yet.

    There was no doubt; I was taking this job. At that moment, I still didn't know the verdict for lead n°4. As I was drafting a message and waiting for the official email with the formal job offer, I received a notice announcing that I didn't make the cut. I was disappointed, but not for long. I didn't have a dilemma. All I had to do was accept the offer, the best one I've had so far.

    When it's time, it's time. When it's the right one, it just fits. When it's the one, you'd know. As I finish this draft, I am hours away from stepping into "my new office." I'm excited. I can't wait to write about "my first job in France" Okay, I still have to get through the three-month probation period (période d'essai). Fingers crossed it goes as smoothly as it came!

 

For immigrants still on the job hunt

I can only hope that you, dear reader, who have come across this post are on your way to getting a job offer. If not (yet), please do not lose hope! It's easy to lose sight of the end of the tunnel when you've been in the dark for too long but trust me, TRUST ME, I've been in that tunnel for a long time (and this is definitely not the first time, I’ve been on it repeatedly, more willingly than you could imagine, it’s strange why I keep coming back, really…), and I assure you, there is a way out. Just keep going, rest if you must, lead another path if you will, but never quit.

On top of that, please do not settle on something less than what you are worth. You know how much you’re worth, you know what you’re worth, and you’ve done your research. You’re not going through this blindly. I can’t tell you how willing I was to say “yes” to everything because of sheer desperation. If your gut tells you no, it’s not time; reconsider. Listen to your three brains: your mind, your heart, and your gut.

My first interview seemed right, felt right, I was excited, everything about it was pointing in the right direction, except that my gut was telling me otherwise. It kept pulling my back and telling me something was off. Later on, I realized it was because something better was coming along. I didn’t know it then. I took the time to grieve. I did feel hopeless. But two weeks later, I bounced right back.

If it’s the right offer, if it’s the right opportunity, if it’s the right time, your three brains - your mind, heart, and gut, these three will agree in harmony and will converge with everything else in your universe.

 

For the curious reader  

I hope this serves as light entertainment for you and that you were able to see a peek of just one of the aspects of the plight of a willing immigrant’s (ex-pat, if you will) to find their place in their new home.