My name is Patrick Wai and I am looking for a job. I’ve been out of work for nearly 6 months, staying home with my newborn, and only in the past few weeks started the search for my next venture. The newspapers tell us that the local unemployment rate is at its lowest in 3 years, and I read somewhere on Monster that the average time it takes to land a job is 4 to 6 months – small comfort to my friends who have been looking for over 2 years. I am readying myself for a marathon.
I hear advice from job seekers all the time. Some people tell me to grab whatever I can find. “Once you have a job and get off unemployment, you can relax a bit and take your time looking for your dream job.” Yeah, but who has time when you’re working full-time? Others remind me: “Do what you love and the money will follow.” I don’t think sipping coffee in a cafe in Paris will pay the bills, unless I become a travel writer.
I know finding a job will take a lot of hard work, involving thousands of resumes, talking to scores of companies, and interviewing with dozens of potential employers. I am ready. I found my old copy of What Color is Your Parachute? and tomorrow I will begin my search by reviewing some of the best Venture Capital firms to find out where they are channeling their funds. It’s going to be a busy day. [Patrick Wai]
