A period of unemployment can be daunting and taunting, particularly for individuals who are equipped with relevant skills and qualifications, and have desire to work. I was in this situation years back which made me to doubt my ability with a feeling of anxiety and low self-esteem. I am excited to share my success story with you now.
Upon relocation to the United Kingdom, my initial thought was that it would be easy-peasy for me to secure gainful employment that matched my impressive qualifications and background, but this assumption was far from the reality. I became an active jobseeker who spent considerable amount of time looking for jobs, optimising CV and LinkedIn, completing application forms and submitting applications, yet had no prospect of securing a job but clung to hope.
Six months into unemployment, the silence from hiring organisations and rejection feedback from recruiters raised self-doubt and insecurity. Not having UK and sector experience was a key theme from the offered feedback. As I navigated my journey, I grappled with questions like: how does my extensive overseas HR experience compare to my current HR experience in the UK? Or, perhaps, how does HR experience across sectors or industries differ from each other?
And, most pressing, how does one gain experience if the opportunity is far from one’s reach? Things looked glooming, and as the saying goes, “hope deferred makes the heart grow weary”, discouragement and distress set in which significantly impacted my confidence and identity.
In all this, I was resilient and giving up was not an option as I got inspiration from meditating on Good News, which was comforting. In the midst of my worry and confusion, a gentle whisper I considered divine suggested, “what about finding a mentor?” However, I was faced with a new challenge: how to find a mentor when I barely knew anyone in the UK?
Immediately, I sprang into action by searching for a good mentor. My persistence paid off one day when my soon-to-be mentor shared an interesting article which I read. A connection request was sent which was kindly accepted. From the depths of uncertainty to the heights of hope, mentorship emerges as a guiding light, illuminating the way forward.
Through the mentoring act, I was able to navigate unemployment and secured a gainful employment which set me up for a brighter and greater future with restored confidence. Through my story, we are reminded that even in the darkest moments, the power of connection and guidance can spark a beacon of hope, empowering us to overcome adversity and unlock our full potential.
Indeed, Mentorship Makes Sense. I present mentoring as a valuable developmental tool which can drive impacts irrespective of your level, status and your career journey. _____Self-Reflection_____ What inspired you about this story? Leave feedback – your names and details will be anonymised.