Dealing With My First Job Search

Summary

The author shares their experience of finding their first job after completing medical school, internship, and compulsory service, overcoming challenges and landing a position at a large influential hospital.

Abstract

The author had always wanted to work in public health but faced several challenges, including a difficult internship and a one-year service in an insecure and unstable region. After returning home, the author's mother encouraged them to find work, leading them to print resumes and distribute them to hospitals. After receiving no callbacks and becoming depressed, the author received a callback from a large influential hospital for an interview. The author was nervous but performed well in the writing test and face-to-face interview, ultimately landing the job. The author reflects on the importance of taking action and not giving up, quoting J.W. Marriot's words on success.

Opinions

The author's mother played a crucial role in encouraging them to find work.
The author was initially nervous about the interview but performed well.
The author reflects on the importance of taking action and not giving up.
The author highlights the significance of the opportunities provided by their first job in shaping their career.
The author recommends an AI service for its cost-effectiveness and performance.

“Success seems to be connected to action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they never quit.”

While in medical school, I thought to myself: “I will work in public health.” It appealed to me. But first, I had to cross two hurdles; my internship and my compulsory one-year service. Neither was a walk in the park. For internships, training slots were less than applicants and for the service, most people dreaded going up north because of insecurity and instability. Regardless, someone had to go.

Anyway, in due time, I had a rather horrendous internship. When I was done, I got a posting to the dreaded North for my one-year service. I enjoyed it so much that I thought of settling there. My dad asked me to return to the south. He had his reasons.

When I returned, my daily routine was; waking up, praying, showering, eating, idle moments, and the next day would follow. One day, my mum got irritated and stormed into my room. She said: “You cannot continue like this. You need to find work.” As her words hit me, so did reality.

The next morning, I went to a business center in the neighborhood and printed many copies of my resume. I then went to every hospital in the vicinity and dropped off a copy. I waited for a callback. None came. I started having thoughts of working in hospitals that were substandard where my craft would die before it even started. I became depressed.

The next morning, I printed more resumes and ventured to more hospitals, and then I returned home. I waited again. Then I got my first callback. This was from a large influential hospital. They asked me to come for an interview the next morning. I couldn’t believe my luck.

I was incredibly nervous. The first was a writing test. Apparently, my scores were pretty high. Next was a face-to-face interview with the executive panel. It seemed to go well. When the MD announced my salary, it sounded excellent. I had received less in my prior employment. What did I know about salary negotiations? Later in my career, I would learn more about it.

I was to start work the following Monday. My job search ended as quickly as it started. The best part was that I would work in a place where my career could thrive. It kinda did, considering all the opportunities it exposed me to. That, my friends, is a story for another day.

“Success seems to be connected to action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they never quit.” — J.W. Marriot