The final push

I had a phone call on Thursday morning from a sales chap wanting to arrange a meeting to discuss my wealth management!!!! I explained, that I didn't have any wealth and I am in the process of looking for a job. Nice to be considered though. I'm not sure I would ever want that much money. It all seems very complicated to be 'wealthy' and not only complicated, exhausting. Making that much money is one thing, keeping hold of it seems like a whole lot of hard work.

I have spent another full day sat in front of my laptop, cross referencing merger & acquisition law conferences, researching lawyers and reading articles on international law. I finally have decided to close the paper. It is a substantial 10 pages long and I must say, I am quite proud of my achievements. I have put a huge effort into this. I can look them in the eye at my interview tomorrow and say honestly 'I gave it everything I've got'. I have even enjoyed it.

A few final amendments and some notes, as they are clearly going to ask about the paper in the interview.

On Friday I went for an early morning run and some positive music to set me up for the day. I am calm in the knowledge I have really done all that I can for this. A trip to the supermarket and to find a printing shop. It's one thing I have noticed from my travels that when it comes to needing to print something, a task that is oh so simple in any other situation, becomes quite a challenge when travelling. Luckily, I stumbled across a tiny little shop, with a printer the size of the shop. $7 dollars and I had my paper ready for the interview.

I sent the paper and settled into some last minute interview preparation. The more I read about the company and the position the more I think it is the job for me. I am ready to really apply myself and make my dreams happen. I am ready for dedication and hard work. I have been building my confidence and strength for the past two years and I believe I am ready for any challenge that comes my way. This role would be hard work. But if I am not ready now, then when will I be?

The interview was tough. Questions being fired at me from three different people, one of them in the London office on a video conference call. It was hard to engage with Vicki, the head of global events on a TV screen. I answered the questions as best as I could. I think I showed my potential and enthusiasm for the role. For an hour and a half I had to answer questions on the role, the company, my experience and my paper. All of the interviewers had a different style. It was hard to keep up. Nothing ever worth having was easy. I hope this is the proof of that. That all my hard work and dedication will pay off and they will offer me the position. I asked when I would find out and they said they are interviewing a few other 'strong candidates'. They also said they are ready to recruit immediately, so I think I'll hear on Tuesday or Wednesday next week. Positive thoughts are crucial now. I will enjoy the weekend. A brunch has been mentioned tomorrow and some drinks with the girlies on Saturday evening.

I will have a look to see if any new positions have been posted on the job websites, but I wont start applying till I hear form Euromoney. I like to stay focused on one job at a time. If they don't offer me the job, then I will start applying again.

Another week in Hong Kong goes by. I've almost been here 6 weeks. It doesn't feel that long, but I feel I have embraced the experience with both my heart and my head.

Some well deserved relaxing for me over the next few days. Some much needed brain rest.

Fingers crossed a job offer is just around the corner. Have I got what it takes???? ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!  

Study study study. One step closer to the Hong Kong dream

The effects of sitting in front of your computer for days on end researching international law, merger and acquisitions trends and topics is that you move into a state of strange consciousness. The day begins and the sun goes down quite unnoticed. Your days is built up from coffee breaks, communicating with the outside world about how you feel your brain is just about to melt out of your ears, making food to feed your brain and drink more coffee to encourage brain to work extra hard.

I have been writing this paper, which has similarities to a dissertation, but on a mini scale, with referencing and research being the main aim of the task. I'm not trying to demonstrate my law knowledge; I am showing evidence of my ability to meet a deadline, research and my capabilities when set a new task. I have surprised even myself that I can encourage my academic part of my brain out after all these years. I have quite enjoyed the challenge, and realised that I still enjoy researching in order to reach a desired outcome.

Not only do I have this paper to complete by Friday lunchtime, I also have an hour and a half conference call. In some ways, it might work in my favour to not have any time to prepare for the second interview. I have no idea what they will ask. An hour and a half is a considerable length of time. I would like to have the paper completed by tomorrow. Then I can have some time to prepare on Friday morning for the second interview. Think about what questions might come up and how I will answer them, that sort of thing.

I am happy in the knowledge that I have already put a considerable amount of work into this, so even if I don't get offered the job, I genuinely have given it my all. The more I have worked and focused my attention on this paper and role, the more I think I would make an amazing conference producer. I am half way there. One step at a time. This is definitely the biggest challenge I have had since arriving in Hong Kong, actually probably more in my LIFE!! I've never applied myself so much for a job interview situation. This is more than selling yourself and experiences, this is proving your capabilities and potential.

It's Wednesday evening and I have spent 11 hours in front of my computer compiling this paper. I feel exhausted. My brain is in much need of some rest. I will have an early night and not go out as planned. I can therefore get up and go for a run, and have a look at my paper with fresh new day eyes tomorrow. One day closer, one step closer to my Hong Kong dream.

A real grown up interview. The University of Hong Kong

I interviewed for a very grown up company this morning. It was on floor 27 of a building a few blocks down the road from my apartment. It would be the shortest commute if I were offered the role, on average three and a half minutes. The role was for a conference producer. Something I have never done before, well in that scale. I was nervous about this one. I usually don't find interviews too daunting, but this one was different. I had heard that the interview was quite intense and I know someone who used to work for them.

The interview was a standard good cop, bad cop situation. Both of them friendly enough by the end asking questions about my experience with coordinating events. It's funny talking about your last role in order to secure a new role. It seems like a distant memory working at Nutri Vital Health, but it forms almost all of the material and structure for every interview I go too.

I left after 45 minutes. It was completely different to what I had expected. Another reason to not over think interviews, you can never predict what they will ask and what they are truly looking for. I went straight back to my apartment to begin working through the back log of emails, prioritising Feeing Hong Kong and then working my way down the list.

I popped to the supermarket. I really want to stop going to the supermarket and use the local market stalls instead. I am being lazy heading to the supermarket. Choosing convenience over everything. I will work on changing this; I don't like to think I have become lazy. As soon as I have a paying job, I will start to embrace the culture around me. Shopping in the street markets, buying and cooking local produce etc etc.

I made a salad for lunch. Who'd have thought you could make a salad dressing out of pretty much anything. I added black current jam to my pumpkin and spinach! It gave my salad a nice sweet kick and tasted rather yummy. I continue to battle on with the induction cooker. The one plate induction cooker.

I continued with my emails for Feeding Hong Kong. There is so much going on right now I am finding it increasingly hard to focus.

As I began to send emails, I received an email from my interviewer, offering me a second interview. He sent a test/research project for me to complete over the next few days and I will have a conference call with the head of global events on Friday. My rather empty week just filled up. Time to learn to priorities, and fast. The job has got to be my main priority. I must admit, the preparation and test/research project for this current role is not coming easily to me. The company is working with the law industry, something I know nothing about. I have to read the magazine they produce and put together a set of interview questions that I would ask for market research and complete a question about what steps I would take to decide on events viability. Not the easiest of tasks. This company has over 5000 employees around the world. I find some comfort in this. I'm not the first person to apply for a role there who has never done it before. I guess, well I'm hoping they are looking for potential and creativity.

It is a good test either way. To learn to focus on the task in hand when I feel like running away from it. Cue the procrastination queen in me. I will write my week plan on my wall. I have 3 days to complete this. Plus drinks tomorrow night, plus a meeting on Thursday at 2pm and then continuing the Feeding Hong Kong push for the September event.

My my......I wasn't far off in my prediction that Hong Kong was to be my version of university. I have sat for the past six hours in my single bedroom, similar to that of halls of residence, papers all around me, researching and reading, eating noodles and living on a tight budget, meeting new people and figuring out the world day by day. I didn't think that I would be spending days on end researching merger and acquisition in international law, but hey, I like reading and I like a good intellectual challenge. The tea is flowing as I bury my head deeper into preparation for the second interview. I have confirmation of an hour and a half conference call with the global events manager on Friday.  I can't possible think how to prepare for an hour and a half long interview. I would imagine after doing three days of reading and researching I will be quite up to speed on all the company does, so it should be a breeze.

Just think, this time next week I could have been offered a job, with a salary and a visa. One step closer to my Hong Kong dream.

Oh, and the new position has opportunity to travel.....imagine that, living in Hong Kong and being paid to travel around Asia and Australia. My dreams are getting bigger by the day.