So, I lost my job - what to do next.
Discussion
I've been based in Hong Kong now for 3 years working in finance after being seconded to work here by my previous employer. After 2 years I was actively headhunted by another firm to create a new department for them. However, after 8 months, in their infinite wisdom, they decided that they no longer wanted to continue with that project and shift focus elsewhere leaving me high and dry - Excellent!
This was in December, so I took the opportunity to come back to the UK to catch up with friends and family and generally take a break over Christmas and Chinese New Year while the market was quiet. Now on my return I have an interview lined up for Tuesday, but it really feels like s
t or bust, in that it appears I have one opportunity before I might have to wait quiet a while before the next opportunity arises.
It's a good role and suits my experience and area of specialization well, but I have a wife and daughter to support so am feeling the pressure a little.
It could be worse however, although not a massive amount, we have a few quid in the bank so if nothing happens with this interview, we'll put the contents of our rented apartment into storage and go and live on a beach in the Philippines until things improve. They have internet and mobile phones and direct flights to Hong Kong and Singapore so I can continue to actively job search from there. Hong kong is damned expensive to rent so capital preservation is the key.
I just wanted to post up my situation for yo to read and to lend support to others who have also lost their jobs. I'm very fortunate in that I have a get out option, but I feel for other finding it more difficult.
Fingers crossed for Tuesday!
This was in December, so I took the opportunity to come back to the UK to catch up with friends and family and generally take a break over Christmas and Chinese New Year while the market was quiet. Now on my return I have an interview lined up for Tuesday, but it really feels like s
t or bust, in that it appears I have one opportunity before I might have to wait quiet a while before the next opportunity arises.It's a good role and suits my experience and area of specialization well, but I have a wife and daughter to support so am feeling the pressure a little.
It could be worse however, although not a massive amount, we have a few quid in the bank so if nothing happens with this interview, we'll put the contents of our rented apartment into storage and go and live on a beach in the Philippines until things improve. They have internet and mobile phones and direct flights to Hong Kong and Singapore so I can continue to actively job search from there. Hong kong is damned expensive to rent so capital preservation is the key.
I just wanted to post up my situation for yo to read and to lend support to others who have also lost their jobs. I'm very fortunate in that I have a get out option, but I feel for other finding it more difficult.
Fingers crossed for Tuesday!
Try not to let the pressure get to you as that won't help. I guess the potentially difficult area of the interview will be when they inevitably ask why your last company canned the project after 8 months, so have the full explanation ready without doing down your last employer. Stick to the facts and let them form their own judgement.
And good luck!
And good luck!
Sorry to hear about the job. One of my friend is in a similar position - finacial sector. He decided 12mths ago it might be time to go off round the world. He's currently holed up in Thailand to save money while the markets recover. He's giving English lessons, breaking even on costs and far happier than he was! If you can support the family maybe there's a similar "life holiday" you could take?
The interview has been in the pipeline a while so I have made sure that over the last few weeks I have fully researched the organisation, the interviewer, the role and their expectations of candidates. I have also found out why they haven't hired previous candidates and the gaps in their experience and skills. I'll make sure I cover these angles in the interview as well as getting across my talents of course.
With regard to the life holiday, I have a flat and a house in the UK which are rented out and with the low interest rates in thr UK at present receive a small income from these. This should be enough to sustain us while "holidaying" in Philippines.
With regard to the life holiday, I have a flat and a house in the UK which are rented out and with the low interest rates in thr UK at present receive a small income from these. This should be enough to sustain us while "holidaying" in Philippines.
allgonepetetong said:
The interview has been in the pipeline a while so I have made sure that over the last few weeks I have fully researched the organisation, the interviewer, the role and their expectations of candidates. I have also found out why they haven't hired previous candidates and the gaps in their experience and skills. I'll make sure I cover these angles in the interview as well as getting across my talents of course.
With regard to the life holiday, I have a flat and a house in the UK which are rented out and with the low interest rates in thr UK at present receive a small income from these. This should be enough to sustain us while "holidaying" in Philippines.
You seem to have an excellent handle on what you need to do to get that job. You probably know this already, but I would add that you need to think about body language and attitude. How do they expect a candidate to carry themselves in the interview.With regard to the life holiday, I have a flat and a house in the UK which are rented out and with the low interest rates in thr UK at present receive a small income from these. This should be enough to sustain us while "holidaying" in Philippines.
If theose two properties can support you forever then you have effectively retired. If you dont get the job, I think you may be in a good place anyway, but may not have realised it. My dream is to dump the rat race and do what makes me happy. You could spend the time in the Philippines thinking of a business where you don't need capital and trying to grow that. This is what my wife is doing for us and its all going in the right direction - touch wood. Thats not to say its easy, if fact its hard and often there are low spots. But its ours. Good luck.
An update.....On confirming time and location of tomorrow's interview I am told by the recruitment consultant that the firm I am inteviewing with are now looking to restructure internally and are therefore no longer looking to hire - Bugger.
The recruiter is letting the manager in question know that i will not be in Hong Kong should they change their mind, which the manager acknowledges is highly likely as it a decision being taken above her, and that we should meet so I can be immediatley informed should the decesion be reversed.
So, that looks like that's it, Philippines here we come. Although not bad in it's self, I'm fking pissed off as that job was perfect.
The recruiter is letting the manager in question know that i will not be in Hong Kong should they change their mind, which the manager acknowledges is highly likely as it a decision being taken above her, and that we should meet so I can be immediatley informed should the decesion be reversed.
So, that looks like that's it, Philippines here we come. Although not bad in it's self, I'm f
king pissed off as that job was perfect.I'm in the same boat.
I left a job at a dealership at the end of August 08 as the nonsense that was going on was unbearable (Heavy drinking on the job, not reporting warranties as sold, etc etc) and went back to wholesaling cars. THe downturn has hurt business but I have been doing quite well.
Than the company that had my line of credit went under last week.
UhOh. Thankfully I have cash reserves and did stockpile a bunch of gold some years back when it was cheap, but the motor trade is hard to get a job in right now and finding a job in management is going to be quite difficult and going back to sales would be a bad move careerwise I think.
I left a job at a dealership at the end of August 08 as the nonsense that was going on was unbearable (Heavy drinking on the job, not reporting warranties as sold, etc etc) and went back to wholesaling cars. THe downturn has hurt business but I have been doing quite well.
Than the company that had my line of credit went under last week.
UhOh. Thankfully I have cash reserves and did stockpile a bunch of gold some years back when it was cheap, but the motor trade is hard to get a job in right now and finding a job in management is going to be quite difficult and going back to sales would be a bad move careerwise I think.
Still go and meet them and give it your best. It's entirely possible that the right person (you) being available and ready to go could make them still go ahead wtih the project.
Best of luck. Though IMO you could have much worse luck than a couple of months on a beach in the Philipines
Best of luck. Though IMO you could have much worse luck than a couple of months on a beach in the Philipines
Thanks guys, I'm going to reread these posts to help stay positive.
It just really pisses me off as I cut short my break in the UK with the family to come back and prepare for this interview for them to postpone it a week. Now on the night before the rescheduled meeting they've pulled it completely. I was as extremely well prepared and I think very suitable for the role. As you say though, I shall press and try and get a meeting nevertheless.
It's not the fact that I don't have a job that worries me, it's the uncertainty of it all and having a family to support adds to the pressure.
fk it, as you say, hit the beach and enjoy it for a while.
It just really pisses me off as I cut short my break in the UK with the family to come back and prepare for this interview for them to postpone it a week. Now on the night before the rescheduled meeting they've pulled it completely. I was as extremely well prepared and I think very suitable for the role. As you say though, I shall press and try and get a meeting nevertheless.
It's not the fact that I don't have a job that worries me, it's the uncertainty of it all and having a family to support adds to the pressure.
f
k it, as you say, hit the beach and enjoy it for a while.
OK so a little update....
It's 10:30 pm and tomorrow the movers come in to pack up the apartment and put our possessions into storage. We're just finishing off packing what we are going to be taking to Bohol and will be staying with friends tomorrow night before flying to Manila Wednesday morning and onto Tagbiliran the following day, arriving in time for tea and cakes around 2pm.
Interestingly, a journalist who writes for the big newspaper in Hong Kong, the South China Morning Post, contacted me via a mutual friend a few days ago and asked if my family and I would consider speaking with him as he is keen to publish a story on "Positive aspects of the credit crunch". He thinks, and believes others will as well, that our story is very inspiring and is a really positive step to be taking when times are pretty tough indeed.
I hope that others when reading our story can perhaps take some inspiration and turn what may seem like a bad situation for them into a positive lifetime experience.
He was round this afternoon for around 90 mins and took some photos of us to publish in this weekend's Sunday edition. Famous at last!
I'll post back when we arrive at our destination later this week and let you know how we are settling in. I'll also post a link to the SCMP if anyone is interested.
BTW, we will be staying here: http://www.alumbungbohol.com/alumbungs.html
till then....
It's 10:30 pm and tomorrow the movers come in to pack up the apartment and put our possessions into storage. We're just finishing off packing what we are going to be taking to Bohol and will be staying with friends tomorrow night before flying to Manila Wednesday morning and onto Tagbiliran the following day, arriving in time for tea and cakes around 2pm.
Interestingly, a journalist who writes for the big newspaper in Hong Kong, the South China Morning Post, contacted me via a mutual friend a few days ago and asked if my family and I would consider speaking with him as he is keen to publish a story on "Positive aspects of the credit crunch". He thinks, and believes others will as well, that our story is very inspiring and is a really positive step to be taking when times are pretty tough indeed.
I hope that others when reading our story can perhaps take some inspiration and turn what may seem like a bad situation for them into a positive lifetime experience.
He was round this afternoon for around 90 mins and took some photos of us to publish in this weekend's Sunday edition. Famous at last!
I'll post back when we arrive at our destination later this week and let you know how we are settling in. I'll also post a link to the SCMP if anyone is interested.
BTW, we will be staying here: http://www.alumbungbohol.com/alumbungs.html
till then....
Edited by allgonepetetong on Monday 9th March 14:41
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