A Job That Came Right On Time
In August 2016, at the age of 52, I was retrenched from a senior position. Despite sending out more than 100 job applications, I had no job offers. I tried to humble myself during the interviews but I could never get beyond the second round.
I was discouraged and downcast. After two months, I decided to be a taxi driver while waiting for a job offer, and this continued for one-and-a-half years.
As a driver, I had no contribution to my central provident fund (CPF) account which I relied heavily upon to pay my monthly housing loan. As of 31 March 2017, I still owed a six-figure sum and I became extremely stressed out seeing my CPF account dwindle every month knowing that all my contributions would be wiped out after a year.
Thoughts of not being able to pay for the housing loan and being pursued by the bank for payment gave me many sleepless nights. The fear was very real and tormenting.
However, every time I got up, I would surrender the nightmares and my fear to God. I would also ask Him to help me get back to sleep as I needed the energy to drive the following day.
This went on for months and during Christmas, I told God that I could not take it any longer. I even said that I would rather die than face a mountain of debts and not be able to feed my family.
Miraculously, during the first week of 2018, I received a call from a government agency inviting me to interview for an IT sales manager position. I was stunned as I was not tech-savvy at all.
Nonetheless, I went for the interview and realised that there were another 100 applicants for the job. My hopes were shattered. I knew that I had no chance at all.
True enough, I did not even clear the first interview. Depressed, I went home and pleaded with God for help. Two weeks later, I received a call from the agency who told me that the IT firm was conducting a career fair, and I was encouraged to attend.
I went and again, I failed the interview. I was extremely depressed but I tried to hide my feelings from my family.
Even when I thought that all hope was gone, God did not give up on me. A few days later, the same agency called me to inform me that they had somehow “pushed” my application to the IT company for consideration. From then, I went for four more interviews over a span of three months. Not a day passed by without fear and anxiety.
My sleepless nights increased as I knew that my CPF account would be emptied soon. By March 2018, my CPF account was left with around $34. At the same time, I was asked to pay $871 for an insurance policy through CPF. That completely wiped out my CPF account and I had to top up the balance in cash.
By then, I was at a loss. I did not know how to pay for my housing loan in April, so I knelt and cried out to God for help.
Amazingly, I received a call from the IT company asking me to go for another round of interview. On 22 March 2018, they offered me the job! Praise God!
Later, I found out that I was the only applicant who was selected to fill the position of sales manager amongst the many applicants.
On my first day of work, I received another shock when the Human Resource manager asked me to submit original copies of my degree certificates. When I told her that I was not a graduate, she was completely taken aback and could not believe how I managed to get the job.
Till today, I am still amazed I got the job with no IT knowledge and experience. All I can say is that without God, I would have never gotten this job. His timing is perfect and He never fails.
The writer has requested to remain anonymous.
