Divine Day : It's the history but I'm still proud of it (30/1/03)

R44421 Jutamas Tadthiemrom

10A Rintoul Street
Newtown Wellington

30 January 2003

Dear Ms Lindsay/Ms. Sue

I found your job advertisement through job alert email from Seek.com. What caught my eyes from the whole job lists I’ve got was the word ‘Market Research’. I am very interested in Junior Researcher Position (R 44421) as it was my latest position before I moved here due to my partner’s business.

After graduating from the University of Northumbria (UK) in Master of Arts in Marketing, I had been involving in researching business as the user and the producer for 3 years. My working experience at ACNielsen (Thailand) as a Research Executive not only provided me analytical skill but also time and people management skill since we had to handle numbers of projects within the limit of timeframe. Solving the unexpected problems that occurred during working process was another skill I have got from all places I worked for. Keeping good relationship and being service-minded to clients were additional task for me as well.

Working in research field is fascinating to me since it is the mixture of science and arts.
It is challenging to deliver good report to clients with straightforward and reliable but gentle at the same time. Additional, I consider being the person who supports marketers with market insight is the important role as well.

Last but not least, I would appreciate if you kindly review my CV for more details of my achievement. Please grant me an interview and let me introduce myself into the New Zealand job market. Thank you in advance

Regards,
Jutamas T.

Divine Day : My first interview (11/2/03)

It’d been about a week that I didn’t hear from the recruitment company where I had the interview. I had applied for a market researcher position. Even though it was the same company and position I had before at ACNielsen Thailand, I wasn’t confident as I realised that my English wasn’t good enough compared to the natives.

Initially, I found this job from the job search site. I was excited when I saw the job description as it sounded really similar to what I did. I didn’t wait a sec to send them the introduction letter and the CV. Of course, I didn’t let them know yet that I didn’t have a residency which allowed me to work legally. Surprisingly, I got a call from the recruitment company to have the first interview with them.

I didn’t have to struggle much to pass the interview. The questions were not difficult to answer such as “Tell me about yourself”, “How long have you been in New Zealand?”, “Are you comfortable working with figures?”, “ Why should the company choose you?”, “What account did I work with?” “Tell me about your favourite case” I could get into the second round a week later. That time, I had the interview with people I would work with if I passed the interview. They were nice but I knew I was too panic to talk to them properly. I couldn’t guess what result would turn out but I just hoped for the best...

นี่มันก็ผ่านไปอาทิตย์นึงละ ชั้นก็ยังไม่ได้ยินข่าวจากบริษัทจัดหางานที่เค้าเรียกชั้นไปสัมภาษณ์มา ชั้นไปสมัครงานตำแหน่ง market researcher ที่ชั้นเคยทำมาก่อนสมัยอยู่ที่ ACNielsen ที่เมืองไทย ถึงแม้ว่ามันจะเป็นบริษัทและตำแหน่งเดียวกันที่ชั้นทำมาก่อน แต่ชั้นก็ไม่มั่นใจเลยว่าจะได้งานเพราะว่าภาษาอังกฤษของชั้น
ก็คงจะสู้คนที่นั่นไม่ได้

เริ่มแรกเดิมที ชั้นเจองานนี้ผ่านทางเว็บหางาน ชั้นตื่นเต้นมากตอนที่ชั้นอ่านเจอ job description เพราะว่ามันตรงกับงานที่ชั้นทำมาเป๊ะๆ ชั้นไม่รอช้าที่จะส่งจดหมายแนะนำตัวและ CV ผ่านทางเว็บไซต์นั้น แน่นอน ชั้นไม่ได้บอกไปหรอกว่าชั้นยังไม่มี residency วีซ่าที่ชั้นสามารถจะหางานทำได้อย่างถูกก.ม. ชั้นก็แค่อยากลองทำอะไรสนุกๆ หาเรื่องตื่นเต้นไปงั้นเอง แต่แล้วสิ่งที่ชั้นไม่อยากเชื่อก็เกิดขึ้น บริษัทจัดหางานก็เรียกชั้นเข้าไปสัมภาษณ์อีกไม่กี่วันต่อมา

การหางานของชั้นครั้งนี้ บริษัทจัดหางานเป็นผู้ลงประกาศ โดยที่พวกเค้าจะช่วยบริษัทตัวจริงคัดเลือกคนก่อนขึ้นเขียง
ด้วยการสัมภาษณ์รอบแรก ความเกร็งของชั้นเลยไม่มี คำถามแต่ละอย่างก็พื้นๆ เช่น ไหนลองเล่าเรื่องตัวเองให้ฟังซิ มาอยู่ที่นี่นานแค่ไหนแล้ว ทำงานกับตัวเลขได้เปล่า คิดว่าตัวเองมีดีอะไรให้บริษัทเลือกไปร่วมงานด้วย เคยทำงานให้กับบริษัทไหนบ้าง เล่าถึงเคสที่ชอบให้ฟังหน่อย ชั้นเล่าให้เค้าฟังเหมือนคุยกับเพื่อน ชั้นเลยผ่านสัมภาษณ์ครั้งนั้นไปสู่การสัมภาษณ์ครั้งที่สองในอาทิตย์ถัดมา คราวนี้ล่ะ ชั้นต้องเข้าสัมภาษณ์กับคนที่ชั้นต้องทำงานด้วย (ถ้าชั้นผ่านสัมภาษณ์) พวกเค้าน่ารักนะ แต่ชั้นชั้นประหม่าและกดดันสุดๆจนทำให้ชั้นพูดติดๆขัดๆ ชั้นเดาไม่ออกเลยล่ะ ว่าชั้นจะผ่านสัมภาษณ์คร้งนี้หรือเปล่า แต่ชั้นก็หวังว่าผลลัพธ์มันจะออกมาดีที่สุด…

Divine Day : Some moment before the decision (23/10/02)

I let my mind wander around some old memories, hoping that I would discover some way out. Exploring into past memories was such a hard work. So many piles of reminiscence I had to unfold. Pile after pile, finally, I bumped into the recent event, which was my best friend’s birthday in June 2002. A single woman, whose dream was having a pet, living alone in her spacious house needed something to fill her gap. I remembered that I had to find her a gift.

It was 8.30 o’clock in the morning; Jatujak Weekend Market wasn’t crowded just yet. I parked my car and walked through the pet section. The entrance of the section welcomed me with several aquariums containing a wide range of colourful fish. The sellers were occupied with arranging the cardboard boxes and rapidly sweeping the concrete floor. The small fog of dust encouraged me to walk away from the beginning of the section. I had no idea about what to look for—what would my friend love? I glanced as I was pacing through each shop; everywhere looked the same with small puppies and some fish.

“Unique tortoise, only one for sale” shouted the middle aged guy with a big belly from the shop on my left. My curiosity was aroused. “Young lady come here, take a look. It’s okay if you don’t buy it” I smiled and pushed myself toward the glass tank where the baby turtle was lifting up its short neck and looked at me. “This one is imported from Germany. Very rare.” The chubby bald seller kept advertising.

This little turtle really grabbed my attention. I liked its shiny chessboard-like shell, which was very curvy and blended perfectly with the light and dark brown colours. I asked for permission to feed it. This turtle was friendly and seemed to get along with me well. I especially liked its sleepy-like eyes, which always starred at me. While I was enjoying inspecting the German turtle, and was about to make a decision, I heard a continuous bang from a cage nearby. The source of the noise came from a turtle’s all time rival. I turned my face to check out its features. With its long ears, red eyes, and white puffy hair, I was tempted to touch it. Soft, warm, and lovely. “This specie of rabbit is very popular. People like to hold and play with it.” Maybe my friend would prefer the rabbit as I also started to like it too, I doubted. So, which one should I get? I asked the seller. “Well, it depends. The turtle, especially this one is hard to find. You still can play with it but it’s different from the rabbit with which you can be more intimated with.” I sighed. The seller continued, “Another important fact is a turtle lives longer, probably it will die after the owner. You’ll probably escape the saddest part of having a pet. ” He laughed. “But well, the rabbit is really cute too. I’m sure while it’s still with you, you’ll always enjoy having it. I just can’t guarantee how long it will live for. Get both!” Cheap trick.

I wish both animals could speak; I would like to know if any of them would like to be bought or not. Decision, decision, decision… Abruptly, my concentration was dispersed by the high hysterical pitch from a 5-year-old girl who dragged her mother to the rabbit cage “I want this one! I want it NOW” I couldn’t help giving her a look as my hand was still stroking on the rabbit. She started to cry, got really mad, and told me to leave the rabbit while the rabbit was also jumping away from me. The turtle was still in the same motion; still planting its eyes on me. With this threatening pressure, it eased me to make a final decision...

Long live the turtle!

That memory of gift decision-making process enhanced me to re-access my own hesitation. I nearly bought the turtle in the first instance, as I knew deep down that it would be a perfect present. I shouldn’t have been distracted with other factors. I was jealous at that young girl, who knew exactly what she wanted and was able to express her true feelings shamelessly.

Divine Day : New Life Had Begun (28/11/02)

I came up with this statement, “I want to go to work with my boyfriend in New Zealand. It will be good for my work experience and to learn more about him. I don’t want to get married first because I can always come back here as a single woman.” It sounded funny but it worked. My family let me go. I resigned from my job and realised that it was a crazy idea. Half of my friends were surprisingly shocked with my decision as it just didn’t make enough sense to them, while the other half were appreciative of my decision.

Everything seemed to be smooth but I suddenly had second thoughts about the trip away from home. I was uncertain. Was I doing the right thing? Perhaps I was just scared of the big change? Did I miss something? I couldn’t work out the real answer. Every night I had a hard time getting to sleep and trying to search for the meaning of my decision. I was tired from breathing at night as my heart throbbed fast as if I was in the middle of a marathon. The rhythm was tense. My eyes were closed but the darkness didn’t allow me to calm myself down. What was the real reason for moving away? I couldn’t give myself a clear answer—that would come much later.

I, however, quickly concluded that I should stick with my first instinct, which sometimes was hard to rely on, as it didn’t always come with supporting reasons. Whether my instinct was right or not, I couldn’t figure out other certain ways to approach the situation. Risk was only what I surely embraced.

“You can always manage the risk,” said my father. “But action is needed” he continued, “If you’re not happy you can always come back. You don’t need to tolerate it if you feel that this is not for you. It’s different from work which you need to be patient.” He continued, “Unless you go, you will never know the other side of this story.” Although I was still confused, I agreed with his last sentence.

This was the only chance of its type in my life.
I wouldn’t want to regret what I didn’t do.
I decided to fully embark on this journey, stop worrying, and ready to unfold the mystery.

I arrived in Wellington on 28th November 2002; the city looked much more interesting than Matt had described, except for one important thing, the Wellington wind. He confessed to me with a forced smile “I was afraid you wouldn’t come if I told you about that.”