Are you having trouble finding a job? Don’t give up! Gabriel graduated but couldn’t find a job for over a year. Follow his story below to find out what valuable advices he received from his mother and what miracles he received.
Gabriel left his seat and walked the length of his room pondering over what to do about his unemployment status. He’s been at home now for a year after graduating last February and has not been able to apply for the many job vacancies he had come across because their requirements were rather too high.
He has no work experience yet but a majority of the adverts demanded a minimum of 3 years. ‘Will I ever gain employment?’ was a disturbing question hidden down within his soul.
He’s been studying an advert for a ‘customer service officer’ at a telecom company but the job specification was bizarre; ‘5 years work experience; 35 to 45 age range; masters is an added advantage’ and so on.
He had managed part of his father’s business while he was still alive and was quite good at helping out confused customers to access the services they needed. How was he going to communicate that in his cover letter as work experience? He’s 24 and only has a first degree. Different thoughts ran through his mind prompting him to tell lies. Returning to his seat, he was going to fabricate lies as advised by a colleague to construct a cover letter that would meet all the requirement, but just when he was going to press the keyboard, his conscience smote him, reminding him that the biblical Joseph did not refuse to yield to Potiphar’s wife because he respected her husband rather because he feared to sin against God.
As he sat reading through other job adverts, his mother walked in. “Hey baby, you look depressed” she said, pulling a seat next to him. “Gab, never give up; don’t you ever stop applying; keep on at it until there be no more adverts. Only yield not to temptation for I can say assuredly that just as Mordecia was remembered by the King, even so will God put in the heart of an employer to remember you.”
“Mum, I found a vacancy that suits my experience but the academic qualification and years of experience demanded are too high.”
“No baby, they ain’t high; it’s a thing of the mind. Change your mind set. You know what? Applying for such positions give employers the impression that one is courageous and that’s a plus in itself. It tells them you would dare to take on herculean tasks. So go ahead and apply. Never go for job offers that meet all your qualifications for such are low paying, less innovative nor satisfying rather, go for the big fish.”
After much encouragement, Gabriel applied for the position and three weeks later while he washed his mother’s car, his phone vibrated when a text message found it.
“Hello Gabriel? You are being invited for an interview for the position you applied for at ADSE telecommunications this Thursday. Check your email for more info but please confirm you will be coming.”
On reading that, he developed mixed feelings. This is the first time he’s been invited for an interview but then when he thought of his chances, his heart died. Ceasing from washing, he went inside to show his mum the text.
“Baby, I can read your mind; the fears, doubts, anxiety etc but all that are not necessary. Guess what your first step should be?”
“I don’t know, mum.”
“Confirm that you will be there,” she said looking into his eyes.
“Mum!!!”
“You heard me, baby. Reply the text straight away.”
Letting out a deep breath, Gabriel replied the text. “What’s next mum?”
“God, that all. You’ve done your part, full stop. Go read around the duties of a customer care manager and leave Him with the rest.”
On getting to the venue three days after, he realized that he was the only interviewee not gorgeously dressed. Seeing the multitude that showed up for the interview, his heart began to race. Not long after he sat down, a lass walked up to him.
“Please, can I help you?”
“I came for the interview.”
“Are you sure? You’re not putting on a suit,” she asked.
Shocked by the question, “I don’t have one,” he managed to say.
“Hmmm, let’s hope you don’t get turned back by the panelists,” she said wearing a sardonic smile. Gabriel’s frustrations grew worst but then his mother’s faith in him was quite comforting. Looking through the crowd, his eyes met with those of a lad who approached him. Taking a seat next to him, “did you come with a letter?”
“What letter?”
“A note from an influential person; a politician, governor or minister to support your candidacy?”
“I don’t know any.”
“That’s rather strange; you don’t come for such interviews without a letter from the crème de la crème.”
Just as fear was going to envelop his heart, he remembered his mother’s words, God keeps away flies from the tailless cow.
Observing the file that the young man held in his hand, “what did you bring with you?”
Opening his folder, “I came with the best of everything I could lay my hands on. My masters degree certificate, PhD certificate; scholarship award certificates and those of the volunteering and short courses I have undertaken. Lastly, a letter from a senator who happens to be a family friend.”
On hearing that, Gabriel excused himself and went to the gents. Staring at his image in the mirror, he held his thin file against his chest. Remembering the Lord’s words, he whispered a word of prayer daring to trust in His everlasting arms.
“Gabriel Matthews,” a clerk came out to call. On entering the room, Gabriel found a set of mean looking men and women that formed the panel.
“Take your seat, please,” a lady asked him looking through a set of thick bottles hanging loose over her eyes. After the introduction, she threw in the first question. Gabriel was white, not sure where in the world to find the answers. The second question did not leave him any better. Next, the panelists began to laugh, “are you here for the interview?”
Pulling him together after being knocked off, he managed to nod, “yes.”
As their eyeballs searched his body length, he was reminded that they were checking out on his dressing. “Weren’t you thought to borrow or steal or buy a cheap suit and tie when going for an interview?”
Not sure he knew what next to do, “excuse me Sirs and Mas, can I ask for a 5 minutes break?”
“Why?”
“I want to have a short prayer.”
On hearing that, they bursted to laughter. “You think that would help? You should have fasted for forty days and nights before coming but anywhere, permission granted.”
Gabriel hurried to the gents again and staring at himself in the mirror, he wept. Perceiving that an explanation for his red eyes could be demanded, he quickly washed his face and brought out from his pocket, a Gideon bible, searching the psalms. The young lion do lack and suffer hunger but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
Closing it, he whispered a word of prayer and returned to the room. On seeing him, the panelists resumed their laughter but just as they were going to throw him another question, an elderly man walked in.
“Hello everyone,” he greeted as he took his seat. “I’m sorry for joining this late. I had lots of things to sort out at home.”
“It’s ok sir,” the panelists echoed; a gesture that made Gabriel suspect he probably was the CEO of the company.
“How many persons have been interviewed already?”
“Six, sir.”
“That’s fine. Guess what? Barca caned Bayer Leverkusen yesterday. I’m so happy.”
“Boss, you and football,” a male panelist teased him.
“Oh, what’s life without the game,” the CEO replied laughing. “I’m sure this gentleman is a Barca fan, ain’t you?” He asked looking at Gabriel. Responding to the question, Gabriel nodded.
“I knew it. So how many goals did Lionel Messi score?”
“Five.”
“Brilliant, you must be smart. These are the kind of persons we need in this company. You can go now,” he told Gabriel who left the room not sure if he was in a trance.
Two days later, Gabriel received a text asking him to resume work in 2 weeks time. Reading the message, he ran to show his mother who on reading for herself embraced him.
“Mum, I can’t believe this. What’s the place of football in a customer care manager’s interview?”
“Baby, God doesn’t look far nor does he use strange things to bless us rather, he uses what we already have or know to give us what we want. If he could make an ass speak so as to save Balaam’s life, how much more using football. It can be that simple when God is in it.”
Author: Ifeanyichukwu
