I graduated in Dec 1999 from a local university. That time was one of the times Malaysia was facing an economic downturn. 1998 was the beginning of the attack on our currency. I did remember that a lot of graduates were, unfortunately, unable to get a job. However, with Allah's will, Alhamdullilah I was able to get my 1st job on 1st Feb 2000. It was not any type of job, it was a job that related to my field of study. I still remember the date because it was a Federal public holiday. However, since I got the job in JB, therefore 1st Feb was just a normal working day. At that time also the internet was just starting, and Jobstreet was the company to apply for a job online. Honestly speaking I didn't graduate together with most of my batch. I was 1 semester late. At that time, I did felt left behind because thinking that they will probably get a job way ahead of me. The important thing at that time I learnt was that I was on my own path and time and to compare with others was very frustrating.
After I got the job, there were some of my batches that graduated earlier were still job hunting. Unfortunately, people started questioning me how did I get that job fast? After 2 months I got it already. A lot of people were thinking that I used kind of "cable" to get myself into a company, well that was usually a lot of people did it around that time or even now. It's a competition out there right, so some people will do whatever it takes. Understood their perspective, but to think like that towards a person that didn't do all of those things, was just sad.
Around that time, I was still naive, I thought it was all about what I have done to get a job,..... but no, it's not exactly... Yes I did work hard applying online and offline but actually it was the Al-Mighty that decide I got that job, it's as simple as that. I didn't use any human "cable", it was in an economic downturn time, I was a semester late, I was a second class lower graduate, but then with those disadvantages, the important cable that I relied on the most was actually Al-Mighty- Alhamdulillah. He had given to me during a time that was not in favour of my situation. 2nd lesson that I learnt was that it's his prerogative to give whenever and to whomever, He wants it for His creation. He decides the Rizk (sustenance) for us actually.
Therefore if next time He gives better sustenance (in human eyes better) to other people, I should not question it, because I used to receive the sustenance that He gives to me during the time of other people was still in hardship. In life, we cannot have everything, but we should be thankful for the thing that still we have. Life is not about comparing with other people's life. Life is about improving our own life to be better Muslims.
3rd lesson was as long as I only depend on him everything will be alright, just trust Him. I said this because He made it easy for me to get what was meant to be for me. Usually, you will go through multiple rounds of interviews, tests as fresh grads and still didn't get it.... but if He decides that is for u, everything will be easy for you. I still remember it was just 1 time and I was interviewed by the owner of the company in the morning. There were few candidates as well at that time. After I finished the interview, the owner asked me can I start tomorrow? It was easy and simple and it was nothing magical about it because He made it easy. Even after 20 years of working life, after I look back on all those jobs that I got, it was always that He made it easy for me..... and thankful to Him very much that He made it that way all the time for me and I believe to all of you as well.
