It Just Hit Me...

I've been for a fair number of interviews just before and since graduating from university. And all in all, while I've come across a number of female HR executives, I've only met one female line-manager/supervisor. One. And I've interviewed for a variety of posts and companies. Is it just me, or do women in the UAE just not get to the upper echelons of the workforce? And if not, what the heck are we working towards?

Cautionary Tales

Six Ways to Avoid Blowing Your Job Interview

One candidate, at a final interview for a job that paid $90,000, referred to a person he worked with as a “butt monkey.”

Seriously?

Possibly the Most Chilling Article I have Seen About Dubai

Consider it a warning to everyone in the media industry in this country.
A hard edge to Dubai's glittering allure - Los Angeles Times

7 Ways to Beat Depression If You're Unemployed.

7 Ways to Beat Depression If You're Unemployed

 It's easy to isolate when you lose your job. But it's about the worst thing you can do for your mood.

But seriously, how does one associate with these shiny, happy, other people?

You Know You've Reached New Lows When...

... you berate yourself after an interview for merely contemplating the possibility that you could get this job.

*facepalm*

So I went for an interview earlier today. I spent most of the day preparing for it. Wrote out answers. Rehearsed potential scenarios. Looked over college projects that were relevant to the post. Stalked the hiring managers on Linkedin. Basically everything that would be required to ace this interview.

Which I did, just so you know. Except for one crucial mistake. I was so high-strung about the interview that I forgot to have lunch. The interview started at 4.30 and by the time it ended at 6.30, I was losing focus because I was so tired. Which was fine, since the interview had gone quite well, by itself. And then, just as I was leaving the office I figured I should thank the interviewer for talking to me about the position. And to apologize for taking up so much of his time. And to tell him how great it was to meet him. Instead, my hunger-ravaged brain produced this gem,
"Thank you...
for...
so much time..
*incoherent mumbling*
meeting me...
*more mumbling*
oh this exit, okay."

Of course, it was coupled with a rather languid handshake. Permission to implode? 

Am I Overreacting?

I've distanced myself from a certain friend. He's one of those guys who, despite being not particularly brilliant or hardworking, has managed to ride on the coattails of smarter, stronger friends and colleagues. He's the guy who just never seems to run out of luck. He fell asleep in class regularly and got caught (no, he wasn't subtle about it) and this carried over into work too. He's been pulled up for it by professors and surpervisors, but never seriously reprimanded. The rest of us? Well, we'd be out of a job.

He works for a good company. Quite a high starting salary with the works including company provided two-bedroom, serviced and furnished apartment, SUV with fuel allowance, comprehensive medical insurance (including dental and eyecare) and two provided meals (breakfast and lunch.) Typical fare at the bigger oil companies. But is he grateful? No, he whines about how he's on a local contract and can't "run away" from the country without exit permission from his employer. And who does he whine to? The woman who has been unemployed for the last year.

So am I overreacting and being hypersensitive? Or is it appropriate for me to get annoyed with his constant whingeing? How would you deal with this?