Back from OE — and back in hunt for a job
Christchurch woman Sophie Brown isn’t sure how many jobs she has applied for since arriving back in New Zealand from the United Kingdom.
The 22-year-old has been in quarantine in Rotorua’s Ibis Hotel since June 20.
“There are jobs out there but the difference between how many jobs there are and the number of people who are applying I think would be quite a big difference,” Brown said.
“It takes a lot of effort to put yourself out there and to be applying for these things, writing cover letters and trying to sell yourself.
“Hearing noes can take a little bit of a toll but it’s just what you’ve got to do, there’s no other way around it really.”
With a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Canterbury, having majored in marketing and minoring in political science, Brown moved to London in
January.
“I was looking for marketing roles but I was also open to admin, sales, the surrounding office jobs as well,” she said.
“Obviously you don’t want to be too picky when you’re a graduate. You’ve got to apply for everything and see what bites.”
However, after she’d had a handful of interviews, the UK was forced into lockdown and job opportunities were shut down.
The decision whether or not to leave the UK played on Brown’s mind for weeks but she decided to come home.
“Facing reality was quite difficult,” she said.
“It was quite surreal to think that something could affect your life so greatly, especially when you’ve decided to go overseas and explore the world and work in different places.”
Brown was in lockdown from March 20 and paid $2300 for a ticket home.
Being stuck in quarantine was a “blessing in disguise” Brown said, as it left her with plenty of time to find jobs to apply for.
Brown has applied for jobs from marketing to communications, sales and office jobs. She’s been looking for jobs in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington and says other people stuck in the Ibis are in the same situation. — Luke Kirkness