On Jobs and Broken Promises

On Jobs and Broken Promises

A young job-seekers’ journey through the muddles of job hunting

I was excited to join this new company that chased me down for two weeks straight. After turning them down thrice for various reasons, they still wouldn’t quit calling me. So, I agreed. I cleared the test and met the Brand Manager who was thoroughly impressed. He offered me a better role as opposed to the initial offer made since my test scores were excellent. The HR person called to congratulate me on making a good impression with the Brand Manager. I was over the moon to hear him praise me. We discussed my salary package and much to my surprise they offered a 23% hike which was unheard of, especially with the rising unemployment rate. I had to pinch myself to believe all of this was happening.

Ecstatic about my great start, I began the induction process. First, the offer letter arrived in my inbox. I opened to find the initial role mentioned and not the higher role offered by the Brand Manager. After a quick call, I was told that the responsibility would be different but the role would remain the same. Next, I received a mail on my salary package. I was not going to be paid my first month’s salary. I will receive it along with that of my second month towards the end. If I did want my salary early, I could only have 60% of the first month. Finally, the joining forms landed. I had to sign a form that forbade me from working in any other company in the same field for the next five years. My heart sank as I realized that every offer made by the company has come to be a let-down. How often have we stood at the cusp of receiving something only to realize otherwise! Something assured, something promised, something awarded, but in the end, they’re just empty words.

I remembered the story of Jacob from the Bible, how his uncle exploited him by promising his daughter’s hand in marriage. Jacob worked for fourteen years to marry Rachel whom he loved dearly. How would he have felt during those 14 years of hard work? Hoping and praying that his uncle would keep his word and not cheat him in the end. Someone else also made a promise to Jacob, before he met Rachel. History is filled with the Israelites moving in and out of the promised land but one thing has always remained secure—it is and always will be their land just as promised by God! No matter where they wandered, God would always bring them back to the promised land keeping his word to Jacob. If there is one person whom we can trust and never doubt, it is God. We as humans hold little worth to our own words. We also put our trust, hoping in the promises rather than the person making them. It is only when we focus on the person making the promise, will we ever realize the fact that people will some time or the other let us down, but God never will. Whenever we get tired of trusting people, let’s remember the One who never fails. And the even more beautiful and humbling truth is that even though He knows our wavering self, God still chooses to hold his end of the promise. Such is our God! What a relief and comfort it is to know that Jesus always keeps His word!

Have you had promises made that were broken? Let us know how you dealt with it.