How is a job like a raffle?

Wasim El-Haj

You may have an idea of the employer, their “culture” and their terms and conditions, but much like a product in a raffle draw, you never really know how a specific job position will suit you, until you try it.

More importantly though, much like a raffle draw, you “must be in it to win it.” Sure, a job position is far more specific and can be prepared for well in advance, but remember that an advertisement is often the employer’s wish-list of the ideal candidate. If you believe you have the skills and experience, put yourself forward and apply – what do you have to lose?

Today I won two raffle draw prizes at Bunnings in Rockdale. I entered one a few days ago for a Matador barbeque set. Did I expect to win? I sure did! I don’t enter things to simply waste my time. However, I needed to be at the store today when the prize was drawn in order to win. I arrived and 10 minutes later I had a new barbeque set!

I was then encouraged to enter their other raffles. What did I have to lose? It cost nothing to enter (much like applying to jobs, the cost is in fact time). I wrote my name and number on a few tickets (no resume needed!) and I was unsuccessful in two draws. For the last draw, they called the winner – they weren’t in store. They called another – they weren’t in store. They drew another name – not in store. Then the fourth name drawn was mine!

I am now the happy owner of a Matador barbeque and 29L of Dulux paints and undercoat. I bought a barbeque yesterday and used it today – I could have waited for today’s draw, but it wasn’t worth taking the risk of waiting when I knew I was hosting a family barbeque today.

Sometimes, we must accept what we can have with certainty instead of waiting for what may be better but only exists in the dimension of uncertainty.

I don’t know what I’ll do with $475 worth of paint. I’m glad I was successful though.

Unlike a raffle, a job application isn’t completely dependent on chance. How good is your resume? How refined are your interviewing skills? Did you research the employer? These will shift things in your favour.

I encourage people to keep their options open and apply effort and time for what they seek or desire. Think about the cost involved. I wouldn’t have entered a paid raffle draw, but this just needed moments of my time and the pay off has been massive.

It is easy to doubt one’s self. Let others do the doubting for you. In the meantime, keep striving, be they jobs, scholarships or relationships.

You won’t succeed in some raffles, but often you just need to succeed in one to be satisfied.