Chapter 298: Please, I’m Already Exhausted!
After the New Year, everything seemed to get back on track.
Lin Yibai found a job in human resources. The salary wasn’t high, but it was acceptable. She took the job to gain some experience, in case she passed the next stage of the civil service exam.
Deep down, she never believed that just because she had a boyfriend, she could rely on him and do nothing.
She always knew this truth, being financially independent is the foundation of all dignity.
If a person can’t even support themselves, how badly could they be controlled by others?
At the new company, Lin Yibai learned very quickly.
She started as a HR assistant, but in less than half a month, she could already handle the job on her own. Her tasks included things like recruiting, interviewing, attendance checks, promotions, and salary adjustments.
Lin Yibai put extra effort into recruitment and interviews, as those were her main focus.
“I’ve looked at your resume. You meet our company’s basic requirements. Can you tell me more about your strengths, and why our company should hire you?”
“Interviewer, hello. I’ve been working in this industry for a long time. I have a deep understanding of the field and also have some resources. I believe I can do this job well…”
During the interview, both sides were being vague and polite.
The person being interviewed looked around 36 or 37 years old.
Lin Yibai could tell right away, this person was probably laid off at 35 by another company. They still had some skills and wanted to keep their high salary. Just like Lin Yibai, they were also speaking carefully. Clearly, a seasoned professional.
As a qualified HR employee, Lin Yibai could see the man had decent professional skills. But she couldn’t offer him the high salary he wanted.
No matter the industry, if your position isn’t irreplaceable, there will always be younger people who can take your place.
When you have a role, you should do your job.
Lin Yibai felt sympathy for him, but still said kindly, “I’m quite satisfied with your abilities, but about the salary... would you be open to discussing it further?”
The interviewee was surprised and looked a bit uncomfortable.
“Discuss the salary? But doesn’t your job ad say 5000 to 8000 yuan?”
Lin Yibai replied, “5000 is the starting salary for young people in their twenties. In our company, salary increases by about 500 yuan per year. Since you already have experience, I can personally offer you 5500 yuan.”
The interviewee frowned and said with frustration, “I really can’t accept that. At my last job, I made around 8000 to 10,000 yuan a month. This is too low.”
Lin Yibai shrugged and said, “If you had been working at our company from the start of your career, your salary would be around that amount by now, based on our yearly increases.”
The man looked embarrassed.
He needed the job, but also felt seen through and a bit insulted. But this is just the reality.
The company told Lin Yibai clearly. Find someone to do the work for 5000 to 6000 yuan.
Unless someone has very rare skills or outstanding ability, they won’t get a big salary jump when changing jobs.
No matter if someone quits or gets laid off, from the moment they leave their old job, they have to compete with lots of young graduates for the same positions.
Lin Yibai stayed polite and said at the end, “If you think there’s room to talk more about salary, you can call me any time before I find someone else.”
Another interview was done.
Lin Yibai couldn’t help feeling a little mixed inside.
Maybe this is what people call the harsh reality of society. She could really feel what it meant to experience the ups and downs of life.
The job ad said, “Salary: 5000–8000 yuan.”
But people who understand the system know, just count on the lowest number.
The highest number? That’s for long-time employees who’ve worked there for years.
It’s not that Lin Yibai had bad intentions. Everyone writes job ads like this. As someone working in HR, she’s just following the usual practice.
“Phew~”
“I’m exhausted!” Lin Yibai printed out some resumes, then leaned back in her office chair for a short break.
Her coworkers were also super busy. After about two weeks on the job, she had already made some good friends at work.
“It’s just after the New Year, and it’s already crazy busy.” One coworker rushed over, looking stressed and tired. “Xiao Bai, how many people have you hired this month?”
Lin Yibai held up three fingers. “Three!”
Her coworker said, “It's not enough, it's simply not enough. We have too many positions to fill. But don’t be scared, Xiao Bai, we’re only really busy during the start of the year, the middle, and the end.”
Start of the year: hire lots of new people.
Middle of the year: let go of people who aren’t a good fit.
End of the year: employees leave on their own or get laid off by the company.
The coworker looked around carefully, then whispered,
“The people you hired, the ones who’ve started, are actually getting good feedback. But you can probably relax your standards a bit. Otherwise, not only will you be overworked... the higher-ups might say you’re not working hard enough or not meeting your goals.”
Lin Yibai gave a tired smile. “I’ll do my best.”
Conflicts between people.
Conflicts between people and the company.
Conflicts between the company and its employees.
Conflicts between job seekers and recruiters.
These are the things Lin Yibai has come to deeply understand after working in HR.
This job is really draining.
That evening around 7 or 8 p.m., she went home exhausted in both body and mind.
Xia Changyu had already cooked dinner. He felt really sorry for the girl in front of him. “Tired?”
Lin Yibai nodded as she ate. “Mm-hmm.”
Xia Changyu said gently, “If it’s really too hard, maybe you should change jobs?”
Lin Yibai sighed. “Don’t talk nonsense. I just started a couple weeks ago. Who quits a job just because they’re tired?”
Xia Changyu said, “But it hurts to see you like this.”
Lin Yibai smiled. “It hurts your heart? Then good! That’s what I want. Anyway… I’m not talking to you anymore. I still have to shower and study for the civil service exam!”
After working eight hours a day, she still needed to spend three to four more hours studying. Of course she was tired, it would be strange if she wasn’t.
Preparing for civil service exams is never something that’s done quickly.
After failing the first exam, Lin Yibai learned a lot, what to focus on, and what to avoid.
This time, she was studying with a clear goal and a focused plan.
She wasn’t doing it on a whim.
She wasn’t doing it just because someone talked her into it.
She had been preparing for almost half a year, ever since last year.
Xia Changyu gave a helpless smile and said to himself, “That’s why, even if she becomes a civil servant one day, isn’t that just what she deserves after all this effort?”
But the one who suffered during this time was him. Ever since his strength had increased a lot, he walked with confidence. Now he could finally satisfy all of his wife's needs.
But here’s the problem, Lin Yibai worked and studied more than ten hours a day.
And he still wanted to fool bother her?
Was that really okay?