my greatest crucible In the scorching hot summer of 2009, I graduated from college and struggled to land a job. I majored in international trade and economics, which was usually thought to be perfect for finding work in the international trade market. However, a financial crisis broke out in 2008 in the US, and then swept the globe, producing a huge negative impact on international employment markets. My major, in which I always took pride, suddenly became my shortcoming. I found myself in a crucible of landing a satisfactory job, a difficult situation where my character and will were to be tested. Facing the arduous condition, I tried to calm down first. Actually, I was undergoing huge pressure at the time, since my family had been working so hard to pay my college bill. I could not let them down! After a sober consideration, I decided to maximize the possibility of landing a job through a portfolio of channels, including delivering resumes, attending interviews, and referrals of friends. Most of my efforts failed until a Hongkong-based foreign trade company extended an offer to me in July. I was crying with joy when it arrived, not only because my efforts paid off, but also the offer itself got my wish with lucrative bonus. In the next one month, I was travelling across China with relaxation, when suddenly a notice from that company took me by surprise that the offer was cancelled. The reason lied in the fact that their business strategy was changed and the mainland branch offering the position of mine was correspondingly to be cancelled! What a big Joke! Just like a prank of April Fool’s Day! I felt frustrated and even desperate at the time.