MY JOB HUNTING PHASE

Job hunting is probably the most challenging yet fun phase. Ah, I forgot—it can be a bit stressful as well. I just graduated this year, and my first job was a temporary position. When my contract ended there, I took some time to rest for a while because even before my graduation, I was already hired for that job. I would say job hunting is fun at first, but then it becomes stressful, leading to feelings of doubt and confusion before you figure out what you really want. I don't know if this applies to everyone, but it's what I experienced during this phase. Silly me for posting this here, but I just think this will be the perfect community for this to be shared. Before we delve into my work life, which will be very soon, let me just share my job hunting journey with you all. Ohhh, it has been a wonderful, long, fun, quite tough, but a very fulfilling adventure.

I've been applying to different jobs at the same time. But yeah, the biggest advantage in today’s era is that everything can be digital. With just one click, you can directly submit your application to your desired company. Things can be done online, which saves you time and effort going back and forth or jumping to different places for job hunting. Through Mynimo, Jobstreet, LinkedIn, Indeed, and many more, it has become easier for everybody. You'll have to show up if the companies hold a face-to-face interview.

By the way, this place is Cebu IT Park. It’s where many tall buildings of different companies are located, where people eat lunch at 12:00 PM and 12:00 AM. You can still see people walking around at midnight. In fact, it's one of the busiest places in Cebu City because it’s full of BPO companies. With that being said, I actually considered being a call center agent. This might sound quite unbelievable to some of you, but this is one job that can provide you with instant, good compensation, especially if you have no work experience. That's why it's no wonder that even college graduates here in the Philippines flock to BPO companies, because it's one of the jobs that offer a salary that's quite sufficient for needs and other expenses. Otherwise, if you were a full-time student back when you were in college, then you can't jump into a job that pays you well even if you have the degree. Here, the job qualifications are too high, but the compensation is so low. Others would even offer you a minimum rate, even if you're a degree holder.

That's why I initially considered being in a BPO company for these reasons. I was even hired and was about to start the training, but I realized that staying up every night is not for me, especially after finding out about my low hemoglobin level. Also, that wasn't too tough because it was just a one-day process. Though it takes a lot of interviews and exams, it'll be easy if you are just confident in communication. So yeah, being in this line of work is somewhat a risk for your health as well. That's why I'll always be proud of these bayaning puyat people, especially since my friends are in this work.

Seeking a decent job means a lot of trials, so I already expected to encounter many things along the way. Imagine getting a call, unsure or not even knowing which company is calling me because I've been randomly applying online. As they say, in order to have more chances of winning, because honestly, waiting for the status of just a single application will make you feel like you’re waiting forever.

Again, I have applied to a lot of jobs in different industries. I didn't stop. But honestly, I was eyeing this good company I really wanted to work with. From a call center agent, I've tried for finance positions like accounting staff, despite the fact that I am a graduate in marketing. So again, I was under these tall buildings on my way to the office where I would be having my final assessment for an accounting staff position. There I was, my pretty confident self, walking to the recruitment hub without prior knowledge of accounting, even the basics. See? I was just exploring and trying things outside of my zone.

What makes it ironic is that I again applied for an accounting staff position, which I later found out is at a BPO company. The funny thing was, as I expected, the exam was about accounting. Well, I successfully answered a good number of items, but there was this specific part that I really didn't have an idea how to do, and it's already given since it's not specific to my course in college. What happened was I finished the other parts—those that can be answered with good understanding and analysis—and left the other part blank. There was still a lot of time left, but I had already passed the papers. Well, what should I wait for? I had no answers for the rest. But can you imagine it? I passed. Even I can't believe it; maybe some of my answers were right and some were just a lucky perfect guess.

Then after that, they told me that I was going to proceed with another type of test. It was more on data entry. But I didn't know at that time, I had this silent instinct that told me, “do not just continue the exam.” A quite gullible me, I followed my gut. That's why I immediately informed the human resource personnel that I wouldn't just push through with the next type of assessment. I was ready to go home when they told me to kindly wait for a while in the lobby. While waiting, I was scrolling on my phone and checking my emails. There I found out that my application for the company I had been silently hoping to work for had gone well, and all my papers had already been approved. So, at that time, I felt like the search was over.

I was called inside the office again and had a conversation with the human resource staff. Instead of the accounting staff position, they offered me the role of trainer for their customer service representatives (CSRs). I honestly felt so grateful because it has always been my pleasure to teach, share insights, and communicate with other people. I was told that they see in me the potential and effectiveness of being a trainer ever since I had my first interview. I'm truly honored for the opportunity and grateful for being chosen among all the candidates. However, I had already been accepted by the company I aspire to work for and stay with in the long term, which will also be more advantageous in terms of salary and benefits. When it comes to my career goals, the other company is also the better option.

That's why I asked for their contact information, deciding that I would email them my response, pretending to need more time to decide. I thought that declining the offer instantly might not be sensible for them. Honestly, the offer was nice, and it's something I would really love to do. But I can only choose one. So, that's it. I'm on my way home at this time, and I have already been thinking that I'll send them a formal notice of my declination once I get home. Along the way, I suddenly felt like I needed to eat, so I entered Jollibee and ordered my favorite meal. I didn't order my favorite crispy chicken this time because I had an itchy throat.

While eating, I realized how challenging it is to find a job. I just have to be wise because, in the end, it's me who will be working at the company I choose. I've always felt sorry for all the firms I didn't push through with my application. I've honestly been somewhat a waste of time to some. But it is what it is. We really have to choose what we think is best for us. Sometimes we decline because we know we deserve something more. Sometimes we get rejected because there's something more that's waiting ahead of us, which is more connected with our real aspirations. I have pondered that this phase often presents us with choices that seem limiting, but one thing is for sure, and that is each decision opens a new door. Overall, this journey has taught me that every challenge is a stepping stone, and the right opportunity will always find its way to people who are patient and true to themselves.