To be where you want to, you must passionately want to be there, too

Finding a job is hard. Finding a job that perfectly fits your passion is hard, too. But there are circumstances that you need to decide between practicality and idealism. So which will you choose? Your dream or the world that always asks you to fit in?

I say, dream high and try to always reach for that dream. Don’t lose hope for sooner or later, you will eventually get that dream. Trust me. Persuasiveness always pays off. Always.

I watched Bolt at Disney Channel earlier and this scene hit me so well that I need to search for it online, word per word, and eventually write a blog about it so, here it is!

Rhino: Bolt! I can be a valuable addition to your team…
Bolt: I’m listening…
Rhino: I’m lightning quick, I have razor-sharp reflexes. Wha! And I’m a master of stealth.
[laughs]
Rhino: Plus, I’ll keep the cat in check.
[Mittens rolls her eyes]
Bolt: [Gets down close to Rhino’s ball] The road’ll be rough.
Rhino: [indicates] I have a ball.
Bolt: There’s no turnin’ back.
Rhino: Guess I’ll have to “roll” with the punches!
[“surfs” his ball]
Bolt: Easy won’t be part of the equation…
Rhino: Promise?
Bolt: I gotta warn ya, going into the belly of the beast - danger at every turn.
Rhino: [getting closer] I eat danger for breakfast!
Bolt: You hungry?
Rhino: [cracks neck] Starving!

-BOLT (2008)

Rhino sold his self in order to get a job (even if his self description was a little bit exaggerated, the performance would still depend on how he’ll handle himself so it’s just fine, I guess) Although it wasn’t actually a job, it was something that Rhino passionately wants to do–to have adventures with Bolt. And it was something very inspiring. I admire his great passion and the courage to pursue it.

the 9th, 10th job interview

Yesterday, I was given the chance to have an interview with two companies. First is a news agency and the other is a learning center for Koreans. 

The news agency interview is good as in so damn good. We even become so comfortable with each other that we almost forgot that we’re in the middle of a job interview. The only catch there is that, the interview is not between me and the company itself, but between me and the recruitment agency of the company. But other than that, it was still a very nice experience talking with Ms. Janis of Manpower. 

And then from Makati I went to Ortigas for my next interview and exam at Kaigen Keed. I love the training idea of the company! They said that if ever one will get hired, he or she will be given the opportunity to go and have a training at Korea for three months which definitely is exciting! I passed the English exam and all I need to do now is to wait if the Korean counterparts enjoyed my essay about the climates in Korea which is the basis for the employment. 

Today, I also got the chance to go back to Citystate for the interview and exam for the copywriter position. This is actually the 7th job interview who gained another interview so technically, it would still fall under the 7th job interview category.

In the exam at this real estate company, I get to think on my toes about developing ideas for an advertisment. The gist of the job is actually exciting, to think that if ever that company will succeed in the next three years, I can proudly say that I am a part of the success of that company which would mean something big for me because even if my dream was to always be a reporter, the business voice inside me always tell me to imagine things about developing bright ideas for advertisments. What a lovely sight inside this gray matter of mine.

I’m happy even if I don’t have any job offer as of this post because along the way of my jobhunting, I get to know more people and be more experienced about the real life that welcomed me right after graduation. It’s hard to find a job, yes, but all it takes is a matter of changing angles and start seeing an optimistic view, which could always help in our road to satisfaction.

getting ready

It’s already 12 minutes past 1 in the morning and I’m still wide awake. But I’m not doing non-sense here, I’m procrastinating over an interview due later at around 2pm. Yeah. Good and bad. Best of the both worlds. 

I will have my 8th interview tomorrow. I hope to make it as good as possible. I need to sleep now so bye for now. Will update this later. 

feel rejected? you’re not the only one

Although some words are comforting, the end result is still the same, I am rejected.

Today, I just received my long-awaited letter from E.T.P.S. They said I exude professionalism and self-motivation but other applicants seem to be more fit for the position so they just wished me good luck on my job hunting. It was a really heartbreaking moment for me but although it is a rejection letter, I was very thankful to hear about the result of the time I lent with them. Time well spent would be the much appropriate phrase with my experience there because in every journey, there’s always something worth note-taking.

And since this rejection letter had a very big impact on me, I almost lose hope. But I did not digress, instead, I searched for some motivations online and luckily, I found some. I don’t have the right to be down at times like this because the Internet slapped to my face that I am not the only one receiving rejection letters. And so, the mighty hopeful in me outshined the dark and pessimistic side of me.

So after thorough assesment, I wrote some guidelines that might just give me the jackpot job. Here are some tips I learned both online and from personal experience and by posting this online, I hope to help other jobseekers out there, too.

JOB HUNTING TIPS:

Create a comprehensive resume.

Write a cover letter specifically designed for each company you are applying for.

Prepare your portfolio. Include your best works in here.

Make jobhunting your job. Spend more than just “a couple of hours”. Spend a concrete number of hours like 7-8 hours a day.

Be patient in waiting for a call-back. 

If there’s no one making a call-back, check your resume, there might be something wrong or something lacking in there.

On your interview day:

Arrive 15 minutes earlier.

Sit properly. Don’t slouch.

Dress appropriately.

Make sure to have clean fingernails.

Give a firm handshake.

Establish an eye contact with the interviewer.

When asked for expected salary, don’t just smile, name your price but be sure that it matches your qualifications. Another option is to give a salary range. If you are a fresh graduate, ask for a fair entry level salary with incentives for good performance. And, adding the word “negotiable” afterwards can work like magic.

Ask intuitive questions. (e.g. What would a typical day on the job be like?, What type of professional development are available  to the staff?) Show the interviewer that you are really interested with the company.

Also ask when would they advise you if you will be hired or not.

Ask for the interviewer’s business card so you can immediately send a thank you letter afterwards.

After the interview:

Send a thank you letter to the interviewer.

Make a follow up call after the interview.

Continue your jobhunt. You don’t know whether that interview would win you a job so you might as well try applying for other companies just in case. 

Be patient. Patience will soon enough pay off.

count your blessings

Today, I have taken note two of the many things to be happy about this day. One, our Balikbayan Box from my Aunt in the US has finally arrived which has my requested books on it. I now have Stephen King’s On Writing which has many good reviews online, another is The Pocket Muse by Monica Wood, this one showcases ideas ad inspiration for writing. And the last book is Bill Kovach and Tom Roseanstiel’s The Elements of Journalism. These books made me feel so excited about finishing the book that I am currently reading which is a chicklit: Mates, Dates and Inflatable Bras by Cathy Hopkins.

I can’t believe I’m getting really excited at reading. After all those years, I only remember having read the first four J.K. Rowling canons, Harry Potter. After an event that shifted my way and view of reading books, I’m now back and starting to love it, again. I reall love how things are going on right now.

Second blessing, I passed my examination in ALC group of companies and is up for an examination soon. With all the almost successful job applications I’m having, I just wish that I’ll have a job real soon because I have so many books I wanted to buy and I also want to save some money so I can revamp my room and add a mini-library there. heehee

still trying, never despairing

Last Friday, I went to my sixth job interview and I must say, the company is rather appealing to me. 

The company is located at Makati, which I think would be one and a half hour away from me. The boss seems nice and the office seems comfortable as well. I think I’m going to love to work in this kind of environment. It’s a fixed weekday job with an 8:30 to 5:30 pm working hours, no work on holidays and promises its employees to give a 20-day paid leave plus Php2,000 monthly food and transportation allowance and some other health benefits. What more can you ask for? I think this job is perfect for me. I just wish the boss, which by the way is an American –did you know that I kinda wished some weeks ago to be interviewed by a native English speaker so I’ll be forced to speak English at interviews? And yes, it finally came true and I guess I did pretty well with my English speaking skills. heh– will hire me. 

If ever I’ll get hired by this exam preparation company, I’m planning on also getting the weekend job at TV5, if ever I get hired there which I really wish they’ll do. If ever I get these two jobs, it would be really an amazing yet tiring experience. I get to work at a good paying weekday job and get to fulfill my dreams at a weekend job. oh my, what a beautiful dream!

I’m so futuristic. I just wish that my hopes won’t fail me. 

And by the way, I noticed that I never had any can’t sleep the night before the interview day when I was scheduled for this interview. I think it’s destiny. It’s fate. I also believe that it’s faith that’s what I have right now.

I’m hoping for the best. Wish me luck on this jobhunting!

try and try and try and try

My first luck at a photography career (and patience) was tested yesterday.

After walking for about one hour just to find the Little Angel studio in granada st. ortigas ext. valencia, QC, I ended up with a bucket of sweat and saw myself in front of the Greenhills shopping center. I almostgave up and check the mall but I realized that I went in there not to shop but to apply so I continued my quest, called a cab and let the driver take me in the right place.

And soon enough, we found heaven. I mean, the studio.

Unfortunately for me, along my journey of finding the studio, I found the store beside the actual one that I am looking for. When I finally found the one, it only made me sigh because just like its name, the signage and the store’s color ismade up of blue and white colors, hence not a catchy way of marketing yourself. But inside the studio is another. The moment you step inside the door, it will lead you to a heaven’s delight kind of feeling which makes you feel at home. The photographs of babies on the wall is brilliant, fantastic and awesome. These babies are truly heaven sent.

Now moving on, I jumped to the interview and I must say that I struggled at the intro of myself but worked it out just so no effort won’t be wasted. I’ve used so much of my energy, effort and money for this job interview so I should not shame myself and give my best shot. 

After the interview, I’ve been toured around the studio which is an awesome experience. I get to see the set up, the costumes, the lights and everything. I am truly thankful for the idea shared. 

This job interview is actually my fifth strike at bagging a job after getting a degree. First was in offshoring, second in TV5, third in Stimula productions, fourth is the epic fail job-interview-turned-criticism-day with the chief editor of the Mla Times, and now, this newly founded Little Angel Studio which just started last Sunday.

After this job interview, I convinced myself to not expect anything anymore because expectations can only lead to disappointments so life, I wish you luck, I’m letting things unfold my way now.

No expectations, only faithful hopes.

epic…FAIL

A writer should read one book per week.

A writer should read good books, good writers.

You don’t write quite well. You have a problem with grammar and tenses and accepting you will bring problem to our newspaper.

An editor in chief told me these things this afternoon. I think he did the right thing by saying the right criticisms about me. I think that I really really really need to work on my tenses and grammar now because I admit, it’s my weakness and I should really work on it as soon as possible.

But after all these criticisms he gave me, he told me that he is not discouraging me because I still have a long way to go because my level is the level of most of their senior writers, especially in the news department so he really insists me to read more books, good books and after six months, I could come back to him and apply again. So there’s still hope. At least he told me I’m not hopeless.

For now I am rejected but I promise to improve myself more so that one day, I’ll be worthy of the position. 

Good thing is there’s someone who gave me a bit of sunshine in the dark. A colleague of mine told me that I’m a creative writer who should be doing well in magazines than on broadsheet, a good console to hear after all the bad things I heard from a local daily’s EIC. 

blurred goals, misaligned directions

Maybe I’m looking at the wrong place.

It’s been more than a month since I started applying for jobs online and passed my resumes on the booths located at the job fair in school.  Ever since I passed my resumes in that job fair, no one ever called. Maybe it’s true that the job fairs really get you nowhere and that they are put up for plain publicity stunt, for promotions. And maybe, I’m asking too much from God; expecting too much without even doing too much to attain what I was wishing for. 

I realized that i’ve been doing most of my applications online. I’m continuously surfing job opportunity sites like Jobstreet, JobsDB, Jobscity for job offers in the local newspapers. And to my dismay, I never or even rarely see a newspaper seeking for a reporter. In fact, most of my applications online consist of publishing house, testing services, online writing jobs and work at home jobs and not really something that describes my original goal. Only then I realized that I might just be looking at the wrong place. The goal had been blurred because I have been so desperate in finding and getting my dream job only to find out that I’m already settling for less than what I dreamed for.

But now that I have come back to my senses, the goal seems to be regaining its focus and creates an imaginary straight path again. And this time, I’m hoping to get it right. 

riiiing riiiiing

3…2…1

Imagination runs wild whenever the phone rings at this point and time. When all I’ve got is a diploma and an eagerness to have a job, I suppose that you already know what comes next inside this gray matter of mine, “that must be the employer calling.”

This might possibly be one of the most obvious signs of being so depressed and desperate about bagging a job you’ve been meaning to have ever since you studied and have graduated from college. Whenever the phone rings, I am hoping that the employer is at the other end of the line, waiting for me to pick up the phone and offer me the job I applied for. 

This whole jobhunting idea only made me realize that the real world is not really that easy. I’ve been hearing so much about the idea of how difficult it really is to actually get a job but I’m not that satisfied with plain anecdotes from other people and so this time, it’s my anecdote’s turn to prove to me that real world sucks for real.

A ring from some companies really doesn’t give you a job. Many might call but only one will be chosen and the fact that the one you’ve been meaning to call doesn’t formally accept you as their employee yet, you continue on finding a job even if the job description is way out of your league. Employers can’t see the desperation in the employee-wannabe’s faces which is actually sad but I understand that they only hire who they think would be the best person to be in their team because they can’t afford to make mistakes but how? How will they know the real potential of an applicant in just minutes of interview? Sometimes,when I go over the past scenarios of my interviews and exams with the possible employers and I picture myelf out doing the whatnot’s, I’m always having a great comeback as of the timebeing but it’s too late, way too late to answer back the employer with a very witty response that came in just after reminiscing the entire scene. How I wish I could just use my staircase wit in the actual moment I needed it.

Companies not making a callback leaves us hanging by a thread making us feel empty and continuously re-examine ourselves and think about the what-went-wrong and what-am-I-lacking questions. I just hope that, the next time the phone rings, my missing piece would be at the end of the line, wanting to accept the real me with some flaws and imperfections but willing to change me for the betterment of their company and my career because that is what we all need.