I've endured three ravaging years of college. It wasn't easy to surf my way through every semester tide. The way I see, it was like riding a motocross bike on the rough dirt road. Quite challenging yet ever bump I pass is satisfying.
Remember the scholarship grant I passed? Yes that one I mentioned on Log #01. Turns out the scholarship duration is only up to 2 years. Fortunately I surpassed the standard grade allowance, a little over 1.7 and so the government extended 1 more year to my scholarship. Grading system in the Philippines is rated from 1 as the best 3 as passing score and 5 when failed.
Fast forward 3 years after, I've always wanted to continue studying but it's not possible at that moment. I've been looking for part time jobs but jobs that time of year was scarce. I couldn't possible get a job that was near the school campus. The campus is way off the city proper and transportation is quite of a struggle. The rides are scheduled every 30 minutes, one ride after another and most of the time it's jammed packed full. So I simply can't continue, I had to make a choice. I had to pause of dream of graduating from college and start my venture into the world of employment.
With this newly found self direction, I decided to go off to the bigger city in the neighboring province. At first I have no idea what's gonna happen. My parents agreed to have me stay at my aunt's house. For the time being while still have to figure out what's gonna happen next.
The thing with applying for a job and staying at your relative's house is that you have to endure whatever they would say. My Aunt pushes me to apply into the BPO industry. It was the start of boom of the Business Process Outsourcing at that time. My Aunt, having known that his nephew passed the rigid scholarship entrance examination, she has more of a confidence in me in finding a job easily. But it was the case at all.
Though academically intelligent I have little to no knowledge of the novice world of job application. Of how tough it is to start a journey with guts. Aunt Azon as I call her, had always had the faith in me. But her husband, my uncle and her son Edwin my first degree cousin, not so much. Both had always told me, it's not possible for me to get hired. That the BPO industry needs someone who's really good in English. I see their point, and they're right. I my uncle wanted me to settle down the as a waiter job his friend would offer. His friend assured me a position in a Disco bar as a waiter. It wasn't that appealing but you know the saying, beggars cannot be choosers. At that point of my life, I only wanted to get a job, if someone had offered me thousands of pesos to have me joined terrorist cell, I would have joined. It's the young blood in me that would push me to do whatever it takes to just get an instant cash so I could go back to school. Luckily at that time, I'm meek. I already got my credentials ready, and I was ready to just hop and puff as waiter of that disco bar. To my surprise the bar got closed few days after. So I didn't had the chance to start.
Weeks passed, and it's almost two months already, my aunt keeps on asking when I would get a job. I applied several companies, some called, others have not. I tried as walk in applicant twice and they were bluntly honest enough to tell me I didn't quite have the skills for the job. I was beginning to believe what cousin Edwin's statements that I'm never gonna get a job.
Far from home, and having no money of my own, I felt discouraged. I feel small. Then came one day, I felt something has urged me to just keep moving. I took a bathe, put on a decent enough clothing and told my aunt I'd be going out to submit my resume's. In the days of job hunting I have met new friends. Youth on the hunt of landing a job just like me. We go out in flocks when applying for a job. But that day, I wasn't feeling all good. I was feeling a little gloomy but I had the spark inside me that tells me something's good is going to happen that day.
So went out to submit my resume to the front desk of the employment hub of one of the biggest BPO company that time. I thought I'd be waiting for call when the the attendant called me out for the interview right away. I can still remember, I had multiple interviews that day, and I haven't even had the time to take my lunch. There was this first initial interview, then the second initial interview. After which I had to take an English proficiency exam. Then English Communications interview. The typing exam and computer literacy evaluation. The three account specific exams that I'm not familiar with. Then the behavioral interview. I started my interview at 10:00 in the morning I finished my application at 10:00 evening. My dinner was the free hot-dog and bun snack. I was so hungry and tired. Man, what a day, I told myself. The last interview which was the behavioral one was weird, I been asked non job related questions about what I'd steal if I am given the opportunity, in which I answered knowledge. I was asked to talked about anything and the interviewer just sit in front of me with her cleavage and hot long legs. She keeps on just yawning as if bored with whatever I say. And it distracted me for the most part not to mention the constant seductive stare. I guess it wasn't called behavioral for nothing. LoL.
I was told to go home and wait for call. And at that moment I knew I failed. It's the same thing I've heard with my first two interviews. And I have not received a single ring. I remember just taking a very very deep frustrated breathe while walking my way home in the dark narrow. Though it was so dark, streetlights was on but I felt like it was pitch black. I gave up. Now I will just settle down on whatever jobs available. Jobs with bare minimum salary.
The next morning I woke up from the stubborn ringing of my phone. I felt too lazy to answer, but I answered anyway. It was an unfamiliar voice asking me my name. I was still half asleep when I answered the phone. Someone on the other line asked me about games and gaming. I'm not sure why. Then I was stunned and I asked could this be a call from one I applied yesterday? I kept answering questions that were asked on what games I play, what are my expertise. Until that person on the other line said which is the only thing I clearly remember and I quote "Congratulations, You're Hired!"
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Life Changing Lesson
Never ever give up. Even when people tells you, you can't do it, keep on moving, keep on trying. You never know what happens if you don't try. That day was the first day of my entire career. It's been years but if not because of my persistence that day I wouldn't know what I'm gonna be today. Life is so unpredictable but one thing is for sure. One small decision today will definitely have a big impact of our tomorrow.
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Original Content
@PajeeBear at Cent.co is one and the same @PajeeBear at Publish0x
