My Journey To Employment

I remember myself writing a blog entry about me being a bummer at home simply because I didn't have a job at that time (A Bum's Life). I felt really pressured during those times because people expect me to be employed immediately since I graduated from a well-known university with a Latin honor. My excuse? I want to be 21 years old first.

A month ago I turned 21 years old, and I told myself that it's time for me to start applying for a job since most of my classmates are employed already. I'm not getting any younger anymore that's why I need to strike while the iron is hot. I applied to different companies under the aviation/customer service industry--DNATA, PAGSS, Miascor, Airphil Express, and SkyLogistics Philippines. Out of those 5, only 3 companies invited me for an interview/examination.

September 18-19, 2012 -- My very first interview for employment with Miascor.

On the same day when my friends and I passed our resume to Miascor (a ground handling company for airlines such as Asiana Airlines), they immediately invited us to take an exam. We were actually surprised because we didn't think that we're ready for an exam, but we still did so. They also invited us for an interview the next day and it was nerve-wracking in my part since it was my first interview for employment! My stomach was turning upside-down, my throat started to dry, my hands were getting colder--it was just insane! But as I got interviewed, I tried to be spontaneous, confident, and professional as much as possible. I believe the interview went well because we got invited for a final interview soon after.

October 2, 2012 -- Exam and interview with SkyLogistics Phil. and final interview with Miascor

My friends and I can't hit two birds with one stone, that's why we opted to attend the exam and interview with SkyLogistics Phil. as a customer service agent (a.k.a ground attendant) for Philippine Airlines because they informed us ahead of time. It was a hard decision but we let go of our final interview with Miascor. It was a long day for us at the office of SkyLogistics because we had the exam, initial interview, and second interview on the same day. It was a stressful process because for each and every step, they sent applicants home who do not meet their qualifications. For that day, I believe half of the number of applicants were sent home. My friends and I were lucky to make it up to the second interview.

October 3, 2012 -- Trying to fulfill my cabin crew dream with Airphil Express.

I've already conditioned my mind not to expect too much from this endeavor because I know for a fact that I'm not tall, but still I dared. It was a stormy morning and applicants were only less than 20. I was so drenched that I didn't look pleasing anymore (blame you storm!). The first step of the process was measuring the height and weight...and I was really worried. Minimum height for male applicants is 5'6". And yeah, I was booted out that easily because I didn't meet it (curse that minus 1 inch of measurement!). As if their aircrafts are high enough (bitter?) HAHA! Many of the applicants were actually booted out because of height. Even so, I'm not giving up my cabin crew dream. I'm just putting it aside for the meantime.

October 4, 2012 -- Third interview with SkyLogistics Phil.

I was glad to be invited again for third interview (expecting that it was the last and final interview) together with my friends. When I got there, I was surprised that we were only eleven left (including the applicants from other batch apart from ours)! Meaning some of those who made it on the second interview didn't meet their qualifications again. My heart was drumming with nervousness because I didn't know what to expect. I tried to calm down by befriending some of the applicants. The interview turned out not bad actually, but I was surprised to find out that there is still one final interview should we pass this third interview! O_o

October 5, 2012 -- Psychological exam with SkyLogistics Phil.

We were invited for a psychological exam, which means that we passed the third interview (Yey!). However two applicants from yesterday's interview were not invited back again. We were only nine! They say that we should pass this psychological exam in order to be invited again for the last and final interview. I was actually paranoid knowing that there are people who still fail at psychology exams. Since it was not an objective type of exam, I was not really confident.

October 9, 2012 -- YES! The most-awaited final interview!!!

Fortunately for this round, the final nine was complete, including me and my friends! No one failed the psychological exam (which I think was absurd!). We were interviewed quickly because the results will be revealed right away after everyone is done. Yes I was confident enough, but not too overconfident because we still don't know what will happen. Expect the unexpected. I was thinking positive so that the universe will conspire to my desire. After lunch, the HR person called one of the applicants, and we were getting agitated. When she got out from the office, she was teary-eyed because she didn't pass the final interview. We were so nervous because anyone can be called again. But instead the HR person called all of us inside the office and explained to us that we passed the final interview!!! We were all happy and at the same time felt bad for the one who didn't get accepted because we all became friends already. From nine, we were down to eight. Still I'm very happy because my friends and I got accepted and we will be training together!!! Sounds really fun! ;-)

I'm not a bum anymore and I'm very proud to tell people that I will now be training as a Customer Service Agent for Philippine Airlines! God is really good!

A BUM's Life

Yes, I have been unemployed or should we say 'BUM' ever since I graduated from college. But it doesn't mean that society should look down on me for being such.

So I felt the urge of sharing to everyone, especially to those who are yet to graduate, a glimpse of what is like to be a bum--is it really that a bad thing?

It's been four months now since I've stayed at home (as a bum) because I don't have a job yet. Is it a choice? Maybe. I always know what I wanted in life: to be a cabin crew. It may sound simple to some (or many) people, but that's not always the case. To become one means "to go through the eye of a needle". It's not easy, unless you are born SUPERFICIAL combined with INTELLIGENCE. And apparently I'm not a superficial being. But still my heart tells me to pursue it no matter what it takes because it is what will make me happy. That's why I decided to take some rest (for some months until I'm 21) to prepare...a lot. Besides, I can never go to a battle without bullets for my gun, and an armor for my body.

So for me, being bum means 'preparing oneself'. I'm a kind of person who doesn't rush because I'm being pressured by society, society that dictates "you should have a decent job right after graduation because you were one of the top students, and if you don't, I'll look down on you. Wahahaha!" (crazy dramatization). Also, I have this idea that when I start working, I might not be able to do the things I wanted to do because of my commitments.

So what have I been doing, eh?

I've been doing the things I love like watching anime/K-series and movies all day, reading novels (in order to sharpen my depleting brain cells), going out with my family and friends, surfing the net like there's no tomorrow, and blogging my heart's content (like what I'm doing right now). Typical bum, hehe!

Then how am I preparing?

My main concern would be my physique. Since my body type is ectomporph, it is very hard for me to gain weight and mass. That's why I decided to consult a fitness trainer to help me work on it. With the right nutrition and an active lifestyle, in some months I'll have a more proportional body and an increase in weight. Yep, I've been building muscles and strength for some months now. I've also engaged myself into swimming because it's definitely an overall body workout, plus it is an advantage in becoming a cabin crew. I'm also learning the right nutrition for me. From 115 lbs, I'm currently 120 lbs (and going!). Apart from improving my physique, I also underwent basic life support and first aid training a month ago under Red Cross for me to be equipped with the knowledge of saving people in the most basic way.

Am I not pressured that most of my peers are already working?

I'd be lying if I say that there's no pressure in my part. Sometimes I feel envy that some of them are happily working. I'm also worried of what my professor told us before that not because he/she was the top student of the batch, he/she becomes the most successful of them all--that's not always the case. Scary, right? But still at the back of my mind, there's a voice telling me not to be affected by those things because it will just pull me down, instead focus on what I think is right and I should be doing right now. As the old Irish proverb says, "It takes time to build a castle".

Then I realized that being bum isn't bad at all. It makes you cherish the simple things in life because you don't worry about going to work the next day. In addition to that, being bum gears toward more realizations which can actually lead to self-actualization. (I'm an optimist, you know! Hehe!)

Too prepared before having a job? Maybe. ;-)

Hit "THUMBS UP!" button below if you like this blog post. ;-)