7/30/2019 Up Myth Busted

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/up-myth-busted 1/3

Young Blood

Job- seeker’s notes By Maria Bianca M. Mendiola

Philippine Daily Inquirer 12:59 am | Thursday, September 6th, 2012

7 532 494

It’s been months since I left the University of the Philippines. With my departure, Ibrought with me the promises of a successful career, a head-turning university name,and a contract-worthy Latin honor. But then again, these are just promises —words andphrases that walk on stilts on shaky hanging bridges. Through all my years in college, Iwas assured by relatives and peers that a UP degree would get me a job pronto! Someeven said people would line up to hire me even before I graduate.

Well, they were wrong! I don’t mean to burst balloons, just myths. UP does get you a job, but if it’s going to be your first, don’t expect the offer to be delivered to your house,or to be for the job you’ve dreamed of having. For three months I went through job screenings. I spent more money printing resumésand reproducing copies of my credentials and commuting from Pampanga to Manilaand back than I did during my college days. Most of my Internet hours were spentsurfing JobStreet.com, not Facebook. My cell phone became a fixture in my pocketbecause I knew that a missed call was a missed opportunity. Job advertisementsbecame very appealing to me despite their boring layouts and occasional misspelledwords.

I must say the past months have opened my eyes to the real life. I made a few notesduring my job-hunting (I call it soul-searching) days that may be of value:1. Make your CV/resumé as attractive as you can. Pick from your college life the mostsubstantial activities that you engaged in. The trick is in the intensity of words. Make themost out of your thesaurus! (For example, use “I facilitated” instead of “I assisted…”) Tip: As early as your freshman year, make a list of your achievements and activities(with dates and places) so that writing your CV will be a breeze.2. Print more copies than needed. Whether CV or birth certificate, when you’re lookingfor work there ’s never enough copies.

3. Use a waterproof long envelope for your documents. I know it’s a minute detail butyour documents have as equal a value as your face and decorum in an interview.Imagine the cringe of your interviewer if you present her with a soggy birth certificate or a creased resumé! Also, don’t use bright colors for your envelope because you’ll oftenpull it out of your bag in your potential company.4. Bring two or more pens and paper. It’ll absolutely make a good impression if youkeep pen and pad handy. Again, more than one pen because I have had the experience

7/30/2019 Up Myth Busted

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/up-myth-busted 2/3

of borrowing a pen from the HR person (my only pen would not work and it wasembarrassing)!5. Ask questions. If there’s one crucial lesson UP taught me, that would be the act of a sking. No matter how bruha the receptionist is, ask her if you don’t know the floor theoffice you’re seeking is on. It won’t hurt if she raises an eyebrow at you; it’s going to beher wrinkle, anyway.6. Bring FUN (Fan, Umbrella and miNts). The weather is very unpredictable so youmust bring an umbrella anywhere you go. And if it’s too warm, you should know better than to present yourself all soaked in sweat. Pause for a while, wipe your sweat, andfan yourself until you’re sufficiently presentable. As for the mints, you know what to do.7. Do research on the company. Never, ever attempt to go to an interview without evenknowing what products it makes or who the CEO is. You’ll just make a fool of yourself. 8. Memorize your lines. Yes, memory exercises don’t stop after college. Write downyour answers to common interview questions and read them repeatedly until you know

them by heart. Just make revisions along the way. You should know yourself better thananyone else (in terms of achievements and goals). There’s nothing more impressivethan a naturally smooth talker.9. Save up! Looking for a job is not like strolling in the park. Especially if you’re going todo walk-in applications, expect to spend cash and change for transportation and other nitty-gritty fees.10. Draw up a game plan. You don’t just go to a job interview once a day, five days aweek. If you can, schedule interviews in one day, but make sure they are within thesame area. That way you save money, time and energy. HR people are veryaccommodating to schedules, so try your hardest to bargain for the most convenienttime and date for you.11. Know your value. One of the most difficult questions in an interview: What’s your expected salary? You’ve studied for four freaking years in college, s o you better notgive the HR person a P5,000 to P10,000 range! I don’t mean for you to make it a sky -high P50,000. Give a range that fits your credentials and the company. For instance, if it’s a government agency, you’ll be joking if you asked for a P25 -30,000 starting salarybecause even older employees don’t get as much. 12. Remember names and contact details. When the HR person calls you up for aninterview, remember her/his name because people in the office will ask you who you

spoke with. And keep contact numbers so that if you have questions, you can easily calland seek answers.13. PPP. Persevere, be Patient and Pray. I received calls for interviews not becausecompanies got the cum laude list from my college, but because I submitted my resuméto a lot of companies, whether online, through career fairs or walk-in. If you see a jobopening that seems great, grab it like it’s the last one! Keep on sending your resuméuntil they give you a ring. Be patient because some companies collect resumés for

7/30/2019 Up Myth Busted

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/up-myth-busted 3/3

mont hs; don’t worry if they don’t phone immediately. Of course, pray. No matter towhich Higher Being you pray, ask for divine intervention that you may seal the dealasap, or that you be strong enough to accept rejection.The past months I spent swimming in job advertisements and fishing the good oneshave actually paid off. I’ve already signed a contract and by the time this piece is out I’llbe an active member of the labor force. As I said, you will not always get the job thatyou like. In my case, I took t he job that I need. It’s always a comparative -advantageissue. As the eldest child in a middle-class family, I chose the job with the best possiblebenefits; the enjoyable environment will have to wait.Nowadays, UP grads may find it difficult to land a jo b, but it’s not impossible. I may havebusted the UP myth, but I never said that there’s no hope in making it big out there. Youmay start by getting papers filed and making reports. These are not useless actions butwarm-up exercises for bigger responsibilities ahead. And when you do get the job thatyou want (or need), cherish it and treat it like an investment that you have to shield from

negative externalities. Make the most of the experience and use your college lessons asoften as you can. You’re a ne wbie, so all eyes will be on you. Learn to listen, take thelead, and, as expected from a UP grad, exceed expectations so that you’ll not only hitthe mark but also make your own.Maria Bianca M. Mendiola, 20, is a political science graduate of the University of thePhilippines in Diliman.