Job Fair

I went to the first ever electronic job fair in the Philippines. I didn’t have to bring copies of my CV. Instead, I was asked to fill-up an electronic resume. After that I was given my first ever career card. All I have to do is to present my career card to the company where I would like to apply for a job. They would scan my card and voila! 

Many companies joined the fair, but most of them were call centers. I was only interested with three companies- Thomson Financial, Manila Times and McDonald’s. The first two didn’t have any person manning their booths so I wasn’t able to ask what I’ve been dying to ask- do you have a graduate program? With McDonald’s, I asked the silliest question “do we really have to wear the checkered shirt and blue pants?” The girl replied with a courteous smile “yes.” Then I asked again “do managers in your main office also wear this uniform (pointing to the picture)?” “No. They wear business attire” she answered, while it was noticeable that she was refraining herself from laughing.

There was also a job fair in the school. It was disappointing. The companies that joined the fair in 2006 were not in this year’s job fair. I was looking forward to submitting my resume to Unilab, Fujitsu and J&J, but they were not present. I wonder why… All my 19 resume ended in the hands of 19 different companies- from a directory firm to a hotel.

Speaking of the hotel, I submitted my resume to Discovery Suites. I’m hoping they consider my application, though I think I almost blew it off yesterday when I asked the HR person “do you require applicants to be really pretty and tall and slim?” Before answering, she looked at me for three seconds and said “it depends on the management.” I was not even contented and I asked again “if ever I get accepted can I be assigned in your Boracay office?” With the look on her face, I somehow felt that I was making her uncomfortable. She smiled and said “if there is a vacancy and it also depends on the management. Here, get an apple” she handed me a green apple. I thanked her, asked for their e-mail and, smiled and walked away.

I’d be tossed in the corporate jungle few months from now and I still have a vague idea of what to do with my “career.”  Should I be asking “how much?” “Where is it located?” or “Will it make me happy?”

Based on my experiences, I usually ask the last question first and forget about the amount.

People would probably wonder if I tell them that in the long run I see myself working in a farm. It’s no different to my friend who’s more interested to study gift wrapping than to pursue her CPA dream.

P.S. I really wanted to be an artista when I was in my teens, but now that I’m a bit older, I couldn’t pursue that dream. I can’t sing, I can’t dance, I don’t even know if I can act in front of a camera and most importantly, I can never pose for FHM, Maxim, Manual and even Uno.