Finally, here is my story.
Please bear with me, it’s lengthy but this is how I think I can pay it forward to other new migrants seeking jobs.
It took me almost 2 weeks to get a job if I will just count it from my day of arrival here until the job offer. Pero kung isasama yun mga online applications while in Pinas, it will be around 4 months.
Siguro yun pagsisimula ko ng maaga pag aaply even outside pa is nakatulong. It helped me developed strategies like:
• review how effective my CV and Cover letter is to catch recruiter’s attention.
• Sandamukal na versionings, format, proof reading yun nagawa ko.
• Ilan blogs and career advice site na din napuntahan ko.
• I think the most effective is yun Human Voice in the workplace. Google it and read the articles. It can make you standout to the right employer you should belong.
• While in Pinas, I also tried buying skype credits to have an Oz number para mailagay ko sa CV and put in local address of my friend but that didn't work for me.
Upon arriving here, I treated job application a full time job. Diko namalayan I had already spent a day updating CV and cover letter. That's because I customize it every job application. Ang analysis daw kasi dun, treat every job requirement in that role as a pain of the employer. So in your CV, write on how you can cure that pain. That's how they'll pick you are the right person for the job.
Other than pala submitting CVs sa mga 3rd party site like seek or taleo, I will research the company and hiring manager of that job ad in linked in. Then email the HR directly. I followed up email if I do not get any response, good or bad, after a week.
Kahit din nasa bahay lang ako, I tried dressing up na pang office para lang ba inspired ako to work and write my CVs. Kumbaga naka in character 🙂 there will be a some instances I will cry because of frustration with the rejections kasi confident ako makukuha nila ako.
Meron kasi ako company na lakas ng confidence ko tatawagan ako after I wrote and polish my CV and CL for 2 days for them, binisita ko in advance yun location nila para familiar na kagad ako sa pag-travel dun. HR manager replied naman personally to me, rather than the rejection email template. It just proved me that reaching out to them thru other channels rather than in their ATS can get their attention. I just was not the right candidate for the job.
So while applying IT jobs, I tried searching for partime within the suburbs. I found an opening in gumtree for customer svc rep just 3 blcks away from our apartment. I said to myself, “yeah maybe I can do this while waiting for the IT jobs to come.” At least I’m still inside the office and in front of a computer.
Instead of submitting my CV via Gumtree to reply to that job ad, I walked over there. Unfortunately, the manager said they just hired someone earlier that morning. Made me sad I can't even score a part time work.
Bummed out, I don't want to go home away so I hang out muna dun sa malapit na park. Then I overheard the 2 Pinays chatting over their lunch in one of the park bench. I walked over and introduced myself. I am usually shy but timidness won't get me anywhere here. Turns out one of the Pinay is an accountant in a medium scale IT consulting company also within the suburb. She asked for my Linked in account and mentioned she'll refer me to their HR.
2hrs later that the same afternoon, I got an email from the Manager of the Customer Svc position ad from Gumtree. He mentioned he was kind of impressed with my effort in coming over there to inquire for the job but it was not partime and he needed someone fulltime. I replied I just lived across the highway and but I only can do a partime work since I am waiting for my IT job applications. Then he said, if I can come over for an interview the next day to discuss some agreement.
The following day, the interview went great. I felt I just wanted a bite of the pie, but I got a whole cake. I was just looking for a partime work with them, but the manager said they are in a verge of expansion for their company. After the manager saw my CV, he mentioned he can see some value in me to help out in their expansion of their e-commerce product from planning, budgeting, process improvement, trainings. They are looking to source out their customer service function to a call center Manila. I can be part of that team that build that project. I started working with them last Monday.
My happy story could have stopped here, but one of my target IT companies I applied way back January called me for an interview that same day I started on my first job. HR said she remembered my persistent follow up on my application and reaching out to her personally. Since I am at this point of wanting to grab all opportunities, I took advantage of my first job’s flexi hour and went through the interview process of this 2nd job offer. Also, that company where the accountants whom I met in the park had also contacted me this same week.
So if last weekend, I was praying hard for a job, now I am praying to God to help me choose the right job for me.
So long story short, I just want to say, coming to live and work here is definitely NOT EASY. It does push you to your boundaries and comfort zone. But it is definitely worth it. It makes
As long as you focus on your goals, step up your game, pray hard and loud and NEVER lose faith, God will always lead you to the right place, right people and grant your prayers at the right time.