I used to work with the government project called Listahanan. It is a database management system where it identifies who and where the poor are. My job involved conducting data-sharing lobby among LGUs of Caraga region, providing technical assistance so those that already have the database of poor will be able to maximize the information, serve as resource person during seminars or training, and monitoring field staff during field operations. These varied activities were not office-based thus I was out doing field work and I could not be happier than to go and to just enjoy the many trips that I made for almost 3 years.
Then I got married last December and my life completely turned 360 degrees.
I moved here in Baguio where my husband left me as he needed to go back to North America. When I found out that I was pregnant, I was very ecstatic and I couldn't wait to be a mother breast-feeding my child.
To keep myself from being bored to death, I tried to look for online work-at-home jobs. First try was Bizmates, an online part-time English tutorial for Japanese market. I found their ad while scrolling my facebook timeline. They were very professional and nice. However, I did not pass their demo-interview. That happened a week after I had my initial interview. The Bizmates hiring process is as follows: Online application, Email confirmation and booking of initial interview, Interview Demo, Training, and Final Interview. You will also need to have 1mbps upload and 0.5mbps download speeds, good lighting condition, quiet working station, and plain background (you will be having skype interviews and eventually lessons with the students should you pass). What I like about Bizmates is the fact that they are very professional in their hiring process and I had fun nonetheless.
Second online application that was also an epic fail was my attempt to work with MOD or My OutDesk. They have part-time and full time jobs as virtual appointment setter and general admin virtual assistant. After the online application sent to them, I got an email informing me of my interview schedule at the given time-slot. However, when I was already logged in to skype and letting them know I was already online, I got a very informal message of "hi" and told me that since skype was responding poorly interview will proceed through mobile phone call. I waited until 5pm (interview schedule was supposed to be within 12noontime to 4pm). Around 9past in the evening, when I was already lying on my bed, the phone rang and Private Number displayed on screen. I thought it was my husband calling overseas instead it was a guy from MOD. Interview only lasted for less than 5 minutes and he informed me that although I was applying for a part-time stint, I would still be working graveyard shift. This said, I informed him that I was going 6 months in my pregnancy, yet I told him that I will still give it a shot. Before we hang up, he informed me that an email will be sent to me within the week. Lo and behold, after an hour, I received an email informing me that I did not meet their 'criteria'. They did not even elaborate what part of their 'criteria' I failed considering that I was an agent and team lead for more than 3 years in one of the biggest contact centers in the country and I believed I have what it takes to do the job. Then again, with much courage I humbly accepted my defeat.
Third, my online application to Rev. It's a company dealing with transcription, caption, and translation. I applied as a transcriptionist. Their online application process consists six steps. They have grammar, writing, and practice transcription tests. The last part was critical because it took me about an hour to transcribe a quite nonsensical conversation that lasted for 2 minutes and 37 seconds. After clicking on submit, I was able to finally go to bed. Morning came, I checked my email and found out 2 emails from Rev with different time stamps and checked the one that arrived first. The email informed me of the turn-around time of applications that would last even up to 3 weeks. The second email informed me that I did not make it and I should not contact them to ask for reason of their decision. They also said that I can still re-apply after 6 months.
After all these failed applications, how shall one overcome? For me, I take them as humbling experiences and try to learn and to improve. I also learned how to be prudent and wary and not get too excited. I know that job for me is just around the corner, I just have to keep going and moving on. Who knows, I might get my dream job after I give birth to our son. I am just positive.
How about you, have you got similar experiences?
