Are you free for an interview?

Being in between jobs is a profession in itself. I've been taking a pause for a couple of months now and I've been busy going to several job interviews. The mere sound of hearing my ring tone for unknown callers delights me to no end. At the other end of the line is a job waiting for me.

she: Melissa, this is X from Y Company. Are you free for an interview on Z day?
me: Certainly I am free!

Last week alone brought me to six different job interviews from different industries and all in the line of marketing and business development. Each interview is an adventure in itself but what is common in all these meetings is how I present myself. Being the corporate person that I am, I of course come in my 3 piece suit. To complete the look, I just have to be in something funky - my new found pointed black leather boots. I usually take the taxi but this time around, I'd like the feel of being with everyone (a.k.a. masses). So here is where my story begins. These are a few of my adventures last week.

Company 1. The financial services company. The office was presentable, modest in size and organized for my standards. The first interview was with the HR Head after which I had my second interview with the boss. He's a foreign national by the way and that meant that I had to convey all my thoughts in English. Thank goodness I didn't need Kleenex to stop my nose from bleeding. Overall, the interview went well. Lesson learned: It pays to be exposed to different people with different accents and different cultures.

Company 2. I took a bus ride to this company based in Ortigas. Little had I known that the bus ride will take more than an hour with its turtle pace and stopping at every corner possible. It left me with just 5 minutes to "walk" from EDSA to ADB Avenue. "Walk" at that time meant that I had to run in my skirt and 3 inch shoes. I was running like crazy just so I can make it on time. I was fully made up and I was running at a pace where I think I could have outlasted professional tracksters. When I got to the building's reception area, I was close to asking for a brown bag and was panting like anything. Thinking that I could get away without securing an ID for the top floor, I waited for the elevator and when finally it opened, manong security guard instructed me that I needed an ID. Pleading that I was running out of time, I had no other way but to secure a building pass. Sigh. Lesson learned: 1.5 hours travel time is not enough in Metro Manila and my charms no matter how I use it are no match to security.

Company 3. Did I say I love training people? In another lifetime, I probably would have been in Training. Ok so last week, I had a chance of being interviewed by a lady director for a training institute. It was somewhere in Makati and I had to take a jeep to get there. I listed the directions in my ever reliable notebook and finally, I found the landmarks where I should be alighting. I had an interesting conversation with the lady boss and was asked how a company such as theirs can be marketed. My golly Melissa, you have to think on your feet! This was a new industry of which I never had any experience. Indeed, it pays to compose one's self prior to answering any question. It helps to gather my thoughts. Again, I think I was able to convince her with my answers. If only I had an audience like the ones in Deal or No Deal, I could hear cheers of "Good answer! Good answer!" Lesson learned: It's not easy being in a beauty pageant's question and answer portion. Job interviews do not ask about the essence of a woman or how we could save Mother Earth. Another lesson is that manong jeepney driver knows best. After all, he was the one who prompted me to alight.

Company 4. A known retail store gave me an assignment of visiting one of their branches prior to the job interview. Obedient as I was, I went for a store visit and took note of the areas that my interviewer would possibly ask me. After a few hours of observing the operations, I proceeded to the head office in Makati. I was instructed to use the employee's entrance to reach the Executive Office. I had to go down the Lower Ground level and take the elevator and after a few turns here and there, I reached my destination. The top floor was more like a residential unit turned commercial space. I was early by 30 minutes so I comfortably sat there reading a book. As the hour of 5 was nearing, I was informed that the interviewer was still not around. I waited for another 30 minutes. After a few chapters from the book I Dare You by Joyce Meyer, a lady executive entered the reception area and I was signalled by the guard that she was the one I was meeting up with. Another staff directed me to the boss' office and I had another opportunity for a question and answer portion. After I introduced myself, I was asked "What can you do for us?" Hmmm, it was a big question that required specific answers. It sure helped that I had several inputs fresh from my day trip to their store. Whew! That was close. Having survived the interview, I again went around the building to find my way out and I chanced upon the different offices and messhall for the employees. I felt like going through the tunnels of Corregidor! The messhall was sad and gloomy and I heard chit chats from the throngs of staff having their snack breaks. There's so much that can be done to improve the work space to make the staff proud of where they work but hey, I'm just an applicant with random thoughts. Lesson learned: In as much as I had several ideas, I may not necessarily be a fit for the work culture and philosophy.

I consider myself now a professional in job hunting. No matter what questions are thrown my way, I always had the answers for it. Interviews are challenging, thought provoking and a test of my mettle. I still have interviews set for this week and I look forward to each one. Oh by the way, should anybody ask how my black leather boots are doing, well, I had to ask my dad to have the right one repaired last Saturday. The sole of the right heel kind of gave up on me. After all, it endured the rains, floods and most of all, my running towards becoming Manila's next top professional.