A Surprise Question for a Job Interview

          I remember back then when job hunting meant buying the Sunday paper and going through the classified ads section.  In most recent times however, looking for a job has become more applicant-friendly.  If you have access to the internet, all you have to do is find sites of reputable head-hunters, go through their job boards and send your resumes on-line.  They also have sections where you can find articles about anything and everything that will help you in your job application process. I recently checked out an article on how to prepare for a job interview. I have gone to a number of job interviews in the past.  I normally prepare every time by practicing answers to different possible questions that are relevant to the position that I am applying for.  That is one way to boost my confidence level.   The thing with me though is that the more I like the job, the more nervous I become.  Regardless of how much effort I put into my preparation.

            Last Tuesday, was a nerve-wracking day for me.  I went for a final job interview after I passed the first one and the written and oral examinations for a home-based job that I applied for.  The time was set at eight in the evening for me and early morning for the interviewer.  The Chairman of the company, who is a Japanese national, was in South America. So we had to do it through Skype. Prior to that day, I did a bit of research about Japanese people.  I’m sure glad I did.   That meant that I had to somehow control my ever so energetic personality. The situation called for me to be more calm and direct. It did not help that my husband wanted to be in the same room.  He teasingly told me that he would teach me the answers to the questions. After making the effort to look professional by putting on my corporate attire, a little make-up and my lucky pearls, I locked the door and ignored the knocking of my son until he went away. A few minutes before the start, I prayed for wisdom and a sense of serenity. The questions were simple and straightforward.  There was the usual question of why I was applying for the job. Nothing prepared me for the next though.  I was asked to talk about what I consider as my worst experience in life. Truthfully I answered but I was overcome with a sense of melancholy after, that it had set the mood for the rest of the interview for me.  Then the question of my best experience, times spent overseas, my edge over the other applicants, my strengths and my weaknesses. Clearly, he was testing my proficiency with the language.  I take pride in the fact that I can easily discern a person’s thoughts by his expression. I sure failed that time. There was no telling what was going through my interviewer’s mind.  Like a suspense story, I went to bed that night anxious and hopeful.

            You can never really tell what will happen during a job interview. But it would help to really prepare for it and pray.  The practice of controlling emotions will truly help especially if you are asked questions that will affect your mood. We learn new things everyday.  That is what I learned that day.  As for the results, I am happy to share that I start with my training soon. 

On-Line Teaching

In my blog entry entitled “Career Opportunities for the Stay at Home Mom”, I listed on-line teaching as an option.  Shortly after I posted it, I received private messages from friends who wanted to know more about it.  What is it exactly?  How is it done? What are the requirements? For those who are interested to give this career path a try, there are two ways to do it. Either you teach from home or you can choose to go to a regular place of work. This article hopes to be able to explain how the process is done. 

Filipinos are known worldwide for possessing very good communication skills. Filipino teachers are highly in demand in countries such as Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan and Korea.  Our neighboring countries in Asia are aware of that.  And for that reason, they come to the Philippines to learn the English Language.  More and more schools offer English as a Second Language (ESL) course. Notice how many Korean Nationals live in Manila, Baguio City and Cebu City.  They take advantage of the cool weather in Baguio, and the relatively inexpensive rates that schools around the country offer for their language courses. Others however, prefer learning in the comforts of their homes.  Professionals who have very busy schedules but who are determined to learn the English language make themselves available as early as five in the morning and as late as eleven in the evening.

My online-teaching days =)

Business minded groups and individuals have realized the growing market of learners and have established schools where teaching is done online using mediums like Skype or any programs that allow web chat and file sharing.  There is a class schedule to follow. The teacher calls the student through web phone and the lesson for the day begins. They normally last for 50 to 60 minutes per session.  Lessons and homework are sent via file sharing or email. The use of visual aids is highly encouraged especially for students who are beginners. A web camera is also very important as it allows the student to see the hand gestures and the facial expressions of the teacher.  These are two very essential tools for communication. What is equally important is for the teacher to see the student’s facial expressions to assess for comprehension.

This growing demand has opened doors for job seekers who have a passion for teaching.  The basic requirement is for the applicant to possess strong oral and written communication skills. Some on-line-teaching schools require experience in teaching, others do not.  They offer extensive training in teaching methodologies and approaches especially for second language learning. A four-year degree is a plus; however a big consideration is given to applicants based on the results of written exams and interviews.

 For those who want to teach from home you need a quiet area, a good and reliable internet connection and a computer of course. I recently checked out Philippine Jobs for this kind of work and I have seen a lot of job openings. So what are you waiting for? If you have what it takes, visit employment sites for a listing of available jobs in this field. 

The Most Important Lesson in Life I Learned from Working in a Fast Food Chain

When I was younger, and dreams were many, a part of me wanted to experience working overseas. I had the desire to explore the world and witness the magic of it all. I tried my luck applying for then, the world’s no. 1 airline company as a flight attendant. That was in 1995.   The application process was far from easy.  I competed with thousands of applicants that only left 19 of us to sign a job contract.  However, as fate would have it, I did not leave.  I met my husband and that chance meeting had changed the course of my life. In exchange, a promise had been made which was a pledge for us to see the world together. The only reminder left of that experience now is a large Manila envelope containing my signed contract and welcome documents neatly tucked in my wooden chest together with mementos from my past. 

More than a decade later, we’ve had the good fortune of being given the opportunity to go to Australia.  My husband was to take his general staff college course. With my one year old hyper-active son in tow, I had my hands full with the responsibilities of a wife and a mother. What came with that though was a heart filled with desire to yet again experience working and dealing with a different kind of culture. I wasted no time and started looking for job opportunities by submitting my resume online to head hunters and possible employers.  But they were not too keen on hiring anyone with no previous work experience in their country and someone who they know will only stay there for a short period of time.   Those responses did not dishearten and stop me.  With the help of the Filipino Community there, I ended up working for a famous chicken fast-food chain.  Not as a manager, but as a crew member.  I did not know what to expect in the beginning.  It was a totally new experience for me. My job responsibilities included the following; taking orders from customers, manning the till, preparing the orders, cooking, serving, refilling of stocks, cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning. The usual joke around the place would promote me to floor manager.  That meant being in charge of getting all the floors spotless by using a heavy bucket of cleaning solution applied with a huge floor mop.  Instead of my usual trendy work attires, killer shoes, well applied make-up and neatly fashioned hair-dos, coming to work meant, wearing a loose-fitting pair of black pants, a very unflattering shirt, a cap to hide my long tresses and a pair of manly-looking safety shoes.  That also meant saying goodbye to my long and well-kept nails. On the other hand, being the sport that I am, I embraced all of that including freezing during winter while manning the drive-through window or cleaning outside of the restaurant.  What gave me the satisfaction was seeing our customers happy and pleased with the food and the service.  My years of exposure to customer service have helped me immensely.  Tipping  a fast-food crew is not a custom in Australia but on several occasions, I was offered tips that I politely refused.   Receiving compliments from my happy customers were my source of inspiration.  A couple of months later, I have been accepted to do what I loved best and that was a job in sales and marketing.  I worked for a big jewelry chain until we left the country in 2009.  As for my fast food chain job, I kept it.  Even if it meant doing two jobs at a time, working 50 hours a week or more. The nature of that job had kept my feet firmly planted on the ground. To this day I still proudly tell people about it. 

At the end of the day, it does not matter what kind of jobs we have.  Everyone has to fill a role. For this reason, we all have to love what we do no matter what they entail.  That experience was a very humbling one for me.  Every time I go to a fast food chain, instead of getting impatient, I just put a big smile to my face and warmly greet the crew even if they commit errors. And every time anyone notices my big arms?  I just draw a big sigh and remember those huge-handled mops. 

Simple Steps to a Healthier Skin for the Working Woman

The stresses and demands of having a job leave women feeling tired and sometimes, less inspired to look after one’s self.  What they do not realize is that self-pampering can relieve stress.  There are so many ways to do this.  My favorite, aside from getting a professional massage is taking care of my skin. I consider myself fortunate that my mother built a beauty career.  I have been exposed to the world of beautifying women since I was a girl of ten, that sometimes I still scout for jobs in this field from popular employment sites for Philippine Jobs.   Most women that I have encountered use the excuse of not having enough time to follow a strict daily skin care regimen.  Others simply do not want to have that extra expense.

For the busy working woman whose skin gets exposed to harmful elements both from home and workplace hazard, a basic skin care routine need not be time consuming nor that expensive. Here are a few simple steps to follow until you develop the habit.

1.                                After your morning shower, cleanse your face using a cleanser.  They contain ingredients that safely unclog the pores by dissolving the dirt, impurities and oil that cause blemishes and skin irritations.

2.                                Follow it with a toner. Gently tone your face by using a cotton ball.  This will leave your face soft, refreshed and revitalized.

3.                                Apply a moisturizer that contains a minimum sun protection factor (spf) of 15.  Exposure to the sun and harsh lights are very damaging. Office air conditioning draws moisture from the skin leaving it dry.  Moisturizers hydrate, soften and smoothen the skin.  You can go for non-greasy creams that are quickly absorbed.  These creams protect you from the damaging effects of pollution and sun such as skin wrinkling and obtaining a leathery texture. Take note however that you need at least 30 minutes for your sun block to work before you step out into the sun.

4.                                For the rest of your body, apply lotion to moisturize. Pamper every part of you.

5.                                Before you retire to bed, follow the simple steps again but this time use a night cream instead of a moisturizer.  They no longer contain sun protection factor but they repair and nourish your skin.

6.                                Find a noticeable place for all of your beauty products to remind you that it is time to beautify yourself.      

          

           Our mindset should be programmed to view skin care as a need and not just a whim.  We are responsible for our well-being and health. There are so many brands out there of the best skin care products that you can choose from to suit your budget and preference. Time is something that we can not stop.  And with it comes aging. But we can certainly delay skin aging with the help of a few simple steps.  Now you can face the demands of your chosen career with a healthy and youthful glow!

             

Appropriate Fashion in the Workplace

     The questions of “What to wear?” and “How to look?” have crossed the minds of everyone including the millions of people who get ready for work every single day.  What is the dress code that is acceptable in the workplace in this day and age?

     Gone are the days when conservative and traditional business attire is the standard. Companies and business establishments are getting more flexible in terms of dress codes for their workforce.  Employees have more freedom in choosing their office clothes.  They can freely express their fashion sense and personalities through their outfits. Employers are less limiting and are becoming more output oriented. They take into account the comfort of their employees for a more relaxed working atmosphere.  Currently, business casual clothing is the trend.  It allows for ease in movement in the office and at the same time still project a professional image and decorum.

     What are considered as business casual clothing for women? There are so many options to choose from. They include knee length or below the knee skirts, slacks, pants or dress pants.  They can be paired with blouses and tops, short or long, keeping skin exposure at a minimum.  Sheath dresses, casual dresses with appropriate lengths, suits and suit dresses are also smart choices. Extremely form fitting clothing is good for the occasional night outs with your office colleagues but never for work.  And when it comes to men’s fashion, the choices range from linen pants, dress pants or slacks paired with casual shirts, long sleeved shirts, short sleeved shirts, sports jackets, suits and suit jackets.  For shoes, closed shoes are more suitable than open toed ones.  Heels should be kept at a safe height to avoid injuries.  Some offices require the use of safety shoes. For accessories, you may use trendy ones so long as they do not interfere with your jobresponsibilities.

A relaxed and very fashionable look

Being fashionable without compromising your professional image

     When choosing for office wear, there are a few things to consider.  One is to make sure that your choice of clothing will help you maintain a respectable and competent image. Remember that you represent your company to the outside world.  You can be fashionable and still be neat and decent. Rule of thumb is, the more loud and distracting your choice is, the less suitable it is. And according to an article that I have read, there is no need to purchase a whole new wardrobe.  You simply start with what you already have and add as the need arises.

     Now that you have the basic idea of what is considered appropriate fashion in the workplace, do not forget the ABC of good hygiene.  Before coming to work, take a shower, brush your teeth, keep your hair neat and for women keep your makeup simple. Perfect choice of clothes and hygiene will complete the look you hope to achieve.

It's All Coming Back To Me Now

My neighbor is energetically belting out Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” in a very loud karaoke machine on a school night.  My son is creating dialogues for his toys. I am thinking of what topic to write about for my writing job.  I survived the first two days in a totally new line of work.  I endured an hour of interview done by friends of mine pretending to be all formal for the recording sake. I was able to differentiate between raise and rise.  Thanks to a friend who gave me a tip.  Even if it meant I had to study about transitive and intransitive verbs.  I got the answers to 41 out of 50 extremely difficult questions in vocabulary, sentence structure and prepositions. How do you know what disquietude means unless it is used in a sentence really.  Thank you to freerice.com.  It allows you to donate grains of rice to Cambodia for every correct answer on any given subject, including vocabulary where I learned the meaning of the above word.  Miracle indeed, I must admit, I am pretty bad when it comes to punctuations and prepositions. My communication skills, rely mainly on “what sounds right must be right”.  Makes me wonder now what I must have been busy with when my grade school teacher was teaching us about grammar. Must be the voice of Robby Roza of Menudo, not knowing at that time what his gender preference was. Oh but wait, I remember being sent to division level literary competitions in English.  Yes! It’s all coming back to me now.

Now I can smell the aroma of fish cooking in vinegar with lots of ginger. Very tempting, but I need to restrain myself.  That would entail more than a cupful of rice, and that would be an overload of carbs.  I have already finished 2 bars of my favorite Cadbury Fruit and Nut while desperately looking for forums on career and employment.  Blame it on someone who came home from the Middle East and decided to bring us a thousand and one sinfully tempting brown potions wrapped in purple things. I am constantly trying to lose weight.  I have a million and one reason why I should.  The most pressing is the fact that in two weeks time, I, yes, I,  a 71 kilogram-38-year-old mother of 1 is going to join 8 beauty queens, (including Venus Raj and Diane Necio) in a fashion show.  Before you completely let your jaws drop, I should add that I am 5 feet 7 inches in height.  Unfortunately my weight is not fairly distributed. Everyday I look at myself in the mirror and I see my double chin.  A dear friend suggested the “Dukan Diet”.  She has already started with it, and already she looks way better than the Duchess who lost weight through this diet. And I am still procrastinating.  Why I am agreeing to sashay on a runway looking like the famous whale shark really beats me. “The things I do for love” as my son would say over and over every time I ask him to do an errand for me, and that comes with a big sigh I may add.  Yes. Love for my mentor is what’s driving me to do a crazy thing. The mentor who, exposed me then a 17 year-old-girl to the world of modeling and beauty pageants.  Yes. It’s all coming back to me now.

Now my son is asking me if the fish that he is eating is dead. (My son loves to eat fish).  To which I answered, “Yes”.  And he asks again, “but why mama?”  Really, how do you explain that when you know anything you say will elicit more questions from him?  He is a very clever and inquisitive kid.  The issue of who he takes after being a constant debate between my husband and me.  Just the other day, when I dropped him off to school, he told me that he wants a certain classmate to be his girlfriend.  “Yeah right”, I said.  “How about (naming another)?” the daughter of a showbiz personality that lives in our village and goes to the same class as my son.  To which he grumpily answers, “No mama, not her please, I like (naming the other one) because she is very pretty”, putting heavy emphasis on the word “pretty”. (Trust me; the showbiz daughter is pretty with a capital P) What does my son know about that anyway?  In this regard, I can safely say that he does not take his taste in women from his father. Ha. Ha.  And I can also definitely say that I am a running candidate for the worst mother in law title in the face of the earth.  And to think that I am the daughter of the best mother in the world.  I have but one son and it took me years of waiting and millions of prayers and tears before he came into our lives and yes, it’s all coming back to me now.

SEO Writing for the Stay at Home Mom

     When I dropped my four-year-old son to his preschool class, a fellow parent, who is also a friend, approached and asked me what I did for job employment.  I quickly answered that I was undergoing training to become an SEO writer.  Her face clearly showed confusion and lack of knowledge.  So I went and started explaining what it was all about, using all the technical terms I have learned from my mentor.  Her face registered perplexity on the jargons that were coming out of my mouth, as I was excitedly sharing my familiarity with the topic.  Obviously she was very much interested to know about the subject matter; however I was not doing a good job in making things easier for her to understand. And so I stopped and gathered my thoughts keeping in mind that the person asking me was as clueless as I was when I first came across this term while checking out the job boards of employment sites.

     What is an SEO writer? You search the internet for answers and you will find numerous pages of sites that give you detailed discussions on this topic. Evidently there is a growing demand for this kind of work.   More and more companies are hiring content writers into their workforce.  But how is this job title simplified to a stay at home mom who is looking for career opportunities that will allow her to work from home.  Simply put, SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization.  An SEO writer writes articles, blogs, comments, answers and forum inputs using SEO techniques.  Why is this important? Companies and business owners use the internet to advertise their products or services through their own websites. Now, with all the millions of websites out there, how can one company be easily searched by potential customers or clients when they use search engines such as Google or Yahoo. This is where SEO writing comes in handy. The topics of the articles should be interesting and relevant to the nature of the business and services offered by the company. Keywords that are popularly used in search engines are incorporated in the write ups. These keywords serve as links to the main website that the writer is promoting.  The more keyword-rich the article is the more chances of it getting a higher page rank in the result pages. The challenging part of being an SEO writer is coming up with a write up on a particular topic using the keywords without making it obvious that it is being written for SEO purposes.  

     If you have the passion for writing, you may want to consider a career in SEO writing. You can learn the techniques by reading articles on the web or training under an SEO Specialist.

Career Opportunities for Stay Home Moms

One of the things that I looked forward to in my life was motherhood.  That dream came after nine years of an emotional roller coaster of waiting.  So when I first set eyes on my son, I vowed to myself that I will devote my life to nurture and care for him. Just a day after he came into my life, I handed in my resignation letter.  At that time, that had seemed to be the best decision I have ever made.  Four months later, I was again searching job banks for employment opportunities.  I realized that I needed work, not only for financial independence but also for personal growth. Although full time motherhood proved to be such a joy and a blessing, I felt that I needed to keep a balance in my life and that meant doing something for myself. I compromised by finding employment that allowed me to be with my child for the most part of his waking moments. I had very limited options and they have left me worn-out and stressed.

After five years, more than ten nannies and 7 job employment in every possible area imaginable, I finally made up my mind to be a stay home mother. I am almost sure that if mothers are given the choice between working away from home and being stay home moms, they will choose the latter.  What a lot of mothers do not know however, is that they can have the best of both worlds.  A growing number of home based jobs make this possible. Companies are getting more practical by allowing telecommuting for certain jobs. They are continuously listing vacancies in employment sites.  Career opportunities are available in job sites.  In the field of writing, choices include, SEO Writing, Content Writing, Copywriting, Research, Medical Transcription, Advertisement Writing and more. For those with very good communication skills and teaching experience may try online teaching. Experience with administrative work can land you a job as a virtual secretary or assistant. Accountancy graduates may also try home based bookkeeping.  Moms who have very strong skills in customer relations may apply as help desk or call center agents working from home. And for the techie moms, IT jobs are also available. Working from home requires a good internet connection as your output are sent via email.  Also most of these jobs are done online.  Recruitment agencies provide a long list of options in their job boards.  All you have to do is look. Choosing the perfect job has never been this easy.  Even the application process can be done in the comfort of your own home with just a click!

Let the dream of being a super mom be a reality for you.