As I’ve finished my two-year stint with my previous company and the most conducive option (for now) is for me to look for another job in this desert city, I’m on to my second round of undergoing the same process of hunting for a job that’s probably going to make me a corporate drone yet again.
You have this lump in the throat when you wake up in the morning and know that you don’t have to take a bath, don on your decent clothes, run after the bus and get behind that comfort of your desk—tapping on your keyboard till the hour hand strikes 6pm and you go home feeling like you did good for today. Routine, no matter how mundane it is, can be good. You have that weird sense of purpose and safety. And to lose all that suddenly can be quite difficult. And since my restless mind longs to be preoccupied, I am losing no time in looking for a new job here (If I get lucky, well and good. If not, then there’s always the camote field back home.)
Well during this whole process of job-hunting online (because good luck to you if you go out in this scorching Ramadan heat and do walk-ins in half-asleep offices), I am encountering yet again several circumstances that make me raise my brows. Let me enumerate some but not before stating a disclaimer: I am in no way questioning people’s preferences because I am in no position to. But for purposes of discourse and yes, entertainment on my end, here goes.
The Gender Bias. “Female only. Good looking.” Nothing else, no skills and competency qualifications, just that. Are they looking for a competent employee or someone who decorates the office with her mere presence? I’m sorry dude. That thing between your legs is your downfall. Who knew?
The Nationality Bias. “Female only, Western, Russian or UAE National. Good looking.” Oh yes! Being Asian is bad luck. Babe if you’re not blond, don’t have freckles or you don’t speak with that heavy Russian accent, sorry as well. And they even go as far as, “Filipinos, do not apply.”
Looking for butts and boobies. Well they’re not that outright but it’s clear as daylight what they’re asking in their job ads. “Only resume with pictures. Send bold photos. You must know how to use computer camera.” Oh em gee. ‘Nuff said.
Then there are these companies that do take mild interest in your CV. They call your phone for an initial interview and the first thing they want to know is how much does it take to make you their corporate slave. “How much salary do you want? A thousand, no?” Ouch! It’s worse than being slapped on the face. It means it does not matter whether you’re good or not, as long as you’re alright with their measly offer, then congratulations you have the job!
You can blame me for being so idealistic by thinking that every job you land is earned as based on your own hard work and capabilities. Not because you’re simply amenable with the compensation, no matter how ridiculous it is. But sadly, that can be the case here often.
On the other hand, realizing that some industries offer a hundred more opportunities than your chosen field makes you want to kick yourself for not joining the bandwagon way back, but only for a moment. Then there are jobs that offer hugely different compensations when you have three or more tongues. The kind which makes you want to kick yourself again because you took for granted your European languages electives. Talk about unwise decisions.
But at the end of the day, I believe this is what makes a job very rewarding to start with. Hunting for a job is definitely no easy feat. Aside from the mental challenge to be on top of every possible competitor, is the emotional stress you have to deal with while you race against time not to lose the days being unproductive. But then again, that’s just me. I could just choose to switch off my resilience button and go live as a hermit deep in the woods and survive on herbs and roots.
*Update: After a week of sheer determination, spunk and the awesomeness of the gods, I found a job that I have started to love. One week down and I'm loving my new desk. Cheers!
You have this lump in the throat when you wake up in the morning and know that you don’t have to take a bath, don on your decent clothes, run after the bus and get behind that comfort of your desk—tapping on your keyboard till the hour hand strikes 6pm and you go home feeling like you did good for today. Routine, no matter how mundane it is, can be good. You have that weird sense of purpose and safety. And to lose all that suddenly can be quite difficult. And since my restless mind longs to be preoccupied, I am losing no time in looking for a new job here (If I get lucky, well and good. If not, then there’s always the camote field back home.)
Well during this whole process of job-hunting online (because good luck to you if you go out in this scorching Ramadan heat and do walk-ins in half-asleep offices), I am encountering yet again several circumstances that make me raise my brows. Let me enumerate some but not before stating a disclaimer: I am in no way questioning people’s preferences because I am in no position to. But for purposes of discourse and yes, entertainment on my end, here goes.
The Gender Bias. “Female only. Good looking.” Nothing else, no skills and competency qualifications, just that. Are they looking for a competent employee or someone who decorates the office with her mere presence? I’m sorry dude. That thing between your legs is your downfall. Who knew?
The Nationality Bias. “Female only, Western, Russian or UAE National. Good looking.” Oh yes! Being Asian is bad luck. Babe if you’re not blond, don’t have freckles or you don’t speak with that heavy Russian accent, sorry as well. And they even go as far as, “Filipinos, do not apply.”
Looking for butts and boobies. Well they’re not that outright but it’s clear as daylight what they’re asking in their job ads. “Only resume with pictures. Send bold photos. You must know how to use computer camera.” Oh em gee. ‘Nuff said.
Then there are these companies that do take mild interest in your CV. They call your phone for an initial interview and the first thing they want to know is how much does it take to make you their corporate slave. “How much salary do you want? A thousand, no?” Ouch! It’s worse than being slapped on the face. It means it does not matter whether you’re good or not, as long as you’re alright with their measly offer, then congratulations you have the job!
You can blame me for being so idealistic by thinking that every job you land is earned as based on your own hard work and capabilities. Not because you’re simply amenable with the compensation, no matter how ridiculous it is. But sadly, that can be the case here often.
On the other hand, realizing that some industries offer a hundred more opportunities than your chosen field makes you want to kick yourself for not joining the bandwagon way back, but only for a moment. Then there are jobs that offer hugely different compensations when you have three or more tongues. The kind which makes you want to kick yourself again because you took for granted your European languages electives. Talk about unwise decisions.
But at the end of the day, I believe this is what makes a job very rewarding to start with. Hunting for a job is definitely no easy feat. Aside from the mental challenge to be on top of every possible competitor, is the emotional stress you have to deal with while you race against time not to lose the days being unproductive. But then again, that’s just me. I could just choose to switch off my resilience button and go live as a hermit deep in the woods and survive on herbs and roots.
*Update: After a week of sheer determination, spunk and the awesomeness of the gods, I found a job that I have started to love. One week down and I'm loving my new desk. Cheers!