Tuesday, August 18, 2009

on pursuing a new dream...

When I was in pre-school I wanted to be a teacher. When I was in High School, I wanted to be a lawyer. When I was in college, I wanted to be a diplomat or a businesswoman. But after graduation, I just wanted to build a stable career that would give me a sense of fulfillment and that would earn me enough savings before getting married on my late 20's.

I've been hunting jobs since late June. Most of the jobs I've been trying to get into are actually inclined in Advertising, Marketing, Business Development, and PR/Communications; because I believe that this is where I'm good at. So I've already attended a couple of interviews and I've also turned down offers from several companies since I didn't want to choose a job that I won't enjoy, whether it's paying good or not. Then I came across the ads of Cebu Pacific about their recruitment campaign every Wednesdays of June and July. I always planned to attend but it always had a conflict with other job interviews. Yeah, I prioritized the other jobs; not realizing that my plans would change.

It was just last week when a guy friend of mine convinced me to pursue being a flight attendant. I can't remember how the conversation (via YM) started but it had something to do with 'me still unemployed now aka bum'. Well not totally 'coz I do modeling jobs at times and he's also supportive when it comes to that, but what made him convince me was his mom being a flight attendant at Cathay Pacific for 16 years. He explained to me that I deserve such a glamorous job (oh yeah, not glamorous in duties/work, but in perks haha). And then I remembered my relatives from my mother's side used to convince me also since a cousin of my mom is a PAL FA. And another flashback was just last summer when I was with my Iloilo friend in Boracay who told me to email my resume to her FA friend in Oman Air 'coz they've got openings that time.

Right after all the flashbacks, plus my conversation with my guy friend, another guy friend talked to me (via YM) and I mentioned about my confusion. He then told me the story of his ex-gf who got rejected by PAL, Cebu Pacific, JAL, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, but eventually got accepted by Emirates through IPAMS! I was inspired by his story, plus the support he's giving me. So after all the inspirations, I searched for IPAMS' website and immediately found their advertisement on the upcoming Open Day Screening by Qatar Airways at the IPAMS Extension Office in New Manila. Then I consulted this with my grandma and uncle and they pushed me to do it so I called up my bestfriend and convinced her too to come with me. She actually didn't wanna try anymore 'coz she got rejected before by Oman Air, but I said, she must not give up her dreams, just like me.

It was already late when I learned about the Air Asia opening but I tried to catch it. I planned to come in their last day (last Friday), which meant that I had to wake up at 6am to arrive there by 8am. Unfortunately, my insomnia didn't allow me to have enough sleep so I woke up at 10am, and when I called the agency, they told me I can't catch it anymore 'coz the finals batch was already taking the exam at the time I was calling. So I said to myself, ok it wasn't for me.

But the Qatar Airways was still my priority. So I woke up early on the screening day and we arrived at 7:30am, only to find out that there were already 300 girls ahead us, and at 9am, there were already 400 girls behind us. I was shocked to see that a lot of girls wanted the same job that I want. Yay! I almost lost hope after seeing everyone, so pretty in their corporate outfits. My bestfriend and I we're done by 10:30am. We just passed our photos and resume to one of the three evaluators, and we were just asked a few questions such as "How are you? How old are you? Is this your number?"; and after that, "We will just call you." So it really left me puzzled on what could be their basis in choosing those who will be shortlisted.

We didn't expect to get a call anymore, but somehow we were hopeful. Anyway, we just had a buffet lunch at Guilly's in Glorietta 5, and we took a nap at my bestfriend's apartment. Then we had a meeting with our client somewhere in Mall of Asia, and a business meeting in Blue Wave.

The whole day was tiring yet really fun. On my way home, I had been praying to receive a call from IPAMS...and at about half past 6pm, i received the magic call! Unfortunately my bestfriend didn't but I told her she must not give up. But what I really appreciated most from her was her support. Also, my grandma was so glad to hear the news, as well as my friends who pushed me to apply. haha!

Come the second day of screening or the assessment. I belonged to the PM batch. We were supposed to be 39 but 1 girl wasn't able to come. So we got oriented about Qatar and the lifestyle of a QR Cabin Crew. We also had a reach test, English exam, and group discussions. And basically, the evaluators (who used to be QR FAs) just observed our actions, body languages, and our total package. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, not all names got called to advance in the final interview....and I was one of them.

Well, it was sad, yet not enough reason to lose hope. I've reached that stage during my 1st time of application in any airline and to think that there were more than a thousand who came there on the 1st day and I got shortlisted for the 2nd day was more than enough blessing. It even took about 4 times of application for others to reach that same stage, so I'm somehow luckier. There are still a lot of airlines out there. Just like the other, I'll keep on trying.

There is no way to give up when it comes to our dreams. Our own success is always worth fighting for.=)

1 comment:

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

on pursuing a new dream...

When I was in pre-school I wanted to be a teacher. When I was in High School, I wanted to be a lawyer. When I was in college, I wanted to be a diplomat or a businesswoman. But after graduation, I just wanted to build a stable career that would give me a sense of fulfillment and that would earn me enough savings before getting married on my late 20's.

I've been hunting jobs since late June. Most of the jobs I've been trying to get into are actually inclined in Advertising, Marketing, Business Development, and PR/Communications; because I believe that this is where I'm good at. So I've already attended a couple of interviews and I've also turned down offers from several companies since I didn't want to choose a job that I won't enjoy, whether it's paying good or not. Then I came across the ads of Cebu Pacific about their recruitment campaign every Wednesdays of June and July. I always planned to attend but it always had a conflict with other job interviews. Yeah, I prioritized the other jobs; not realizing that my plans would change.

It was just last week when a guy friend of mine convinced me to pursue being a flight attendant. I can't remember how the conversation (via YM) started but it had something to do with 'me still unemployed now aka bum'. Well not totally 'coz I do modeling jobs at times and he's also supportive when it comes to that, but what made him convince me was his mom being a flight attendant at Cathay Pacific for 16 years. He explained to me that I deserve such a glamorous job (oh yeah, not glamorous in duties/work, but in perks haha). And then I remembered my relatives from my mother's side used to convince me also since a cousin of my mom is a PAL FA. And another flashback was just last summer when I was with my Iloilo friend in Boracay who told me to email my resume to her FA friend in Oman Air 'coz they've got openings that time.

Right after all the flashbacks, plus my conversation with my guy friend, another guy friend talked to me (via YM) and I mentioned about my confusion. He then told me the story of his ex-gf who got rejected by PAL, Cebu Pacific, JAL, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, but eventually got accepted by Emirates through IPAMS! I was inspired by his story, plus the support he's giving me. So after all the inspirations, I searched for IPAMS' website and immediately found their advertisement on the upcoming Open Day Screening by Qatar Airways at the IPAMS Extension Office in New Manila. Then I consulted this with my grandma and uncle and they pushed me to do it so I called up my bestfriend and convinced her too to come with me. She actually didn't wanna try anymore 'coz she got rejected before by Oman Air, but I said, she must not give up her dreams, just like me.

It was already late when I learned about the Air Asia opening but I tried to catch it. I planned to come in their last day (last Friday), which meant that I had to wake up at 6am to arrive there by 8am. Unfortunately, my insomnia didn't allow me to have enough sleep so I woke up at 10am, and when I called the agency, they told me I can't catch it anymore 'coz the finals batch was already taking the exam at the time I was calling. So I said to myself, ok it wasn't for me.

But the Qatar Airways was still my priority. So I woke up early on the screening day and we arrived at 7:30am, only to find out that there were already 300 girls ahead us, and at 9am, there were already 400 girls behind us. I was shocked to see that a lot of girls wanted the same job that I want. Yay! I almost lost hope after seeing everyone, so pretty in their corporate outfits. My bestfriend and I we're done by 10:30am. We just passed our photos and resume to one of the three evaluators, and we were just asked a few questions such as "How are you? How old are you? Is this your number?"; and after that, "We will just call you." So it really left me puzzled on what could be their basis in choosing those who will be shortlisted.

We didn't expect to get a call anymore, but somehow we were hopeful. Anyway, we just had a buffet lunch at Guilly's in Glorietta 5, and we took a nap at my bestfriend's apartment. Then we had a meeting with our client somewhere in Mall of Asia, and a business meeting in Blue Wave.

The whole day was tiring yet really fun. On my way home, I had been praying to receive a call from IPAMS...and at about half past 6pm, i received the magic call! Unfortunately my bestfriend didn't but I told her she must not give up. But what I really appreciated most from her was her support. Also, my grandma was so glad to hear the news, as well as my friends who pushed me to apply. haha!

Come the second day of screening or the assessment. I belonged to the PM batch. We were supposed to be 39 but 1 girl wasn't able to come. So we got oriented about Qatar and the lifestyle of a QR Cabin Crew. We also had a reach test, English exam, and group discussions. And basically, the evaluators (who used to be QR FAs) just observed our actions, body languages, and our total package. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, not all names got called to advance in the final interview....and I was one of them.

Well, it was sad, yet not enough reason to lose hope. I've reached that stage during my 1st time of application in any airline and to think that there were more than a thousand who came there on the 1st day and I got shortlisted for the 2nd day was more than enough blessing. It even took about 4 times of application for others to reach that same stage, so I'm somehow luckier. There are still a lot of airlines out there. Just like the other, I'll keep on trying.

There is no way to give up when it comes to our dreams. Our own success is always worth fighting for.=)

1 comment: