Job Hunting in the Philippines

If only the hunt for gainful employment was as simple as meeting your textmate. Searching for that elusive job is a potential minefield. And those fancy job-hunting guidebooks aren't much help, either, since the American authors are not exactly well-versed in the ways of Pinoy bosses.


Blue (Collar) Jobs

First of all, you have to realize that you can't apply for every job opening there is. Working as a news reporter for a television network like what Atom Araullo does sounds glamorous, but if you you're like some starlet who's better seen than heard, don't be surprised if you become infamous for bastardizing the English language.

According to Jobstreet.com, jobs can be classified into "sunrise" or "sunset" groups. Sunrise jobs are those which are seen as being on the rise, and these includes teachers, managers, cashiers, salesmen, officers of the Armed Forces (small wonder, the way things are going on in Mindanao), and transport equipment operators. Sunset jobs, on the other hand, are those occupations that are either declining in growth or have remained stagnant. Within this group are fishermen and hunters (can you say "pollution?"), miners, mail clerks and messengers, religious workers, stone cutters, and rubber and plastic product workers.

Keeping this in mind will definitely help you in your quest to make yourself a ton of money, since being stuck with skills no company really needs at the moment will put a crimp in those plans. However, that's not the only factor in finding the right job. A match between your personality and the nature of the job is equally, if not more, important because this will determine job satisfaction.

For example, if flowcharts, mechanical drawings, carpentry, manual labor, or machines give you a hard-on, then you should pursue that mental orgasm through a career in computer science, engineering, or architecture. As they say, a happy worker is a diligent worker.


Know the Four C's

Not to belabor the obvious, but looking for a job isn't just about whether you'd enjoy the work or not. As San Miguel Corporation's Executive Compensation Manager, Daniel De Castro, points out, "I strongly advise new graduates not to take the first offer that comes their way. Just because a job may match his personality doesn't mean things will work out. There are the four C's to consider and they are just as important to the decision-making process."

In case you were wondering, the Four C's stand for company, culture, career path, and compensation. You have to first learn about the company you're joining. Is it stable? Is it a fly-by-night company? Does your supposed advertising firm have a "Wanted: GRO" sign in front? Doing a little research can save you a ton of trouble in the long run.

Next up is culture. If the job you're eyeing brings a workaholic rat-race environment with it, and you're a die-hard couch-warmer, the job is probably not for you. De Castro adds, "Find out as much as you can about the company and its ethics, practices, etc. This will give you a better idea of what to expect and how your talents and skills can help the company."

The third C, career path, requires a bit more introspection. Look down the line, say, five years from now. What do you think you'll be doing then? Will getting this job help you get to where you want to be by that time, or is it a dead end? Keep one eye on the present, and the other on the future.

Finally, you have to think about the compensation you'll be receiving. "At this stage, you have no professional track record to speak of, so you shouldn't expect so much in terms of salary," says De Castro. "Look at it from the total compensation package that includes medical benefits, insurance, bonuses, variable pay if any, etc." Hey, no one works for free, not even the Pope, so why should you?

But before you break out the manila paper and start making flowcharts, De Castro clarifies, "Since you're just starting out, you might not be able to fulfill the Four C's. The important thing is to be able to get into a job where you feel you will do well and then make a name for yourself. Later on, you'll pretty much be able to dictate, to a certain extent, some of the Four C's."