2011, Daghang Salamat!

The room was dark and crowded. I could smell sweat, smoke and beer. Everyone wanted some space to pour their hearts out in clumsy reggae dance steps. Me included.

It was a week before Christmas, a few days before 2012. Everyone seemed to be having the time of their lives in that artsy nook, unmindful that the Sendong death toll had been alarmingly increasing. While many Cagayan, Dumaguete and Iligan residents were drowned in the flood, I closed my eyes to be drowned in my own ecstatic moment. I wonder if it was the Red Horses, the music, the disco lights or the fun company that ignited my once-in-a-blue-moon dancing guts. All I thought was constructive selfishness and it felt so good.

Time flew like a rocket last year, like how that reunion with my regular hang-out mates in Cebu lasted. In 2011, I earned an imaginary flowery crown of wonderful moments. I vowed to eternally love a stranger, bid goodbye to my preschool family, come back to my hometown after six long years of being away, passed a licensure exam and got hooked with Finn, Arthur, Ned, Sheldon and even Rumplestilskin. The sweet little things are worth mentioning too. I got myself a Stark mug from a fellow Game of Throne addict, watched a minute of fireworks from the rooftop, road an overcrowded elf to a camping site, wrote a formal testimony for a couple’s visa application, had beer with a carefree virtual colleague and tasted the sweetness of strawberry rum with another teacher.

The feet were amazed by the enchanted wonders of Surigao del Sur, the seawater of Guimaras, the ancient churches of Iloilo, the huge trees of Negros Oriental, the crystal clear waters of Moalboal, the sugar canes of Negros Occidental and the uniform tricycles of Tagum. I failed to capture most of my vagabonds in words. The second half of last year was spent writing for my other blogs, if not for clients.

In 2011, I collaborated with Dan for our preschool website, jot down love stories for wedding AVP’s, completed various SEO articles and even worked for a follower of this blog (yep, blogosphere led me to a new boss). Our new home in Hilsha became our office that turned out to be not as boring as I expected. We have a Japanese neighbor who keeps Pythons, iguanas and monitor lizards. Swallows bathe in the puddle or play in our yard’s sandy area. Dan also tied a hammock at the garage where he usually sketches and ponders. It broke down when we both sat on it, though.

This 2012, I haven’t really finalized my bucket list. So spontaneity is probably what I can offer for you this year. I may  not be able to regularly visit your blogs but I hope it won't stop you from walking down my avenue once in a while.

The Hangover

The reason why I haven’t been updating this nook for a couple of weeks can be traced to a seemingly promising online recruitment opportunity that fell into my lap. The reason why I’m blogging again is because of the same job that I’ve chosen to let go.

This simply implies it took most of my time. There were a few days when basic stuffs like taking a bath or brushing my teeth didn’t matter at all. And within that two-week span, Dan had often complained why I served food late and why I stayed up until 2:00 – 4:00 at dawn to go through the status of each applicant that I was in-charge of. It wasn’t a difficult job but my hands were so full I had to work more than 40 hours per week. My, how I wish I’m just exaggerating.

For a recruiter to pass the trial phase, he/she must be able to endorse ten qualified applicants in a week. When I accepted their offer, I instantly assumed that the existing recruiters have a higher quota. But when I started interacting with my helpful colleagues, I felt how unfair the system was. The management gives everyone, both experts and newbies the same target. The only difference is the former are already basking in the light while the latter are still groping for the switch in the dark.

What made things worse was our fixed-contract agreement. The arrangement was, when you’re not hourly paid, the employer has the right to compensate you for your output or not. My supervisor made herself crystal clear when she said that no payment shall be made if I don’t reach my weekly target. Fine. But she left so many details unsaid during our orientation that could have boosted our performance.

During my first trial week, I had 5 completions. Then we were extended without any official notice and since I was obsessed with passing and enjoying the high rate, I just continued without clarifying conditions. Since luck was on my side, I had 8. Because they saw my progress, I was offered another one-week extension. I was 99% confident I could nail it down but I backed off and pondered on the following questions:

• Can I work for a company who measures a recruiter by mere figures?
• Does the company even try to measure how I deal with applicants?
• Do I have the courage to tolerate a company who hire and fire employees as often as a person change clothes?
• Can I work 24/7 (the actual working time + the worries when you’re offline) with a system that’s against my ideals?

No, I don’t need to prove my worth to this kind of management who drowned my wonderful experience as a recruitment staff and a training coordinator in my previous companies. So I declined the offer as curtly as it was emailed to me. I then dropped by the chat room to express my gratitude to the team. Unfortunately, my supervisor just mercilessly ejected me. She didn’t even bother to thank me for the output I’ve submitted for free. Too courteous and empathetic, huh?

I was frustrated with the system but I was more frustrated with myself for stupidly agreeing to terms where I was going to lose. This realization led me to writing this long rant. Well, I could have summarized this into a polite five-sentence feedback but unfortunately, if your employer chooses not to pay you, you don’t get a single chance to comment on how you are treated. 

You don't have to believe everything I say. After all, I'm just another disappointed soul. But I hope this will serve as a warning, that not all fairy tales come true.

Next time, I’ll be wiser. I’ll be wiser.

FF 55-11: Papa

He patiently stood and waited while I folded the hem of his khaki pants inwards. It’s a gift from a cousin.

“Thanks,” he beamed as I stood up.

“You used to do that for me when I was a kid.”

“Things have turned around, huh?”

We then heard mass together. Just like the old times.

* Flash Friday 55