Frustrations of a Fresh Graduate

Source

I recently finished my Bachelor's Degree in Consular and Diplomatic Affairs. I luckily graduated as a Cum Laude along with the Student Leadership Award given to a graduating student. I managed to polish my resume with all of the extra-curricular activities that I participated and organized for the past three years.

Yet.

I'm still having a hard time looking for a career.

Most people, unaware of the Odyssey for passing the Foreign Service Officer Examination would recommend that I try for it.

Honestly? Applying for the FSE as a fresh graduate would probably traumatize me from ever taking the test again. I believe that passing the FSE is not just based on answering simple questions or problems presented upon you. EXPERIENCE is a must.

Now that we're at it, Experience.... experience... what a nasty little bitch you have in effect to my chances of being hired.

I would summarize my points of hardships at the moment when it comes to looking for "THE CAREER":

(1) B.A Consular and Diplomatic Affairs, as good as it sounds, in the Philippines it is really hard to acquire a job that fits my field of study without: (a) a higher degree; and (b) working experience. Also, being vague and broad my finished study as it is... makes all the uncertainty and ignorance to the possible work opportunities out there all difficult. Applying for the Dept. of Foreign Affairs is also a no-no. I would probably work out of the government for now. Not that I don't like it... it's just that with all the reshuffling within the different committees and departments... it'll take a while before things actually settle down into normalcy.

(2) Advertisement issues - well... the thing is that there are NGOs and International Organizations who actually a few openings. However, the only positions that they advertise are those that are for a higher positions. How do you actually apply for a staff or researcher position for NGOs, IOs, Embassies and Corporate Social Responsibilities (department of a company)? Well... luck I guess... you licking your finger then held it up high testing the wind and feeling in the air the needs of each to probably have a "season" of having a possible job opening for a not so high position. Luck and intuition.


Having been said that I am having a problem with looking for a career... looking for a job is actually not that hard. Though the irony of achieving much in college kind a suck at these times.




Source

I applied for a call center job in Makati. I easily passed the English Proficiency and the typing test.... however... I kind a sucked at the hiring interview.

Interviewer: Oh, you're a Cum Laude... how come you're applying for a CSR position ONLY?

Apple: (soooo I could apply for another opening?) ahm... temporary job? For the moment at least.... (ok now you get the picture... panicked and thrown off-balanced... well... a bit... I dragged myself to hell with it... lols)


For a CSR I am overqualified they say....
for an NGO/IO I am under qualified....
ok...
yeah right... ahaha...
Well I guess instead of a CSR I could try for another job...
haiz....
English Teacher perhaps?
Just enough for me to save money and finance my grad school...


Where are the good old days that people think that when you graduated with honors companies would probably swarm after you? Or... was it because my finished study is simply of no use to them? Or... how would they ever know of me in the first place?


As good as our program is at the college... it kind a lacked that last step... that guidance and partnership of assuring their graduates would have options with difference paths of career to choose from. I love my alma matter but... I'm a bit frustrated that no help is coming from them. From the simple provision of possible list of employers (or organizations) or path options other than proceeding to law... haiz...



Frustrations of a Fresh Graduate with a well equip paraphernalia...
how much more for those with none?


P.S I tried to relate my school organization experience in exchange for my lack of proper job experience... ahm... they're not really buying for it though.. hehe...

Monday classes - quotable quotes

COMGOVT:

"Of course, I already know someone is really happy today, di ba dear? (Bembie)" - Binay, 2009

"Huwag mo akong sagutin ng parang lasing. Nang parang nagiinuman lang tayo ha..." - Binay, 2009



SPECIRD:

"Hindi ako nandito para matuto!" - Listana, 2009

"Ang gusto ko ang masusunod! Magmamaldita ako ngayon!" - Listana, 2009

"Sasagutin niyo lang ang gusto kong sagutin niyo!" - Listana, 2009

"What is the continuity of life of the Senate?" - Listana, 2009

"Papaunta kang Baclaran nasa Buendia ka pa lang." - Listana, 2009

"Moment niya daw!" - Ramos, 2009

"Magquiquiz kayo ng 30mins.! 6 questions! I agreed with your demand. We start at 7pm... BUT I DEMAND we END at 7:30!" - Listana, 2009

"There are so many bitches! I can be a bitch!" - Tolentino, 2009
"Yes, there are sooo many bitches (beaches) in the Philippines!" - Seguban, 2009

We had the quiz for less than 30 mins. We had an oral recitation on the topics and issues we haven't discussed for 2hrs. Some stood for almost an hour for not being able to answer questions not taught nor was asked to be researched by us.

Ako din "Magmamaldita" - by laughing at everything that had happened! *As long as that freaking test don't affect my grade.... I'll be amiable...."

~ just stating what happened... quoting the quotable quotes... almost 40 students bear witness.

Secretary General speech: 12th DLS-CSB MUN (in short my speech)

______________________________
November 11, 2009
SDA amphitheater
Opening Plenary



Dr. Christina Saldivar, Dean of the School of Multidisciplinary studies; Mr. Gary Ador-Dionisio, COD adviser; distinguished and respected faculties,; friends from De La Salle University - Manila and Ateneo de Manila University; and most of all, fellow Benildeans... a pleasant morning to you all!

Over the years, our Model United Nations (MUN) gets better, bigger and grander. It has become unstoppable on its evolution and improvements. This year's theme: "Consolidating Collective Response towards Economic Rights, Human Rights and World Peace in the Energy Climate era" - is indeed complex and dynamic. As each words denotes their meaning individually, an interlaced web of topics and issues could be weaved from them.

But given as such, we ought to still start somewhere and that is NOW. In our four-day conference surely we know that we cannot change and save the world as it is through our MUN. But that should not limit us on trying whether it's just a simulation to expound on these pressing matters. As students of diplomacy we can do things to serve our time in this lifetime.

We can study, learn and talk about issues, think of innovative, creative and preventive measures on our given agenda without any ties attach to it - those are the beauty of our MUN! It's an epitome of intellectual intercourse. There will be ideas on how we could adhere to resolve conflicts and address world issues. Every actions, decisions and beliefs start from ideas and thoughts.

Just think about this, as young and inexperienced we may be - the train of thoughts that we could have, someday sooner or later become the real case scenario. Never underestimate ideas and thoughts; they drove men to believe what we now call as reality. As early as now, to exercise ourselves to think what normal teens or adults would not is one thing to be proud of.

And as I always say to people, in our MUN it is NOT ITS PERFECTION that we strive for - what we want is EXCELLENCE. I want everyone to believe that what we do here is not a waste of time, it is taking the lead of having two steps ahead for the future when others cannot or would not.

And most of all... enjoy!