Okay, okay. I've been eager to work with this company for a long time.
Dream company? Oh yeah.
They're the leading water treatment company in the world!
So my loving wife, patiently applied me for almost a year till they finally notice, or I guess they noticed it before, since I've been called and interviewed by different people from different location but of the same company. But just that. Calls, interview and nothing happened.
Well, I still move on. I keep on blogging. I keep on updating my stats on FB.
Until last week.
A French woman called me, introduce her name and position.
Human Resource Manager of this water treatment company.
Well, with charm and excellent answers to several questions asked,
I was told that the position is to lead a group of Filipino chemist in the lab.
I said I believe I can do the challenge.
she said she'll refer me to the HR Director.
That night, we prayed, me and my wife, and yes the baby too, fervently .
(she's mumbling words, and all we can barely hear and understand at the end is, 'Amen')
The next day, HR Director called, an American guy who knows quite too well the culture of Filipinos and who worked in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia previously and knows the Saudi way as well.
Then we discuss everything under the sun.
45 minutes of question and answer portion.
I was up on air. Well, this is my dream company.
We planned things smoothly.
The salary, oh the salary, my gulay the salary!
My visa, my family visa. How can we get there without going back to the Philippines?
My housing allowance. Great goodness!
It's double of my allowance now, but we might only get a room there!
I'm renting a flat here in KSA with 3 big rooms, a big living room and two bathrooms!
The car, oh the car. Will it be small, an SUV, GMC, or Yukon?
and it went out...
Well, not everything I like, or I want, but well, I dream to join this company.
So he asked what was my final say.
"Okay, so send me the contract and prepare me and my family's visa"
I wonder how they can do that in two weeks time.
...
then the next day, on its 3rd day, I received another call.
This time from a Technical Manager, that judging from the tone and accent of his voice he is either a pako or an itik. Middle Eastern OFW's knows who I mean.
Anyway, he introduced himself, and his position and asked if it is okay for me to be interviewed over the phone. I consented.
The first three question surprised me, I was totally aghast but managed to answer the question rightly and confidently.
"What is the difference between a turbidity meter and a pH meter?"
I answered him confidently the difference between the two.
"If there is a 1N H2SO4, and I have a 1ml Sulfuric dissolved in a 1.0 liter sample, how many percent of Sulfuric Acid is there in the solution?"
My totally surprised sensibilities felt nervous, and yet being a chemist for a dozen of years, gathered the data and solved in at the back of my head (because that time, I don't know where is my brain, haha)
I answered. He asked me back if I am sure. Yes, I am. And he neither said if I was right or wrong.
I did sensed that he was insecure or a bit inferior, and given the kind of question he was asking me, being a technical manager, and me on the process of being hired as a Technical Lab Superintendent, and currently as the QA Department Manager, the prospect of this 33 year old cute and kind Filipino guy is a bit scary. I hope I am wronged.
"If I have a sample and the pH is 18, what do you think of the sample?"
I answered that the solution must be very basic or alkaline, but that I haven't seen or known any sample to have a pH above 14.
Our discussion moves further. I asked him if there is a solution that the pH goes beyond 14, what could that be. I said I am asking politely because I honestly don't know.
The next several questions are too many, and I tried to answer them as best as I could, but sensing the motive, and the kind of tone in his voice, I deliberately fail to answer the last couple of questions he asked me.
My point?
If he is the kind of manager I will be working, I will be doomed.
I don't want a higher salary in the biggest company if my boss are determined to make me look like a fool, or worse if I am a threat to his position. I want joy in work, happiness, and opportunity for growth and self-respect.
That's why I asked in my Facebook one time, this question
Jebee Kenji Solis Ano ba ang mas okay? Mabait na amo pero maliit ang sweldo, or laging galit, walang alam, madaldal at palamurang amo pero kabang-kabang Riyal ang sahod mo? hehe
©2010 THOUGHTSKOTO
10 comments:
Ano ka ba naman Kenjie?Itik yan! He really wants you to fail dahil ang gusto nyang ipasok ay kalahi nya!
If you don't want the job, at least you should have answered all his question correctly and then tell straight to his face what you think of him! That way you'll look more dignified and superior compared to him!
Pwede po bang mag butt-in, I agree with BlogusVox, you should have showed him you know all the answers, kakabahan yun for sure at hayaan nyo. Pro Pinoy to!
* Blogusvox, I agree. You are very right. I should have answered the question he asked. Very Simple actually,
1. If you are transferring Acid, what kind of Gloves will I be using.
2. What does MPN stands for in Microbiology test method?
But his he ask me at the end of that conversation I asked him politely if I can also ask questions.
1. I asked him about Water Treatment, if they have Reverse Osmosis and Cooling towers, etc.
2. I asked him about the methods they are using in Wastewater test, and what are the parameters they usually check.
Hays, pero okay lang po. Salamat!
*Yellow Bells, right, very very true. Hindi ko man lang naisip yan.
I think you made a right decision, it's hard to mingle with your supervisor having that inferior attitude smart nga siya pero mas smart ka pero kung mas mataas ang posisyon niya he may use his power over you, dun ka lang maiinis. Good luck you may still find a better job and salary.
I worked for a theater company before. It remains as my most favorite job: maraming pressure, I'm always pressed against time, nanliliit ako sa mga malalaking tao na nakakasalamuha ko, madaling deadlines, plus the endless opening night jitters, etc.
Pero there's a sense of fulfillment.
The downside is: walang pera dahil kakarampot lang ang sahod.
Sana magkaroon ulit ako ng ganuong trabaho pero malaki ang sahod.
We really are insatiable sapiens.
*Sardonyx, salamat po Ma'am. I agree with you na Smart siya, hehehe.
*Nebz, we are! haha, I like the way you said it "Insatiable Sapiens" coz maybe because when we are satisfied, we are contented, there will no growth or improvement?
as long as you happy with your job and have a good salary is enough. but always seek the wisdom from Him. for he knows best than our.
Amiable fill someone in on and this fill someone in on helped me alot in my college assignement. Thank you on your information.
hahahah...ganuna pala talaga sila. Na-experience din yan noong isang Filipino applicant sa dating work ko. Puro thermodynamics ang tinanong noong itik. Medyo nakasagot naman kasi dating teacher. Pero duh... Sabi nga ni Richard Guttierrez sa kanyang telenovela - bird brain...
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