Job Hunting Tip #2

Once again, let me say that having a job is an essential part if you want to become rich. Having your own businesses or investments will give you your millions but if you need financial stability, you have to have a job. If you don't have the money yet to build your own business or buy your own investments, then get a job first! Businesses, stocks, etc have seasons of ups and downs. But if you have a job, no matter what happens, whatever the situation of the economy, by law your employer will have to pay you. You can only stop working a day job once your businesses or investments are already stable, or if you have a bank account that is good enough and you're feeling secure your family will not go hungry.

I mentioned in another blog entry Money Machine Part 1 that the road to riches may only be reached by feeling, looking, talking and living rich. The same concept goes when job hunting for your perfect or dream job.

Feel, talk and look like you're perfect for the job
(even if you know that there are more suitable candidates than you)

Once again, it's all about the packaging. I'm not telling you to pretend that you know so much about a job when in fact you know very little or nothing at all. Let me share a few experiences:

For the past six years, I have worked for four different industries: BPO, hospitality, real estate and journalism. In the BPO industry, I've covered three different services: customer support, technical support and sales. I've worked for both American and Australian accounts. I've worked both day and night shifts. In the hospitality industry, I've worked for both Front Office and Sales/Reservations.

Getting the BPO job was easy. I was a fresh graduate when I started. The call center business was just beginning to boom. They were trying to get as many new hires as possible. I remember coming to the interview wearing a very formal business attire, with black stockings! There were even some applicants who thought I was the boss! That time I felt I was overdressed. It is very common to see applicants for call centers wearing jeans and a shirt or blouse. This is not right especially if you have no experience or if you think your skills are not enough! Just by dressing up the proper way, you are giving the impression that you are professional. You make your interviewer think that you can be a future boss. This is what they are looking for. People who will last a long time and with potential to be promoted. Thousands of people applying in call centers everyday doesn't mean we are given the right to take this for granted. Everyone gets noticed! Every single applicant gives their potential employers an impression. If you don't think your skills are enough, try your best to stand out.

I applied in a hotel with no experience at all with hospitality, tourism or even face-to-face customer service! Again, self confidence was the key. I made sure that the interviewer knew that I was sincere when I said I'm willing to learn and I do learn fast! I didn't even have any idea during that time what I was getting myself into, I didn't even know if I can learn hospitality in a short period of time. But I was determined, I eventually made it and I think I did quite well with my job.

I admit without shame that real estate is not a thing for me. I lasted in this industry for less than three months! I never made a sale. But how did I get accepted when I applied? How did I make my former bosses think I can do the job? I dressed well, I spoke well, I was honest. I spoke from the heart. I told them my dreams, my achievements and even my failures. I came into their office determined that by the time I leave that same day I already had a job offer. Once again, I did it.

By the time I was trying to pursue a career in journalism, it wasn't easy to convince companies that I am qualified because it's been more than five years since I graduated college. Even if I studied a great deal of journalism in college, they assume that by this time, I've already forgotten everything I learned in school. My writing experience was never professional until this year. How did I convince them to hire me? Pure confidence and nothing more. In my first writing job application, I didn't even have formal writing samples to present! I still got accepted.

Please don't get me wrong. I'm talking about being confident but please know how to differentiate that with just pure arrogance. Be careful in doing this. It is important that you do not give the wrong impression. I learned that the hard way, I was rejected in a few jobs in the past because I gave the arrogant impression rather than the confident impression even if I didn't mean it that way. One more thing, BE HONEST. Do not pretend about having certain skills or knowledge when you don't. You'll never know if you'll be put on the spot. That would just be super embarrassing.

Job Hunting Tip #1 was published right before this entry so you may want to check that out too. 

Job Hunting Tip #1

I'm back with another "Part 1". Job Hunting is such a general topic and will require such a huge space in this blog. I shall be dividing this into smaller parts to make sure my readers are still entertained.

Once again, I do not consider myself an expert in this topic. There are many blogs and websites offering tips, however, my difference is that I experienced this FIRST HAND and these are RECENT events. Meaning, this is not old school advice! If you follow these tips carefully, you will be led to the job of your dreams.

Before I continue, you may be asking why is the awesomemoneymachine writing about job hunting when people who usually advise on how to become truly rich with tons of money would recommend going on business. Well, I believe that there are more people like me who have obligations and in urgent need for financial stability. I agree that being an employee seldom provides a millionaire life, especially if you're far from the retirement age. But if you do not have money to start a business, you better get a job first. Soon, your money will be working for you.

Here are a few tips and experiences I'd like to share:


Do not stop applying until you find the perfect job. 

I graduated college 6 years ago and my resume already shows that I have a total of 6 companies listed in my work experience. On top of that, I have a few home based and part time jobs, professional and unprofessional listed there as well. This is not a good thing for most employers. I actually have a choice of not declaring some of the other companies I have worked for, like some applicants do, but I like it that way. I had  what I would consider valid reasons for leaving each one of them. I was never fired so why hide it? For each single job, I had a purpose, I learned new things so I have to be proud of all of them.

I just thought that if my first or second job was already the perfect job for me, I would have exerted more effort to keep the job no matter what the circumstances were. It's not true that there is a lack of jobs. There are plenty and you are free to check all of them out. Our generation is very lucky because most applications can be sent out online, and employers pre-screen your application before asking you to come for an interview. Saves you so much time and money!

When I am asked to go to a scheduled interview, I check on the location and other companies in the area so if I finish early I won't be wasting the rest of the day. You can always walk in and drop your resume. Not because you got rejected for a job in the morning, you'd have to dwell on that for the rest of the day. Some companies would also tell you they'd call you in 24 hours or in a week, but if they find a more suitable candidate, they don't really call. It's your job to follow up. In that case, you don't have any assurance. Don't waste your time waiting because it could be for nothing. You better start looking for another option. You can actually turn around the situation that instead of employers choosing you, you get to choose them. This is when you already have so many job offers in front of you. You now have a choice of which company you would like to work for and all other important things like the location, schedule and the salary offered!

If you have finally chosen a job and you would have to turn down other job offers, it is always nice to write them a letter. There will be times that you would have to do this in person, through the phone or even through SMS. But it is always better if you write a letter because you have a chance to double check on the things you would have to say. Make sure you don't sound rude or arrogant just because you did not choose their company, because it is always possible for your paths to cross again. One more thing, if you really like a job and a company but you're thinking of turning down their offer for some reason, ALWAYS TELL THEM WHY. Or simply ask them if you would like something else or something additional. They might just say yes. In all those times I asked, I got a YES.

Good luck to your job hunting and watch out for Job Hunting Tip #2!

10 Ways to Gain Fans on Facebook (and Twitter followers too)

This is an article I wrote for one of my job applications. It was a small company but very promising. Their goals are the same as mine. The books they read are the same books I love to read. The thing that captured my interest the most is that they make their employees play Cash Flow! That's a game by Robert Kiyosaki, author of the book Rich Dad Poor Dad. I'll just write about that in another blog entry. I applied even if I know I wasn't qualified for the position, I knew very little about the job, but it's something I'd love to do even for the rest of my career life. I got accepted, but I didn't sign the contract. They wanted me in the company, but for a different position. I didn't take it. Anyway, I just wanted to share this article for those who might be interested.

Note: Most, if not all the information I have placed here come from various websites that resulted from my search in Google. Sources will be listed at the end of the article. I have inserted some of my own opinions as well. These formulas/ways on how to gain Facebook fans are not arranged in chronological order since I have not tried and tested most of them, so I’m not very sure how much each of these actually works.

1. Like/Be friends with people or subjects of the same interest.

In this way, they can see your profile if you have made a comment or posted something on a certain fan page. It also helps if you post interesting comments on other people’s pages so that if their viewers like what you posted and becomes somehow curious about you, they will click your profile and would probably like you as well.

2. Interact with your Facebook fans.

Fans would usually appreciate responses on the comments or posts they place on a fan page. They would most probably respond again in the future, and more likes and responses on a post would definitely show the post on User Feeds. It would also bring up the post on Google when someone searches about something related to it.

3. Insert RSS feeds of your blog into your Facebook page.

By inserting RSS feeds from your blog or website into your Facebook fan page, every time a new update or entry is added in you blog or website, this will automatically appear on the Facebook page as well.

4. Update the Facebook page regularly.

Placing updates on your Facebook page regularly, preferably some that are exclusive only to Facebook will maintain interest of current fans. They may share your post or link in their own pages or suggest it to friends. If the page is also regularly updated, it will continuously appear on fans’ User Feeds.

5. Set up contests that would require people to become a fan of your Facebook page.

I have personally liked several fan pages which was at first not my interest, but eventually became interesting as well because of this reason. For example, a gadget store will ask you to place your best photo about a certain subject and the photo that gets the most “likes” will win a gadget. The people who have entered the contest will suggest this to their friends and will request them to like their photo, which will also require their friends to like the fan page first. It is a cycle that has been proven effective.

6. Integrate the Facebook account with a Twitter account.

Gaining followers in Twitter is way easier that gaining fans on Facebook. Information placed on Twitter is also easier to spread out just by placing hash tags on interesting subjects or probably find a way to add in your information to become related to the current Trending Topics. Asking famous people or celebrities to re-tweet something is also easier and faster than asking them to do the same in Facebook. It is also proven that placing links on tweets going to your Facebook fan page will gain your page wuite a number of fans.

7. Twiends.com or other similar websites.

Twiends.com is an amazing website which I only discovered upon researching about this subject matter. I never paid attention on how many Twitter followers I have however when I tried this, I gained more than 20 followers in under 5 minutes. That number I usually gain after several months on Twitter. The site also has a tool that can gain Facebook followers, I tried it for a couple of fan pages I administer and gathered more than 10 fans under 5 minutes. I checked the people who started becoming followers and fans and most of them seem to be real people and not computer-generated accounts. Twiends.com from what I understand about it is somehow also a social networking site, where you can place in your interests and people with the same interest appear on a page where you can click to like their fan page or follow their Twitter account. Your own page also appears on other people’s screens so they also get to like you. Liking a page also gains Twiends credits for someone and in turn gives other people credits when they like you. So it’s also like a cycle that just goes on as long as you also like other pages.

8. Try to get a few popular people to share your page.

If you know someone influential, credible, a friend who has thousands of Facebook friends or Twitter followers or possibly a celebrity and get them to share your page, you are guaranteed to get a number of additional likes on your fan page. Some people just want to like what their “idol” likes; it is a very common attitude especially with social networking sites.

9. Place links to share your website or blog entries in Facebook, Twitter, etc.

It is very important to place those buttons to click on for a site to be shared on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites. This makes it easier for people who find your site/blog interesting to share with their friends. It is also include a link to like your Facebook page. Some people would prefer liking you on Facebook so that everytime you have an update, it will appear on their User feeds and they no longer have to check your website all the time.

10. Buy advertising space on Facebook.

This may be the most effective among all of the ways to gain Facebook fans, however will involve an extra cost. Ads on Facebook usually appear on pages of people who have a common interest with what your page is about. It is very visible and with a good picture and catchy caption, you are sure to gain fans.

Sources:

www.­imediaconnection­.­com/­content/­23780.­asp

http://thefuturebuzz.com/2010/02/01/6-figure-facebook-page/

http://www.coolpctips.com/2011/02/how-to-get-super-fast-facebook-fans-twitter-followers/

The True Meaning of Sacrifice

I posted this on my Tumblr site weeks ago. It was a day after one of those very memorable job applications. Please forgive the format and informality.

i’ve always thought that i’ve already sacrificed every possible thing i could for my loved ones. i was wrong. 

in my heart, i still held on to my dreams. the reason why i took up my course in college. something i’ve been dreaming to do since i was a kid. 

i took some time searching for jobs and for the first time in the history of my career life, i rejected job offers as much as i was rejected in jobs. 

yesterday, i applied in a big events and marketing company as a copywriter. it’s a dream job. i just tried to apply to see if i’ll make it. i had the mindset that if i don’t it’s fine since i know for a fact that creativity is not really my thing. i gave my best for the exam and the interview. surprisingly, i passed. 

i was told i’ll get called within a week, but on my way to the elevator the manager and someone from HR stopped me and told me to stay a few more minutes so they can discuss already. 

after several cold sweats and a whole lot of nail-biting for about 10 or 15 minutes, i was called to speak to the president/ceo of the company. imagine my nervousness. 

i came in to her office, she told me immediately that the manager thought i was good, possibly perfect for the job. i answered every exam and interview question with responses that he was looking for. but the CEO said she has apprehensions in interviewing me. 

straight to the point, she told me that the job is not for women who have obligations such as children. majority of their employees are single. the job will take so much of my time and energy and there would be several days in a row that i won’t go home because of too much workload. i actually knew about this even before i applied for the job. i experienced this when i was a college mass communications student. what she said next pinched the mother’s heart that’s in me…

it goes something like this:

“i am a mother too. i started this business when my kids are almost grown up. you have very young kids, 2 and 3. do you really want to deprive them of a normal life with their mother? you are now given a choice, if you work with us you will earn a whole lot of money and you will have fun. but one day, when you have a ton of money and you have achieved your dreams in terms of your career, you will see that your kids are grown and you weren’t there to watch the little things that are considered milestones of their childhood. no amount of money can buy back the time you lost with them. i don’t want my company and myself to be the reason that there are two sad children.”

i was surprised i didn’t cry. i usually get emotional over things like this. my usual response in situations like this is for me to be given 24 hours to think things over. but this time, it was different. i didn’t have to think twice. she’s absolutely right. above all things, what really is my priority? is it my dream? is it to swim in a pool of money? what really makes me happy? 

for the past 7 months, i’ve spent every single day with my children. and i’ve never been happier in my life. money is important and i know that love and principle wouldn’t feed my family, but i believe in myself. i’m a survivor. i get through the toughest times victoriously. i always have my cake and eat it too. 

i shook her hand and thanked her so much. she told me that if my kids are at least 7 or 8, and i still want to work with them, i’ll always be welcome. i left the building, went straight home and gave my two girls big hugs and kisses. i know i made the right decision. 

i’ve been rejected in jobs so many times within the past few weeks. i’ve also rejected so many job offers. but i know God has a plan. i was offered a normal day job by a new and growing company. i’ll give that a shot. i’ll take it from there. facebook, twitter, tumblr, blogspot and a whole lot of new stuff can still help me in pursuing my dream. maybe not earning from it, but at least doing it. 

the true meaning of sacrifice is when you give up your dreams, possibly for good, for the love of the people most important to you. 

yeah, yeah i know love yourself first, but ask your moms. they’ll understand.

Work to Live, Not Live to Work

For almost three months now, I've been searching for a full time job. I wouldn't consider myself as one of the unemployed because constantly, I have writing or blogging gigs, either professionally or unprofessionally which are all done part time. I actually have a choice of making home-based writing a full time job, but I would still prefer a normal out of the house job. Why?

I have two beautiful daughters, 2 and 3 years old. I love them so much and I want to spend time with them as much as I can. If I stick with these home based jobs, I can do that. However, the income for home based writing, although rewarding is not reliable. What I mean by that is, it's lucky when you find a company with an actual physical office who's willing to provide a home based job, but most of these jobs do not actually ask you to come to their office so you can sign a contract. If there will be times that there will be delays in pay or if they do not pay you at all, you actually do not have someone who you can talk to personally. Yes, you have their mobile numbers, email addresses, instant messengers, but still. This job is mainly based on trust, the way they would have to trust you in fulfilling your commitments with them.

With two kids born two years in a row, meaning they would start studying consecutively and for the next 20-something years I have tuition fees to pay every single year! Imagine that. I cannot imagine myself working until my hair falls out just because I have to get ready for enrollment season! This is one of the reasons why I decided to become a money machine.

I'll get a full time job that will allow me to exercise my ability of time management. If the contract says 9 hours each day including lunch break, then so be it. I do not sit around and do nothing during work hours. When I am given a task, I give it my best shot the first try so I don't have to do it over again. It saves time and energy. Some companies tell you that you'd have to go on overtime, and treat it like going the extra mile - they actually mean going overtime without pay. It's funny how some jobs are even advertised with statements like paid overtime, etc. First of all, by law, overtime MUST be paid. There are times that you would have to adjust with this law as an employee if you were given a task and you were not able to finish it on time. I personally think it's okay to go on unpaid overtime once in a while but not every single day and not very long hours. What's the point of my time management skills if I have to work late everyday?

I read this somewhere: "Work to live, not live to work." I believe in this. Time should be spent for work, self, family, prayer, etc. It shouldn't be all work. Stress kills. Stress will stop you from working your best.

Let me share to you one of my job application experiences:
I saw the ad on an online job ad listing and sent my resume, I got a call right away to go to their office for an interview. When I got there, I was given an exam. Honestly, the exam was difficult. In fact, it was one of the hardest exams I have ever taken as a job applicant. Luckily, I passed and got the chance to be interviewed right away. Two interviews and then I was told I got accepted. All of these within 2 or 3 hours. I left their office without a contract. I didn't sign the job offer. Why? First of all, the pay was extremely low. Their explanation is that they are a starting company and I am the very first person they accepted for that team. I am entitled to performance bonuses, etc but none of those "bonuses" written on paper. I was told that there is no definite schedule for as long as I come to work 8 or 9 in the morning everyday. I was also told that I could earn millions in a year if I do well. If this job was offered to me 2 or 3 years ago, I would have accepted immediately.

Just hearing the word "millions" makes me pick up my pen and sign right away. Not this time. I choose carefully jobs that I accept. Especially if it's full time. The pay is a very important part but that's not the only thing. The pay could be not as high as what I am demanding but the schedule must be good, precise, specific. Overtime is okay for as long as it is not every single day. Why is this? I have a family, I have part time jobs, I have other commitments. Besides, I believe in my ability. I am not worth "almost minimum wage". I do better than that. I am a performer. I work smart and hard. I am reliable, loyal, honest and I can be taught almost anything that the job requires, I can assure that I am a good learner.

So here's how I do it, a take it or leave it proposal to companies. I'll work my best and you won't regret hiring me. I give you what you want, and I will exceed your expectations, but you have to give me what I deserve.

So some people are telling me not to be choosy, beggars can't be choosers, etc. But still, I stand by my word.  I am being choosy because I want the perfect job. I have a terrible looking resume because of all the jobs listed down. The next full time job I will get has to last for years! I don't want to go into something I don't really like especially if I know that I wouldn't even last a month without getting bored.

Choosing a career to take at this age and stage of my life is not a very easy thing to do. It's like a "make it or break it" situation. So the only jobs I apply for are the jobs I really want, those I know I have the ability to excel at, and those that will surely make me last for several years, possibly decades. Lastly, I truly want to work to live. I do not want to spend the rest of my life dragging myself to work. I'm sure most of you have the same thoughts too.