WORK

Work. We all started to do it to earn money. Most of us is to provide for our families. But, along the way, we forget that very reason.

Do you remember how you started your career?

Was it something you had envisioned from college or high school? Was it even close to your course in college? Has it changed over the course of years?

Let me share you mine.

I had no intentions of going into college back then. I can’t remember why but I think I felt I was just letting everything happen around me and follow it. My father helped me get started. I enrolled in one of the known universities in the Philippines and started taking Civil Engineering. After one semester, I let the world take me again and stopped for one semester. I came back the year after and decided to take Business Management. Took me six years to finish a four-year course.

I remember I like leading a team and coordinating individual tasks, consolidating them after, and presenting our work. I found that I like presenting and talking in front of people about ideas. I usually envision myself as a manager.

My nephew just graduated from college last June 2022. And I fear for him that he might struggle to get a job, or worse don’t get any. I had tapped too many people I know to see if they had an opening for him. In the industry that I am in, while the need is high, competition is high too. Thus, it became very difficult for him to get a job.

In his quest to get in to any of the companies I had referred him to, I remember myself back in the days starting my career and I hope for you guys reading this, please share this blog to everyone you know in the hope that we, those who have gone through the corporate world, would prepare our next generations for what to come.

• If you just want to work to earn money to support your and your family’s needs, go apply on everything. It may or may not be related to your course but anything would be a good starting point. It doesn’t mean you don’t have a choice. Get as many options as you can and choose from it. Or whatever gives you an offer first, take it. Start from there.
• If you are not concerned with money and you want to work, you got the time. Same, keep trying anything that comes your way. You will find what really clicks with you.
• Once you are in, you will be treated like a helper. You will be just a staff. Another person working for the company. You will not feel this but that is the treatment. Do the job at hand, what it requires you, and learn what your immediate supervisor is doing. Learning what the job in your next level will help you prepare if you want to climb the corporate ladder.
• While working, don’t spend all your money having fun with your work colleagues. Go out with them sometimes. Build relationships. But don’t trust anyone. You don’t really know them. This is true. You don’t really know who you can trust. Only your family will always be there for you, whatever happens.
• Remember why you started. If it is for your family, don’t forget that they come first. If for your future, don’t forget that you come first. Your work colleagues won’t really bat an eye in whatever you are going through. They don’t really care. They have their own lives.

It is always good to build lasting relationship with whoever you meet in the corporate world. I had met a lot of people but I only trust very very few which in my entire 15 years of working as of this writing, are the people I talk to about my professional and personal life. How did I find them? They showed real concern for me, did extra mile in helping me, all without me asking for help and telling them anything. That’s how I found them.

You who is reading this, I encourage you to please share. When I started, I never had anyone talk to me about what to expect and what to do. I was out on my own after my father helped me get into college. I hope that this time, we could provide what we learn to the future generation entering the corporate world.

At the end of the day, it is just work.

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Embarking on a career journey is akin to setting sail on an open sea, where the horizon is filled with endless possibilities and the path you choose can lead to various destinations. When the primary goal is to earn a living and support your family, the approach to job hunting can be pragmatic and all-encompassing. It’s not about finding the perfect match or the dream job; it’s about seizing opportunities that present themselves, regardless of whether they align with your academic background or personal interests. This strategy is about survival, about ensuring that the needs of your loved ones are met.

In this pursuit, you may find yourself applying to a multitude of positions, casting a wide net in the hopes of catching a viable opportunity. The first offer that comes along might not be ideal, but it serves as a stepping stone, a means to begin your journey. It’s a starting point from which you can navigate the waters of the corporate world, gaining experience and building a foundation for your future.

If financial pressure is not a pressing concern, the job search takes on a different tone. You have the luxury of time, allowing you to explore various avenues and discover what truly resonates with you. This exploratory phase is a quest for fulfillment, a chance to find work that clicks with your passions and aspirations.

Once you’ve secured a position, the reality of the workplace sets in. You become a cog in the machine, a staff member whose primary function is to fulfill the tasks at hand. The treatment you receive may feel impersonal, but it’s a universal experience in the corporate hierarchy. It’s essential to focus on your responsibilities while also observing and learning from those above you. Understanding the nuances of the next rung on the ladder is crucial if you aspire to climb it.

Navigating office dynamics requires a delicate balance. While it’s important to socialize and forge connections with colleagues, caution is advised. The workplace is a complex network of relationships, and trust must be earned. It’s a harsh truth that the bonds formed in the office are not always as steadfast as those with your family, who remain your unwavering support system through thick and thin.

The motivation that drives you to work each day should remain at the forefront of your mind. Whether it’s the well-being of your family or the pursuit of your own future, this guiding principle should influence your actions and decisions. Colleagues may come and go, and their concern for your personal struggles may be limited. They, too, have their own lives and challenges to contend with.

Building lasting relationships in the corporate world is a rare and valuable achievement. Over the course of a 15-year career, you may encounter numerous individuals, but only a select few will earn your trust. These are the people who demonstrate genuine care, who go the extra mile without being asked, and who offer support without expecting anything in return. They are the ones who become confidants in both professional and personal matters.

As someone who has navigated these waters, I urge you to share your experiences with others. When I began my career, I had no guide, no mentor to prepare me for what lay ahead. It was a solitary journey, one that I embarked on with little more than the education my father helped me obtain. Now, we have the opportunity to be the mentors we never had, to pass on our knowledge and insights to the next generation entering the workforce.

In the end, work is just one aspect of life. It’s a means to an end, a way to provide for ourselves and our families. But it should not define us or consume us. It’s important to remember that at the close of each day, work remains at the office, while life, with all its complexities and joys, awaits us at home.