I almost didn't make it because I was finishing up the season premiere of The Walking Dead season 3 which was excellent!
I left the house an hour before my appointment time which was at 2 pm but I was lucky enough to reach Makati within an hour. The building was at the far end of Ayala avenue near Makati med so I had to walk all the way from Greenbelt and I was already sweating as usual but all I was thinking was getting in the office on time. I even got on the wrong elevator as I didn't know there were two separate sets of elevator. I arrived just in the nick of time and it didn't seem to matter as I was the only one who was there. The office was at the 27th floor and it looks like there are only two companies that occupied that floor.
I was asked to wait in the reception area but I can already see the work floor. I saw a lot of employees and computers lined up and when the HR manager asked me to come with him to take the exam, we passed by a lot of employees. It was a little underwhelming since it would be my first time to work in a big company with this set-up. I was asked to sit beside one of the employees and showed me the instructions on the computer and also fill-up a grammar test first. I browsed the instructions and it seemed manageable. I just had to write 2 150-300 word articles on 2 topics that was assigned then another 200 word article on any of my current interests and then answer some basic questions regarding my application. The test had a 3-hour time limit but I was able to finish it early. However, the test took some delay due to the company head(I assume) had given a speech to all the employees and I had no choice but to listen in even if I was not an employee yet. He talked about some company stuff and the growth of the company, some recent terminations in the company(which was a bit intimidating) and talked about having a company outing to the Ayala museum. He was a foreigner, looks American but I think he mentioned he was Italian so the way he talks was quite in a cool way and not the uptight type of person. He seemed friendly but serious.
I finally finished the test and I was surprised that I was already in the office for more than 2 hours since I started. I thought the day was over but they asked me to wait for another 30 minutes to evaluate the exam and see if I will have an interview. I was taken aback because I only prepared for an exam and it was getting late but I didn't bother to protest and stayed there to wait for the results. The break was too long but it was a good thing I had my iPod with me so I won't die of boredom. While waiting, I observed some employees leaving the office already and I also noticed most, if not all, were wearing casual clothes which made me like the company as I would like to have a flexible schedule and also to be able to wear normal clothes and not the fancy office outfit that would just be drowned in sweat. The place was quiet though except for some small chatter here and there so I was still worried that the atmosphere did not have an upbeat working environment. I also wasn't sure if all employees knew each other as there were probably more than a hundred people in the office that day. The HR finally appeared to apologize for the long wait and explained the person who will evaluate and give the interview is talking to their business partner/client from the US so I had no choice but to wait further. The HR finally arrived and sat down on the couch beside me. I thought we were going to have the interview somewhere else so it was surprising we were doing it there in the reception. However, he gave me the bad news that I didn't make the cut-off for the position. Strange enough, I didn't feel disappointment. I was ready to leave until the HR continued with the conversation and told me I was being considered for another open position in their company. Funny enough, it was the other open position that I also applied for in the company which I was leaning more into. It was a non-writing position but I think I could handle the position well. I told him I was interested in which he responded that I'll have to take another exam that will take another 2-3 hours. It was fine for me and I was ready to make a schedule until he suddenly ask me to go with him again! I didn't realize I had to take the exam immediately. It was already late so I just asked him to reschedule the exam on another day and told him I had somewhere else to go. Thankfully, there wasn't a problem with it and he set the exam tomorrow morning. I do hope I pass the exam but I wish that they would give me time to think about the offer. They told me they had a one-day process for applications so I'm worried that they might ask me to sign a contract by tomorrow. I still have an application that I want to pursue in another company and I would like to have some options.
I do think that if I pass the exam, I will most likely take it. I just hope they will have a good job offer because it really seems like a good job.
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