I’ve been repeatedly blogging about it. The months July-August for me every year always seem to test my character. And I don’t think I’m being superstitious about it or just trying to find meaning in the mundane. But for this year these two months had me carrying a ball of stress right inside my chest. How did it all happen? Let me count the ways.
1. My account in S-2 suddenly decided to terminate two supervisors due to “cost cutting,” which had me asking what’s my future here? And it didn’t help that management had us complete a so-called utilization report everyday which had me thinking more they were planning to cut down the number of people in my position.
2. Over thinker that I am, I decided to walk in at the firm who I shall address in this blog as Goliath National Bank in reference to a funny TV show named How I Met Your Mother. I breezed through the interviews and after a week of restless waiting I finally confirmed my job offer.
3. I’m not sure if my personal computer at home went kaput at this time or a week before I started applying at GNB. But not having a computer at home had me more restless since I cannot work on my manuscript. I didn’t even have the extra money to buy a book so I ended up spending a few more hours watching mindless TV.
4. I even dragged my friend Bryan-Boy-Look-Alike to apply with me in Goliath National Bank. He was somewhat confident he was going to get hired that he stopped going to work in S-2 even though I advised him not to do that yet.
5. Getting the job offer was easy. Getting the pre-employment requirements (such as the dreaded NBI clearance) and passing through the background checks was hell.
6. Getting the NBI clearance deserves an entry of its own. Government offices being government offices, they fucked up. It was televised why the hell getting an NBI clearance was like passing through the nine gates of hell. Due to an ill advice, me and BBLA braved through the rotting Ever Grand Central mall in Monumento and lined up for four hours only to find out they just had our names signed up and given us a small piece of paper as a proof. We would have to go back there again next week.
7. I almost completed most of my requirements but GNB cannot accommodate me due to a missing piece of shit that is the NBI clearance and so they had my start date rescheduled. It was a good thing I hadn’t left S-2 yet.
8. I found out during my pre-employment medical check up that they think I might have kidney stones. They also required me to get three medical clearances. It was a blessing in disguise I think because I confirmed after an ultrasound I didn’t have kidney stones. Getting the other medical clearances was a chore, but at least knowing I didn’t kidney stones which scared the shit out of me for days was relief enough.
9. The first job offer I got in GNB was for a financial post and since I have technical background I asked the HR guy handling my case if I can be referred to an IT post instead. Since there was an opening, he gave it a go. For some reasons, I breezed through the interviews again and hiring managers seem to like me. The next morning the HR guy called me and saying he will revise the contract along with pay (which means increase) for the new post they will offer me.
10. Going back to the rotting Grand Central was bittersweet for me. It was the first mall I could ever remember. I used to think it was better than SM. Now I wouldn’t even dare to go to its restrooms unless I really need to go because it’s just plain scary. I just came from night shift. BBLA was broke for being several weeks out of work. BBLA and I lined up for around five and a half hours for that piece of paper GNB wanted me to get before they could start accommodating me. I’m not even including the fact I still have three medical clearances to get.
11. Going through night shift with only three hours of sleep is hell. It was like I was awake for 48-hours. I did it twice or thrice I think in a span of two weeks. Some people can manage that “Jack Bauer” lifestyle. But I’m no Jack Bauer.
12. BBLA got his email from GNB that he didn’t make it. Good thing he had already applied in a call center one jeepney away from where he lives in. He just signed his job offer last week and will start around next week-ish.
13. I’m crossing my fingers that BBLA will get back on his feet soon. I’ve already lent him money and he knew enough that I’m physically, emotionally and financially drained myself.
14. I eventually got the three medical clearances and the piece of shit that is the NBI clearance. And so the waiting began for the background check.
15. For some reason, one of my teammates started hating my guts. When my boss and I started talking about it, I couldn’t get the logic behind his ‘nang-iwan sa ere’ comment. That guy and I weren’t THAT close. He stopped talking to me. I didn’t care less. I’m used to having “macho” guys hating my guts along with the boys and girls next door. For some reason, they are the extremes that don’t get along with me. I can live with it.
16. I finally gotten my background check clearance. The HR guy said my start date was good to go. I joked to him that getting a job in GNB is like being a japayuki. A job is never sure until you get out of the Tokyo airport.
17. My boss and I talked for hours as I submitted my resignation letter. I really was thankful for the trust and the opportunities given. It was good that I had a graceful exit in S-2.
18. During my first day in GNB, I found out my computer is fixed and the editor had just finished working on my manuscript. He knows my situation right now and he was okay that I’ll claim it from him next month once I settled in GNB.
It sounds like everything is falling into place. But I still have a lot of work to do!
1. My account in S-2 suddenly decided to terminate two supervisors due to “cost cutting,” which had me asking what’s my future here? And it didn’t help that management had us complete a so-called utilization report everyday which had me thinking more they were planning to cut down the number of people in my position.
2. Over thinker that I am, I decided to walk in at the firm who I shall address in this blog as Goliath National Bank in reference to a funny TV show named How I Met Your Mother. I breezed through the interviews and after a week of restless waiting I finally confirmed my job offer.
3. I’m not sure if my personal computer at home went kaput at this time or a week before I started applying at GNB. But not having a computer at home had me more restless since I cannot work on my manuscript. I didn’t even have the extra money to buy a book so I ended up spending a few more hours watching mindless TV.
4. I even dragged my friend Bryan-Boy-Look-Alike to apply with me in Goliath National Bank. He was somewhat confident he was going to get hired that he stopped going to work in S-2 even though I advised him not to do that yet.
5. Getting the job offer was easy. Getting the pre-employment requirements (such as the dreaded NBI clearance) and passing through the background checks was hell.
6. Getting the NBI clearance deserves an entry of its own. Government offices being government offices, they fucked up. It was televised why the hell getting an NBI clearance was like passing through the nine gates of hell. Due to an ill advice, me and BBLA braved through the rotting Ever Grand Central mall in Monumento and lined up for four hours only to find out they just had our names signed up and given us a small piece of paper as a proof. We would have to go back there again next week.
7. I almost completed most of my requirements but GNB cannot accommodate me due to a missing piece of shit that is the NBI clearance and so they had my start date rescheduled. It was a good thing I hadn’t left S-2 yet.
8. I found out during my pre-employment medical check up that they think I might have kidney stones. They also required me to get three medical clearances. It was a blessing in disguise I think because I confirmed after an ultrasound I didn’t have kidney stones. Getting the other medical clearances was a chore, but at least knowing I didn’t kidney stones which scared the shit out of me for days was relief enough.
9. The first job offer I got in GNB was for a financial post and since I have technical background I asked the HR guy handling my case if I can be referred to an IT post instead. Since there was an opening, he gave it a go. For some reasons, I breezed through the interviews again and hiring managers seem to like me. The next morning the HR guy called me and saying he will revise the contract along with pay (which means increase) for the new post they will offer me.
10. Going back to the rotting Grand Central was bittersweet for me. It was the first mall I could ever remember. I used to think it was better than SM. Now I wouldn’t even dare to go to its restrooms unless I really need to go because it’s just plain scary. I just came from night shift. BBLA was broke for being several weeks out of work. BBLA and I lined up for around five and a half hours for that piece of paper GNB wanted me to get before they could start accommodating me. I’m not even including the fact I still have three medical clearances to get.
11. Going through night shift with only three hours of sleep is hell. It was like I was awake for 48-hours. I did it twice or thrice I think in a span of two weeks. Some people can manage that “Jack Bauer” lifestyle. But I’m no Jack Bauer.
12. BBLA got his email from GNB that he didn’t make it. Good thing he had already applied in a call center one jeepney away from where he lives in. He just signed his job offer last week and will start around next week-ish.
13. I’m crossing my fingers that BBLA will get back on his feet soon. I’ve already lent him money and he knew enough that I’m physically, emotionally and financially drained myself.
14. I eventually got the three medical clearances and the piece of shit that is the NBI clearance. And so the waiting began for the background check.
15. For some reason, one of my teammates started hating my guts. When my boss and I started talking about it, I couldn’t get the logic behind his ‘nang-iwan sa ere’ comment. That guy and I weren’t THAT close. He stopped talking to me. I didn’t care less. I’m used to having “macho” guys hating my guts along with the boys and girls next door. For some reason, they are the extremes that don’t get along with me. I can live with it.
16. I finally gotten my background check clearance. The HR guy said my start date was good to go. I joked to him that getting a job in GNB is like being a japayuki. A job is never sure until you get out of the Tokyo airport.
17. My boss and I talked for hours as I submitted my resignation letter. I really was thankful for the trust and the opportunities given. It was good that I had a graceful exit in S-2.
18. During my first day in GNB, I found out my computer is fixed and the editor had just finished working on my manuscript. He knows my situation right now and he was okay that I’ll claim it from him next month once I settled in GNB.
It sounds like everything is falling into place. But I still have a lot of work to do!
1 comments:
idol! i don't think i could have handled that the way you did. and the stress alone of the nbi plus the medical checkups, that would get to me. you're made of strong stuff.
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