From 200 who submitted their CVs, 40 were interviewed, 7 were short-listed and only 5 attended the second interview last Sunday. Of the five, three were Filipinos, one was Kenyan and one was I think, an Indian. How very Miss Universe-like, I thought.
The boss was coming in late which meant more time to sit and wait. I fish out my camera and take pics of the objects on the table. The window offered a good view of the Emirates Towers across the street. Click.
I brought my book on travel writing, anticipating the long wait. I realized I can use this as a prop. When my turn came, I was holding the book, knowing it would spark his curiosity. Talk about selling myself by making sure I would stand out in his memory as the travel and writing girl.
True enough, the first thing he did was to ask about the book. "So you want to be a travel writer?" "Yes!" I explained that I have travel articles published in the Philippines. The next series of questions flew by so quickly that I must have spent less than five minutes in the room. The questions were surprisingly very normal (Would you like to work for the company? What is your strength among the other candidates?). I was expecting a practical test on how to make coffee, or something like that. Anyway, I was told to expect a call by that afternoon or the morning after if I was the chosen one.
At 5:49 pm, the phone rang. I was chatting with my mom, who was telling me to go home already. It was Ms. Audrey on the other line, Mr Hassan wanted to speak with me. "Congratulations, you won a million dollars!" "Really?" "Yes, come to work tomorrow at 11am, sign the contract and then you can start right away." I felt like the new Miss Universe 2008. Hahaha.
Getting the position was one thing and knowing the terms of contract was another. I had prayed to God that if the job was really for me, the company must offer a good compensation package. I read the employment contract draft. No concrete figures were given. I had a gut feeling that if we were to base it from a previous experience, (I declined a job offer from a Lebanese company) the starting salary would also be low. I proceed with writing the questions that were forming in my head.
At Mr. Hassan's office, I was told that the job offer would be pegged at three thousand dirhams. Aside from performing executive assistant responsibilities, I would also be an office manager and a receptionist. I started to doubt. The boss rambled on that the other benefits (the bonuses, increments and even the yearly plane ticket) are performance-based. Hmmm.... I ask for a few minutes to think it over.
After several phone consultations with my brother and friend (she was backing up my application in her company and I was already slated for interview at 5pm that day), I faced with Mr. Hassan with an indefinite answer. I told him I needed more time because I still have to discuss the terms with my brother and that I would also like to see what the other company had to offer. I explained that the salary is not enough to cover the cost of living here in Dubai.
At 10:44am today, I officially declined the ad agency's offer. My visions of an Ugly Betty-ish life just ended. Haha! It's back to square one again.
The boss was coming in late which meant more time to sit and wait. I fish out my camera and take pics of the objects on the table. The window offered a good view of the Emirates Towers across the street. Click.
I brought my book on travel writing, anticipating the long wait. I realized I can use this as a prop. When my turn came, I was holding the book, knowing it would spark his curiosity. Talk about selling myself by making sure I would stand out in his memory as the travel and writing girl.
True enough, the first thing he did was to ask about the book. "So you want to be a travel writer?" "Yes!" I explained that I have travel articles published in the Philippines. The next series of questions flew by so quickly that I must have spent less than five minutes in the room. The questions were surprisingly very normal (Would you like to work for the company? What is your strength among the other candidates?). I was expecting a practical test on how to make coffee, or something like that. Anyway, I was told to expect a call by that afternoon or the morning after if I was the chosen one.
At 5:49 pm, the phone rang. I was chatting with my mom, who was telling me to go home already. It was Ms. Audrey on the other line, Mr Hassan wanted to speak with me. "Congratulations, you won a million dollars!" "Really?" "Yes, come to work tomorrow at 11am, sign the contract and then you can start right away." I felt like the new Miss Universe 2008. Hahaha.
Getting the position was one thing and knowing the terms of contract was another. I had prayed to God that if the job was really for me, the company must offer a good compensation package. I read the employment contract draft. No concrete figures were given. I had a gut feeling that if we were to base it from a previous experience, (I declined a job offer from a Lebanese company) the starting salary would also be low. I proceed with writing the questions that were forming in my head.
At Mr. Hassan's office, I was told that the job offer would be pegged at three thousand dirhams. Aside from performing executive assistant responsibilities, I would also be an office manager and a receptionist. I started to doubt. The boss rambled on that the other benefits (the bonuses, increments and even the yearly plane ticket) are performance-based. Hmmm.... I ask for a few minutes to think it over.
After several phone consultations with my brother and friend (she was backing up my application in her company and I was already slated for interview at 5pm that day), I faced with Mr. Hassan with an indefinite answer. I told him I needed more time because I still have to discuss the terms with my brother and that I would also like to see what the other company had to offer. I explained that the salary is not enough to cover the cost of living here in Dubai.
At 10:44am today, I officially declined the ad agency's offer. My visions of an Ugly Betty-ish life just ended. Haha! It's back to square one again.
