Hello, July! This marks my first post for the new month. I’ve been quite occupied lately, diving into theme customization and entering giveaways on YouTube. I’ve been on a quest to perfect the colors and layout of my theme, and I can finally say that I’m satisfied with the design.

As a recent college graduate, I’m thrilled about the prospect of either starting my career or pursuing a Master’s degree. I’ve already submitted my application to the University of the Philippines – Los Banos, Laguna, and I’m eagerly awaiting their response. In the meantime, I decided to explore job opportunities and submitted my resume to Universal Robina Corporation (URC) online.

To my surprise, they reached out to me for an initial interview and an exam on June 28, 2017. Unfortunately, I had to reschedule the interview due to an unforeseen emergency, which left me quite anxious. The night before the rescheduled interview, I couldn’t sleep, as my excitement and nervousness had me pondering what lay ahead.

I’d like to share my first job interview experience with you. Initially, I was quite skeptical about attending a job interview, but I knew that avoiding interviews wouldn’t lead me to a job. So, I decided to go for my first initial interview at the company.

The company was situated in the First Cavite Industrial Estate (FCIE) in Dasmarinas, Cavite. Upon arriving at FCIE, I had to take a tricycle to reach URC (Universal Robina Corporation). FCIE is a vast industrial area with numerous companies and factories, and the tricycle ride was necessary. The tricycle fare was just P9.00.

URC was relatively close by, taking about 5 minutes to reach once I was inside FCIE. I made it to URC on time.

The security guards at the entrance were very attentive. I noticed that they even had lady guards. They inquired about the message sent to me by the HR at URC, checked my temperature, took my I.D., and asked me to log in. They provided me with a visitor I.D., visitor form, and guidelines sheet, and escorted me to the HR department.

Upon arriving at the HR department, HR Trainees assisted me. They asked me to fill out their application form and then proceeded to give me an exam. The exam was fairly basic, essentially a review of what I had learned throughout my academic years. It included sections on English, Math, Abstract Reasoning, and some essay-type questions.

Following the exam, the interview began. A trainee conducted the interview, asking questions mostly related to myself, my plans, my skills, and the salary I was looking for. Here are a few examples of the questions I was asked:

• What is your weakness?
• Tell me about yourself.
• Why do you want to apply here?
• What makes you different?
• What are your future plans?

These are just some of the questions I encountered during the interview. Afterward, the trainee submitted my credentials to the HR head and said, “Thank you. Please wait for the next text message to schedule your final interview.” And that concluded my initial interview experience.

I received a new message from them after waiting for 2 weeks, and it was good news! The message informed me that my final interview was scheduled for July 8, 2017, at 10 AM. I was thrilled when I read the message and made sure to arrive at their company as scheduled. Little did I know that I would have to wait almost 6 hours in their lobby, as the manager and supervisors were caught up in an emergency meeting that day (fortunately, they had plenty of free snacks available).

Finally, they concluded their meeting and interviewed me. Despite their tired appearance, the interview proceeded well. I wore my corporate attire, as I was prepared to give it my best.

Some of the questions they asked during the initial interview were repeated in this final interview:

• What can you contribute to this company?
• What if we can’t afford to offer you a high salary?
• What skills do you possess that make you the best candidate?
• What is your greatest achievement?
• What are your expectations for this job?

These are just a few examples of the questions they posed to me. In essence, my advice is to be yourself and always remain honest. I believe that with the right attitude and honest responses, anyone can succeed. Here are some tips for future interviews:

• Be yourself
• Exude confidence
• Understand the company and the position you’re applying for
• Maintain a positive attitude and smile
• Dress in appropriate corporate attire
• Always be honest
• Conduct yourself professionally
• Stay humble
• Exercise patience
• Prepare for their questions
• Communicate in English as much as possible
• Showcase your strengths in a humble and courteous manner
• Trust in yourself
• Arrive on time
• Enjoy the process
• Don’t forget to pray and seek the guidance of the Lord Almighty

I hope these tips can be helpful to others. Every company is different, so it’s essential to be well-prepared and always put your best foot forward during interviews.

If you’ve experienced a job interview, feel free to share your first job interview experience. For those who haven’t yet gone through one, I hope my story provides you with some insight into what to expect.