Paano maging confident sa job interview?

Kinakabahan ka ba sa pagsagot sa mga job interview question? Misteryo ba sa 'yo ang mga tanong?

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Ngayon sa Share Ko Lang, isang HR expert ang magbibigay ng tips kung paano kayo magwawagi sa inyong job interview!

DOC ANNA: Hello, mga Kapuso. Ako si Dra. Anna Tuazon. Ang inyong kakuwentuhan na psychologist sa Share Ko Lang.

Graduation season na soon at libu-libong graduates ang sasabak sa job hunting. At ang unang gatekeeper na kanilang haharapin ay ang job interview.

So how can we make a good first impression that will open our first door to our dream career? 'Yan ang pag-uusapan natin ngayon kasama ang founder ng Philippine HR Group, ang career coach na si Darwin Rivers. Hello, Coach. Welcome to Share Ko Lang.

DARWIN: Napakagandang araw para sa iyo, Doktora Anna.

DOC ANNA: …'Yun na nga, maraming ga-graduate and of course, maraming maghahanap ng trabaho. So actually, kasi medyo matagal na since ako ay nagkaroon ng first job. Kumusta na ba ang job market ngayon?

DARWIN: Well, Doktora Anna, depende 'yun kung saan tayo magsisimula. Siguro ako kasi, millennial kasi ako, e. So nu'ng time na ako ay naka-graduate... Sabihin ko ba 'yung ano, 'yung taon? Early 2000 nu'ng ako ay naka-graduate. So more than 24, 25 years ago.

Ako'y isang produkto ng ating public school system. And when I graduated sa Polytechnic University of the Philippines, napakaano, napakalawak at napakaiba ng situwasyon namin dati sa mga nag-a-apply ngayon.

I'll give you a perfect example. Nu'ng panahon namin, talagang kailangan bumili ng diyaryo at kailangan mong talagang suriin bawat pahina. Alin dito sa mga kompanyang ito ang may job opening?

Naranasan din namin nu'ng mga panahon na 'yun ay sinusuyod namin ang buong Ortigas, ang buong Makati, at even sa pinakamalayong lugar, sa Alabang.

Ngayon you can actually just go to different job portals. You can go to Jobstreet, to LinkedIn, to Indeed. Napakarami niyan. At even 'yung mga Facebook group

Isa pa sa mga talagang pinagkaiba in terms of proseso ng pag-a-apply, 'yung sinasabi ko kanina na dati aabutin ka ng linggo, buwan bago ka tawagan. Ngayon, because of the talent war that is ongoing right now, minsan pagpunta mo lang sa isang kompanya, in less than a day or just three hours, makukumpleto mo na 'yung whole application process. I-interview-hin ka na, may mga exam na ibibigay sa 'yo, hindi ka na paaalisin sa office hangga't hindi ka nabibigyan ng job offer.

DOC ANNA: So tuluy-tuloy na 'yun?

DARWIN: Tuluy-tuloy na siya. Lalo na kung mag-a-apply ka sa business process outsourcing o mga outsourcing company wherein 'pag nagpunta ka ng umaga, bago magtanghali mayroon ka ng job offer. Magpa-process ka na ng requirement mo. Nu'ng panahon namin, buwan ang aabutin niyan.

DOC ANNA: You mentioned may talent war going on. So ano 'yung talent war? And is it... Advantage ba 'yun sa mga naghahanap ng trabaho? What is this talent war?

DARWIN: It is an advantage for applicants. Mainly because ang ibig sabihin nito, kaunti ang supply ng mga manggagawa na may skill set na hinahanap ng kompanya. At napakaraming kompanya ang nagha-hire. 'Di ba? So dahil napakaraming kompanya ang nagha-hire at ang talent ay kakaunti, so mag-aagawan 'yan ng talent. At ang mangyayari ay most companies would buy talent.

When we say buy talent, ang gagawin niyan is talagang magbibigay 'yan ng mataas na suweldo, magandang benepisyo. At kumbaga dati, dati 'pag nag-apply ka, talagang basic pay mo lang saka basic benefits. Ngayon, may mga kompanya na ngayon na nag-o-offer ng... what you call this? Mayroon na nag-o-offer ng mga gym membership benefit, may mga nag-o-offer nu'n ng mga spa benefit, may mga nag-o-offer nu'n ng mga recreational benefit. 'Di ba napakaraming ginagawa ng kompanya para ma-attract ang mga applicant sa kanilang kompanya.

At ang mindset ng isang new graduate is "Dito ako mag-a-apply kasi kilala 'to." 'Di ba? At 'pag kilala 'to, ang assumption is maganda 'yung benepisyo, maganda 'yung pasuweldo at puwede ko ipagmalaki ng magulang ko kasi kilala 'yung—

DOC ANNA: Puwede ipagyabang.

DARWIN: Pero ang reality is 'yung mga maliliit na kompanya, 'yung mga start-up company, especially 'yung mga start-up ng multinational companies na may headquarters abroad, sila talaga 'yung mga magagandang benepisyong binibigay sa suweldo. Bakit? Kasi nakikipagkumpetensya sila when it comes to benefits and salaries sa mga malalaking kompanya.

DOC ANNA: Parang gusto ko i-highlight 'yung sinabi mo kanina kasi I think napakaimportanteng tip 'yan sa ating mga fresh grad, 'di ba? Parang one, kanina sabi mo, sa paghahanap, huwag nating i-limit ang sarili natin sa mga big named company. 'Yung mga household name. Kasi actually, baka 'yung better benefits.

And actually, mamaya, I really wanna talk about 'yung actual fit. 'Yung sinasabi mo nga, may rason, e, bakit hindi sila nag-i-stay, 'no, sa isang job or company. Kasi actually, 'yung fit between company and the person, I think mas malaking factor na siya ngayon, e.

Dati siguro, titiisin ng mga tatay at nanay natin 'yan noon, 'di ba, kasi wala naman, e. "Uy, malaking kumpanya 'yan, security of job, tiisin mo."

Ngayon, sabi mo nga, because there's a talent war, marami namang options, tapos hindi naman limited to four or five big companies anymore, marami. And then, it's such a globalized world. Puwede sila mag-work, 'di ba, for a company that's based abroad. Nag-a-outsource, et cetera. So maraming competition.

Kanina napag-usapan na natin and maybe it's good for the company and also good for the person. Parang paano natin sila matutulungan to figure out is this the right company for me? 'Di ba, 'pag nagjo-job interview, nagjo-job hunt, para at least less regrets and less quitting in a sense.

DARWIN: Well, I think, unang-una, bago mo isiping magtrabaho, alamin mo muna sa sarili mo, ano 'yung gusto mong gawin sa buhay mo. Gusto mo ba talagang magtrabaho? Kasi 'yung iba, 'di ba, mayroon tayong nakikita na gusto nilang ipagpatuloy 'yung business ng kanilang mga magulang or gusto nilang magtayo talaga ng business immediately after graduation. Lalo na ngayon, nasa social media nakikita nila 'yung mga digital influencer kumikita ng limpak-limpak na salapi by use of TikTok lang, 'di ba, or by use of Instagram, social media, or Facebook, 'di ba?

Now, 'pag alam mo 'yung gusto mong gawin, kumbaga if you know your passion, where your passion lies, look into your strength and your abilities. Ano 'yung kaya mong gawin? Kasi magkaiba 'yung gusto mong gawin sa kaya mong gawin.

Believe me, 'di ba sinasabi natin na para daw sa isang fresh grad para maging masaya ka, dapat ang ginagawa mo 'yung aligned sa educational background mo. Pero ang dami kong mga kaibigan at ang dami kong mga kakilala na graduate ng nursing, graduate ng engineering, hindi naman ganu'n ang ginagawa nila. Nag-start sila sa ganu'n pero lumipat sila sa ibang field at ngayon masaya sila sa ginagawa nila.

So hindi basehan kung ano 'yung educational background mo para maging masaya ka. 'Di ba? So you really have to know. And each and each one of us has his and her own journey.

DOC ANNA: Yeah. Naku, Coach, agree ako kasi madalas ko 'yang sinasabi sa mga student and client also. Kasi masyado silang nape-pressure as students. "Kailangan tama 'yung course ko, tama 'yung majors ko." Sabi ko, "Naku, alam mo, it doesn't matter quite as much, 'di ba?"

DARWIN: It doesn't matter.

DOC ANNA: In the long run. Pati nga 'yung mga honor, honor na 'yan, 'di ba? The moment nagka-work experience ka na, 'yun na 'yun, eh. Parang natataob na ng grades, ng Latin honors.

And then so from what I'm hearing, Coach, is try it out, 'di ba? Kasi it's an exploration. 'Yung job interview, hindi lang para sa kompanya, para sa 'yo rin 'yun.

Tinanong namin 'yung mga Kapuso kung ano 'yung mga common job interview question na naranasan nila na medyo parang head scratchers for them. So siguro as an HR expert, 'di ba parang, ano ba ibig sabihin ng mga question na 'to? 'Di ba? Bakit ba siya tinatanong?

At ano 'yung... Mayroon bang tamang sagot, if at all? So ang una, ang pinaka-common daw, "Tell me something about yourself." 'Yan, 'yun ang lagi nilang narinig. Sabi nu'ng Kapuso "Ang simple pero mapapaisip ka kung sino ka ba talaga." 'Yan. So bakit ba siya tinatanong, Coach?

DARWIN: The reason kung bakit siya tinatanong is gusto namin malaman kung sino ka beyond du'n sa nakasulat sa resume mo. And also it gives an opportunity to actually see how well you communicate and how well you're able to construct your thoughts when you're trying to tell a story.

So basically, you're just telling us a story of who you are, your background, and what you can actually do. Ang pinaka-importante rito, 'pag tinanong ka niyan is mag-focus ka sa lahat ng positive skill set experience mo na pupuwedeng mong magamit du'n sa ina-applyan mong trabaho.

For example, sinabing, "So can you tell me about yourself?" After mong sabihin 'yung mga kaunting background of who you are or your family, ganyan, sabihin natin, nag-a-apply ka ng sales. 'Di ba? Sabihin natin, Doktora, nag-a-apply ka ng sales. But then, "I graduated from this school, I'm the eldest of four," ganyan. Punta ka kaagad du'n. "And you know what, I was very active during my during my collegiate years. I've been part of a lot of major organizations, not only in my school but also outside. And I was able to build networks. And not to mention that my family, we actually have our business, or our family is known in our area, has a large number of networks. And with this role that I'm applying as a sales agent, I'll be able to utilize this network in my benefit and for the benefit of the organization."

Kumbaga doon pa lang, pinoposisyon mo na 'yung sarili mo na, "Oo nga, malawak pala 'yung network niya. Pupuwede nga itong mag-sales. Ano pala siya." Kumbaga hindi siya mahihirapang mag-prospect ng kliyente.

DOC ANNA: Okay. So in other words, huwag ka magbigay ng throwaway na answer kasi importante rin 'yan. Be strategic. 'Di ba? Tailor your answer na mapi-pivot back. 'Di ba? Parang 'yun 'yun, e. All the questions, kung may sagot ka, i-pivot mo back to your strengths, back to your assets. Dapat mayroon kang parang, "Anong narrative ang gusto kong ipaghiwatig?"

DARWIN: Anong narrative 'yung gusto mong ibigay? Kasi you have to remember, itong kausap ko hindi ka kilala. At ibe-base niya ang hiring decision niya kung ano 'yung makikita niyang maganda at kaaya-aya sa 'yo na angkop doon sa trabahong ina-apply-an mo.

DOC ANNA: Okay. So ang next common question, kapag tinanong daw ang loyalty sa company, sabi nu'ng Kapuso, "Hindi ba dapat nilalatag muna ng company 'yung career path ng employee at kung mayroon bang professional growth sa company bago magkaroon ng loyalty?" So marami daw companies at the job interview is tinatanong about loyalty.

DARWIN: "I've never asked my team to focus on loyalty kasi loyalty is something that you'll build upon, e. Pero if that would be part of the question, ako I would answer that in a way na I would go back to my core value as a person. 'Di ba? Doon ka tumutok. 'Yung core value mo as a person na for example, you've proven your loyalty in how long you've been part or led an organization in your school.

And kumbaga, again, ipi-pivot mo ulit 'yun sa kung ano 'yung sa tingin mong experience mo talaga at hindi lang dahil gusto mong marinig nila, ha.

DOC ANNA: Right. So hindi tayo sisipsip lang na of course "I'm loyal to you." E, hindi pa naman.

DARWIN: Normally, ako ang sinasabi ko sa mga aplikante, focus on STAR method. So the STAR is Situation, Task, Action, and Results.

Paano mo na-ano 'yung problema, na-resolve 'yung problema? What did you do? Ano 'yung ginawa mo? Ano 'yung, kasi doon namin gusto makita, "Ano 'yung way of thinking ng taong 'to? Papaano niya nare-resolve ang isang challenging situation? Paano niya na-resolve ang isang difficult opportunity?" 'Di ba? So 'yun. It's something that kailangan as a candidate, doon ka mag-focus.

DOC ANNA: So isa pang tanong daw, "Okay lang ba sa 'yo na ganito ang sahod mo?" Sabi nu'ng Kapuso, "Deep inside, may choice po ba ako?" So 'yan nga. 'Yung mga discussion of salaries in the job interview. Kasi medyo trick question 'yan, 'di ba?

DARWIN: Oo. Alam mo, Doktora Anna, 'yung pinaka-recent kong class, ang topic ko is about the art and science of salary negotiation. Ang gusto kong i-focus sa mga estudyante ko, these are graduating MA students. Wala silang work experience after college. Sabi ko sa kanila, always play on your strength and always know that you can always negotiate. And for you to be able to properly negotiate, dapat alam mo muna kung anong industry ka, anong klaseng company at kumbaga, nag-research ka na, "O, ito 'yung salary range nu'ng position na ina-apply-an ko. At papaano ko ba maco-convince 'yung interviewer na kaya nilang maibigay sa akin 'yung maximum na pupuwede nilang maibigay?" 'Di ba?

So you have to research about that. Also again, always highlight 'yung experience mo, 'yung skill set mo, and what can you bring into the table. Kasi pupuwedeng, yes, you've already experienced that, may knowledge ka, pero ano 'yung plano mo sa kompanya? Paano mo mata-translate 'yung skills and experience na 'yun sa role na ina-apply-an mo?

Now, kung hindi man salary ang nine-negotiate mo, baka puwede ka mag-negotiate sa benefits. 'Di ba? You can also negotiate to that. Or kung wala talagang room for negotiation, then what you can do is this, look into... dapat mayroon kang tinatawag na... Kumbaga may range ka na 'pag bumaba roon sa range na gusto mo, you can easily walk out and say thank you. 'Di ba?

DOC ANNA: Okay. So 'yung isa namang common question daw, sabi, "As a fresh graduate, what is your experience? Fresh grad nga, 'di ba?" Sabi nu'ng Kapuso. Related to this, isa pa, "'Yung experience na wala ka pero kailangan mo ng experience para matanggap sa trabaho." 'Di ba it's one of those things, I think 'yung frustration ng fresh grads, hinahanapan daw sila ng experience. So when they ask about that, what can they provide?

DARWIN: Alam mo, obvious naman 'yung question. Hindi ibig sabihin ng work experience is talagang professional work. Ang ibig sabihin niyan, may mga nagawa ka ba during the time that you're in school na pupuwedeng magamit mo roon sa role na ina-apply-an mo. For example, if your role would need a skill set for sales, during the time ba na nasa college ka, nakapag-participate ka ba sa isang tawag nito, food fair? 'Di ba? 'Yung mga trade school food fairs.

DOC ANNA: Or fundraising events.

DARWIN: Kumbaga roon mo siya ipoposisyon. Alam naman, obvious naman na wala kang work experience. Ang experience na hinaharap namin is 'yung experience mo na gawin ang isang skill o isang bagay na gawa mo in your past. Kasi understand that there are people who have also had work experience even though they're—

DOC ANNA: Students.

DARWIN: They're in school. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na dahil wala kang work experience, hindi ka nag-working student, hindi ka na-qualify. Kasi nu'ng time na nasa college ka or even 'yung high school, pupuwede kang humugot doon, e. Iha-highlight mo lang 'yung skills and related experience mo even if you don't have a proper work experience.    

DOC ANNA: Okay. So last job interview question. Sabi nu'ng Kapuso, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" 'Yan daw narinig nila. Sabi nu'ng Kapuso "Wala naman akong bolang kristal para makita ang future ko." So how best to answer this question, sir?

DARWIN: The best way to answer it is if alam mo kung ano 'yung level na ina-apply-an mo at alam mo kung ano 'yung goal mo in the next five years, doon mo siya ire-relate. I mean, I would like to be a supervisor or a manager in the next five years, managing my own team or being able to highly contribute in the growth of the organization. Doon mo siya ilalagay.

Kasi hindi naman... Huwag nating pilosopohin kung wala kang bolang kristal. Kasi 'pag hindi mo sinagot 'yun, ang ibig sabihin nu'n, wala ka talagang goals. Ang question na 'yun ay patungkol sa goals mo in life. 'Di ba? The question of how do you see yourself five years from now is the interviewer wants to know your goals. Kasi baka mamaya ang goal mo pala in the next three years mag-abroad.

DOC ANNA: Which is common.

DARWIN: Pero kung mag-i-stay ka sa company namin, ano 'yung goal mo? Goal mo ba na mag-manage ng tao? Goal mo ba na maging leader in our organization? At paano mo ito gagawin? 'Yun lang 'yun.

Doon ka mag-focus on how would you build a story where you would convince the interviewer na you know the company, you know your goals, and you know how to get to your goals by doing this and this and this.    

DOC ANNA: Sana medyo nakahinga ang mga grads knowing na hindi naman pala ganu'n ka-bleak, hindi ganu'n ka-stressful. And ultimately, if you know yourself, 'di ba, parang no job interview or even job process is a waste of time.

DARWIN: Agree. Saka, Doc Anna, before we go, siguro I just want to leave our audience with three things.

Number one is that the key to success is always being prepared. Preparation would always be your key to success. If you do not prepare yourself to success, you will always fail.

Number two is that money follows your passion. So do not look into the money first. But look into how passionate you can actually do your work. And believe me, when you become passionate in your work, that's the time that money follows. And you will realize na, "Uy, lumalaki na 'yung value ko, 'yung market value ko."

And third and for me, maraming tao nakakalimutan nito but never never lose faith. Kasi reality is sa pag-a-apply, you would have a lot of... kumbaga ano eh, marami kang mararanasan diyan na hindi ka matatanggap, 'yung mga rejection. At minsan masakit talaga 'yung ma-reject ka ng kompanya, 'yung akala mo na ano, kumbaga akala mo ang galing-galing mo na, pero na-reject ka pa rin. 'Di ba?

Always believe that God has a perfect opportunity for you. That whenever a door closes, a bigger window opens for you. And ano, just have everything as a learning experience. And when it's a learning experience, make sure that you actually learn. And be better the next time.        

DOC ANNA: So siguro para, you know, sa mga Kapuso para lang practical, from what I'm hearing from Coach Darwin, aside from everything that he said, parang one, kailangan alam mo kung anong gusto mo. Important 'yun. Kasi I think kung pumasok ka na sa job interview at hindi mo alam, di ba? Kailangan alam mo. Mayroon kang alam kung anong gusto mo in the short term and in the long term.

Do your research, your due diligence. Huwag kang papasok sa kompanya na wala kang alam about the company.

So ang narinig ko rin, actually, napaka-optimistic ng picture na pini-paint ni Coach Darwin kasi actually maraming choices, maraming options and working for an organization or corporate is actually just one of many. So actually, we are in a time, in a period na sabi nga niya, job seekers market, as long as you have skills to sell. 'Di ba? Skills to market.        

So talagang, you know, mga fresh grad, graduates of 2024, parang we're rooting for you. And apparently, the job market is waiting, is waiting for you. So thank you again, Coach.

DARWIN: Thank you, Doktora.