GEN AI image of young man job hunting online with his laptop
Win Your AI Job: Values, Skills, & Time-Tested Strategies
Introduction
This article seeks to provide insights from a first-hand experience of seeking work in a job market. May it assist all who need to have a positive, goal-oriented mindset. A positive attitude can generate the energy and strength required by any job hunter to succeed and secure the job he needs. May this article be an eye-opener for all to see the importance of applying the best of themselves, developing a confident attitude, and achieving self-mastery in the job market.
My story
Let me recount the story of one experience I had on my first job hunt in the job market.
The political situation
It was the year 1985 during October and November. Manila and the other areas in the Philippines were experiencing the difficulties of the mid-1970s. President Marcos, Sr., declared Martial Law in 1972 and lifted it 9 years later in 1981. Since then, the pulse of the people in Manila has been beating towards a new governance. And it proved forthcoming when this spirit reached its apex in the People Power Revolution of February 1986.
Adversity is a greater teacher
William Hazlitt said, “Prosperity is a great teacher, adversity is a greater.” The adverse conditions in the country taught me how to set a goal where success can be realized. The goal of finding a job at the time needed self-discipline and determined efforts to win. Winning with honor is a value I learned in my Catholic education. The Philippines received Catholic missionaries on its shores who founded schools and universities beginning in the early 16th century. Two of these institutions, among others that dot the entire Philippines archipelago, are the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, and De La Salle University in Manila.
The realities of transferring universities
I understood to my advantage that transferring from De La Salle University to Ateneo de Manila University, was an adjustment that strengthened my discipline. Studies in Ateneo de Manila can fill up a student’s time. De La Salle University also filled up a student’s time, but there was more freedom to socialize among peers. Studies at the Ateneo were more well-rounded and balanced since the core curriculum included basic courses in philosophy and theology - much more than De La Salle's focus on Engineering. The requirements to complete these courses were reflection papers that make you think critically with valued insights. These had to be written well and regularly submitted in time throughout the length of every philosophy or theology course. Ateneo students who were active in many extra-curricular activities, therefore, brought these and their other studies with them to every organizational meeting they were involved in. That was the trend among students at the time, but it was a benefit to those who strongly intended to graduate. I was one of them.
A dream to realize
Nearing the end of the second semester of 1985, the Placement Office gave me the leads I needed to apply for jobs. And so for one month, determined to “win a job”, I got up early in the morning every day, commuted mostly to Makati City (the country’s business district), took many entrance exams, and showed up for every interview upon all given notices. This was daily, except on weekends. There was no internet yet at the time. No laptops. No smartphones. No light rail transits. Your feet had to do the walking, instead of fingers on a smartphone that can easily hail a TNV from a mobile app.
A routine faithfully followed is a discipline that bears fruit
That discipline went on for one month. One day, I got a phone call (or maybe a telegram). It was from a renowned government agency with a good reputation for providing high salaries to its employees, specifically, for economic researchers. This was the exact opportunity I needed to put the writing skills I learned at Ateneo to win a job.
The message for an interview was from a government agency located just near our residence. The head of the Social Services Department wanted to see me personally for an interview. So I commuted and finally got to meet him at his office. The interview began.
Stand your ground when challenged in an interview
When the head of the Social Services Department began the interview, I was disheartened at first, because he told me exactly that he was left with two choices for the job: a University of the Philippines graduate, or an Ateneo de Manila graduate - me. And he frankly preferred the UP job candidate because he had better academic standing in his records. But I said nothing and instinctively stood my ground with all the strength I could muster.
Silence is strength
I did not flinch and remained silent. As he sat motionless in his chair, the Department Head returned to each of our university records and examined each one more closely. There was something that made him think more about his goal in making the decision. It was the essay I had written for the admission requirements. An essay writing test was part of the admission required for the role of an economic researcher. In my essay, he was honestly impressed with how I had written it. That made a big difference between me and the applicant from the University of the Philippines. It seems I wrote exactly what he wanted to hear as a Department of a Government Agency should know and be directed to do in a time of political and economic uncertainty. That made him choose me.
Success is more than just luck or situation
It may have been the political, economic, and social instability of the time. It could also be the uncertainty of the direction which the department head had to deal with in many forms. But it was certain that he was pressed with time with a lot of other important tasks. So he had to make a decision fast. As he recognized in the essay the values and ethics Ateneo de Manila University had taught me, which I employed and strategically placed in parts of the essay, a “light at the end of the tunnel” was created for him. That produced a positive impact and brought light to solve whatever was on his mind as the Head of the Social Services Department.
The uncertainties and possibilities that AI is causing
The present times remind me of that job hunting experience in the 4th quarter of 1985. As in the past, today’s uncertainty and the need for direction is rife again. Many years ago in Manila, no one had a “global sense” as we do today because of the high-speed information brought to everyone through the internet. Now, everyone is aware of what is happening globally. Many news agencies online report that people are moving (in many areas of life). There were news reports on the internet of a Great Resignation. And the Work From Home Revolution has begun to dawn upon us. Now AI is disrupting the old way of work but is shedding light on many discoveries and new frontiers.
AI is here to stay
The old world of work will end and a new world of work is being born. It can appear negative to others who are resistant to change, but it is exactly the time to be hopeful, find greater stability, and seek certainty through information and news. Knowledge and information provide an understanding of any uncertainty, add fullness to any lack, and give direction from disruption to a new order in present trends. All these and more can spur any job hunter to be determined in his search. While searching, he must also upskill and expand his technological abilities in AI, avoiding skills in entry-jobs that can be automated by AI. Be aware also of trends in the AI industry and focus on areas where you can customize artificial intelligence models and apply it to a current job or a planned small business. To continue moving forward for any disruption, re-rooting on the basics is key: setting worthwhile goals and applying the decisiveness, discipline, and determination to achieve them.
May the greater good be your win!
