PAL Experience: The Aspirant's Story

Last February 17, 2014, I was contacted by the Philippine Airlines to do a phone call interview for the cabin crew position. Luckily, I passed and was scheduled to do an impact interview on February 19, 2014. The questions during the phone call interview were just basic and more on just my personal life and educational attainment. I was really surprised to be offered that position because what I really applied for is a finance related job since I was taking up B.S.B.A Major in Financial Management and was about to graduate on March that time. But ever since I was in high school, being a flight attendant is what I wanted to be. In fact, Tourism was my first course in UST.

I accomplished all the requirements needed like the photocopy of my TOR, 4R whole and half body(formal attire) picture, resume and 2x2 picture right away. Apparently, a day before the interview, I was cramming on what to wear. Due to late notice, I was totally unprepared and don't have much time let alone money to buy the clothes and shoes needed for the interview. What I did is I just borrowed a blazer from my college friend Yet and 2 inches black shoes from Grace. The night before the interview, I used my hair remover cream on my arms and legs to make it look presentable. 

The day of the impact interview came and I arrived in PNB-PAL Macapagal Ave., Pasay City 20 minutes earlier than the 8AM call time. I was wearing gray blazer with a lavender short sleeve polo inside, black pencil cut skirt, stockings, black leather shoes and my hair was all tied up in a bun. For my face, I put on BB Cream and covered my face with pressed powder to reduce the oil. I applied eyeliner and fixed the arch of my eyebrows with a brown eyebrow pencil. For the lips, I used a dark shade of pink matte lipstick.

At the actual interview...

There were almost 30 aspirants inside the room, mostly were girls. We were asked to tell something about ourselves and after that, we would walk individually like a model close to the panel of judges. From there, they scrutinized every part of our body to check if there's some imperfection to work on.

During my turn, I feel so confident about selling myself in front of the judges. I didn't stutter any word while sharing something about my life. I talked about my passion for writing blogs, attending model casting calls, being the Hawk bag ambassadress, model for the CFA Financial Fitness run and hosting some events in school. I said everything that could lift myself up from the other aspirants. After that, I walked to the judges feeling proud of myself while pulling a perfect smile but deep inside, my stomach is churning due to nervousness. Good thing I was able to disclosed it without recognition. They asked me to fold my sleeves up to check if there are visible scars and they found one on my left wrist where my watch rests. It's not really visible so they just let it pass.

At last the decision has been made and I was among the 10 lucky aspirants who nailed it! The 10 of us were under conditional screening. Meaning, we need to improve or change something unnecessary for the job. For my case, they told me to dye my hair black, wear red lipstick(standard requirement) and wear black long sleeve blazer for the next conditional screening. Right after that, we've proceeded to the next process which was the medical exam. They checked our height, weight and vision. I passed it all again! Unfortunately, not all made it this time. 

It took a month before I went back for the conditional screening. They just checked the color of my hair and told me to pass a true copy of my TOR once it's already available and wait for the call regarding the final interview with the PAL President, Ramon S. Ang. 

Again, I waited for the release of our TOR along with our diploma. It was May 12 by the time I got my diploma and after a week, I went back to PAL and submit it along with my new 4r half and whole body picture.

I became impatient by the long and tedious process of waiting so I also tried applying to other companies that's in line with my course. There came a point wherein I even rejected the offer of two local banks because I still cling on to PAL with my future at stake and also to the mere fact that I'm not satisfied with their offers. The influence of my college friends had also contributed to the decision making process and I thank them for playing the devil's advocate. Because of it, I didn't regret declining it.

One day, I realized that I should give up on the  dream of becoming a flight attendant. It's draining all my energy for waiting on something that's so unsure. So I decided to apply online from the list of the international companies that my college friends had recommended. The next day, I received a call from the company from where I am working right now. They scheduled me for an interview and thank God because within just 2 weeks, I got the job! After signing the contract, 4 hours later, I received a call from PAL. They were scheduling me for the final interview on July 7. 

It was June 2, when I started working  at  the International Netherlands Group located in W5th, BGC, Taguig City. I started to enjoy my job and became so preoccupied about it that I forgot about PAL completely. On the 12 noon of July 7, I decided to write something in my planner and I was startled to see that it was the day of my final interview in PAL. A pain of regret covered my whole being. Why didn't I remember? I was planning to attend the interview without the hope of passing but with just the experience of trying and doing the best I can. I texted PAL the next day and was asking for another appointment but they didn't reply. I even tried calling them for 3 consecutive days but it's always busy and unreachable. There's nothing left to do but to embrace the assurance that "God's plan is bigger than mine". Besides, I already love what I'm doing in my new job with new bucket of challenges that awaits.

And if there's one thing I ever regret doing.....that would ONLY be that day: 7th of July 2014. It's far worse than what happened last March and I don't even regret admitting it :) IYNWIM