work

One of the many blessings around the time I celebrated my 30th birthday was a promotion that would take me back to my former team and let me handle some of the million dollar accounts of The New Zealand Herald. The opportunity was presented to me a few months prior but it was taking a while to formalise it. Just when I thought it was never going to happen, it did. Came to work one morning and two hours later, I was resigned from my job and appointed a new role. I had a month to make my move.

Two days later, TVNZ (Television New Zealand) rang to inform me of an opportunity for which they thought I could be a good candidate. Apparently I was recommended by the person who interviewed me earlier in the year (bless him!). This new development had left me irresolute. Do I apply at TVNZ when I had just accepted a promotion from the Herald? If TVNZ doesn't hire me, fine. But what if they offer me the job? Do I decline it and give my loyalty to a company who had looked after me well in the last 3 years and who so needed me to fill a vacancy? Or do I betray the Herald and leave that comfort zone to tread a path unknown to me but one which would lead me to my real passion of working for television? Sometimes, God's timing is funny.

I decided to apply at TVNZ even though unsure if I even wanted the job that bad. I had nothing to lose and I wanted to keep our relationship. I was honest about my situation at the Herald. I wasn't convinced that it was the wisest of moves but I couldn't leave them in the dark. Soon, they rang to say they decided not to pursue my application because the other candidates had extensive background working for TV. Which makes you think.... how can someone like me get any background in new zealand TV if I'm not offered to work for a television station in the first place? But that's beside the point. Interestingly, I felt relieved and far from crestfallen. The agony of making a choice between the Herald and TVNZ would have been challenging. Truth of the matter is, I'm not ready to move out of the Herald yet. I'm happy where I am, doing what I'm doing now at the Herald. I take comfort in knowing that I will do business with TVNZ in the future, at the right time, should God will it.

Advertising Account Manager for Key Accounts, the role I inherited from my friend Laura. My 4th job since I started at the Herald in 2002. A job that will push me to take the bull by the horns. I'm back working with my former team (some old faces and some new) where the friendship and camaraderie stayed strong, I'm glad. I'm back servicing the recruitment industry and boy oh boy, things haven't changed much. I'm back in the boardrooms (some of them have splendid views of the harbour I start counting the reasons why I should consider resigning), shaking hands with people in 3 piece suits, doing sales presentations for them, negotiating contracts and making them feel I work for them more than I work for my employer. I'm enjoying the walks to most of my client meetings since majority in my portfolio are based in the CBD.

This is a welcome change. Far from my dealings with the retail industry and my struggle to fit in my team in the sunday paper. Not that I regret any of it. No, not at all. My sojourn in the sunday paper was an awakening for me, something I needed at the time. I grew up, I stepped up and I transformed. I became part of a history and part of the team that successfully launched and established a new product which many in the industry doubted. I found new friendships and was forced to learn to read the map, enhance my driving skills in the motorway and get over my fear of driving over the harbour bridge! I now hold a full driver's licence. But the job, due to various reasons, was starting to get wearisome and boring for me that I needed to move on.

I've come a long way. Praise God for that. I remember during my interview for my first job when I blatantly brushed off their interest in the degree I hold and where I graduated - casually saying it was pointless and a waste of time to discuss such things seeing that they couldn't possibly aprpeciate my background since they didn't know much about my country and the University of the Philippines and what only mattered to them was new zealand experience and the only way I could prove my worth was for them to let me work. I couldn't believe I said that but I did. I'm sure most immigrants could relate to my sentiments. When asked during my induction where I see myself at the Herald in the next five years, my response was I didn't know but I was certain I'd have worked my way around and up. Again, my mouth was moving faster than my mind.


But with God's grace, with the right mentors,the support of work colleagues and the appreciation from clients, I found my way around and up. And I'd like to think that my trip is not even half over yet. Not that I'm at the top of the chain now or I've got a glamorous job. Believe me, when things go wrong, this is the job you wouldn't want to have. Like last week when I missed booking an advertisement worth $15,000. But more on that later because after a grueling week following the client's phone call on a weekend just as I was getting ready for a party, I've had a closure on this already so allow me to enjoy a moment of peace.