When did you start working in RareJob Philippines, Inc.?

During the pandemic, I encountered trouble earning a stable income since everything was getting so difficult and challenging during that time. I discovered RareJob through a Google search and upon further research, I decided that it would be a great opportunity for me to start earning safely at the comfort of my own home. I first started working as a RareJob tutor in October 2020. I taught a lot of Japanese students and eventually was given the chance to become a schedule-based tutor. In the year 2021, I was highly intrigued when I found out that there was an opening as an Applicant Evaluator for RareJob Philippines Inc. Taking what I have learned as a tutor, I decided to apply for the Applicant Evaluator position, and fortunately, I was accepted. A year and a half later, I am still with RareJob Philippines Inc.

What made you choose RareJob as your company?

When I was doing my research, I found out that RareJob is widely known to be one of the top ESL companies in both the Philippines and Japan so I instantly knew that working with them would greatly help my career in the ESL industry. I also heard a lot of good feedback about how good their system is and how they value tutor support as well as the needs of the students.

As an Applicant Evaluator, how is the experience so far?

Overall, being an applicant evaluator has been an incredible experience. I really learned a lot of things, especially with regards to evaluating and multi-tasking. I also got to meet a lot of people of different ages and statuses in life. I’m really glad and proud to say that everyone in RareJob Philippines Inc., most especially the Applicant Evaluation Team, has been really supportive and helpful throughout my entire journey as an Applicant Evaluator.

Doing this line of work, what do you think are the pros and cons of being in a WFH setup?

The pros of being in a WFH setup is that you will really have more time to obtain that work-life balance that a lot of people aim to have. I’m glad that after work, I don’t have to deal with 2-3 hours of traffic before I get home and spend time with my family. At the same time, being in a WFH setup does not limit my capabilities of doing my job properly. I am still able to accurately fulfill the tasks required of me even if I am not working physically in the office.

I guess one of the cons that I can think of is, if you are working in a WFH setup, you don’t get to physically interact with your co-workers. It would be nice to have a face-to-face conversation with your colleagues every once in a while. Though with RareJob, this is not that big of a problem since the company does everything it can in order to make sure that we are well-connected with everyone. Even if we are working from home, there are still a lot of ways provided by the company such as activities, meetings, seminars, which we can use to interact and get to know our fellow co-workers, and for that, I am truly grateful.

Share with us what a typical day is like in Applicant Evaluation.

Of course, I start the day by logging into my accounts on the laptop provided by the company. I normally start conducting interviews at 9:00AM and end at 6:00PM. You can never know what to expect with each day as an applicant evaluator because there are days when there are applicants who will truly surprise you. I have met people who are CEOs, pastors, nurses, farmers, etc. It’s surprising how different types of people, not just professional teachers and education graduates, can share a passion for teaching.

What do you think are the most important aspects of your job?

An evaluator holds a great deal of responsibility. We are the ones who would screen the applicants and check their English Proficiency to know whether or not they are capable of fulfilling the responsibilities of the job that they are applying for.

How important is your role in maintaining the quality of the services that RareJob provides?

As mentioned earlier, we check the English proficiency of all tutor applicants before they start teaching. Our role as evaluators is vital because we need to maintain our company’s status as one of the best ESL companies in both Japan and Philippines. Evaluators have to check if the tutor applicants are truly fluent in the English language, and since we mostly cater to Japanese professionals, we also have to check whether or not they are really capable in carrying a conversation accurately and confidently with our students.

Working remotely, what are some of the activities that you were able to do to destress and relax?

Aside from being an Applicant Evaluator, I am also a YouTuber. I have my own YouTube channel where I post cover videos, original songs, vlogs etc. I am also a performer.
Up until now, I am an ambassador of a music studio located in Pasig City. I train with them to improve my singing, dancing and even acting skills. Whenever I have the free time I also perform live in events.

We heard that you are contending in the World Championships of Performing Arts, which is the only Talent Olympics in the world. Can you tell us more about your journey that got you there?

Yes! This July 2022, I will be heading to California, Anaheim, USA to compete in WCOPA (“World Championships of Performing Arts”). I will be competing in three categories: Broadway, Pop and World. I found out about WCOPA in 2017. This was the year I became an ambassador for a music studio, and learned more about the talent industry. I remembered auditioning twice – in 2018 and then 2019 –  but unfortunately failed to get accepted. When WCOPA revealed that they were holding virtual auditions in 2020, I was almost about to give up and not audition at all. In my head, I was thinking, the auditions are going to be much more difficult this time around because it is now online so there will be a lot more auditionees for sure. But I heard a little voice at the back of my head saying, “Just try it one more time! If it’s for you, it will happen. If not, then it’s fine.” So I decided to listen to that voice and I submitted my audition online. A month later, I found out that I had been accepted as one of the delegates for team Philippines for WCOPA 2021! Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the competition was postponed. But now, I am proud to say that I am officially a delegate for WCOPA 2022!

That’s great to know, and we’re rooting for you! What advice can you give to those who have aspirations in showcasing their talents?

I only have two things to say, and I know they may sound cliché but they really are true.  First is, “You will never know unless you try.” I understand that there are instances wherein we, as humans, feel shy to showcase our talents. I also understand that it’s terrifying to try something new and to step out of your comfort zone, but think about it this way: trying is better than having regrets.

Secondly, “Don’t give up on your dreams”. Of course there will be times when it will be difficult and it may seem like it would be easier to just quit. But I learned that these difficulties – once you surpass them and you continue doing what you love – eventually, they will all be worth it in the end.

With an increasing interest in the ESL field, as an Applicant Evaluator, what advice can you give to those who are in this career path, or those who are looking into starting a career in ESL?

The ESL industry is a good career to start with. If you choose the right company, you will see that it truly is fun to teach students. Take it from me, it may seem scary and nerve-wracking at first but once you get the hang of things, you’ll realize that it’s not as difficult as you initially thought it would be. You just have to make sure that you are proficient in the English language and that you have confidence in yourself.