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

I started working at RareJob in 2016. This is actually my first job, and I’m going on 7 years this year!

What made you choose RareJob as your company?

Alright, let me tell you about how I applied to RareJob. So I was a fresh graduate looking for a job, and then I came across a job posting for a Marketing Staff position. I automatically clicked the Apply button the moment I saw that they offered free lunch. Don’t judge me, I love food. When I got the call, I hurriedly studied RareJob so that I would be aware of the company that I was about to enter. Years later, I’m still here, thriving like a bamboo in the forest.

As a Senior Multimedia Designer, how has the experience been so far?

Honestly, it’s not as easy as it sounds. Being a designer is not all rainbows and butterflies, despite us often using colors and occasionally using butterflies. The experience of working as a designer is tedious and requires a lot of creative energy, which is difficult on most days because we all have limitations as humans. But, on a positive note, being a designer is very fulfilling, especially when you finish a project and witness the evolution of a simple shape to something more visually pleasing and eye-catching. Another is that, as a designer, you’ll be in charge of creating materials and/or content that represent the company.

Share with us what a typical day is like for the Multimedia Team.

If I could describe it in a phrase, it would be “a never-ending race”. We have a lot of projects that we have to start and finish on or before the deadlines, and the moment we finish one, another pops up. Our team is like a family. We always make sure that we’re ready to face the day, help each other out whenever we’re stuck or having trouble with a project, and cheer one another on. Usually, the team is always busy, and we bond over the amount of work we have.

What do you think are the highlights of your job, as well as the most important aspects?

As a creative, I get the chance to conceptualize and produce colorful outputs for the company all from scratch. I sometimes love a good challenge, especially when it comes to creating something new for content. I think it’s important to have good communication within the team. Looking out for one another and putting one’s health first are also important in keeping the team moving forward, as our work requires a lot of contemplation and creative thinking. To be honest, I am a person who easily loses focus when working. What I usually do is really list down all my tasks, cry, and start doing them one by one. Cathartic and productive—those are the words I live by.

From your experience, what skills should a Multimedia Designer have to be efficient in the role, and how were you able to develop these?

Of course, technical skills are a given. You have to be familiar with the tools for design and the company’s branding and be able to easily think of different designs for different kinds of projects.
Apart from that, you’d also need to be quick about analyzing a situation, coming up with a plan, making a decision, and having accountability. It’s not an easy task since I had to take responsibility for whatever the outcome of the decision I made was. I was able to develop these skills during stressful situations where I had to really step up and come up with solutions.

How did you and your team/department maintain good working relationships despite the work-from-home setup?

As a very outgoing person, I have this need to talk to them and maintain our connection virtually. It was hard due to the current setup, but we slowly got used to it. We schedule “breaks,” where we bond over games or topics that we deem relevant to the team. During these breaks, we also have activities and games that help with team communication and inspire us creatively. This year, we actually came to the decision to visit the office once a month so that it would be easier for us to discuss things about work, especially brainstorming and idea exchange.

While working remotely, what are some things that you do to keep yourself from being burned out?

Creating things from scratch can be quite draining. There will be times that you might run out of ideas or not be able to conjure up anything at all. That’s why I make sure to have boundaries. After I log out of work, I place my laptop as far away as possible so that I won’t have to think about work. I don’t work in the bedroom because that is the only place where I can rest and not think about working. I take breaks in between jobs. I go on quick walks inside the house, cook up a hearty snack, or play a quick game just to reset my thoughts and get my creative juices going.

For those who are looking into entering the Multimedia field, what tips can you give those who are currently on this career path or those who are considering opportunities in this field?

As Scar once said, BE PREPARED. The creative world is very fast-paced and dynamic. Trends change faster than you can even say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Kidding aside, you just have to keep your creative juices flowing! Show us how you see the world; keep creating. Be keen on details, be able to accept feedback or suggestions from the client and fellow creatives, and believe more in yourself. We need more color in this world, and we’ll need all the help we can get.