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

I started working at RareJob Philippines, Inc. almost three years ago – May of 2022.

How has your experience been so far as an Engagement Associate?

It’s had its ups and downs. It was easy to get used to my tasks, and the team that welcomed me was accommodating and friendly. There were challenges along the way, but I can honestly say that my time as an Engagement Associate has been rewarding in terms of career development and personal growth.

Share with us how your day usually goes in the Engagement Team.

I follow a routine: it starts with filling up our Team’s Daily Report Sheet for the tasks I need to accomplish throughout the day. I then do those tasks one by one. If there’s time, I participate in “online bonding sessions” with my teammates.

What do you think is the most important aspect of your job, and what do you enjoy the most?

As our job title suggests, the most important part of our job is to engage tutors with different activities and events. This is not only to motivate tutors to conduct more lessons but also to foster a friendly environment. Since they work independently, it is essential to give them a sense of community, so that although they work separately from each other, they would still know that there are still people around the country who share the same experiences.

Personally, the most enjoyable part of being an Engagement Associate is interacting with different tutors. I also particularly enjoy our face-to-face events. Sure, we communicate with tutors through different online platforms, but it’s extra special seeing them in person. I could feel a stronger sense of connection with them when I get to talk with them during our onsite events.

Since the Engagement Team is also responsible for holding tutor gatherings, can you share your experience organizing these events with us?

There are a lot of things to consider when planning and executing a tutor event. To explain it briefly, organizing events has four major parts: planning and promotion, preparation of materials, execution, and post-event tasks.

Each team member has a role to play during our events. You might see us hosting our online ones; all of us have been an emcee at least once! In onsite events, the first people you will see are the ones manning the registration booth. We’re also the ones who are the “game masters,” assistants, and more!

Although organizing events takes a lot of energy, they are quite enjoyable. It gives me a sense of fulfillment whenever I see all of our plans come together. It sparks a lot of joy when I see tutors having fun with us as well.

In your experience, what was it like transitioning from online to face-to-face events?

It was like a steady run for me.

Since I joined RareJob in 2022, I have only ever experienced handling online tutor events. The first onsite event I helped with–albeit only behind the scenes–was in March 2023, almost a year after I started working here. To say it was different from online events is an understatement. Our promotional strategies changed. Some things stayed the same, but there were also numerous additions.

From being exclusively doing things online, I transitioned to reporting to the office for tasks and preparations that must be done there. From only hanging out with my teammates on Google Meet, I got to actually spend more time with them in person.

I thought it would take some time to get accustomed to but after only two onsite events, I got the hang of it. Plus, it was even better that we met tutors we previously only communicated with online!

What are the usual things that you do in order to generate creative ideas in preparation for the events?

I personally keep up with the trends. As some people might describe me, I am chronically online. I use any available resources on the internet. If something piques my interest, I save it for later or share it with my teammates right away.

What are the activities that your team does in order to strengthen the camaraderie among team members?

I mentioned earlier that my teammates and I have “online bonding sessions.” Sometimes we stay in a Google Meet room even when we don’t have any official business to do. It just helps to know that we’re working together even when we’re doing separate activities.

It’s also a big help that my teammates and I generally share the same interests. All of us have played an online adventure game—we’ve even played it in co-op! We also love good food and karaoke, so we’ve organized a few activities involving those.

What advice can you give to our readers who are looking into starting a career in events management?

If you’re considering entering the events management industry, you must first make sure that you are passionate enough about it, and that you’re not only doing it for yourself. You’re doing it for your clients and their guests. After all, a successful event does not only involve your execution but also the satisfaction of the ones who experience it.

If you’re not organized, start training yourself or at least surround yourself with people who already are. Events management relies heavily on a solid calendar. This doesn’t mean that you can’t be flexible with your schedule, but it helps that you have one to follow.

Creativity is essential but research goes a long way. It’s the era of the internet: a lot of things are accessible with just a click or tap.

Finally, ensure that you are happy with what you are doing. After all, your happiness alone can do wonders in spreading joy to your clients and guests.