Can you tell how long you have been with RareJob Philippines, Inc., and which departments you were able to be part of?

I first joined RareJob as a tutor back in February 2008, and by the end of the same year, I joined RareJob Philippines, Inc. as a full-time staff under the Quality Assurance Team. I’ve been a part of different departments in the span of ten years – Quality Assurance, Human Resources, Corporate Planning, Tutor Acquisition, and Legal.

Currently, you are the company’s Director of Human Resources. What are the challenges in holding a position in top management?

Like in most management positions, the biggest challenge is how to bridge the gaps between the management and our people. I believe that for our organization, this the most important driver of growth.

What do you think is the most important trait someone in a leadership position should possess?

For me, the best and most inspiring leaders are those who can create an environment of trust with the people they work with. If a leader can make you feel genuinely trusted, you develop a better sense of accountability, and better accountability always yields positive results.

Majority of RareJob Philippines, Inc. employees have been working from home ever since March of this year due to the pandemic and community quarantine. What was the biggest challenge you have experienced as one of the company’s decision makers?

The idea of converting our entire operations to telework — that was the biggest challenge for the entire management group. There were so many factors to be considered, and the biggest question was how to ensure a good level of productivity with the work-from-home set up. Thankfully, all managers are committed to making it work and ensuring that their departments will meet the targets despite the limitations of the work-from-home set up.

Since March, you have also been working remotely. What changes did you make in your work style to continue being efficient, at the same time, retain work-life balance?

I knew it won’t be easy. We didn’t have a home office so I had to find a way to set up a good work location in our house.

Meetings and calls had to be done where the internet connection was fastest. For reports and other creative tasks, I tried changing my work locations every now and then, but NEVER THE BED! A month of experimentation later, I have assigned three areas for work: the dining area for calls and meetings, the balcony for creatives, and the living room for when the dining table would eventually become unbearable for my back.

I’ve also recently started gardening. During my breaks, I water my plants, or just simply stare at them when I need to rest my eyes.

When I’m in these “work zones”, I can readily condition my mind to block out any distractions. My daughter has also learned to associate these areas as my work zones, so she knows that whenever I am there with my laptop, I am not available to play.

With many teams under your direction, how do you manage your time and priorities to ensure quality of outputs, and at the same time, employee motivation?

The teams that are under Human Resources, Executive Office and Tutor Relations are experts in their own line of work, thus, I’m proud to say that they can work independently with minimal supervision. When the pandemic hit, however, we had to make a drastic shift in our work processes. Most of my requests to them were urgent and resource-intensive and so it became very important for us to let each other understand what kind of assistance is needed from a certain stakeholder and to secure that assistance at the right timing. Their tasks are not easy and so I had to be there to clear the path for them so they can focus on the heavy work.

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the biggest challenges the company has faced so far. What activities do you do to stay motivated, especially with the uncertainty posed by the current situation?

I am grateful each day that I still get to keep my job. A lot of businesses are folding and some people who are dearest to me have either lost their jobs or face uncertain futures in their respective companies. I consider myself very, very lucky, and this idea alone is more than enough to keep me motivated.

Despite the alarmingly high unemployment rate in the country, RareJob Philippines, Inc. stands strong, its workforce diligently functioning like a well-oiled machine, in spite of the rapid transition to a work-from-home arrangement. What do you think is the reason for this?

RareJob’s business model is designed to support remote learning and with RareJob PH as its flagship subsidiary, there is no reason for a slowdown in our operations because RareJob’s business remained strong and steady even during the pandemic. More importantly, we received tremendous support and cooperation from all of the staff thus making the work-from-home scheme a success.

Currently, there are a lot of job seekers in the market, and in their search, they may find their way to our company website. In your opinion, why do you think should they see RareJob Philippines, Inc. as the employer of choice?

I joined RareJob because I believed in the Vision back then and I still believe in its Vision until today — because I am a product of that vision. I found a job that pays the bills, in a company that contributes to society, and in a service that allows people to communicate and feel good after each conversation. RareJob provides a balanced work environment for professionals of all ages and background. Lastly, we’ve proven that we can sustain the business even during a pandemic. I believe that’s a true test of the company’s corporate strength, making RJPH a great employer of choice.