How many jobs have you had since you started working?
By clowdine
@clowdine (1402)
Philippines
April 27, 2010 11:56pm CST
I have been working as a call center rep, on and off for the past several years (4 years with all my months/years spent in the companies I've been to, combined). I landed on this job in 2004 but I used to be a high school teacher for 3 years. But guess what? My very first job was being a cashier at SM (Shoemart) - Megamall in the appliance center? I finished my college course which was mass communication, major in broadcasting. Obviously, I'm not unemployed but underemployed. Simply because, all these years, all I long for is to work as a news reporter, if not, at least a production staff in a news and current affairs program but opportunities have been elusive or I just didn't have the opportunity or guts to keep trying. So, how many jobs have you had since you started working? Did you really land on the job that you took a college course for in the first place?
3 people like this
15 responses
@allamgirl (2140)
• Philippines
2 May 10
just one. i graduated in march 2007 and started training for it on july. then got hired on november and i've been working there ever since. i'm a marketing graduate and now i'm a ground stewardess for an airline company. i guess it's sort of related to my course in terms of service marketing but i would really love to go back to the business development side of marketing or the promotional side.
@clowdine (1402)
• Philippines
20 Jul 10
It's still all right if you had to work as a ground stewardess first. At least, it's one of the popular jobs among women and it has an age limit too. I just really don't know if there is a major difference between a ground stewardess and a flight stewardess in terms of qualifications and pay. I know nothing about it but if I'm not mistaken, the pay is also good. As regards to your preferred job, I guess, you can always go back to it. If not as a casual employee, (at first), you can go freelance. It pays to be creative and it doesn't matter what age you might start.
@allamgirl (2140)
• Philippines
21 Jul 10
actually, ground and flight stewardesses differ significantly. flight stewardesses are the ones who get on the plane and serve the passengers on board. on ground, we're the ones at the airport, we dispatch the flight and check the passengers in. in terms of payment, it's also a huge difference. and on ground, we don't really have an age limit. i'm quite scared that i would get too comfortable on this job and never do the things that i really want to do.
@nvtellan (1907)
• Philippines
20 Jul 10
Well, I started out as a Data Encoder at a Tupperware company for 6 months. Then as an HTML formatter (something related to webpage development) at TSSI Makati for 6 months too. Then I was laid off because of streamlining of the company. I was one of the late new comers hence I was the easy picking to he laid off. I was depressed for almost a year because of no work after my Makati gig and with my father always treatening me to find work or else.
Luckily, after 2 years of waiting for my application to get approved, I was hired in government service and now on my 10th year as a civil servant. Since I graduated with an IT-related course, I am currently assigned in an office under the IT Group. :)
@clowdine (1402)
• Philippines
20 Jul 10
Being a diplomate of an IT course, you will always find jobs. You can even use some of your spare time working as a freelancer. You can check out sites like elance.com; odesk.com; freelancer.com, etc.
On the other hand, let me congratulate you for having stayed with your job for a decade, besides you're rightfully employed because your current job is according to what you have taken up in college.
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Hi Clowdine,
I've been working for a total of 20 years, and so far I've had about 5 employers. My first job was as an Accounting Staff in a German company based in Makati. I stayed there for 2 years, afterwhich I decided I should pursue a career along the line of human resources (I finished AB Psychology). So I started job hunting and landed on job as Personnel Assistant in a bank. From there I transferred to an insurance company as HR staff, I was with this company for almost 10 years, where I rose from the ranks. Got another employer before the one I have now, but still in human resources (HR).
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
29 Apr 10
Yup, I took up Accounting on my first 2 years in college, then I shifted to AB Psych. These days jobs are hard to come by and competition is very stiff, you cannot get an entry level accounting job if you're not a graduate of accounting or any related course. This was actually the very reason why I left my first employer (that hired me as acctg staff), coz I know I can never get promoted as I don't have the appropriate education to back me up. In HR I knew I had a better chance of going up the career ladder coz I was rightly positioned based on my education and eventually, by the experience I gained from my succeeding jobs.
@mavieserrano728 (670)
• Philippines
4 May 10
Actually I am a registered physical therapist and I was at least able to practice my profession for 1 year but I really had to give it to because I was not earning that much. So guess what? I also ended up working in a call center. This is already my second call center job and I find my job right now very challenging indeed.
@mavieserrano728 (670)
• Philippines
25 Jul 10
Hi there clowdine..Yeah I strongly agree that medical professionals do not earn that much in our country. Some doctors even study nursing and work in other countries so that they could earn more. I feel like my last resort is working in a call center. But the thought still remains that I am still thankful because I have a job. Good day. 
@Steinway (307)
• United States
11 May 10
When I started working back in high school, I worked at McDonald's for about three months. Then in my senior year of high school I was a disc jockey for a local radio station. Then, worked at Wal-Mart for about three months. I ended up not working for about seven years. I was looking for work during that time, but couldn't find a job. So, in the meantime, I helped my mother take care of my grandparents and finish college. Near the end of college, I was able to get on a Casey's. Went from Casey's to being in the U.S. Army for a year. Then, I ended up working for a factory that made floor samples. And now, I work for a factory that manufactures ham. No, college didn't help me as far I can tell. I'm not working in Business Admnistration. I'm working as a laborer in a factory.
@clowdine (1402)
• Philippines
20 Jul 10
I admire the dignity of labor in the USA. You can take 3 jobs at a time, whether you work as a cashier during mid-day, a porter in the evening and a garbage collector, early in the morning, who cares? Janitors there have cars, many managers here don't. I just wish that same attitude will be adapted by not only Filipinos but also other cultures with a bit backward mentality in this regard. It's still better if people treat jobs as responsibility based rather than entitlement based.
@juryse (752)
• Philippines
20 Jul 10
I also work in a call center. It's my second job. My first one was working as a radio dj/newscaster but that was a long time ago. I'ts also not the career that I'm supposed to take coz I took up Computer Science back in college. But I guess life takes it's own course and you just have to make the most out it. It's never too late though. You can always look for the job that you really want.
@clowdine (1402)
• Philippines
20 Jul 10
Yes, sometimes, we simply don't get what we want because our life's course may be against it and God may have prepared something better for us. Although I'm still waking up every morning with the reality that I still don't have the job I long for, I have faith in God's word, and according to this verse, Romans 8:28 "[28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
28 Apr 10
Well, its been 15/16 years since I’m working and this present job is my 4th job and I’ve been in this position for almost 12 years now! No, I don’t think I’m underemployed coz I never really learnt any special skills for a particular job. After finishing college I just started looking for jobs and I’ve been working since then. I do all sorts of back-office job and now my CV boasts of so many skills that I feel I’ve become an expert in back office multitasking LOL
@Mitraa (3184)
• India
10 May 10
I just had one job in a techno-commercial productive unit in India during the period of 1986 to 2004. After that I have been in my free-enterprise and my main area is now web-marketing and offline market networking! This brings me good returns and much time freedom also! In my opinion, Home Based Business is superior to any job. It brings time freedom as well as good remmuneration and recognisation!
Thanks for this nice topic and have good jobs always!!
@clowdine (1402)
• Philippines
20 Jul 10
I'm also inclined to agree with what you said that home business is superior to any job. There's nothing better than working in your own territory. Although I still haven't achieved that level of stability on web marketing, I would like to focus on that. I dream of having an autopilot business too because I don't think it's fair for me to use about 60 percent of my time everyday just to make money. I would rather have less and less time making money but I'm still making it, regardless. Thanks be to God. The ingenuity of leveraging has been discovered by humans. I dream of spending more time with my Church and my family.
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
29 Apr 10
WOW!!! U should be back to the media line, which i think it's more suitable for u, since u are interested in it!! hehe ^_^ Being in MAss communication course, is not easy, for it's not really popular in the first place, and also, it needs one to be very good in talking, adaptable, with fast thinking.. hehe ^_^
Since u graduated in that, all the more u should work hard in securing a job for that ^_^ U will enjoy it more.. hehe 
As for me, i have held alot of many different jobs but they are mainly on the sales side.. haha =D SO far, i do enjoy quite alot of them, and i do have my hobby for my job too.. hehe
As for me, i have held alot of many different jobs but they are mainly on the sales side.. haha =D SO far, i do enjoy quite alot of them, and i do have my hobby for my job too.. hehe @clowdine (1402)
• Philippines
30 Apr 10
I know it's really a demanding job but I still want to be in that field. Although some media men are found wanting nowadays but I still have a high regard to this job. It's just sad that media men nowadays are being murdered in our country and very recently, reporters and camera men, even drivers working for them were massacred in the unprecendented horror of Maguindanao Massacre.
1 person likes this
@babshish (1387)
• India
28 Apr 10
Hi clowdine, In my carrier of almost 7 years till date, I just had one switch. I was working with my first employer for 2.5 years and currently with the existing one since past 4.5 years. I am happy with the progress of my carrier and have achieved whatever I had planned till this time. Ofcourse I am planning to acheive much more, but want to go with steady speed and thats the reason not currently thinking of shifting. I have many friends who had more than 4-5 changes in this time span. But I feel instead of just shifting the jobs for money purpose is not the right things, first you need to plan for your carrier and shift the jobs when you feel that you will find more better opportunity to reach your goal.
@clowdine (1402)
• Philippines
28 Apr 10
My sister's first job was the same one she stayed with until the company closed. She had been there for 10 years. And she had been promoted multiple times through the course of her employment there. I would have wanted the same but unfortunately, I had to leave my previous jobs for various reasons. You're right. Careers should be planned ahead. Successful people usually had to be a long time regular in a company they work for.
@airasheila (5454)
• Philippines
28 Apr 10
Good day to you Clowdine,
With regard to your question, I am now on my 6th job. And hopefully, after this time, I will be able to put up my own. Honestly, I want to have a small store of my own since we have a small place to prosper before. However, my dad did not support me at all during those times. Within the jobs that I have engage, somehow, it is related to my course.
@clowdine (1402)
• Philippines
28 Apr 10
If you don't mind me asking, what job are you referring to that is related to your course. And what is your course, by the way?
Being an employee is regarded as participating in a rat race, unless the job is really high paying. Having a business is still the best way to go. You just have to make a careful planning and a bit of feasibility studies.
@bystander (2292)
• Philippines
29 Apr 10
with your qualifications plus a little exposure, you should be well on your way to doing it on your own. i've been in and out of the private and government sectors for the last 20 years, only to establish connection and get experience. after that, i was on my own -- doing consultancy in public relations, publishing and other media-related work. i even took up a course at the asian institute of management to add value to my writing... all you have to do is take that first, important step.
@clowdine (1402)
• Philippines
30 Apr 10
If I could only turn back time, I would have been more persistent in my applications. The problem with me was I just easily got disheartened and was thinking I was not any good. I could have asked the help of God to get a job in one of our television networks in our country. If I started as early as during my early 20s, I could have been an experienced and resource person now to the newbies in the television production or in news and public affairs, or at least, I could have leveled up to one of the seniors in the production crew.
@chechehyrum2485 (35)
•
4 May 10
Ive got 3 different jobs before i decided to stay as a full-time mom, No regrets on my decision because i discover the joy and happiness of being a mother.
@ejs0316 (28)
• Philippines
29 Apr 10
Hello there. I only get to have 2 jobs. I've been working as seafarer for almost 5 years now. I also work as a cadet engineer in samsung electronics back in the day but i was thinking of being a seafarer since i was college because my dad was once a seafarer and so do some of my relatives. It gave me the idea of working with a big salary and travelling as at the same time. But i never thought of how hard it is of being away from your family and loved ones specially during special ocassions. But then again we need to work and sacrifice a little not just for ourselves but for our loved ones. Now i think i get the beeter part of the job because my contracts were now shorter so i get to be at home more often and still get a work still in line with my degree and get paid quite good for it.
@clowdine (1402)
• Philippines
30 Apr 10
I just hope that along with that sacrifice of yours you're compensated well, Pal. Just don't forget to thank God for all the opportunities to work and it's always good to save up/and invest for your future. Spiritual investment is still paramount and everything else is secondary down the line.
@maezee (41988)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Well, I'm not done with my college education.. About halfway through. So none of the jobs I've had had needed any kind of college experience. I've worked at Macy's, at a flower shop, at a dry cleaners, and at a data entry company. All of these have really been irrelevant in terms of what I want to do when I graduate my uni..Which is criminal justice. But hey, we gotta pay the bills somehow!
I'm still working at the dry cleaners and data entry company not becuase I really enjoy the jobs but because, like you said, there just don't seem to be as many opportunities as when I first started job hunting (and landed interviews and jobs right off the bat). *shrugs*.
@clowdine (1402)
• Philippines
28 Apr 10
The need to pay bills and support basic needs of the family really swayed me far away from my dream job. But I feel that if I had been single focused in pursuing it, I would have made it to any TV station. At least I know some of my classmates who were able to get in. There are times that I pretend it's not my dream job at all to ease my mind. I try to convince myself that my current job is far more advantageous. If I would still be given an opportunity even at my age, I wouldn't mind working as a production assistant. At least, it's related to my course and that's where everybody usually starts.
