I have seen so many posts about rejection in LinkedIn ad I think I deserve to share my own experience in rejection.

When I was 1st year in university, I wanted to be a TV Presenter, Broadcaster and dreamt to become a CNN Reporter.

When I was in my 2nd year, I wanted to become a literature geek. I wanted to write poems and study Shakespeare. I want to study Roman Languages and study linguistics.

When I reached junior year, I wanted to become a Movie Director, a Movie Editor. I wat to produce movies and documentaries.

When I turned senior in university, I was so big of myself, thinking I can conquer the world after graduation. I was aiming to become a corporate associate or take up law school or film school for my second degree.

But after graduation, everything changed;

You know that feeling when you planned your whole life and suddenly you were served a different life. The real world is really cruel; I started submitting applications for entry level: researcher, production assistant and etc… of course, I know I need to start in an entry level which was okay but while applying and attending interviews, I realized, the employment in Philippines is based on appearance…the way you look.

I was never accepted; I always get rejected right on my face! I remember this one time that I applied for a Public Relations Officer position in a big company and I passed in the 1st initial interview but later on I wasn’t accepted even if I know I deserve the position more than the people sitting on the other side of the room. I got rejected because I was FAT. They accepted the THIN lady sitting beside me during the interview. They told me the reason why I wasn’t accepted, it was my location, they said I was 45 minutes away from the office and you know why I knew they pick the thin one because she is more beautiful than me on their perspective? Well, because while waiting for the interview, I got to talk to that lady, she lives 1 hour and 30 minutes away from that office. It was so fucked up but I tried applying to other companies but failed. I spent a year looking for a job; I never got one and I got so depressed.

And then I got two job offers from another country, which obviously, I accepted one of them. My first job was never in the Philippines; I was a freelancer but was never hired in a company because of my appearance. (My experience in another country is another story to tell.) I was rejected because in the PH, they require a PLEASING PERSONALITY which apparently I don’t have. The whole year looking for a job, I realized I won’t get a job which in line on my major because my major requires you to be perfect. I lost interest on achieving my dreams because I knew discrimination will always be there in the real world.

Today, I’m working in a very good company. They give importance to me more than other company will o to their employees. However, as I grow older, I wanted to aim for something that I really want. I aim to rebuild those dreams I have already forgotten because of rejection and prove the people who rejected me that I can and I will be.

As of the moment, the interest of looking for an opportunity on the field I majored in but very far from my 5 years working experience is a challenge but I hope employers someday will look for skills not only experience and the way an applicant looks.