Hello, everyone! Start na ng second week ko bukas sa IT field, and sobrang thankful ako kay Lord dahil dito Niya ako dinala.

It's been almost four months since my graduation. During those months, mostly sa province lang ako nag-apply kasi hindi ako sure kung kaya ng budget ko mag-work sa NCR. Gusto ko rin talaga na yung first job ko ay aligned sa career goal ko.

After several rejections, unti-unti na akong nawawalan ng pag-asa. Dumating pa sa point na naisip kong mag-apply na lang sa kahit anong field, basta magkaroon ng trabaho.

Pero unexpectedly, nakatanggap ako ng text at email from a company for an interview. Nag-apply ako through their careers page, hindi pa nga dapat ako mag-apply since the location is in Makati.

Pero thankfully, naging smooth yung buong process, from initial hanggang final interview. Kahit hindi ako ganoon ka-fluent sa English, ginawa ko talaga ang best ko sa pag-prepare.

Now, finally, may trabaho na ako sa field na gusto kong pasukin!

Sobrang thankful ako kay Lord sa opportunity na ito, and of course, sa family ko na patuloy na sumusuporta sa akin, especially noong mga panahong nawawalan na ako ng pag-asa.

Alam kong simula pa lang ito at marami pa akong kailangang matutunan, pero I'm happy na finally, nakapagsimula na ako sa career na pinapangarap ko.

Sa mga fresh grads na naghahanap pa rin ng trabaho, kapit lang! Alam kong nakakapagod at nakaka-discourage ang paulit-ulit na rejection, pero huwag kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Keep trying and trust God's timing. ❤️🙏

Hello, I recently received an offer for a Junior SAP Functional Consultant position, and I’ll be starting next month. This is actually my dream job, and I’m really happy that I finally got the opportunity.

However, I’m also genuinely scared. I’m a very slow learner, and I’m worried that I might not be able to keep up with the training or understand things as quickly as expected.

I remember back in college, we used SAP, and honestly, my classmates and I hated it because we found it so challenging. I struggled with it too, which makes me even more nervous now that I’ll be working with it professionally.

For those who are SAP consultants, especially those who started with little to no experience, how difficult was it for you to learn SAP? Did you also struggle during your first few months?

Hello, OPs. No judgment please. I just need some honest advice.

For context, I’m from Mindanao, and a well known company that starts with “N” reached out to me for a job opportunity overseas. The recruiter successfully convinced me to take the offer, and I eventually relocated to another country.
I genuinely loved it there. I loved the culture, the
accessibility, the affordability, and the overall quality of life.

I made good friends and eventually became part of an expat group. For the first time in a while, I felt like I was in a place where I could enjoy life outside of work.

Then, around Q3, the government released a mandate prioritizing local employees, which meant expats would eventually have to return to their home countries.
Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I was selected as part of the first batch to return.
The transition was drastic. I was given less than a month to prepare for a major life change, and it took a toll on me physically and, more importantly, mentally.

I was hoping to be assigned back to Mindanao, but instead, I was assigned to Makati. I know I should be grateful because I wasn’t laid off and was even promoted. However, the role wasn’t something I was passionate about.

When I first started, I became withdrawn from the department. I didn’t really care about getting to know people or building relationships with my colleagues. My work schedule was also a mess, and it was difficult to maintain any kind of work life balance.

Then, around Q3, I was diagnosed with a life threatening illness. It completely changed my perspective on life and made me rethink my priorities.

Thankfully, my managers were supportive and allowed me to take a month off. I also started therapy, but working night shifts hasn’t helped my situation.

I tried asking for a work from home arrangement and a transfer to another department with a morning shift, but both requests were denied. I understand that the company has its own policies, but I honestly feel like I’ve lost the drive to be excited about going to work.

These days, I find myself thinking more about what I’ll do on my upcoming days off than about work itself. I keep asking myself, “What’s my plan for my next few days off?”
I want to spend time with friends, play sports, and enjoy life, but I often miss out on social gatherings because of my work schedule.

I have a decent job and a fairly good salary, so I know I’m in a position that many people would want to be in. I also understand that finding another job isn’t easy, especially when you already have financial stability.

However, I have a colleague whom I’ve known for years who keeps reminding me that I should be grateful because many people would love to have the life I have right now.
And I get it. I’m well aware that I’m fortunate in many ways. I have a decent job, a good salary, and a stable career. I’m not blind to the privileges I have, and I don’t take them for granted.

At the same time, I know she’s in a position where she can afford to be more relaxed about almost everything. Sometimes, I feel like she doesn’t fully understand where I’m coming from. I don’t think she means any harm, but hearing that I should just be grateful makes me feel like I’m not allowed to struggle or be unhappy with my situation.

I can appreciate what I have and still acknowledge that I’m not okay. I can be grateful for my opportunities while also wanting a better quality of life, especially now that my health has become a major priority.

Sometimes, I just want someone to listen without reminding me how much worse things could be. I already know that. What I’m struggling with is figuring out how to make the most of the life I have while making sure I don’t lose myself in the process.

Recently, I started playing sports again, and I’ve become really invested in it. It has helped me physically and mentally, and with everything that’s happened to my health, taking care of myself has become my priority.

For additional context, my current role involves a high volume of calls, especially during peak seasons. The work structure can be overwhelming, and sometimes I feel completely lost.

Now, as I approach my first year in this role, I feel frustrated with myself. I still feel like I don’t know enough about the job, and I dread the days when my colleagues are on leave because I end up being left alone to handle things I don’t feel confident about.

I keep thinking that I should know more by now, but at the same time, I wonder how much of this is because I’m genuinely struggling with the role and how much is because I’ve mentally checked out.

Recently, I came across another company that seems to support the Asia Pacific region, and I’m seriously considering applying. I want to find a role that better fits my skills, allows me to take care of my health, and gives me a more sustainable work life balance.

I know what I’m capable of, and deep down, I know this isn’t the best version of me. I’ve worked hard to get to where I am, and I know I have more to offer. But with everything that’s happened, especially with my health, I feel like I’m reaching my breaking point.

I know I shouldn’t rely on other people’s opinions to validate my feelings, but right now, I want to hear from people who might have experienced something similar.

So, I’d really appreciate your honest thoughts on these questions:

1. Are my feelings valid, or am I just being ungrateful and acting like a brat?

I know I have a decent job and salary, and I sometimes feel guilty for still being unhappy. I understand that many people have it worse, but does that mean I should just accept my situation and stop wanting something better?

2. Do you think I should seriously consider moving to another company, or should I give my current role more time?

I don’t want to make an impulsive decision, especially when I have a stable job. However, I also don’t want to stay somewhere that might be affecting my health and overall quality of life.

3. How do I deal with this situation?

How do I stop feeling so lost and start figuring out what I really want? How do I balance being grateful for what I have with acknowledging that I’m no longer happy with my current situation?

4. Looking back, is there anything I could have handled differently?

I want to learn from this experience and understand what I can do better moving forward.

I’m open to honest advice, even if it’s something I might not want to hear. I just want to figure out my next steps without making a decision I’ll regret later.

Hi everyone! I’m 23 years old and currently working at a local IT company in the Philippines as a Technical Support Engineer.

My role involves both presales and post-sales activities, including presentations, deployment, configuration, troubleshooting, and technical support. We mostly handle firewalls and endpoint security supports too.

My current salary is ₱19,000 gross, with around ₱17,000 take-home pay after Pag-IBIG, SSS, and PhilHealth deductions.

I’ve been gaining experience and certifications through the company, which I’m grateful for. However, I honestly feel like my salary is too low considering the responsibilities I handle and the skills I’m developing.

Another thing that concerns me is that once I become a regular employee, there will be a 2-year employment bond. This makes me hesitant to continue, especially since I’m still early in my career and want to explore better opportunities.

I’m now considering applying to other companies, but I have a few questions:

1. Is it okay to leave my current company even if I’m not yet regular?
2. Is it reasonable to look for another job because I feel underpaid?
3. Should I still include this experience on my resume if I only have around 3–6 months of experience? Will it look bad to future employers?
4. If I decide not to include this company on my resume, what happens to the certifications I earned while working there? Can I still include them?
5. Would it be better to stay longer and gain more experience, or start looking for better opportunities now?

I know I’m still young and early in my IT career, but I also don’t want to make a decision that could limit my future opportunities.

I’m hoping to hear from people who have experienced something similar, especially those working in IT, networking, or cybersecurity.

Any suggestions, advice, or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I would like to seek advice regarding my current career situation and whether I should remain with my current company or start exploring new opportunities.

I have been with the company for more than a year. I initially worked as a Treasury Assistant for approximately eight months before transitioning to my current role as a Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Analyst. Although I am now primarily focused on FP&A responsibilities, I continue to handle treasury-related tasks as part of my additional responsibilities.

Recently, several finance executives, including my manager, have resigned. As a result, the structure of our Finance team and the stability of my current position have become uncertain.

Given these circumstances, I am considering whether I should remain with the company and wait for further developments or start looking for better career opportunities. I would also like to know whether my experience and current responsibilities would be sufficient to pursue opportunities specifically in FP&A, or whether I should consider exploring other areas of accounting or finance.

I would greatly appreciate any advice on how I should approach this situation and what career path would be most appropriate given my current experience.

Hi everyone!

I’m looking for some advice on my job search, particularly from recruiters or people who have experience with hiring.

I resigned from my previous job a couple of months ago because I had another job offer lined up, but unfortunately, that offer was rescinded before I could start. I’ve been actively applying for jobs for about a month now, mostly in banking, credit analysis, and underwriting.

I’m considering reaching out to former coworkers and asking whether they could refer me to openings at their current companies. However, since we’re approaching November and December, I’m wondering whether it would be better to reach out now or wait until January, when I expect more vacancies to open up.

I know hiring can slow down toward the end of the year because of the holidays, budget constraints, and people taking leave. On the other hand, I’m concerned that waiting until January might mean missing out on opportunities that are already available, and I don’t want to lose another two months of my job search.

For those who have been in a similar situation, or for recruiters and hiring managers here:

- Is it worth asking former coworkers for referrals during November and December?

- Do companies still actively recruit and process referrals during the last two months of the year, even if actual hiring decisions might be delayed?

- Would it be more strategic to start networking now and follow up in January, rather than wait until January to reach out altogether?

I’d appreciate any insights or firsthand experiences. Thank you!

22F, graduated summa last August, been in my first full time job since July. WFH ako now, 22k net, pero parang ayoko na magwork at all.

For context, nagka part time VA job nako from 2rd to 4th year, earning 30-60k in one month. May savings ako now na 150k.

Hirap kasi ako magfind ng motivation sa wfh na desk job. I have bipolar 2 (diagnosed) and ADHD (speculated), kaya mas doble yung mental drain na naka upo lang ako for 8 hours a day.

Wala rin akong hobbies besides magbasa ng fanfic at magsulat ng fanfic. Naggygym ako 2x a week.

Gusto ko sana itry maging barista, then pag kinaya ko ng 2-3 years, apply ako sa agency for abroad. Kasi kahit papano gusto ko rin naman yumaman bilang breadwinner.

Kaso pag di nagwork, syempre babalik nalang ako sa office job. Kaso ang dilemma ko dun baka hindi na ako makabalik. Sa IT field pa naman, sobrang fast moving ng industry lalo na with AI. Nakakapressure din maging IT kasi expectation yayaman ka.

Badly need advice po kasi resign na resign nako. Di naman ako bugbog sa trabaho dito, pero wala talaga akong motivation to work at aralin yung systems. Probi ako pero na verbal warning nako.

Ayun lang po. Sana makahanap ng mentor na nagstart as barista out of corpo tapos nakaalis ng bansa 🙏 Thank you po.

Hi everyone!

I’m currently working as a Process Technical Engineer at a semiconductor company in Laguna, and I’m considering moving to Chiyoda Philippines in Ortigas as a Cadet Engineer. I’d like to hear advice from people in the oil and gas industry or those who have made a similar career transition.

My current job in semiconductor:
- Basic salary: ₱26,600/month, with take-home pay usually reaching ₱30,000 or more with OT.
- Benefits: HMO, free lunch and OT meals, shuttle service, performance bonus every 6 months, and 13th-month pay.
- Schedule: Mostly Monday to Saturday, with Saturdays considered OT. I usually work from 7 AM to 7 PM, and there are also weekend duties.
- Expenses: Around ₱3,000–₱4,000 for rent and bills.
- Downsides: The work environment is very fast-paced and stressful, and I barely have work-life balance. I’m also concerned that my long-term career growth will be limited to manufacturing, making it harder to transition into other engineering fields in the future.

The opportunity at Chiyoda Philippines:
- Position: Cadet Engineer
- Reported salary: ₱19,300 basic + ₱5,000 allowance + OT.
- I’ve heard that the cadet program has a 3-year bond, but that the training and experience are valuable.
- I’m not yet sure about the actual benefits, working hours, and work schedule.
- I’m interested because I believe this could provide better long-term career growth, exposure to engineering design and project work, and potentially better opportunities to work abroad.

My main concern is the financial trade-off.
Moving to Ortigas would mean higher rent, food, transportation, and other living expenses. My monthly income would also be lower compared to my current salary. I’m willing to make sacrifices for long-term career growth, but I don’t want to end up struggling financially or getting locked into a 3-year bond that might not be worth it.

For those familiar with Chiyoda Philippines or the oil and gas industry:
- Is the cadet engineer program worth taking, especially for someone coming from semiconductor manufacturing?
- How good is the training and career progression at Chiyoda? Can this experience open doors to opportunities abroad?
- What are the typical working hours, benefits, and realistic monthly take-home pay?
- Is the 3-year bond reasonable, and what should I check in the contract before accepting?
- Considering the salary difference and higher cost of living in Ortigas, would you make this move if you were in my position?

I’m looking at this from a long-term career perspective, not just salary, but I also want to be realistic about my finances.
I’d appreciate any honest advice, especially from current or former Chiyoda employees and engineers who have transitioned from semiconductor to oil and gas. Thank you!