My Personal Rebranding Journey
Personal Rebranding Journey
When one loses her footing in the human race called life, the most pragmatic solution is to get up and just keep going. But what if the tools available to continue your life's marathon are insufficient? Career-wise, what if there are limited options, yet you need to contribute and earn? How does one reinvent oneself in today’s digital landscape? How does one prepare to seek employment in a place like the Philippines, where not only has the economy plunged into record-breaking unemployment, underemployment, and inflation but mobility suffered impeded by the dismal government response to the pandemic?
Most people are afraid to go out the vaccination is moving with 30% of the total population inoculated. Most, like my family, fear the physical strain that accompanies the virus and the crippling financial cost that the recuperation will entail.? Last September, 5 out of 7 family members got infected and the cost of home confinement and medication blew our tuition budget. People struggling to find jobs still contend with health risks, especially since hospitals have been filled to capacity.? Imagine the irony; one goes out seeking work to feed their family, and while doing so, they risk their health and open themselves to more expenses if hospitalized. Meanwhile, our government is preparing for a national election and it polarized the citizens over voting choices instead of focusing on an urgent public agenda.
Regardless of the condition, we find ourselves in. The question remains: when jobs are scarce and your skills are not up to par, how does one proceed??
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There are no easy answers, and most hypotheses raise new questions, but in my soliloquy, I discovered:
?My new career search has officially begun. It is difficult to compete in the sea of young tech-equipped applicants. The feeling of mediocrity amidst the competing bodies is daunting. But necessity knows no bounds, and sometimes, when one has enough will, the universe might just conspire to work in your favor. Being a mother of three college-aged kids has its challenges. I did not anticipate financial difficulties as part of it as I thought I had created enough insulation. But the pandemic is a beast like no other. ? We thought we had been cash prudent, yet we find ourselves embroiled in a cash-strapped situation. Fortunately, my kids are reasonable young adults, but the toll of maintaining the standard of living they have been accustomed to while reeling from the pandemic is indeed the crux of the problem. Expenses have been stripped to a minimum.? What we need is additional income akin to a vaccine cash shot. We have dipped into our savings to tie us over. Although this mother has been out of traditional office work for years, I have no other recourse but to try my luck in the virtual world. I now have one client.? I provide all kinds of written support. I am on a quest to get more clients or perhaps land a paid writing assignment. Soon, I will enroll in a seminar to enrich my skills and possibly land a second client. As the proverbial saying goes, necessity is the mother of all inventions. It is so apt. I need to reinvent myself to survive the Philippine pandemic experience. Fellow job seekers with clenched fists, let us forge on and hope our reckoning will come sooner than 2022.?
To Filipino friends who understand the symbolism, despite the challenges, PINK gives me hope I can and with enough conviction, WE can come May 2022.
I Guide Women Go from Being Underrated to Being Seen, Heard & Valued in Their STEM Careers | Ex @STEM | Trainer & Coach | D&I Programme Manager
3 年Hi Ruth! Thanks for sharing your journey. Reading the article where you mention survival difficulties, a thought came to my mind: life is cyclical! Both nature and history do teach us this. But we tend to forget. It cannot always be good, and it cannot always be bad. Imagine: 'How different it would be if we (=human beings) could integrate this wisdom into our life?' Well, I would personally have less expectations, less pressure, and I would enjoy life more, the ups (because I know they do not last!) and the downs (because I know they do not last!). What do you think?
Great article Ruth. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and journey!
Lead Gen Strategist and Copywriter helping coaches and businesses generate consistent, high-quality leads by growing social media presence, creating high-converting lead magnets, and publishing engaging content
3 年Thank you Sandra Nachor, Simona Fornarino ???? ,Melany Punzalan-Tagalogon, ITILV3 ISO GBSS???? for sharing your unique experiences.