Coming from the roomy reception area that also serves as the
Pantry
Recruitment Office
and the Administration and Support Department
You enter a small door that leads to the Floor. You walk across one of the aisles to reach the other end whose door leads to a smaller room where your cubicle is found. You pass by several colleagues seated next to each other in one row. Some of them are as old and experienced as you, while others are rookies hired just a few weeks ago. Many of them are still figuring how the job works, and often, you are tempted to do the work for them. Their cubicles never changed, only the occupants did. Sometimes, you wonder how long would they stay before somebody else take their place.
You pass by the team leader's work station before arriving at the next door. A guy in his mid-thirties, he seats comfortably in his cubicle staring at the screen to see the chat flows generated by your colleagues. His braided hair reaches the back of his neck. You ask yourself when was the last time he shampooed his hair. The team leader often sports a bright-colored shirt, always too loose for his body, and plays Reggae music on his computer. A Rasta perhaps? You don't know. However, one thing you are sure of is that he was hired a few months after you joined the company three years ago. Other than that, you are not interested to learn anymore.
Meanwhile, the assistant team leader is doing her rounds before she returns to her work station. A former team mate in the same account you were assigned a year ago, she was promoted last month after her predecessor was discharged from the company. She tries her best to exude grace despite being under constant pressure. Her trademark pink shirt, long pony-tail hair and slender body maybe a distraction to some. But her warm personality and helpful attitude toward your colleagues remind you why she was assigned to the same account you handle five days a week.
You enter another door that leads into a smaller room. Half of its occupants, you only recognize through their faces. These are the trainees who directly report to your surrogate mother, the great Mami you seek every time you wanted to take a break. She runs a small empire down below, which your other colleagues know as the QA Department. Since the QA is so far away from the hustle and bustle of your Floor, it seems like they have a world of their own a floor below. Their place in the universe make you jealous that you are tempted so many times to join them. However, looking at how you run your own show, you always prefer to be where the action is.
Now these trainees, for reasons only known to them, can sense your place in the order of things. Maybe it was your own carelessness in telling the lore of your company to some of your juniors that accidentally (or deliberately) gave hints that you are a pioneer - that you are one of the oldest operators in the job they chose to embrace. Sometimes, these stories left awe and wonder in their eyes. They become like you - when you were the one listening to the fairy tales told by the forefathers of the last job you accepted. However, when they begin asking you why you never got promoted despite your status, you tell them lame reasons,
which sometimes make you think, when you are alone in your cubicle.
You hear some of your friends get salaries twice or thrice you are recieving. You listen to others announce their career move from one company to another and recieve the paycheck of their dreams. You secretly get jealous when they talk of things they can enjoy with their money, while you, who works quietly for three years doesn't even have the basic perks your better-off friends are raving when you get together during reunions.
It makes you ponder, and you become fearful of your future.
You continue walking towards your cubicle. You ignore these alarming thoughts which began to bother you after the new recruits arrived three weeks ago. Instead, you look forward to your surrogate mom's wishful promotion, hoping that her rise would comfort you with the achievements you shared together. You reach your station, held the mouse and wobble it a bit. The screen saver, showing a flying Windows Logo on a black screen has now disappeared, and you, being emotionally invested in your job
Keep your concerns to yourself.
It might be a long wait, but who knows where this career path would eventually lead you.
---
Tatlong taon na ako sa trabaho ngayong linggo. At dahil ako na ang pangalawa sa pinakamatagal na empleyado dito, ako lang ang nakaalala.
Pantry
Recruitment Office
and the Administration and Support Department
You enter a small door that leads to the Floor. You walk across one of the aisles to reach the other end whose door leads to a smaller room where your cubicle is found. You pass by several colleagues seated next to each other in one row. Some of them are as old and experienced as you, while others are rookies hired just a few weeks ago. Many of them are still figuring how the job works, and often, you are tempted to do the work for them. Their cubicles never changed, only the occupants did. Sometimes, you wonder how long would they stay before somebody else take their place.
You pass by the team leader's work station before arriving at the next door. A guy in his mid-thirties, he seats comfortably in his cubicle staring at the screen to see the chat flows generated by your colleagues. His braided hair reaches the back of his neck. You ask yourself when was the last time he shampooed his hair. The team leader often sports a bright-colored shirt, always too loose for his body, and plays Reggae music on his computer. A Rasta perhaps? You don't know. However, one thing you are sure of is that he was hired a few months after you joined the company three years ago. Other than that, you are not interested to learn anymore.
Meanwhile, the assistant team leader is doing her rounds before she returns to her work station. A former team mate in the same account you were assigned a year ago, she was promoted last month after her predecessor was discharged from the company. She tries her best to exude grace despite being under constant pressure. Her trademark pink shirt, long pony-tail hair and slender body maybe a distraction to some. But her warm personality and helpful attitude toward your colleagues remind you why she was assigned to the same account you handle five days a week.
You enter another door that leads into a smaller room. Half of its occupants, you only recognize through their faces. These are the trainees who directly report to your surrogate mother, the great Mami you seek every time you wanted to take a break. She runs a small empire down below, which your other colleagues know as the QA Department. Since the QA is so far away from the hustle and bustle of your Floor, it seems like they have a world of their own a floor below. Their place in the universe make you jealous that you are tempted so many times to join them. However, looking at how you run your own show, you always prefer to be where the action is.
Now these trainees, for reasons only known to them, can sense your place in the order of things. Maybe it was your own carelessness in telling the lore of your company to some of your juniors that accidentally (or deliberately) gave hints that you are a pioneer - that you are one of the oldest operators in the job they chose to embrace. Sometimes, these stories left awe and wonder in their eyes. They become like you - when you were the one listening to the fairy tales told by the forefathers of the last job you accepted. However, when they begin asking you why you never got promoted despite your status, you tell them lame reasons,
which sometimes make you think, when you are alone in your cubicle.
You hear some of your friends get salaries twice or thrice you are recieving. You listen to others announce their career move from one company to another and recieve the paycheck of their dreams. You secretly get jealous when they talk of things they can enjoy with their money, while you, who works quietly for three years doesn't even have the basic perks your better-off friends are raving when you get together during reunions.
It makes you ponder, and you become fearful of your future.
You continue walking towards your cubicle. You ignore these alarming thoughts which began to bother you after the new recruits arrived three weeks ago. Instead, you look forward to your surrogate mom's wishful promotion, hoping that her rise would comfort you with the achievements you shared together. You reach your station, held the mouse and wobble it a bit. The screen saver, showing a flying Windows Logo on a black screen has now disappeared, and you, being emotionally invested in your job
Keep your concerns to yourself.
It might be a long wait, but who knows where this career path would eventually lead you.
---
Tatlong taon na ako sa trabaho ngayong linggo. At dahil ako na ang pangalawa sa pinakamatagal na empleyado dito, ako lang ang nakaalala.
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