What's your role at Emma like?
I currently work as a Jr. Talent Acquisition Manager at Emma – The Sleep Company, one of Europe’s fastest-growing start-ups that aims to positively impact people’s lives through sleep. As part of the recruitment team, I am in charge of the end-to-end recruitment process for Marketing and People and Organization roles. A glimpse of my day includes sourcing, screening, interviewing, and hiring candidates. As a recruiter, I get to meet a lot of interesting people from all walks of life. Aside from that, each day is different – you can never expect to do the same thing twice. The thrill that comes with not knowing what tomorrow will bring makes this job exciting!
What's your background?
I was born and raised in Quezon City, one of the Philippines' most populous and busiest cities. I spent my elementary and secondary years in Miriam College then moved to Ateneo De Manila University for college. Just last June, I graduated with a degree in Management and a minor in Development Management. When I was job-hunting, I initially wanted to pursue a career in the development sector. I actively volunteered in a sector-based organization throughout college and the four years I spent there ignited a passion in me to continue it even after graduation. However, when Emma opened its doors to me, I saw the kind of opportunities I could gain in this company. What struck me the most was its culture of trust – all employees, regardless of position, are free to contribute and exchange ideas to positively impact the company. To me, having that ability to make a difference and drive the organization to its success was something that I knew I wanted to take part in.
What's the coolest thing about your role?
What I love most about being a recruiter is the fact that I get to change people’s lives! At one point I can say that I was able to help people attain their dream job and get one step closer to their career goals. Despite the challenge of finding the right candidates, I try to find the strength and motivation not to give up because I know the impact it can bring to one’s future. As a recruiter, my greatest fulfilment is being able to change the course of someone’s life and offer growth opportunities.
What can you say you are proud of accomplishing at Emma?
When I entered Emma, I had no experience when it comes to recruiting in the corporate setting. It took a while for me to get used to it but every day, I could see how much I was able to learn about both the company and the job itself. What I like about Emma is the trust they give to their employees – during my 2nd week, I was already leading interviews. Now, after 2 months in the company, I have successfully hired employees and helped build the Marketing and People & Organization Team in Manila.
What’s the toughest part of your role?
As an introvert, the hardest part about being a recruiter is ensuring that I have enough energy to last through all of my interviews. Every day I have a minimum of 3 interviews a day that would last about an hour each. It can be exhausting, but taking quick breaks in between helps me recharge so I can have sufficient energy for the rest of the day. If you are someone like me who’s an introvert and wants to pursue a career in recruitment, pacing yourself is important to drive great results without draining so much of your social battery.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...
Something I wish I knew back when I was still in college is that it is okay to not have everything all figured out. What’s meant for you will always find its way to you even if sometimes it does not unfold the way you expected it to. Three months ago, I never would have thought I would end up being where I am now. I had a completely different plan for what I would do after college, but two months at Emma was enough to make me realize that this redirection was truly meant for me.