Vicarious Learning of Experience
Daryl G. Glori
Lot of opportunities arises when I start looking for a company for my on-the-job training. Many opportunities are laid down; the problem is in which organization am I fitted and where am I to have an essential experience about the nature of the work in the future that will contribute to my knowledge and skills.
Once I stepped in the gate of the company, I said to myself “Sige, dito na ako! Andito na eh! Wala ng atrasan ‘to…” Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines. A part of me was saying “No!” and there is still another option to pick, at least with a settlement. With my choice, no arrangements at all, but certainly, it wasn’t a really bad selection. It is a big corporation. Isn’t it?
First day, I said it was boring. I didn’t like the job and had a thought that I can’t survive in this kind of career. Filing… papers… filing… 201 cabinets… another filing… I’m sick and tired of it. Then the only persons I am talking to are my co-OJT in the department and my immediate supervisor; the rest, they were busy chit-chatting and eating in every shatter of their work.
They say that filing of documents is the usual the OJTs were doing at their first week. It is precisely true. As days passed by, greater tasks were assigned especially to me. They gave me an opportunity to be familiarized with such terminologies, background profile of the company and other necessary informations about the nature and descriptions of their work as an HR staffs when I assist the On-Boarding Session for a newly batch of Tigers (termed to the newly hired employees) of Account Developers. I was also given the chance to join them in their Plant Tour together with the Quality Assurance Manager, who assumes that I am a new HR Assistant in the plant.
During the Plant Tour, I had a talk with one of the ADs. All day long, they really thought that I am one of the HR employees around. Part of me was pleased especially every time they attend me as “Ma’am” and greet me with enthusiasm smile. I am so much awaiting of what will happen next as days, months will pass…
There comes a time that my co-OJT in the department decided to seize the opportunity in the other firm. I can’t blame him for such act. Of course, better chance; for every hour of his work will be paid off; who can resist to that? Besides, I can feel his boredom as when I’m with him. I can’t stop him. It was reasonable to say “I won’t be happy if I don’t like the job!”
I was gloomy by that time. I wanted to be destined in the Material Department where two of my friends are assigned. But I decided not to and took the challenge of being alone with the job I don’t know if I can do it by myself. Being left alone with my so-called “mean girls” of the HR Department.
I have to take big adjustments like needing to cope with the culture and the way I should interact with the employees. But I am proud to say that I am good at it. It goes easy for me. Furthermore, I am stating to like all the employees and start to hate my immediate supervisor because of his attitude and unprofessional habits, because of it; he was suspended for several weeks.
The sudden suspension of the said person opens more door for me to love his work. I am doing his job which is very challenging for me most especially everytime employees were asking where their “Sir” is. Thanks to my before so-called “mean girls” now my “angels” who taught me a lot of things and supported me all along my work. I performed well in every interaction I made. A very nice feeling arises when they say I am better than the suspended one in all ways, predominantly on the things to put aside and the files to attach with. I even heard them saying I might replace him in his position. It was a great honor for me to hear with the intention of their wordings.
When the suspended one came back and begins to do his job, I feel intimidated as well as felt pity for him. He is always been the talk of the people and the meeting. He had to adjust on my work and always been compared to me. There comes a time he asked me to do his resignation letter and submit it to the HR Manager. I don’t know what happened next. Anyways, I should also thank him for a time he had given me opportunities and special treatment though I am kinda nasty to him.
On the job proper, sometimes, I was always tasked to go per department and announce some informations. Most of the employees were asking me that was beyond me knowledge. Thanks I can handle the situation because before the task, I keep on asking a lot of questions or better yet to tell that my ears are open to ideas.
I also handled the test administration, assessment and initial interview. At first I am kind of nervous and somewhat excited. I do the calling the applicants and set appointments for their test, plus to say that I knew that they are all degree holder, not only that but they are all registered and licensed in the profession they take. The test proper was boring. I was only instructing them what to do and what was the test all about; the rest, I am going to wait them finish their examination with a minimum of 3hours without any distractions to be made. I can’t survive in this kind of nature of administration- I thought.
By self-realization, I grow morally and maturely. I handled situation easily. I can interact with people whom I don’t know without any effort of practicing what to say, which I absolutely can’t do before.
From the entire things I learned from my on-the-job-training, I never neglected that I choose Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines as my firm above any opt. The learning came inevitably or not, expected or not, I received it pleasurably and not counting it but by living it in within my future. I meet my career aim which is to have an essential experience about the nature of the work in the future that will contribute to my knowledge and skills.
