I'm a student and want to learn from you, can you teach me run business?

Yes. It's my priviledge to be your mentor as long as you have an open mind and heart to teach you the basic and advance learning in business.

I'm a student and I enroll mentorship to you. Does it credit to my business administration subject as an apprentice?

Yes. Let us know if you have that intent since we will write to your Dean informing him/her of your intent and how many hours do you need to be trained with equivalent units. At the end of your semester, our office will issue you a certificate of completion to us.

Strength

J.K. Rowling has been more successful in writing fiction books than any person who has ever lived. But her life has always been successful. I was reading her life story and she made a statement on a Minute with Maxwell that I want to give you because it’s a "strength statement". Here’s what she said “Rock bottom became a solid foundation in which I rebuild my life”, the very fact that she said that she rebuild her life tells you that her first life got destroyed, taken down, in fact not taken down but taken rock bottom down. 

You see during the crisis we ask ourselves a very human question, a question like how bad will this get, how long would this take, how long will I have to go through this? You see the answer is probably worse than you think in some way, probably it may take long more than you think, but it’s okay because what you really want to do is you want to go down through that stuff to get the rock because when you get down something that is solid then you can literally build. 

I hope what’s happening in your life and my life during these difficult times is that we’re allowing life to take us deep. Because as we go deep trust me sooner or later you find a rock, and when you have that, that’s a foundation, you can rebuild your life on.  

Hiring FAQ: Can you explain your employment gap?

Back in 1998 up to the year 2000 for almost two years that I have no work. But during this time I created a work for myself as I withdraw my last money through my bank account to buy an oven and other materials that are going to use for making "pandesal" (salted bread). I posted a sign outside the gate of our house that we're selling pandesal with the talent that was shared by my mom's churchmate who's willing to teach me baking. From there on it was the birth of Pandeli. What I have learned from that experience in order to survive, I need to be open to acquire new skills, setting aside shame and self-pity, and all I need is to be strong, courageous and be confident in the new skill I've acquired.

Don't be shy to discuss the information on the gap that you have lost from employment, but instead tell the truth, honestly, sincerely to the interviewer of what happened and what kind of learning that you have learned during the period of the gap.

Hiring FAQ: Tell me about a time you were successful on a team?

Hiring people is difficult and to blend them all together, you have at least a hint of basic psychology to scan individual differences and how they can work together in harmony. Though sometimes as I wear the hat of human resource personnel in hiring people, I misjudge people who join but good thing I create a culture for them to work with harmony. I give them monthly evaluations and also each of them evaluates each other and with that kind of strategy, they behave and move forward to a common goal.

When you are asked with this kind of question there are 3 key principles. What is the problem? What is the action you made? What is the result of your action? Like in my answer above the problem is their individual differences, and my action is to select the right fit of each personnel based on my personal judgment and to create a culture that they will follow and evaluate for follow-through. The result is harmony as they work towards a common goal.

Hiring FAQ: Tell me about a time you showed leadership?

I remember when we acquired an existing business, these are from my wife's family side. There's no one to take the lead, so what I did was I took the initiative to do all necessary things that at day one when we take over we have the system to follow. Even his cousin the owner of the previous business was surprised that after we take the business it takes off. It's like a 100% increase in sales.

There are 3 keys to answer this question. What is the situation? What action did you make?  And the results of your action, you can indicate a percentage, or figures to give them metrics idea, so that they can gauge the result of your action.

Hiring FAQ: Why do you want to work here?

Why do you want to work here?

I believe that there are career development and future to this company and with my talents, gifts, and abilities, I may contribute to the company's success.

One liner will do but if you have anything to say you may add to. Resist the temptation that the reason why you work for the company is because of the extra perks that they give aside from your salary that you will receive and your 13th month.

But offer what you can contribute, besides they will be hiring you because of what you can give to the company to provide solutions to their existing problems, and with you, they expect that it will ease their problems and or tasks.

Hiring FAQ: Why Should I hire you?

Putting all 3-4 personal qualities of you is essential to answer this question. Also sharing your success story from your previous employment and what you have contributed is also essential. Be sensitive not to overrate yourself the reason they will hire you but be authentic about yourself since they want to know if you're the right fit for the job.

Why should I hire you?
An example of my answer based on myself is...

I'm resilient, sensitive, easy to adjust to the environment, can get along to most people I meet during my employment. I never recall I met people whom I didn't get along with. With regards to the job, I am teachable, open and can easily absorb information that is related to my tasks and others.

I also contributed ideas and strategies to improve the business system from my previous work like providing manual forms in order to track down transactions and reduce pilferage.

2-3 sentences will do to answer the question directly, concise, but with meaning.

Hiring FAQ: What is your greatest weakness? Insensitive

Be sure when you asked about your weakness it may not be taken against you. I remember when I worked with Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) I'm not sensitive to the needs of others, as long as I finished my duties, I have this in mind to relax and take it easy and ignoring that I need to help others, I thought to work in a company is about fulfilling your work and that's it regardless if others are suffering from their work alone without the help of others.

Our store manager caught my attention and she brought all the details that I needed to do, including helping others if necessary, because we're a team. I got to my senses and it's like a fog blocking my eyes fall out, I listen to her, and applied what she said to me to change, and it makes all difference in my career, that I even became an A1 staff that with the lack of any position, I can go and relieve them from dining to kitchen, all around. 

My insensitivity was transformed into being sensitive to the needs of others and is a vital character that we need to develop as an ordinary employee or as the president of the company.

Hiring FAQ: What is Your Greatest Strength? Resilience

Be sure when you are asked during the interview like this you are confident that you have this virtue because when you say so and you just only bluff it may take against you during your evaluation. Like in my instance my strength is resilience since I remember during college days in order to support my studies as a self-supporting student, I have to find a job in order to sustain my education. So I tirelessly apply from one company to another, yes I failed too many times during tests and interview but there are companies and human resource personnel who believe in my capacity to work so I got admitted to their company as a sales representative.

In sales, in order for me to thrive, you have to close sales and bring something to the company. So I knock on each door of offices in Makati. I have even map to track down the streets and buildings as I do my cold canvassing, when I am turned down, I pick up myself and knock again to another office.

My co-member noticed me during my time with toastmasters as I failed the evaluation, I didn't show any remorse but thank him for the things that I needed to improve on my speech and he highlights my strength and that is resilience.

Hiring Frequently Asked Questions: Tell Me About Yourself

Most of our job interviews when we're asked by the interviewers we thought that when we're asked to tell about yourself means your name, your status, your education, your experience but it's more than that relates to your whole personality, qualifications, and your intentions.

The interviewer asked you three things and that is who you are? Why are you are qualified? Why you are here? So I made a sample script to ready myself when I'm asked by the interviewer. You can also make your script similar to this according to your fit. So here it goes.

Who you are?
Hi! I'm Ruel Luna, married, and I have 30 years of experience from various business industries, like food, non-profit, export organization, service, and trading.


Why are you qualified?
I got awarded as the best employee, best free home delivery service coordinator, and have more certifications for my talents.


Why you are here?
I'm a person who's committed to making a contribution to company success with my technical expertise in administration and with my exposure to many different fields of business.