From Mavis, With Hate

“MISS Mavis Policarpio?”

            Mavis straightened her back immediately when someone called up her name. She almost fell asleep in the waiting area.

Today’s her interview at Dela Vega Corporation for the executive assistant position. DV Corp. is the top company when it comes to real estate holdings, financials and infrastructure in the country. They also own the most well-known malls and hotels. That’s why being the executive assistant in this big corporation is the most coveted job in the country.

            At least, Mavis covets that position especially the seventy thousand pesos plus benefits that they are offering. She has never thought that the executive assistants’ salary in the DV Corp. is that huge. If she only knew earlier, she would’ve applied there sooner than later. She knows that she’s going to be a “mere slave” if she got accepted, but she’s going to do everything to have a salary as big as that in one month.

            “Miss, do you have any idea on what department does the boss I’m applying to handles? The details was not in the job posting,” she asked the receptionist.

            “There’s only one person who needs EA here. Our CEO,” the receptionist simply replied as if job hiring for an executive assistant is a daily occurrence there. Mavis was scared to ask why. “Good luck. But because you’re the only person who’s applying for the position right now, they might just choose you.”

            That’s… great news? Is what Mavis wanted to say but because of what the receptionist said, it feels like she shouldn’t celebrate it. What kind of CEO do they have?

You need the money so you should celebrate! The desperate part of her said. So she just cheered herself up.

The receptionist pointed at the room where the interview will be held. It’s inside the HR office.

Before Mavis could even enter, she breathed out a deep sigh and she made sure that she’s still wearing her skirt and polo properly.

            She’s a Business Administration graduate at St. Martin’s University. She graduated magna cum laude. If you graduated with honors at SMU, you’re instantly going to receive job opportunities. But because she earned more at Avira—a call center agency—than the offers she had previously received, she chose to continue working there. Ever since second year college, she has already been working part time at Avira.

            Mavis has worked for seven years at Avira. She was managing two account there—one for email support and one for telecommunications. She had been a team manager for four years in Avira. But it was time to leave them. She wanted to resign because the working environment that their account have was not healthy for her anymore. It is unlikely that an office will lose the quarrel of some co-workers. But that wasn’t the situation in their office when she was just starting their account compared to today so she wasn’t used to it. 

Ever since one of her colleagues got promoted, that person changed and her other colleagues didn’t like it. If it were just for that, Mavis can ride along with it. But ever since the salary system in Avira changed, she voiced out her objections especially that she’s in need of money. It would be better if her salary is huge, but it is not. It’s already not financially rewarding, then to add to that is the stress with your co-workers and mostly the requirement of the clients.

            More than that, she needed a much better paying job. Firstly, they’re still in a huge debt because of the expenses that they used in the treatment of their late mother. Even though it’s already been three years since she died, they still haven’t paid their debts. That’s also the reason why she needs to look for other jobs. So that she no longer needs to ask her father for money.

            Second, someone runaway with the one million peso from the gasoline station that her father’s handling in their province that’s why she’s looking for a source to get that kind of money. The two of them are the only ones who has work because her two siblings are still studying. Her older sister—May—couldn’t look for a job because she couldn’t get a NBI clearance. She was in debt to a credit card company that she used to work at and she still hasn’t finished paying. She’s only been doing sideline jobs at the moment. She couldn’t take a loan in the bank in fear of ending up like her sister.

            And finally, Mavis’ savings are all used up because her younger sister—Caela—was admitted in the hospital. The reason? Broken heart. Because her three years relationship with her boyfriend ended. She couldn’t handle the break-up that’s why she experienced seizure. According to the doctor it was Psychogenic seizure. They were in the hospital for days that’s why her savings were all used up. Their youngest sister—Kaye—wanted to stop studying so that she can work. But she didn’t agree because she needs the degree more.

            So you see, she needed that job. And by hook or by crook, she’s going to get it. She will ace this interview. Even though she still hasn’t slept yet because she’s the night shift. Just two more days left and her rendering in Avira will end. She’s going to be a normal human being again.

            “Good morning,” Mavis calmly said with a smile to the HR Manager of the DV Corporation—Daena Jade Chua.

She was surprised to see that their age was not that far from each other. Actually, they might be in the same age. She’s a tall woman dressed in a black ensemble and cool red hair. She’s giving out that girl crush vibe. Mavis likes her already. She just hopes that she would like her as well.

            “Miss Policarpio?” Mavis nodded. “Okay, have a seat. Would you mind waiting for a few minutes? We’ll just wait for our boss since he’ll be joining this interview.”

            She suddenly felt nervous. But she maintained her calm. “Sure. No worries,” she replied still smiling.

            “This isn’t part of the interview, but I heard that you’ve worked at a call center agency?” Miss Chua curiously asked.

            “Yes, Ma’am. I’ve been on email support and customer service during my tenure in Avira.”

            “I see. Was your account inbound?”

            “Yes.”

            “So, you like, answer to irate customers, right? And being a team manager, I think when the call goes to you, it’s more stressful than the supervisory level. How do you handle that?”

            “Well, we follow a set of guidelines and rules that we can bend for the sake of making our customers happy. But I think the key factor in calming irate customers down is to listen to them vent first. Assurance comes next. And when you take action, you really have to take action to finally resolve their problem. Believe it or not, it’s not that hard to handle manager calls. You just have to be friendly, be assertive, be responsive and be smart.”

            “How would you be friendly to someone who’s calling you names? I heard, a lot of customer service representatives go through discrimination and humiliation on most days.”

            Is this not the interview already?

            “I don’t take it personally. Honestly, I feel for them. `Cause most of the times, it’s not really their fault that they have bad service. It’s usually the network’s fault. I just take what they’re throwing at me and own up to it. You have to silently compromise and visualize that what they’re going through is far worse than what you’re going through. You have to own up to it. Be a brand ambassador yourself. You must have a huge amount of patience and humility to get the job done. And you know what, after all the name calling and discrimination? You’ll still win in the end because then, they’ll thank you. Because you’ve solved their concern.”

            Miss Chua was stunned with her, before she broke out into a smile and she applauded her. “Wow! Can I tell you what my first impression on you is?” She nodded. “I thought you’re weak and submissive. And when I throw you to the wolf, you’ll be easily eaten out. I guess not,” she said with a smile.

            “I was once told that sometimes, the steeliest resolve is asserted silently,” she replied with a smile. Thank you, Sarah J. Maas! She needs to build up herself that’s why Mavis didn’t say that she’s sometimes impulsive. But she really prides herself for being hardworking and determined.

            “Awesome! I—”

            “Did you already started without me?”

            They both looked at the newcomer simultaneously. She saw a man in a suit who looked to be in his mid-forties. He still looked handsome even though he was frowning and quite aged.

Is he going to be her boss? If ever.

            “We’re just having a little chat, boss,” Miss Chua said.

Mavis was surprised because the girl crush-looking woman she had seen earlier seemed to suddenly fold and become submissive.

            Sh*t! Should I be scared?

            “Miss Policarpio, this is Mr. David Castillo, our boss. Boss, this is one of our new applicants,” Miss Chua introduced them to each other.

            Mr. David Castillo studied her from head to toe with intimidation. But instead of being intimidated, she looked at the man straight in the eyes. Soon, he smiled at her. There’s no malice in his gaze. Mavis feels like the man is just testing her. They shook each other’s hands, and after that, he sat down in front of her. Miss Chua handed him her resume, which he immediately looked into.

            “Hmm… With these mediocre files, why do you think I should hire you? You don’t have any experience in being an administrative assistant yet,” Mr. Castillo frankly asked her.

            The job description that the DV Corp. posted does not indicate that they need to have experience in being an administrative assistant and that’s what these they are looking for their EAs. So Mavis still tried to apply. She knew that Mr. Castillo was still trying to intimidate her, so she just smiled at him.

            “It’s not on paper, but I’ve been my former account manager’s assistant for years. I’ve always done his bidding. I might not have been officially trained as an administrative assistant, but I’ve handled jobs far more demanding and difficult than what’s written in the job description of your supposed EA. I’m confident that I’ll not only do the job well. But I’ll be able to stay here in the long run. Hardworking is such a cliché word during interviews. But I’m a cliché.” She smiled at Mr. Castillo and Miss Chua for emphasis. “I will not only be hardworking, but I’ll also be flexible for whatever the business and the executive demands from me.”  

            “Really? Even if it means having sleepovers in the office? No vacations and off-days?” Mr. Castillo asked her as if challenging her.

            I’m used to that. It’s hard to file for leave at the call center.

            “Yes. With the amount of money you’re going to pay me, isn’t that obvious?” Mavis answered frankly.

            Call her desperate or whatever. And believe it or not, she already expected to lose her rest days if ever she worked as an executive. Most especially that it is one of the big corporation. 

            “You’re hired and your first job is to have dinner with me,” Mr. Castillo said.

            Seriously? Her heart dropped in disappointment.