Recap: Last time, I shared how I ended up in a BPO job right after engineering — a path that was equal parts random bus ride and impulse-fuelled decision-making. It wasn't what I'd planned, but it set the stage for what came next.
Welcome to Chapter 3
Fast forward to my first job switch: I joined a new company where, somehow, the starting line was the same whether you had a decade of experience or just a year like me. Got hired in Batch 5 — I was officially the new "kid" of the team.
No beard didn't help either. My teammates were quick to remind me I looked too young to be on the team. Even after scoring monthly performance awards on repeat, the "kid" label was almost impossible to shake.
Beards and "Adulting"
So what do I do? Simple (or maybe dumb): grow a beard. Because in the world of adulting, sometimes a beard is just what you need to level up.
I attempted two interviews and tests to get promoted to a tech lead level. Rejected. Twice. Reasons? Still a mystery.
It was one of those "Was joining a BPO the right move?" moments. (Edit from 2024: I had this thought at least 20 times each year — more details in upcoming posts.)
Stay Tuned
Am I learning resilience, or am I just taking beard-growing a bit too seriously? Guess we'll find out in the next chapter.