Chapter 19: Outdated Credentials

Chapter 19: Outdated Credentials

The following day, Loreen woke up early and packed some food before heading out.

"Wow, the sky is so clear!"

She was glad her unit had a good view of the surroundings. She stayed on the balcony to enjoy the clear sky and the sunrise. 

Soaking in the sun early in the morning gave her a lot of energy like a plant experiencing photosynthesis.

With a good start to the day, she had her meal and set out.

She headed to the cemetery to visit her grandparents' graves for the first time in what felt like forever. 

Despite the years that passed, her grandparents graves were good as new. The grave attendants had maintained its cleanliness and had repainted it over the years.

Loreen was relieved that someone took good care of these while she was away. She had been worried about it, but her fears and denial kept her from returning here.

After all the years that passed, she had finally accepted that her only family members were indeed dead, and she was all alone in this world.

"Hi, Grandma, Grandpa. I'm so sorry it took me so long to visit you," Loreen knelt beside their graves and placed the flowers she bought.

"So many things have happened since you were gone.

"I'm done with my bachelors and masters degree. 

"I was taking up my doctorate when I got pregnant and got married.

"But now, I am divorced. 

"I'm here in our hometown after everything. 

"This time, I hope I could remain as true to my principles as you were."

Loreen stayed in the cemetery for half a day, updating her grandparents about her life as if they could hear her.

But she felt like she had run out of tears that she did not even cry as she told them about her divorce after three years of marriage. 

When she was done with her story, she just sat beside their graves and looked at the mountains in the distance. 

It further dawned on her how much this town transformed a lot. On this part of the town, only the cemetery was left to have trees on it. 

Everything else was filled with towering buildings and left and right were business establishments. 

It felt so nostalgic. She realized she was growing older. 

It felt like it was just yesterday when she was a kid playing around in her grandparents' garden but now, she had to rent an apartment here.

The days and years Sera bullied her had also gone by. Sera may have a part in her divorce now, but Loreen was too tired of her and everything Sera had done to her to fear her again.

"She must be happy now that Ed and I are no longer together. I hope she's satisfied and not do it to anyone else," Loreen sighed in exasperation. She hoped and prayed that girl would mature soon for everyone's wellbeing.

On her way back to her apartment, Loreen started to look for posts about jobs for hire and inquired on some. 

And this was what she got…

"I'm so sorry, Ms. Garcia, you are not eligible for this job."

"We are not hiring."

"Someone just got the job."

"We need someone who have held the same job title recently."

"You had good experience three years ago. But your credentials are outdated."

"Please do not apply for the job if your credentials are not qualified."

Loreen learned the hard way that her credentials no longer fit for the past salary she had with the NGO she once worked for. 

Meaning, she would have to work for a lower salary. She wanted to cry or scream but she simply sighed deeply.

Loreen needed to swallow her pride and start in beginner level positions again since her experience and qualifications were outdated.

She had no recent seminars or trainings either because she was a housewife for three years. 

Moreover, almost all those who were hiring wanted someone already proficient in the job. They did not want to train newbies.

She thought only the capital was like this. But even her hometown had turned this way. 

'Where would fresh grads go then if everyone wanted those with recent experience?'

 Loreen was rather frustrated with it. 

When she was a fresh graduate, she already had experience since she worked in several part time jobs. Thus, she was immediately accepted when she applied for jobs, and she got to choose where she wanted to go. 

But if she did not have experience back then, she wouldn't have gotten hired so quickly either.

She had worked for years after that and gained more experience.

Yet now, she had to begin again since everyone wanted to hire people with recent experience who held job titles related to the position vacant in their company.

Loreen was sure she could do the job well. But they did not believe she could, nor did they want to waste their precious time testing someone when they could just pick from the other applicants instead.

'I was naïve. Of course, it would be hard. Nothing in this world is easy,' she did her best to keep her motivation.

But days passed and nobody called in all the openings she applied for.

Having no job made her restless and worried about her budget.

Thus, she cast away her shame and pride and decided to walk in on offices and ask for vacant positions even when they had no post online or at their bulletin boards about vacancies.

Still, everyone was the same. They wanted someone with recent experience related to the job. And hers was considered too long ago even if it was just three years ago. 

"She was a housewife for three years. She might become a burden on us."

"She did nothing else but stay at home. We cannot trust her for the job."

Loreen even received frowns when they heard she was a housewife for three years. 

They were visibly doubtful if she would be able to do a good job. But they were not willing to test her. It was a waste of time for them, so she did not insist. 

She knew she could do a good job, but she would do it only for a company that was willing to hire her despite her lack of recent experience.