How To Get To Your Interview On Time (Even In Manila Traffic)
When going to a job interview, of course, you want to look good and feel your best. However, accomplishing such a feat isn’t easy, especially if you have to go through the excruciating Manila traffic just to get to your interview. Apart from possibly having to sit for more than an hour in traffic, you have to maintain your sanity amidst honking horns, angry drivers, and suicidal buses. And if you’re taking the public transportation, you have your hair, your OOTD, and your smell to worry about, because, after all, you don’t want to face your interviewer smelling like smog, right? So, here are 5 tips on how to survive the unnerving Manila traffic on your way to your job interview.
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1. Leave your house early.
The best way to beat the traffic is to leave before or after rush hours, depending on your interview schedule. But whatever you decide, leave earlier than you would usually do. Leaving early will give you enough travel time that’s long enough to make a side trip to a restroom for some touch ups on your makeup, or fix your suit before walking into the office. Plus, you won’t have to jump off the bus and run the rest of the way just to make sure you won’t be late for your appointment. Rush hours in the morning usually begin at 7 AM until 9 AM and between 11 AM to 2 PM midday in Manila. While you can never predict traffic, you can at least prepare for the
2. Take shuttles if you can.
Shuttles are far more comfortable than jeepneys, buses, and god-forbid, the MRT trains if you’re taking public transportation. They’re a little more expensive than jeepneys and trains, but still much cheaper than taking a taxi. So, if you can afford to add a little more to your transportation budget, ride a shuttle to your interview. You’ll be seated comfortably, and the ventilation is usually good. You can sit back and relax while the driver weaves his way through the EDSA. Terminals for shuttles are usually located in key locations around the city. For example, if you live in Paranaque, you can catch a shuttle going to Buendia right across Shopwise, or you can join a taxi carpool at the corner of Ayala going to Bonifacio Global City.
3. Know your route by heart before the day itself.
One of the worst things that could happen is to get lost on your way to the interview. Getting stuck in traffic once is enough, but you wouldn’t want to go through another one unnecessarily. Study your route, check Google Maps or Waze, and ask your friends the easiest way to get to the location.
4. Wear crease-free clothes and pack your heels!
Of course, you’ll want to wear your best on your interview. However, being in a vehicle for a long time can make you shift positions several times, resulting in rumpling your clothes. To avoid this, remember to choose clothes made of materials that don’t easily crease. If you’re wearing heeled shoes, wear comfortable shoes while travelling as heels can cause pressure to your legs and ankles even if you’re seated. Just pack your dress shoes and change into them when you get to the building.
5. Bring entertainment!
The ride to and back from your interview may be long. Download your favorite music or podcasts into your gadget so you can have something to listen to on the way. Listening to music can keep you relaxed and entertained while listening to a podcast may help keep you sharp and ready for your interview. From how it looks, it may take the government a while to resolve Manila traffic, but there are a lot of things you can do to survive the traffic successfully. But good jobs in Manila are worth all the hours you’ll spend fording through EDSA to get there. So, get it together and make it happen. Keep the good vibes, stay focused, and charm their pants off at your interview!
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