As soon as the “send” button is clicked, your application materials enter the digital void and are transferred into the inboxes of recruiters. Whether you’re a student applying for an internship or you’re a young professional searching for new opportunities, that process remains the same. But what happens next? What happens to the materials we pour our crafts and hard work into?

Often, we rarely get a glimpse of the person who receives our application—the person on the other end of the screen who influences the decision of whether we receive an offer.

Gepay Bautista is no stranger to the recruiting process. Currently, she’s an HR Consultant for a tech company, carrying with her decades of experience in working within the realm of HR—now commonly referred to as talent acquisition—and a master’s degree in guidance and counseling. She has headed initiatives that influence almost 5,000 volunteers for her church. 

The recruiting process often remains a mystery to applicants, and when the results are released, even more so. But as applications are processed, Gepay underscores the importance of knowing that the recruitment process is often assessed both ways.

“From an HR perspective, what we look for first is somebody who is interested in the industry or in the business that we [the company] are in,” Gepay explains. “And then of course the other one is, ‘will this person learn something from us also?’” For companies, the process goes beyond just hiring another intern or employee; it’s also a strategic effort in ensuring that the company, in a sense, can foster learning for those who enter their fold—especially in today’s generation where companies are encouraged to implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. 

Do’s and Don’t’s

When asked about skills she hopes more applicants would focus on, her response is simple: communication skills. But, she isn’t just talking about speaking in English. “Communication is important and communication is not just speaking,” Gepay emphasizes,” it’s the way you carry yourself.” From how you dress to the manner you carry yourself to her, it speaks volumes to the kind of person you are before you even open your mouth. 

As for the red flags they look out for as a recruiter, Gepay highlights what they call “tumbleweeds”, or people who constantly jump from one company to another. From a recruiter’s standpoint, she shares how this raises concerns, as it often reflects certain behavioural concerns of the applicant. Thus, underscoring how important the interview stage of the recruiting process is, as it allows the recruiter to gain better insight and produce a better evaluation.

But, beyond the technicalities and details outlined in resumes and CVs, Gepay underscores the importance of character and integrity. That, beyond your connections or academic affiliations, it’s your character and demeanor as an applicant that often dictates hireability and longevity in the professional world. “So, your school will open doors for you. It will also challenge you,” Gepay shares, ”You prove them wrong, prove them wrong or prove them right. And all that is at the end of the day, your school will just open the door. It won’t keep it open.”

A similar theme applies when asked about how individuals can build and maintain connections within the industry—regardless of where they are in their journey. “It goes back to our character. So just guard that,”  Gepay explains. “ If people know your character to be one of integrity, to be one of hard work, to be one of diligence, it will come off, and people will notice.” For her, she sees consistency, especially in the effort to maintain professionalism, as a way to set yourself apart wherever you are. 

Human Touch

On a more personal level, as a mother to five children—three of whom are currently in the creative industry—Gepay shares how her own interactions with her children impact her work as a recruiter.  “Personally, for me, I have extra points for them. Because I know that it took a lot of extra work, extra time, extra discipline, extra practice for them to achieve that academic accolade on top of their passion for the arts, “ Gepay reveals. 

As a parent and professional, her hope for the next generation is that, amidst all that is laid out for them, they make the world a better place. 

“I hope that the children, the younger generation, will use the opportunities and the skills they have right now to make the world a better place. It sounds like a Miss Universe answer, right?,” Gepay shares with a laugh. “But sometimes you get all these, you get all these opportunities, access to technology, access to information, and it’s all self-serving. And it’s not necessarily wrong, but I think there is a bigger picture; there will be more focus on the community that they are part of.”