Michael Salim – Marketing, Social Media Management

I was manufactured and packaged in Manila, Philippines. Then when I was about one year old, I was shipped to Indonesia and spent the next eleven years in this foreign land. Every time my dad got promoted, my family and I moved from one place to another. The shortest time I ever stayed at school was less than a semester. My father took the leap for a job and moved to the United States, but he didn’t stay long enough, maybe because of company culture or he was missing home.

For the next 15 years, my mum, brother, and I lived in California. The very first job, more like a few hours of a gig paid under the table, I was standing in the corner of the street holding a sign for a haircutter place where my mum worked. I started working during my sophomore year at McDonald’s then Burger King. Through my college years, I also worked at one of the franchise offices of Burger King. Being a student in the states, it’s common to be a part-time student and working full time. I won’t spend much going through my work history, I’m sure you’ll read through my resume.

Anywhere in the world, where a company provides service, “customer is king.” Without them, there is no funds to put food on the table, run the electricity, and provide a roof on the ceiling. Give them the best value for their money, because they also worked hard to earn the money they’re spending with you. Customers have the power to direct where your business is heading. One bad experience and the internet will hear about it. On the other hand, one positive experience can go viral on social media.

I am a boomerang…

In 2010 I moved back to the Philippines to continue my study. Five years ago, in January of 2016, my brother and I built an American / Italian restaurant in Baguio, the name is Red Rustikz. It is an open kitchen with excellent personalised customer service. I addressed most of the regulars by their first name. I was an octopus, working on the front-end and back-end of the business.

I self-taught on: social media marketing, targeted ads on Facebook and Instagram, SEO optimised, WordPress website, and site performance. We’re on the first page of local Google search results “brick oven pizza Baguio”, “fresh pasta”, “burger”, “sourdough,” and top five on TripAdvisor. The restaurant is running like a well-oiled machine, my towel was bigger than my ego. We had a few Philippine celebrities drop by to dine and one of them cooked in our kitchen. Check it out on Red Rustikz’s Instagram page and all the reviews on TripAdvisor, Google page, and Facebook.

At the end of 2019, we had an offer to expand in Manila. But when 2020 came, everything came crashing down. Baguio City was on hard lockdown, no public transportation, the national students moved back to their provinces, the International students left the country, and tourists were not allowed to enter the city. A customer called from the United States to arrange if we can deliver some food from the restaurant to their grandmother, as seniors are mandated to stay at home. I was happy to do so – I know how difficult it was to be alone and living far from the city. The first order was just-food. The following week, the daughter requested fruits and the medicine. Another time is for a birthday cake with handwritten notes and pocket money for the grandmother. Everything is taken care of via PayPal.

Fast forward to 2021, the city is still on lockdown, tourism is still on a halt and students are having lectures on Zoom. As of February 2021, we decided to hand the apron to someone else and let go of the restaurant due to unsustainable losses.

I started to apply for a job online, and it is still a challenge. I haven’t looked for a job for over 5 years and 90% required at least a year of call center experience. Though my hard digital skills are not extensive, I have the drive to learn and work hard on anything I get my hands on. My motto in life is “always be in someone else’s shoes,” I expect myself to do the job of what is expected from your clients.

For a copy of Michael’s resume please click here.