Meet an Insider: Frida Torres
by Paul Catiang

Last year, in April of 2004, a leading oil company set up back-office accounting operations here in Manila and approached John Clements Consultants, Inc. for help with their recruitment needs. The challenge was daunting: to fill up two floors with accounting personnel willing to work the night shift. This involved several meetings with the company’s US Process Managers to discuss job descriptions. By May, the recruitment and processing of candidates reached its height, culminating in final interviews in June. The first boarding date for the back-office operation was July 19, 2004. The honor of spearheading this monumental effort fell on Frida Torres of Professional Staffers.

“I had to adapt to the needs of the client in order to understand them better, and this meant having to learn accounting,” Frida says with the same enthusiasm that saw her the past year. She has also had to work nights to better coordinate between her client’s executives in Manila and in the US.

The greatest need lay in finding accountants to be assigned to her client’s Tax workstream, which Frida considers her most unforgettable experience in the whole process. “It was the first time I experienced the highest level of pressure in the entire time I worked with this company,” she says. This involved recruiting them at the height of the tax season, when all candidates would be busy. The first stage required Frida to come up with a shortlist of candidates to submit to the local offices. Afterwards, the list had to be complete before the US Manager came over to narrow the list further through a five-day interview period with the candidates.

“There were crying moments, and times when I felt like quitting, of course,” she reminisces, though thankfully she didn’t act on those feelings.

“I’m not very conscious of my monthly target; it’s just the icing on the cake. It’s just secondary,” Frida adds. “If you go the extra mile, if you don’t settle for mediocrity, then you’ll meet it. It’s more of meeting my clients’ needs. Their praise and recognition is the most fulfilling part.” And meet it she did, and then more. Frida Torres is 2005’s Recruitment Consultant of the Year, and was given full honors at the Annual John Clements Inc., Sales & Production Conference.

The only challenge that remains for her these days is to resume her Aikido classes, an activity she’s been doing for six years. “It’s not just the skill level,” Frida says. “It’s more than that. It’s the attitude of perseverance and patience, which is a part of Aikido training, but it’s something you can apply in all areas of life.” She remembers what her Chief Sensei once told her, during her days as a white belt: “Frida! Don’t set limits. Stand up. You can do it!” As anyone can see, it’s advice she’s taken to heart.