Does acing the licensure exams matter in getting a job? Board topnotchers share their experiences

Luna Salanio

Luna Cajilig Salanio ranked first at the September 2022 Social Worker (SW) Licensure Examination with an 88.80% rating.

After topping the boards, the University of the Philippines Diliman graduate now works as the sole HIV Social Worker at the Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines, Inc., serving its four Save and Improve Lives (SAIL) Clinics at the National Capital Region at Region 4A. 

Luna also teaches at some review centers to help future professionals study for their licensure exams. “Nagtuturo rin ako sa ilang mga review centers para sa mga susunod na kukuha ng Social Worker Licensure Exam. Kung wala namang trabaho or sideline, madalas ay nagbabasa lamang ako ng mga libro, naglalaro ako volleyball kasama ang mga kaibigan sa UP Diliman, at lumalabas kasama ang pamilya at mga kaibigan,” she told L!fe. 

According to Luna, her rating significantly helped her in securing a job. She, however, stressed that her passion to help people made her thrive the most, especially since she mainly works for the marginalized. 

“Malaki ang naging tulong ng naging tagumpay ko sa nakaraang September 2022 SWLE para sa aking pag-aaply sa trabaho noon pero higit pa roon, sinisikap ko rin na naroroon sa mga ginagawa ko ang aking puso at pagnanais na makatulong sa kapwa, lalo na sa mga sektor ng lipunan na namumuhay sa laylayan at kahirapan. Ito marahil ang ilan sa mga bagay na nakatulong rin para sa aking paghahanap ng trabaho,” she said.

Jhoone Nacario

Jhoone Nacario topped the Certified Public Accountant Licensure Exam with an 88.83% rating in May 2022.

The University of Santo Tomas alumna, who graduated cum laude, now works as an external auditor.

For her, topping the CPALE turned out to be an advantage in her career. “Topping the board exam opened a lot of opportunities for me which I am really grateful for,” she told L!fe.

Franz Joshua Pingol

Franz Joshua Pingol from Polytechnic University of the Philippines topped the August 2022 Mechanical Engineer Licensure Examination with a rating of 95.35%.

Aside from working as a reliability engineer with a focus on rotating equipment in an oil and gas company, he also works part-time for an online review center to help students prepare for their mechanical engineering board exam.  

“We teach a small group of board takers in an online setup and at an affordable price. Most of our students are working while reviewing,” he said in an interview with L!fe.

Topping the board exam did not just help Franz secure a job—it also opened so many doors for him. “Although many companies offered interviews after the results, I just had to decline some of them because it was not the path I wanted to take for my career as an ME,” he shared. 

“I did not graduate with Latin honors, that's why I really wanted to excel in the board exams because I believed it would really help me advance my career as a fresh graduate back then and somehow it really did,” he added. 

Franz, however, stressed that topping the board exam is not the sole factor that employers consider when they review job applications. 

“Of course, board exams are not just the basis for most companies. Some may require a specific cut-off for GWA to be even entertained for an interview, some are looking for student leaders in their universities,” he said.

“So there's really more to it in engineering than just the board exams. There are many ways to become a competitive applicant as a new engineer here in our country. Acing the exams was just really a personal testament that I can achieve great things when I put my heart and mind into it,” he concluded. 

Eloisa Magsino

Eloisa Magsino from the Lyceum of the Philippines University - Batangas ranked third at the Radiologic Technologist Licensure Examination held in December 2022, garnering a score of 89.40%.  

“It’s a bit unexpected as some parts of the examination were difficult and we barely studied some of the topics that were included,” she recalled with L!fe. 

Talking about the feat, Eloisa was surprised by her ranking, especially since she did not graduate with Latin honors. “I didn’t make it to the list of students with Latin honors because of three subjects, pero totoo nga na may mas magandang ibibigay sa’yo si Lord. I’m still on cloud nine, hindi ko ineexpect na magiging topnotcher ako,” she wrote in a Facebook post. 

Currently working as a junior MRI technologist at Makati Medical Center, Eloisa is now hoping to pass the fifth-month evaluation to attain regular employee status at the hospital.

Looking back at her job-hunting journey, Eloisa said that it wasn’t that difficult to land a job after the boards since her line of profession is in demand. She, however, stressed how other factors also played a part in securing the role she has now, not solely relying on the high percentage she attained during the boards. 

“Having a high percentage is indeed a good qualification and will help you during the application process. But, let’s remember that academic performance is a little different from clinical practice,” she stressed. 

“The opportunities should be equally distributed to all the passers of the profession, as board rating alone was not the only basis for employment,” added Eloisa.

Carmel Rose Rolloque

Carmel Rose Rolloque topped the October 2022 Chemist Licensure Examination with a 91.30% rating.  

She's an instructor at the Institute of Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Chemistry.  

Carmel began working as a chemistry content writer even before her graduation. She still does so as she stays on top of her business ventures.

“I work as a part-time remote chemistry content writer, a side hustle that I already started when I was still a college student. I also have established a few businesses that are currently being managed by my relatives,” she told L!fe. 

“Since I already have a job prior to the licensure exam, I was not able to take advantage of it for job applications. Nonetheless, I did receive several job offers from various companies and institutions,” she shared. 

John Martin Rivera Cirio

John Martin Rivera Cirio topped the August and September 2022 Mining Engineer Licensure Examination with an 89.40% rating.

After graduating magna cum laude and being the valedictorian of the mining engineering program at UP Diliman in 2020, Cirio now works as a planning engineer for research and development for Philsaga Mining Corporation, specializing in the optimization of processes such as level planning as well as research and development.

In an interview with the UP Diliman Information Office, Cirio shared that although topping the board exam made employers recognize his name easily, he said that it was "just one of many factors" that were considered during his application. 

“I think that there is a small bearing. The companies still look for other important aspects such as experience, training, skills, etc.,” he said.

Harold Andre Teodoro Puig

Harold Andre Teodoro Puig topped the October 2022 Electronics Engineer Licensure Examination, with a rating of 91.10%.

The UP Diliman summa cum laude was among the 785 out of the 2,644 takers who passed the board exam last year. He now works as a technology vision development officer for one of the premier information technology solutions companies in the country.

Recalling his job search with the UP Diliman Information Office, Harold said that the employers considered his academic background more than his exam score when they reviewed his application.

“I think that the top ranking in the licensure exam may have helped but I believe that those who offered jobs to me gave more importance to my academic background and skills," he said.