APPLICANT ARRIVES DRY AND MUD-FILLED FOR HELPING WITH A BREAKDOWN IN CAR — HR MANAGER FIRES HIM, BUT EVERYONE STOPS WHEN THE CEO HUGS HIM AND SAYS “YOU’RE HIRED!”

Carlo has been unemployed for a long time. This is his last hope—an interview with Omega Corp, the largest company in the city. He takes out his only suit that he has been hiding in the trunk. It’s his only decent outfit.

“I need to get this for Mom’s medicine,” Carlo mutters to himself as he adjusts his tie.

As he walks to the car, a heavy rain suddenly falls. The road is flooded.

In the middle of the flood, Carlo sees an old man struggling to push his stalled car. No one is helping him. Passing cars are honking their horns in anger.

Carlo looked at his watch. The interview was only 30 minutes away.

He looked at his suit. If he helped, he would definitely get dirty.

Carlo hesitated. If I helped, I might not get the job because of my appearance. But if I left this old man, he might have a heart attack from exhaustion.

Carlo’s heart won out.

“Dad! Let me help you!” Carlo shouted into the rain.

Carlo stepped into the flood. Mud and oil splashed onto his white polo shirt and black slacks. His shoes were soaked.

They pushed the car until they reached a safe place with a roof.

“Thank you, son,” the old man said as he wiped the windshield. “You fell from the sky. What’s your name?”

“Carlo,” Carlo quickly replied. “Sorry, I can’t chat anymore. I’m late for my job interview. I’ll leave you!”

Carlo ran. Wet. Rude. Full of mud.

When Carlo arrived at Omega Corp, the employees in the lobby stared at him. He was dirty. He left a trail of mud on the shiny floor.

“Excuse me,” the Receptionist said with disgust. “Are you a delivery boy? The way is in the back.”

“N-no,” Carlo gasped. “I’m an applicant. I have a schedule with Mr. Go.”

He went up to the office. When he entered the interview room, there was Mr. Go, the HR Manager who was known for his gruff demeanor.

Mr. Go looked Carlo from head to toe.

“What’s that?” Mr. Go shouted. “This is a Corporate Office, not a pig pen! What kind of respect do you have? You’re going to an interview looking like that?!”

“Sir, sorry,” Carlo explained. “I helped an old man who got hurt in the rain—”

“Reasons! You’re just making excuses!” Mr. Go interrupted. “I don’t care about your reasons. All I see is a sloppy person, undisciplined, and unprofessional. Get out! You are rejected!”

“Sir, you seem to have mercy on me. I’m qualified. Please look at my resume,” Carlo pleaded.

Mr. Go threw Carlo’s resume into the trash.

“Guards! Get this guy out!”

The guard was about to grab Carlo when the door to the Executive Office suddenly opened.

“WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?”

A baritone voice rang out.

The owner of the company—Don Eduardo Omega—entered.

Mr. Go immediately stood up and bowed. “Good morning, Sir Eduardo! Sorry for the noise. We were just evicting a… trashy applicant.”

Don Eduardo looked at Carlo.

The CEO’s eyes widened.

Carlo was surprised. The CEO… he was the old man he helped in the flood earlier! He was now wearing dry clothes.

“Trash?” Don Eduardo asked Mr. Go.

Don Eduardo walked closer to Carlo. Mr. Go thought the CEO would also scold Carlo.

But… Don Eduardo hugged the wet and muddy Carlo. He didn’t care about getting his expensive suit dirty.

“Sir?” Mr. Go asked in surprise.

“Carlo,” Don Eduardo smiled. “I told you, you were in a hurry to come here earlier.”

Don Eduardo turned to face all the staff.

“This man… the reason he’s covered in mud is because he went into the flood to push my car. He put the safety of a stranger before his own interview. He sacrificed his image to help.”

Don Eduardo looked at Mr. Go sharply.

“Mr. Go, we are looking for an employee, right?”

“Y-yes Sir…”

“Skills, that can be learned. Intelligence, that can be studied. But kindness of heart and concern for others? That can’t be taught. That’s born.”

Don Eduardo picked up Carlo’s resume from the trash and shook it.

“Carlo,” said the CEO. “You don’t need to interview.”

“P-po?” Carlo asked.

“Because you are HIRED. You will start tomorrow as my Executive Assistant. I want someone I can trust by my side.”

Carlo burst into tears. “Thank you, Sir! Thank you very much!”

“And you, Mr. Go,” the CEO turned to the HR Manager. “Pack your things. You’re fired. I don’t want an employee who only looks at the outside and has no heart.”

That day, Carlo returned home still wet and muddy, but with the best news for his mother. He proved that true professionalism is not seen in the jacket he wears, but in how you treat your neighbor in times of need.