Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Showing posts with label call center. Show all posts
Showing posts with label call center. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Living in the Metro : Worth the Extra Expense
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| Swimming pool in the 15th floor |
I’ve been living in Metro Manila for over 6 years now. Our call center office moved from Legazpi
City, Albay to Kapitolyo, Pasig in 2007. I lived in a dormitory owned by our country
manager which costs P1, 500 per month together with officemates from Bicol who
also relocated.
I don’t have much memories of going out that time because I was
not familiar of the places around the metro. All I can remember is we used to
do a movie marathon and visit the nearby church during weekends.
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| My workstation, 2009 |
When I was a college student, I
never wished to work in the BPO industry. My perception of the people working
here is very shallow. I thought all it takes to work as a call center agent is
the ability to speak a foreign language particularly English. I said to myself
I did not finish a two-year diploma and a four-year course just to work by
taking calls from the other side of the world.
I also pitied those who are
degree holders and board passers but ends up working in call centers. I was
looking forward to land to my dream job right after college… but just like them
life has become uncontrollable if not unpredictable. Though I had a scholarship grant that helped
me finished college, my parents filled the gap of what my sponsor cannot such
as support, efforts and money for miscellaneous things. I knew I have to find a
job as soon as possible to help my family. I ate my words and chose to be
practical. I found myself applying for a job I once hate!
It’s like suicide. This is how I
describe riding the MRT at rush hour. I live in a condo unit along Edsa Ave. in
between MRT Boni and MRT Shaw. No matter how I despise riding in the MRT’s, I
still use it for two things: it is cheaper and it is the fastest way to go
around the metro. Commuting during peak hours is the most dreaded time to see a
long line of people buying tickets, a big crowd waiting for the train to stop
by and a way bigger crowd compressed inside.
I thought this is a common sight
for a public transportation system… until my trips to Singapore and Malaysia
proved me wrong. I can say that they have the best public train stations in the
world. Now if these two countries can, why can’t our government do the same? Even
during rush hours, everything is very organized. It is great to see people who
work in the office commuting rather than using a private car. I even saw one
who was checking briefly his emails via his laptop looking very secure just
like he is at his own workstation. I
mean here in our own MRT’s can anyone do this?
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| In the office, 2010 |
Actually as the company grows older each day, the rules become tight especially whenever the US economy goes down, our commission rate is lowered and any unnecessary gratifications are stopped. The worst scenario is a retrenchment.
Aside from the P1, 500 transportation allowance, I could not think of anything more. Being a senior agent, I and along with my old colleagues has also been curious about any retirement plan for us… this is the best perk for a company to give to employees who spent so many years to them. Sad to say, this benefit is always a work in progress.
When I was a kid, I did not like drinking coffee because I feel like it
does not do any good. Every morning I prefer a warm tea or milk and if these
are not available, I just grab a hot water instead.
My mom and late dad are
both coffee lovers. They cannot start a day without having one cup at breakfast
and another one in the afternoon for merienda. They have no particular brand
that they prefer, whatever that is in the nearest sari – sari store will do. We
are always budget tight, the cheapest I can remember is two pesos for a sachet
good for one drinking. But still they enjoy every sip of it so long as they
drink it really hot and strong enough to wake their senses. They’re all good
for a coffee plus sugar combination.
Their fascination for drinking coffee has never convinced me joining
their league though until I started working night shift. This is when I get to
appreciate coffee at work. Any kinds of tea and milk contain substances that
relaxes the body therefore tell all the senses to rest then eventually to
sleep. I cannot in anyway drink any of these in the office!
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