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Tori Amos - Karma Police (live) |
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I don't know if I am looking in all the wrong places or I am just extremely unlucky with my "career" this year. Bad trip.
As you all know I resigned from my previous company, Ambergris Solutions Inc., last February. It was one of the biggest decisions I had to make in my entire life. Truth be told, I was no longer happy with the company. I have worked hard and all for nothing. I had gazillions of complaints, and I know it wasn't healthy even for someone like me who rants a lot. Don't get me wrong. I love Ambergris, I love the people, and I have so many things to be thankful for. It's the sucky system that I detest. It's the palakasan system. It's the corporate bullshit. It's the incompetent agents being promoted. I hated all of that. I know very well that all of these things happen in all companies, but I just couldn't take it anymore. The final straw was when our account, my comfort zone, was dissolved, and I was transferred to a different one along with a bunch of jologs with very little understanding of the English language. They have been with the company for like 3 to 4 months, and they were pulled out from their account because of poor standing and haller, I've been with Ambergris for the past 2 years. I worked my ass off, my statistics were impeccable pero ako pa ang nagmukhang baguhan and left out. I cringe every time every single one of them would talk. I just couldn't stomach that I would be working with them, and I knew right there and then that there's no more perfect time to leave that garbage dump (and literally, haller, mga basura ng account ang kasama ko).
Luck was still on my side when a week after I stopped going to the training of my new account, which I only attended a day of, I applied in ICT Marketing of the Philippines and was hired in just a day. So bongga di'ba! I attended 2 days of the week long training, and nagdisappear agad ang drama ko. My account was outbound sales. In short, telemarketing. I know a lot of people are good at it, Jodeck for one kicks ass in telemarketing, but I'm a customer service agent through and through, machika akong tao even with customers, and I like having small talks on the side. I remember when I was still with Dell phone support, I chatted with a customer about Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude because his e-mail address was macondo*insert numbers here*@hotmail.com or something. One time naman I was talking to a retired general, and I told him that I'm from the Philippines, and he told me that he's been here, and he has lots of Filipino friends from the military so chika chika muna. I just couldn't imagine myself selling credit card call after call after call night after night after night. And so I left.
Everything was downhill from there. I applied in Client Logic, and it was the worst nightmare ever. Applying there was HELL for me. Doon ko lang na-experience na pabalik-balikin for 1 week. First day was the usual initial interview, call simulation, and exam. I passed all of them. I was asked to go back the next day for the final interview, and I did. I waited for 20 goddamn minutes only to be interviewed for less than 5 minutes. Agghh. And so I passed the interview, but this HR person told me that yes, it is the final interview but not the last one. I was like WTF deep inside. Ano daw?!?!?! So HR person asked me to come back the next day for an exam (again?!!) to determine which account is best for me. She also asked me to bring my Ambergris contract. My first encounter with the non complete curse clause. It is that fucking clause in most call center employment contracts stating that one is not allowed to work in another call center within a year upon resignation from the company. So naloka ang beauty ko because it really isn't in my contract. I am aware that it is in the contracts of the new employees pero wala sa akin. Bien, Vy , Gerald , and I can compare our employment contracts all day because almost same time kame hinire ng company, and we won't find anything about that stupid clause simply because it is not there. Syempre, no choice ako di'ba so I went back the next day. I brought my contract with me, waited for 30 minutes to take an exam which I finished in less than 30 minutes. I passed the exam, HR person looked at my contract, verified that I don't have it, told me that I'm in, but they just need to verify it with Ambergris. What the fuck?!?! And so the next day, I was calling Ambergris like crazy. HR person from Ambergris told me that if it is not in my contract, naturalmente, I'm not covered by it. And it's really as fucking simple as that. After that, I was calling Client Logic every after 30 minutes looking for that HR girl. Syempre I got the run around. Kesyo she's out for lunch, she's interviewing whoever. I talked to 3 HR persons explaining the situation. Finally, I was able to get hold of the HR girl, she told me to go back the next day at 10pm for an interview with the operations manager. And I did. 2 applicants lang kame that time. The first guy was called. I waited and waited and waited for my turn. A friend advised me na matagal lang daw talaga dun, parang pastime nila ang magpahintay sa mga applicants nila, ganun lang. And so I waited and waited some more. At 12:30am, I just couldn't wait anymore. Nobody was in the pantry. So talagang lumabas ako ng pantry, I looked around the operations area, looked for someone with authority that I can talk to, saw a team leader, demanded for the operations manager, was informed that the OM already left, was controlling myself from pulling her hair, was asked to wait for 10 minutes, and she'd get someone to interview me. So I went back to the pantry, waited for 10 minutes. Walang tumatawag sa'ken. Waited for another 5 minutes. Wala pa rin. I went back to the operations floor, saktong the team leader I talked to was telling another leader about me na sobrang I waited for almost 3 goddamn hours na nga. The team leader saw me, and she pointed at me. They looked so freaking helpless, I swear. Pathetic. They don't know what to do with me. And so I told them in a mataray manner with matching my left eyebrow slightly raised, "I'll just call your HR to reschedule." And walk out ang beauty ko. My blood was really boiling. Gusto kong magsisigaw sa floor at magtransform into Ursula, I swear. I want to wish the company ill luck, I want to curse them to death, but out of respect to Ria Celine, who used to work there, huwag na lang. Ngunit bilang ganti, I always tell my co-applicants kapag nag-apply ako sa ibang call centers to avoid it like a plague harharhar at mega chika ako sa kanila ng aking experience nang walang kapaguran.
Next stop. Nucomm International. That was March na. The company was just starting so when I applied there, sobrang kalahati pa lang ng floor ang may seats. Out of the 8 persons who took the exam, 2 lang kaming pumasa for the whole day. So 2 lang kaming ininterview. The company said they'd call me by the end of the month because a new account is opening. That's what they also told my former team leaders who applied there. They never called me or my team leaders. Just the other day, I followed up my application with them for the first time after 5 months since I've applied, I was informed that I passed all the requirements, and that they'd be evaluating my application, and if a position is available, they'd contact me. I don't know what's the real score with them. Marjo informed me that his former coworker just applied recently and was immediately hired.
Next stop, Teleperformance USA. That was April na. After 2 days of the application process, I was hired. Contrary to what Berns, who used to work there, said na super olats 'yung company, I only have the nicest things to say about Teleperformance. The training was fun. I had a blast with my batch. Sobrang miss ko na nga sila actually. I just can't stand the account. I was so stressed. Haggard ever!!! I've never felt that stressed even when I was just starting with Ambergris, and I get roughly 3 to 4 irate callers in a day. I was never stressed with Dell. But no, toxic ang Sprint, I swear. I swear, I'd make sure that I won't have another telecommunications account!!!! So after almost 2 months, exit ang beauty ko. I didn't want to leave my friends, but I'd die if I stay there any longer.
I was in my last week in Teleperformance when I applied in West Contact Services. Val, my former coworker in Ambergris transferred there, and she only has good things to say about West, and the pay, oohhh boy!!!! Anyway, so I applied. Passed the exam, was asked to go back after a week for the initial interview, passed the initial interview, was asked to go back after 2 weeks for the final interview, had my final interview, everything went smoothly, so I was confident that I nailed it. Final interviewer said that HR would contact me in 2 weeks. HR didn't contact me after 2 weeks. HR didn't contact James, a former coworker from Ambergris who also applied in West, after 2 weeks. HR didn't contact Pearl, another former coworker from Ambergris, until after 3 months. When they finally contacted Pearl, Pearl declined the job offer and wasn't contacted until after almost a month. Luckily, Pearl is now with West because she's also sick and tired of Ambergris. I've followed up my application with them many times already. I was told that I passed the application and that I just have to wait for the job offer. Jusko, kelan pa!?! Next year?!?!! I'm really desperate. Just 2 weeks ago, I followed up on my application again. I was informed that they're not hiring full time agents as of the time being and apologized for the inconvenience. Jusko, call center na cell center talaga, paksyet sila. I asked if I can apply for part time instead, HR girl advised me against it because I have to take a call simulation test and if I want to go full time already, I'd have to resign and reapply after a month and advised me to wait for the job offer na lang. Freaking what!!?! Don't they realize that it's so much hassle even for them?! Freaking company.
I also applied in Owtel. Michelle, a former coworker, worked there but just resigned. She said that day shift dun but warned me that it's infested by jologs people chiminiaa levels. I don't mean to put people down, my dear readers, but I also am not a hypocrite. It's just that you know which crowd you'd be comfortable working with. So happened with Owtel? Read more here.
At syempre pa, the infamous Daksh incident. Click here.
I also applied in People Support online. In fairness, very organized ang application process nila. I was interviewed over the phone. I told them that I worked in Ambergris and Teleperformance. HR gay person asked me if I have the non complete clause in my contract with Teleperforamnce, told him nope, advised me to fax it to him, checked my contract after talking to HR gay person, lo and behold, non complete clause on page 6. I wasn't even aware it was in my Teleperformance contract. Aggggghhhh!!!!!!!!
About 2 weeks ago, an HR girl from Sykes Asia called me up on my mobile. Ewan ko ba naman kung bakit sa dami ng oras na pwedeng magfuck up ang network ng Sun e pinili niya pa talaga na magloko that very instant. So HR girl called me up. I answered the phone. She was looking for me tapos hindi ko na siya marinig. And so I dropped the call. She called me again after seconds. This time she was able to tell me that she's from Sykes. After nun hindi ko na siya uli marinig. She called me 6 times after that but her efforts were in vain dahil hindi ko talaga siya marinig. She called again the following day, this time I was able to hear her na all throughout the conversation, but she asked for another contact number just in case. And so I gave her my sister's Smart number and nagdisconnect na siya sa Sun to call Smart. Kaso when I answered her call using my sister's Smart number, hindi ko na naman siya marinig!!! Whaaaaa!!!! So I dunno kung saan ang problema sa akin or sa line niya. Hindi na siya tumawag after noon ahahhaha!!! Nabadtrip na siguro which is ok lang because I don't really want to work in Sykes because my sister also works there. Hindi ako makakalandi ahahhahaa!! Nagtaka lang ako who referred me to them. I asked my sister because she's from Sykes, hindi naman daw siya. I asked Tina because she was just hired by Sykes months ago pero hindi rin naman daw siya. So saang mahiwagang phonebook nila nakuha ang number ko??! I went to Sykes, Ortigas last March but only to accompany Nadine, my former coworker, to apply. When she was interviewed, she was asked if she can refer her former coworkers to them because she mentioned nga that our account was dissolved. Saktong andun ako so she referred me. I already signed my contract with ICT that time pero it wouldn't hurt to try din. I took up a ten item technical exam which I'm sure binagsak ko wahahahhaa!! She scheduled me for an interview the following day pero hindi ko na sinipot. I don't remember if I provided her with my resume, but even if I did, I'm sure that it had my Globe number. Kailan lang naman na-cut off ang Globe ko, thus, I'm using Sun for the meantime. Oh well.
Through Rachel's referral, I applied in Teledevelopment Services as a phone screener in their Human Resource last August 25. They are basically a recruitment firm, and they need people to interview applicants over the phone. I applied for that despite Rachel's warning that the pay is relatively less that what call centers would offer, but what the heck. It's a different challenge and an added feather on my cap. So everything went smoothly. Grammar test was the easiest I've taken up ever. The test administer was so pleasantly shocked with my typing test results. My standing was expert with 99% accuracy, and I finished all 2 paragraphs in just 2 minutes. I was interviewed. HR girl was really nice. She had already briefed me on the tasks that I have to do if I get the position. Sounds exciting. But I know na may mga sinabi akong mali during the interview. I was so honest, and well, I didn't say the things that she wanted to hear siguro. I told her that my career objective is to become a quality assurance manager in a call center. She asked me why not apply in a call center then? I told her I have a pending job offers and that I'm having problems with the non-complete clause. I even told her that I can work there and part time in a call center at the same time. Maybe she thought that I won't be dedicated enough if I get the job or that I'd leave agad. Well, maybe she's right harhar. She told me I'd get a call within 3 days after all the applicants have been evaluated, e I didn't get any call naman so maybe I didn't pass her expectations. Oh well.
And 'eto na ang matindi. I'm thisclose to killing some selfish corporate fucktards na nagpauso ng non complete clause na 'yan, I swear!!!! The least evil thing I can do to them is iparape sila sa mga canine dogs, mga paksyet silang lahat!!!! So Convergys called me up Monday last week because Marjo, who works there, referred me. I would love to work in Convergys, isa siya sa dream companies ko! The benefits and pay are great. I applied na rin dun last February pero natsugi ang beauty ko because they require at least 2 years in college. Eh one year in college lang ang lola niyo at tinamad nang mag-aral ahahahha! So this time I made sure to update my resume at mandaya ng onti. A little lying won't hurt hehehhe. HR girl interviewed me over the phone, When I said that I was with Ambergris, naloka ang girl, gusto na niya agad ibaba ang phone. She asked me if I am aware of the non complete clause. I weakly told her, "Yeah hehe." She went on to say that she can't continue with my application anymore. At lumabas ang pagkabitchy ko, I snapped back at her, and I told her that yeah, I'm aware of it but it's nowhere in my contract, and so technically, I'm not covered by that bullshit. My feistiness worked. She scheduled me for an interview the next day, August 30, and asked me to bring my Ambergris contract with me. This fucking contract is not doing me any good!!! Gusto ko na siyang gawing pandewang, I swear!!! You know what a pandewang* is?! Ehehhehe!!! And so I went there the next day. The interview was a breeze, and the exams were fairly easy. I was scheduled for a final interview last Thursday. Went back last Thursday. I was 30 minutes late hahahhaa. When I got there, I told the front desk that I was scheduled for a final interview on September 1, receptionist told me that since I was late, I will be rescheduled in another day. Super bad trip talaga ako, and I was so ready to throw a Vilma Santos in Relasyon hysteria, pero syempre ako naman ang may kasalanan so wala akong karapatan ahahahaha. I sat down muna and waited for Marjo because we have other plans for the day. Buti na lang I waited because the HR person went out from her office calling my name at the top of her voice na para tuloy nahiya ako to raise my hand hahahaa! So the final interview was not an interview. We just talked about our favorite topic, the non complete clause. We had so much fun talking about it, and I'm dying of sarcasm here, save me. She said that she doesn't want to make things hard for me, but she needs a waiver from Ambergris stating that I am not covered by the non complete clause because although I already provided her with my contract, she said that it is not the official regularized contract. What the fuck!!?!?! That's the only freaking mother fucking contract I signed. So I avoided arguing about the technicalities of the matter and baka maunsyame pa ang application ko sa Convergys. I went to Ambergris that same day, requested for all the documents they can possibly give me, summoned the help of all the powers that be, and sana, sana lang talaga, sanang sana lang talaga, maayos na ito once and for all. As in magpapakacelibate ako for a year kapag naayos ito. Hahahhaha right, who am I kidding?! But freaking Ambergris, I requested for those papers last Thursday, was told I can get them after 3 working days, I checked kanina, they asked me to check again tomorrow. Buti na lang talaga kasalanan ang pumatay ng tao.
So there goes my job hunting adventures and misadventures. All I want is a decent job with a decent pay. Is that too much to ask?!?!?!?! I don't care about corporate bullshit!!! I just want to work to help with my family's bills (haller, Sky cable na nga lang nakatoka sa'ken). I want to work to support my vanity needs and constant DVD shopping urges. And yes, I want to work to pay taxes and be a useful citizen in this god forsaken country!!!!! Masama ba 'yun?!??!!
Of course, the latest buzz in the call center industry is that Dell, my account in Ambergris, is putting up a call center in Makati. If I'm not mistaken, they also have one in China and India. So I applied online because they are only accepting applications online. I got their number from Philippine Daily Inquirer's Jobstreet section last Sunday. I called them up a while ago to follow up on my application. Filipino speaking guy said that the number is for recruitment not for application. I asked for application's number, but he couldn't give it. He said he'd just follow up with them and was so ready to hang up when he realized that he doesn't have my name and so he quickly asked for it. I can imagine the guy pretending to take down my name. Ako pa niloko niya e gawain ko rin 'yun dati kapag tinatamad ako sa calls hahahahaa. I wanted to ask him what's the difference between application and recruitment pero sabi nga ni Timbaland sa We Need A Resolution ni Aaliyah, I'm tired of arguing, girl.
After I called Dell, I saw Etelecare's number in the ad. Just for fun and because I love the non complete clause so much, I called up Etelecare to ask if they honor that shit. HR guy who was so puzzled that he couldn't hide it in his voice said, "What?!" I said, "Non complete clause. I'm asking if you honor the NCC." He asked again, "The what?!" Pathetic. "NON COMPLETE CLAUSE." I was so ready so spell it out for him when he said, "Ok let me check on that." I swear, he was so fucking clueless. It got me thinking why Convergys was so strict about it when Etelecare, an equally prestigious call center, doesn't have it in their company dictionary. I was on hold, and when he got back to me after a few minutes, he just said, "It's ok." It's ok what?! It's ok to be gay?!?! I swear, I was losing my wits. He got my name and my contact particulars. Minutes later, while I was listening to Astrud Gilberto to calm my nerves, a stiff sounding guy who was more concerned with his conio accent than with what I have to say interviewed me over the phone. He scheduled me for an exam and interview tomorrow at 8:30am. No freaking way. I asked for an afternoon schedule. Why am I not excited at all?! I am so sick and tired of applying and taking exams that I swear I am so ready to puke.
*pamunas ng pwet
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