A new blog, a new me! (hopefully haha)

It's Christmas again, and I remember the days wherein this holiday season is one of those that I look forward to and enjoy every year. But this year, it has changed.

As I logged in on my Avaya (the phone set that is used in call centers) I felt like something is missing this year. I should be at home was what I was thinking as I was setting up the programs to be used for my work. Usually at 9PM of December 24, I'm at home cooking and preparing the ever-present spaghetti and fruit salad. Dressing up for the Christmas mass. Sending text messages, greeting everyone a merry Christmas. Looking forward to the inuman later on.

But just this past night, at that time I was in front of the monitor, worrying if my team lead would fry me on Friday for being late 10 minutes, becoming anxious of whether majority of my calls would be bad calls. Honestly, I wasn't happy during this shift. I was hoping that something would come up, particularly this: that they would announce at 10 for everyone to log off and go back home as a Christmas treat to all of us. But still the hours went on while being in front of th e LCD monitor. It completely replaced the Christmas lights that I always look at and admire when I was a child.

Oh how I missed Christmas. I thought I would be able to endure being away from home while I was hearing everyone on the floor great everyone a merry Christmas 12 midnight. No, I did not cry at that time, but instead I find myself crying 11 hours later while typing this entry.

Missing out on a lot of holiday activities this year did not sink in quickly. I realized just now what i missed when all of it has already passed. Yes I know, I would still be able to live without these, but to realize that you missed on several things that you enjoy every single year? That's what's killing me.

I wasn't able to attend our yearly Christmas party with my highschool friends last week. I wasn't able to be there with my family during that midnight. I wasn't able to have a drink with friends at our beighborhood after that midnight. I wasn't able to say yes to my college friends when they told me that they are going out to drink. And why? Because of this job.

Now I'm not even sure if I am still able to hold on to my job. I am missing a lot of people because of this. It's not that the people at work aren't pleasant, I love the people i'm with at the office. It's just that I wasn't able to join those that I love to be with, specially during this special occasion. I used to be the person who would always say yes at the drop of a hat when someone invites me to go out and have a drink or do whatever. But this December, I wasn't able to be that guy. And I wish for that part of me to come back.

But still, I will go on. I will stay with my current job. I need this.

Anyway, Merry Christmas guys!

woah my last post was july 16? before my birthday? wow hahaha....
well some updates for you guys:
i started training August 4:
-yes, it's in a call center; and
-no, it isn't in HSBC.
well, i'm currently enjoying training...it's for a month. the first half would be for communications and culture training, and the second half would be for the product or service itself....
i just finished the first week, so after the second week, they would be taking out those who aren't good enough for them....i hope i'm not one of them hehehe ^_^
i really enjoyed training...i mean, one of the reasons why i wanted to be in the call center industry is for me to develop my English communication skills....so i was really positive in class. i learned to use more appropriate words and some Filipino-isms in english that isn't much accepted or understood in America.
also...i experienced waking up 5 or 6 in the morning for a week. haha that's a big accomplishment for me! knowing that I usually wake up an hour before noon...hehehe ^_^ it's because for the first two weeks, i was scheduled at 8 in the morning to 4...
well wish me luck guys! i hope everything would be fine.....

this past friday, the day after going to PeopleSupport, i went to HSBC global resourcing site in Commonwealth Avenue, which is pretty near Philcoa. I mean from our street, I could take a taxi and it would only cost about P50-60... that's pretty convenient, if i would ever be working there haha. ^_^

so i arrived there around 10 in the morning. the process there is more intricate compared to people support. first is the initial interview, then the exams, then the pre-final interview, then the final interview, then the job preview, and after that: the soon-to-be job offer.

(if you aren't interested in the narration of events, just skip the next three paragraphs ^_^)

so that friday, i passed the initial interview and was set for the exams which would be at 1:30. so to pass the two hours i went to their cafeteria. it was a good place. good food, and i liked it so i'm looking forward to be working there (hehe). so i spent the first hour there, then the other in their waiting room with a movie playing on the wide screen and free drinks. (haha) i passed the exams, and since it's already around 2:30 i think, i was set for the pre-final interview the next day at 9:30 in the morning.

so that saturday, i arrived there 15 minutes earlier. and i was called 5 minutes later. i passed the pre-final interview, but not with flying colors as the interviewer said, but i have a shot at the final interviews. (that was scary somehow, knowing you didn't ace it) and during the final interviews, i thought i wasn't going to pass it because there was the question of giving an example on how i used my skills at work. i gave examples on thesis-making (for the typing skills) and making of proformas, sales invoice and delivery receipts, but the interviewer kept on saying to be direct with my answers or something like that.... so on my third try at answering the question, i said plainly that i still haven't had any work, but i am pretty sure that i'd be able to use these skills on the job, and given the proper time and training i'd be able to handle the job perfectly. (that's what i said there)

i passed the final interview as what the interviewer said afterwards. wow i made it! hehe... so afterwards, i was sent to the job preview thing, and it's watching a video (a desktop capture video) which is of a call handled by an agent. so it basically shows the multi-tasking done by the agent during the call, so multi-tasking is a necessity in the job. afterwards the interviewer asked me a set of questions about the video and if i'd be able to handle it. and so i was informed that they'd give me a call on what my schedule would be for the training..
i'm just worried that it's already wednesday, and i still haven't received anything from them. the receptionist said that i'd get a call monday morning. so i called and they said that they aren't finished yet with calling everyone and that i should wait, and someone whom i met there (an applicant also) said that their processing is slow so i'd just have to wait....and that's what i'm doing now..

haaa, i hope they'd call. i really am worried about my application there. i hope i'm in.

here again is another blog entry from an unemployed single would-be-more-urban soon-to-be-professional independent-in-non-financial-ways person.wahahahaha ^_^

i applied for an ad in jobstreet.com posted by jobstreet select, which i think is a placement agency/subdivision of jobstreet. it was for an opening as a customer service representative for a directory assistance account (as the ad said). so within 7 days' time, i received a text message from them stating that i have an interview with them at their office.
so i went there and did the interviews and the tests, and i passed. from 25 plus people, i think only three made i through the interviews, typing skill test and grammar, reading comprehension and vocabulary tests. so i was given two envelopes for recommendation in two callcenters: one for peoplesupport in makati, and another for HSBC in commonwealth avenue.
so the next day (which is today) i went there at 10, and applied. i passed the initial interview (from 30 in the batch to 11) and the tests (typing, grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension. listening, one of the 11 was eliminated) and got a shot at the final interview w/ phone simulation.
it was scary. the interview was okay, but the phone simulation...whew it was really bloody. the situation in the phone simulation would be i am a csr for a flight and hotel booking site. sounds easy? not on the first phone simulation ever!
haha well to say it plainly, i think i didn't pass. the interviewer said that they would assess what position would be the best for me then they'd call me back.... well those words (we'll call you) would 90% mean that they would, but not to say that you're accepted, but that you are not qualified.
anyway it's my first so i was sort of panicking, and i fully do not know what i should be doing. but i think i'd be good in it if i'd have training on it so i'd have a concrete idea as to what i should do, and so that i'd fully know the service we are selling. (I do great when i fully know the product/service).
oh well, at least i have another shot..for HSBC in commonwealth avenue tomorrow...yay ^_^