Buhay Graveyard - if you're working for a call center

[mygabrielle]

ok lang ba sa iyo ang graveyard shift?

i'm working for a call center
the pay is well, better than other private companies,
especially if you're just starting.
BUT, you have to deal with a lot of things:

1) no social life, worst - NO LIFE at all
kasi matulog ka ng daytime, paggising mo work ka na kung kelan gigimik sila

2) health reasons - nakakapanghina ang graveyard! pwede kang pumayat or tumaba, depende sa trip mo

3) irate Americans - you have to deal with a lot of irate Americans, hindi naman sila pwedeng murahin di ba. kaya bahala silang lahat sa buhay nila!

4) no holidays! - kahit may pasko may pasok kayo kasi nga 24 x 7 di ba. at kung holiday man sa pinas, di ka kasali. kung holiday sa amerika, kelangan batiin mo ren sila ng happy thanksgiving!
share naman kayo ng experiences nyo :rolleyes:

[xyzseaman]

where do you work, gabrielle?

[sidea_jg]

ME i work in a call center!ohmy mahirap mag graveyard, but in our case kasi 24 hr. call center so shifting lahat ng sked na-iikot namin!! well daming advantages, dami ring dis advantages!!! but i'm enjoying my present job, di naman totally walang nightlife, kasi may morning and mid shift ako, but then pag ubos na money ko kakagimik, pabor ang graveyard sakin kasi bigger incentives pag GY ka, and babad ako sa internet pag GY..hahaha...

[mygabrielle]

xyzseaman...i work for a call center in makati
ikaw?

in fairness, ok naman dito :p

[mygabrielle]

tama ka jan! kung gusto mong yumaman, maggraveyard ka
our sked also gets rotated every 2 months
kaya lang parati ako nite shift
ok na hindi ok

gusto ko ren nga magafternoon till night para straight gimik
pero konti lang na-assign don of course

pano ka bababad sa internet pag GY? wala bang masyadong calls dyan sa work mo?

Originally posted by sidea_jg
ME i work in a call center!ohmy mahirap mag graveyard, but in our case kasi 24 hr. call center so shifting lahat ng sked na-iikot namin!! well daming advantages, dami ring dis advantages!!! but i'm enjoying my present job, di naman totally walang nightlife, kasi may morning and mid shift ako, but then pag ubos na money ko kakagimik, pabor ang graveyard sakin kasi bigger incentives pag GY ka, and babad ako sa internet pag GY..hahaha... :D :D :D

[BabyFATS]

Uy, I work for a call center din... here in Ortigas! :)
At alam mo, tama lahat ng sinabi mo... pero ang kaso lang, ako hindi nawawalan ng gimik. :lol:
Halos every week may lakad ako eh, dinner, movies, disco, EBs, etc.
Dami kasing gimik dito sa PEx eh. :D

[mygabrielle]

Originally posted by BabyFATS
Uy, I work for a call center din... here in Ortigas! :)
At alam mo, tama lahat ng sinabi mo... pero ang kaso lang, ako hindi nawawalan ng gimik. :lol:
Halos every week may lakad ako eh, dinner, movies, disco, EBs, etc.
Dami kasing gimik dito sa PEx eh. :D

alam mo babyfats surprisingly dami ko pa reng gimik at raket
yun nga lang no time to rest
masyadong busy
rest days ko are sat-sun so usually saturday morning until afternoon eh we go out for breakfast, movies then direstso shopping at inuman kaya wasted pag sunday ng madaling araw.

sa ortigas ka? san ka? sykes? svi? oneclear? ambergris? pldt? dami ren dyan di ba :mad:

[warped]

i work in a call center too!
grabe! sobrang well divided na friends ko!
graveyard friends.. and my normal working friends!
must admit it taking some toll sa social life!

how long have you been working sa contact center?! where?!

[BabyFATS]

Originally posted by mygabrielle


alam mo babyfats surprisingly dami ko pa reng gimik at raket
yun nga lang no time to rest
masyadong busy
rest days ko are sat-sun so usually saturday morning until afternoon eh we go out for breakfast, movies then direstso shopping at inuman kaya wasted pag sunday ng madaling araw.

sa ortigas ka? san ka? sykes? svi? oneclear? ambergris? pldt? dami ren dyan di ba :mad:
Buti nga kayo 2 rest days eh... kami isa lang! :(
Kaya eto, para na rin akong Curacha, Ang Babaeng Walang Pahinga kasi talagang ubos ang energy ko everyday - kung hindi sa work eh sa gimik naman.

Btw, wala sa mga nabanggit mo ang company namin. Bago lang eh tapos hindi pa advertised. :D

warped: Ako 1 year na sa January, dito sa Ortigas. :)

[mygabrielle]

sa ortigas?
u working in sykes?
oneclear?
svi?

heard about ambergris okay ba dun?

sarap talaga pag holiday sa states!
wala masyadong calls yahoooooooooooo

[warped]

Originally posted by mygabrielle
sa ortigas?
u working in sykes?
oneclear?
svi?

heard about ambergris okay ba dun?

sarap talaga pag holiday sa states!
wala masyadong calls yahoooooooooooo

yep! i agree!!!! sana araw araw thanksgiving!
where you working?!

[warped]

baby fats
voice? email? chat?
grabe! tagal ka na rin pala! 4 months pa lang ako eh.

masaya sya na stressful! lalo na if you have friends na nag re resign.. nakaka low ng morale!

nagiging religious na nga ako sa work ko eh!
na tututo akong tumawag ke Lord! heheheh

[BabyFATS]

mygabrielle
The company's called Hellocorp. Dito lang office namin sa Benguet Center.
But we're moving soon to the Centerpoint Building sa Garnet.
Ayoko nga lumipat eh... somehow comfy na ako dito.
I don't know about ambergris but a friend from PeopleSupport told me mukhang ok dun.

warped
Email and chat pa lang dito sa amin. But I'm in the QA department. :)

[HoYaSaXa]

Tanong ko lang sa inyo, mga call center peeps:

Worth it ba? I know the money's comparatively good...do you feel that you're progressing/making use of the skills you learned in college? Is the work OK, o nakakaasar ba talaga yung mga "irate Americans"? :D

Lastly, how long do you see yourself doing this before moving on (if ever)? Thanks! :)

[BabyFATS]

I guess there's always something bigger somewhere.
But right now I'm happy where I am. I love the people I work with eh. :)

[sidea_jg]

Originally posted by mygabrielle
tama ka jan! kung gusto mong yumaman, maggraveyard ka
our sked also gets rotated every 2 months
kaya lang parati ako nite shift
ok na hindi ok

gusto ko ren nga magafternoon till night para straight gimik
pero konti lang na-assign don of course

pano ka bababad sa internet pag GY? wala bang masyadong calls dyan sa work mo?

:D :D :D


..yup konti lang talaga calls namin pag GY, mas marami sa day shift kasi, 2 market namin pag araw eh, hongkong and japan, eh pag nightshift eh US lang...so sawa ako sa internet pag nightshift...

...dito lang kami sa emerald ave.

[sapatosh]

Hi! There's a call center in Emerald? And another in Benguet? Hmmm, may I ask what company you're working for? How many people are working there? If you can't say it here, can you PM it to me? Thanks!

[11# UST_guard'98]

ano ba yon call center?

[sapatosh]

A call center is a company's point of contact with its customers. Usually these are your customer service representatives, technical support teams, phone bankers or any group of people who manages any transactions, inquires or complaints from clients. The idea is to provide front-line support aiming to retain and expand the company's client base. Facilitation of contacts is done in many ways, phone calls, email, web chat, voice over IP, or even fax.

Apparently, call centers, specifically the outsourced types, is now a booming industry in Manila. Many foreign companies are building their call centers here. Call centers can have 40 people to as much as 2,000 people working for them, depending on the amount of calls the center gets everyday.

If you're in the US and you dial a credit card company's 1-800 number, you might not be aware of it but, chances are, a Pinoy in Manila is on the other end of the phone.

[11# UST_guard'98]

sapatosh, tenx :D

[LinuxMandrake]

who knows a call center that has an opening for a technical account? *** medyo related sa computers, kahit na low tech lang ok na. m working in a call center right now and mostly banks ang mga clients, so mga irate people ang callers. yeah i had my share of irates. *** mga hunghunks na un, mapa pinoy o kano, mga irate ang karamihan. isipin nyo na lang, mangungutang na lang irate pa... tama ba un?

[LinuxMandrake]

ust guard, ikaw ba si henry ong? tanong lang.

[11# UST_guard'98]

LinuxMandrake

di ako si Henry Ong. my name is Irish . I played for UST Girl's BB team.


ano yon I rate?

[makaila]

i used to work sa callcenter din... 2 years... ok yung compensation. i laos love graveyard shift kasi nakakatulog kami or we watch vcds. relaxing compared sa day shift. kaso ayaw ko mga clients, parati kaming minumura.... nakakainis, di ka naman makaganti... tapos very demanding pa...

madalas mali naman sila pero di mo matama....

[sapatosh]

What do you mean? Technical Support position ba? Try Sykes Asia located at the back of Megamall. I think San Miguel Properties Building yata yun. Technical Support sila ng Microsoft.

Good luck!



Originally posted by LinuxMandrake
who knows a call center that has an opening for a technical account? *** medyo related sa computers, kahit na low tech lang ok na. m working in a call center right now and mostly banks ang mga clients, so mga irate people ang callers. yeah i had my share of irates. *** mga hunghunks na un, mapa pinoy o kano, mga irate ang karamihan. isipin nyo na lang, mangungutang na lang irate pa... tama ba un?

[mygabrielle]

hi Linux!
try people support
i think they have opening for technical reps.

[mygabrielle]

Originally posted by HoYaSaXa
Tanong ko lang sa inyo, mga call center peeps:

Worth it ba? I know the money's comparatively good...do you feel that you're progressing/making use of the skills you learned in college? Is the work OK, o nakakaasar ba talaga yung mga "irate Americans"? :D

Lastly, how long do you see yourself doing this before moving on (if ever)? Thanks! :)

it actually depends on the person
when u think about it, working in a call center as a customer rep
is a monotonous job
but it all depends on how you make your work enjoyable
i personally believe that the industry of call centers in the Phils will continue to boom
on the other hand, i don't really see myself spending my whole life in a call center
but for now, i can deal with the irate callers
and the pressure to reach certain quota
di bale fun naman!

[mygabrielle]

we have work during christmas and new year
KJ yung tatawag na customers during those days
is GMA declaring a whole week of holidaY?!?!?
if that's the case then that's good news
coz every holiday is double pay! plus night shift diff!!!
wowwwwwwwww

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[thehitman]

gy will take it's toll one day, but for now...

sarap gy, walang management peeps so anything goes. lots of food, higher noise level compared to the am shift (as long as the calls are not compromised), etc. i miss gy.

[BabyFATS]

LinuxMandrake: May opening rin dito sa amin for technical. Baka gusto mo. :D

Ako ay dakilang GY pa rin. Eto, mag-e-eight na andito pa rin ako nagpe-PEx. :glee:

Makauwi na nga!

[sapatosh]

Hi Babyfats! :wave:

Salamat at nahuli din kita, you mentioned you're working in a call center. May I know how many people (reps) you are in there?

Thanks!

[BabyFATS]

Hi sapatosh! :wave:
Nice to see you here again!

Our company's still small, in the process of expanding. There are about 50 people here. :)

[sapatosh]

Babyfats :wave:

Is it ok if I send you a PM? :)

[BabyFATS]

Uy, please... go ahead... hindi naman yun nakaka-block eh. :D

[sapatosh]

Babyfats, I've sent you a PM. I hope I get a response soon. Thank you!

[pAwE1]

i'm working for a call center in libis, but it's not just a call center, it's an important arm of the company, well sa amin, only two people are assigned for the graveyard, mga veterans na, siyempre yung magagaling maghandle ng mga irate calls, may additional pay pag noon to night, ok naman, it's not to tiring, nakakainis nga lang yung PI na irate callers, akala mo kung sino. malaki salary especailly if your a newly grads. active pa din naman ang social life ng mga tao dun, after work gimmick, parang ang yayayman nga ng mga tao dun. wala lang.hehe

[simplynaughty78]

for me ok lang *** graveyard shift lalo sa work namin as a medical transcriptionist aside doing your job, u can also do anything and everything u want lalo na pag nagiinternet kami. wala kasing restrictions un lang nga nakakapagod at nakakahina para kang bangag. i have experienced that one time nag night shift ako the whole month of august 2000, nagkasakit ako and pumayat, may extra pay nga pero u suffered a lot of pain in your body. buti na lang ** sa current job ko e 2 shifts lang kami pero nakakamiss *** night shift db? :shrug: :dance:

[gemyl]

ei do u guys know of any job opening for a technical support? a friend is looking for one. he's been working in a call center with the same position, actually he wanted to pursue programming, but having a hard time finding one...so if you guys happen to know any entry level programming job or a technical support job, please PM or email me or just post it here! Thanks a bunch!

[11# UST_guard'98]

ano yon irate?

[BabyFATS]

irate = angry

[zimdude]

so how do you handle irate clients without getting mad youself? :teehee:

[BabyFATS]

I'm with the Quality Assurance department, but speaking from a Customer Service point of view, I have to say that dealing with irate clients is always a tough job... but as the cliche goes, "somebody has to do it". Here are some tips and tricks to dealing with an irate client...

1. Keep cool.
Nothing is ever resolved when two angry minds meet. As part of a Customer Service company, one is actually required and expected to be calm and composed ESPECIALLY when engaged with an irate client. Lose your temper and you can lose your customer, not to mention your job.

2. Empathize with the customer.
To empathize is to genuinely feel for the customer - make them feel that you are there to SUPPORT them, because that's what you are... a SUPPORT person. This is most needed when the issue being presented by the customer is "unresolvable" and/or needs to be "escalated".

3. Learn not to take things personally.
Sometimes customers are so irate and so frustrated that they tend to bring it out on the support person handling their call. As a Customer Service agent, one should learn to understand that the irate client's anger is directed at the situation/issue, not at you personally.

Hope that helps! :)

[Sorsha]

Nag graveyard na ren ako before when I was still working for Tridel Tech. That time, I was enjoying it because:

1. Less support calls at night - usually people will stop calling by 3am so I can either sleep, chat, surf, or tinker with my box.

2. My ex was on graveyard too kaya chat kami magdamag :glee:

3. I had more time to read and learn on my own. That time, nakapag-aaral ako ng Linux, Perl, Postgres, and other system admin-related stuff.

Tapos tulog ako buong araw ... medyo pumuti ako nun hahaha
those were the days. Irate clients? So far naman, never pa akong namura ng client. :) Pero kahit na magkaganun, ok lang din, we were trained to deal with demanding clients eh.


:amidala:

[hat_tr1ck]

I only have one tip for the Call Center people here re: irate clients - Release! :lol:

[BabyFATS]

Uy, oo nga! Very important yang release... basta wag lang sa customer! :lol:

[bepanthene]

Nag-trabaho na ako sa call center. Okay lang yung job itself.

Anyway, just a couple of tips for those working or about to do call center jobs:

1. Smile when you talk to the people. It helps ease tension if either or both parties are slightly high strung. Force a smile if need be, it helps!

2. If you're frustrated/angry for some reason, be cheerful to the callers. You're getting paid to help them courteously. Use your paycheck for a shrink.

:D

[sidea_jg]

in our case, we have this mirror in front of us..whenever we talk to our client we glance every now and then on the mirror, in order for us to maintain that smile!!! kapag irate ang client, smile ka lang lagi kasi if you would see your face frowning na-a alarm kami baka kasi magkaroon kami ng wrinkles....wawa...:laugh:

seriously meron talaga kaming mirror in order for us to be on guard kung simangot na kami or not!!! kasi some clients knew it kapag simangot ka na eh!!!


kapag sobrang kaasar yung client as in ur face is turning red na rin sa asar, we usually put them on hold for a second lang naman, then breath and relax....think of the best way or words to pacify the client!!!!:)

[ambertookme]

ako ever since nandito na ako sa call center na ito...(can't tell,maraming PEXERS dun eh) eh GY na sked ko.to my surprise,lalo akong tumaba. kasi, na-alter na rin ang eating habits ko eh.maya-maya,kain para di ako antukin.it has a reverse effect on me kasi.tapos SAT and SUN,kailangan kong lumabas ng bahay para gumimik.or if i have nothing to do,log na lang sa internet kasi di ako pwedeng matulog ng maaga on weekends,i have to follow my normal sleeping time (read normal: 8am ng umaga) . or else,ngarag ako pag MON evening na. dun ako aantukin. kaya kain ulit! hala sige...kain ulit!

[blue18f]

hi! guys! could you help me? i'm still a student, kaso half day ***. i'm really looking for a job. actually tinatarget ko nga yung mga call centers, kc im looking for a night shift. kc nga umaga ang klas ko. fulltime job. anu-ano ba ang mga requirements na kailangan?
kailangan ba dapat maganda ka o yung voice ***? kc i know that im not maganda but i have a good voice, i can be fluent in english. and i'm patient. guys help me please! :(

[Schumi_beybe]

Hehe didnt realize dami pala call center yuppies!

Anyways, Blue kelangan ata grad ka eh. Just got back from the states c/o some Eastwood company, ganda opportunity kaso pagod ka sobra. :D If I were you concentrate on graduating tapos saka mo isip kung icacareer mo call center. Me, Im stuck may contract kami kasi training kami sa States...hehe pero enjoy naman kumbaga. Yun nga lang hirap pag may ligaw ako na di night shift kasi sablay sobra di ko sya kita during weekday. Anyways good luck looking for 1! (First time PEXer po ko! Any tips would be appreciated. Thx po!)