For people who work in Call Centers

[SpammytheJockey]

Hi..

I've worked in a call center for 4 months but unfortunately, all four months were spent in agony.

I made a lot of money, yeah, but I didn't get enough sleep, I rarely see my family, my friends, i worked during weekends and holidays, i barely go out and I practically drool whenever I see the traffic along libis on friday and saturday nights (while i'm at work answering the damn calls) :grrr:

So, anyway, I just have one question for you all...
How do you manage to survive??

[nakikipost_po!!]

ey, sa e-care ka 'no? di ba me binding contract na sila ngayon?

nways, to answer d question, how do i manage to survive? wala, pag pagod ako at overfatigued sa work, di ako pumapasok....i don't stay long sa office....overtimes are a no-no.....delinkwenteng empleyado ba?:D i know, i know......kung matanggal, okay lang, dami namang ibang trabaho jan eh....di naman sa overconfident or mayabang pero kung di mo gusto yung work mo, bakit ka magpapakulong at magpapaalila dun? so you'll be asking me, bakit di pa ako magresign? una, i can't afford to do that......iipon muna ako bago ako umalis at maghanap ng ibang trabaho....sasabihin nyo, ingrato ako masyado and m just milking d company.....well, that serves them right, they're depriving me of my life! and besides, i make sure naman na i deliver the work that is expected of me so i don't think i'm being unfair! huh!

[SpammytheJockey]

yeah. e-tel ako before. di ko naabutan yung contract. when i gave my resignation, i left a week after. yung ka batch ko na isa, she gave her resignation the day before her last day.

grabe, i was in eastwood kasi saturday night and i saw a few people from e-tel and i said to myself, "hmm.. baka 1 hour break nila." siguro kung dun pa ko nag wwork ngayon, mamamatay ako sa inggit sa mga gumigimik. im NOT saying im SO glad i left. I miss my friends... the really i enjoyed people i worked with.

pero pag naiisip ko na yung mga calls... yikes!! di na kaya ng powers ko! :ayaw:

Originally posted by nakikipost_po!!
ey, sa e-care ka 'no? di ba me binding contract na sila ngayon?

nways, to answer d question, how do i manage to survive? wala, pag pagod ako at overfatigued sa work, di ako pumapasok....i don't stay long sa office....overtimes are a no-no.....delinkwenteng empleyado ba?:D i know, i know......kung matanggal, okay lang, dami namang ibang trabaho jan eh....di naman sa overconfident or mayabang pero kung di mo gusto yung work mo, bakit ka magpapakulong at magpapaalila dun? so you'll be asking me, bakit di pa ako magresign? una, i can't afford to do that......iipon muna ako bago ako umalis at maghanap ng ibang trabaho....sasabihin nyo, ingrato ako masyado and m just milking d company.....well, that serves them right, they're depriving me of my life! and besides, i make sure naman na i deliver the work that is expected of me so i don't think i'm being unfair! huh!

[pretselz]

i'd just like to share some "survival tips" that we've used, and have found to somehow ease the pains that comes with the work:

1. change of waking/sleeping hours during weekend. This is a big problem if you're working nights(9pm~6am) during the weekdays. So what do you do on the weekend?
- Make it a point that you go home right after your shift.
- Wake at around 12noon or 1. spend time with your family.
- take "power naps" :)
- saturday night, stay late until around 1am sunday am.
- sunday, wake up at 9am
- sunday night, stay late until around 1am monday am.
- monday, make sure you sleep at 12 noon

2. If you're in e-care, then I believe the building has a gym, right? Get at least 1 hour exercise. (1 rule to beat stress = exercise!)

3. During work time, work. During break times, take your breaks. When it's time to get off, then get off. That is unless you enjoy being in a stressful environment (adrenaline junkie). Minimizing time wasted on browsing, chatting, downloading MP3s, etc could get you lots of productive time, therefore you meet your daily targets/quotas/to-dos.

4. Schedule a VL (or disguise it as an SL) once or twice a month, when the stress is really too much. Then, just forget about anything related to work, computers, customers, english-policies, etc. then sleep as much as you can (and of course, play with your kid, if you have one)

5. Lastly, it just happens that some people really thrive in Call-Center environments. If you really can't handle it, then it might be a signal for you to look for another job suited for you. Loyalty for a company is one thing, dying for one is another. (Too much stress WILL lead to... well, you get the idea) =P

Remember, it all boils down to stress management, and tasks management. =)

Hope this helps. =)

[gemyl]

hmmmm

i jus applied as a tech support person. im currently in web dev, and going to tech support seems quite ok, since they have some trainings from time to time, and ur on shifting schedule, ul have some time to apply for another job if ever ur already bored or ur not happy with your job!

i have thought about it, and thought of the advantages and disadvantages, and it'll only be a disadvantage if you're not going to do anything, push your self and do other things you enjoy!

[archerguy]

Hello.

I'm presently working for the United States Embassy Call Center in San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City. Yeah, a call center job is usually boring, but if you just learn how to appreciate, enjoy, and love your job, magiging ok na ang standing mo. A job is a job, and it's still the main reason why you have money to spend on food and other expenses. Remember, maraming walang trabaho and we all should feel lucky that we're out of the unemployed figure. The job maybe monotonous, but you develop this special bond of friendship with your co-workers. It's always fun to laugh at call center spoofs at the end of the day. In a call center you should learn how to be appreciative of the work and if there's ample time you could do other productive things like studying or reading a book. Sa amin kasi we don't have work during weekend and we don't have shiftings s so I have time to study for my masters. :)

[Kram]

ei, archerguy,

Anong company ka connected? Curious lang ako kasi ngayon ko lang narining na may sarili palang call center ang US Embassy dito. Is your office located at SMPC Bldg.?

:D

[melrosegirl]

so far, I am enjoying my job. But I've been here for a little over a month so I can't say if I will be able to do this long-term. My sked got a bit better...no more work on weekends so I spend that time with friends and family.

As for sleeping habits....minsan, I have 3 hrs of sleep and there are days naman that I get like 12 hours of sleep! bumabawi ako. One thing lang, I feel more rested if I sleep in a really ark room and hirap din to sleep when everybody's up. super ingay!

I like working sa graveyard shift kasi naman it only takes me 15 minutes going to and from work. Walang traffic. Unlike my sisters, they have to leave 1 1/2 hrs early.

I do enjoy talking to people..esp those weirdos who get soooo mad at you. Funny lang how one call can irritate them. :) I like this job better than my last job where I was stuck oing paper work all day...tapos forced pa yun overtime. Dito, basta uwian na, stop calling....and no one expects you to do anymore calls. :)

Lack of sleep is just something I have to get used to kasi this job is really fun and I do like my co-workers!

[archerguy]

Originally posted by Kram
ei, archerguy,

Anong company ka connected? Curious lang ako kasi ngayon ko lang narining na may sarili palang call center ang US Embassy dito. Is your office located at SMPC Bldg.?

:D

Our office is near the Ericsson Bldg. We're not the inquiry hotline service for US Embassy applicants. We do a call center activity for US Visa applicants which we are not allowed to divulge. Ikaw which call center do you work for? :)

[Kram]

Originally posted by archerguy


Our office is near the Ericsson Bldg. We're not the inquiry hotline service for US Embassy applicants. We do a call center activity for US Visa applicants which we are not allowed to divulge. Ikaw which call center do you work for? :)

archerguy:

Magkalapit lang pala tayo ng office. Sa Ortigas lang din ako - near Pearl Drive.

I'm not working for a contact center but I'm considering it. Btw, what's your background ba (college degree)? and pwede bang mag-apply d'yan?

:D

[archerguy]

Originally posted by Kram


archerguy:

Magkalapit lang pala tayo ng office. Sa Ortigas lang din ako - near Pearl Drive.

I'm not working for a contact center but I'm considering it. Btw, what's your background ba (college degree)? and pwede bang mag-apply d'yan?

:D

Right now wala pang opening. Actually seven lang kaming nag-hahandle ng lahat ng embassy interviewees. Pero ngayon since peak season na naman ng mga applicants medyo nahihirapan na kami. Imagine we handle 600-700 every two days! Kaya baka mag-request kami na magdagdag ng tao. We can't divulge our job nature kasi bawal nga. You have to pass a lot of tests and interviews with the Consul before you're accepted. I'll inform you. :)

[Kram]

archerguy:

Cge.

Tnx anyway

:D