halu, telepon (2)

(This is a continuation to my previous post). I really again, retaliate this; I don’t have anything against the call center industry. It is even the biggest sprinter of the unemployed community nowadays. It pays well, high incidence of promotions and other perks. But I guess, it is not really for me. To each its own. (And the following commentaries are part of an emotional burst of unidentified ambivalent feelings toward the topic)

Most of my friends encouraged me to get a job particularly in this industry. According to them, it will just be another chicken feed for me. Modesty aside, equipped with a maarte twang in English, conscious grammar user and couple proofs of English exams passed, they believe I am fit for it. But I don’t think I am, really. I salute those who have endured working in this industry esp those nurses who became “colgrls and colboys” . It takes a lot of patience in such a working environment. Imagine, sitting 8-12hrs per shift, mostly graveyard, accepting or making calls, fidgeting in the keyboard and sitting in your rotating chair facing the computer, etcetera etcetera. That’s practically my reason, why I don’t have such taste and fancy in the industry. I can’t see myself doing such work. Where’s the challenge there? Speaking in a foreign tongue explaining such and such talking to someone on the other line in the other side of the world using the computer? Like a big hedious challenge right?!

The compensation here in our country is very unfair. A person in this industry working 8-12 hrs even in graveyard shift, working in front of computers, typing or receiving calls etc starts earning at around 15,000 up whereas a staff nurse in a hospital caring for patient’s life works 8hrs/shift earns a whooping 7,000 pesos! Isnt really unfair?! I’m sorry guys, but I have loads of friends working in the call center industry that’s why I basically know how they work. Comparing my profession with yours, it is really unfair… but I know, I shouldn’t compare notes really… but again, its just a clear observation from a different angle.

More importantly, what discourages me really, above it all--- is the kind of environment and culture I will be in, if ever I will work in this kind of industry. FYI, I was supposed accept a training 2weeks ago in one of the top paying call centers here in Manila. (i just tried really for fun and at the same time to accompany my sister also but was really surprised i was considered immediately) But, I've decided not to accept the job. Simply because of - I don’t feel its right for me. Practically speaking, I will not be earning the pay they offered to me when I’m a hospital staff nurse here in Manila. That’s the reality, really. But still, I felt I was doing myself and them a big favor. After all, if I would continue with a heavy heart, my performance will just stink and I will, in the long haul, call it quits. And the most important reason is that the company during pre orientation speaks of the world “fun and respect” but as the sarcasm of the HR vice president echoes in the whole training room, I don’t feel those words hold true, really. She was downright rude, ruthless bitch I have ever seen. Coupled with feeling superiors (take not feeling only) and very competitive trainees surrounding the whole room, I felt heavy deep within me.

I know the corporate world is really like such culture. But as I go through my senses, I have questioned myself if this is the kind of culture I want to be in, if this is the kind of culture I will eventually adapt and dwell in? As one of my friend said, she quit her corporate lawyer post for a gov’t post simply for the reason that she can’t stand the attitude and the culture they are thriving in. She don’t want to be like them in the future. And I for one, does not want to be like them as well --- unprofessional, ruthless and rude bitches.

I have been exposed to professional individuals, more superior than these “feeling superior only” call center people, and believe it or not they don’t have the kind of culture and and most esp the attitude that I saw in this bpo companies. That’s why I say, to each its own. And for me, I loathe the call center people who stain their supposedly “fun working environment" or their profession in general. I hate these people who feel superior in the surfaces only to know they are more low lying creature than you are.

The moral of these is – whatever position you hold in a company, whatever degree/exams you have on your portfolio, whoever you are in general, you are just nothing to me--- you are nobody in my eyes if you lack the word RESPECT, DECENCY & COURTESY. You are not GOD… you may be superior in your own lil corporate world but there are far more superior people around you and there is only one superior being UP there... You should treat everybody with respect and courtesy, for you may not know who they really are. Just like the famous La Greta – RCBC elevator incident --- learn form it biatches!

laters...