Goodbye 2009, Goodbye KGB, HELLO New Year, HELLO 2010

It's been a year. Within that period of time, I've become a real adult and act / be like one. I'm 21 already but I still feel like a kid and still want to. (hehe!) As I was working, there were many times that I found myself crying, depressed and pressured. It was my first job and I'm in a call center were everything are measured through the numbers that you make which is STATS. If you don't perform or meet the required qualifications either you are issued corrective action or kicked out of the company. You have to work hard to earn the money and build the rank or stats so you can bid for the schedule that you want. Pride kept me going simply because I don't want to put my efforts to waste and loose my job. And Of course, I need to support myself. I don't want to be a burden to my mom.

I've learned to value love ones, friends, time and money. Friends also helped me to cope and adjust to my new life. Since I started to work, I hardly have time for myself, for the people I love or for the things I usually have time to do. It's sad whenever I look back to my old days of being a free loader and a student. It was my fault that I've taken for granted important things and forgot that good things sometimes must come to an end. I don't know whether I'll finish my degree or not. I planned to work and study but I don't want to risk it. If I can't balance the two, it would be a waste of time and money wouldn't it? I don't wanna graduate just for the sake of having a diploma and have any grade written there. And I'm not wishing to be an Honor student because I'm not intelligent. I'm just average. I want something that I can be proud of and achieve my dreams.

As of the moment, I'm going with the flow atleast I can say that for all the things that happened I don't have regrets. Life is a journey. You'll never know what will come and what will happen. I left KGB and will look for another job. I'll still be probably in the call center industry. I'll never forget those memories I've made with KGB and the people. I'm thankful for the TMs, CSRs and friends I've met there. Most of them are nice but I'm not looking forward of doing that job forever. It's not the company I prefer and honestly I hate the account.

Hopefully, next year will be even better.
I'm looking forward to future and what It will bring me.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Lots,

mapi

Christmas

Long time no update. Finally. Had time to sit and write.

Got work during Christmas Day. I've managed to get a swap with my work mate. Traded my off for a saturday off which is 26.

When I was a kid i used to enjoy it. I experienced the traditions of Christmas like opening gifts and going house to house shouting "namamasko po!" with matching new dress and shoes. I will never forget the day someone commented how cute I was then there we so much air in my head that I accidentally stepped a dogs poo! Haha! Went home stinky with lots of money! I also went christmas carolling with the undying song of "sa may bahay". I remember my mom, pretending to be santa and buying us a big sock full of goodies; leaving with in our door knobs for us to see when we wake up then putting up christmas tree with all the gifts underneath.

I grew old then matured. As the years went by, Christmas seems to be gloomier and gloomier. Maybe because every year the cost of living is going higher and higher. I felt it. It went to the point of our house shutting up for good. The windows are close, the doors and my parents hiding from those pesky people who keep knocking. Since then i've lost interest of Christmas. It's like an ordinary day for me now. Now that I'm working I'm used to being away with my family. It's no biggie. Added the fact that I'm in the call center industry where we are not allowed to go on absent. I still do appreciate Christmas. It's the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and some get to spend time with their family, vacation and rest. Cold weather. And of course, parties! But me? I'm not really fond of going to stuff like that not unless I'm with a group of friends. I'd rather work and get paid double or simply rest. I believe in the saying that everyday can be Christmas day as long as you do good, love and give. Anyway, december 25 is not the exact date that Jesus was born. It was just set so that everybody will remember him. Merry Christmas! :]

Life as a CSR and at the Center

Its been five months already when i started to work as a CSR / Directory Assistance Operator and to tell you guys the truth at first i really hated my job. But as of the momemnt i dont really have a choice really. Its better this way rather than staying at home, be a couch potato and have no money. I have to make ends meet for me to have my goals achieved.

Anyway, the nature of my work is either love it or hate it. Its easy in a way. No quotas or what so ever like other accounts. You would just look for a number then connect a certain caller. Whats really annoying are the callers. Sometimes, they would call not knowing what they are looking for and because we are information, when we probe or ask questions they would say "that's why im calling you. i dont think its fair that you ask me for information." Some of them would really get persistent especially when it comes to residential listings or a specific number in a specific street. Some of them would even lie and say "I got the number yesterday. I dont know why you're not getting it."

I remember one call that really got me into a sarcastic tone. The caller was looking for a diana's beachwear and since a couldn't find it quickly i asked for the common question. "Do you know the street its on?" and the caller replied making an impression that im stupid. "I know you don't know this but its like near the beach and i always see it." and in the back of my mind i said "HELL YEAH! HELLER! That's why its called beachwear coz its near the beach!" I mean she could have told me the truth that she doesn't know the street. After several seconds, i found a listing named Diana's Swimwear and offered it in a really sarcastic tone. And the caller replied with "I don't know why its listed that way but it's Dianas Beachwear." and I said "This is the only one i have that matches your request. Do you want the number or not?" Eventually she got took anyway. A lot of em like that. They would look for a number that has a name far away from the actual real name. Like for example a caller look for a purple plum when its actually sugar plum. You have to be very patient with the customers especially if with senior citizens. They get easily pissed off and really really deaf! Another thing that hard about this job, since were not from their country they would ask us questions and we never really know. OR sometimes there are unfamilliar street names, cities and listings that are hard to pronounce. That's when they start to ask about our location which is a big NO NO. Its embarassing to say the protocol that we cant tell them our location because they are paying for the call and they do deserve to know. As an operator I can't do anything about the company's policy even if i want to shout out that i'm in the philippines. And the last thing that is annoying they would just call to complain about the service but then again they could have just picked up the phone book, look it up and read it themselves. It just simple shows that they are lazy. Haha! That's why our company is stable. We will not run out of callers.

A lot of times i thought of resigning already. Its because of the simple reason that im handling 1000 calls or more in a 8 hour shift. I gets tiring especially the lines "how can i help you? or have a great day!". You dont have the luzury of slacking off anymore. You've got no time to have fun because you're always tired. But then Looking back, I worked hard for the position that I'm in now. Our batch who have 30 people, only 7 of us passed. I passed with flying colors, I had an excellence report and good stats. My quality assurance is ranging from 100 to 90%. I also have good call processing time too. Im going 40 seconds and with also good call flow. If i do reasign, i cant put the company name in my resume. It would be negative on my part. After much consideration, I decided not too. Its hard to find a job nowadays and I'm happy with my workmates. Hopefully, ill finish my one year and have big back pay then I'll study again! :)

Here's our pictures.




















Even though were not complete anymore and have different schedules Im looking forward to meeting new people in the center and with my callers. THere is still some to look forward too. The nice people in our center! Everyday is a new day! Its a waste if i dont live it at my best!

Lots,

mapi

Beautiful Nightmare

Hi. Just made a new blog. I guess I wanted to get back to writing to ease stress whenever its my work. Its always been a passion for me to write myself out. Anyway, let me introduce myself first. My real name's maria pilar castro. People call me mapi because I dont wanna be called by my first name. Im of 20 years of age. Before, I was a student in Lyceum University in Manila taking BS HRM. Unfortunately, my family's in a financial crisis right now and I've decided to work. Im a call center agent at KGB philippines here in Laguna. Im a directory assistance operator.

As person, Im not really hard to read. If I dont like you, I wont likely be around you and pretend that we are close when were really not. And when I do like you, I have ways to let the person know. Mostly, Im nice but I am frank and outspoken. Im not the type who would whisper my ideas or opinion. Id share it even though some may not like it. I guess i have enough confidence but not the point that Im an electric fan already dahil sa lakas ng hangin.

Hobbies? Writing. Surfing. Listening to mp3. Shopping and Singing. Food? I like pizzas and pastas. When it comes to music, any genre will do as long as it suites my taste. I love the japanese culture, anime and reading mangas. I watch Dr. Phil, Survivor, CSI, Anatomys Grey. Some of my favorite movies are daylight, the guardian, AI, pursuit of happyness, the bucket list, the craft, the corpse bride, nightmare before christmas, bruce almighty, evan almighty and transformers.

I expect that I will update my blog from time to time but not like my other blog last time. Probably once a week because I have work. I hope I would meet many people again. I do enjoy meeting people and getting to know them. Making friends over the internet. :]

Why is my blog named Beautiful Nightmare? I just like the name. Hmm. Any connection to me? Yes. Like I said Im nice but I can be a pain in the ass when Im angry, upset and whatever. That's all.

Okay. That's it for now.




Lots,

Mapi