doing it...backwards

Being in the shoes of a rank and file and a supervisor

noreply@blogger.com (James Ortiz) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:56:00 +0000

Having one job drains a lot from a person in a day... Imagine having two jobs, one as a supervisor and one as an OJT/Intern.

A week before I got the job as an HR Assistant in a call center company for my OJT, I started working for our family business for the reason that the person-in-charge of almost all the central functions of the business resigned. No one in the family forced me to take the position yet I volunteered myself because I believe so much as to what my mother was doing. The one I replaced was the only person who knew and was in-charge of everything.... and I mean EVERYTHING, from production up to the follow through of the business platform. Because our business is based on IT (Information Technology or some call in Information Systems), I was facing something which I had no knowledge of. As an undergraduate of BSBA-Human Resource Management, my knowledge was limited to psychology and business management(No, IT their except knowledge of the MSOFFICE). In addition to the situation, I was to teach 2 of our employees who both don't have a knowledge of computers(just great!). I had to squeeze in all the knowledge that the resigning person-in-charge has mastered for years and to add to the pressure I had to finish 400 hours of my OJT for this semester in order to graduate. Furthermore, my OJT as an HR assistant was not an easy job, I had to conduct testing to new applicants and document everything which we submit as a report to our respective supervisors in the company. My daily schedule was to wake up 7AM in the morning to go to my OJT work and go home at around 8pm to work for our company which sometimes end at around 2am. I cannot count the sleepless days I had yet I didn't write this blog to emote about the hardships I am undertaking now. I wrote to share with you what I learned through this experience.

We shouldn't underestimate the potential of what employees with no college or even high school background. I witness it myself as I was teaching the 2 employees with regards to how to operate the whole IT system. Can you believe that it only took me a week or two to teach them everything to the point that they are the ones teaching our other employees how to operate and use the computer. Amazing, I always would whisper to myself but not because I'm a good teacher, rather I am astonished as to how they perform even though they were not graduates of computer degree programs and as to how they absorb knowledge even though everything was done in a short period of time. Actually now, I am only giving them minimal supervision when they are performing their work. The only difference I saw between myself working in my OJT and them working in my family's company is that they lack confidence. Confidence in a sense that they are afraid of deciding for themselves maybe because they have not yet mastered the whole thing. I still do get frequent queries regarding simple decisions they should be doing on their own yet they are afraid to do so. Overall, I would still compliment their job well done and their perseverance to practice their critical thinking to the point that they were already the ones giving me ideas on how to innovate some of the operations in the system. Unbelievable!

As for being an OJT, I began to understand the side of rank and file versus management. I encountered times wherein I was blamed even though I followed what my supervisors told me to do. I usually call it "power trip" because management sees that its leaders failure are due to uncooperative members. Also, I have a lesser say compared to supervisors who sometimes don't admit their faults and sometimes feel offended when there knowledge is being tested. Everything I absorb in my OJT, I apply to my employees. One way of doing so was actually interacting with them through open forums regarding what difficulties or problems they encountered with management especially in situations wherein their voices are not heard. I make it a point to forward their complaints to the people concerned and somewhat provide them protection with what they were told to do from what they were supposed to do.

When I compare the way I work in my OJT and the way they work in our family's company, I sometimes wonder, maybe I am not doing much of what I am expected to do. Maybe I should be challenging myself more to furthermore improve the things I can contribute.

Adding up your own Success

noreply@blogger.com (James Ortiz) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:19:00 +0000

There are a lot of things I learned in life this past few years. I can say that what I learned is something not read in books nor learned in school but simply based on experience and in observing how life treats us. Come to think of it, the basic element of being successful in business is the art of "giving" or the so-called customer service. In order to be rich, you need to give more to receive more.

I read in the book "Secret of the Ages" that in order to be wealthy, you must provide others service which exceeds their expectations, the so-called "extra mile." For employees, giving more of what you can do for the company without considering factors such as pay for gauging the level of service that you will give to them. I envy my mom when she tells me that when your enjoying what your doing, the money will follow because honestly when I work, I always make sure that I have something to gain than something to loose. If you root your dreams with primarily thinking of the money you'll make then you'll just be waiting for the dead end rather than looking at what you want to do and enjoy doing it. That's why now, instead of computing the income, try figuring out what tickles your fancy.

The irony of life is that when you "give" more you receive more. In line with the previous statement, when one gives, he/she should not expect anything in return. God has his way of rewarding the generous especially the ones who does not expect anything in return. Let me share with you a story, when the business was still booming, my mom was very generous with the people around her, especially her relatives and the priests would knock on her door. When someone needs money, she has a light hand of giving without saying anything bad. When we were affected by the financial crunch recently, we encountered a lot of problems both emotionally and financially but my mom never told us that if she has extra cash, she would give to the ones who are in need. During the "storm," we headed through rough patches especially during times of pulling out cash in our pockets. It came to a point that we have nothing else to go to. But during these tough times, we didn't expect that the one's my mom help before were now the ones helping us survive the storm. It was a humbling experience to ask for help from them. Sometimes, when you head through huge waves, you just have to go with the flow and surrender yourself to God and like the birds in the air, he will provide you with what you need.

Lastly, in order to expect something more from what you are doing, you need to appreciate the simple things in life. From your first pay check to your first promotion, be thankful for what you have because the more you are happy with the small blessing you encounter the more God will provide you with bigger things.

Live with this formula in mind:

* Dream + Serve others + God + Giving + Transcendence

= SUCCESS

The blank sheet

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 01 May 2010 13:31:00 +0000

Organizations nowadays, particularly the established ones are always the first to exhibit the symptoms of organizational myopia. This phenomenon does not originate from human error as many would see it, but it stems from the complacency and arrogance of human nature along with its inflated ego. Myopia is the condition wherein the individual lacks foresight, he therefore is unable to discern the auspicious from the precipice that bears no fruit but a steep downfall.

Whenever a summit has been reached, some just drop the ball and stop progressing, hoping that the toil from their prior achievement would suffice the demand of human consumerism. But unfortunately, it almost never does, or at least just for a brief period of time until somebody with conviction concocts a totally innovative prototype that surpasses your product offering. This is one of those moments that catapults a person to stardom and send companies to the morgue.

The proverbial lesson is to always keep the eye on the ball and remember that the primary reason firms survive is because of the consumers and the rigorous efforts of satisfying their insatiable appetite for a better life.

The best businessman, regardless of annual earnings and net worth, is a person who is able to meet the specifications of the consumers since the philosophy of mass production has become such a trite. Its as common as political campaigns during the election month, and it renders the industry very unattractive to penetrate.

Life's Callus

noreply@blogger.com (James Ortiz) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:03:00 +0000

We all know callus as the thickening the skin in response to repeated friction and pressure. Guitarists develop calluses on their fingertips, bowlers on their thumb as well as their middle and ring fingers. Even children playing on the monkey bars develop calluses just above the palms of their hands. But come to think of it, it is our bodies way of protecting itself from further harm.

In life, we develop our inner calluses when we conquer our bad experience. We become more stronger, more mature and definitely wiser. No one is doomed to fail and never stand up from it. Consider the likes of Donald Trump, he did fail and worse everybody knew about it, yet you never did see him weep rather the next day you saw picking up his pace and creating his new business. Another good example is Henry Ford. He was an illiterate at his time yet look at the break through he made in the automotive industry. When forwarded with a yet similar situation with a previous bad experience, let your callus be your proof that you can handle it.

Another callus in our life is when we continue to learn knowledge. Knowledge is endless and boundless. It continues to innovate and to reproduce itself. People who are the so-called "know-it-all" are usually the ones who are victims of their own premonitions. These are the ones who would always be full of themselves rather than seeing opportunities of new learning to uncover. Like callus, when we stop learning our brain begins to decrease its power, it slims down in its initial state. Always remember that as you continue to learn new knowledge your callus thickens which would serve as your protection from problems.

Facebook Mistakes That Could Cost Your Job

noreply@blogger.com (Marc Alvin Tan) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 15:47:00 +0000

Today, almost everyone keeps a Facebook account to stay connected with families and friends, but did you know that what you post on Facebook could make the difference between getting hired and missing out on an opportunity?

Here are 6 Facebook mistakes that job applicants/employees should avoid:

1. Inappropriate Pictures

It may affect the image you want to portray in your professional life, it is wise to keep your drunk pictures private

2. Complaining About Your Current Job

It may seem like an innocent statement, but it could not sit well with a potential employer

3. Posting Conflicting Information to Your Resume

Your credibility is at stake whenever you post anything on Facebook, so if your potential employer sees that there's a mismatch between your resume and the info on your profile it would make you seem like a liar.

4. Statuses You Wouldn't Want Your Boss to See

Statuses that imply you are unreliable, deceitful, and basically anything that doesn't make you look as professional as you'd like, can seriously undermine your chances at landing that new job.

5. Not Understanding Your Security Settings

Even if you aren't going to use Facebook professionally, make sure to go through your privacy options. At least, make your profile unavailable to people who are not your friend.

6. Losing by Association

We get to be judged by the company we keep, so inappropriate wall posts, tagged pictures could be detrimental to our chances of getting hired from a potential employer's vantage point.

Facebook Can Make or Break You

While a Facebook account is not necessarily a bad thing and in fact could benefit you professionally, just make sure it doesn't contain information and pictures that you wouldn't be proud of, so as not to send the wrong impression to potential employers.

Source: 6 Career-Killing Facebook Mistakes

HR Joke for the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Marc Alvin Tan) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:58:00 +0000

The Complaints of a PENIS:

I, the penis, hereby request salary raise for the following reasons:

1) I do physical labour
2) I work at great depths
3) I plunge headfirst in everything I do
4) I work in a damp environment
5) I don't get dayoff even on weekends and holidays
6) I'm always exposed to contagious diseases

The response after a thorough deliberation, the management rejects your requests on the following grounds:

1) You do not work 8 hours straight
2) You always fall asleep after strenuous work
3) You don't stay in your designated work area
4) You always need to be pressured and stimulated for you to work
5) You always leave your work rather very messy
6) And lastly, you have been found to constantly entering and exiting the work area carrying 2 suspicious-looking bags!

Minor League Syndrome

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 18:32:00 +0000

After almost two months of inactivity, I finally mustered enough effort to finish my third blog entry.

Its amusing how some people with exceptional talents or at least skill sets that exceed the expectations of the norms are predisposed to feel inadequate, especially during at times where those talents are crucial for success. After watching the film Pool hall junkies starring Mars Callahan as the prodigiously gifted but notorious pool hustler Johnny Doyle, I began empathizing with the main character, reminiscing about the times of doubt in my past where I choked and failed to deliver what was expected of me. I realized that people who think highly of themselves in terms of their capabilities are more prone to choking whenever they are faced with apprehensions that tests their skill under immense pressure than of those people who think ordinarily of themselves since failure would only give them a realization of the difficulty of the task at hand and a learning experience, as opposed to a person who thinks highly of his skills and can execute the task but was unable to do so because of the pressure associated with the expectation of people, particularly of those who they revere.

The film begins as the young Johnny playing a friendly match of pool with a local hustler named Rex as they chat about the old days where hustlers rule the land or in this case the pool halls, and the pros were nowhere to be found. Johnny expressed his aspirations of becoming a professional someday, and more than that he just wanted to be the best. Fate, however, had different plans for the gifted youngster since his backer/mentor/father figure Joe would not allow Johnny to leave his sights to become a pro because he fears that he would astray from him the moment he sits on the lap of luxury that professional pool can bring. Being a selfish person that Joe is, he entraps Johnny within his clasp and indoctrinated unto him a mentality of inferiority despite his obvious talent. Fifteen years have passed, and Johnny now all grown up, is the most renowned hustler in Southern California. Assimilating Joe's principles of street smart and guile, he was controlled under a string where the potential to make money by insidiously trapping less skilled players to play against him was the priority and not the maximization of his true abilities. After discovering the truth about how Joe secretly concealed tournament invitation letters for a chance to become a pro, Johnny becomes infuriated and he deliberately dogged a shot in order to lose the game, while Joe as his backer, suffers the consequences of a beat down because of his inability to pay for the bet. This was Johnny's revenge, and a chance to start a new life away from pool since he felt it did not do him any good. After only a few weeks, Johnny was missing the game, he immediately accepts a friendly game as he quits his job at the construction site. He discovers that he loves pool so much and that he can never escape it. But it doesn't end yet as Joe returns to exact his revenge at Johnny by getting his brother imprisoned after losing to his new protege who is very skilled. In the final part of the film, an all-out battle of nine-ball pool ensues between Johnny and Joe's protege and the stake is at its highest. Johnny knows that this is the most important game of his life not only because of the money involved enough to bail his brother out of prison but because for the first time in his life, his real ability will be tested.

As future HR professionals, it is inevitable that we feel inadequate when faced by situations where there is a lot on the line and we either make or break it. What we have to learn from this and what is most important is to always keep ourselves, regroup our composure because the moment we lose ourselves is also the moment we lose everything. We must treat our failures as stepping stones for success because it is an opportunity to grow wiser and careful of future undertakings.

Book review: Strategic Management competitiveness, globalization, and concepts by Michael Hitt, Duane Ireland, and Robert Hoskisson

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:22:00 +0000

The most painstaking part about writing a book review is finding an interesting topic that would invoke interest among the readers and more importantly than not, appeal to the writer’s palate. This, I must admit was a very difficult task since I had no intentions of purchasing a book because I thought it would be just a waste of money, so it almost took me forever just to rummage in the school library for one, and not to mention my inability to finish reading the book due to my swamped schedule reinforced by the compounding demands of other school subjects, and given the requirements that it must pertain only to management and/or leadership contexts and published not earlier than 2009. For purposes of brevity, reading a book isn't my cup of tea, however, because of the events that transpired along with the pressures greater than I have experienced in school, my outlook on reading gradually shifted from mild aversion to subtle affinity.

The book is quite technical but easy to understand. This is because of its informative writing style adjoined with logic and explained through actual experiences of the top leaders of the elite global organizations around the globe. One of the most important topics discussed was the Strategic Management Process (SMP) and its contribution to a sustained competitive advantage. This book also featured a comprehensive analysis of the cases of companies that underwent organizational change and further explicating the cause of their successes and failures.

After understanding the essence of Strategic Management, this gave me a wider view of the ever evolving environment. It gives an advantage of knowing current trends, carefully planning ventures that can yield above-average returns while avoiding unattractive ventures that can be disastrous. As I near the finish line of my college life, I don't plan of spending the remainder of my life behind a desk in front of a computer working as an employee for some company. Instead, I will venture in the world of the high-risk takers, gamblers, businessmen, and entrepreneurs. I'm pretty sure it will not be an easy ride for me, and I don't expect the people to take me lightly, but with my knowledge in strategic management and my willingness to learn more, I can safely argue that I have a puncher's chance of becoming successful in this field. I strongly recommend this book to novices and experts alike.

Book Review: Relational Intelligence by Steve Saccone

noreply@blogger.com (James Ortiz) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:11:00 +0000

I developed the habit of reading books that would either increase my knowledge of uncertainties or books that would inspire me. When I started to read this book, I was easily enticed to finish it due to the concepts and ideas that it is revealing to me. I haven’t fully read the Bible yet I could relate to the examples in the gospels that Steve Saccone used in this book in order to relate it to relational intelligence. Come to think of it, if Jesus is relationally intelligent and Jesus became human therefore humans can be relationally intelligent. As I continue to deepen my analysis with this book, I started to understand how people who are relationally intelligent become successful in life.

After reading the book, I started to assess myself as to whether I'm relationally intelligent. I started to list my positive and negative attitudes when it comes to socializing with people. One positive attitude that I believe I excel at most is that I am "a conversational futurist." When having a conversation with people, I often connect to what they are getting at into a higher degree of thinking. For example, when my friends would tell me their problems, I make it a point to create progress in his/her burden instead of continuing to stress out his/her problem. One negative attitude that decreases my relational intelligence is that I don't usually start conversations with people. It usually takes me two to three days before I start a conversation. This is critical because I may end up not getting to know the right people when the right time comes that they might be the key for my success due to missed chances. One suggestion that the book gave to this certain dilemma is that I start initiating conversations with the use of open ended questions that would get other people to start opening up to me very easily. The more a person opens up the more comfortable the relationship would be.

I would recommend this books to people who would like to be good leaders someday. Not only does it give recommendations but also strengthens a persons character in relation with getting along with others. It could also be considered as a self help book to people who believe that they lack inner motivation to progess in their work groups.

Book Review: The 60 Second Organizer by Jeff Davidson

noreply@blogger.com (Yuta) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:46:00 +0000

First of all, I'm a person that really really hates reading other books especially if it is not related to astronomy or space matters. But as I have seen myself today, I have noticed that I have difficulties in organizing my own time, things and doings for the day. Since a book review is required in our class, I need to read and analyze a book that has management perspectives on it. As I have scanned several books in the bookstore, I found this book called "The 60 Second Organizer" by Jeff Davidson that will possibly overcome one of my weaknesses.

In my experience reading the book, I can say that 60 Second Organizer is easy to read, enjoyable and effective in terms of beating the stress and chaos of being disorganized. In this book, there are lot of different solid techniques that will help us to overcome our problem in organizing and also help us to streamline our life and maintain order in office, school and even at home. For me, it is a motivational jump-start to drop our own excuses and get organized.

What amazed me by reading this book?

Simple, I realized that when it comes to perfection in everything that we do, that the additional time we spend to take projects from 95-100% in most cases it is not worth it. Striving for perfection is ensuring that the final 5% is completely and correctly done, often takes as much time as the initial 95% of effort required. OOOOH GOD!!!!!!!! NO WONDER THAT IT FELT VERY DIFFICULT!!!!!

Another one, is in terms of making important choices. In choosing our own priorities we automatically redirect ourselves to accept that there is nothing we can do. If we choose to keep working on some task, even one assigned to us, this personal decision is made in the present moment and not based on prior agenda.

In this world no one rules by love; if you are but amiable, you are no hero; to be powerful, you must be strong, and to have dominion you must have a genius for organizing. -John Henry Newman

Having a new idea and priority is such a rare thing because we often simply imitate what we hear and read, we people can make our own choices that are not congruent with our own history.

TRY TO READ THE BOOK PEEPS IT IS VERY VERY INTERESTING!!!!

FOR STUDENTS, IT CAN BOOST PRODUCTIVITY IN SCHOOL.

AND

FOR THOSE WHO ARE WORKING, IT CAN BOOST YOUR JOB SATISFACTION.

Book Review: The 50th Law by 50 Cent and Robert Greene

noreply@blogger.com (Marc Alvin Tan) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:45:00 +0000

nihil timendum est - fear nothing

Ever since I picked up Robert Greene's 48 Laws of Power from the library a couple of years back, I knew that he was going to be one of my favorite authors from the way he writes in an amoral fashion to the people he uses as examples in his books (e.g. Zhuge Liang, Nietzsche, Sun Tzu, Machiavelli, Napoleon, Baltasar Gracian, Ninon de Lenclos and Cardinal Richelieu) that I had a hard time putting it down as I was simply astounded in the way he distills knowledge from these respected leaders and philosophers and the extensive research he has done to compile their instructions into a book that would be helpful to anyone who seeks power or wants to arm himself against it. So, naturally I also read his other books, 33 Strategies of War and Art of Seduction, simply because I love how he uses anecdotes of historical personalities to provide the reader a clearer understanding of the lessons he espouses. It's like reading world history...on steroids.

Late last year, I learned that Greene co-authored a book with 50 Cent (yes, the rapper) called "The 50th Law" and I was ecstatic to hear about the news that I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of the book. When I started reading, I wasn't disappointed, if the 48 laws of power was a history book on roids, this is a self-help book...on crack. The book starts with a little background on Curtis Jackson, how he used to be a drug dealer in Queens and how a close encounter with death changed his life to be the person he is today - 50 Cent.

The book centralizes on the topic Fear, Greene uses 50 Cent's life experience to show how fearlessness could help us reach our potentials. In the introduction of the book he writes,

‘…your fears are a kind of prison that confines you within a limited range of action. The less you fear, the more power you will have and the more fully you will live.’

Some of the rules mentioned in the book include being realistic, having unshakable self believe, learning to utilize your aggression and taking advantage of opportunities. The section that captivated me was on taking advantage of opportunities or as the book aptly calls it "Turning Shit into Sugar".

The section tells us to take events in our lives as neutral, that it is our minds that chooses to interpret whether something is positive or not. It teaches us to do a paradigm shift in times of adversity. Basically when you are down and you've got nothing to lose, that is the time when you are closest to success since you have nothing to fear, ergo you are free to do anything. If you could frame a negative event in your life as a blessing in disguise, it makes it easier for you to move forward, a kind of mental alchemy - Turning Shit into Sugar.

This book was simple and straightforward unlike Greene's first two books, 48 Laws of Power and 33 Strategies of War which carries more academic weight, nevertheless it was a good read and puts the intended message across. Though people might question the credibility of 50 Cent in preaching life lessons yet alone be a motivational writer he is in fact an astute businessman who invests in companies outside the music industry. He is most famous for earning over $400 million, thanks to his foresight for making an early investment in vitamin water company Glacéau, which was bought by Coca Cola in 2007 for $4.1 billion.

Book Review: Put Your Dream to the Test by John Maxwell

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:38:00 +0000

Thanks John for reminding us to dream….for….There is a place within each and every one of us – a spark lies there – and from that spark is ignited a dream.-Peter Sinclair @ johnmaxwellonleadership.com

I was never a bookworm and to tell you honestly I hate books and I am not fond of reading books that is why when I heard about this book review the first thing that comes into my mind is 'ay ang hassle' but because it is a requirement that I need to pass and I need to graduate on time so I have no choice but to read it but then I realized that the book that I am reading is very helpful. despite of my busy schedule as a student and also taking my internship, I see to it that each day before my day ends I read 4-5 pages but after 2 days reading the book, I increased the pages by reading the whole chapter per day and reach to a point were I read the book three times and would like to read it more often.

While I am reading the book, I realized that the 10 questions precede the next one. The first chapter of the book was the very crucial one that needs to be addressed well because it asked the ownership question that would test if it is really your dream. It might have been your parents dream for you or worst is others dream that you adopt to get the recognition of people. So from now on, always remember that Before you pick a dream make sure it's your choice because it will be the one that you will be working in your life.

After three times reading the book, I wonder why even though I've repeatedly read the book, it didn't stop me to refer to the book each day when I remember my dream.It's like their is something that pushing me that I can achieve my dream by remembering the guidelines given by John Maxwell because all questions and advices are all practical and realistic. the book comprised of 10 chapters, with each chapter has its own question of somehow testing your level of achieving your dream. I also apply the 10 question into my life, I also test myself with these ten questions. On some, I answered yes but I stopped on question number seven which is the Cost question which states Am I willing to pay the price for my dream?. I am currently on my Human Resource course and I want to become a Flight attendant. It is somehow my course is irrelevant on my dream. I want to achieve my dream but sometimes I ask myself if I can sacrifice my course that I am taking up now which will definitely be put to waste. I am enjoying and happy doing HR work but I feel that I am not productive nor satisfied with what I am doing. I am honestly confused but as John Maxwell says that "think of what will make your mind and heart engaged on what you are doing."

Before or After my graduation, I am planning to apply first on an airline company well not as an HR practitioner but a flight attendant. who knows you might see me soon on your next trip. I research about it always and I am also preparing on the things that I will encounter. I know it won't be easy but again at least if ever I fail in this part of my life, I actually will not stop until I reach my dream and will never regret that I did not do anything to achieve my dream

I know each and everyone of us has a dream, even you have difficulty or not in achieving your own dream, try reading this book. It will really help you realize your potential and your direction.

BPA/P National Competency Test Launch

noreply@blogger.com (Marc Alvin Tan) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:13:00 +0000

To ensure the hiring of qualified people in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firms in the country, the Business Processing Outsourcing of the Philippines (BPAP) together with Assessment Analytics, Inc, the country's exclusive distributor of Previsor, the world's leader in competency-based online assessment, launched the BPAP national competency test (BNCT) at the Mandarin Hotel, 10 A.M. today. The BNCT is a 2 1/2 hour computer aided exam that comprises of tests in Learning Ability, English Language Proficiency, Perceptual Speed and Accuracy, Computer Literacy and Service Orientation. Secretary Ray Roxas-Chua III of BPAP was the first person to sample the BNCT and the test was administered by yours truly :) This competency test aims to make the recruitment process both for firms and the applicant more efficient, from the large number of graduates that wish to apply and career shifters, this makes it easier for firms to target their applicants and get better results of what they want making the screening process faster at the entry level.

I would like to express my gratitude to Assessment Analytics, Inc (where I'm currently having my internship) for giving me this opportunity to take part in this momentous event that would change the course of the recruitment process of the BPO industry in the Philippines.

For more info please read: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Click on the following links to learn more about Assessment Analytics and BPA/P

The Downside of Downsizing

noreply@blogger.com (Marc Alvin Tan) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:22:00 +0000

The clown was wondering if he heard right when Alfred told him
that he's fired

According to a 20-year study of 20 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development economies, labor-productivity growth was higher in economies that adopt formal prohibitions against dismissal of employees as opposed to those that lay off employees left and right. The research reached a consistent conclusion that shows that layoffs are in fact ineffective.

Wayne Cascio, a professor at University of Colorado professor lists the direct and indirect costs of layoffs in his book - Responsible Restructuring:

• severance pay
• paying out accrued vacation and sick pay
• outplacement costs
• higher unemployment-insurance taxes
• the cost of rehiring employees when business improves
• low morale and risk-averse survivors
• potential lawsuits
• sabotage
• workplace violence from aggrieved employees or former employees
• loss of institutional memory and knowledge
• diminished trust in management
• reduced productivity

Some Myths about downsizing

• Increases stock prices than peers (announcement of downsizing) — either immediately or over time
• Increases individual company productivity
• Increases profits
• Cutting off people is similar to amputation where you cut a part to save a whole (it does not save the organization, it just delays its demise)

Some Effects of downsizing

• People cut back on spending - since people who lost their jobs lose income, they would end up spending less. Workers who kept their jobs, would be more cautious in their spending habits our of fear that they might lose their jobs too. This in turn would affect the economy, since when sales drop, companies would need to fire more people, continuing the vicious cycle.

• Health of people suffers - since people lose their health insurance along with their jobs, it leads to people skipping diagnostic tests (e.g. mammograms and colonoscopies) that could prevent more serious problems. Studies show that there is a direct relationship between not having health insurance and individual mortality rates.

• Depression - losing their jobs could lead people to depression, leading to anxiety and other psychological problems and even violent tendencies on those the feel responsible for their lay off.

• Suicide - suicide rates increase as much as 2.5 times according to a study in New Zealand among people aged 25-64 who had been layed off.

• Substance abuse - downsizees are more inclined to depend on alcohol, smoking, drug abuse, and are prone to depression.

So for whatever reason, companies should always think carefully before they consider downsizing and weigh the pros and cons, and more importantly the consequences of their actions not only for the organization but for the country’s economy as well. I still remember what Mr. Rich (Richie Rich’s dad) said in the movie Richie Rich that one of his policies is to never fire an employee and that he has never fired an employee in his whole life (except when he had to fire the villain who kidnapped him at the end of the movie) and I was surprised that there is at least one company that shares the same belief currently the largest domestic U.S. airline and has a bigger market capitalization within the industry, Southwest Airlines has never had an involuntary layoff in nearly 40 years of its existence. As its former head of human resources once said:

"If people are your most important assets, why would you get rid of them?"

Source: Newsweek

No Thanks To Smoking

noreply@blogger.com (Marc Alvin Tan) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:04:00 +0000

Albert Whittamore who died of emphysema had his dying wish honored with the words "Smoking Killed Me" placed on signs in his hearse and at his graveside, encouraging people to give up smoking.

Source: The Washington Post

Acoustic Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Marc Alvin Tan) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:41:00 +0000

Wanna relax? Try listening to Acoustic sensation Sabrina and I'm sure you'll fall in love with her soothing voice...
I know I did ;)

Click on the links to download a sample

Way Back Into Love

You're Beautiful

She Will Be Loved

Out of Reach

Superman

Hero

Umbrella

So Sick

Irreplaceable

A Thousand Miles

I'm With You

When September Ends

The Reason

You and Me

Perfect

Home

My Guardian Angel

Bad Day

Insomnia

Everything You Want

Wherever You Will Go

If you like her music, please support her by buying her album instead of stealing it off the internet.

The reason for doing it backwards

noreply@blogger.com (Marc Alvin Tan) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:29:00 +0000

HERMENEUTICS
Relax, she's only taking a bath...

I've been a staunch believer of Stephen Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" since I first picked up book ten years ago, one of the habits that really struck me and has been embedded in me ever since was Habit no. 2 - Begin with the End in Mind. To begin with the end in mind is to begin with the image of your goal as the frame of reference by which everything else is measured. It is about creating things twice - first, in your mind (the mental) and second the physical (the actual).

In an organization, this is applied through Leadership and Management, Leadership is the first creation and Management, the latter. Management is doing things right, Leadership is doing the right things.

This habit is quite helpful in Training employees, since there has been a lot of debate and confusion on which method is more effective - an academic approach (like in school) or a work-based model approach (practical and applied learning). The right approach is pretty straightforward - at work you have to get things done, so for employees to benefit their organization and do their jobs well, they need to learn the skills needed to perform their roles effectively, this proves that a work-based model is more effective as compared to learning frameworks, theories and history like in a classroom based setup.

"In order for employees to develop the right skills that will in turn build the business and fortify the organization, companies need to train their employees in the context of what they need to know and do in order to successfully execute the functions of their roles."

To do this more effectively, just remember to Begin with the End in Mind - clearly and explicitly define first what the employees need to learn after the training, then use the "lessons" that could be learned to back it up and reach the desired results.

So there you go, these were the thoughts ran through our heads when we were thinking of a blog title, thus we've decided on Doing it Backwards.

Source: HR Made Simple

This blog post is dedicated to our friend, a future HR practitioner who obviously knows how to "Do It Backwards". Happy Birthday Jan Michael "Jimbo" Valerio! XOXO :)

Tunay ka nga bang MAHIRAP?

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:40:00 +0000

A lot of Presidential candidates position themselves in a way that people can relate to them. I become curious about one of the presidential candidate, Manny Villar. I have nothing against him but everywhere I go I always heard children singing "tunay ka bang mhirap..." in which it is one of the jingle of Manny make me more curious of his background. when people talk about Tondo, they imagine poverty and the life living on the ports.

I read Philippine Star newspaper and I encounter the column of William Esposo. In his column he discussed about the real status of Manny when he was still a kid. I want to share this facts to let other people know if he is still deserving to be a president despite the reality that he didn't came from a very poor family.

Facts that are doubtful. TUNAY KA NGA BANG MAHIRAP?

1. Manny Villar finished his education at Holy Child Catholic School in 1962, and finished his high school education at Mapua Institute of Technology in 1966. He attended the University of the Philippines-Diliman and earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1970. He returned to the same school to earn his master’s degree in business administration in 1973. in which you can see that he came from a private school that a middle class to a rich family can afford to send their children.

2. His father was a government employee and his mother is a seafood vendor. It may not be Class AB household income but it is definitely not Class E.

3. Villar’s father used to have a “nikaladong (stainless steel clad)” private Jeep. During the 1950s, a nikaladong private Jeep is a status symbol in Tondo, definitely not the hallmark of a poor household.

4. Manny is degrading himself with the story that he shared. He thought that Corned beef is cooked just like a soup But the fact is that there are really two ways to cook canned corned beef. One is the dry sautéed type while the other is the soupy type where you can add potatoes and cabbage. Both the rich and the middle class enjoy corned beef both ways. Before up to the 1980s, people from the provinces consider it a status symbol to be eating corned beef.

As a first time voter, I really want to make sure that the person whom I will believe in is the one who will make the Philippines a better place. Each one of us has a different mindset of what we want and what we believe in. Research if you must so that comes election day, you know who you'll root for.

“Ang MANLILINLANG ay kambal ng MAGNANAKAW"

Our country’s biggest deceivers are also our biggest thieves

Source: The Chair Wrecker

An interesting pic:

Bologna Accord - not a bunch of baloney

noreply@blogger.com (Marc Alvin Tan) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 10:05:00 +0000

Whaaat?! I can't get a job after I graduate?

"Starting this year, undergraduate degrees in the Philippines will no longer be recognized in most European countries. Jobs in most European countries that require undergraduate degrees will no longer be open to Filipinos who went to school in the Philippines" according to educator, Isagani Cruz

As someone about to graduate I am appalled upon learning that the our tertiary education system does not meet up to global standards and could mean not being able to get a job in most European countries. This is due to the educational reform set up in 1999, popularly known as the Bologna Accord (pronounced as bo-LO-nya) wherein 29 European countries signed a document agreeing to reform higher education to achieve the following aims:

create a system of comparable and understandable degrees throughout the European Union
establish a clear and standard division between undergraduate and graduate studies
promote student mobility among different fields of study, institutions, and nations
develop a quality-assurance process and governing body to ensure standard qualifications and quality throughout participating countries
define a European focus for higher education

As of this writing, there are now 46 countries who have signed the accord which is practically the whole of Europe

One objective of Bologna is for graduates to have the same level of competencies, having undertaken the same number of units and years, same exams and so on, so that when they would be importing students they are sure that the student is as good or better than their own. Apparently our country's undergraduate courses have less than 3 years of undergraduate concentration contrary to the required 3 years concentration prescribed by Bologna, since we spend more than a year and a half on General Education subjects which poses a problem, because even though we based our education system from the US, they only spend one year for general education subjects. So even though our students spend more time in school than their European counterparts, they actually spend less time on their majors because of the extra subjects required by the school (e.g. religion subjects by Religious schools)
This would indeed be detrimental for us Filipinos since if we won't comply with their requirements, we wouldn't get hired and it would hurt our economy since there are also Filipinos who work as "foreign workers" in Europe.

Cruz suggests that for us to limit our GE subjects to one year, what we could do is to add one or two more years to our basic education before college. (One in grade school and one in high school) Our country is the only one in the world which has 10 years of basic education before college, it is explicitly required by Europeans and both the Washington Accord and the Sydney Accord to have 12 years of pre-university education while the Dublin Accord requires 11 years. We have long been pressured to act on this and the DepEd has long been recommending adding 2 more years, but our government never listens.

Another provision of the Bologna accord has to do with "practical training" and for relying only book knowledge, examinations that rewards recall or memory and attendance inside classrooms to be considered a thing of the past. Starting 2010, students would have to do research on their own instead of disciples of their professors while universities will all be "research universities" instead of just "teaching universities"

As future Human Resource practitioners, we should be sensitive to issues such as these since it tackles Recruitment head on. We ourselves must know the basic qualifications of other countries to know what it is that is considered "world-class" and for our own sakes as well if we are to consider working abroad. In fact, I believe that it is the HR industry's responsibility to make sure that our country's educational system be amended to comply with international standards so as to produce better graduates that would be helpful to our country whether they work locally or abroad.
Let us not for the day that one of our graduates would do something as sad as this, if ever he or she can't find a job.

Source: this Philstar article and this

That's it for today, "Happy Valentines' Day and "Happy Chinese New Year" y'all from TEAM DS!

Olympic Mascot Phail

noreply@blogger.com (Marc Alvin Tan) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:56:00 +0000

A polish newspaper has mistakenly printed a shopped picture with pedobear among the Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010 mascots, apparently the photo edited by Michael Barrick came up when the editor was looking for a photo from the Internet and he wasn't able to tell that it wasn't genuine. This shows that we should really be careful in hiring people, an error such as the one above might be costly and entail the company lots of unnecessary embarrassment which is why we need to ensure that our employees especially in fields like journalism are careful, takes the time to review their work and not that lazy to be relying on google image search without verifying the authenticity of the image. Although we could also give him the benefit of the doubt and believe that it was an honest mistake. As future employers we should be merciful and remember that just like us, our employees are human and prone to err.

This is the real picture that should have been printed....

but you've got to admit that pedobear does blend in seamlessly

Source: Fork Party

Joke for the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Marc Alvin Tan) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:44:00 +0000

I'd tap that!

An 80-year-old man is having his annual checkup. The doctor asks him how he's feeling. "I've never been better!" he replies. "I've got a 17-year-old girlfriend who's pregnant and having my child! What do you think about that?"
*
The doctor considers this for a moment, then says, "Well, let me tell you a story. I know a guy who's an avid hunter. He never misses a season. But one day he's in a bit of a hurry and he accidentally grabs his umbrella instead of his gun.
*
"So he's in the woods and suddenly a bear appears in front of him! He raises up his umbrella, points it at the bear, and squeezes the handle. The bear drops dead in front of him, suffering from a bullet wound in its chest."
*
"That's impossible! Someone else must have shot that bear," the man said.
*
"Exactly," replies the Doc.

The Ugly Truth

noreply@blogger.com (Marc Alvin Tan) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:39:00 +0000

When I encashed a cheque today at a certain bank, I found one of the tellers cute and like most men who finds a girl attractive, wanted a closer look. Then it hit me, she was there for a reason, or rather she got her job for a reason - among others is because of her looks. How many times have you seen "Pleasing Personality" when you come across job ads? Doesn't it sound ambiguous whenever you hear that word? Well I learned during my HR Mgmt class that it's a euphemism for "someone who looks good" and that there are actually some positions that requires an attractive employee for the job such as front desk staff, bank tellers and hotel lobby personnel. Since these type of establishments depend on first impressions, they need to have a reason for their clients not to get turned off and actually have a reason to come back.

It's not only in our country that employers favor those who look better, in fact in countries like China. Fresh college graduates and Job Seekers are pressured to undergo cosmetic surgery just to get any advantage to land the job they're applying for. As one student who had surgery to get double eyelids puts it, "They may not say it openly, but during the process they will pick the prettier one" It might seem cruel and really unfair, but you can't blame people for being this way due to the "halo effect" that more attractive people have on us, taller people are considered more capable and healthy than their shorter counterparts. While there are laws that forbid job discrimination based on race, ethnicity, sex or religion, no similar legal oversight covers physical appearance. Some employers routinely specify desired height, weight and other physical requirements. A nursing position at the Beijing Modern Women’s Hospital requires applicants to be taller than 5'2 1/2 and have “acceptable facial features” while a government post puts emphasis on appearance, one extreme case in the Hunan province required their civil servants to have "symmetrical breasts" which was later scrapped for good reason. Even procedures that lighten the skin are also highly desired as it is considered to be more delicate and desirable to have a fairer complexion.

Here is an excerpt from the article...

"More, commonly young Chinese looking to boost their job prospects want double eyelids, higher or sharper noses, rounder cheekbones and other changes that will give a face smoother lines, softer curves and symmetrical features. The Chinese call it san ting wu yan, or three equal parts and five eyes. From the chin to the bottom of the nose to the top of the eyebrow should be equidistant, while the space from one temple to the other should be five equal parts, each the width of an eye"

Source: LA Times

As much as we want "equal opportunity" when hiring employees, it is human nature for us to prefer people who are more pleasing to the eyes. Clients and customers would also be more willing to do business with attractive employees or somebody who looks pleasant, it would be easier to convince clients if they are on a date with your sales people rather than have them talk to someone they'd find repulsive but we must also consider that in some jobs it is the person's skills that counts and as HR practitioners we musn't give in to our biases especially if the person's looks wouldn't affect him/her performing his/her job. But as a tip for job hunters, one must really be conscious of his/her appearance, you don't need to look like Brad Pitt or Megan Fox but be sure that you know good grooming, what clothes to wear, and be hygienic in order for your prospective employer to see that "your look" is that of someone who fits the company image and the person they're looking for, if you could project yourself to be that person, half the game is done!

Here are some tips on what to wear for an interview:

For guys:
a) Dark-colored slacks (black/brown)
b) Long sleeves button down polo
c) Necktie (no fancy designs)

For girls:
a) Knee length skirt (A-line/pencil cut)
b) Blazer
c) Stockings
d) Closed high-heeled shoes (at least 2")

Source: Job Hunting Skills Module

Here are some pics of people who went under the knife:

TEAM DS Photo Wall

noreply@blogger.com (Marc Alvin Tan) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 05:34:00 +0000

Corporate Communication

noreply@blogger.com (Marc Alvin Tan) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:04:00 +0000

James Ortiz

Patricia Ledesma

Yuta Watanabe

Marvin Laiño

Today, we’ll discuss about corporate communication and how important it is not to overlook the importance of internal communications within the organization.

There’s a lot of research that shows that well informed employees are more productive and are happier as compared to those who are kept in the dark. By sharing things with your employees and communicating with them as much as appropriate (not necessarily personal or financial information) you satisfy their desire to know if things are going well, if they are doing fine and how they could be of help with regards to the organization’s future plans.

People love to be asked of their opinions, by involving them in important decision making, strategic planning or in the budgeting process they’ll feel that the organization values their individual opinion. Some of the rewards of internal communication are, improved morale, productivity, cooperation, loyalty, and reliability during tough times. If they truly feel that they are part of the company, they’d be more willing to give helpful suggestions and offer their help even before you ask for it.

With the advent of technology, talking to your employees has never been easier. One of the vehicles that are adopted is Podcasting. Podcasts are downloadable audio or video files that are released through RSS feeds or web feeds. The RSS feeds or web feeds can be accessed through the use of certain podcatcher softwares especially to private channels that pertain to specific groups or individuals. Once downloaded from your computer, you could transfer it to your Ipod or any similar device that could read the file and play it when and wherever you choose. Companies are now using podcasting as an internal communication tool in order to relay company objectives and updates to their employees.

As we watched the videoclip, we noticed that increasing productivity through internal communication among employees is very effective simply through the use of podcasting which is the next best thing to face to face communication. Just like in sales and marketing, the human voice provides an emotional connection, by having an emotional connection with the consumer it is easier to get a buying response, which is the same thing in making announcements to employees in order to convince, motivate and get employees to do what you want.

The best practices in corporate communication according to William J. Clegg are:

First, see if the message that will be related to the audience is clear, because not everyone has the same understanding of the message.

Second is that if you feel doubtful of what you will relay, let someone read it and ask how he/she understood it.

and Last, is to never assume that your audience is familiar to the subject of your message. You must simplify it.

“Let’s all try to say what we mean and mean what we say. And, if you don’t know an acronym, an abbreviation, business jargon, or are just not familiar with a concept — just ask someone on your team. We’ll all be the better for it”

The importance of recognizing what is important

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:41:00 +0000

The hardest part... Writing on a blank page.

It took me a while before I learned how to appreciate ownership and entitlement, and as far as I can recall, as a kid, I was always heedless of my belongings to the point that I usually misplace them or more often than not, lose them irretrievably. This was just all normal though for a child who was yet incapable of grasping the realities of the world, and like all 7-year olds who watched cartoons all day and idolize their favorite superheroes, I thought the whole world revolved around me too. I thought I could have everything I wanted and took things for granted. I thought things can be easily replaced whenever it was lost. But as I grew wiser, and so does my curiosity of exploring the unknown, I began to understand certain facts about life, truths that are very basic and important.

I learned that there are important things not to be carelessly handled and taken for granted. Essential things like education, a job, a right of suffrage, friends, and in my case a girlfriend (naks) since these are the things that play a vital role in the path of life we choose to take. I saw the importance of things that some people ignore apathetically, important things like the essence of a philosopher's idea and a scientist's new discovery or the footwork of a skilled mixed-martial artist. And lately, I understood that the reason some people value their work so much is because in some cases, it is the only thing they have. This may be viewed in a negative perspective but it may also be a positive one especially if the reason for doing it is pure passion. If you love your job so much and it makes you happy, then why not put all your energy into it?

After assimilating all the ideas that would be pivotal for a successful managerial career, now comes the fun part of how I will be able to apply what I've learned in a corporate environment. As a future HR practitioner, dealing with the employees under my wing is a constant challenge that must be addressed at appropriate times since there will always be conflicts whether it originates from the company or the employees. Let's face it, we are needed in order for a company to function. We drive the metaphorical wheel of corporate demands adjoined with employee expectations and at the same time ensuring a smooth ride on a bumpy road of unavoidable traffic causing losses for the company and employment termination. And at the end of this rat race of various industries competing for competitive advantage, it is the HR manager who gets the accolades for the success, but blamed for the mishaps.

By now, we should have a working idea of how we can properly handle the essential factors that contribute to our purpose including the people we interact and especially ourselves. If you would ask for my unsolicited opinion, I think we all have what it takes to be successful managers, and if you just disregard the job title, we are our own HR managers and some just don’t realize it yet, because we align our objectives based on what is important to us. It’s just a matter of setting priorities, exploiting opportunities and embracing change.