The Light and Shade

Call Center Industry: Is It For You?

2016-02-27T09:40:00.001-08:00

Looking for a job in the call center industry is easy. Try to walk around a business park full of BPOs while bringing a file case, and headhunters a block away would easily spot and tackle you. As long as you are fluent enough in English and without a regional accent, then you have a great chance of getting hired as a call center agent.

Even so, after a year of taking calls, I realized that this is really not my calling (pun intended). That taking calls is not something that I want to do for the rest of my life. Sure, there are opportunities to climb the corporate ladder so you wouldn’t have to deal with customers directly, but being in the management would always have more responsibility. That includes taking supervisor calls for irate customers.

But let us go to the effects first, rather than the causes. We are questioning if the industry is good for a person or not. We can explain this if we know the reasons why people leave their companies. I had hesitations in applying for this line of work, and after testing the waters, I had proven that it is really NOT for me.

What are the reasons why people leave their companies? To simply answer: they no longer want to work there or they hate working there. Although there are a lot of reasons explaining why, you would only need those specifics when you are trying to write your resignation letter.

To all those who are curious, an agent leaves because of a lot of reasons, topped with a solid reason, like the last nail in a coffin. He no longer wants to deal with one or more of the following: what the business is selling (and upselling), the outdated processes, the nagging managers and supervisors, the small perks and incentives, the salary disputes, the crowded work environment, the unfixed work schedule, the overtimes, the annoying teammates (there is always one in every team), the workload, the health risks, the hazard risks when going out at night, the irate customers, the “it’s-not-you-it’s-the-company” kind of irate customers, the sarcastic customers, the backstabbing, survey-taking customers, the misinformed (don’t call them dumb) customers, the customers who only have cursed words in their vocabulary, and I can go on and on.

In addition, the reasons are slightly different to a call center newbie and a tenured agent. Most newbies I spoke with are more stressed and affected with the line of work, while veterans would speak of compensation and fulfillment. A call center pays more than a regular office job, and that is why newbies would always be satisfied with the salary. Agents who have worked from previous call centers would always compare the salary they are getting now from before.

The reasons may be different with anyone who left their call center jobs. I do hope that these call centers do not take it as a loss, but rather, an opportunity to improve. To those who are looking for jobs, do not apply for something you do not wish to do. Although regrets come in the end, try to make the most out of life and take every hardship as a challenge.

2011-12-06T03:32:00.000-08:00

Laslas

A boy, a knife, a motive
Blood dripping from wrist
Waiting for eyes to shut

2011-12-05T07:47:00.000-08:00

You and I

I'm not really a fan of Lady Gaga and anything else that's related to her but I really like this music video. Lady Gaga is weird in a million ways but the weirdness of this video is something that I can appreciate.

And that is SEX! Lol. Not sex per se but rather, the artistic view on sexual disorders. I have identified six (seven) sexual disorders in the video, namely: necrophilia, sadism-masochism, bestiality, lesbianism, narcissism, and mysophilia.

First on the list is necrophilia. Necrophilia is having feelings or sexual attraction to corpses. Lady Gaga as the corpse bride was really appealing since its the only part that was intimate rather than sexy. The wedding theme is implicating that love cannot be bounded by death, that love doesn't fade that easily. Maybe I'm over-thinking a bit but you can't really blame me.

Next is sado-masochism. Sadism is when you achieve sexual gratification through inflicting pain while masochism is the opposite. We can see that the supposed-to-be torture devices were intricately made. The act of being electrocuted was very funny. I don't really know if giving or receiving pain would be sexually satisfying. I should try this some time. :D

Mermaid Gaga is very sexual. The idea of bestiality in reality disgusts me but I have my fair share of ogling on tentacle/furry hentai though. I thought that sexual organs of fishes, or mermaids perhaps, are near the tip of their tails. But it would also be weird if the guy in the video was humping Gaga's tail fins.

Last on the list that was clearly shown on the video was lesbianism or homosexuality. Sure lesbo action is a glorious event to witness but having a transsexual Gaga was overkill. I mean it literally killed my hard on. The trannyGagaXfemGaga led me to believe that there is a subtle hint of narcissism.

Narcissism is when you fall in love with yourself. I have a bad case of the narcs and its side-effects are delusions of grandeur, overflowing confidence and air, and clinical depression (rare). The video subtly hints narcissism since Gaga is loving Gaga.

Last on the list is mysophilia. There's a part of the video where all the female dancers, including Lady Gaga, was having an orgy in the barn. Well they're not actually having an orgy but the dance was implicating it. When I watched that I was like thinking, "dirty barn sex orgy". Mysophilia is love of filth and Lady Gaga is filthy. o_O

The lyrics are sooo not in par with the MV. The lyrics was just expressing a state of longing and missing and taking chances. Boring. Thumbs up for the Haus of Gaga Publishing and the Haus of Gaga for making me appreciate what's gaga. ^_^

2011-12-05T04:00:00.001-08:00

Business Ideas

I really want to have my own business. The one on the top of the list is the one I’m gonna pursue though. So here is a list that I made enumerating unique businesses that might survive in Iligan City.

1. sex toys shop
2. stripclub
3. candy/chocolate/sweet shop
4. psych ward
5. maid agency
6. septic tank cleaner
7. hotels promotion agency
8. art and photo gallery
9. private videoke rooms (w/ escorts)
10. coliseum
11. medical group/private practice
12. detective agency
13. anti-theft shop
14. tattoo shop
15. magic shop
16. dojo (capoeira)
17. greenhouse
18. lingerie shop
19. zoo
20. comic shop
21. costumes shop

/gg

2011-12-05T03:59:00.004-08:00

Poseur

Perfection is hard to achieve. Not all the time we can cover up our flaws. There will be occasions where we end up being embarrassed by the people who think our imperfections are demeaning or demoralizing. Though ironic, we strive to be perfect in the eyes of those people who think lowly of us. In other words, we try to be flawless not for our own selves but for others.

Poseurs we may seem. For we are able to live life pretending that it’s not that bad. People are envious of how good liars we are. But we do it for the greater good!

In conclusion, we poseurs are selfless and kind. Too kind. We should be given an award. o_O

2011-12-05T03:59:00.003-08:00

The Fall

Making my way
Into the fall
I thought I saw the light
The answer to my quest

Looking for the hope
I could never find in daybright
I seek it in shadows
Wishing for a pure soul

A strong heart need
Not be calm and peaceful
Never ending chaos
Will soon sweep out the love

Intellect is the sole need
Feelings are useless
No one’s bigger than yourself
Selfishness is a virtue

There’s no turning back
The fall is the end
The life of the numb
Is it really worth it?

2011-12-05T03:59:00.001-08:00

Push

I don’t know what I’m doing. I have no plans of changing. I don’t care if somebody gets hurt. It’s their problem, not mine. I only need to care for myself and no one else. I admit I’m selfish and insensitive. I can’t stop being a dick to anyone that gets close to me. I guess I have no self respect. But that doesn’t stop me from doing what I think is best for myself.

Pain is a fact of life. Still, people can’t accept that. They cry and weep and get depressed and commit phailed suicides. I’ve been through a lot yet, I’m still alive. Screw those people who say they can’t live without someone. Screw those guys who think so lowly of themselves. I’ve had enough of them.

I’ve had enough of life. I’m sick of this mediocre life that I’m suppose to learn to love. But I’m not gonna kill myself. I just wanna rant. I can pretend to live life. Though deep inside I die… slowly…

Reality check: Love is all around me. I don’t want it. I just hope they give it to someone else. I am indifferent. I don’t want people crying when I die. I am who I am. If they can’t accept that, then it’s better to leave. I’ll keep running. That’s the only thing I know how to do.

2011-12-05T03:57:00.000-08:00

Lab Rat

Life is like a lab
A workbench of failure
Errors to every test
Uncertainty to hypotheses

In times it feels confusing
Mind overshadowed by the heart
A desire for something ideal
Disregarding what’s real

Test subjects need not be nurtured
For a test can go awry
Attachment is not an option
Perfection is my mission

A scientist is labeled crazy
When the norms are bended
But the experiment must go on
Though methods are wrong

The scientist is the lab rat
Ignorant to learning
Irrelevant to life
Insensitive to love

2009-06-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

I could have been a better man... Saying goodbye hurts, but I know this is the right thing to do. I cannot give you the things you ask from me. I'm too fed up with my own issues I tend to forget that there is someone who cares for me and love me for my imperfections. Yet, I decided to run away from all of this.

I want to start all over. I want to be a better person if ever I'd pursue you again. I want what's best for you. I want you to be happy. You can't be happy with me. I'm dragging you along with me in this dark, deep, infinite cave of mine. A hole you will never leave once you let yourself fully consumed.

I know I've hurt you and this is the best solution I can think of. The only way I could never hurt you again. The times we spent together are times worth to be cherished. I love you, but we have to part ways and get out of this petty mutual relationship that destroys the norms of a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship.

You can say I'm a coward or I'm not strong enough. Maybe I am. Hate me. Despise me. But please, don't hate me too long. You are my first love and there's nothing that can change that. Farewell...

2009-03-03T23:43:00.000-08:00

Schizophrenia

Fury shadows my soul
Dreams shattered by others
My heart weep in symphony
My soul bound to eternity

This emptiness I feel
Draining my life slowly
Voices telling me to let go
Leave memories that brought sorrow

I cry with blood as tears
Let me be struck by lightning
For I am a cruel sinner
Contracted to damnation

Driven by urges to kill
Motivated by anger and rage
With no reason to live on
I now take my life away

2009-03-03T14:38:00.000-08:00

Private Emotion

It burdens me to see you like that

As if you carry the weight of the world
The sadness in your eyes says everything

Your placid smile fools no one

2008-10-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

I HATE LOVE

I don't wanna love. It is costly, time-consuming, energy-wasting, and an emotional burden. It deprives you of sleep and it uses most of your day. It makes you weak and lose control. It diminishes half of your identity. It takes half of your legal property.

Love forces you to tidy up your uncleaned room. It makes you brush your teeth and take a bath everyday. It makes you go to church and confess to the priest all your sins. It makes your room pink-themed. It forces you to throw away your action-figure collection. It makes you spend most of your money for new clothes and artificial man-scents. It forces you to study and get high grades. It makes your telephone and cellphone bills go high. It stuffs your always-empty refrigerator. It makes you do your laundry every week and lets you do it twice if it's not clean enough. It forces you to get a new hairstyle which you never heard of. It makes you wake up one minute before your alarm clock sets off. It makes you shave everyday. It makes you give up your favorite hobbies, such as gaming and binge-eating! It makes you fat though you are doing strenuous activities.

Everything you do is always not enough when it comes to love.

2008-10-30T09:04:00.001-07:00

“Searching for the Right One”

Is it ok to believe in soulmate and reincarnation?!? To believe in these notions would open your mind to another notion which I call “waiting”. A very simple word but difficult to apply to one’s life. What if the right person would never come? What if your whole lifetime is a wrong time for both of you to have a relationship? What if he/she is bound to die before you could actually meet?

Most of the people in this world don’t want to wait just to enjoy the material possessions of this world. These people never knew that there’s something more to life. I don’t know what it really is that I’m searching but I will wait a lifetime. Sounds kinda long but I don’t know why these worldly pleasures don’t satisfy me anymore.

How would you know if he/she is your soulmate? A difficult question you might say since you’re not a Buddhist. It’s easy actually. Just do nothing until there comes a time that when you look at a particular person and then you feel a ticklish sensation from the deepest part of your soul. That’s when you say that he’s/she’s the one. But wait there’s more! This tiny sensation will suddenly burst to your whole body as that person approaches you. But I’m not saying that this feeling is one-sided. To find your soulmate means two people finding their soulmates. The exact feeling you’re experiencing will also be felt by your partner.

What I’m saying sounds senseless right now. You might think that waiting for the right one will keep you from knowing the right one. I’m just expressing a simple person’s point of view without knowing what impressions people would make. If ever you find that right person (formally or accidentally) and wouldn’t know what to say to him/her, well that’s another story…^_^

2008-10-30T09:03:00.002-07:00

when a girl says “I like you”

To tell someone about one’s feeling is something you need to have a lot of courage. But for somebody to tell you ’bout what they feel is confusing…

Especially when you're a guy and not that gudlooking… That’s really confusing since you would have doubts if you will believe it or not. Xur I have gud qualities as a person but not as a love interest!!! For an inferior and passive person like me, to be love by someone who’s quite a beauty is really impossible… Well I refuse to believe about love. Thinking ’bout love’s complexity makes my head ache.

Love… is a deep feeling of intimacy and craziness since it makes the brain malfunction, the cheeks turn red, the feet swept away, heart beat faster, the lips juicy and wet, mind floating in air, and really huge hard on…

But let’s get back to what this post talks about… Xur I got shocked and don’t know what to say but I never realized that she has a thing for me… It’s kinda lame talking bout this stuff and shit but it really clears my mind if I spill it on a permanent basis…

Now I know how to appreciate simple things in this world so I try to be someone who’s friendly and nice, though I’m not. It’s what you call pakikisama and it’s important in surviving this world. Call it plastic but I like being appreciated by people… Other’s call it demure but I like it.

As for others who’s insecure on me, sorry if even I don’t put much effort in making myself alluring, people still love me!!!^_^

2008-10-30T09:03:00.001-07:00

Friendship or Sumthin' Else?

I know a guy who has this very close friend, you can say they’re best friends. Though according to Values Education, it is impossible for a guy and a girl to be best of friends… The guy neglected what his teacher taught them about Values Ed. and continued to get closer to his "bestfriend". They would go in and out of school together, eat together, have fun together but not sleep together of course…

One time the girl asked the guy to dance a mellow music at a socialization party . The guy was deeply honored but thought of it as a friendly dance. The guy never left the girl in times of deep sorrow. They continued this sweet friendship for a long time. After 10 months of closeness, the girl stayed away from the guy without ever mentioning anything. The guy was troubled, thinking that the girl knew he had feeling for her though he only told two friends whom he really trust. He kept his feeling for himself and prevented his urges to clear the air between them. The guy waited for so many months ’til they started talking again.

When the guy finally got the chance to tell her what he feels, he grabbed that opportunity (with a little hesitation) not knowing what to expect as a reply. The girl just said she was shocked and never meant to neglect the guy for months. He knew that the girl have a thing for him coz a close friend of the girl told him but the guy’s heart broke that moment cuz he never got what he wanted to hear from the girl he treated as a goddess for almost a year. He just kept waiting and waiting for the girl to tell him that she loved him. Till now…

2008-10-30T09:01:00.000-07:00

Love at First Sight

People say that love at first sight is plainly infatuation. But to me it isn’t. I have felt it manifest to me once. My mind turned into mush as my eyes look away just not to contact hers… Like what my teacher said to me, the eye is the door to one’s soul. Though chinky and small, her eyes showed deep compassion and also mystery. A simple look and you’re stunned for a few seconds. Also, include her gorgeous smile and cute dimples, that definitely turns me on. I wonder why she looks away when we cross paths on the hallway or at the pedestrian lane…

The posture, face, complexion, hair, everything’s perfect!!! Not to mention the brains. Call her a geek or sumthin’ but you would rather go for a smart girl rather than a dumb ass right?!?

If only I could have her. To make her mine till the end of the world!?! If only she knew what I’m feeling for her… If only she could fill this empty space of my heart. What happiness I would feel if this fantasy of mine turns to reality. But the princess would always hesitate to kiss the frog prince and you know the reason why. You could never define love as it is if it’s only one-sided.

To love someone is to know what she feels and let go if you think you don’t have a chance at all. If you wanna be happy, "humanap ka ng pangit at ibigin mong tunay"(Andrew E., 1990).

Am still practicing on my term paper writing so am sorry to end this short emotional moment with laughter.^_^