Rudeness to the "nth exponential" form.
I have never imagined there are people living on this earth with such hatred in their hearts that they bring & lash it out on people around them! "Empathize" has never been a part of their dictionary!
I am freakingly amazed!
OK... this was brought about by a case that was escalated to me because this customer is not willing to sign a dispute letter so we can start an investigation & thus, give her a temporary credit on the card. As I was explaining to the customer, lo & behold that he cuts me off & tells me not to insult his intelligence! He claims he knows what he's talking about & that we are not giving them credit for something that the bank had lapsed on! Oh my...I was stunned! Where did that come from? I am merely asking for a signature on the dispute letter since I have already offered to fill it up for them & all they have to do is sign the freaking letter! What the f*c&?! Is it so hard to put your signature on a piece of paper?! As far as I know it's not! Don't we, even, most of the time doodle our signature on papers whenever we get bored?! Don't we?!!! TELL ME!
... and yes, I have no other choice but to keep quiet & let this come in my ear & let it go on the other!
Sad but yes... it's my work & I, most of the time, have to swallow my pride & let customers think they're right - to which I totally disagree because most often than not they're st*p^d. I feel that they just don't have anything more important to do which is why they can spend hours on the phone arguing for something that makes no sense! Complete nonsense!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
First 6 Months
The first 6mos wasn't too good.
We were living in a shophouse in the CBD (Central Business District) area where it only takes us 5-10mins by public transport to get to our workplace. Yup, we joke around by saying... "it only takes us 3 somersaults & 20 big steps to get to work." It was the most convenient. However, we were staying in a shophouse where we don't have a kitchen but just a plain office-type space. We even have the normal glass doors! How do we eat? Downstairs there is a cafeteria where we can buy our food. It's open 'til late night & opens early morning.
So my first job wasn't at all what I expected it to be - or so I thought it was the job, but later on I realized it's actually the people I work with & the people I handle. It's because of their culture! As this blog progress you will learn what I am talking about.
The first job as an Operations Manager was uber stressful & mentally disturbing because of my boss who probably thinks I'm her helper. It was stressful to the point that I developed a thyroid cyst - that I haven't had checked since June 2008. :) So it's...yea, stressful. The company was one of the top 10 call centers all over the world & their head office is in Paris. This is where the head office is for Southeast Asia...hmmm... very appealing isn't it? You might think that this is some big office with super advanced technology systems! Uh-uh...it's totally quite the opposite! Their computer system's are still running using Windows 98; some with 286 Processor - and really I'm not at all exaggerating! Who the hell is still using 286 in the year 2009 where processors work faster than your brain?! Uh-uh...you found it, it's the company I was working with. The boss thinks, as long as it's working there's no need for her to upgrade it. OK...I tried to absorb the idea - heck, it's not my money, it's theirs! Thus, this resulted to a lot of opportunities rejected because the systems/technology are not at par to their requirements! Of course, clients will always look for data security & what does Windows 98 have to offer?! NONE!
Other than that, the architectural/interior design of the office is totally outdated whereby the only one area that looks VERY APPEALING is the conference room. Yes, it's small but very nice - should be, because this is where the clients stay whenever they do an audit or just visit the site.
Now, if I talk about my boss, I think I would end up writing a novel instead. So to shorten it, she is the kind of boss who never talks to you what you need to improve on, yet she talks so negative about you. I was an Operations Mgr by title but not by function. She always tells me I'm "very good-natured" and that's THE ONLY GOOD THING she tells about me. I remember she came up to me one day & told me, "You know you're very good-natured but in terms of competency - I don't think you are!" Ouch! Mind you, this was only a month in the position. Doesn't she know about "6-months adjustment"? OK...so I tried to let it go... but only took me 5mos to stay w/ her, until finally I decided to resign. To hell w/ the money - yea, she's paying me big bucks, but she can shove it up her @s$!
Please, don't think I'm sourgraping or something...nope...this has been historically proven that NO ONE can work w/ her. To date (from last year since I resigned) I think she has had about 5 Ops Mgr that she hired. So that summarizes my piece. :)
We were living in a shophouse in the CBD (Central Business District) area where it only takes us 5-10mins by public transport to get to our workplace. Yup, we joke around by saying... "it only takes us 3 somersaults & 20 big steps to get to work." It was the most convenient. However, we were staying in a shophouse where we don't have a kitchen but just a plain office-type space. We even have the normal glass doors! How do we eat? Downstairs there is a cafeteria where we can buy our food. It's open 'til late night & opens early morning.
So my first job wasn't at all what I expected it to be - or so I thought it was the job, but later on I realized it's actually the people I work with & the people I handle. It's because of their culture! As this blog progress you will learn what I am talking about.
The first job as an Operations Manager was uber stressful & mentally disturbing because of my boss who probably thinks I'm her helper. It was stressful to the point that I developed a thyroid cyst - that I haven't had checked since June 2008. :) So it's...yea, stressful. The company was one of the top 10 call centers all over the world & their head office is in Paris. This is where the head office is for Southeast Asia...hmmm... very appealing isn't it? You might think that this is some big office with super advanced technology systems! Uh-uh...it's totally quite the opposite! Their computer system's are still running using Windows 98; some with 286 Processor - and really I'm not at all exaggerating! Who the hell is still using 286 in the year 2009 where processors work faster than your brain?! Uh-uh...you found it, it's the company I was working with. The boss thinks, as long as it's working there's no need for her to upgrade it. OK...I tried to absorb the idea - heck, it's not my money, it's theirs! Thus, this resulted to a lot of opportunities rejected because the systems/technology are not at par to their requirements! Of course, clients will always look for data security & what does Windows 98 have to offer?! NONE!
Other than that, the architectural/interior design of the office is totally outdated whereby the only one area that looks VERY APPEALING is the conference room. Yes, it's small but very nice - should be, because this is where the clients stay whenever they do an audit or just visit the site.
Now, if I talk about my boss, I think I would end up writing a novel instead. So to shorten it, she is the kind of boss who never talks to you what you need to improve on, yet she talks so negative about you. I was an Operations Mgr by title but not by function. She always tells me I'm "very good-natured" and that's THE ONLY GOOD THING she tells about me. I remember she came up to me one day & told me, "You know you're very good-natured but in terms of competency - I don't think you are!" Ouch! Mind you, this was only a month in the position. Doesn't she know about "6-months adjustment"? OK...so I tried to let it go... but only took me 5mos to stay w/ her, until finally I decided to resign. To hell w/ the money - yea, she's paying me big bucks, but she can shove it up her @s$!
Please, don't think I'm sourgraping or something...nope...this has been historically proven that NO ONE can work w/ her. To date (from last year since I resigned) I think she has had about 5 Ops Mgr that she hired. So that summarizes my piece. :)
The Start
February 2008 - my partner & I decided that I accept my overseas job offer. She came w/ me; quit her job as a trainer & took the risk of finding a job here just so we can be together.
After 1,000,000 prayers, 3mos of sleepless nights, and endless job applications online/walk-ins she was able to find a job. We were almost hopeless & scared that she will be going back home; that we might end-up in a long distance relationship that we both never believe in. But lo & behold, at the last minute she was able to get a job & we were much too excited about it, not to mention that our happiness & smiles are reaching up the heavens! So yea, I think that was the last time I ever felt so happy that I was here. We got good-paying jobs - something that my home country will not be able to offer me at this age & time. My siblings all have stable & good paying jobs too in the ISLAND (my home country) but took them many years of experience to get to the position they are in now. Plus, their life is more stressful. Mine on the other hand,is on a less stressful position, salary is just about 75% of what they're getting. So not bad.
Anyway, so there... we started off pretty good. At that time I was working in a call center - this was my first job in the CITY (the country where I am now). I was an Operations Manager, handling outsourced agents for telemarketing positions. We cater to insurance products to a base of clients. When it was first offered to me; I knew it was challenging - but I believed that I can make it. What I didn't know was I had to do magic!
After 1,000,000 prayers, 3mos of sleepless nights, and endless job applications online/walk-ins she was able to find a job. We were almost hopeless & scared that she will be going back home; that we might end-up in a long distance relationship that we both never believe in. But lo & behold, at the last minute she was able to get a job & we were much too excited about it, not to mention that our happiness & smiles are reaching up the heavens! So yea, I think that was the last time I ever felt so happy that I was here. We got good-paying jobs - something that my home country will not be able to offer me at this age & time. My siblings all have stable & good paying jobs too in the ISLAND (my home country) but took them many years of experience to get to the position they are in now. Plus, their life is more stressful. Mine on the other hand,is on a less stressful position, salary is just about 75% of what they're getting. So not bad.
Anyway, so there... we started off pretty good. At that time I was working in a call center - this was my first job in the CITY (the country where I am now). I was an Operations Manager, handling outsourced agents for telemarketing positions. We cater to insurance products to a base of clients. When it was first offered to me; I knew it was challenging - but I believed that I can make it. What I didn't know was I had to do magic!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
One year & 2mos...
Yea, it's been a year & two months since I (we) left our home country to go to work abroad. As of now, I can't say I'm fortunate that I have been given the chance...nevertheless, I'm thankful that I still wake up every day to go to work. With the financial crisis going on, I should be thankful, shouldn't I?
I want to start of this blog just so I can voice out what I have observed the past few months that I am here. It is totally (360degrees) different from where I came from. One, my home country is a 3rd world country, this is a first world. So you might say I shouldn't fret, since I came to "greener pasture" - I hope I can say it, but there's no other greener pasture than my home country. I don't want to sound nationalistic & all, but I work in a customer service in one of the major financial institutions worldwide. And I can say that working in this field will expose you to the culture/attitude and upbringing of the people in the country.
This blog is purely based on my observations & experiences. I will try to avoid mentioning the country of where I am now & where I came from. Although blogging is something you can do freely - I'm in such a country where you're not supposed to speak bad of the government & may otherwise get penalized for it. But, I also know that later on with all the hints & decriptions I'm sure some of you will recognize where I am at.
Yea, it's been a year & two months since I (we) left our home country to go to work abroad. As of now, I can't say I'm fortunate that I have been given the chance...nevertheless, I'm thankful that I still wake up every day to go to work. With the financial crisis going on, I should be thankful, shouldn't I?
I want to start of this blog just so I can voice out what I have observed the past few months that I am here. It is totally (360degrees) different from where I came from. One, my home country is a 3rd world country, this is a first world. So you might say I shouldn't fret, since I came to "greener pasture" - I hope I can say it, but there's no other greener pasture than my home country. I don't want to sound nationalistic & all, but I work in a customer service in one of the major financial institutions worldwide. And I can say that working in this field will expose you to the culture/attitude and upbringing of the people in the country.
This blog is purely based on my observations & experiences. I will try to avoid mentioning the country of where I am now & where I came from. Although blogging is something you can do freely - I'm in such a country where you're not supposed to speak bad of the government & may otherwise get penalized for it. But, I also know that later on with all the hints & decriptions I'm sure some of you will recognize where I am at.
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