Job Interview

Exactly thirty days from now, I will be embarking on a journey back to a land so familiar and which I once trod in fact - procurement. Yes, I nailed a very important post in Accenture, currently considered the world's largest consulting firm. It has completely dawned on me just now how complex and delicate my function would be in that organization; I will be handling all low to medium-value procurement requirements for the entire Accenture Philippines and all other centers across the Asia Pacific region! I am reeling on the realization that whatever decisions I make on the job will affect around 15,000 to 20,000 employees! Indeed, what a way to spell pressure.

But I'm happy. I'm actually excited. It is so fulfilling to be given such a wonderful privilege of being in a strategic position to directly influence an established organization and its 15,000 strong employees in a positive way. No wonder the interview process was that stringent, four to five situational interviews in a span of a week or more. It's understandable, the role is so sensitive the organization needs to carefully choose the person who it thinks perfectly suits the job. And again, I'm flattered to be that person.

Talking about the interview process, I think one of the toughest questions I answered was about the course I took in college vis-a-vis my professional experience. I was asked several times how on earth I became a procurement professional when I was a broadcast communication graduate. I could understand where my interviewer was coming from. They would like to know my motivation. They needed to evaluate whether my interests were really aligned with the demands of the job. Perhaps they would like to answer the question: Can I stay in the job? Of course, I was prepared for this question. I kept on emphasizing that having a diverse background is an advantage because I get to exercise and utilize both my left and right brain, my creative and analytical skills, which is what the job requires in the first place. In short, I can be a well-rounded person.

However, there's a comment from one of my interviewers that lingers till now in my head. Admittedly, I landed on a procurement job due to circumstances. Somebody from BayanTrade called me up and provided me an opportunity to explore the complex world of procurement and supply chain management. It was not a career choice, if it were then I could have enrolled in the University of Makati and specialized in Supply Chain Management (UMAK is the only institution I know in the Philippines that offers courses in SCM). But fate intervened and the rest as they say is history. Still, the interviewer's unsolicited advice was full of wisdom. She told me to pursue what really interests me, like broadcasting, or film, or advertising and marketing, and not to let circumstances dictate my career path. Really, it's something to ponder on! After all, I was first in love with the Arts.

But for now, I'm very much pleased to renew my relationship with my other lover - Supply Chain. Wish me luck!

Paging Sun Cellular

I switched to Sun Cellular last year after having been pressured by friends and co-workers who were already enjoying unlimited calls and texts for their contacts within the network. Teased, I seemed to hear them say : "Are you one of us?" - which is funny coz this is actually a competitor's slogan. So when I had lost my old phone (with Globe SIM) at a Christmas party in December, I bought a new LG phone and an inexpensive Sun Cellular SIM card. Finally now, I am "one of them."

Using the phone and Sun's services has been an okay experience over-all. Except for the fact that I still don't know what's the difference between what they call "regular load" and "call and text unlimited" (why, can't I not call and text using regular load?), I am getting my money's worth every time I load up since I am able to use P30 worth of load for example for an average of 5 days (or should I thank Manong Johnny for this?). Everything should be going perfectly for me as a "convert" to Sun Cellular, until I have noticed just lately that whenever it's cloudy outside, I am getting "limited service" on my phone. It's not rocket science for someone like me to know that this is caused by weak mobile service signal. What's irritating is that I am in the middle of the metropolis (hello, this is The Fort!).

I have been suffering from weak Sun Cellular signal for three days now and heaven knows how many important messages I might be missing. This is frustrating because while my LG phone shows full signal and is fully charged, my mobile SIM performs otherwise.

We have just recently discussed customer service in training, where we discussed the definition of an unsatisfied/irate customer. I just hope I wouldn't be an irate customer myself when I call Sun Cellular later to find out why I am getting "limited service" on my phone. I just hope the company invests on improving its signal soon, considering it has already lured a significant number of customers away from telecom giants Globe and Smart with its promos and all from which to get the budget.

Stop complaining, start thanking

After accepting a senior process executive post at an Indian-run BPO company, it seems I have been doing nothing but to complain. First, when asked by trainers what I was feeling now that I am being part of one of the world's biggest bpo companies, I told them tactlessly that I was honestly unhappy. The company after all tricked me with my salary! Yes, my gross pay may seem high at face value, but upon further scrutiny, and after learning how Finance computes our daily rate versus our basic pay, my net pay was actually below the amount I was expecting. Plus, the allowances which gave my package a "bulky" facade wasn't also explained, that is, that variable pay and other bonuses would only be given upon regularization, or on your seventh month of stay with the company, subject of course to your individual performance, etc.

I also complained about how their training plan sucked, whenever given the "airtime" to say my piece. Well, this was my opinion and I based this on personal experience. My peers and I knew for a fact that the account I was assigned to was still on its launching stage, and the training manager was still figuring out how to give structure to their training plan. And yes, I was also not told at the onset of my application that I would actually be working as a TSR for a US-based telecom company, not as CSR or sourcing and procurement specialist, as what I indicated in my application. Now, after only four calls and no floor support (from my TL and SME), the end result was that I am now being transferred to a Cisco account. Yes, I also complained about how they came up with such a decision. I thought it was unfair and made haphazardly, considering that they couldn't show me any rating vis-a-vis the established metrics or even my documented AFI (area for improvement), which you would expect in other centers catering to the same account.

After talking to a more tenured agent to release these frustrations and pent up emotions, however, I realized I was acting so wrongly. I got the wrong attitude and I let all those negative perspectives dictate how I perceive things. That agent I was pouring out my emotions with turned out to be experiencing worse. She was getting far lower pay and she was not even assigned to the very account that made her apply to our company - Cisco - which is the very account I will be transferring to. I heard that the account has better processes, more structured training plans, and more handsome rewards to encourage excellent performance from its agents than the account I was originally from. She told me: "If you would just complain about this and that, please be sensitive enough to know that there are other people here, me included, who experience worse and who would even exchange everything to be in your position now." That made me shut my mouth. She made me realize that there's a reason why things happen. Perhaps, I was pulled out from the account even though I knew and felt that I was way better than some of those already taking calls on the floor because God has better plans for me. I was too narrow-minded, such that I missed to see the good in my own circumanstance. That instead of complaining, I might as well start appreciating things, thanking God for the experience and the lessons it brings. Yes, I thought this BPO company was a barren land, that it's a place where people just stay for the money, where one's talent is just being wasted doing tasks that are mechanical and routine. But I was proven wrong. At least now, I'm picking up something sublimal and ethereal from this surprisingly fecund territory - this lesson of keeping a positive outlook and maintaining a heart of gratitude. It will help me a lot in life.

Ranting

Forget about Cory. Forget about current events. Forget about my colleagues and officemates and college classmates. I want to focus on myself NOW. Di bale nang masabihang self-centered.

Yes, I'm finally back in this little corner of "me". And as if to welcome myself back with a full band, let me write "I HATE THEEEEM!" Yes i wanna scream! I want to kick people's asses if I could. I want to be bad for once in my life. And this is the reason I'm instantly blogging once again.

Aba, kokontakin ka lang pag may problema?! Ganito ang mga kamag-anak namin. If everything goes well to them, ni ho ni ha wala kang maririnig. Tapos kahapon lang tatawag para sabihing magpadala ng pera si Tatay sa probinsiya dahil na stroke ang asawa ng kapatid niya. My uncle really has a gift - to involve other people in his misery. Siya itong hiningan ng tulong ipapasa sa amin ang burden.

Ok. Christianity has taught me to be generous in order to be blessed even more. But I just couldn't help but rant (or more than rant actually) because when Nanay and Papa were in the hospital, they didn't even extend any form of help upon us. They didn't even visit them in the hospital. We have been on our own since me and my siblings were kids. My parents never asked for our relatives help as much as possible - since we received little or no help at all from them anyway.

Tapos ngayon....Grrrrr!

I'll get over this. In the meantime, I need breathing space. Thank heavens there's blog.

Farewell to a Friend

Today, I have to live to the reality that one of my closest friends in BayanTrade would be leaving soon. I expect resignations to happen from time to time. Pero iba pala talaga when that person personally tells you that he or she is leaving.

Yes, I have attachments to personal things and places and people that are close to my heart. Makikipag-away ako para sa kapatid o kaibigan, kahit hindi naman ako ang inaaway. I am willing to do something to that effect, crazy things I must say. But I am willing to do that perhaps because I care for loved ones and friends and I am protective of them.

That's why farewells are hard for me. I dread the day when I would no longer see that person as frequent as I could, as in before. That I would have to do things and live each day differently, because that person with whom I used to do these things and that make up part of my every day would no longer be around. It's as if an important element of my constellation would be absorbed by another galaxy. And the only communication to bridge the gap would be mediated, something like Plurk, or YM, or Facebook. I'm sad. I want to cry.

Is it a crime to ask myself: Ilan kaya sa kanila ang susunod in the coming months? I should hold my tears more!

My only consolation is: That's the way it is. And if my time comes when I too would be saying "goodbye", someone's gonna feel the same way for me.

Goodbye Taga-bukid. See you in Davao.

And please, keep us updated through your blog.

Ang Tunay Na Lalaki

There's a funny and yes, interesting blog that's been getting some following lately among Filipino youth and yuppies. It's called "Hay Men! Ang Tunay Na Lalaki". What's appealing or, to be more accurate, entertaining about the blog is that, like a freedom wall, it serves like a running commentary on people, icons, places, objects, activities etc that in a way have been familiar to ordinary Filipino folks, that have been part of popular culture, classifying them as "tunay na lalaki" (real manly), "di tunay na lalaki" (not manly), or "under consideration". Is robocop "tunay na lalaki"? How about Voltron? Or UP's oblation? Or George Estregan perhaps? It keeps the audience laughing by telling the latter how it classifies these. In a way, it also guides the audience as to the criteria it used for classification with its well composed "Ang Manifesto ng Tunay Na Lalaki", posted prominently on the lower right of the page.

Indeed, this blog has become a hit that its slowly growing followers have reached even my own workplace. Some of my colleagues have in fact adapted the expression "tunay na lalaki" in their everyday joke time language.

The site has personally brought out some chuckles in me. But while it is entertaining, it also makes me question its measure of true masculinity. The site explicitly tells audiences whether someone or something is of manly character or not. And with this, I couldn't help but think whether real manhood should be dictated by society, by outside pressure, or whether it should be "decided" from within. I say "decided" because I believe one's gender is a matter of decision. Is it not? Even if you were born a male or a female, isn't it that how you live your being a male or a female spells the difference? You have control as to how to live out your sexuality.

Furthermore, "Ang Tunay Na Lalaki" has time and again reminded me of how difficult it is to be a man. Society has expectations of you. You gotta be this, you gotta be that. And if you don't have a solid foundation of yourself, of who you really are or at least the person you want to be, you will be drowned by the waves of a gamut of pressures that dicate what is a man and how to be a man. Sadly, these pressures eventually find their way to become "norms". And norms are not necessarily moral, legal or ethical. For example, why is it alright for a man to be "not virgin" before marriage? Why is it "ok" for a man to entertain and welcome a woman's amorous advances? When the blog "Ang Tunay Na Lalaki" says real men smoke and drink and don't go to church, why do many seem to give it a nod?

My head and heart ache meditating mulling about these thoughts.

It is hard to be a man nowadays, I know. But to be a REAL man is harder because it is not defined by public opinion. It is not based on public norms. It lives within you and only TIME and TOUGH times can make it come out.

Fortunately, there is real man-ness in everyone.

Of Goals and Introspection

People who have clear well defined goals in life are, for me, like skyscrapers at the heart of the metro: Imposing and superior. Makes me feel little. I see these people as driven, determined folks, who are destined to achieve success in whatever form that they desire - faster than anyone else in the world. And I envy them.

I had logged in to my Multiply and blogspot accounts today and I realized just how insecure I am in terms of goal setting. My college classmate and friend Ariane who's now in New Zealand celebrated her 23rd birthday last March (I was able to greet her just now because I didn't have the luxury of time to visit these accounts due to tight work schedule, you know, deadlines, meetings with the bosses etc).

Ariane loves birthdays because it's the time of the year when she gets to celebrate life more! She created this to-do-list when she was younger, and now, she makes sure she gets to tick one item off the list in her every birthday. It's pretty much like acting like fairy godmother to herself by granting one wish - goal - for herself on her birthday. And on her 23rd birthday, that item was sky diving!

I was not envious of the actual sky diving experience per se because in the first place I am acrophobic and therefore I have no plans of doing it myself even given the opportunity. The fact that she has this set of goals and a beautiful strategy to achieve each of them at a particular time of the year is what makes me envious.

In the same token that I envy Reymund Chris Sarraga's friend. As what Rey wrote in his Wordpress account, that friend of his is now one step closer to becoming a doctor. He has just finished med school and we know what's next after that. The thing is: that man is just simply staying true to the dream (ie. goal) that he wrote in their high school yearbook, that of becoming a doctor. Wow!

These anecdotes sadly put me in introspection: What am I doing in my life today? What happened to the dreams, or goals, that I had set for myself when I was younger? How many of them have I actually been able to realize? Or did I ever had anything to call "goals" to begin with?

Windang. Perplexed. A wandering spirit. That's what I think of myself as of the moment. I toil, I act, I feel, but that's all that I do. I don't have direction. I don't have that driving something that gives focus and meaning to every sacrifice, every decision that I make - goals.

Benjamin Mays, a prominent American minister and educator, said: "It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy of life lies in having no goal to reach."

I know I had goals before. But the tragedy on my end was that I have thwarted from these goals and couldn't find my way back now.

LORD help me.