Allow me to confess - I used to be so afraid of motorcycles. I'm not the only one who feels this way about riding one. Many people are scared of them, and it's not surprising. The fact is, motorcycles are just like any other vehicle, anyone who is willing to put an effort to learn and … Continue reading How hard is it to learn to ride a motorcycle?
Category: Call Center
How to Evaluate Job Posts On Upwork – And Save Your Connects!
If you don't know how to spend your Upwork Connects, you could end up without a job, or you could be waiting for the next month to get your free connects again. Connects are the form of currency that you use to find a job on Upwork. It's a control system to prevent freelancers from … Continue reading How to Evaluate Job Posts On Upwork – And Save Your Connects!
How to Be a Freelancer in 5 easy steps
This article is a response to Junel Hans' post on Upwork Freelancers Philippines. There's no one-size-fits-all path when it comes to starting your own freelance business. However, this post will help you be the work-from-home freelancer you want to become. In a nutshell, the first step to getting clients is to make them aware that … Continue reading How to Be a Freelancer in 5 easy steps
Choosing the Right Colors For Your Website
One of the most significant challenges designers face when creating a website or app is translating their designs to a digital space. It's not enough to design something that looks good on paper—you have to get users to perceive it the same way. Color is one of the most powerful tools in web design. The … Continue reading Choosing the Right Colors For Your Website
Self-Love
Yesterday, I published my very first podcast. Below is the full text to this episode. If you want to listen to it instead, here is the link: Welcome to the pilot episode of The Podcast That Matters by Idleminds. This podcast will focus on helping you feel good about yourself, inspire you, motivate you, and … Continue reading Self-Love
BURNOUT – When You Do Need To Quit Your Job
Managing burnout is a challenge whether you work for a small business or a large corporation. But there are things you can do to lessen the impact on yourself and others. Many professionals don't realize how important it is to manage burnout. If they did, many more people would take action and not just keep … Continue reading BURNOUT – When You Do Need To Quit Your Job
Get more clients on Upwork by Optimizing Your Profile Description
Hey guys! Here is a video I published this week on how to get more clients by Optimizing Your Upwork Profile Description. This is an eye-opening video for freelancers who has been struggling to get clients for months. I was inspired to share this video because after optimizing my own profile, I get an average … Continue reading Get more clients on Upwork by Optimizing Your Profile Description
Tips On How To Handle Difficult and Hard To Understand Clients
Hi Se7en. I've been reading your blogs, and I need your advice. I've encountered two types of clients, and I'm having a hard time dealing with them. One is the always-angry type, and the other is difficult to understand because he talks too fast. I am a first-time freelancer, and I don't know how to … Continue reading Tips On How To Handle Difficult and Hard To Understand Clients
How to Deal with BURNOUT as a Freelancer
Freelancers are constantly on the go, and it can get exhausting; this is why they should learn to avoid Burnout. There are many ways to stay healthy as a freelancer, but the most important thing is to take a break. It's not uncommon for freelancers to work up to 12 hours a day for days … Continue reading How to Deal with BURNOUT as a Freelancer
Here are some helpful tips on how to conquer your nerves and show emotion during an interview
Many people get nervous during interviews or have difficulty showing emotion, which is the key to any reasonable discussion. One of the best ways to conquer these nerves and show emotion is by being yourself. It's also crucial that you know how to answer common interview questions and talk about your skills, knowledge, experience, and … Continue reading Here are some helpful tips on how to conquer your nerves and show emotion during an interview
I’m back after years of hiatus!
Hey guys. How is everyone? I haven't updated this blog in years, and I feel obligated to apologize to many people. First, there were many questions and messages that I did not respond to. Second, after re-reading all of the posts on this blog, I am horrified by how incorrect everything is – from sentence … Continue reading I’m back after years of hiatus!
Got A Question?
Hi All. I'm unable to check this blog, much less, respond to our queries here. My apologies. For urgent questions, please shoot me an email: iwannabeacsr@gmail.com. You can also chat with me via Google Hang Out using the same email address. Mas mabilis pa yon. Se7en
Initial Interview (phone)
A phone interview is the second stage of the hiring process. When you receive a call from an interviewer, it implies that your resume has already passed the initial screening (also known as paper screening). You partially meet the requirements for the job posting, and all that remains is for you to demonstrate your language … Continue reading Initial Interview (phone)
One Day Recruitment Process – what you need to know?
Consider the following scenario: you have recently lost your work (or are likely to lose it), your expenses are piling up, a family member urgently requires medicine or HMO coverage, and money is tight. You read the newspaper, went to an online job site, and discovered a few organizations that advertise the following: Salary Sign … Continue reading One Day Recruitment Process – what you need to know?
Is Call Center Work really stressful?
Hi Se7en. I am currently job hunting. Karamihan sa mga company na ina-applyan ko are call centers. What really scares me is the stress level. Totoo ba yon? I mean, stressful ba talaga? Pano ko iiwasan na ma stress? Also, sabi mo sa blog mo almost 13 years ka na sa industry, how did you … Continue reading Is Call Center Work really stressful?
The Low Down on Background Checks
Hi Seven. My best friend told me about your blog and that you answer questions regarding the call center industry and that you're always online to respond. May question ako: totoo po ba talaga ang background checks? I mean, do companies really spend time, money, and effort just to find out who you are? TIA … Continue reading The Low Down on Background Checks
Final Pay Processing (When Can I get My Money?)
Your salary will be held as soon as your resignation is accepted by your manager...
The Call Center Bond
Hi Seven. Ano ba talaga ang bond? Bakit may ganon? Pano maiiwasan yon? Anong gagawin kung sinisingil ka? Makukulong ba ako? James R. Hi James. I got your email yesterday, and since your questions are fascinating, I thought I would just turn my response into a post. This way, we can share the info with everyone. … Continue reading The Call Center Bond
10 Tips To Help You Survive the Call Center Industry
You've tried and tried to get a job in the call center industry, and eventually, after many failed tries, you got in. Is it time to rejoice? No. You're still not out of the woods. As a newcomer to the call center sector, the first six months to a year of work is your break-in … Continue reading 10 Tips To Help You Survive the Call Center Industry
The Grass Is Always Greener Everywhere Except Where You Stand
Hi Se7en, Im Jake, 25 yo, Management graduate and a licensed Professional Teacher (took units in Education). Been with the industry since 2009, joined multiple companies and i considered myself as a hopper but also a high performer. Not until with my current which I’m staying for almost 1.5 years now(which is a rare feat).hahaha Been out of … Continue reading The Grass Is Always Greener Everywhere Except Where You Stand
Notice to Explain (NTE)
Dear Se7en, The company that I work for has a strict attendance policy. What happens is that for every incident of tardiness or absence, there is a corresponding point, the total points that a person can have is 8 and if you reach that, by policy, you are subject to termination. My recent absence has … Continue reading Notice to Explain (NTE)
When you are offered a job you don’t want…
I've received a lot of question related to them being evaluated for a post which is different from what they applied for. Case in point, James applied for a back office account but was evaluated and offered a job for an inbound customer service account. Another candidate, Amiel was applying for the email account but … Continue reading When you are offered a job you don’t want…
Termination, it starts and ends with you
A very close friend and colleague of mine got terminated recently. It was combination of bad decisions after another, and eventually, when the HR process was applied, it resulted to the inevitable termination. When this news reached me, he has already incurred unexcused absences, forged a med-cert, and when the notice of hearing was sent … Continue reading Termination, it starts and ends with you
Failed in 11 call center interviews…help!
Dear Seven, I've been reading your posts from Pinoyexchange.com and I have to admit, you seem knowledgeable on the aspect of getting into the call center industry. Well, here goes. I just arrived from the province some two weeks ago and in that short period, I have been to 11 different call centers, and so … Continue reading Failed in 11 call center interviews…help!
Top 10 Interview Question and How To Answer Them
If there is one thing I have learned about job interviews, it is that they are competency-based. They develop interview questions to assess if an applicant is a good fit for the job by comparing his responses (together with his work experience) to the skills and competencies required for the position. If you have read … Continue reading Top 10 Interview Question and How To Answer Them
I failed the (behavioral) final interview…why?
I lifted this from http://www.pinoyexchange.com's Call Center Forum, from Code_Red16. Had an interview a week ago. But the interviewer's question still bugging me. Here: (we're like talking for half an hour already then she skipped to the final interview, so the behavioral questions started and since I'm a fresh grad, she couldn't ask me something about … Continue reading I failed the (behavioral) final interview…why?
How to evaluate a job offer
Seven, I'm a fresh graduate and a first time applicant in the call center industry and I'm trying to decide between the four job offers given to me. I was not allowed to bring the document home, but I was able to take note of the details. Thing is, I am very confused now. I am … Continue reading How to evaluate a job offer
Funny Lines from Applicants
When I was still a newbie recruiter, my boss asked me to collate responses from applicants, not to be laughed at, but to be used as a sample for a training material - something that belongs to: WHAT NOT TO SAY and HOW NOT TO SAY IT during an interview. Btw, the reactions/comments insterted are … Continue reading Funny Lines from Applicants
I applied for this job a few weeks ago but haven’t heard back. Should I follow up?
“Kailangan ko ng trabaho…hindi ako mapalagay kasi hindi pa nila ako tinatawagan.” How can you avoid this situation? Before the interview: Prepare. Preparation gives you the confidence to respond to questions and assures that your comments will make or break your chances of getting the job. Chat with other applicants. Were they told if they … Continue reading I applied for this job a few weeks ago but haven’t heard back. Should I follow up?
Job Offers
You passed the examinations and interviews with flying colors. Congratulations! It's finally time for the employment offer. The majority of contact centers and businesses offer work via a job offer letter. A job offer letter will include the following in its most basic form: Job title or position offered.Salary, benefits, and perks offered.Instructions to accept … Continue reading Job Offers
The Final/Behavioral Interview
I once read a thread in which one applicant complained about how difficult and exhausting the final interview was for him. I became intrigued since "tough" is not the ideal term to characterize this process; it will be lengthy, certainly, but it will not be difficult. Interview questions used to be relatively straightforward: "Why do … Continue reading The Final/Behavioral Interview
How to behave during a face-to-face interview
You're looking for a job in a call center. You've gotten through the preliminary phone interview. You now have a schedule for your final interview. The trouble is that this is your first face-to-face interview, and you're not sure how to act. Allow me to assist you. Here's a quick guide on how to do … Continue reading How to behave during a face-to-face interview
Call Center Initial Interview, what do they measure?
This was initially posted on http://www.pinoyexchange.com by etogostocu; he needed help with initial interviews with the following questions: Tell something about yourself that is not in your resume What are your strengths and weaknesses? Why choose us among others ("company name") Why do you want to leave your company? He added, "honestly, bagsak ako lagi sa call center … Continue reading Call Center Initial Interview, what do they measure?
What’s the best answer to “Enumerate three of your weaknesses.”
I've read online forums started by people looking for work in a call center. I've noticed one common reason for failure: applicants responding to questions blindly, owing to either being too nervous or failing to prepare for the interview. Many people fail to correctly answer the question "enumerate three of your weaknesses." This reminds me … Continue reading What’s the best answer to “Enumerate three of your weaknesses.”
Interview Question: Why did you not pursue your course?
I am a frequent visitor and forum participant at http://www.pinoyexchange.com's The Call Center Forum. I am a member of the thread "Hardest questions/Tricky questions during interview," which was established by Dhawnah (IRL, Donna Elarmo). Here's a question from JuilJuil. "You graduated with a nursing degree. Why didn't you pursue that path?" My supervisor instructed me … Continue reading Interview Question: Why did you not pursue your course?
My First Call Center Experience
Nine years ago, I had a real challenge finding a day job here in the Metro; however, the bottom line was I needed a job, and it didn't matter if it were a day or a night job. Being in the broadcast industry (who refused to go back), I could get the closest work in … Continue reading My First Call Center Experience