The Elusive Pinoy BPO Job

It has been reported that out of 100 applicants, only 6 applicants passes to get the elusive Pinoy BPO job. This is a very poor rate considering that the jobs available in the Pinoy BPO industry is estimated to double as expected employment will be close to 1 million this year 2010 from 400,000 of last year. Here's my view of what's going on:

Poor College Education. It is an ongoing concern that is beleaguering our youth and hampers them from getting a job, not only in the Pinoy BPO industry but also in other fields. It is very annoying that these students are paying high tuition fees and when they graduate, they aren't even conversational in English. I don't believe that the Filipino youth lacks talent, but are only succumbed to the wrong belief that a piece of paper called a diploma will get a job easily. It is an advantage to be a graduate, but not an assurance. A skills-based education with rigid and updated techniques are a must to equip our youth for the workforce.

The Teleserye Mentality. I can't just think of any term, so I invented one. Media is a big business and the youth are deceived to believe that it is real life. Instead of wasting time watching pinoy reality shows, teleserye, koreanovela, chinovela and all other such alike, it is better to surf the net and take time to learn what's going on and be informed. The knowledge in the Internet is so vast and diverse and you use it for your own benefit and it is the future. TV will give you an addiction that will lead you to nowhere, so spend minimal time with it and don't be a couch potato.

Severe Lack of Government Support. I have been talking to call center job hunters and they say that they are very, very interested to learn to get employed only that they've been told that TESDA don't have the budget anymore lately and the supposed free call center trainings are stopped. This is a very clear reflection of what our present Government is. Now it's up to you to think and ask: what's up with this?

The Sharks are Everywhere. 100 hours of call center training? They'll ask for a fee and once they get your cash, your out on your own. Please don't entertain this unscrupulous businesses and think that they can even help you get a job. Everything can be done through hard work, determination and get the right people to help you. If the help you get is for free, without asking you for anything monetary or in favor, then you get the hint that they are the right people to help you.

Nevertheless, there is still hope. I urge my fellow Pinoy BPO workers to help others to get the Pinoy BPO job that will change their lives for the better. Please email your suggestions and reactions to info@pinoybpojournal.net. Thank you and see you around!

Read the rest of this entry »

We Started to Share!

It is a monumental first step for us in My Call to Share to be able to stage our very first project, the Free Call Center Seminar for Job Seekers. It is a start of something bigger, wider and ambitious: to be able to reach out to our community and share the knowledge that we have, without any monetary or financial gain in return. I can only imagine if a lot of people, especially Pinoy BPO workers would start sharing, put in some effort to help, it will make a lot of difference. Gandhi said: 'You must be the change you wish to see in the world'. And I believe that we at My Call to Share started the change, and we will relentlessly continue to make that change spread among us, Pinoy BPO workers. Thank you so much for your support and hope we will see you in our next activities!

Read the rest of this entry »

The Venue

After choosing from a number of locations, our first My Call to Share ( in collaboration with Pinoy BPO Journal Forums) Free Call Center Seminar for Job Seekers was finally decided to be held in Ortigas Center. I was cheerfully assisted by Celia Cruz, Librarian and Information Specialist of Ortigas Foundation Library, to reserve a seminar room for our project. I was convinced that the place was perfect for our lecture and is a very relaxed and cool place right in the heart of Ortigas.

I'm so excited as the trainees are! Please send your resumes now to freetraining@pinoybpojournal.net to register. We are not a recruitment agency and we are not affiliated with any BPO company nor represent them in any way.

See you!

Read the rest of this entry »

My Call to Share

My Call to Share 5-point Declaration:

1. We are a volunteer organization composed of Pinoy BPO Workers and have the will of self-determination. Never to receive monetary gains or favor from any political, religious or corporate entities and never be used for any political, corporate nor religious objectives.

2. We recognize that change is achievable if we act together and volunteering individual effort without asking for any money or favor in return.

3. We take pride to be a Filipino, aiming to culturally transform and to eliminate negative social practices that has been holding us back as a people to succeed.

4. We believe there is unity in diversity, never to discriminate people because of their sex, race or disability.

5. We will continuously share beneficial knowledge and give back to the community, and this is our main purpose and goal.

*****

I'm delighted to present the first project of My Call to Share and Pinoy BPO Journal Forums for 2010!

Free Call Center Seminar for Job Seekers

When: February 6, 2010 (Saturday)
Time: 9:00am - 2:00pm
Venue: Ortigas Foundation, 2/F Ortigas Building, Meralco Ave. Pasig City

We are all set to prove that WE WALK OUR TALK. Genuine service is that is POLITICS-FREE.

***Trainees will get FREE training manual, FREE English tutorial audio CD, FREE snacks.***

Interested participants may email their resume to freetraining@pinoybpojournal.net for evaluation.

Thank you so much for your support!

Read the rest of this entry »

Welcoming the 2010 Pinoy BPO Industry

It's been a good year for me, having tried new roles in the BPO industry was really exciting. New horizons opened up and new opportunities for me and made me realize that there's more that I can do, besides the usual taking in calls all night.

January 2010, I will be launching my volunteer group, My Call to Share. It is a humble idea that we, Pinoy BPO workers, volunteer ourselves for a better community. To give back our blessings is a way to succeed in our endeavors in life. I don't believe that our Pinoy BPO workers are too indulged in material gains brought about by our wages and commissions, but a driving force for change.

What a challenging 2010 ahead for me, what a promising year ahead for all of us Pinoy BPO workers!

Read the rest of this entry »

BPO Party List?

As the elections draw nearer by the month, news about politicians left and right flood the media and political ads are annoying, playing by the minute. The Pinoy BPO sector now also wants representation to the Congress via Party-List, or is it really just a few people having grand ambitions of being politicians and just pretending to be the voice of the Pinoy BPO workers?

In my opinion, you don't need to be a politician to serve the people. Now is it really the intention to serve that drives these people or to just have a share of tax payer money for themselves? Hunger for personal fame and ego being disguised? These are just plain and simple crap.

Nothing wrong to have representation in congress, but they got to have these strict qualities for them to qualify, the way I see it, to be a genuine Party-List for the BPO workers:

1.) Leaders must have substantial work experience as a BPO or call center agent. We all know that the bulk of the Pinoy BPO workers are the rank and file employees or the agents, so how could a leader of these groups know what's going on if he or she only been an agent for a year or two? I want to see least 10 years or more agent experience.

2.) Leaders must have a track record that promotes volunteerism and has been doing substantial volunteer jobs without monetary compensation. This is a test whether they mean true service to the people or just want to make money once elected. This is leadership by example.

3.) The group must have nationwide support by having the members mobilized doing volunteer work and helping the community already, not just by claiming to have thousands of members and brag it in a website. Anybody can create a website and claim these and that. I want hard proof that they are already doing something good for the country for years prior applying to be a Party-List.

Now if these criteria are met, personally I will apply to join your group and help with my own capacity. This is a challenge to those groups that are claiming to be the voice of the Pinoy BPO workers. Present us proof and not all nonsense talk.

To discuss this topic, please join our forums here.

Read the rest of this entry »