The sunshine industry in the Philippines: is it mostly pro or con?

Philippines
February 1, 2012 4:43am CST
I was fortunate enough to work as a call center agent for three years. I'm sure a lot would agree that the high wage pays a lot but the consequences are high as well. For students, like me before, it paid my tuition fee, allowance and rent but had to struggle with the schedules and other sleepless nights both from work and school. Parents, mostly moms, were able to provide for their family but had lesser time for them and was more exposed to adultery. The elders were able to work without worrying about age limit but for some reason were the underdogs in the industry. New graduates and even professionals are enticed to work as a call center agent. For some they can't find a job in line with their academic degree and use this industry as a pit stop but most of them get addicted to the salary and "lifestyle" that they don't really pursue in finding the job suited for them. And speaking of "lifestyle" that makes others addicted to is not a healthy lifestyle at all. To compensate the graveyard shifts most agents go out drinking, learn to smoke, splurge on out of town trips and in the long run loose control of the expenses (not all though). So what's your say on this call center agents, ex-agents and non-agents?
3 responses
beamer88
@beamer88 (4259)
• Philippines
1 Feb 12
I'm working for a BPO but not a call center. Many actually have forgotten that call centers are just one aspect of the outsourcing industry. And I think that there are elders who have advantages in this industry especially the outsourced professional services (lawyers, accountants, etc). But it's true that most outsourcing work entails doing graveyard shifts since generally their clients are from a different time zone. And I agree that this type of lifestyle isn't good, regardless how good a compensation they get. But as to those who go out drinking and learning how to smoke, I don't think it has something to do with their work. It's a choice they made, and I believe these people would still drink and smoke even if they're holding down day jobs.
beamer88
@beamer88 (4259)
• Philippines
2 Feb 12
Precisely :) That's why I actually instructed the supervisor not to ask his people to join him in his cig breaks since the others would find it difficult not to come along. Probably I was also too lenient on the supervisor. Oh, well.
beamer88
@beamer88 (4259)
• Philippines
2 Feb 12
That's true. That's why they need to strike a balance. Overfamiliarity has negative effects especially in the corporate world.
craziestqueenever
@craziestqueenever (1819)
• Philippines
1 Feb 12
When there is a pros, there would always be a cons. I was once a call center agent, I worked in a call center company only for 5 months and the experience was so fun. Although, I find it to be stressful because of the quotas needed and also on how you maintain your stats. When it comes to the change of lifestyle, it depends on the person itself. Some would splurge on out of town trips so that they can enjoy and to lessen their stress.
giggles721
@giggles721 (275)
• Philippines
1 Feb 12
definitely, it's like yin and yang, they're inseparable. during my tenure i've met a lot of people with different purposes in working at a call center. and a lot of times people asks me about how it's like working in one and i can't really tell them if it would be a good idea for them to work in a call center because it's all up to their purpose in working.
champoy186
@champoy186 (1638)
• Philippines
2 Feb 12
I am working in BPO but not as a call center agent. I agree with you that people in call centers have an unhealthy lifestyle especially those who work on graveyard shifts. They sleep on morning and work at night. That's not normal. I remembered the report before that most of STD infected people came from in this industry.