Hi everyone.
It's nice to see and stumble upon this thread again. It's been long since I've last visited here.
I just want to share my experience.
Here it goes.
I've applied in IBM UP-A last march 7(I had my final interview the next day march 8), for a non-voice account. That's for "Melwood" a.k.a. Skype account. It was my third attempt in applying for a call center job , and so far, this was my best experience through the recruitment process. I've managed to complete the whole recruitment process this time, passing through the initial interview(group)-exam-2nd interview-exam-and final interview with one of the operations manager for that account. Having finished the whole process, it helped me a lot in gaining back my confidence, considering my previous attempts with the other company that I've applied for were such epic fails.
Anyway, to make the long story short, I didn't get the job. I honestly admit that my nerves got the better out of me, and, sad to say, I blew it off. I made one fatal mistake. Suffice it to say that I've forgotten one useful tip that I've seen here in this very thread that you've been reading now. Guess what I've forgotten?
*STAR*
Situation Task Action Result
My final interview experience:
At first, it was the usual chit-chat, the basics,those written in your resume, something that isn't written in your resume, work schedules, expected salary, familiarity with the account, et cetera. Then,
I was asked with the question that goes something like "what do you think is the most important trait a call center agent must possess?"
I've managed to answer that with 'patience'.
Well, honestly, even a newbie who's not yet in the business knows that! For you to stay in this industry, you'll need a great deal of patience, and when we say a great deal, that would mean *A LOT*.
Anyway, the follow up question was the one that knocked me off my brain. I had a mental block - almost total mental block.
Her follow up question for me was something like "can you give or cite an instance in your life when you've practiced your patience or when you've put it to use?"
My brain cells immediately went numb and dumb,
not being able to recall a situation that I could utilize so that I could formulate my answer.
I was dumbfounded. Nevertheless, I tried and managed to get something out of my mouth, just for the sake of providing an answer to the question being imposed on me. I improvised an answer. I've decided that at that moment, honesty might be something of help, even a little.
So my answer goes
"well, honestly, I can't remember for now any situation when I've exercised my patience. Except perhaps, maybe during this whole recruitment process, because yesterday, I've almost spent 8 hours here in the recruitment lounge, waiting for the whole recruitment process to go through."
( I know that seems a bit arrogant, but I thought that's better than being speechless and not being able to answer the question at all.)
I can't remember what happened after that.
I just remember that I've asked the o.m. when would I get to know the results. She told me that a higher ranking personnel would decide on that matter, but tentatively it's within a week.
A week later, I've got a phone call asking where my previous workplace was located, and the next day, a rider working for them went to our house,looking for me, just to verify the validity of my residency, making my mom sign some papers (with the attachment of my 'sketch' at the back).
After that, I haven't got any word from them at all.
I haven't received a rejection slip/letter/notice( whatever you want to call that) though, unlike the other applicants, where it's indicating the part of the recruitment process they have failed and/or why.
While I'm waiting for their promised call,
hoping with hope against hope because I haven't got 'the letter',
I've decided to go to our province in Nueva Ecija to visit my old folks,and to have a vacation as well.
After the elections, I was supposed to go back to the metro and was planning to follow up my application.
Unfortunately, something came up. I've undergone an unexpected and unplanned surgery last may 18 for an underlying ailment that was undetected, which I was unaware of, that almost killed me. I had a twisted ovarian cyst, and I've had an ex.lap & LSO done to me. Because of that, I was forced to rest for two to three months until I've fully recovered from my surgery. Now, I'm very much fine and when I go back to the metro, I'll be out again to look for a job and hopefully this time, I'll get the job -- my very first REAL job.
I'd like to be a TSR.
Has anyone experienced the same with IBM? Not getting a rejection letter,yet, not receiving any communication from them at all? Should I try there again or not?
By the way, can you give me some insights with regards to stream north edsa,vxi, cvg & ibm (up-a), and tp (fairview)? How about accenture?
Thanks. More power!
