Dancing Diva In The House

Hehee... I went to catch a glimpse of Jolin at her autograph session held in Marina Square on last Thursday after my work. This is my second time seeing her. The last time was at Funan. Too bad, I did not bring her CD album with me that day, so I did not have the chance to go on stage to get a closer look at her. Furthermore, Dear and I were standing somewhere at the back of the stage, so most of the time we only got to see her butt. Hahaa...

She sung 2 songs that day... Wu Niang and Ma De Li Bu Si Yi. One of her dancers looked disgusting!! Abit like ah gua!! =P Anyway, I managed to film her singing the second song using my digital cam but she only turned to face the back once. And all my photos turned out to be blurred. =S

Well, here is the video... (I know it sucks, but mai hiam ok... I already said that we were standing at the back of the stage, so what more do you expect??! Kekeke!!) =P

On MC Today...

I have been too tired to come online to blog these days... Finally have time for some entries today coz I am on sick leave... Hehee...

Went to see a doc just now and told him that I was down with serious migraine yesterday and today, but last nite was worst becoz I vomitted some foamy stuff... Not sure if it's becoz I ate too little during lunch yesterday. After telling the doc my problem, he said that i must be too tired and did not rest enough, which I think it is quite true... kekeke...

I have been getting neck and shoulder aches these days, especially after work. Furthermore, I guessed I have not enough sleep over the last one week, partly due to the stress from work and also due to too much play over the weekend. But it was satisfying bcoz I got to see Deardear on Friday, Saturday and Sunday!!! =D

Well, we went to watch 'Nacho Libre' on last Friday night. It was a super lame show though... but I like that skinny guy who always screams at a high pitch of his voice!! And there's also a part on "OoXxOXoXXx" written in a love letter... Now then I know that "O" means big hug, "X" means big kiss, "o" means small hug and "x" means small kiss... After the movie, we went to Starbucks at Suntec Convention to eat our favourite Strawberry Indulgence and Tiramisu cake.

Then on Saturday, Dear and I actually planned to go to Sunset Bay for a tan... Unfortunately, the weather sucks!! So we met up with Bernard, Andrew, Kevin and Gena for dinner and to go watch a movie. We watched another weird show... 'How Much Do You Love Me?"... It's a RA show in French. Hmm... I do not really understand some of the scenes... but certain parts were quite funny too. After movie, we then drove to Siglap and ordered some finger food at Liquid Kitchen. It was freaking cold inside but I like the ambience there except for the smell of cigarettes!!! And after chilling, Dear then sent Kevin and Gena home and the both of us then went to East Coast Park to have a short walk alone... so romantic huh!! Kekeke... =P

Ok, so the plan on Sunday was to play tennis. Good thing that it did not rain. So Dear and I had lunch at the KPT near my house and then off we went to meet Fang and Kevin at St. Wilfrid Sports Complex around 1 plus. Finally I had the chance to wear my new tennis attire!! Hehee... But still my tennis sucks!! Hahaaa!! Well, like Dear always says..."It's the style that matters!!" Hee...

So that was how I spent my last weekend... Sigh... Need to work on this coming Saturday again... Sianz!!! =(

My First Week On-The-Job

Today, I have gone solo onto the call centre platform to answer inbound calls already. In fact, we have started to go solo on last Saturday... DAMN STRESS!!!!!! Each and every call is a new challenge from different customers with difficult scenarios to resolve.

I hate the following types of calls...

Unreasonable customers!! Especially those who are demanding yet calling in to request for waivers... Hate those people who talk loudly to us and say that we provide bad service when they are unable to get the waiver charge from us or what they requested from us!! Well, sometimes I really feel like slapping these people to wake them up!! And I wonder why... if customers don't have the $$$, then why spend so much??!! If they have spent so much, why ask for a waiver?? And since they have thought of spending by charging the transactions to their credit cards, don't they know that there bound to be an interest charge for all transactions made??!! So... if you are the type of person I am talking about, you must be a CHEAPO NEH NEH!! Another thing... if customers want to request for a waiver, talk to us or any customer service officer nicely ok!!! Anyway, it's just a request... we are not obliged to give you the waivers you know!!!!!! They are just given based on our discretion and out of goodwill, so SAY PLEASE OK!!!!

Another type of call which I dislike will be those that involves lots of calculation based on their statements and unbilled transactions. Customers are the one that spend the money and make purchases, so they should be the one keeping track of all those transactions, NOT THE BANK OK!!! If we are responsible to help customers keep track of all their daily spendings, why not we help customers to spend their money too!! Like this, it is easier for us to remember the transactions better!!! Hahaaa!!

Also hate those calls when customers enquire and request for so many things within a call! You think we are very free is it?!! We need to fill up so many different application and referral forms for each different request that customers ask for, yet on our side we have to meet our call handling time of 196secs (approximately 3-4 mins) for each call and 12 calls per hour!!

For example, giving a general scenario... if customer has 2 accounts in total and he requests for waiver on both accounts, want to change his billing cycle for both accounts and request for credit transfer from one account to the other account. I will need to raise 1 form for his waiver due to waiver amount exceeding our empowerment. I also need to fill up 2 forms for change of billing cycle and 1 form for the credit transfer. Apart from that, I need to carry out the waiver in our systems and leave memos individually under each account. All in all, do you think all these things plus talking to the customer on the phone and checking what are the correct procedures to handle the query could let us meet the handling time of 196secs per call??!!

Enough said... and there's more to come... It's only my 1st week on the job and I could complain so much!! Hahaa!!

During today's debrief session, C and I got to know that we were not included in the first round of banking training, while the rest (all 8 of them) were chosen by our supervisor to attend the training during these 2 weeks. In a way, I think it's good bcoz we are able to learn more on CC enquiries before learning somemore product knowledge. However, on the other hand, I can't help but to think that our supervisor thinks that we are slow in learning (coz both of us failed 2 tests previously) compared to the rest and that may be why she prefers to let us take calls first so as to build up our basis credit card knowledge before overwhelming us with the banking products.

Sigh... but answering calls on the platform means trouble, trouble and trouble... Gonna face lots of trouble from customers!! And sometimes even from internal colleagues and supervisors!! Sometimes I really fear to approach some of the internal colleagues and supervisors for their guidance, as some of them seems really impatient and unfriendly. Some other customer service officers will blame the previous CSO for doing something wrong. I overheard one of them scolding another CSO behind his/her back for advising the customer wrongly... She asked the previous CSO who handled that customer's case to go and die!!! Damn fierce!! Can't they have some integrity?? =S

What Does CBR Means??

After our training has ended, we were put on the job to take inbound calls as well as to do call-backs to customers since Tuesday. I was paired up with C as buddies to take turns in handling the incoming calls and calling customers back in regards to their earlier called-in queries.

When we were doing our call-back tasks, we came across this word "CBR" several times but all of us did not know what it stands for... After asking our mentor, we then found out that CBR simply means Call Back Required. Duhh!!

However, C and I came up with another meaning for "CBR" (apart from the sports bike called CBR or "Chee Bye Rider" Hehee...). We actually changed the meaning to "Chee Bye Rang"!! It's supposed to be said as "chee bye lang" lah but we changed the "lang" to "rang", so that it doesn't sounds too obvious. So now this is the term used by us to describe or scold unreasonable demanding customers after our call ends! Kekeke... =P

So don't be a CBR I tell you huh!!!

*P/S: Sorry about the vulgarity used here. Just that some customers are really so unreasonable that they ought to be catagorized as CBR by us since we as customer service officers are not allowed to scold them back directly when we are scolded by them on the line.

Sickening!!! Why Me???!!!

My colleagues and I had a phototaking session after work today in our training room and we were told that these photos would be used to make into posters in our call centre platform area. Since it was past 6pm, our knock-off time, C and I initially wanted to make a move first as we were not even enthusiastic about the photo shoot at all... Well, from what we thought about the main intention of this photo shoot was to take pictures of one of our guy colleagues, who is the only guy from my training batch and also a model. In other words, the rest of us are just acting as extras!!

Just when we were about to leave the room before the phototaking takes place, our other colleagues (those who are the very onz type) insisted that we should stay to get things done so that it will be easier for the person-in-charge. Thus, C and I agreed to stay on for awhile to get it over and done with... In fact, the reason I stayed was also to avoid the rest from saying that the 2 of us have no intergrity by leaving first.

But during the shoot, we were told to do stupid actions... such as to run from the back of the training room towards an ACD phone connected to a headset that was placed on a table at the front of the room, and then we are supposed to pretend that we are all pushing and squeezing to reach for that one headset!! Stupid lor!!! That made us look damn dumb in the pics la!!!

That's not all!!! The person-in-charge wanted people who were wearing colourful tops to be in the photos that she was going to take. Then I was unfortunately picked by her to take an individual pic by myself just bcoz I was wearing my green Nike jacket, which she claimed to be something colourful... Damn! Sibei suay lor!!! I really regretted not leaving earlier manz!!

When it was my turn to take the individual shot, I was told to look at the headset lovingly as if I'm in so love wif it (SIAO!!!) then she said that she will take a pic of me looking at the headset!! WTF!! I was already very du lan to be chosen to take the individual shot, now she still wants me to take this kind of stupid photo with such a idiotic face expression!!!

During my first 2 attempts, I kept giving a wrong expression when I looked at the headset. During my 1st attempt, she told me that I looked at the headset as if it's an alien (Of coz la! I was so du lan at that time, how to expect me to give a loving expression?! Furthermore, how can I fall in love with that stupid headset??! It's totally impossible!!!). As for my 2nd attempt, she told me that I look very unhappy to be in love with the headset, which is true... Then during the 3rd attempt, I tried again by giving a fake smile while looking at the headset (Think this time I looked like an idiot instead!). But she decided to take the 3rd shot as it is. I really hope that she does not use it for the poster!!! If not I will go crazy!!! I cannot imagine if she really uses it to be made into posters that will be put up everywhere in the call centre!!! I will need to dig a hole to hide my face lor!!!! ARRRRRRGH!!!

After my individual shot, I was even more du lan coz I think I look damn ugly and stupid in the photo!!!!!! I'M SOOOOOOOOOOOO IRRITATED now even when I think back about it!!! Damn!!! :S

Oops!! I Did It Again...

Think I said something wrong again which resulted in some misunderstanding between us... I really did not mean to stress him once again. What happened earlier was solely to voice out my views to him on why I think he should not always plan his work schedules on Fridays, without the intention to stress him to go out with me...

Yes, I admit that I certainly do not like him to work on Fridays and Saturdays, but I was just trying to convey the message to him that probably he could plan it in a way that he works on some Fridays instead of all Fridays, so that I could spent some time with him on those Fridays that he is not working too (especially during those weeks that I do not have to work on a Saturday)... I really really did not mean to say things that made him unhappy or that I strictly do not allow him to work on Fridays.

In fact, I was not even angry about him working on next Friday but was juz making a "fuss" due to my usual complain queen behaviour... Probably it was my tone of voice which made him think that I was unhappy over the matter... but truly, I was not angry at all though I sounded like I was very sianz (more of sianz of my job)...

Anyway, it was only when he walked in front me alone while we were walking to Wheelock then I realized that he seems to be angry with me for being unhappy about him working on next Friday...

When I asked, he indeed admitted that he is angry with me for not being understanding enough towards him, due to the fact that he needs to work in order to earn enough for us to spend when we go out. I dunno why but when I heard this, I started thinking alot... and eventually became quite vexed too... Maybe due to the way he perceived me as not being understanding enough, or maybe I was thinking of the way he perceived me as selfish, or maybe I worried on the fact that I am currently working full-time while he is working part-time may eventually become an issue for us. I began to think alot, which made me felt very confused and dunno what to say when we were in the cab on our way to my house ...

We remained silent all the way till he walked me to my door step. Then I even entered my house without giving him my usual goodbye kiss or even saying goodbye...

As I walked to my room, I immediately felt like crying but yet I managed to control my tears this time as my mum was in the living room... As usual, I then ran to the window in my bro's room to look at him while he walks to the bus-stop...

Till now, we have not talked... neither is there a phone call to each other... I dunno if I should call him now... I hate this feeling!!! Damn, I am supposed to sleep by now but my mind simply cannot... I do not want to go thru this cold war... If saying sorry would help... I hope he reads this.

I'm sorry, Dear... =(

The Feeling That No One Understands...

Here I am blogging when my mind is consistently being reminded of tomorrow's test and re-tests (having 3 tests altogether), yet I do not even feel like studying for any of them... Laziness?? Probably. Or maybe just due to low morale as I strongly sensed that I still won't be able to make it for all the 3 tests tomorrow even if I start studying now...

Well, life is so unfair!!! People who had copied during the last 2 tests could easily escape from the re-tests while the honest people like us have to struggle and suffer like hell in this company... a company with a big name but perhaps no integrity, humanities and staff welfare!

Most of the people there suxs!! And the person that I hate most would be that impatient and irresponsible trainer for sure! I think she trains just for the sick that training is part of her responsibility but she does not even care whether we could understand her or not. And when we cannot catch up with her, she makes it look as if it's our fault for being slow. Please lor, we are newbies... not some people who have worked in the banking industry for years!! How can she blame us? Furthermore, she is not showing her professionalism in being a trainer!!! I just cannot imagine that I have to work under her supervision in the near future.

All I feel like doing now is to run away from reality. No one else could understand how C and me feel about work now... even rattling about the daily irritating happenings to our family, friends and loved one would not help. They do not seems to understand... The stress that I am facing now is overwhelmed to the extent that I feel like tendering my resignation any time.

Since the second day of my job, true happiness disappeared from my face. Even when I am spending my least time with Dear, I ought to be happy... but I always have so much to complain about my unhappiness at work during every meet-ups till he becomes so bored of listening to them. Everytime the thoughts of unhappiness come to my mind, I would automatically have a very sian look on my face... even to the extent that others may think that I am unhappy with them... to the extent that I become easily provoked by the slightest mistake made or said by others.

I don't know why but I just cannot seem to enjoy myself and have a peace of mind even when I ought to be happy spending my time with him over the weekends... This job is really stressing me out!! Even on weekends, I begin to feel sleepy at around 10 to 11pm and I hate that!!! Coz I am not able to stay out late at night to utilize the only free time I have over the weekends.

Another issue that I have about this job is the rotational shifts work. Majority of the shifts are scheduled so late (most shifts starting from 2-6pm to midnight 1-2am, or even overnight shifts from 11pm to 8.30am next morning). I am starting to worry on how I would have the time to meet up with Dear. Now that I am still on day shifts (office hours), I already think that meeting him on 3 times per week is very little. I wonder what would happen when the rotational shift work kicks in. Sigh...

I somehow think that this job requires me to give up ALL my time to the company, yet I am not a person who can fully commit my life to a job. To me, my personal life comes first!!

Well, attending training here is like fighting a war to me, although we are always reminded that our training period now is actually our honeymoon period at work. Why do I say that training is like fighting a war?? It's bcoz we have to start copying notes for non-stop once the trainer starts rattling on and on till the end, without even making sure if we were able to catch up with her or understand what she is talking about. Then after work, we still need to spend time to go thru the things that were taught during the day. This is why I do not have enough time for myself.

Even so when I get to meet Dear after work, we cannot stay out too late... coz I need to come home to sleep by 11 or 12plus. Sometimes even when I want to go thru my notes, my eyes will automatically feel like closing by 11plus... So where the hell would I have the time to go thru my notes and digest the things that were taught during training.

That's not all... I can't even sleep late on Saturdays!!! Only after we started training then we were told that day shift would be on a 5.5 days work week with alternate Saturdays off. When I heard about it, I felt cheated coz they did not mention this earlier. Now that I have to even go back to work on alternate Saturdays, I am left with only one Sunday during those alternate working weeks to replenish my sleep.

Yesterday which is a Saturday that I do not need to work, yet I still have to wake up early bcoz the HR executive insistedly that I have to go for my pre-employment medical check-up this week by hook or by crook. Well, I am left with no choice and no other days to go for the check-up since the clinic is opened only from 8.30am to 12.30pm on Saturdays and is closed on Sundays, while I have to work on all other days. At the end of the day, I felt really really tired after 11pm (when we were still at Cineleisure with Dear's friends)... Then again, I hate myself for becoming so sleepy so early coz Dear have to send me home to sleep.

To sum up, I hate working life. There's plenty of things that I can complain about and I can go on and on if you ask me...

My training group photo above!! (The trainer in this pic is not that impatient and irresponsible trainer which I mentioned earlier.)

Superman, My Favourite Superhero!!!

After watching "Superman Returns" on last Saturday... it once again brought back my childhood memories of watching the old Superman movies acted by Christopher Reeves. But the feeling is different this time... bcoz I fell in love instantly with this new Superman character casted by Brandon Routh in the movie theatre... Hahaa!!

Although he doesn't look that handsome in some of the movie photos and posters, I think he looks appealing to me in the movie itself! Maybe it's due to the blue contact lenses that he was wearing in the movie, plus the Superman suit and hairstyle which made him looks soooooo handsome!!! =D

Information Overloaded!!!

After one week of training at work, I already feel like quitting my job. In fact, I have the feeling of giving up since my second day of work coz I had to sit for a test on my third day of work. And that I only had the night before to study for it!! Passing weightage = 80%!!! If we cannot pass this percentage, we would have to sit for a re-test.

Well, I thought I would probably get only 10-20%... but I scored 67%! Still, I have to re-test coz it is lesser than 80%! Sianz...

Tomorrow, we are going to have another test, not the re-test though... but another test on somemore product knowledge!! I have already read through the notes juz now, but seems like nothing went into my head. I guess I would not be able to survive long in this company! I am very stress on these few days... stressed by all the calculations and product informations that I have to learn within a short time frame and also in a very fast-paced learning environment, partly due to the pple that are in my training class (as majority of them are fast learners, while I am a slow learner and I hate Maths!!!)

Furthermore, like I have mentioned in my previous entry, I am not a very sociable person. If not that I have got to know a slightly like-minded colleague, Charmaine, who is also from RMIT Uni/SIM (same course, same specialization but graduated one batch after me), I think I might have simply gave up and not even go for training on my second day.

The rest of my colleagues from my training class are all ang moh speaking people!! And some of them even speak with an accent. Therefore I cannot really click with them coz I feel inferior speaking to them with my broken english or singlish... which makes me feel quite outcasted in the class.

Another thing I cannot tolerate is that the people working there are mostly so cocky. They all have that stuck up look on their face and enjoy looking at us from head to toes!! When I was introduced to one of the supervisors... she actually diao me in the face after giving me a fake smile!!

Sigh... the things I mentioned above are making me very stress over this job... Maybe that's the working environment of people who earns a higher salary than others... Then again, maybe this only happens to me due to my pessimistic character... Probably most of my friends think that my current job pays very well... but wait till you get in here then you will find out that the working life here is not as easy as we all thought.

If you ask me now, I would rather choose a job that pays a basic salary of $1800 with a 5-days work week than this current job. Yes, most people are attracted to the Vitamin M, so do I (and that's why I took up this job for a try). But if I cannot even pass the training or cannot perform well while the rest could do it, then I guessed this job is really not suitable for me... or rather, the banking industry is not my cup of tea even though their salary offered is high. If I am able to stay on, then it will be good for me... if not, I think they may ask me to leave... Hahaa... Anyway, I am leaving it to fate now. =P