The Call Center as a Career

They say working in a call center is a "dead end" job. This was my impression nine years ago (yr 2002). I entered the industry to 1. Save enough money and 2. Get my NASD/NYSE license for free. Of course, it's a different story now. I am still surprised with some youngsters having this impression till now. To those of you who are so confused why you are here in this industry, I will tell you why. Being a call center agent can get you to: Management (operations), Teaching (training), Quality Assurance, Human resources (Employee relations, recruitment, corporate), Corporate communications which includes writing, graphic arts, marketing, Project management (ttransition), actuarial and statistical analysis(workforce), Business Development and other specific functions of the industry. "But Ms. Hazel... I am an ARTIST! I don't belong here!" .Yup one of the agents told me long time ago. I used to have a friend who came from the advertising agency. He resigned after 3 years of work as art director and applied as a call center agent. Within a year, he was promoted as an assistant manager making inhouse advertisements and events for the company.
Once you become a call center agent, work on your strengths. Ask for additional responsibilities from your team leader. Take initiative. For sure, you won't get stuck as a call center agent for 10 years complaining that you entered a dead end job.

Komiks Review: Kanto Inc.

 Ito ay isang mini comic series na gawa nila Joanah Tinio-Calingo at ng kanyang asawa na si taga-ilog. P50 ang isa nito. 20 pages black and white. Nasa issue 2 na ito noong Komikon 2011. Bagamat xerox ito, very professional naman ang pagkagawa pagdating sa illustration at writing. Masasabi kong dugo at pawis din ang pagkakagawa dito. Maganda ang takbo ng istorya. Tunkol ito sa isang babaeng newly grad na napadpad sa pagiging tech support agent tapos natigok din. Naghanap ito ng bagong trabaho bilang computer tutor sa isang mayamang matandang lalaki at dito na nagsimula ang kwento.
At bakit ko nasabing maganda ang takbo ng istorya? Bawat frame nito ay may silbi. May direksyon. Kung baga sa pelikula, I would rate it as "Suspense". 

Very detailed din ang pagguhit nito. Mula sa facial expression hanggang sa background. Ito siguro ang nakagaganda kapag dalawa kayong artist and at the same time good writer. (Isang magandang teamwork ang ipinakikita nitong obra na ito). Pero teka, sino si Kilayman? Tatlo kasi silang gumawa nito. Malamang isang magaling na artist din si Kilayman. Isang comment lang sa art nito... sana detailed din yung mga nude scenes pero nga baka target market din nila mga bata kaya hindi pwede. Comparable siya sa Nurse macho ni Kriss Sison at Marco Dimaano na lumabas noong Komikon 2009 ata. Pero nga mas bastos ang Macho Nurse. Well, di ito mawawala lalo na kapag Manga style humor ang ginagawa mo. Isang halimbawa na ay ang Ranma 1/2 na pambata pero may pagka bastos siya. Same as Doraemon manga na pinapakita ring nakahubad si nobita. Teka napalayo na tayo sa usapan. Very promising itong Kanto Inc. I hope na magtuloy tuloy ito at lalong tumindi suspense with drama.

Komiks Review: Callous

Callous is a comic strip that started out as a web comic and eventually, a manually printed version that was released lasy 2010 Metrocon. This time, I was able to buy a professionally printed colored comics for P150 (Summer Komikon 2011).
Dr. Carlo's main innovation was to take our inner thoughts and had it materialize into this comic strip. But unlike Julius Villanueva's Life in Progress,  Callous focuses on a doctor's working life day-to-day preoccupations. Even if you're not a doctor, one would easily relate to the character's viewpoint. dr. Nicah, the main character, a doctor ( I guess a GP) who loves coffee and cookies (that's why I always crave for some whenever I read this comics), is an intellectual girl who also have qualms about her work.
The strip isn't terribly funny. The metajoke is more original. The fact that a theological/moral discussion is breaking out in the middle of the duck and Dr.Nicah's discussion, I would say, makes it a fun read. And it is a pretty good discussion. Every comment is reasonable and well-informed. This may be one of the selling points of the comic strip. But for me, it's more of the light feel of the read that makes it a two thumbs up.

Happy Easter!

Nagmaneho ako papuntang Island Cove kanina. Naisipan namin pumunta dahil ang ganda nga ng panahon ngayon. Success naman at di rin naman traffik kaya madali ang pagpunta at pabalik namin. Itinuturing kong isa na rin 'tong achievement on my part :)  

 Nakakatuwang panoorin si Tara at nakahanap kagad ng instant friend, just like in Komikon, nagkaroon kagad ng friend. Nakakatuwa din palang pakinggan ang usapan nilang mga bata...

At dahil nagenjoy kami... nalimutan na namin mag-easter egg hunt. Meron din kasi silang event na ganun kanina.

Supergirls at the Summer Komikon (GMAnews)

Thank you Melai for the article!

"The women of comics and cartoons basked in the spotlight at this year's Summer Bayanihan Komikon, sharing stories about what it's like in a very male-dominated field..." Read more

New Review on Callwork

A new short review about Callwork:

"Callwork is already a running comic strip in one of the national dailies, and I bought one of the compilations of the strips. It relates the life and times of call center agents in the country (think Outsourced as a comic strip). It should tell you how big the customer-support industry in my country is, if something about it runs in the national paper.

The author works in the industry, and she knows the difficulties well. That she speaks from personal experience (and from the experience of friends) shows clearly in the strips. She gives the bad and the good (and the crazy) equally. The art style for the series is a bit rough but is serviceable to its needs. Characters are memorable and distinct, and ultimately they feel like your friends. "

Summer Komikon 2011! YEY!

Kakaiba ang venue this time ng Summer Komikon. Usually kasi, sa UP Diliman ito ginaganap... ngayon ay sa isang napakagandang lugar na pwede na pang wedding reception... sa Bayanihan Center. Ginanap ito noong ika-16 ng Abril 2011.
Malabo ang mga kuha kong litrato dahil sa nalimutan kong magcharge ng digicam... madidilim kaya pagpaumanhin ninyo ako kung di ko maipost ang mga ito. Yung mga ibang post ko dito ay galing lang sa mga taong nagtag sakin sa facebook...

Kulang kami sa panel kasi nowhere to be found si Aramida Francisco at si Elizabeth Chionglo...

Bata pa to... one of my youngest fan :)

 Danny Acuna

 Si Tara na nawiwili sa Cintiq

 Si Doc Carlo na may Callous comics na napakaganda!

 And point zero group

 Ang nakakatuwang samahan... Komikero

 Si Jed. Naglaunch sila ng book 5 nilang "Love is in the Bag"

 Ako at ang aking partner in crime forevah!

 Wan.. ang pogi mo..

 Si Ariel na napakagaling mag caricature...

 Si Syeri at si Sir Norman Isaac

 Lyndon Gregorio signing my Dekada copy

 Sino ba itong mamang ito?

 Ang aking mga comic buys last Saturday! Parang may kulang.. alam ko meron pa akong naibili...at ang sa ibaba naman ay ang gift sakin from Komikon.. Thank you!

Hotdog eating contest na nakakatuwa... Sana magkaroon pa ng iba't ibang eating contest sa susunod :)

Salamat sa lahat ng sumoporta at bumili sakin, sa lahat ng dumalaw, nagpicture, naginterview etc. Truely, nakakaenjoy ang mga event na ganito kapag nandyan kayo! Sa mga hindi naman dumating, sa susunod na Komikon sana makapunta na kayo.

Summer Komikon Bayanihan itong Sabado na!

I can't help but get  excited this coming Komikon... A lot of new titles from fellow creators such as Love is in the Bag vol.5, Komikero Anthology, Pocket Komiks, Boy Bakal 2&3, Birdie Kid, Kanto Inc 2, Callous printed version, WIP printed version, and a lot of local manga that I'm planning to buy.
Of course, female cartoonists will also be there! I am also excited to see them after our exhibit last year.
Our group will also be releasing Boink! issue 2! Which includes Superdog this time. Also, there will be art contests held and many more activities. Visit Komikon.org for more information.