Top Three Things Your Should Expect To Feel When You're With Your New Job, Your New Office, Your New Boss

I'm in a new office. I have a new job. I have a new boss. I haven't been anywhere new in Lord knows how long. I'm not the kind who can just open up to anybody. I'm quite the introvert really and often people think I'm a snob. I've even been called arrogant and snotty. But that's just the way I am. I'm very transparent towards people who know me, but for people that I've just met, I would be considered rather aloof. I don't really warm up easily.

You could only imagine how I felt when I moved from my old job to my new job. But as I confided in friends and family, I realized most of what I felt were quite normal. So here they are for the benefit of those who might be in the same boat I'm in:

1. Uncomfortable. You'll come from a place where you practically knew everybody and (well in my case) almost everything there was needed to know about your job. Naturally when you've stayed in a place long enough, you inculcate all that you need to know about the job - if you didn't you'd probably quit. So the transition is going to be uncomfortable. Having to start again in a new place with new tasks surrounded by new people. Unless you're more like some of my friends who can just as easily converse with new acquaintances, you'll feel that very awkward feeling of being out of the loop. It'll get better though as you get to know people and just absorb the company's culture.


2. Humbling. As I've mentioned I came from a place where I practically knew everything there was needed to know about my job. And so moving to a new office where I'm required to have the same skill set, the same knowledge base and expertise as my previous position is quite humbling because starting out in a different industry means that I had to go back to square one as novice. Had to accept that practically everyone around me knew just a little bit more than I did and that I had to accept correction from people above and below. Personally, I don't mind being corrected and criticized that I can take. It's the "not knowing" part that really bothers me - maybe because I'm management, I feel like I should know these things and I feel rather irresponsible if I don't


3. Insecure. This is probably just me because I feel I have so much at stake, having a child and all. But insecurity doesn't just mean I don't have security of tenure, it's an overall feeling of not really being sure. Half the time I don't know what I'm supposed to do so I tag along with more experienced members of the team. Where I work now, people don't take it easy on you because you're new and there is no such thing as a learning curve allowance. Here, it's swim or sink. I just try to do the best I can in hopes that my work meets their standards. But the fact that I'm new makes it very difficult to even be aware of these standards. That's where the insecurity comes to play.
   

Well those are my top three. But I have to admit things are getting better. The good thing about a new office is also that you have the opportunity to meet new friends. And that is a blessing by itself. I have been very fortunate to have met a lot of professional and talented people. I feel like I'm the presence of experts all the time. It makes me feel tiny sometimes but more often than not, lucky -- very lucky.

Top 3 Reasons Why People Change Jobs

I recently just changed jobs. I was paid ridiculously high and was quite comfortable where I was but I realized that though I was not unhappy, it felt like something was missing. And so I made the jump. It got me thinking, why do people switch jobs? Here's my top 3

1. People switch jobs for more money! Of course that is the obvious choice. We want more money and we need more money with the inflation and living conditions being what they are. That is a given
2. People switch jobs for better career positioning. Everyone wants to move up in life. If another position is open that offers advancement from the status quo then why not right?
3. People switch jobs because they are dissatisfied. This is my reason because I was definitely paid more by my previous employer - double in fact than what I'm getting now for the same position. My parents just shake their heads at the thought of not being able to enjoy that kind of money anymore. But it's the better choice I think.
   

I was dissatisfied because I felt I could learn more. I was dissatisfied because I felt I could do more if I were directed and mentored in the way that I realized could never be done by my current employer. And that is why I left.

But just so we have a moral to this story: although we think that we should be paid a premium for the amount and quality of work that we do, we should still look out for our own personal satisfaction. I couldn't imagine going to work everyday and being so miserable.

The BPO Industry Set To Grow To Need 1 Billion Employees - So Who Are They Looking For?

With BPO growing at a break-neck pace particularly here in the Philippines, there has been a projection that the industry will provide more than 1 billion jobs in relation to BPO - otherwise known as business process outsourcing.

To correct some misconceptions, which is that BPO only relates to call centers and contact centers, which is a majority but not the entire truth, BPO is in fact composed of many different industries:

• We already know of the call centers and/or customer service centers that are now everywhere. They employ hundreds of people and also, exit a lot of them considering that many workers have to come in during the night and try to sleep during the day. That is a difficult job, but since the clients are on a different time zone then that will have to be a work-related adjustment many of us have to make if we indeed need and/or want the job
• There are also numerous back-offices that include finance or accounting offices that are outsourced, this employs numerous accountants, analysts and finance executives
• Design is also a skill that is often outsourced. More often supplied by freelancers that actual companies - website design and graphic design in general is very common as a service that can even be done within the convenience of home. Designers are quite lucky.
• There is also the medical-related back office which is mostly now medical transcription. These companies are paid a lot of money I hear and that is why I think they are investing in ways to train people before they hire them

There are many kinds of people that the BPO industry is looking for, I may have missed some of them but rest assured that there are a lot of job opportunities for different types of graduates available if only you work hard and not get picky at the job you want to do.

4 Ways To Impress Your Interviewer. Typical Interview Questions All Applicants Should Know!

I have played the role of interviewer so many times while I was a recruitment staff for an international company as well as later on when I became a marketing manager for my next company. However I have also experience the flip side where I was the person being interviewed. Here are some of the things I learned on how to impress your interviewer

1. Be on time. There's nothing worse than arriving late for your interview. You create a bad impression for yourself as well as a bad precedence. If you're late for the interview, how will you fare when you get hired? Most likely the interviewer will assume you will also be frequently late. I for one, am not a fan of tardiness. As much as possible be on time for all your appointments. Don't waste other people's time please.
2. Dress to impress. Whatever the position you're applying for, always dress appropriately. Ask around if you don't know what the dress code is for the company you're applying or the position you desire. It's always best to know in advance. I had an interview once and failed in that area, good thing I was on my toes when answering all the questions. This is still not excuse though, I'm not saying you may get the job if you're dressed well but you have nothing in your head, but being dressed well will make a great first impression and the interviewer will note that.
3. Be prepared. Research the company. It's always good to know the basics. Know what the company is about and what job you're getting into. Interviewers are looking for the perfect fit for each position. The more you know about the position and the company, the more leverage you have versus other applicants.
   
4. Be attentive. Listen well to the questions and make sure you answer them concisely and correctly. At the start you will be asked the typical interview:

• Tell me something about yourself
• Why did you choose to apply for this position?
• Why do you want to work for us?
• How do you see yourself 3 years from now?
• How do you take criticism?
• Would you rather work alone or with a team?
• What is your basic experience relating to the position you are applying for?
• Why should we hire you?

In any or all cases, a few of these questions will pop up during the interview probably worded differently but those are the basics. The rest will probably be more position-related and probably technical in nature. So might as well get ready for those too

Typical Pre-Employment Requirements

When you get hired, or get considered for employment, the company will ask for certain requirements that you'll have to get. Often this is done after you sign a job offer from the employer, but sometimes it can also happen before you even see a contract. Here are the typical pre-employment requirements that you have be be ready for:

1. Cedula or Community Tax Certificate
2. Police clearance
3. Barangay clearance
4. NBI clearance
5. Physical examination- this includes blood works, urine, stool and most likely an x-ray too
   
6. Birth certificate
7. High school and/or college diploma
8. Transcript of records
   
9. Valid IDs