Ring! Ring!

Makati

(last part!)

At last, we arrived for the final part of this big place..

Paseo de Roxas street corner Ayala Ave houses some of the well known BPO/call centers. Don't be suprised if you see all the biggest banks in the country, situated their headquarters here at this prestigous street.

Philam Life tower - well, great looking tower! This where JP Morgan chase first center which I'm not sure if its still there. It has infosys, Lexmark but I'm not sure if they hire. hehe Recently Xerox is now there, it's inhouse and I don't know how they recruit. However what I know is that center has combination of call center and backoffice, but it's US time shift so, night shift is their main work time. Food, or everything you need is pretty satisfied in this place as it is near salcedo village and Ayala Triangle, and more convenient stores, count Paseo square as well. 

After some strolling around, passing thru the headquarters of banks plus the Paseo Square, you'll see Citibank.

Citibank Tower - It houses one of the offices of Citibank Philippines which they also have one at Eastwood, don't be confused with the one at PBCOM tower because that is for their international accounts. In this building, I know some centers situated here. Medicall but now Cognizant which has an insurance US account. Pointwest IT company, a homegrown company which it has also a center in UP technohub. I took a test there and it was hard! I'll get my redemption sometime. hehe Citibank for the local soil, which usually open for office positions. At the outside, you thought it's kinda old but once you get in, it looks great. hehe So this one is fine.

After this building, you'll pass Atrium building for BIR, PAG-IBIG Makati offices, piece of advise, if your numbers are registered in this offices, come early! Then at the end of Makati Ave, you'll see another famous street. My first workplace in Makati. 

Buendia! I'll just give a rundown of the offices you'll see here. BPI tower which houses some BPI's departments and local call center. Not outsourced. It also has Eperformax which is a BPO/call center handling some US accounts. You almost see them at malls, having recruitment kiosk. They offer outstanding benefits but accounts they handle seem to be passing by, come and go. I'm surprised they are still alive. hahahaha

Reposo/N.Garcia st. houses well, my first job, at ePLDT or now they are called SPI Global. I'm not sure if Dish network is still there but let me tell you simple. Just stay away from that center! hehe Although they have great medical benefits, one of the best. But compenben? Nope!

Going to Edsa, you'll see Startek, hmmmm they handle more US accounts and lastly, VXI which has I'm not sure Zoom money remittance and I'm not sure if they still have outbound hard core accounts. I'm also surprised they are still there. hehe

Makati was my first place of work and it was confusing at first because of the big place. But in the long run, once you know all the bus stops, terminal, stop lights or even MAPSA guarads, it's an easy place to go. If you have less budget for food, there is jollijeep! hehe Don't forget the pares stations especially if you are really in a tight budget for food. There are convenient stores, malls, and a lot more! You should know all the jeep routes to avoid getting lost or going into the wrong place. If you have a car, be very extra careful due to high parking fees and yes, traffic violations, because all the security guards here has a right to confiscate your license. Beware of yellow dudes, yellow and white guards and even the barangay patrol, they can confiscate your license. Penalties are high here.. 

What is great here in Makati, it is a central business district that all kinds of transportation coming from all parts of the metro and even from far south, comes here. All kinds of BPO/call center jobs, you can choose here. Just please avoid the rush hour because of very tight traffic especially in the rainy season and a lot of road work. At first when you are working here, I'll not be surprised if you get lost a lot of times. hehehe

I'm just worried in the future of this place because of the high taxes that this city imposes to business or companies, they might transfer to other cities. There are streets here looks barren because business or stores closed or transferred already to other cities such as BGC or even in my place at QC. They should lower their taxes and other charges to avoid such transfers, or worse unemployment. I hope that the family runs in Makati don't just show their faces to prepare in the next election, they just need to work it out. Please just don't take BGC, coz, ehem.. Corruption might get into their heads and traffic will just get worse. 

Anyway, whew... I'm done with this place. Will I come back to this place to work again? No problem, as long the price and sked is right! hahaha 

Ring! Ring!

Makati

(part four)


It is near that I can finish this damn place.

Insular Building - One of the oldest building in the country. Built around 1930's besides the airport, or actually it's an airport along Ayala Ave. before, after those years, Ayala Ave. is now one of the leading business districts or premier center in the country. It houses the Insular group of companies which they serve insuraces. 24/7 has a site here which I'm not sure still stands. CVG has also a training center situated here which I'm not sure if they still conduct trainings here. Be careful using the elevator especially going down... It really goes downwards especially at the ground floor. Due to it's old structure, don't be surprised about ghost stories here, like in the chapel and basement.. Let me tell you, it is damn scary. hahahha There are food stalls and restos like Jollibee, Chowking, Yellow cab, and Gerry's, not sure about Chicboy here if still runs. 

If you have 5 minutes left before logging in and you are at the bottom, you'll be late for sure! hahaha

After Insular, go accross to it, you'll see BPI building then another big building as well across to it.

Enterprise Center - This good looking building in Ayala houses some of the big companies such as Sun Life, a department of BPI, Macquarie financial, Phillip Morris, a lot of derma clinics, and other companies that I haven't heard of. Well, the food stalls here are quite expensive and the only cheapest you can go is at Jollibee. I'm not sure if Sun Life is still here, CVG used to have a center here but it was transferred already. Great thing about this place? It's just looks beautiful inside and out. 

 MSE - Makati Stock Exchange is what it means, for now they are situated at the heart of Ayala Ave but at the long run, they will transfer to BGC. It houses almost all the stock brokerages, it has a Globe center, and a branch of BPI. It also has the famous Ayala Triangle for eating, running, and sometimes fun events. I'm not sure if Accenture has a service center here but one call center is here, Credit Corp.

I did not pass in Credit Corp which I don't know why but I thought it was fine. They do is Skip Tracing for clients who has bad debt customers. You'll need to trace and contact these deliquent customers to any means necessary such as internet, FB, blogs if they write one, paying bills, moving to a different address or even recent purchases they did under their name. If you found them, call them in any means, and collect as high you can be. They are inhouse company which I do heard Credit Corp when I worked as financial services rep. What's the good thing here? If we celebrate Philippine holiday, they don't have work. If Australia has a holiday, take a leave as well. All of those holidays are paid. It means, one month of a whole year, you accumulated easy paid leave. Also, they only have one schedule, 8am-5pm Monday-Friday.

Hiring was difficult I mean, first test is a phone interview with work simulation then final was an interview with an Australian National. Geez, I did a poor job in the interview and did not pass. Sad but true. I thought it is a hard work but great thing I did not pass. 


Hay, at least, I'll make sure this place is done at part five.

Ring! Ring!

Makati

(Part Three)

Well, I think I'm not seeing the end point of this part.. This city is such a big place.
CVG One - Convergys has a lot of sites, actually after acquiring Stream/eTelecare, they became the largest call center in this country. Rivals won't even think matching their number, just the centers alone, this company outnumbered everybody. Like combining the next 3 big call centers alone, it won't match Convergys number of sites. I only took their entrance exam once, after I graduated in 2004, they have computer tests, and I did not even reach their initial interview. Good grief, great thing I was not able to be in this company due to some reasons. I'll tell them in a later time. 

This biggest site they have well, one of the two sites they have in Makati, I don't know what accounts they have here. Definitely an US Account they have, and life is alive in this place at night. I have rumors that one of their accounts is Citibank collections, such as loans. Ironically, Citi has an inhouse call center here which I'll explain later.  Like I said in the previous posts, for beginners, go for this company as a first job, and as you go along and for veterans as well, get away from this company and find a better one. You will find a better one after this. 

PBCOM tower - Before you get here, you'll pass the buildings of Security bank, Standard chartered, PLDT and another rundown building which houses an A Store and informatics. This is a short list which companies are in this kinda very tall building. First one is Citibank has an inhouse center here which holds US accounts and their Australian accounts. Beware for those who has bad debts with Citi, they can't apply easy here unless you agreed to have a payment plan to pay up your debt. hehe Their offer is good, but as usual, toxic work. So if you want to have a big offer and you can bear a toxic environment, then go to JP Morgan instead.

Stream ah became Convergys due to the buyout. Well, here houses I don't know tech support account, and definitely their recruitment will be changed because of the consolidation. I remember, one of the accounts they have before was dell outbound sales. I don't know if they continue scamming ah hmmm selling. hehe 
Daksh/IBM that will be Concentrix, if the rumors are true. hehe Daskh is an indian company which IBM bought it. IBM recently agreed to sell all it's call center sites to Concentrix. It's weird but it may be true. Concentrix, as I know, Dish Network is their account. I heard they offer 17500 as basic pay, which is way above 13000 in ePLDT wayback 2005. However, you will be the customer service representative for all their queues, so you will do sales, tech support, billing and crap. No way! hehe

Robinson's summit tower -  Around 3 buildings after PBCOM, you will pass this good looking building. I'm not sure how many centers/BPO residing there but 2 centers are prominent.
Sykes Asia that now houses an US dental account, I forgot it's name but definitely that's their account. I was laughing from a story of my former team mate, trainers having a hard time training trainees? hehe Poor facilites and crappy pay scale. However, one shocking story.. I did apply in this center once, the former Sykes site at Quezon Ave. I went through a very strict security check like scanning in a terminal. I don't know why but there was a story about this reason.

I got this story from a former trainee, the reason that this center is very strict nowadays was that new year eve's incident. There was a shooting incident in this site. The reason for the shooting? Crime of passion.. The one who got shot they say was a mistress or a dude. An aldulterous one. So, yeah right at the spot, assilant shot the rep. I don't know if the victim was alive or what, but very tragic. That was the reason making Sykes kinda placed a very tight security. Very weird or unsetlling how a gun went through Robinson's guards and what more in the floor. Geez..

HP solution services, HP known as a computer builder leader, and server, printers and some IT products. Yet having a solution services is one of their top money making ventures. HP has also a controversial inhouse call center, which is in Mckinley. I'll tell why controversial. hehe Although if you are a professional, especially a SAP/accountant user, try applying here. They have good benefits, but due to the high management ruckus like falling revenue and wrong decisions, and some downsizing, don't go here, unless you want a first work experience. hehe

Ring! Ring!

Makati

(Part two)

Done with the first base at the city of Makati. Now, let's go to the second base. I might just do 3 parts of this. hehe

Anyway, so after leaving that part of Aegis. Let's go forth with one of the famous buildings in Makati or I thought in the country, RCBC Plaza.

Towering I forgot how tall it is, well it houses some of the known BPO's from the past and present with some embassies around here such as Canada and Australia.
It's towering and elegant presence made this building special around Makati, with glass walls and well, musuem feel ambiance made it a wonder. It has also great food shops, restaurants and my favorite Subway. hehe

Well, no worries if you kinda came in 5 mins before your shift because you won't be late with its fast elevators, you'll reach to your workplace just in time.

KGB Philippines - It was called infonxx before, but they are still the same, serving directory assistance to UK customers. I don't know how recruitment works in this company these days or better question, are they still here? hehe They have kinda that work at home scheme but I'm not sure if it's effective and how you get your pay. Right now, they still have one office at RCBC and another one at Sta. Rosa if it still standing. Very tedious job, around 1000 calls a day. Well, you don't need customer interaction for this or even a long AHT, it just question and answer thing. Well, I'm not sure how much they pay but that many calls per day? No way. hehe

24/7 Philippines - I'll kinda reserve this one at the last part. Well, surprsingly, Optus Financial Services SME division is still there and consumer with SME will be under one LOB so more work to them, less people and a lot of stress. Mobile customer care is also there for Optus and yeah.. Quite surprised that they've become one of the biggest earners in the BPO industry despite losing some... Next time! hahaha
ADP - Damn, when I applied here I don't if I'm quite unlucky, it's already evening then I'm the last applicant for the first interview but I felt that the HR dude is kinda tired so there, I did not make it. hehe I believe but not sure that they are a HR solutions provider or kinda office solutions for other companies, but I'm sure they are using 2 monitors. This is an US inhouse account, weekdays workweek, US graveyard shift and pay is big. Around 25K. This is just a new site, so for those wanna transfer, then try here! I don't know if they have openings. It's inhouse! hehe Back office/calls but it's like you're in an office. They like OK. My previous QA, applied here as well, did she make it?

IHG - International Hotel Group, ah owns a variety of hotels, actually a hotel chain and one of the prominent brands is Holiday Inn.  What they do is booking a reservation, this and that, the usual hotel accomodation thing. It's inhouse which is good. Working there? I'm not sure.. One story I know, was that one of the former employees used to work there then one day accused of having credit card fraud, meaning keeping cc's of customers. A no no in this industry. Of course, the rep did not do it and felt abused, left the company. It means, they have a bad process. Well, many are still there, I'm not sure how much they get paid, but if you have having a discount in their hotel chain, work here!

Access - this is an US call center which kinda scam o helping individuals invest in the US stock market. They have a hard training because it's a series 7 module which they do fail trainees but if you pass, you're certified US stock broker. Many tried to pass here but what I heard, well many failed. That's the start, but the hard part is once you are working in the floor. I'm not sure if they do outbound hard core sales or more into online trading then talk to the customer, but I'm thinking the films Wall Street or The boiler room thing style but well they are legal. Until now, I'm not sure but they are still there. As much I want to give how much they are earning, I can't. I don't know or don't have a clue. However, they earn big because the comissions they are getting should be in US dollars. You can try. hehe

The rest of the companies you can try to apply or work here as follows: the main RCBC office, IP convergence kinda name, Level Up! is here as well because it was egames before but beware! Nah, I won't tell it, there is a rumor on that company. hehe A skip tracing company for US, meaning looking for deliquent or very toxic bad debts. Hmmmm I can't think of others but yeah! Chevron/Petron backoffice company. 
GT tower - This heck of a building looks stunning inside and out, well it's owned by Metrobank. The problem is I don't know really which companies are leasing there. Before teletech used to be there but left. Recently, Accenture used to be there but also left. It left me thinking that they left because of high rent or lease. hehe As much I want to tell other companies here, I simply can't.

Ayala building after GT tower - I forgot the name. hehe But it houses two important companies other my ever reliable BPI branch there. One is the first site and still standing Thomson Reuters which I'll discuss further later. Another is Pfizer, one of the world's leading pharma. Other than those companies I simply did not remember others. They are the ones stand out. So, why bother others?  

LKG tower - this is the one after that ayala building or I know there is a UPCB bank branch before here. Staying here is John Clements, one of the leading HR/agencies for big companies/BPO's. Another important one is Manulife, but their BPO division is at technohub QC which one of my friends working there. Still working there. Good looking building but that's really it, the only important one is John Clements because of it's clientele. So if you're running out of luck, try this one.

The last building I want to discuss for this part is kinda new. Only new one but it has really good companies. Solaris Building, namesake of George Clooney space film which I don't know if somebody watched that. hehe Mysterious. Well there are three companies imporant here.

ANZ - Before, it's only a rumor but now they revealed as the inhouse company of Australia and New Zealand bank to really cut costs and this place is jam packed already. Don't you worry, they have another site but it's in Eastwood. Details? I'll share it some time. hahaha One tip, if one of your friends invite you to apply there, just try to apply and see if the opening suits you, then good luck if you pass. Day shift, big pay, but it has a bank culture. You need to dress appropriately. Geez.
Shell shared Services - To apply here, go to their website or John Clements which I did but I kinda flop. Anyway, suprisingly indeed it's a call center for Shell retailers and other services like accounting. I heard they really offer good compensation and a lot of benefits, I'm not sure if you can get a discount for their fuel. hehe For their calls, well I heard it's an US account so expect graveyard shift.  

24/7 - Yes, you're not blind or seeing it wrong, they have a site here for just one account but there is a news that.. Well, next time! But I think many knows what happened here already. hahaha

To get here at Solaris, it's near Aegis and Makati Med or simply if you're coming from RCBC, it's just across the street, look for the Standard Chartered building then go at the back. 

Damn, I think 3 parts are not enough for this city!!!

Ring! Ring!

(Makati)

Part 1

When it comes to business districts here in the Philippines, first comes to mind is this place.. Makati!

As much I want to describe this place, I'll kinda save that part at the next post. For now, I'll just give you some companies or some buildings when thinking of applying for a call center/BPO job.

Despite many people coming from the farthest of places like from the South or North, they still come to work here at Makati. It's all here! From big companies, government agencies, malls or even the stock exchange.

Just a short description of Makati.. Definitely, if your shift is at night, it's easy to come to work, no traffic and less frills. But if your shift is the normal day shift, office type, morning shift well.. Gotta say, give yourself at least one and a half hour in advance coming here. Then if you come home at rush hour, give your at least 2 hours going home. That's at my place, but worse if you're living far. Geez.. Makati is big, a lot of villages and a lot of strict traffic rules, all guards in uniform can apprehend your driver's license and much more.. To make it simple, I advise don't bring a car here unless your earning big time. hehe

Cut the chase, let's start!


If you're coming from Pasay, going to Dian St.. I heard this is a working call center that caters Korean for online english tutorials.

Going forward to Chino Roces/Pasong Tamo extension/Washington, actually there is one building to look out for a job. The much maligned Export Bank Plaza. Maligned because the Export Bank was well, under receivership of central bank, it went kaput.. But the building still stands.

Inside the building, houses the notable..

Headstrong - they are like Accenture in terms of job positions, back office, HR functions, programming then that's it. I tried to apply there thru my friend but it did not work out. Fine. hehe Even my friend left, so I don't know, what good or bad inside there. But important is they still stands. They only have night shift. Definitely smaller than Accenture.

Sutherland - I'm not sure if this one still operates in this building after their closure of their site in one province. They handle mostly US accounts such as, I'm not sure but google or amazon. Between those two.. It's an Indian owned company but what I heard. None that will really notice them. What I do know they just closed their site in one provice way back a year ago. Geez.

WEST contact services - Before, they have a lot ads, even reaching to city buses!!! But now, they kinda spending cuts of recruitment! hahaha I know they have Yahoo account, the YM part which besides at their Manda office.  In this site, they have a tech account, then HR of AT&T, hiring of outsource techs!!! hehe That is the position I wanted! But sad to say, I did not pass. I applied twice, one was after my college graduation, then last one, after my days from 24/7. hehe The tests were not changed, still the same, from typing, reading comprehension, interview, then that's it. I don't know why I'm quite unlucky. One good thing about them, you get paid bi weekly! Every second and last friday of the month. One bad thing about them, if your scorecard or stats are quite low, despite TL's authority to save the agent, they will remove you. No questions ask. Even you're tenured. I just remembered that they do have US cable account, I just forgot the name. But definitely, that's a toxic account! hahaha

After Export Plaza, well, go forth and you'll find Burgundy Plaza. Home of the security guards who shot their counterparts.. Geez. Crazy!

Kidding aside, only call center situated here is Sykes. But I'm not sure if this center still residing because they just opened one in G5.

Anyway, I'll make it short for Sykes because the bash is at their next site, in the same Makati place. hehe But here at this site, I'm sure MCI still stands or what they are called now. Then they have a new account, quite intriguing.. A financial account which the rep cannot disclose to anyone.. I mean even friends. I'm quite curious, I can't even guess if it's US, they say Canadian, but definitely not UK. I have no clue. Well, Sykes has a weird payscale that you can choose, a lot of leaves which you can convert. The bad thing? Next time!

Walk a few minutes, passed the Makati Post Office, the Mercury Drug and Tropical Hut, corner of Ayala Ave. From People Support, now it's Aegis! Then sometime, a new name again! hehe

Proof? Gossips around the office, then my best friend who well got retrenched, as he is working at middle management. There is a way of cost cutting.

Well, this company has ups and a lot of downs. I mean before they were recruiting hard and became one of the best centers.

Unfortunately, some bad things happen. They used to have a lot of accounts, one prominent account Vonage used to be a good one. However, due to the scandal and dropping sales of VOiP, Vonage closed and pulled out. I forgot their US financial account, I'm not sure which but that pulled out as well, then left a lot of non working agents. Others left, others retrenched and others lucky still stayed in different LOB's.

I heard that they have their own gym, a great medical coverage and good food restaurants at the below of their center, with Starbucks. Only accounts I know they still have, the flower delivery that I'm not sure of it, Expedia and a local account of Philam which they cut agents every month..  Then the gossip of another sale of them.

Well, simply avoid this one and there are a lot as you move forward in Ayala Ave or Buendia. hehe

I'm now thinking that this series will be the longest part of this blog series..

Coz Makati is quite Big.