An Interview with a BagoSphere Graduate - Juan Carlos M. Galvez (JC)

Written by Victor Chan

(Introduction)

Among BagoSphere’s 2^nd pilot of 11 students, are JC and Shiela. After 2 months of intensive training, both students have managed to secure a position in Call Center Agencies; TeleTech and Teleperformance respectively. Here are some insights on their journey with BagoSphere:

(Interview Questions)

BA: Could you share with me about your family background before you joined BagoSphere?

JC: Before I joined BagoSphere, my family lived a very simple life. I am currently living with my aunty and my father. I used to live with my grandmother when I was young. My grandmother took care of my aunty, while my grandfather took care of my father because they were not very close to each other. My father was the one who gave me allowance when I studied in college (interviewer comment: JC dropped out of college due to financial issues), but I spent most of my time with my aunty, and she really helped me a lot and provided allowance for the training. Our lives were really very simple back then.

BA: So why did you choose to apply for the Call Center Training in BagoSphere?

JC: My aunty was the one who persuaded me to apply for the training. She told me that the training could really help me find a good job. I was in doubt at first, but after searching up some of the benefits of working in a Call Center, I decided to sign up for the training because it will really help me in the future.

BA: I understand that 2 months of training can be quite intensive for you and your fellow classmates, so what were some challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?

JC: I think one of the challenges I faced is fatigue. The main reason is because I need to take an hour to travel to BagoSphere daily, but when I enter the center and start training, my tiredness just fades away as I really enjoyed and have a lot of fun during the training. I think it’s just the tiredness and stress I felt throughout the training.

BA: Were you nervous before the interview(s) at the Call Center(s) and what are some steps you learnt to help you prepare for them?

JC: Yes, I was nervous. But what BagoSphere taught me is to have confidence and really believe in myself. I also learnt to let my personality show, to be more conscious of my pronunciation and grammar, and listen attentively to the interviewer as these are key requirements in a Call Center job. I would also pray a lot and think of relevant answers to the interview questions. I kept saying to myself, “I can do this”, and that really help me to stay calm before the interviews.

BA: Were you not discouraged when Transcom turned down your application?

JC: No, because I know it’s just the first step of my journey in applying for a Call Center Job. I was really encouraged by one of my friends when she texted me the meaning of failure; the first attempt to success. So I’m really thankful for her words of encouragement. Even though I was rejected at Transcom, I know that there are other Call Centers that can see and acknowledge the skills I have, to believe in my capability to grow in their company.

BA: I heard your family is under the Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF), how has the organization benefited you and your family throughout this training program?

JC: The Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF), also known as Dungannon, helps many mothers to set up their own businesses. They help to develop a good business environment so that families can benefit from it by providing micro loans. My aunty has been under Dungannon for five years, and it has provided her great assistance to support me and my cousin’s education, she even has her own direct selling business now.

BA: What are the roles and responsibilities of your job?

JC: Call Center Agents’ duty is to provide the right information to solve customers’ problems. They have to maintain good customer relations to ensure that customers will continue to patronize the company in the future. But as of now, I am not very certain of my job scope as I am still waiting to undergo training.

BA: Overall, how was your experience in BagoSphere?

JC: For me, my experience in BagoSphere has been very enjoyable and knowledgeable. The lessons taught were really related to Call Center works which helped us to understand more about the environment in a Call Center Agency. It has also equipped us with the skills required to excel in a Call Center job, and be prepared and ready to face probable challenges in the workplace. In addition, we learnt about financial literacy and stress management that we can apply in our daily lives.

BA: Finally, with your current job in TeleTech/TelePerformance, what do you aim to achieve in the future?

JC: With my current job in TeleTech, I would really like to help my family break out of poverty. For instance, I want to help my aunty expand her business in direct selling and provide financial support for my cousin to complete his elementary studies. As for myself, I’ve always dream of travelling to Thailand. So if I’m able to save enough money, I would really like to go there one day. 

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Victor Chan has an avid interest in community service projects, and has participated in many Overseas Community Involvement Programs around Southeast Asia. Exposed to various social enterprise models, Victor was inspired to explore further in the field of social entrepreneurship and is currently reading his last year for a diploma in Business and Social Enterprise in Ngee Ann Polytechnic. He believes that social entrepreneurs are the driving force in catalyzing change in society. In his free time, he enjoys travelling, playing sports and photography.