India Calling

Here's another article from the author of "Honour Killings". Call centers do look like an easy way to fast cash but knowing it inside out requires a first-hand experience. So here's more, from the fingers of an ex-cce (call center employee).

A life of a call center employee is not just confined to a cab and the call center. In fact, there is a lot more to that. People say that life gets miserable when you get into a call center. The words 'day' and 'night' lose their significance.There are no holidays; until and unless there is a server breakdown or the process has a holiday specified; an american holiday, for example.

The present scenario of a call center or a BPO is different. It soaks candidates in a manner similar to a core MNC. It starts with a self introduction, then, the HR will "grace" you with his/her presence, and at last, the tough spot, i.e., the mock call: where for the first time, you will be communicating with people who will be treating you like slaves thereafter.

The training takes place; where you learn to match your accent, and blah blah and a little more blah. Then,the new office leads to new place or a new PG.

I say, life gets more miserable when you become a tenant to a new place or a PG. First of all, your house owner gives you a warm welcome, with a little bit of hidden wickedness. A portion of your hard earned money will be going to your PG; and the day they get to hear the squeaking sound of the gate and the banging of the utensils in the wee hours of the morning, things start changing a bit!

As soon as these "sounds" become a regular event of the early mornings, it forces them to, finally, come up with questions like,"Don't you have a day shift in your office?"

Sometimes you feel as if you're doing something totally out of this world, and, in the heart of your hearts, you bang your head to force yourself to smile back. The rented or PG accommodation is a very important part of the lives of all of us working in a call center. A little irritating, a little less bearable, and sometimes a sweet and perfect mixture of all kinds of people, are the things that cross your mind once you are not living at home.

Now, moving back to the office. After wearing out our brains working day and night for a few months, the 1st silver lining comes our way: Promotions. Promotions are all the more a topic of attraction in a call center.

There is something known as IJP, which is an abbreviation for 'Internal Job Posting'. Yet, most of the people in the call center arena call it as 'Internal Jaan Pehchaan' or 'How well do you know people internally'? Promotion means Paisa (money) and Position. These two strong Ps are amalgamated to form one Big P- Promotion.

There is a saying, "a friend in need is a friend indeed." In a BPOed life, though, your only friend will be Chai. You may call it ‘Tea’, but the word tea is so tasteless (ironic, huh?) in itself. Forgive me, but that's how I honestly feel! Look at the royalty and the sophistication attached to the word "Chai". When we say 'Chai', half of the intoxication comes from the word itself. Working at midnight doesn't allow for a good cafeteria experience,so Chai is what you subsist on. It's a part of our culture and we Indians are genetically attached to Chai in such a way that any happy or sad moment goes unfeeling without it. The expression on the face of people is worth watching when they say, “Aaj chai wala nahi ayaa …..”(Today, the tea vendor didn't come.) as if the world is about to meet its end.

Oh, sorry, I got carried away. Anyway, call centers also generate perceptions, or you may call it a "love is in the air" environment. You may meet your lady love here. Romantic tales are born here everyday, which, obviously I'll not bore you with.

So, friends, don't include BPO in your career list. Join MNCs, crack exams, or join business. If anything doesn't work out, opt for a BPO. At least, thou shalt not get terminated (CONDITION'S APPLY).