Ok, so while being unemployed for just about three months, and tired of looking through Aldaba, Infoempleos.net, and other sources, I decided to go for a ride into what most of us [25+ yr old college students] regard as the lowest form of employement: The Dreaded Call Centers....
I started my journey, with a reference from a friend who had just recently applied to one located at the San Isidro FreeZone. Now, for "legal" reasons, I won't say the names of the places i'm about to make reference to; however, I will give you a clear reference. The one I am talking about right now, has a name that sounds like rock-oh-oh... Hahaha. After taking what seemed to be an elementary schools 1st grade english test, I was interviewed by one of their recruiters. I was actually told, that my english was "too good" to work in this call center. Honestly, I thought she should be fired and someone whose english is actually "too good to work there" should be the one doing her work. Long story short, I was called back about 7 weeks later, but by then I had already heard all the horror stories about the center by SEVERAL ex-employees. Now, had only one or two told me these stories, I would have paid little attention... When I spoke to ex-employee #13, it sort of became clear... My friend, who directed me to this place to begin with, only stayed for 3 days of the training. Once she saw that if you get sick, you don't get paid for sick days, not even the first three as the old labor code states, she thought she might not like to be an angry ex-employee... She would be a VERY angry one... Stone-throwing kind... So, she left...
Then, among the many other ones I tried, there was one that seemed quite promising, one whose name is something about "shores"... But, they are looking for experienced translators in the medical field, while offering a per-hour fixed pmnt rate of RD$85.00 - RD$120.00 So, I was denied a position, even though I do posess said experience, simply because it was not recent. All of this only to learn within a few days, that I can get paid up to US$8.00+ at a very upscale center in the SIFZ as well as similar hourly rates in other facilities inside the city.
Now, the third one that i'm about to mention, is the main cause why i'm writing this note.
While looking for another place to apply, I came across one that is located right on that strange mall located on 27 and Lincoln... Why did I go there? Well, they posted an ad on Diario Libre stating "INBOUND CALLS... NO SELLING INVOLVED... CUSTOMER CARE POSITIONS"... When I got my interview, the first thing they did was record my voice, while reading a sales-oriented script, where I would be calling someone and offering them a product. Next, they call me in for a training. Here's where it went downhill:
-I was going to make no less than 70 calls each day. With a varying quota, regarding "hits".
-They won't pay the first 15 days, as it is considered "training". According to Secretary of labor, this is ILLEGAL. Both for Dominicans or Foreigners. You are supposed to get paid a proportional amount as of the day and hour you start working, wether you are Dominican or not, resident or not.
-After a three hour training, and a three hour "shadowing" process, they sit you in front of a computer, where you start working. Still, not getting paid, since you're within those 15 "training" days.
And here's the best part: Have you ever wondered why you are getting a call from a stranger, claiming that they're just updating their database, and asking you details about your office personnel, stating names and positions occupied by your co-workers? And they will not give you a company name they work for... or where you can reach them... And then they call your co-workers and offer products, using YOU as a reference!? Bingo!
Needless to say, I am done with the call center ordeal. I am two steps away from accepting my cousin's nepotism-based offer to work for the Goverment. It will be like a stain on my resum? for as long as a different party rules the Goverment, and I might be out of work for years after that, but in the meantime, someone has to pay the bills!
I started my journey, with a reference from a friend who had just recently applied to one located at the San Isidro FreeZone. Now, for "legal" reasons, I won't say the names of the places i'm about to make reference to; however, I will give you a clear reference. The one I am talking about right now, has a name that sounds like rock-oh-oh... Hahaha. After taking what seemed to be an elementary schools 1st grade english test, I was interviewed by one of their recruiters. I was actually told, that my english was "too good" to work in this call center. Honestly, I thought she should be fired and someone whose english is actually "too good to work there" should be the one doing her work. Long story short, I was called back about 7 weeks later, but by then I had already heard all the horror stories about the center by SEVERAL ex-employees. Now, had only one or two told me these stories, I would have paid little attention... When I spoke to ex-employee #13, it sort of became clear... My friend, who directed me to this place to begin with, only stayed for 3 days of the training. Once she saw that if you get sick, you don't get paid for sick days, not even the first three as the old labor code states, she thought she might not like to be an angry ex-employee... She would be a VERY angry one... Stone-throwing kind... So, she left...
Then, among the many other ones I tried, there was one that seemed quite promising, one whose name is something about "shores"... But, they are looking for experienced translators in the medical field, while offering a per-hour fixed pmnt rate of RD$85.00 - RD$120.00 So, I was denied a position, even though I do posess said experience, simply because it was not recent. All of this only to learn within a few days, that I can get paid up to US$8.00+ at a very upscale center in the SIFZ as well as similar hourly rates in other facilities inside the city.
Now, the third one that i'm about to mention, is the main cause why i'm writing this note.
While looking for another place to apply, I came across one that is located right on that strange mall located on 27 and Lincoln... Why did I go there? Well, they posted an ad on Diario Libre stating "INBOUND CALLS... NO SELLING INVOLVED... CUSTOMER CARE POSITIONS"... When I got my interview, the first thing they did was record my voice, while reading a sales-oriented script, where I would be calling someone and offering them a product. Next, they call me in for a training. Here's where it went downhill:
-I was going to make no less than 70 calls each day. With a varying quota, regarding "hits".
-They won't pay the first 15 days, as it is considered "training". According to Secretary of labor, this is ILLEGAL. Both for Dominicans or Foreigners. You are supposed to get paid a proportional amount as of the day and hour you start working, wether you are Dominican or not, resident or not.
-After a three hour training, and a three hour "shadowing" process, they sit you in front of a computer, where you start working. Still, not getting paid, since you're within those 15 "training" days.
And here's the best part: Have you ever wondered why you are getting a call from a stranger, claiming that they're just updating their database, and asking you details about your office personnel, stating names and positions occupied by your co-workers? And they will not give you a company name they work for... or where you can reach them... And then they call your co-workers and offer products, using YOU as a reference!? Bingo!
Needless to say, I am done with the call center ordeal. I am two steps away from accepting my cousin's nepotism-based offer to work for the Goverment. It will be like a stain on my resum? for as long as a different party rules the Goverment, and I might be out of work for years after that, but in the meantime, someone has to pay the bills!
