Jan 2, 2010

If there's one good thing about urban living, it is that career opportunities are within easy reach as long as you're skilled.   Last week, I started my job hunting through the internet, applied online, and within hours I already got calls from different call center companies asking me to undergo their 1-day hiring process.   And so I did.  

I went to three different companies, all situated within 10-20 minutes away from our place of residence. On day 1, I went to Company A which is the most popular among the three.   After taking the series of exams, which other applicants tagged as a Quiz Bee for being so long and tough, I qualified for the final interview (I was the last man standing) and was offered a job.   However, the basic salary offered was too low, I'd rather stay home and baby-sit my daughter.

The next day I went to Company B which also made me take a series of exams that included tough Mathematical problems among others, then two interviews.  Luckily, I passed too and was offered a neat compensation package.  The basic salary was better than that in Company A.   What got me so interested were the medical and dental benefits that would cover me and my dependent from day 1 of my training.   Add to that the fixed shift schedule and fixed days off, plus the two days leave credits per month which I'd start earning from the first month of training.  And half of that is convertible to cash! Sounded so enticing but then again, I wanted to be sure if there'd be something better somewhere.

Company C had a practically easy series of exams but they were tough during the panel interview.   Luckily again, I passed and was offered a job on the same day.   They offered the highest basic salary compared to Companies A and B but they couldn't match the employee benefits offered by Company B.   All three of them offered almost the same amount of allowances on top of the basic pay.

Now I'm torn between Companies B and C.  I've been weighing things out for the past days and I have to decide by Monday, as much as possible.   I'm targetting a long-term career in this industry so I'd like to make sure I choose the right company that I can maximize my time and skills with.  I know what I want but judging two companies that you only know through their website is pretty challenging.   I'm hoping to gather some insider information (about the working environment, company culture, etc) from these two companies but it seems more challenging because I don't know anybody from these two.   I guess I'm left with not much choice but to decide according to the offers presented to me.

If you were in my shoes, what would be your biggest considerations in choosing the company to join?

  

9 comments:

betchai said...

hi rochelle, congratulations for this new blog, and also for having 2 new job offers! what a great way to start the new year.

it's kind of tough when there are 2 good offers, hard to make a choice since we want to make the right choice. i believe you are doing things right by looking more deeply into these two companies, hope you can gather more insider information.

i usually do not look into the compensation only, but i weigh in all the benefits. if you are not in the top of health and your insurance is not good, you can be paying more than what you are earning for medical maintenance. health can sometimes rob us of what we worked hard for, but then, again, you know yourself and your family better. why not try doing this: take the compensation of company c, then, get the cost of the medical and dental benefits of company B and all the other benefits, and subtract that to what you will earn in company c, sometimes, you would be very surprised to know the big difference.

anyway, congratulantions again, your New year seem to start really great for you and your family.

Gene said...

That's a tough decision to make. And I'll offer my unsolicited advice. If I were single, I would choose Company C. My focus was cash on hand then.

But now that I'm a mom, it's a different story. Medical and dental insurance is one of the most important factor to me even if the salary isn't that big compared to Company C. Company offered medicare gives me that peace of mind. I was really thankful for it when my father and I were hospitalized on the same year, just months apart, four years ago. That's also my husband's concern because he is not covered by company's medical insurance since he's working for them as a sub-con for three years. The salary is really good, but almost all of it were reserved for the car loan and daughter's medical expenses, talk about expensive vaccine shots monthly!

So there. Good luck with your decision making. Hope you'll find the one that you'll be happy to work with because apart from all the benefits, it's also important that you'll be happy in what you do. :)

Mom Says said...

Betchai - That's a nice way of looking at things, you gave me a clear idea on how to evaluate it more easily. Thanks a lot, Betchai.I knew I could count on your wisdom. I'll keep you updated. best regards!

Mom Says said...

Gene - Thank you so much for sharing your opinion and personal experience. Yeah,you have a good point too and I'm pretty much considering that in coming up with my final decision.Thanks big time!

The Kano said...

Hi Mom, I spent 30 years with AT&T as a Marketing Support Specialist and dealt with call centers all over the world, including the Philippines of course, as part of my job. I would ask you this. Which company is the most stable, has been in business the longest? Then I would consider the benefits offered. Who has the best. I only pay 24 USD a month for my wife and I here in the Philippines for my health insurance due to the generous benefit package I received from AT&T. I'm sure you will make the right choice, and congratulations.

Mom Says said...

Dave - That's interesting! AT&T is actually the account that I'll be assigned to in one of these companies.

Grampy said...

Glad I found your new blog. It is fantastic. Good luck with what ever job you decide to take. I agree with benifits balancing out a little more money. Most of the time you will be getting paid more. If you have a family, you need the benefits.

Girlie Jamisola Paye said...

Hi rochelle if i were you i rather choose the company that has a very good offer when it comes to compensation & benefits...

onlinemommy said...

If I am on your shoe, I'd choose company B. For mommies like us, medical and dental benefits are big deal. Your saved money will not be touched when someone is sick.

But still asks God's best :) Because you will never go wrong if you follow what is God's will for you :)

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