PFL BCA - Duty Officer Internship [KCU Kalimalang]

The Duty Officer Pin

It has been a long three days and I haven't get a chance to write any good blogpost for a while and I am going to be quite buzy for couple weeks ahead so I this is might be a good time to write a post. 

Today (2/12) is my last day of DO. In fact, I am doing my DO report at the moment. 

My Report Cover Page

If you ask me what it felt like? The answer is:

It was tiring but rewarding at the same time

Tired part, no question needed! If you are not tired, or have a sore feet, or have a blisters all over your feet, it is not DO. I have blisters and band-aid all over my feet on the day 2. 

Pardon my toes but I really want to post them. =P

Rewarding part, I cannot really explain this very well but you kinda get the feeling of satisfaction from all the help and services that you provided for the customers and how some of them reply by showing gestures of thankfulness. I am proud and happy at the same time when that happen. This is when I really think to myself that this is a good job. That I might do well in this job, that I want to do well.

OK, so I was 'randomly' placed at BCA KCU Kalimalang, East Jakarta. 

BCA KCU Kalimalang

Considering the place that I am renting right now, it was far far far away. According to Google Maps, it was 22 KM away!!

Taken at 23:38
It should take around 1 hour by car on working hours.

I was considering using Gojek but because my parents were too worried of the long distance road, I ended up staying at relatives' house for 5 days (since Friday night) which was awesome!! HAHA!

What about BCA KCU Kalimalang?

• They have the best, kindest, loveliest, angelic Kalay (Kelapa Layanan) EVERRR!! (or so from the little comparison that I have)

• They are big! The building itself consist of 4 floors + basement. I made some maps for my ppt. 

First Floor: Teller and ATM
(I put some watermarks)

Second Floor: Prioritas, CSO, SDB
(I put some watermarks)

• The atmosphere is much more relax and lenient than my first intern branch (KCU Thamrin) and it is much much much more crowded with customers ranging from senior citizen to students.

• There are a lot of securities and they are friendly and highly educated about the products and procedures. They make a good DO partners. Honestly, on my first day the Teller's DO was 'borrowed' by smaller branch and I need to get by the whole day as DO, alone. On my first day. On Monday (Ughh, busy Monday! The branches closed around 15:15 and 'really closed' around 16:00).  I receive a great help from the security officers.

To Do List (Preparation):

• Buy a comfortable shoes (some branches allows black flat shoes, it will be nice if you get information ahead, I didn't)

• If you have time and resources, check out the locations one day before. If possible, get to know if you can wear flat shoes for DO (girls only)

• Come early on your first day. First impression lasts forever! 

• Get to know the branch layout and counters! (you will be questioned about this a lot!!!)

• Get to know the forms needed for each transactions (for both teller and CSO forms, learn how to fill in as well. A lot of customers are confused you have to be able to guide them through)

• Drink enough water and bring some candy. You will be greetings people all the time, you do not want to have a bad breath.

• Ask where to have lunch in the morning while everyone is still not too busy.
• Take enough pictures to be put on your report.

To Do List (While On Duty):

• Smile and Greet, Always!!

• Ask if you do not know! Do not give some random answers, it will get back to you.

• Check the forms, do not let them run out.

• Help the customers that look confused or worried. They are the one who needed help the most.

• Do not act high and mighty. Learn from everyone. Remember that everyone is smarter and more experienced than you! Do never act differently to people just because of their background! Treat others the way you want to be treated! (one of my life motto).

• Learn from your mistakes. Do not repeat the same mistakes!

DO Report:

• Do not forget to take pictures
• Ask the Kalay for in-depth information (branch hierarchy, majority transactions, etc)
• Remember the layout
• Remember each touching/important moments
• Take note of possible improvements
• Do it ASAP. You only have little time to finish this one

That's all.
You shall be fine.

Remember to be friendly and down to earth! 

Use this chance to the fullest to get the enough the experience needed for your job later at branch office.

This is nearly the end of the in-class training.
Use this time efficiently and spend quality time with your beloved classmates.
I would suggest to start packing your stuff. The books weight around 3 KGs each. You will need space for uniforms as well (2 blazers, 3 blouses, skirts, and long pants), for men you will need to make your own pants!

BCA Frontliner Program: "The Prestige Problem"

I have been joining the company for a fortnight by the time this post is written. In this second week, I have received lots of lessons about the bank, the products, and the correct attitude towards work and life. In addition, I get to know a lot of my friends better.

The Girls @ class

I was lucky to be a part of this awesome team. They are all crazy, carefree, yet attentive girls who are comforting, accepting, and will take care of you no matter what. Some of them have a really big heart and brightest personalities of all people I have ever encountered!! I love you all!! 

The girls @class (after class)

However as I get to know them, I get to know not only the bright side but also the dark side. 

As we were getting closer, it is more comfortable for us to share some of our problems with each other. 

Mask comes in all shapes and sizes!

Everyone wears a mask to protect themselves from the world and I think it is wise to do so; No one survive without the mask on, anyway. I don't blame anyone and I don't judge. I, myself wear a mask.

The problem is, they wear theirs so perfectly well that I thought it is them in their own skin!! I was wrong tho, they have they own insecurities and problems but they are able to smile and be carefree about it!

Anyway, the biggest and most common concern among the girls are:
Prestige.

YES!! It is prestige!! and I admit, I have had that concern before.

Well, first what is prestige? 

I think this quote describe "PRESTIGE" quite well

and beware, it can "blind" you!

To sums up, the prestige here is the Social Status which includes: Power, Money, Ego, and Pride.

FYI, in Indonesia, the Bank Frontliner job as "Customer Service Officer" or "Teller" is not a prestigious job that  people want. The pay is not too high and the financial risk is high. 

in short,

NOT DESIRABLE!

Honestly, we, PFL are not stupid at all. Some come from a good university majoring in Food Tech, some from Law School, and some from IT background. We are mostly here because our personality test says that we belongs to the Operational Division!! Because we have the skills and ability to do the operational job!! NO Less!

TO Dear Other Trainees Program:
Just because it is different from your skills, or is not needed by you,
doesn't mean that it is (we are) worthless or less then you!!

I am honestly thought that they (my friends) didn't have that kind of thoughts in mind as they are so carefree and they look happy. I never know that quite a few of them didn't even tell their closest friend about their job now because they are scared of being judge harshly.

Of course, I had that thoughts as well. It is just that mine happened before I signed the contract. I think the burden is heavier on my shoulder as I am an international graduates and I have been having good jobs with good pay before. 

However, as I get into the training, I started to realized that this lowly job is actually a lot better than all my previous jobs. 

• I really feel needed and cherished by the company
• I know I am in a really good hand (the company really take care of their employees' welfare)
• I know clearly what benefit I get now and what I can be in the future (career path)
• I know clearly what I am doing (the clear job desk and what is expected from me)
• I am happy (this is by far the most important things on the equation!!)
• I know that the company is credible!! (this is an important point for me, due to the harsh experience that I have been through before)
• The company gives as much or more than what we could give back (our training is very costly! We got free lunch, 2 snacks, accommodation support, in class training and outbound training with professional trainers. 

The reasons why I should not be shameful of the job:

• There is really rare for a company to really take care of their people as good as BCA. They give us expensive training + meals + allowance + flight tickets for us to be a better person. They help us to balance our working life and personal life by a lot of programs and seminars. Do any other company able to do that??
• It is not easy to enter the company. Many fails during the entrance exam or interview or medical check up. Those who join the company are already selected individuals! 

Did you know how many have fail? and how many stages we have to get through????

• There is a clear career ladder to climb. There is less nepotism here as everything is transparent. If you have a skills and you can show them to your bosses, that skill will be fully utilized. Some of the ex-frontliners become a trainer that is sought after even after retirement!!

Well, my previous jobs!

• As I mentioned before, BCA 'graduates' is highly sought after. So, even if your contract was terminated after 3 years, do not worry about employment!! Other banks know how valuable you are.
• There is lots of bonuses! THR, THT, Performance bonuses! I do not even get that from my 2 previous jobs!
• There is a lot of programs with the winner's prize: TRAVELLING ABROAD! *not easy tho, I know, but still*
• There is not such thing as lowly job! I am not doing a crime or something bad. This is a legal job and I am not receiving my paycheck from those so-called-friends. If I am listening to what they say, can they give me a job??

What I have done to prove myself to others:

• Believe in yourself. I believe that as long as there is a will, there is a way! If you do not believe in yourself, no one will. As my Head of Operational said, "Do not think about what people will tell you, about how come an international graduates be a frontliner. I started from frontliner as well." This words have actually be my pillars of strength against many many doubts  that I had along the way. Those words give me hope and confidence that: "It doesn't matter where you start, it matters where it ends"

• Shut yourself out of negative people. Those who matters doesn't care and those who care doesn't matter! Work hard and be successful! Let success be your noise!! There is no better way to silence them than success right? 
• Do awesome jobs! Nothing speaks louder than the good results from the works you do. 
• Have the attitude right. It is a inner beauty that shine the brightest after all. If your supervisor can see how good you are with people, I believe they will trust you and give you more chances to prove yourself as well.

I think those who jump right up to the top lack experience and wisdom to take decision. They also lack empathy and know how about stuff. 

Anyway, I have promised myself to climb up the career leader in 3 years or less!!

Oh, and I found this really nice quote for my profession!!

The Failure, The Acceptance, and Hopefully the Success (part 2)

If you haven't get the full story, read part one of my story here.

Back in my hometown, I was left at a terrible state. I was ruined, psychically and mentally. 

By the time this post started to be written, it was already 9 months passed since the incident. I need that long to regain my composure and to have a more positive perception towards life.

I honestly put so much pressure on myself to excel. I keep on thinking that with my qualifications, I can achieve more! This is lacking! What other people will think of me?? I am such a disappointment. 

For a time being, I was stressed. Feeling hopeless, useless, worthless and traumatized to the point that I do not even feel like working anymore. 

I want to just restart everything, by going to study for master degree or language degree. But, after long period of thinking, and re-thinking, I decided that "re-study" is not worth the investment. I have seen a lot of my friends who go to re-study/pursue higher education to avoid working who actually find themselves back where they started: going nowhere in life and worse, some become too lazy to even start working. 

So, I decided that is just wasting money. I need to start living. 

but how???

Of Course!

Opportunities, opportunities.. Opportunities come for me to learn about stock market. The lesson that I couldn't get when I was in University and the hot topics of people around the world about investment. I want to invest. I do not want to be a broker. Please do not get me wrong. 

I kinda felt more relax after couple weeks at the broker's office (my aunt's office), feeling optimistic, I try to find a job... again... at Jakarta... 

Sadly, YES! 

Feeling so philosophical, naive, and positive, I retried my luck in finding a job at Jakarta. I actually find a pretty decent job that I refused. But for months, I have always tried to find excuses and I judged the potential job too harsh, even before I start to do it. I try to take a-too-save-road after failing soooooo hard. Still traumatized, may be??

I was staying with my aunt, grandma, and uncle and it was uncomfortable. I felt so much pressure while staying at their home, I don't feel at home at all. I felt very uncomfortable as all my actions are questioned and counted. There are unnecessary dramas every single day. To the point that living at that home feels more difficult than finding a decent job. 

Yeah, IKR

I think I lose hell lot of good jobs, looking to a better ones. 
In the end, I fail, AGAIN.

This time, I began to think:

• Is this the road that I am suppose to take? 
• If it is, why am I failing, over and over again?

I looked at my friends. They are perfectly fine. Having a great job, leading live full of hope. Why am I here? I am not a stupid person. So why can't I be like them? Having the good job, leading a good live. Is this God's way of saying that this is not for me? That I have to face this trial to excel? I don't know.

I went back to phase one, the failure. Now with the slump deeper than the previous one.

It was hard back then. I was unemployed for months! I used to support myself ever since I graduated from University. Now, I have to be supported by my parents. It was such a major step back!! I kept comparing myself with my friends, my cousins, and judged myself harshly.

Until one day, after I tried talking to my mother about it, I realized that I have put too much pressure for myself where no one expect me too. It was an eye-opening moment, to realize that I am actually creating problems for myself. Instead of living my life within my capabilities, I took someone else' measurement of success to force myself to fit in. That is the main reason that I am unhappy. And stressed.

I finally have the courage to look back at myself and told myself that I failed again and this time, I dare to say to myself to quit trying to find job at Jakarta because those life, those success is not for me. 

'The end' is just a beginning to another story.

To be able to re-start my career journey, it felt necessary to admit to myself that I failed. So that I won't find any excuses to not doing anything and look only at the past. Failing is one thing, but keep trying is another. I keep saying to myself that the defeat is not final. In fact, there is nothing final in this world. 

As written in the Paulo Coelho's THE ALCHEMIST: 
the secret of life, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times. 

People never look at the process, they look at the result because the history is made by the winner. Only the winner's part of the story will be heard. 

Anyway, I gave up all of my kinda "American Dream" in the big city and I came back to my hometown, a small city called Pontianak in West Borneo where I hope, my success story will actually begins, if God allows me.

This is the end of my second post.
Check out my third post here.

The Failure, The Acceptance, and Hopefully, The Success (part 1)

I have been taking a break from all the internet postings lately. 

I started writing blog to pour my heart content in the writing as the burden that I bear is almost unbearable. 

I am not a strong girl. I know it from a long time ago. I am not persistent, and I prefer to work smart, than work hard. I am INFJ and most probably Sanguine-Melancholic slash Phlegmatic. HAHA.

For you who do not know what is that:

Phlegmatic confirmed, I somewhat shift from Melancholic and Sanguine. (Like Riley from Inside Out)

Well, let me tell you the background of my story. 

I was a little girl, born and raised until I was 16 in a small, small town in Borneo Island, Indonesia. I come from a Chinese family, the eldest of two daughter. As I am sure you all already heard about the rage of "wanting a male successor to continue the family name (lineage)" in the Chinese (and most probably majority of ASIAN culture affected by Confucianism) culture, my family was not an exception. Although I am lucky enough to have an open-minded parents for a small town. 

I was able to go abroad to study, despite the mocking and disagreement from my big family (aunts and uncles). I vowed to make my parents proud, to be successful beyond measure to shut my big family up. 

I went for university for 3 years, I graduated on 2012 and I start working on 2013 in a Korean Company in Jakarta, Indonesia. My salary was good, but than I want more challenge. I admit I was naive and greedy back then. Not knowing much about the world, I quit the perfectly good job with good boss and good friends to look for another one. It was April 2014 and I was 23 years old. 

Might be one of the stupidest things that I have ever done, or not.

I got my new job in less than a month, that was a good job at first. I got to meet lots of business people, there is a chance to travel, the pay was less than my previous job, but with more flexible working hour. I took the job without much hesitation and high hope. I started on June 2014, with a-suppose-to-be 1 month training at East Java, Indonesia. I went gleefully, with high hope and spirit. 

Little that I know that the ending will not be pretty. I was placed there for 6 months a.k.a half a year with uncertainty when will I be positioned back to Jakarta due to technical reasons which I would rather not mentioned here. FYI, the town is foreign to me. I was never been there before, I know 2 people before I went there. I was placed in the factory 1-2 hours ride from the rental house provided by the company. I was lonely, I was uncertain, I feel hopeless. I was stressed because the company was literally not systematize. 

Therefore, with the uncertainty of the future, the stresses, and the loneliness, I decided that the job didn't worth my time at all. I quit on November 2014 to go back to my hometown. 

This might be one of the best things that I have ever done to myself.

This, is my FAILURE STAGE

(To Be Continued to part two... here)