PFL BCA - The Final Exam

My apology, readers. 

I guess this is the post that most of you have been waiting for.

I have been quite busy with life and work and everything else that I haven't been able to write for such a long time. But I am now back from my hiatus. 

PFL 14

Well, I have completed my PFL Journey as of this October 2016 when I was officially a permanent employee of the Bank. I can't be happier. 

Lots of things happen during the 9 months in the branch and when you finally received the schedule of your exam, you might (like me) have this mixed feelings of joy and fear and hope.

The journey will take 2 weeks with the hardest being in the last days of the first week. 

When you finally get the schedule, you will get a table of appraisal points that your supervisor will fill in, in accordance to your performance during your OJT. 

If somehow you are not up to the branch standard yet, unfortunately you will be dismissed and your contract will be over on the last day of OJT and you will not be entitled to join the final exam. Two people from my batch, sadly, was not recommended by their respective branch. 

If you are recommended though and you are from outside Jakarta, you will be asked to booked a ticket 1-2 days before the 2-weeks-exam started (coordinated by the PIC and batch leader). You won't be able to booked the return ticket by now. You will be able to do so later on after the exam. 

You will be given training and study sessions before the exam.

The exam will consist of 2 parts: the MINI BANK and the ORAL TEST.

The mini bank is similar to your everyday task at the branch. Do not be so stressed out about it. Just make sure that you are more meticulous and careful this time, else just do as you have learned. If I may recommend, that the first half. I'd rather have a pleasant lunch than worries over my meal. 

The one that you really need to take into account is the oral test. This time you didn't know what the examiner (Services Heads and Senior Account Officers) will ask and you do not really have a long time to answer. I can't really tell you the questions as I am not sure that I am allowed to do that, but according to my friends and my own experience, study credits and please think before you answer. I was asked a lot of "case" questions and procedural tho, so study that too. Do not forget anything, review everything that you have learned during your OJT. 

Tips that I can give to you all for the test are:

1. Always come on time and leave on time (do never entrusted your absence card to someone else)
2. Study (its given)
3. Do not be nervous, take into account of your posture during oral test.
4. Rest well and eat well, take care of your health

Tips that I can give you for anything else:

1. There is a back door near the security post where you can buy food. 

2. The "tahu bulet" in front of the learning center is yummy

3. There is a game center in the learning center and lots of games are there if you have some time to spare.

4. You need to ask for hot water for instant noodles.

5. If your friends are having birthday during training time, you can actually buy a cake there.

6. Bring swimsuit

7. Go to pasar ahpoong, you wont regret it.

The Darmawan Park Hotel

Well, I guess that is all. 

I wish you good luck!! See you all on top!!

No More "Trainee"

PFL BCA - Open the Counter for the First Time

Please note that I am bound to the company's secret that I cannot tell you guys the stories in details about procedures and internal information and I am a newbie who might not have a clear or deep understanding of the companies procedures yet. Disclaimer is ON.

So, after 4 days of observation: 1 days at the counter and 3 days at desk, I am opening my own counter!

Of course my seniors is still sitting behind me in case (of course) I need help. 

OK.

I must tell you know that you will feel extremely useless and stupid. Around 80% of what you have learned at the training centre is not applicable here.

Do not say that I didn't warn you.

This is serious!

I made some stupid mistakes, forgetting small things on my first day opening a counter!

I have to redeem myself after the service hour is over.

I feel like a no-brainer slow poke.

I am considered pretty fast for a beginner.
Still, I feel like I am left behind every one by large margin.

I am lucky enough to have a very good, patient, and thoughtful mentor.

IDK who is this Anthony, but the quotes is spot on

I can't never thank her enough. 

The things is, not everyone is as lucky  as you.

People have different characteristics and some might not get a long well with others. 

This is what my other friends have encountered. 

I feel sad for them. 

I still have a difficult time adjusting myself to my colleagues as they have know each other for pretty long time. I knew this is my weak points for quite a time already. I am working on it, as hard as I can.

What you should be preparing:

• Big water bottle
• Memorise your TXN (all of them) if you can't yet write a small notes and place them where the customers  cannot see. You will still need to memorise them, the notes is only for temporary use.
• Small notes/books to take some important notes. Do not forget your mentoring sheets.
• Have enough breakfast! You do not know when your turn to have lunch will come. Mine is around 13:30.

The first 2 days is pretty harsh, even for me. 

I made stupid mistakes and I felt left behind but things start getting better on the third day. I even sell AIA products! and I didn't forget anything anymore. Such a bliss.

I still have long way to go, but as long as my superiors and colleagues think that I am advancing fast enough I think I am on the right track. 

This is those time that make a lot of my friends think of giving up on the contract (honestly me too). The working environment is pretty harsh and I do not think that we have been credited enough. 

 But thinking about it, this is a choice that I have been taken and I have been through lots of things worse than this. 

Why did I turn whinny and weak?

I should be the strong willed and inspiring person!

RESOLUTION:

Even if I didn't continue the contract after 3 years:

I want to at least graduate through the training period with all of my classmates.

I want to at least go and see how far I can go in this company in 3 years.

I want to get the knowledge, experience, and connections to the most from working here. I wouldn't go out with nothing this time.

I feel like inserting some of Confucius sayings:

Remember that everything starts from a single steps.
The small actions today might turns out to be a big changes in the future.
Be persistent and do not give up easily.

No explanation needed for this one.

You reap what you saw.
What you give to people will be felt and be given back to you.
Hopefully thousand times more.

I think this might be the most important of all.
To go with all your heart for me means to give your all.
To never do things half way because it gets hard.
I personally did that before and I kinda see myself doing it a different way if I could by now.
Time and opportunities is something that cannot be turned back. Use it wisely.

If you are interested to know more about my PFL journey, you can click here

I wrote down most of my journey from recruitment to the in-class training and OJT.