All of This Is True by Lygia Day Peñaflor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked up this book at random one day just to occupy myself for a few minutes. But within a few pages, I was HOOKED!
“All of This is True” is one of those books people either love or hate but no one actually tells you what it is about.
A group of teens befriend their favourite (adult) author, Fatima Ro. They consider her an icon. But it isn’t clear why Fatima is hanging out with a bunch of teens…until it is.
An accident between one of the teens is attributed to Fatima Ro. Miri Tan, obsessed with Fatima, maintains that Fatima had nothing to do with it.
Meanwhile the group of friends is torn apart and not speaking to each other. “All of This is True” tells each friend’s part of the story.
The “big secret” was actually pretty predictable but I loved this story nonetheless. Fatima is charismatic and it’s hard not to believe everything she says.
I didn’t like the last 3 pages so I’m with-holding a star in retribution. Besides that, LOVED this book. This was the book that got me reading again.
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Author: ShaniceSingh
Book Review: This is My Truth by Yasmin Rahman
This Is My Truth by Yasmin Rahman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I felt like reading a YA book and this looked to be an interesting pick. This book has very clear trigger warnings, which I ignored and then spent considerable time crying. But anyway.
Amani and Huda have been best friends for years. Amani is shy and quiet while Huda is sassy and always ready to right a perceived wrong.
Both girls have their struggles at home. Huda is scared of her adoptive parents not wanting her once they have a baby of their own. Amani is terrified of her abusive father. The girls try to help each other through their issues. But an anonymous blogger at school is slowly releasing everyone’s secrets.
This was a pretty predictable novel that I enjoyed nonetheless. It perfectly captures “brown aunties” and their talk. I identified conversations I myself have listened to or participated in. This book made me feel seen.
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Debunking Myths about Working in a Call Center
categories: Career, Welcome to The Real World
“You work in the call center, right?”
I looked at the random aunty in surprise. This was during the period that I was hiding my new job from others and I was tired of lying. But at the same time I couldn’t face people if they found out I had left the call center and their reaction was relief.
“Um yeah, sorta. The company has a call center but I work in a different department.”
Ha! There. That wasn’t a lie. I actually wasn’t sure if my new job had a call center but they had a Customer Care team. That’s almost the same thing.
But the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me. I was tired of people looking down at the call center. Sure, no one dreams of being a call center agent. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have it’s perks.
Below, I’m debunking some myths about working in a call center:
Myth #1: Working in a call center is a Low Status Job
Okay, I feel like I have to address this one immediately. Personally I have encountered this in my community so I don’t know if everyone feels this way or if I am just surrounded by really small-minded people. NO job is a low status job. Not wanting to work because you think a job is “beneath you” is actually quite embarrassing…for you!
No one is above or below anyone else. (Except beetroot. Beetroot is beneath me because it is awful and idc how awful my iron issues are. I will NOT go back to that life. Just let me faint).
Myth #2: Working in a call center is a low-paying job
My next favourite myth. Firstly I have seen some incredibly high salaries come out of the call center. Secondly if you’re thinking the Sales Agents go home with no idea of how they’re going to pay their bills, you’re wrong. Several agents take home over R20k or R30k. I have seen people leave Customer Care (with it’s stable fixed income) to go back to the Sales floor because it offers better earning opportunities. And no to mention the amazing incentives like paid holidays, tickets for events and even appliances. (Can you tell I’m jealous? I shouldn’t be punished just because I have no skills as a Salesperson).
Myth #3: It’s a dead-end job with no opportunities for career growth
Career opportunities for a call center range from your typical upward growth such as team leader, manager or supervisor. But there’s also other departments that you can move into depending on the size of the organisation.
I know agents who started in Sales and moved to Training, Human Resources and even Marketing (this was a win I took personally. Go, girl! Internal promotions make me so happy). What’s more many call centers are big on offering training to develop their staff.
Myth #4: Customers are always shouting at Agents
Okay this isn’t completely untrue. But like any job, you deal with a range of people. Some are angry and always shouting, Some are actually really nice. Call can be complaints, general queries or just someone who wants to know what products are available. The great thing about being an agent is any call- whether bad or good- has to end at some point. You just keep going on. The call center is an excellent place to learn perseverance.
Myth #5: Call center work is easy, and anyone can do it
I mean technically yes. But in actual fact, not everyone can do it. And not everyone can do it well. Calling people to sell them a product seems easy. But you need sales skills which not everyone has. Trainers are fond of saying “it’s just a skill. You’ll learn it.” In my experience, it is a skill that not everyone has. Besides that you need patience if you’re going to be dealing with any angry customers and it is a huge help to be able to multi-task.
Myth #6: All you do is phone people
Call centers have a multitude of roles. From Customer Care to Recruitment, Business Development and Client Services. There are tons of different departments with different responsibilities. Typically this is the part where people’s eyes glaze over as I try to explain how a call center works but just trust me on this, tons of departments (which then means tons of opportunity).
What are your thoughts on call centers? I’d love to know below!
Book Review: On Brand by Alizia Licht
On Brand: Shape Your Narrative. Share Your Vision. Shift Their Perception. by Aliza Licht
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Finished this last night and all I can say is I wish I had a print copy (for some reason I can’t find a print copy to purchase in South Africa).
I got a review copy of “On Brand” from Netgalley and I was so thrilled. I loved “Leave Your Mark” and have been waiting for years for Aliza Licht to release a new book.
“On Brand” is the bigger sister to “Leave Your Mark”. While I read “Leave Your Mark” as a uni student in her final semester, reading “On Brand” was like the prep you need for the corporate world.
Who better to advise us on personal branding than DKNY PR GIRL?
This book was incredibly informative but be warned, you WILL need a notebook of some kind. If you’re a new graduate or if you’re just looking to refresh your personal brand, definitely pick this up.
(Personally I am of the opinion that personal branding is for EVERYONE and this book is a great guide for you).
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categories: Uncategorized
Book Review: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
When “The Silent Patient” first released, everyone who read it wouldn’t stop raving about it. At the time, I was struggling to read so I didnt bother to get a copy.
But when I found this in a secondhand didn’tbookstore, I knew I had to get it. Sure I had stopped reading for months but what if THIS was the book that would change all of that?
Unfortunately I dont think this has fixed my reading problem but this book was incredible!
“The Silent Patient” tells the story of Theo, a damaged psychotherapist who is a fan of Alicia’s artwork. Theo has been following Alicia’s story since the beginning- when she shot her husband five times in the face. No one knows why Alicia murdered her husband and she hasn’t spoken since that day.
Theo is determined to get Alicia to speak- to heal. But as time goes on Alicia remains silent. Desperate for answers, Theo resorts to speaking to the people in her life. He goes about the whole thing in a way a detective would. And the men in Alicia’s life do not like Theo’s meddling.
I spent an entire day with this book. I just had to know how it ended. This is a book that leaves you saying “WTF” when you’re done.
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How to Use a Starter Job to Your Advantage
categories: Uncategorized
There you are all bright and shiny and ready to make your mark on the working world! But then you land your first job and it’s nothing like you imagined. Or maybe you had to settle for the first opportunity that came you way (I’ve been there). No matter how awful your first job may seem to you. Here are a few tips on making the most of it:
1. Be Open to Learning Everything
You might not be interested in your first role but you’d be surprised by what you can learn from a starter job. I started off as a data capturer which helped me build speed on the PC for my first corporate role.
2. What are the Benefits?
Company culture? Office snacks? Learning opportunities? Figure out what the positives are and use them to your advantage. A starter job might not be what you want or in the field you want but this is a great opportunity to start to build your network.
3. Try Out a Side Project in Your Field
For me this was running a blog. Try to get experience in your field by either doing volunteer work (if and when you can) or ask if your job has something extra that you can assist with. My first steps into Marketing was assisting with Customer queries on Social Media. It was an interesting way to use my fast typing skills but it was such an advantage when I moved over to Marketing.
4. Take Advantage of any Training Opportunities
If there are any opportunities for further training, go for it! Developing your skills is a great way to figure out what works for you and what doesn’t. In my starter job, Business Admin courses were offered to a few employees who later moved from Data Capturing to Client Services. If your company offers to pay for training- even if it’s a small portion- consider giving it a go.
5. Note what your transferrable skills are
Hard-worker. Fast learner. Able to work well under pressure. These are skills you pick up in almost any job. What specific skill in your starter job are you able to use in another role? Identity these and add them to your CV.
A starter job might not be the job you initially wanted but making the most of it will serve your career well in the long-run.
Book Review: Queen of Ruin by Tracy Banghart
Queen of Ruin by Tracy Banghart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I CANNOT believe it took me so long to finish this book. I also cannot believe I enjoyed it so much.
I started this book atleast thrice but was never in the right frame of mind to finish it. But I was stuck in bed this weekend so I thought “why not try again?”
And SUCCESS!!!
“Queen of Ruin” picks up shortly after “Grace and Fury” and sees the two sisters reunite…briefly. But with Asa now in power, the girls must come together to defend their families and country from his tyranny.
This book did a great job of recapping what happened (this was helpful since I couldn’t remember and since I kept starting and stopping this book before). It was amazing to see how both Serina and Nomi’s characters have developed and of course I wanted to know more about Malachi.
Once I started reading this last night, I could not stop. This is one of my favourite series and I’m sad there’s only two books.
I feel like there is definitely potential for more.
If you’re looking for the kind of book that makes you forget you are reading, give this series a try!
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Looking Back at Being the Oddball
categories: Uncategorized
Most days I cannot believe my job. I cannot believe I work in Marketing. I cannot believe writing is considered something you can do as a job. I cannot believe that I am listened to because I have a “voice” and “a story to tell”. It amazes me that I work in an environment where some days I am setting up goodie bags for staff and other days I am drinking vodka at a fancy bar. It is just bizarre. It also amazes me that I didn’t have to change myself for my lifestyle. I was just me and I fell into this amazing life. I found this post that I wrote many years ago, complaining about people judging other people’s life decisions.
I haven’t forgot how I had to fight for my job for years. I had to fight to write. It was considered a waste of time. I had to fight with family who thought I was wasting my life by taking a call center job (i.e the first place to hire me) and then staying there for years (something I did because no one else would hire me). I had to fight to study- the Marketing courses I wanted to try out were incredibly expensive but my dad was kind enough to lend me the money. I paid him back as soon as I could.
But even with all out that, I took my oddball ways and made it a part of a career I love. And that is something that I do not take for granted.
7 Secrets for Shopping Sales
I woke up this morning and saw a Facebook post from someone who had shopped the Edgars Red Hanger sale and got a pair of sneakers with 2 different sizes. I was horrified. Especially since I had shopped the sale and bought the same shoe. Fun fact- I had checked ALL my purchases except for that sneaker because I trusted the brand. Rookie mistake. Instantly I dove out of bed and started looking for my sneakers. Thankfully they matched. But this got me thinking about the sale itself. The environment was equal parts exciting and chaotic. There were people everywhere, the lines were long and I had an incident where I came home with jeans in the wrong size due to a mix-up on the cashier’s part.
The key to shopping sales is to put aside your emotions and think logically. Do NOT let anything or anyone sway you from a position of peace.
Here are a few tips for shopping a sale:
1. Ensure You’re Comfortable
This means your bladder is empty, you’re well-rested and you have already had a meal. I spent so long at the Red Hanger sale that I started to feel dizzy (and honestly I feel like that is why I never picked up on the jeans issue). Carry a snack if you need to but remember you want to ensure you are in optimal shape.
2. Do NOT Let Anyone Rush You
Whether it is a salesperson or a cranky child, do not let anyone rush you through this process. At the end of the day even if it is a sale, you’re still going to be paying money and you want to ensure that you’re getting the most value for your cash. If you have time to go through the store or the rack for a second time, do it. Few things upset me more than going home after a shopping trip bummed about missing something.
3. Make a List Beforehand
I keep a list on my phone of all items I intend to buy. That way when I go in-store and there’s a sale, I already have an idea of what I really want. This is a great way to prioritise your spending to ensure you don’t buy something that you don’t really need or may not actually want. Another great tip is to make a list of upcoming birthdays or Christmas presents that you need. That way you can get your gifts at a lower price.
4. Question Your Purchase
Will you use this? Where? How often? Asking these questions for each purchase helps to ensure that you’re actually buying things that you will use and preferably often. Sometimes we see the word “SALE” and get carried away. We buy things we wouldn’t usually. No judgement here. I am very guilty of this.
5. Come Up with a Strategy
Go really early or really late to avoid crowds. This means less people in the store and less of a hassle for parking. I say go really early or really late but honestly the best bet is that you get in early. The shelves would be neater, the shops will be emptier and you will be able to shop in a calmer manner. As an added bonus, if you take a friend with you, both of you can keep an eye out for good deals.
6. Set a Budget
I didn’t do this. God, I wish I had done this. Sales are great but credit card debt? Not so much. Set a budget beforehand so that you don’t run up a bill you can’t pay. Or a bill that you will be paying for months to come.
7. Check All Your Items
To avoid mix-ups like me and my jeans, check all of your items before you pay (and make sure you love all of them). Also check your items immediately after paying. If you can do this while still at the store or the mall, it’s better for you. It sucks to come home with all your great purchases only to find a flaw and than you need to trek back to the store. Worse if you shopped somewhere where sales items could not be returned.
Sales are exciting. By keeping a level head and following these tips, you can ensure that you get the best bargains without any stress. Do you have any secrets to shopping sales? Let me know below