Experiencing rejection

#strategicconduit

#ONETeam #SNAPS #SageandNotableAdvisesfromPatrickSalazar

I was in an Operations Delivery role when I started in the BPO industry in 2005. One day I told my boss I want to be in a C-level client facing role like Business Development or Client Relations role so I can understand and create better impact to my clients and to the industry. My boss told me that it is rare for a Filipino to be in those kind of C-level client-facing roles.

I applied in other BPMs. After 10 out of 10 rejections, I realized my boss is right. Meanwhile, half of the 10 BPM companies told me that if I were to apply in an Operations Delivery role, they would consider me for a final interviewer with the Country Head.

So, I changed my application strategy.

I applied for an Operations Delivery role. When I met the Country Heads, I told them my career aspiration so I can help my clients and organization better.

3 out of 5 politely declined my application.

The 4th… Dave said “we are opening a new Site south of Manila. You will get to meet the C-level clients as the Site Director”.

The 5th… Craig said “the role you described is not in my current organizational structure. Send me a business case and job description why I need this role and why I want to hire you.”

Their Philippines operations had 4700 employees after 6 years of operations in the country and somehow not growing further.

I told him I will be the “strategic conduit” of the Business Development Executives and Client Partners who are based in the US, UK, Australia and other parts of the world to actively partner from proposal (RFx) stage, solution creation, client visit management, competitive intelligence and new Site development aside from coordination with Local Government Units and active membership in the industry associations. I will create an aggressive marketing strategy to promote the Philippines Site to their global organization.

Craig hired me and said my goal is to help the Sales Team win deals equivalent to 500 FTEs on my first year and 1000 FTEs on my second year.

With the amazing mentorship of Craig and partnership of the entire Team, in 2 years.. I helped add 5,500 head count in the Philippines plus another 1000 in other geographies.

This additional headcount paved the way for the birth of BPM in Bicol and Tarlac Provinces and growth in Pampanga and Davao Provinces aside from Metro Manila. I also helped the company win PEZA Top Employer of the Year Award (2 years back-to-back) and be the very first BPM to win the presidential Philippine Quality Award (PQA) given by H.E. President Arroyo in Malacañan Palace

*About the photo

You can taste Chili ice cream flavor from spicy level 1 - 5 in Bicol Province. This one in the photo with the flag is level 2.

As the first BPM in Bicol province, we created 1750 BPM jobs from December 25, 2007 to 2009.