Aohell

magick

well thats what the Taxi drivers call the place anyway.
Ive had the displeasure of working there , every1 I know has had a job in there at one time or another and all leave because their head is wrecked.
Wondering if anyone here worked there ?

Mossy Monk

i work there

Eye

yeah i did my time there too, had to get out of it after just over a year, was a good learning experience but i'm not sorry i left

Our man in Havana

I work there also, started the same day as Mossy.

Crazy2262

I'm in here nearly as long as magick at this stage and it just wrecks my skull. I've been trying to get out of there and get a new job for ages. It is really good to get experience and everything and I will say I've never met a sound out bunch of ppl to work with (ie on my team and friends) except BUT what does really anoy me, is the way they deal with ppl who are sick. Its one call after another and they wonder why the place has high turnover and sick rates.

Our man in Havana

Crazy2262 wrote:

Its one call after another and they wonder why the place has high turnover and sick rates.

It is the same in all call centres sadly.

decies

What makes me laugh is a lot of people leave half decent jobs to go out there then cant handle it.
Theres bound to be a lot of stupid people ringing up asking dumb ass questions.
Such is the nature of the beast

fade2black

I started. 4 hours later I quit.

Our man in Havana

fade2black wrote:

I started. 4 hours later I quit.

Really, do tell what happened?

fade2black

I really didn't want the job in the first place but I was going through a period where other things weren't moving and shaking for me. So, I applied. During the interview I actually spoke the following words -

"It seems people come to AOL as a sort of stop-gap to something better"

I think I genuinely didn't want the job.

Anyway, I started with a few other scobies and we were brought on a tour of the place. I didn't like that for starters, parading the new meat in front of everyone. I was easily distracted though when I saw a pinball machine in the corner...that info was to stand to me when the tour finished and we had to do a sort of treasure hunt for a free lunch. What was the name of the pinball machine...Darkman if I remember correctly. Anyway, got my free lunch, went home, rang them and told them i wouldn't be back. Nothing major really, I just knew I'd be useless at it. I couldn't sell a lifebuoy to a drowning man. (Or convince him to keep using said lifebuoy instead of another nearby)

merlante

No offense to anyone working there, but I'd prefer to work done a mine. The work is more honest.

God love anyone who came out of college with a computer science degree and ended up answering phones in there. I'm pretty sure that the rationale for them leaving Dublin was that there were less jobs in Waterford so they knew workers in Waterford would be more qualified and loyal than their high turnover, Dublin counterparts.

The truth of this seems to be borne out in the fact that in Dublin they hired students, in Waterford they hire graduates. I was looking for a job in Waterford 3/4 years ago. I had a degree with a years experience in web application development with a startup company. I was recommended AOL! I remembered friends of mine working for them in Dublin as students who just didn't give a ****, and they were trying to get me answering phones as a permanent prospect: no bloody way.

Anyway, I know that AOL have other positions other than answering phones, but, and again no offense, I would top myself if I had to do that job day in day out.

JPA

I worked there for 6 months. It was hell and then some.
The worst part was the way you're timed doing everything.
Calls, lunch. taking a piss. You can't take 2 minutes to just relax without going into a code. I hated it so much. :mad:

I'm surprised they haven't simply run out of people to hire. Everyone in Waterford under 30 has had a spell there it seems.

mayordenis

i worked there for the training period then packed it in. . . so 3 solid weeks.

kensutz

I went through the application and interview process and finally got a job offered to me. My uncle was working there at the time and he told me to avoid, after that phone call to me I declined to go there even to try it out.

Catsmokinpot

been working there going on 4 years now, it hurts my brain, and my soul...... i die inside every time i go there, and i come alive when i leave.

its win-lose in there.

fade2black

Someone will probably go crazy in there with an Uzi sometime soon.

Crazy2262

fade2black wrote:

Someone will probably go crazy in there with an Uzi sometime soon.

Tbh if you just took the call I just did, doing that it feels soooooo tempting to do right now

Gadgie

I applied for a job there. I'd been made redundant from my last job and had been unemployed for a few months, so I was starting to get desperate.

I was called for interview, thought it would just be that but then discovered that I had to fill out an application form and that awful multiple choice thing on the computer.

Eventually had the interview which didn't go too well, she asked some pointless questions and I think she could tell that I didn't really want to work there.

Was nevertheless slightly insulted that they didn't offer me a job, but by the time the rejection letter came I was already working in a better place.

Our man in Havana

You must be the first to be refused a job.

Cabaal

I believe half of Waterford may have worked their from time to time, if you let things get to you and bring things with you when you go out the door at the end of your shift then your in awful trouble

DMC

I worked in the old AOL call centre in East Point, Dublin. I lasted less than 5 months, just before the announcement that they moved totally to Waterford. Again, as others said, your colleagues in any call centre are amongst the soundest people you will ever meet. I felt really bad for those who lost their jobs at the time, it really was a bolt from the blue. With that news, I was lucky to get into the company I still work for when I did. I think I advised Mossy and Bond at the time that their man management wasn't the best.

As Cabaal said, don't take any calls personally or to heart. If you keep thinking doom and gloom, the job will grind you down. Dont take your work home with you. Call centres are not for everyone, obviously.

Mossy Monk

Cabaal wrote:

I believe half of Waterford may have worked their from time to time, if you let things get to you and bring things with you when you go out the door at the end of your shift then your in awful trouble

this is true. some people take the calls in that place personally. those who i know that do are miserable in general because of it. the people that call in dont give a **** about the workers, everyone working there should think the same about the vice versa imo. horrible place to work but it provides an income for a lot of people

Sully

I was offered a job a few times there but due to repeat exams, I didnt take them up on the offer. Im a student in WIT and was going to call to see if they had part time work available (just a few hours a week) to get some cash.. After reading this thread im unsure.

Id be good at answering calls, I do it already as a day job (reservation making for family run B&B). Not to sure if I could handle calls of people moaning tho

shinzon

If you havent got the temprement for the constant shouting and abuse you get on the phones in there then your better off not going near the place

Ive worked in there nearly 5 years now and tbh the comings and going in there are unblieveable hardly know anyone in there now from when i started

Theres no availability at all anymore, just call after call after call, its gotten to ridiculous proportions now, and yet they dont have the staff to deal with it, so its left to whose there to take up the slack

My advice to anyone thinking of getting work in there, dont, plain and simple youll be happier and healthier because of it

Shin

merlante

That's a pretty damning indictment. Is there anyone working there for more than a year that actually likes the place?

btw., be careful what ye post here while you're at work, they might be able ye're IPs... Can you find out someone's IP on boards?

Our man in Havana

I actually don't mind it but as said it's not for everyone.

Maharet

I went for an interview there and didn't get it either. I think my answer to the "how long would you work here?" question might have done it. I said 6 months to a year. I was waiting to see if I could get a masters and killin time, thought AOL is handy to get a job in, but seems not that handy!

road_high

Just looking at their website and there are many vacancies listed- hardly surprising reading the comments and experiences of people here.
The HR department must be the busiest dept in the place. Sounds like an awful place to work..

BlaasForRafa

I work there as well, actually sitting quite near mossy..the workshy b**tard

Its a piss easy job, I don't get many people yelling at me, ye all must be doing something wrong LOL. You see some lads getting worked up alright but in fairness they only get to you if you let em. With me its in one ear and out the other, if they started shouting I just get a laugh off em then.

Cabaal

mfitzy wrote:

Just looking at their website and there are many vacancies listed- hardly surprising reading the comments and experiences of people here.
The HR department must be the busiest dept in the place. Sounds like an awful place to work..

Its a call center, all call centers have a high turnover of jobs due to the nature of the industry, while some people may hate the place I've seen people leave and come back to the place

shinzon

aye i just like to add that i dont want anyone getting the wrong impression of the people there cause they are the nicest people youll ever meet, because of the pressure cooker environment you can end up forming some close bonds and friendships in the place, its the nature of the business to help each other out etc etc

So while the work is ****e, the work place is quite a different kettle of fish


Shin

road_high

Cabaal wrote:

Its a call center, all call centers have a high turnover of jobs due to the nature of the industry, while some people may hate the place I've seen people leave and come back to the place

True, depends a lot on the individual and what they prefer in a job.
I guess it's good experience and 'character building' for people- no doubt this stands to people when they leave and go apply for other jobs elsewhere.

Cabaal

mfitzy wrote:

True, depends a lot on the individual and what they prefer in a job.
I guess it's good experience and 'character building' for people- no doubt this stands to people when they leave and go apply for other jobs elsewhere.

I honestly think it would do no harm for everybody to do about 2-3 months in a cell center, everybody would be alot nicer if they did

merlante

Cabaal wrote:

I honestly think it would do no harm for everybody to do about 2-3 months in a cell center, everybody would be alot nicer if they did

Lads, in fairness call centre jobs where they call you is not that hardcore! Try working in a call centre where you have to call them, and sell something to people over the phone! Where you start off with a list of a thousand people to call, most of whom will tell you **** off, knowing that you'll have to be alert for that 1 in a hundred people who will buy what you're selling *if* your pitch is right and you're on the ball.

That's hard enough to do when you're on a fixed wage, try doing that for commission, and that would put AOL's 'pressure cooker' into perspective!

BlaasForRafa

whats hardcore about that, you already know they're gonna say **** off so wheres the big deal

try configuring a few wireless connections with an old lad who only speaks urdu and you speak waterfordese

merlante

BlaasForRafa wrote:

whats hardcore about that, you already know they're gonna say **** off so wheres the big deal

try configuring a few wireless connections with an old lad who only speaks urdu and you speak waterfordese

Umm... because if you don't flog X amount of product Y, you don't eat!

And if you think configuring a wireless card over the phone is hard, try getting someone to part with their cash over the phone! (Who may also speak urdu or whatever.)

shinzon

merlante wrote:

Umm... because if you don't flog X amount of product Y, you don't eat!

And if you think configuring a wireless card over the phone is hard, try getting someone to part with their cash over the phone! (Who may also speak urdu or whatever.)

sigh never heard such rubbish in all my life, are you telling me you live such a hand to mouth existence that you rely only on your commission wage packet to survive, must be pretty meagre wages then

Get a grip, all call centres are pressure cookers and each department has there own unique problems to deal with


Shin

Our man in Havana

Well Said there, Shinzon.

mike65

4 yorkshire men sat round a pub table comes to mind.

Mike.

merlante

shinzon wrote:

sigh never heard such rubbish in all my life, are you telling me you live such a hand to mouth existence that you rely only on your commission wage packet to survive, must be pretty meagre wages then

Get a grip, all call centres are pressure cookers and each department has there own unique problems to deal with

I, personally, have earned my living through telesales for a few months, although not on commission, I had a quota to make. I knew other people who were working on commission, and yes it was hand to mouth. (It wasn't in Ireland.)

If you think that answering phones and solving people's problems is as pressurised or as stressful as having to call the people yourself, and sell them stuff in order so that you can eat, then you just haven't thought about it very hard!

For example:
1 - You have to sell a certain amount of stuff to stay in a job/eat.
2 - A much higher percentage of the calls are abusive, because the calls are unsolicited.
3 - When you get tired and stop concentrating, it's you that loses, not the customer.
4 - You have to physically dial a thousand numbers a day.

Crazy2262

merlante wrote:

I, personally, have earned my living through telesales for a few months, although not on commission, I had a quota to make. I knew other people who were working on commission, and yes it was hand to mouth. (It wasn't in Ireland.)

If you think that answering phones and solving people's problems is as pressurised or as stressful as having to call the people yourself, and sell them stuff in order so that you can eat, then you just haven't thought about it very hard!

For example:
1 - You have to sell a certain amount of stuff to stay in a job/eat.
2 - A much higher percentage of the calls are abusive, because the calls are unsolicited.
3 - When you get tired and stop concentrating, it's you that loses, not the customer.
4 - You have to physically dial a thousand numbers a day.

Well if its that bad do you want any of us to hand ur CV into HR here in AOL for ya. lol ;-)

merlante

This was all in the past.

Beer is Life

I worked there for 4 months about 3 years ago doing sales and billing. Awful awful job, an absolute cvnt of a supervisor/team leader, but met some really sound people there that I unfortunetly lost touch with.

Going Demented

All i can say is over 6 *beep* years.

r@t

had interview today for tech support- anyone know what thats like?

Mossy Monk

it is fabulous

edit: really it is

edit edit: i have been known to lie from time to time

seriously, it isnt too bad if you dont let things get to you

magick

r@t

had interview today for tech support- anyone know what thats like?

well if u can survive the fisrt month

1 basically they will remote (listen to your calls) you like crazy to see how ur going.

2 Then you will have your first PDM (Put Down Meeting) with your sup who will nit pick on why u where 2 mins over ur break or why u took an extra long sh*t on ur time out

3 Then your thrown back to the phones talking to ppl who have no clue about computers / talking to irate customers / Apologising why BT havent fixed their line

Mossy Monk

magick wrote:

1 basically they will remote (listen to your calls) you like crazy to see how ur going.

can see why they would do this tbh

magick wrote:

2 Then you will have your first PDM (Put Down Meeting) with your sup who will nit pick on why u where 2 mins over ur break or why u took an extra long sh*t on ur time out

havent had one of these for about 9 months now but it wasnt anything like that. it was a listen to a recorded call and give feedback thing

magick wrote:

3 Then your thrown back to the phones talking to ppl who have no clue about computers / talking to irate customers / Apologising why BT havent fixed their line

thrown back on the phone? that's what you're paid to do funnily enough, take calls. and yes you will get people who don't know what they are doing, you will get irates and you will have to explain bt's latest **** up. it is the same for every other ISP. in Ireland exchange BT with Eircom

Crazy2262

4+ Years and its been like that since day one. Some if the Supes I had were sound out, but there were 2 that who actually made me feel physical sick each day I had to come to work with the amount of stress they put me under.

It wasn't the Tech Support Job itself, I didn't mind that side of the job, it was the "PDMs" (Put Down Meetings) which they were about why can't I have a lower calltime or why can't I answer the phone like this.... The list was endless, but I had a 80% fix rate 90% of the time and my quality socres were allways above 90%. But that still wasn't enough for the 2 incompent usless supervisers and Most ppl who had them will know exactly how I'm talking about too.

Boomer23

it is what it is.....a sales job, if you dont make targets you dont earn, if you do you can pull out a LOT

if you dont like it, like ANY other job, you leave, simple as.....its a call-centre, they are ALL the same, crappy, but as long as it pays the bills who really cares

r@t

starting training on monday- this job couldnt be that bad- the pay is better that minimum wage and you get to sit on your arse all day. i was a waiter in my previous job - where i had to run aroud all day for **** money . plus worse than customers shouting at you the ower who happens to be the chef is screaming at you for doing things the way he just told you to- and that now you should do it another way oh and then you should f*** off.