Got job in call centre, whats it like?

beetlebailey

Got offered a job working shift in a call centre,its a complete career change having never done anything like this before(come from a logistics background but have been unemployed for last 18mths)just wondering what are they like.I`ve heard good and bad things although mainly bad but with things the way they are at the moment,as they say beggers can`t be choosers.............

By the way i`m 35, so am I going to be surrounded by 20 somethings looking at me like i`m just about ready to collect my bus pass ?

Tigger

Why do you people keep calling me <hangs up>

That's what it will be like

beetlebailey

@ tigger................I`ll be on the help desk, people will be calling me so i`ll probably be saying that to them!

gustafo

beetlebailey wrote: »

@ tigger................I`ll be on the help desk, people will be calling me so i`ll probably be saying that to them!

well if there will be no cold calling trying to sell something dodgy it will be grand.

Boom_Bap

Everyone has a different experience in a call centre, it all depends on how you embrace it. I had the pleasure before and quite liked it, glad to have that chapter in my lfe. But there were others there that wined and complained non stop.

....same as any other office job really

Chessala

I currently work in a support center (we have no phone support, just email and live-chat and arranged calls for special cases).

I think how weell you can take the job depends on your ability to stay calm and not take it personally when people spew crap at you. Even in just an email it can sometimes be depressing when you get cussed at for tryng to help (though it's easier to have a laugh about it with your colleagues as they can't hear you and if you want you can always leave the reply till "tomorrow").
I think it's important to get this out of your system during your breaks. If you do the help desk I imagine it will be easier. Is it internal or external clients?

If internal you'll be cool, I know our help desk loved his job but then...our working environment is just great.

Good luck and grats to the new job after such a long time!

beetlebailey

Chessala wrote: »

I

I think how weell you can take the job depends on your ability to stay calm and not take it personally when people spew crap at you. Even in just an email it can sometimes be depressing when you get cussed at for tryng to help (though it's easier to have a laugh about it with your colleagues as they can't hear you and if you want you can always leave the reply till "tomorrow").
I think it's important to get this out of your system during your breaks. If you do the help desk I imagine it will be easier. Is it internal or external clients?

QUOTE]

They`ll be external customers and all by phone( its with a well known service provider) and I believe customer abuse is common enough . Not sure how i`ll deal with that as i`ve no experience of being phoned up and screamed at (except from the wife) but training is being provided.

mikemac1

Take nothing personally
If you're going to get upset and take the insults home with you then you'll drive yourself mad over the next few months. And may start skulling bottles of wine every evening.

Just visualize the abuse like a wave, just washes over you

They're not angry at you, they are angry with your company

You are guaranteed to get abusive calls even if it is a helpdesk and not sales

These places are Nazis when it comes to timekeeping. Ok timekeeping is important and people don't need to be told this but call centres take it another level. Timing your breaks and calling you to meetings if you're a few minutes over.

Zero trust, at your age you're used to be treated like an adult and professional but your supervisors will not trust anyone in there
Like children to be scolded

Don't get upset by it. It's a stopgap and walk when you get something better
You don't care about them and they don't care about you

Delancey

Call Centres supervise and monitor their staff very closely and some take it to scary levels like telling you your average call is taking 20 seconds too long.
That said some are OK to work for while others are horrible and have a staff turnover to match.

Bandana boy

I spent some time in a call centre as part of an induction once.
Granted i did the busiest 3 hours of their week but I gotta say probably the most hectic work environment i ever saw.
Hats of to the folk who work in call centres its a tough gig

dlofnep

Worked in a Call Centre for 8 years. It can be stressful. It all depends on how management and supervisors are - if they put too much pressure on you, it really adds to the stress. And in the current economic climate, call centres are continuously making cutbacks, and doubling the workload of their employees.

I've had worse jobs - But it's not for everyone. I wouldn't treat it as a career move.

Mrs OBumble

Some are like human battery farms. Some are quite humane about it all.

Some people like it because when their hours are over, they go home. No follow-up to do. Nothing to worry about overnight. Just log out of the system, and the calll stop coming.

Other people hate it because of the abuse, metrics-driven management (they can measure stuff through the phone system, so they do: it attracts a certain sort of manager), and repetitious work.

Only you,and time, can tell what your experience will be like.

Either way, it's a useful set of experience to have, in case you get stuck for a job again in future.

Sashiee

call canters suck the life out of you.
makes you hate the public on a regular basis.
canteen will make you fat.

but other then that i dont mind it.

(currently doing the 1.30-22.00 shift)

beetlebailey

After reading all the above....................I`m sorry I asked!

campo

Not sure what company you are going with but I was very similar to yourself worked in logistics most of my life and then started in a call centre 5 years ago and I love it , Every day is a bit different and when you do get to help a customer it leaves you with a sense of achievment , Ok they will be tough calls but as previous posters said dont take this personaly because if you do you wont last long.

So basically sit back and try to enjoy the experiece and anything is better the dole

javarlz

you are 35 and have been unemployed for 18 mths and still considering if you should take the job or not?

Seriously...

Daidy2011

beetlebailey first of all congratulations on your appointment.

I have worked in the call centre environment for the past 12 years in a variety of different roles and for a number of different outsource companies, I never intended it to be my career path but with hard work, attitude, willingness to learn (and to be honest some lucky breaks) that is what it turned out to be.

I started as an agent and I am now in a Management position with my current employer.

The call centre industry is probably the most measured metric driven industry that I know of. This is not all a bad thing. It provides excellent opportunities for learning, continuous improvement (both personally and process), the ability to provide your input(s) and insights on how things can be done better (this depends on the company though, we fundamentally believe that the agents who interact daily with our Client's customers are the heartbeat of our organisation).

Yes it can be stressful, yes it can be difficult when a customer is taking their frustration out on you but it can also be very rewarding.

In a nutshell you will get out of it what you put into it and your opinions will be valued.

The very best of luck.

kylith

As others have said it depends on the call centre. I applied for, was offered, and accepted a position in admin for one, but I spend 8 hours a day cold calling. I'm only hanging on till I can get something else.

So, even though they say one thing, they might set you to tasks you didn't anticipate.

aine92

I am desperate for a job also, OP do you mind saying where you got this job? I would actually do cold-calling at this stage, anyone any ideas?

token101

aine92 wrote: »

I am desperate for a job also, OP do you mind saying where you got this job? I would actually do cold-calling at this stage, anyone any ideas?

If you're based in Cork, call La Creme and they'll get you a job with Abtran in Cork City. They will hire almost anyone. €18,500 starting, rising to €20500. Insulting money for the job description, but desperate times....

It's not a good job by any means. But to be fair, there are a lot of promotions available. If you don't have qualifications they'd be a handy company to start for, on some accounts they'll help you sit exams for qualifications and if 2-3 years down the line you want to go to college they'll pay for your fees in some cases as you work part time. So it's all bad. But it's not a nice place to work, and it's a rough, rough crowd on some accounts! Worth a shot though if you're desperate, beats selling door to door.

token101

kylith wrote: »

As others have said it depends on the call centre. I applied for, was offered, and accepted a position in admin for one, but I spend 8 hours a day cold calling. I'm only hanging on till I can get something else.

So, even though they say one thing, they might will definitely set you to tasks you didn't anticipate.

Everyone is the same. Fixed the second part for you.

Drummerboy2

I'm well over 35 and would gladly take a job in call centre. Unemployment sucks

LimeFruitGum

I did it for two years after I left college and for a couple of months in 2nd year as I lived East Point at the time, so it was handy.

In either company, I wasn't allowed to hang up on a call, or skip a call. My head would often be fried by the end of the day. For the most part, callers were ok, but I was sooo **** at telemarketing! Like with other offices, the job itself may be sh1te, but having a good working atmosphere helps.

Back then, staff turnover was high in both offices - you could easily not bother turning up again and they wouldn't care. It was never going to be a career path; I just wanted to build up some office experience for my CV.

Tony Sopranoe

token101 wrote: »

If you're based in Cork, call La Creme and they'll get you a job with Abtran in Cork City. They will hire almost anyone. €18,500 starting, rising to €20500. Insulting money for the job description, but desperate times....

It's not a good job by any means. But to be fair, there are a lot of promotions available. If you don't have qualifications they'd be a handy company to start for, on some accounts they'll help you sit exams for qualifications and if 2-3 years down the line you want to go to college they'll pay for your fees in some cases as you work part time. So it's all bad. But it's not a nice place to work, and it's a rough, rough crowd on some accounts! Worth a shot though if you're desperate, beats selling door to door.

Sky Tv by any chance!

amcjan80

javarlz wrote: »

you are 35 and have been unemployed for 18 mths and still considering if you should take the job or not?

Seriously...

Read his original post will you? There's no doubt that he's taking the job. He just wants to what to expect in the role.

beetlebailey

Well I started last week and found it quite over-whelming,didn`t realise quite how much work was involved in using their system and troubleshooting issues over the phone(very badley paid profession,in my opinion),like I said, its a completely alien enviroment for me.
Haven`t spent much time on the phones ,more just listening in.Not looking forward to being let loose,quite unsure about solving most of the issues,only hope that it`ll get easier as i gain expeirence.The hours are pretty though to get used to aswell,my arse is actually sore from sitting!

Having said that, they guys i`m working with are sound and helpful so hopefully it`ll all work out in the end.......................

Mrs OBumble

Thanks for posting OP ... and do let us know how you're getting on in a few more weeks too.

Any job in a totally new field will be overwhelming for the first few weeks, and you're likely to go home exhausted every day even without shift work.

Hang in there, it will get better.

beetlebailey

JustMary wrote: »

Thanks for posting OP ... and do let us know how you're getting on in a few more weeks too.

Any job in a totally new field will be overwhelming for the first few weeks, and you're likely to go home exhausted every day even without shift work.

Hang in there, it will get better.

Will do.....................tks for all the replies.