Life in a call centre...

RedfordML

Just wanted to get some feedback positive or negative?


I am currently considering applying for a Insurance based call centre but keep losing the confidence to apply and I keep telling myself I wont succeed?


I have mainly done retail shop jobs and school support but like the idea of working for a large brand and returning to customer service but not shop based.


They have a 4 week training programme which would obviously help me settle but just wondered what people thoughts are and what life is actually like?


Thanks for reading/replying!

stevemLS

From years ago, it is hard work and a very controlling job.

You have targets to meet and they don't hesitate to get rid of you if you don't get them.

They are very strict on timekeeping and so on, we used to have to enter a special code when we wanted to go to the loo and people were pulled if they spent too long on it!

You are a robot, essentially.

BlueEyedGirl

I've worked in three call centres for major employers. The first one I hated because it was telesales for a large catalogue company, it was repetitious and pretty much sent me around the twist!

I then worked for a large utility company in customer service which involved 3 weeks of training. I initially trained for one department then a year in trained for another department. I actually enjoyed this job and was there for over 4 years. Eventually though it got boring and I found doing the same thing day in day out tedious, that said I am thinking of applying for a job there again as I know they are recruiting!

My third and final stint was for the local council working mainly in Housing Benefits / Bin Collections / Switchboard etc. lots of training the HB training alone took 4 weeks. A job I loved but I became unwell mentally during my time there and so I had to resign from my job.

Given a choice of going back to one of the above I would choose the utility company, it was rather a fun place to work - I should imagine insurance would be as well.

You need to be strong willed to work in a call centre environment and be prepared to be abused by members of the general public, it was one thing I personally struggled with and I found it hard not to take the abuse personally at times.

I've been out of work now for some years due to ill health but I am planning a return back to paid employment in the future and like I said above I am thinking of reapplying for the same utility company I previously worked at as I feel it is a role I could ease myself back into without getting too stressed out!

Dan-Dan

RedfordML wrote: »

Just wanted to get some feedback positive or negative?


I am currently considering applying for a Insurance based call centre but keep losing the confidence to apply and I keep telling myself I wont succeed?


I have mainly done retail shop jobs and school support but like the idea of working for a large brand and returning to customer service but not shop based.


They have a 4 week training programme which would obviously help me settle but just wondered what people thoughts are and what life is actually like?


Thanks for reading/replying!

Really depends on what you would be doing and how you react to the situations that can arise doing that role

eg Is it sales , if so , inbound , outbound ? or customer service ?

Will you be targeted in any way , if so , how , and how would you deal with that ?

Its not an environment for a shrinking violet or i would say , someone with confidence issues

Deadbeat

BlueEyedGirl wrote: »

I've worked in three call centres for major employers. The first one I hated because it was telesales for a large catalogue company, it was repetitious and pretty much sent me around the twist!

I then worked for a large utility company in customer service which involved 3 weeks of training. I initially trained for one department then a year in trained for another department. I actually enjoyed this job and was there for over 4 years. Eventually though it got boring and I found doing the same thing day in day out tedious, that said I am thinking of applying for a job there again as I know they are recruiting!

My third and final stint was for the local council working mainly in Housing Benefits / Bin Collections / Switchboard etc. lots of training the HB training alone took 4 weeks. A job I loved but I became unwell mentally during my time there and so I had to resign from my job.

Given a choice of going back to one of the above I would choose the utility company, it was rather a fun place to work - I should imagine insurance would be as well.

You need to be strong willed to work in a call centre environment and be prepared to be abused by members of the general public, it was one thing I personally struggled with and I found it hard not to take the abuse personally at times.

I've been out of work now for some years due to ill health but I am planning a return back to paid employment in the future and like I said above I am thinking of reapplying for the same utility company I previously worked at as I feel it is a role I could ease myself back into without getting too stressed out!

Agree with every word of this.

Hope I never have to work in one of those places again.

[Deleted User]

Go through the assessment, you'll see if it is for you.
Life is to short, wondering.

I'm afraid I was limited in Insurance and certainly wouldn't rank it as non serious or fun owing to the compliance but yeah worth it for the benefits I'd say, especially if you've the skillset, good luck to you

https://gothinkbig.co.uk/features/call-centre-101-how-to-do-it-well-enjoy-it-ish-and-get-transferable-skills-out-of-it

MABLE

BlueEyedGirl wrote: »

I've worked in three call centres for major employers. The first one I hated because it was telesales for a large catalogue company, it was repetitious and pretty much sent me around the twist!

I then worked for a large utility company in customer service which involved 3 weeks of training. I initially trained for one department then a year in trained for another department. I actually enjoyed this job and was there for over 4 years. Eventually though it got boring and I found doing the same thing day in day out tedious, that said I am thinking of applying for a job there again as I know they are recruiting!

My third and final stint was for the local council working mainly in Housing Benefits / Bin Collections / Switchboard etc. lots of training the HB training alone took 4 weeks. A job I loved but I became unwell mentally during my time there and so I had to resign from my job.

Given a choice of going back to one of the above I would choose the utility company, it was rather a fun place to work - I should imagine insurance would be as well.

You need to be strong willed to work in a call centre environment and be prepared to be abused by members of the general public, it was one thing I personally struggled with and I found it hard not to take the abuse personally at times.

I've been out of work now for some years due to ill health but I am planning a return back to paid employment in the future and like I said above I am thinking of reapplying for the same utility company I previously worked at as I feel it is a role I could ease myself back into without getting too stressed out!

I worked in a call centre in the complaints dept for 9 years. Not for the faint hearted.

Mupette

It's hell

must hit targets, must be polite, even if you have someone screaming down the phone to you - never loose your cool - ever.

permission to pee, permission for break, company bus late, too bad stay behind and replace the time

that 1 hour break in training is now half hour on the call center floor

you must go to all parties or forever be treated different and not a team player

RedfordML

Mupette wrote: »

It's hell

must hit targets, must be polite, even if you have someone screaming down the phone to you - never loose your cool - ever.

permission to pee, permission for break, company bus late, too bad stay behind and replace the time

that 1 hour break in training is now half hour on the call center floor

you must go to all parties or forever be treated different and not a team player

Wow, that bad!? Was this a large organisation?


Would anyone recommend it as a career change or more "means to an end..." As if more the latter, that's where I currently am career wise and looking for prospects.

BlueEyedGirl

It could be a career change if you get the right company to work for. There are some rubbish call centres and there are good ones. I tend to think if you go for a brand name company they will treat you better.

Faith177

I work for an insurance company where we only work with brokers so don't get the general public very often and my experience is completely different from those above.

It is actually quite relaxed yes there are targets to meet but they are doable. For example my unavailability from the phone has to be under 5% for the month that doesn't sound a lot but it works out 2-3 toilet breaks a day or at least 2 x 10 min breaks. We get a full hour for lunch and they don't expect you to work through that it's your choice. If you do then they give you back the time no questions asked

We don't need to ask permission to go to the toilet we are treated as adults as long as there are not stacks of calls holding then you're ok. We just have to double check if we are ok to nip out for a 10 min break incase someone is about to go into a meeting but 9 times out of 10 it's ok.

We have to make up time if we are late but then I'm allowed to leave early to go to gigs, doctors appointments ect as long as I make up the time.

We don't have to go to all the parties I've only been to 2 in the nearly 6 years I've been at my job and no-one bats an eyelid

I love my job and the company are great to work for they really are. They were fantastic when my mum died and have been so supportive since I've been back to work.

It all depends on the company I've worked in call centres like the others have described and hated it and only stayed 6-18 months the fact I've been here for as long as I have gives you an idea of how good it can be if you find the right place.