Can I ask for your opinion (job related)

[zoolamcinty]

Thanks for clicking ... i am currently part time in a clothes shop atm but due to weekend work, late nights and holidays I'm hoping to move jobs however I have no qualifications! So, basically I have been applying for a few different jobs and I have been offered a job ....... at a call centre! Now, while it's not ideal and I know call centres get bad rep apparently there is good scope for different opportunities and that's not to mention no weekends/ nights or bank holidays but Im terrified that I'll
Go and absolutely hate it, then my lovely wee shop job will be gone. But I also might love it and be so glad I've made the move! Please help me decide. I really want to do something else.

Ps I will say that while it's a call centre it seems to be a decent place to work from what I've heard on the grapevine.

I'm so lacking in confidence which never helps men

I worked in a call centre (medical insurance) for 9 years. It was fine and I learnt a lot. I moved into another role still with the company now. They are a good role for stepping into something else if the company is good to work for. Good luck!x

Is it personal or business customers?

I would go for it. There will likely be opportunities for development, growth and potentially even formal training and qualifications. Once you're in somewhere like a large bank, there can be opportunities in different departments away from the phones entirely.

I can't see you'd lose by giving it a try. With your shop experience, I'm sure you'd find something else if call centre/phone work doesn't turn out as you expect.

Have you only recently left school? Do you have any idea which career/area you'd like to work in long term? Sorry if too personal, but we might have ideas to help you find a course/ideas if call centre or retail isn't your long term vocation.

I worked in this sort of environment for RBS. Really loved it.

I have a friend that has worked for British Gas at call centre since she was 16. All incoming calls. Pay was above min wage and chances to win vouchers and bonuses etc. She worked her way up and still works there 20 years later!

The company I work for also has a contact centre. Money isn't great but so many people have moved up and some to quite senior roles in some instances. There is a real caterer path so you go from customer adviser about £19K to team leader £25K to operations manager £35-40K and then it would be contact centre mgr on £50-£60K and there was roles above that too. In my place you can also move side ways. So you might start in contact centre but move into marketing or finance at entry level jobs.

Go for it, from what I've heard and know they aren't all bad places to work. I work in finance and some folk I worked with started in the contact centre and were now working towards their professional exams to become an accountant.

I worked Barclays call centre many years ago. Didn't love the actual job, it's was fine, but loved the people and the environment. Worked my way up to 3 different jobs before being made redundant. Really good training opportunities and I think quite an easy job for the money.

I've worked on a call centre before cold calling. The actual cold calling part wasn't enjoyable for me but I worked with decent people and the hours were really regular. It was easier work than other jobs I've done like waitressing.

Great advice. So i think you've all persuaded me. In my head I want to be there, settled and loving it. I'm 42 with kids so I would like to get more of a structured work life balance.

Pay is 24k pro rata with great benefits

I think it maybe both personal and business clients, I'm not sure.

@Cheesehamandoniontoastie ohhhh ok brill. Where you thrown in the deep end. I think I worry that on day one after training I'll be expected to know everything and be dealing with extremely difficult customers

What types of things did you do on a day to day basis? Was every customer a dick head?

I can't do both unfortunately as it's full time training for 3 months and I do 20 hrs in my current job

@JLQ1020 thanks for your reply!! Can you tell me a little about what a day would look like? Is every customer screaming and shouting at you?

Not every customer is a dickhead, they won't let you loose until they are confident you are not a liability. I worked for the company for a long time, people in general were always really good, training good, opportunities good. For example from call centre you could move in to a more senior customer services role such as complaints, and from there in to a back office role. The job grades and standards you need to meet to move up them are very clear. Overall a good employer.

Unless things have changed you'll be tightly managed in terms of productivity once you're fully trained but that's okay.

That's great feedback thank you so much. I don't mind being busy ( I'm extremely busy in my current job) I don't think I'd mind being expected to be productive but I suppose someone coming from a chilled out slow paced office job working from home this might be an issue. We have lots to do in work, constantly multitasking, dealing with queues etc etc so hopefully I'd adapt ok.

Have a look on Glassdoor
You should be able to see reviews from staff who work there. Think trip advisor but for companies.