Laughed At For Working in a Call Centre

[ShirleyValentine51]

I have been unemployed for 3 months and have tried really hard to find new employment. I had a very successful job working as an Accountant for a Firm of Solicitors and this job was really bad for my health and had to leave in the end.
The people were really horrible, especially the Senior Partner and his Secretary. I was expected to start early and finish later (especially at the end of the month and was never given the time back or paid for it!!).
Anyway, I did some voluntary work just to get up and keep my routine going. I had some savings but realised that this was never going to last forever plus I wanted to have some money so I could do something nice with it, not to use it to pay bills, although I have to say I was very lucky I did have some savings or I would have had to claim benefits. (There is nothing wrong with claiming some benefits, I know, its just that if I didnt have to then I didnt want to).
I was off for an interview on Tuesday for a full-time job. It is only 2 minutes away from where I live and the bus stops right outside. I did very well in the interview and I was offered the job the next day. You can imagine my delight. The interviewer really sold it and it sounds great. She said my job title is Customer Claims Handler. There is a lot of paperwork involved and only SOME telephone involvement. There is great staff benefits and a chance of promotion if I want it. Wages are really good too!! (To be honest they are not paying me much less than I was receiving in my last job)....I though all my Christmases had come at once yesterday!!

My wee face was beaming all day yesterday until I met some people I know and when telling them my GOOD news they burst out laughing saying "Oh I know people who work in there and they hate it!! Its a terrible place to work - do yourself a favour and dont start...find something else"!!!...I felt mortified. As I was walking away, one of them shouted after me, "Dont tell anyone your working there....LOL...what a brass neck"... (These people are not my friends by the way and nor will I stop to speak to them again in the future)

What do you make of this??
(I'm not giving up my new job for anything but has anyone else ever worked in a call centre?? is it that bad??)

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Thanks to each and everyone of you!!!

Your comments have cheered me up no end!! My wee "buzz" has come back. I think this job will be really good for me!! (And my true/good friends think so too - I think I just spoke to the wrong people, but I was so excited I told the first people I saw, who happen to be people I know but would never class them as friends - not now anyway!!! - and didnt realise they were going to have such a negative attitude!!)

The interviewer did say that I would receive a full 4 weeks training before I am "let loose on the floor" but the benefits sound good. Apparently there is a private pension, they have Away-Dys for staff in the summer and at Christmas. (People put so much money in every week and so does the Firm) and they have like family days out etc. The promotions are only advertised internally in order that the staff already there can get the chance to move up if they like. There is a Bonus and Incentive Scheme. (Prizes and days off (with pay) to the person with the highest results in ??? whatever, that sort of thing) They do a Monday to Thursday dress smart to work and every Friday is "dress down Friday". There is shift work, anything from 8am to 9pm and it is only Monday to Friday (every weekend off but if asked to work on a Saturday it is put through as overtime, which I wouldnt mind at all!).

After working in the "Viper's Nest" I have just escaped from, this job sounds like pure heaven. The only thing that is bothering me is the fact I have to wait until April to start. I wish I was starting sooner....I'm raring to go now!!

Thanks again to you ALL for being so nice. Really helpful and much appreciated!! (Wee face is beaming once more!!).

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Ignore these people & also take GlassDoor with a pinch of salt. Things are not always as they seem! Well Done OP! Good luck.

"You have a great attitude and they will be lucky to have you"

This

Glad you have got your buzz back! It sounds like staff motivation and engagement are high on the agenda for your new employers, which is great. Dress down Fridays are always interesting - watch out for Nice Bloke Who Always Wears Same Jokey T-Shirt and the people who are ultra-conservative in the week and ultra wacky on Fridays

OP, I have just started a thread, I promise you I hadn't seen yours.

If you are dealing with incoming calls, it's totally different to making outbound sales calls.

Nothing wrong with working in a call centre. Maybe it's that specific call centre that has a bad reputation?

Anyway, you can make your own mind up, you don't need anyone's opinion. Just say thanks but you're sure you'll be fine and if not you'll find something else. Then change the subject.

Worked for a large tv company in the retention department. Had some of the best laughs/times and also a good place to work left due to not wanting to work in an office anymore. Did have an awful experience working for an outsource company awful working conditions/people. I think it defo depends on what kind of company it is. I wish I knew about glass door when I started working there as the reviews were awful!

Ps shame on the other people trying to rain on your parade congratulations

I loved working in a call centre - although of you’re a claims handler (did I read that right?) most of it will be paper based. I have progressed through my industry and haven’t been in operations for years but I still miss it - it was the one job I knew that I did really well. Like a PP I’m now over-paid for what I do and have massive respect for those in ops.

Congratulations on your new job - enjoy the next few weeks of freedom and then enjoy the job! Well done OP 😀

I’ve worked on call centres for 21 years now and worked my way up to run them which I’ve now done for over ten years . I love it , I could write memoirs 😂. But people look down on me still even though I will out earn them several times over .
Don’t give a shit about them and congratulations ! You’ll make some good friends and have some great times I’m sure .

Well, Whatshallidonowpeople,

I do understand the need to work extra at the end of the month (and the end of the year is even worse!!). I never had a problem doing this but when you work your socks off for someone and its not appreciated and you see other members of staff being treated like "princesses" and you are constantly put down, humiliated and made fun of in front of these people then resentment starts to kick in. Only I know how bad this job got. Lets face it, any "normal" "responsible" person would never walk out of a job and MAKE themselves unemployed. I did!! I had bills and a mortgage to pay and other responsibilities but such was the anguish working in this horrible place was causing me, I finally reached my breaking point and walked out one lunchtime and never went back, not notice, no explanation ....nothing! But to answer your question?..Yes...I do know how important it is!!! And you are quite right to pull me up for my typo, it should have read "you're" instead of "your".... (I'm assuming that is what "your are" referring to??)
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To be honest op there are call centres and call centres.

I work in a call centre...but it's a major, well known company. Salaried and brilliant pension/benefits/annual bonus. Service, not sales.

I've worked in the 'bad' type too...where they make it out to be amazing, the 'fantastic' wages include a potential OTE meaning true basic wages are far below it and if you don't sell/promote enough of their stuff you'll be out within a fortnight.

A rule of thumb to distinguish which is which is how fun the interviewer makes the role sound IME. If you leave thinking it's a barrel of laughs every day, with a focus on hours off, competitions, treats to be won and huge bonuses...it's probably the wrong type of centre I'm afraid and I'd look for something else.

ShirleyValentine51 You don't have to justify your reasons for leaving your old job, or making a minor typo. Focus on the future!

I think call centre work can be tough and sometimes not a nice environment, but it’s nothing to laugh about. No jobs are really. All work has value.

Congratulations on your new job. Ignore those horrid people.
Give the job a go and see. You have nothing to lose. It may be good it may not but it's all experience and money in your pocket even if you decide to move on.
Good luck

What are you a 'customer claims handler' for though op? What claims are you handling?

To me, the title screams dodgy PPI/Packaged Bank Account claim company. But obviously if your employer is a well known insurer for instance that's not the case.

Ahh, congrats on the job! Your attitude is great and I hope you'll enjoy your new role. I know what it's like to be out of work and also the relief of finally bagging something permanent. Have fun and ignore the rude people!

Well done for getting your new job! I have experience of working in call centres (although now I do something totally different i worked in them for nearly 6 years) if you are looking for something where you work your hours and leave, don't have to make stressful decisions and can handle the occasionally unpleasant customer you will be fine . The two I worked in had a great sense camaraderie and I meant people from a huge variety of backgrounds. Also every single day will be different and because of all the customer/claims related anecdotes you will be a hit at dinner parties. The downsides are lack of autonomy and slow career progression. I would say go for it if nothing else I will promise you two things: You will make friends for life (I definitely have) and you will have a real giggle. Good luck and don't worry what these irrelevant people are saying

Roles in call centres can lead to roles off the phone. I started off as a customer service advisor but took a sideways step as a support assistant to one of the senior managers which led to me leaving and getting my current job as an executive assistant. I earn double now to then but couldn’t have got my current job without working in that call centre.

The job can be difficult but it’s bareable and you don’t usually have to work extra hours or take your work home.

I hope your new job works out for you!

the general concept of a call centre shouldn't be looked down at.

people still are a bit snobby - it was 15 years ago that they were in a bad place, some people cant think further and see the huge range of industries and varying level of skill requirements that someone working in a call centre might have - from a school leaver doing telesales to a person with 10 years of insurance experience with a degree.

but back to your circumstances - hopefully its not as bad as people have suggested. i went to work for a company that had a really bad rep but it suited me really well and the business must be doing something right as its grown and expanded hugely. you just never know and you've got nothing to lose.

I'm a Claims Handler. One PP said it sounds 'dodgy', that's not necessarily so. I work for a law firm. It's not a call centre though I do usually receive a few calls a day. I work on the defence side though so it is a bit different, I'm assuming you will be working on the claimant side.

My job is ok. My pay is crap given my qualifications but there is a clear career progression route and they do generally support people in their career progression for those that want it. I have some very difficult people on the phones sometimes but that's only part of my job and I think I'm quite good at remaining calm but firm. I get a good holiday allowance, I have a great line manager and my colleagues on my team are nice enough, and I have virtually no commute as I can walk to work. It's not my dream job but it's fine and much better than lots of others would be.

Good luck in your new job and I hope you enjoy it/it suits you.

Thanks again for taking the time out to add a post. I really DO appreciate it and it has helped. I know its against the rules to name Companies and Firms (unless its by PM..?), otherwise I would love to name where I am going.

If there is one thing I have learned through this whole "walking out my job/being unemployed/looking for and getting a new job" experience is that if my health is not good then I am not fit to work anywhere...I would rather work in a place where the money wasnt as good, but there will be new people to meet, new things to learn, for me this is like a clean slate and I can start over again somewhere else. This is what I am looking forward to. There is no point making really good money every month when the idea of going to work has you crying in the toilet every morning and probably crying again in the toilets in the work place in the afternoon (whilst trying to act as though everything was OK) and most nights before going to sleep!!...Living for the weekend and then being upset at the weekend, not being able to enjoy your weekend because you are dreading Monday morning...

I cannot WAIT to start my new job and talking about it on here is just making me look forward to it even more....(and yes, I do know that once started it might not be what I expect but it CANNOT possibly be worse than where Ive just come from).

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I started out in a call centre many years back, and like other posters said it can be an excellent springboard into other roles.

That being said, a Claims Handler role is a great one to start in (I was first line response for breakdown so much much more frantic!). There is career progression there if you want it such as CIIP, and depending on your company and location there could also be options to sideways step into finance areas etc.

The team aspect of call centres can be amazing, I've known people to be working in call centres for 25 years because they enjoy the people and the work fits in with their lifestyle. A lot of it does come down to personalities, if you get on with your team leader and team, it can be like a family. If you don't gel, then it can be a bit of a grind though.

I am extremely proud of starting in a call centre, it taught me an awful lot of people and communication skills, which many of my graduate scheme peers lacked, and without the progression they offered me I would never have discovered Project Management (which I luvvvves!)

Forget the asses and enjoy

We do recruitment for senior people in call centres and often come across people who've worked their way up from working the phones to earning big salaries as managers and directors. Go get started on your new career.

You are absolutely right about quality of life being worth more than money. It sounds as though the ancillary benefits will add up to a decent financial equivalent, too.

I definitely wouldn't advise naming your employer on here - it might be identifying. From all you're saying it sounds as though they are a well known and reputable company .

I worked in s call centre during uni and loved it.