Hate my call centre job!!

[snch]

Hey,

As the title states i absolutely hate my cal centre job.

It’s selling and I haven’t been hitting my targets. It’s only 16 hours a week but it’s really affecting my mental health. How can I hit targets when I work shorter shifts then most. The calls I don’t get sales on I don’t know how anyone more experienced would.

I feel pathetic that I’m struggling on such short hours. I’ve worked here for around 6 years now and I just feel like I can’t do it anymore.

I've started looking for other jobs but it’s really difficult to get another job to fit around school hours. Also if I did get another job are they going to accept the holidays I would need for the summer term.

If anyone has any advice I would appreciate it.

Can your children attend wraparound clubs like breakfast and afterschool clubs, and holiday clubs in the holidays? I am intrigued by the need for a school hours job, presumably most parents would like that but have to do what most parents do- work full time.

My youngest child is nursery and they don’t offer wrap around care. I would love to work full time but I don’t have the luxury of any family members who can help. I’m not really looking for a term time job but I’m worried that a new employer wouldn’t allow me the holidays I already have booked in at my current job for childcare in the summer holidays

Never worked in sales and never could so you have done well to stick at it for 6yrs. I have done call centre work though and no disrespect to anyone who does it but it can be absolutely grim. I did it for years but finally got out by accident more than anything. Just keep on looking, something will turn up, also are there any other areas of the business you could go to? You have been in that role for 6 years it would not be unreasonable to say you really fancy moving into another role if/when there are any openings. If the managers don't know you are interested in something else they would not think to put you forward for it.

With regards to the holidays, a lot of people purposely avoid the school holidays so that means they are free for those with children who need them most.

Your targets should be based on percentage of calls made that turn to a sale. Not hours worked. Or number of calls in total completed.

As then obviously part time staff would be expected to be double as efficient as full time ones to achieve the same thing?

I need 50 sales a month, regardless of whether I work three hours a week or 15 a day? Makes no sense whatsoever.

I hope you find a new job soon.

Market and social research is like call centre but usually WFH, and less pressure bc it's not sales. You could try that maybe? It's usually flexible with people booking shifts both days and evenings. But they usually don't have permanent work guaranteed so if quiet then no work.

Equally hate my place of work but have stayed for last 20 years by trying to focus on the positives. Hours work well for childcare, pay decent, share scheme, hybrid working.

I started as a call centre agent but moved roles over the years. Now in admin, is there scope to move around?

I was never the best at selling but tried to take heart that I got the same basic pay as the others who could sell. Yes listening to them talking about how they would spend thier commission was difficult but the basic pay was all I needed to survive.

colleagues who left during a period of redundancies went on to easily get admin jobs.

Call centre agents don't get given enough credit for the skills they gain. Quick thinking, problem solving, good communicators, hugely resilient.

Hope you feel more positive soon x

Are you interested in the thing you’re attempting to sell? I ask because I did 12 years in a cold dialling call centre job selling gas & electricity to SME customers for Eon. I hated it. So much. I couldn’t have given a shit if I sold anything or not, I was there for my (very good!) wages at the end of the month. Due to my lack of interest there wasn’t a prayer of me hitting any targets and nor did I attempt to. I’m not entirely sure how they kept on but they did until I left. Prior to that I worked in a travel agency, I was the top seller there. Because I loved travel and enjoyed what I was selling.

Is there an admin department in the call centre that you could move to? Or a renewals team so that you’re not actually having to make a sale?

Depending on your location 999 centres for ambulance services are always looking staff. There’s a reason for that, mind.

Been there in a sales call centre it's hellish good luck to you.