OK, so, I recently started working at my university's student enrollment communication center, which is basically just a fancy term for "call center." Essentially, what I do is dial numbers and campaign about specific topics that pertain to my school. For example, we call junior's in high school to let them know about our application process, and we call people to answer any questions they have about our orientation process.
We're basically like any other call center, and we definitely receive the expected treatment from people who don't like answering unknown numbers.
Here are 27 thoughts I have during my work day, as a student caller.
1. God, my job is so f*ckin easy.
2. I literally just sit in a cubicle all day.
3. OK, first call... it's ringing... good.
4. Still ringing....and ringing....
5. "Hi! my name is..." and they hung up.
6. *37 calls later* Why is no one picking up??
7. You're not funny or quirky if you fake a conversation in your voice mail.
8. Why are you picking up your phone if you're in class/work?
9. God, I hate my job.
10. Please stop yelling at me, sir.
11. How many calls have I made today?
12. Am I near my call count yet?
13. Oh my god, someone ACTUALLY picked up the phone.
14. AND THEY'RE POLITE???
15. "And if you just..." oh, they hung up.
16. When did they hang up?
17. Have I just been talking to the air for the past two minutes?
18. Did I dial this number right?
19. Look, bro, I know we have the right number. I just HAVE to say: "Sorry, we'll get that fixed right away!"
20. "Sorry, Chipotle...someone must have given us this number as a joke. It won't happen again."
21. I have no idea how to pronounce this name, so I'm just gonna wing it.
22. Why are you expecting ME to say hello first...when YOU'RE the one that picked up the phone?
23. Wow...what if I was trying to offer you a job or a scholarship? Then would you have screamed at me KAREN??
24. Of the 258 people I have called so far...2 people were nice.
25. People honestly suck.
26. This is an awkward and pretty long silence...why aren't they responding?
27. Oh...they hung up.
Honestly, the life of a student caller is so routine and sometimes extremely mundane. But, I'm so blessed because It's a great learning experience and has taught me ALL kinds of customer service techniques. It even helped me get over my phone anxiety!
In fact, I really believe everyone should have to experience working in a call center. It's something that really teaches you how people act and how important first impressions actually are. You never know who might be calling you, so don't always assume it's a telemarketer.
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