Call Center | and just anything under the sun

Call Center | and just anything under the sun

a call center blog and a whole lot more…

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Call Center Job Interview Tips

Interview tips List

Like any other employees, we at the call center industry also underwent a preliminary job interview and a final interview (and in some cases; a semi-final interview in between). Well, what do you expect? You are applying for a job that requires some serious talking, and what better ways to look into your qualifications if not by letting you talk? And by talking, I mean, by speaking American English (since most call centers offer American accounts). So before taking the plunge, ask yourself, “Do I speak passable American English (I don’t mean the accent)? “If the answer is yes, then you are up for a good start. Bad news is, it doesn’t end there. Your opinion about how well you speak the language during the interview doesn’t count as much as the opinion of the interviewer.  So you need to do well, really well. 

 

Here are some things and tips that you need to consider before taking a call center job interview. This might just be able to help you get the nod of the recruiter, so read on.

 

 

Computing Your Withholding Taxes

Tax calculatorHow to compute for your income tax is one of the “must knows” in the call center industry, and why not? A call center agent’s work is no cake walk. It’s stressful and it is hard work. But no complains here, just stating the obvious. Talking non stop for 8 hours each day (or night for that matter) is no laughing matter. If your account or campaign has avail time, then good for you. If your account or campaign is queuing like there is no tomorrow, then good luck to you. That’s it. That being said, it is a must that we know how to compute for our taxes. We need to know if we are really being deducted the right amount.

Most call centers give a run through of the tax computation method and the tax table during orientation but you have to admit. How many would actually retain every piece of information cramped in an 8 hour of information overload? I myself do not know how to compute for my taxes manually. It’s a good thing that there is this site in the net that has been really helpful when it comes to tax computation. Kudos to the developer on the tax calculator. I tip my hats (if I have one right now) to you guys.

Are you ready to compute for your withholding tax? CLICK HERE

Irate calls and How to deal with it

 

Call center agent

I’ve been in the call center industry and customer service for nearly what? Four years?  I’ve had my shares of frustrations and have been on the receiving end of cuss and curses thrown my way.  Do I still get affected with the jibe and constant screams directed at me by the customers? Of course I do. I am but human (sniffs). Do I take the baggage home after I left the phone? Of course not. Why should I? What I do is work. That is that, nothing personal.  I just hope that you are good in dealing with job related stress.

Getting calls from frustrated customers comes with the territory. As the cliché goes; you can’t please them all. There are times that you get commendations from a call and get a supervisor call on the next.  It’s not your fault, it’s just the luck of the draw (In your case, it’s the luck of the queue).  Unless you as a customer service representative is really annoying or is in the habit to frustrate calling customers (I recommend you go look for another job if you do)I could say;  it is not you they are frustrated about.  So If customer called in and say “*&^#^^$@^)&^%## F*ck You ^%$#*&@#%” , They are actually saying “F*ck the company you are working for!” , If the customer say “Shame on you for doing this!”. They mean “shame on the company you’re working for, for doing whatever it is that they did” and if the customer  say “You suck” they mean…? Can you guess? That’s right, The Company you work for suck. Well it doesn’t mean that it’s true, but they are entitled to their own opinions, and it is your job as a customer service representative to change that impression or at least try to.  More »

Risk of graveyard work shifts in call centers

sthethoscope

A call center job in the Philippines, since it is usually on a graveyard shift, is a stressful job and a recent study abroad is indicating that the risk of breast cancer (especially to working women) just added another stick to the stress pile.

 

BBC reported that Denmark began compensating women who developed breast cancer after working night shifts. It was reported that the Danish government’s decision spawned from reports that working night shift could increase women’s risk of breast cancer. This is based on the studies (still unpublished as of this writing) conducted by the World health Organization’s International Agency for research on Cancer, commonly called IARC.

 

The Mirror reported that “women who work nights are at such serious risk of cancer that only those exposed to substances such as asbestos are in greater peril”

 

Melatonin, which can help prevent cancer cells growing, was said to be the primary consideration while conducting the study. The study shows that the disruption of the Circadian rhythm or body clock or circadian timing (whichever works for you) hinders or slows the production of the body substance called melatonin that increases the risk of cancer.

 

According to the Cancer Q &A published at www.nhs.uk  “that a similar number of studies in rodents looked at the effect of reducing the normal nighttime production of the hormone melatonin in rodents by removing the gland that makes this hormone. Most of these studies also reported an increased number and growth of tumors”.

 

It is with this note that this blog urged the government of the Philippines to pass stricter laws governing the health benefits not just of the workers in the call center industry but for all workers across all industries that offers graveyard work shifts. There are call centers that only offer HMO to regular employees, come to think of it; the risk is just the same whether you’re a newbie or tenured. (Puwede din magkasakit ang mga baguhan no!)” We ask for employers to invest for the health of their employees as well as they invest on training them to do the job.

 

(P.S.: Tanong lang? puwede bang tubuan ng breast cancer ang man-boobs?

Kinakabahan na naman ako)


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