Anyone work in a call centre?

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I have an interview tomorrow for one. The company offers support to customers regarding billing, services, etc. There is an element of selling - adding on more products to the one inquired about.

My employment options are limited as I have degenerative disc disease and my mobility is limited, so I'm hoping I can make this work.

Has anybody worked at a call centre? What is your experience?

I've never worked at a call center--but I heard it could be hectic at times.

I think it depends on the amount of selling you're expected to do.

I would still think about the tutoring as an option. It's much less hectic, probably.

Then again, you never know--you might find a call center that's not so hectic.

I looked into the Teaching English as a Second Language course and to tutor professionally I would need accreditation which all told costs $1000. I am hoping to work full time and save to take the course on line.

There are ways in which you could tutor without "accreditation." All I needed was a college degree (university).

I did it about 3-4 years ago. I made $20 an hour.

Let me check out some Ontario ads.

I found one where you would make $13 an hour. Since you're still on Benefits, this could be a good supplement, and you would still be eligible for them (I believe). All you need is a high school diploma. Look in Indeed Ontario.

I hope that you have an iron-clad ego, because you will receive a lot of abuse as a call-center person.

Good luck.

Yes I work in a call center. It is a lot lower pressure than most, we have a small organization and I can take a break whenever I need to. There is no pressure to sell. I worked in another one where we were supposed to upsell, and I was never very good at that.

I don't take very much abuse. Occasionally someone has righteous indignation and if you will listen to them for a bit and agree that the situation is frustrating for them, that's all they need. If they do become abusive, that's when I offer to transfer their call to my supervisor (who earns more than I do, so they can listen to it!).

So anyway don't pre-judge the situation before you know what it entails. The income potential is definitely limited but probably no more so than in a cleaning job.

Billing and inquiry is the "safest" call-center to work in, helpdesks and outgoing callers get a lot more abuse.
That said, the so-called 'upselling' isn't always appriciated and might be hard to do at first.

I have worked in a shared inquiry/helpdesk center for a few weeks, but i just couldn't cope. it was a cubicle farm office and the entire day it was filled with the buzzing of dozens of conversations, coupled with the hum of (failing) fluorescent lights.
If you have any form of hypersensitivity or sensory integration differences, i strongly advise against the cubicle farm.

Good luck! I hope all goes well.

Great!

Before your in-person interview, do a minute or two of deep breathing to put your mind in a good place.

If you get the job and have any difficulties getting used to it, feel free to PM me or post in the forum for helpful tips. Good luck.

You can be tutor without accreditation, like teaching english as second language or school subjects.
I tutored all kinds of subjects to high school students without any accreditation.
Unless it is illegal to tutor without accreditation in Canada, I had thought you were US but checked your profile.

I've seen many "non-accredited" tutoring positions open on Canada.

Got the job.

Start at the beginning of January.

The interview was 1 hr and a 1/2. Forms, interview, 2 more tests. It is a commitment of 40 hrs per week. Nine hour days, with the bus there and back. I think I will make getting a car a priority.