The first thing that you will want to do is to address your phone skills. Is your phone etiquette what it should be? Do you sound like a professional when speaking on the phone? You can get an idea of how you sound by trying your best and recording a phone conversation with someone. Play it back. Do you sound like someone you would expect to talk to when calling a company? If not, you will need to work on your skills a little more. To get some tips for your learning curve, pay close attention to the customer service reps you speak to when you call a call center.
Next, you want to make sure that you are brushing up on your computer skills. If you have a working knowledge of both Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel then you are on the right track since these are two programs that are used a lot in call centers. If you do not have at least entry-level skills, let alone manager jobs skills, you might want to brush up on some things at a local college that offers computer software classes. It is also a good idea to speed up your typing if possible since many call centers require their employees to be able to type around 35-40 words per minute. There are free online lessons that can help you with that.
Another way to secure a job in a call center is to learn Spanish. Many call centers are in need of people who speak Spanish. You can attend a Language course at a community college or use one of the home lesson programs that you have probably seen advertised on the television before. Even if you are not fluent in Spanish but can speak enough to get you through a basic call that is still a bonus. In addition, those who are bilingual also tend to be paid more for their skills.
Last but not least, you have to apply for call center positions. If you look online, you will find that there are a lot of different job openings for call centers. You want to make sure that you put your best foot forward during your interview. If you cannot grab the attention of the hiring manager, how can you grab the attention of an upset customer threatening to terminate service and sue? You have to remain focused, friendly and professional all at the same time. You have to sell yourself, just as you would in sales jobs.
Your first call center job may not be your last. As your resume grows you may be interested in applying for manager jobs, both within your current company and with other companies. Since there is a lot of room for advancement in call centers, you will find that it is so much better than the general jobs you would find in the paper. This is more like a career and one that you can make yourself extremely successful with.
So if working in a call center seems like something you would like to do, make sure that you are taking the skills you learned from the other general jobs you worked, practice your computer and phone skills and start submitting applications. Before you know it, you will be an experienced call center rep, waiting to apply for manager jobs for a better salary. It may start out as a temporary job but many people turn this work into their career.
So if working in a call center seems like something you would like to do, make sure that you are taking the skills you learned from the other general jobs you worked, practice your computer and phone skills and start submitting applications. Before you know it, you will be an experienced call center rep, waiting to apply for manager jobs for a better salary.