Flagler County, Fl Man Finds Alternative Job

The unemployment rate in Flagler County, Florida skyrocketed with the market crash of 2007 to 2008. In 2008, James Kilgore (he asked not to reveal his real name), had moved to Flagler County to stay with his parents while he searched for work after the downturn in the housing market left him with very few work projects. "My old job paid pretty well at one time, but when the recession kicked in, people just weren't bidding on projects as much," he said when asked why he left his job.

He said he'd been traveling long distances to meet his previous job quotas, and that when the price of gasoline hit around four dollars a gallon, he was losing more money then he was making. Having a difficult time finding jobs in the local area, Kilgore turned to alternative job sources. He said, "I bought a book on work-at-home jobs, but most of the leads were for selling and distribution. I needed something stable. The company I work for was kind of at the end of the book, and I couldn't believe that something like that existed."

Kilgore works for one of several outsourcing companies who hire people in the United States to take technical and customer service calls for their corporate clients. Many of their employees are work at home agents. Some of these companies include Convergys, Alpine Access, and West At Home.

When asked what the biggest benefits of working at home were, Kilgore said, "I live in a remote part of the County, so I definitely love not having to drive to work every day." He explains that his work day is not as long as would have been with a traditional job. "I clock out for lunch and am five seconds from my own kitchen." He also asserts that the biggest benefit of working for such a company is the fact that, "I'm actually employed. That's a pretty good position to be in when you consider the job situation here."

Kilgore goes on to say that the job isn't any more flexible then most traditional jobs. "I still have to be at my workstation during my hours, and I can't have my family members with me while I'm working." He says it could be hard for single parents with kids to do, but for him, the situation is ideal.

Technology can certainly minimize job opportunities in many ways, but when it comes to customer service; it is creating opportunities for many, who like Kilgore, may need to look outside their communities for employment. Andrea Ayers, the president of customer management at Convergys says in her article on Forbes.com, entitled, "Why Customer Service Jobs Will Grow and Grow," that, "Customer experience has become as important as the product being sold, and more important than price or brand."

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the job outlook for customer service representatives is good. The Bureau's website says that customer service has been ranked as one of the biggest occupations in the nation.

When Mr. Kilgore learned that his occupation was ranked among the top occupations, he said, "Wow. That's awesome. I'm really glad I found this job."