Would You Consider Working for a Call Center?

Working for a Call Center is stressful work. There are some lines of businesses that a Call Center can handle. Some of those are, Customer Service, Technical Support, Sales, Collections, Billing Customer Service, Directory Assistance, and more. I've been in the Call Center industry for 4 years now and I'm starting to think, is it worth it to stay in this line of work? I've seen advantages and disadvantages of working for a Call Center although it may differ depending on the company you're working for. Let me share to you some of my views and experiences.

Working in a Call Center has many advantages and among the top on the list would be the salary. It is usually above average and can definitely handle the cost of living in the area where the Call Center is located. There are a lot of perks such as Night Differential where you get to have an increase (percentage) in your hourly rate if you work in the wee hours of the night. The range is usually from 10PM to 6AM. This is true especially for Technical Support who offers 24/7 service. Holiday pays are also given if you work on a Special or a Regular Holiday. It's usually an increase (percentage) on your hourly rate as well. Most of the companies offer medical insurance coverage as well. One thing to consider as well is that after your shift is over, you have nothing to worry about. You can leave your work in the office and enjoy your personal life.

It's not that hard to apply for work in a Call Center. There is no educational preference and even undergraduates can work for them. There is usually no preference or discrimination on religion, race, and gender. Also, I noticed that most of the Call Centers have lots of job opportunities. There is a quick turnaround of employees (later you'll know some of the reasons why) and slots are usually open for new hires.

Let's go to the disadvantages. Number one on the list would be stress. Talking at least 7 hours a day is very tiring work. It takes the wind out of you even if you are just sitting in front of the computer. Sometimes, you'd need to sacrifice time as you'll probably work on holidays and even weekends. Working on the graveyard shift is another factor to consider. It's less stressful though since most of the people are asleep (it would actually depend on the location your Call Center is servicing) but for the body, it really ruins our body clock and it takes time to at least get used to the change. In some 24/7 Call Centers, your working hours usually change weekly. It is very tiring at times especially when you have split day offs.

With the stress factor, there is a risk of having health problems. Usual illnesses are sore throats, hypertension, coughs and colds, fever, and more. It is almost always a fast-paced environment when you take in calls. Rules are most of the time very strict and you'd have to follow your schedule by the minute. Sometimes, it may seem that you're working like a robot and the administrators have you under control and you can't do anything about it. Sometimes, the tired feeling and overall stress seem to overwhelm the advantage just by itself.

Nevertheless, it would really depend on your preference if you'd consider working in a Call Center. Who knows? It might really be the industry for you and you might actually enjoy it. I would suggest you try it if you are considering working for a Call Center. As for me, well, I'm currently considering leaving the industry. The work is fine but it's not worth the stress and the health risks. In any case, most of us have our dream jobs where we would really enjoy what we're doing like we're not working at all. There are a number of people I know who really enjoys taking in calls. You might be the next one.