Always offered jobs/placements in call centres

Recently, I have come to the depressing conclusion, that this is all people that are supposed to help me into employment think that I am worth.

I have explained to my work coach, and other advisors, that I have already experienced this kind of work, against my will, and that it led me to have a near nervous breakdown. Yet, for some reason, this has fallen on deaf ears.

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  • Hi, my experience in a call center was similar as yours. How can someone force you to do some certain type of job? There are many options. Maybe you can consider changing the coach if possible? Or try searching yourself (if you didn’t yet) or with help of someone from your family/friend whoever you trust if you have such trusted person? I dont know what is your education level, but here it does not even matter much because still with or without a degree you can start somewhere else. 
    maybe you can search some other agencies, charities that help with this kind of stuff. 
    In the country I’m living in - Germany, there is the job agency and they are just lazy, dumb and totally unhelpful. I graduated from logistics and all they had to offer me was… a truck driver! Where I don’t even have any driver license and it’s not what I was looking for. I also explained them that call center is not an option because of my mental health and next offer they sent me was call center in language which I don’t even speak. But I found a charity that helps with searching jobs. 
    Maybe they would offer you some courses, further education if possible. It’s hard to advice anything here, these are just my ideas. 

  • I don't think it's just you they try and force into call centres, but that there are always vacancies at call centres and they shove people towards them so as they can fulfill the back to work targets they're given.

  • I don't think it's just you they try and force into call centres, but that there are always vacancies at call centres and they shove people towards them

    Exactly - unless you have a marketable skill on your CV but you want to work in IT then this is pretty much the entry point. Once into this sector you can always fall back on it if needed.

    I used to really have this aspect of the job but I developed a change in perspective to think on it as helping the person on the other end of the line - this quickly build positive feedback from the customers and gets you noticed for promotions.

    For me a key part was to find the worst aspect of the job and focus on making it into a positive. Hate the need to respond within 5 rings then make it a personal challenge to do it faster. Management love a go-get attitude when most of the staff there are just slogging through the day.

    Hate having to speak to the customers. Take an interest in them and ask them how they are (read up on how to do small talk if this is hard for you) and recall them when they call back so you can ask about how their holiday was, how the project went, if they are feeling better etc. this is a great way to develop your social skills without committing to spending time outside work hours.

    Hate having to log tickets? Turn it into a way to document the procedure to help others

    It ultimately is down to a change of mindset - you have to feel positive and want to make it a part of your life. The alternative is to feel it is a slog and it builds up the pressure and negativity until it makes you meltdown.

    It isn't easy but there are resources to help on how to do these things and the upside is feeling good about yourself and what you achieve each day.

    Once you go home you can do what you want, but this gets you though the 8 hours of what would otherwise be a special circle of hell, so what is there to lose?

  • It doesn't matter how much lipstick it''s wearing. it's still a pig.

    But if that pig is what is keeping a roof over your head and keeping you fed, learn to love its soft, pink oinkiness. It it wears lipstick then that is just a bonus ;)

    The point here is - it is often the only way into IT jobs so rather than hating it and letting it ruin your life, find ways to live with it to make it less unpleasant. You should be able to use it as a springboard to a better job over time that you would otherwise not be able to access.

    Changing that relationship conciously can make a world of difference and stop you hating having to go to work each day. It won't make you skip merrily into the office but by removing that darkness you face every day it does make a big difference.

    I've been there more than once so can speak from experience.

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  • It doesn't matter how much lipstick it''s wearing. it's still a pig.

    But if that pig is what is keeping a roof over your head and keeping you fed, learn to love its soft, pink oinkiness. It it wears lipstick then that is just a bonus ;)

    The point here is - it is often the only way into IT jobs so rather than hating it and letting it ruin your life, find ways to live with it to make it less unpleasant. You should be able to use it as a springboard to a better job over time that you would otherwise not be able to access.

    Changing that relationship conciously can make a world of difference and stop you hating having to go to work each day. It won't make you skip merrily into the office but by removing that darkness you face every day it does make a big difference.

    I've been there more than once so can speak from experience.

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