I Can't Take This Anymore

[SpiritFree]

As I have stated in another thread, I just started working at a new job, it is now my 1 week there. I now have to answer phones from customers. This is my first time dealing with customer and phones. My previous job I did answer phones but they were not customers. Anyway, today I had trouble understanding this lady so I told her to repeat and spell her name slowly. Well she yelled at me and told me "What is wrong with you?". I just got a flashback of how I was yelled at by those who abused me. Then another lady called and I answered politely, and she yelled at me. Again I just sat their silently for a few seconds and froze. I never got used to people yelling at me. I pretty much sink myself mentally into my world and brought back painful memories. I simply wanted to throw up right there. I guess this job is not for me. Being an Office Clerk and dealing with the public is not for me.

 

[Whyteferret]

That's ok though. You took a chance at something. Maybe it didn't work out. Maybe it's a learning curve on the new job.
There's two choices: stay on and talk to your boss about some sort of accommodation
Or leave

It's ok whatever you decide. Do what you think is best for you at this moment.
It's not a failure

 

[ladee]

Not if it triggers you, for sure. Unfortunately, this is the timed we live in. People are rude, have no patience, and we are expected to stay professional. That is why I got out of the career I had. I just could not be verbally assaulted and maintain being professional... so , hope you find something that is a better fit for you. I do understand.

 

[EveHarrington]

:hug:

I know I could never work in a job where I had constant contact with the public!

 

[SpiritFree]

That's ok though. You took a chance at something. Maybe it didn't work out. Maybe it's a learnin...

Yes I took the chance because I needed a job to pay my bills after being unemployed for 4 and half years. I am thinking of taking Accounting Classes soon. Yes this job has good benefit but I can't handle being locked up in a cubicle for 9 hours. If I quit now, I am afraid they will think I am stupid. Yes right now I'm on a steep learning curve. They told me it would take way more than 2 weeks to learn the things. However, I can't handle being yelled at. My supervisor shouted at me across the room on the first day. She made me feel I am dumb. Now what happen today made it worse. I'm going to try to ride it out but I want to take the classes and look for another job. Accounting Jobs pay more than the job I have now. So I will see.

 

[Bloomy]

Your a tough cookie. Wish you all the best for your work life.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Ive worked in call center as tech support all my adult life so i can very quickly answer this (and im sure they advised this in training if they trained about customer service at all) but it helps a super ton to always remember that they are irrate at the company, not at you. You are just the person they got when they called. All companies have different policies on customer abuse to a rep but at my company if the cusyomer calls me something like a c*nt or something i know will make me fly i to a rage i will state "Sir/M'am, I understand that you are upset but please keep this professional". Going further into customer service training, helps a super ton to ALWAYS smile as you talk. It changes the tone of your voice and the person can "hear the smile" and a lot of times a screaming customer calms down with a "smiled voice". Put a mirror on your desk if you need to. Let them vent without interuption. Generally when they have gotten it off of their chest, they relax. If they are yellong over needing a spelling of a name my favorite is "Oh I appologize Sir/Ma'am, Im just horrible with names". I mute a lot (making sure mute works on my headset/phone first) and yell back, they cant hear and it makes me feel better. Turn down the volume, its easier on your nerves if they arent blowing out your ear drums. Leave yourself notes on the monitor. My favorite is "deep slow breaths, you are floating on your back on water" and i close my eyes and imagine that as it takes me from 100 to 0 pretty fast. And i didnt read if you are on any meds for anxiety? If not, it may be a needed convo with your PDoc. And empathy empathy empathy.

Its hard working at a call center being screamed at all day beung called every name one can ever dream up. Go easy on yourself. Also, if its a long term job, and if they havent trained you on or dont have customer service training it would be worth searching on youtube for "customer service training" or "customer service tips" or "how to handle irrate customers in a call center" or really anything, there are many many videos, sites, etc for free you can get a lot of good tips and what not in handling this. Hope this helps some.

 

[Friday]

If I quit now, I am afraid they will think I am stupid.

Does it matter what they think if you're no longer working there?

However, I can't handle being yelled at.

I can't handle being locked up in a cubicle for 9 hours.

So... Out of all the possible jobs in the world, a call center is one of the few where one can expect to be yelled at, have angry people treating you like crap, call after call after call. If people yelling at you, or being angry with you, is something you fundamentally don't want in your life, that's sort of like joining the police, caring deeply that people don't hate you (if you want to be adored by strangers, become a firefighter or a veterinarian ;)).

Accounting seems like possibly another avenue to be surrounded by angry people (if you go into any kind of billing, billing departments are not well liked), and to be locked in a cubicle 50 hours a week. There are accounting jobs out there where you're not the person fighting with people for non-payment (or worst; people for non-payment, insurance companies for non-payment, & other departments for budgetary matters), but very very few that don't include being locked in a cubicle, or back office of a business, tied to a phone & filing cabinet.

Do you have a specific accounting job in mind that doesn't involve fighting with people over money whilst locked in a small enclosed space?

 

[Heather]

I've worked at call centers in the past too. I can totally relate. I was yelled at, cursed at, called names. Dealing with public is NOT easy, especially over the phone and YES you are expected to remain professional.

I feel for what you are experiencing.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

call center is one of the few where one can expect to be yelled at, have angry people treating you like crap, call after call after call. If people yelling at you, or being angry with you,

Times 1000000X!

Im constantly muting and saying "shut up you f*cking idiot". My personal favorite, since I work in IT, is the guys that call that states "Im an IT professional and smarter than you".......and you are then calling me why??

Its basically a buttkissing eye rolling and must be efficient and get everything fixed but hurrying them to get off the phone while explaining every detail in dumbed down laymens terms to the idiots of the world that dont get a word you are saying and interupt you every other word sort of job. Its not for everyone, thats for damn sure.

My supervisor shouted at me across the room on the first day. She made me feel I am dumb.

One great term to learn of any phone job, constructive critisim. Shouting across the room not so much constructive but i can see it in a few "smoke shop" like contrating call centers (companies that take calls for other companies) ive had. A good center will take you aside but ive had critisim, thats made me want to cut. You have to take what you can and apply what you can and let the rest roll off you. Its a learned thing i think.

I can't handle being locked up in a cubicle for 9 hours.

Then dont. Keep it til you can find another job and quit. I agree with FJ, who cares what they think of you if you arent working there. I adore working in a cubicle and today due to chronic pain i dont have a choice, i cant do anything but a sit down job but i adore being walled off from other people. I wouldnt be able to handle working closer to my co-workers but we all work in a field that best suits our needs. This doesnt suit yours so find another job. Id be browser monster and other sites, applying everywhere and once i got a start date for the new job, plan a quit date or just quit this one.

 

[SpiritFree]

Times 1000000X!

Im constantly muting and saying "shut up you f*cking idiot". My personal fa...

You made very good points there Lost, Thank you. Yes I am still sending out resumes. The person who is suppose to train me but has other tasks where it includes leaving the office only to be left be trained by a young person who speaks slows and with an accent. Then when a customer calls and wants to know what we service, I read it off the brochure and the person who is training me said "No! don't tell them that we do that". I then asked "Why not? since it is in the brochure". Also I get bits of tasks here and there like a jigsaw puzzles. Trying to determine what to do with the files. Very soon in mid July I will be working 9 hours in the office but I do get every other Friday. I do not want to spend 9 hours with these people, sorry. I rather return back to a 8-5 hour. I'm an Introvert, I accepted this job because I needed money to pay bills but Customer Service is just not for me. So I will continue to hang in there and look somewhere else before one of the trainers leaves their job. So at least the next person they hire can be trained by both people instead of 1 who is always away from the office.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Customer Service is just not for me.

That doesnt sound like customer service, at all. That sounds more sales/clerical. Customer service jobs dont file and dont read. Im in tech support and most of my jobs have been but have worked in customer service, they are whom you get when you call about your bill, your plan, changing/moving/porting/canceling service of really any company. Theres no filing in call centers.

It sounds more like a "smoke/chop shop" call center. Or a receptionist area of a doctor/hospital/insurence etc. Or a contracting company.

Our training got changed and though they took us veterans and had us run through all of it like we were being trained to correct process mistakes, its a self paced, self training through videos and simulations that last a week. You need more than a week of training without prior networking/computer/IT knowledge and veterans dont like to clean up new hire messes but maybe its how the cut throat company i work for is weeding out the less knowledgable people. Who knows but our training now sucks ass.

Im sorry it isnt working out but as i always say, money is money. Def keep looking, keep it until you have another one you like better and then say buh bye to them.