Everybody hates them. When some of them call you, you just hang up saying you’re not interested. Yes, I was one of them over a year ago.
It started in 2009 – few months after I came back from Finland. I had some savings, but they were going to finish and I didn’t want to be financially dependent on my parents. So I was looking for a job while writing my bachelor thesis. For some job which would give me some money for living, letting me develop my skills and gain my professional experience at the same time. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find one… so I started working for a telemarketing company.
It was outsourced project of selling mobile phones with subscription for the biggest mobile operator in Poland, conducted by external company. I hated my job from the first day and I knew I quit when I’ll find something better. Our office was in a big room (or rather hall) with cubicles. Every work station consisted of a computer (with Debian on board!), an IP phone and headphones. When you enter this hall, all you can hear are lines from the sales script, like “this solution is prepared especially for you“, “it will let you save money” or “where do you want us to send this wonderful set?“, repeated by telemarketers.
In fact, telemarketing is very hard and stressful job, despite it doesn’t seem to be. You have to read your sales script dozens times a day, hearing “thanks, i’m not interested” in every 9 of 10 calls. But despite that you know the customer won’t buy it, you still need to keep trying. The script is so boooring that after few days of work you stop thinking of what you are saying. Every day looks exactly the same. After some time you don’t even pay attention on what your customers are saying – you just answer their questions automatically. You should be pushy, ruthless and rude. And patient. Patience is very important to not discourage yourself., when you hear “no” almost all the time. I think the most of people are not aware of the specific character of telemarketer’s job when they receive a sales call.
Despite the fact that I considered this job to be just temporary, I’ve spent there six months. Six longest months in my life. Suddenly I took my headphones off and told my manager that I quit. Just like that, without having any other job – it was a spontaneous decision. It was exactly one year ago but I remember that day as it was yesterday. The sun was shining when I left the company and everything seemed more beautiful for me, even the fact that I have no job 
I decided I will never work as a salesperson again. But never say never…
Posted by mike987 
