Namrea : The straw that broke the camel’s back for me in regard to telemarketing was this one place I found myself in the paper one day despite working with a “Job coach†at the time. This place was nice looking from the outside as it was one of those nice office buildings with the glass darkened exteriors etc. I get there early in the morning for the supposed orientation and all it really was, was a two hour presentation on the benefits of telemarketing in the state etc. The training was one read through of the scr
ipt and that was it.
I came home from the orientation and immediately called my job coach to voice my disgust with this place. He convinced me to go back for my shift later that night and see how it went. I went and despite both I and my job coach being told that I would not be on the phones the first night but rather listening to other’s calls etc they tell me you’re listening for one hour then your on.
This all but confirmed my suspicions about this place… Anyway, they paired me up with someone and I sat there and I listened to him take a couple of calls and it turned out that what they were trying to sell people were those little novelty 5oz. gas cans. I sat there for about a half hour listening to this poor guy they paired me with try to call people and the way the people he called talked to him made me say to myself this isn’t for me. I got up shook the guy’s hand as he seemed like a nice fella and I started on my way out. I actually felt really bad for the guy because it seemed like he was having one of those days where he couldn’t catch a break but it was so loud in this place that I doubt the guy could hear himself think if he tried.
They wouldn’t let me use one of their phones to call for my ride so I ended up using someone’s cell phone. I was then confronted by this moron who was more of a wannabe jock who thought that he was intimidating and such. This guy gets in my face and says where the hell do you think your going? I says to the guy politely this isn’t for me excuse me as I was walking with one of my crutches trying to get out the door etc. The guy yells at me I make $500 a week and this isn’t for you? And I can’t repeat what he called me as it’s explicit.
I guess this guy was one of the managers for the night shift or what ever it was but I stood my ground and told him to not let my disability fool him and that if he didn’t get out of my way I would defend myself etc. I may be handicap but I am a New Yorker and by nature I didn’t like someone who seemed like a real Jackass excuse my language getting in my face etc. I took it as a sign of being provoked verbally especially after what he said which I won’t repeat out of respect for the rules.
The guy was told to back up and let me through by a couple of people and I was out of there. The only good thing I could say about that evening was that while I was waiting for a cab to pick me up I ended up being treated to dinner at this chilly dog restaurant that was across the street.
I vowed that night that I would never again subject myself to one of those jobs regardless of what my financial circumstances might be. It hasn’t been easy for me to find steady work despite my devotion to my writing full time I haven’t gotten the kind of pay that one can survive on. I ended up doing data keying for an office that I use to take classes at doing check verifications from my house but I ended up leaving that job after six months because I wasn’t make enough money and as it turned out it hurt me for a little while in regard to my benefits.
It has been especially rough this year with the recession and such… I hope that eventually someone with a paper or a magazine that is willing to pay adequately will look at my work and give me an opportunity. For me it wouldn’t matter if it were a once a month position or a mere staff writer position where your just writing beat reports and such if I was making adequate money I would be all for it
I hope things are working out for you with your job…