Finding call center jobs is easier than you would think. These positions have such a high turnover that it makes it easy for someone armed with a little knowledge to get into one. Once you get that job, most agents can stay for life if they choose to. As I said, turnover tends to be high so a call center agent who sticks around usually gets promoted to call center supervisor or manager quicker than in most industries. Here are 3 quick tips for finding a great call center job.

1. Apply multiple ways.

If the call center you want to apply for has a listing on CareerBuilder and on their website and they allow walk ins, apply to all three locations. While it is definitely repetitious, the hiring manager will see you as persistent, a desirable trait in the call center industry. Persistence is key when trying to find a job, especially since most call centers are small operations.

2. Highlight your strengths.

When applying for your job, your strengths should all be people related. Your old job of building computers is not going to look as good on your resume compared to being a cashier at a grocery store. Since call center jobs all deal with people, “people skills” is what a the hiring manager is looking for. If you can highlight those people skills you’re one step closer!

3. Come prepared.

As you know you should always come dressed for success, however when you show up to fill out an application at the call center, you should be prepared for an interview. Many call center managers like to interview people on the spot because they have immediate vacancies and want to put people in seats as quickly as possible. To come “prepared” does not just mean suit and tie, it means coming mentally prepared for the job interview. During the interview the call center manager will be listening to see if you understand what goes on in a call center and trying to decide if you’ll be a good fit on the phone with customers. To make sure you’re a good fit, use proper grammar, annunciate every word and don’t rush through the interview. Take your time and make sure you understand what the interviewer is asking before you answer. Not only are those good skills for the interview, but they’re also great skills when on the phone with customers!

Now that you know those three quick and easy tips, you’re ready to go apply for some call center jobs. My favorite place to begin searching is online. You’ll get a broad range of call center jobs and can search by locale before hitting the streets with your resume in hand! Good luck on your call center job hunt!

Ang una nating tatalakayin sa web site na ito ay tungkol sa mga call center jobs. Paano mo nga ba malalaman kung qualified ka sa trabahong ito? Napakaraming benepisyo sa ganitong trabaho kung kaya naman sikat sa mga undergrads, fresh grads ang trabahong ito. May ilang mga kumpanya sa Pilipinas na pinapapayagang magtrabaho ang kanilang call center agents sa bahay. Kung kaya naman isa ito sa mga pinakasikat na trabaho sa ngayon.

The last few years have seen a steady increase in the number of available call center jobs in the Philippines—an unsurprising fact considering that the country is now one of the top outsourcing destinations in the world. With its attractive pay (most companies offer at least 15,000 pesos or $300 a month) and generous benefits, answering telephones and talking to irate callers located halfway around the world have become not only one of the most plentiful but also most attractive and sought-after jobs in the Philippines.

So what does it take to launch a successful Philippine call center career? What skills do you need to land a lucrative job in one of the country’s many contact centers? What exactly do you need to do to be able to proudly wear the prerequisite headset?

First and foremost, you have to have a good grasp of the English language. It would help if you have an American accent, but this is not really a requirement as most call centers actually have their new-hires undergo training where they are taught about the American culture, expressions and accent. What they are more concerned about is your pronunciation and if you can speak clearly.

So when you are being interviewed for a call center job, make sure to pronounce your words clearly, avoid “ums” and other similar expressions and try to formulate your answer in your mind (quickly though) before you go blurting out an answer.

Second, you must display a great deal of patience. As mentioned earlier, you will be handling a lot of angry, unreasonable and simply outrageous clients. Being in the customer service industry, you must always show restraint and a great deal of patience with your callers.

If you want to be a call center agent, you also have to have great communication skills, and by this I don’t just mean talking with an American twang. You have to be able to clearly construct and express what you want to say so that the caller you are speaking to may be able to fully understand your meaning. In the call center industry, miscommunication is a mortal sin.

A basic working knowledge of how to use computers is also required of those who wish to work in contact centers. A computer is one of the tools you will be using most in your job, so call centers require applicants to at least know how to run one.

You have to be smart too, or at least, a quick and rational thinker. While some may think that call center agents are nothing more than glamorized telephone operators, there is actually more to the job than mindlessly answering phone calls. Not only do you have to pacify angry and sometimes, unreasonable, callers, you have to be able to digest and analyze what they are saying and give reasonable answers to their questions. What do you do for example, if a client asks you why his new computer is not working? How do you convince a caller on the brink of canceling an account to change her mind and give your products or services another try? Think being a call center agent is all about having a pleasant voice and accent? Think again.

Most of all, you have to exhibit a willingness to work hard. One of the reasons why call centers pay their employees more is they demand more from their employees. You have to work while the rest of the country slumbers; you have to report to the office during holidays; you have to give up your “night life” because, well, you’ll be working at night.

Ready to try your luck with a call center job?

Sa susunod na post, ililista namin ang mga kumpanya na nag post ng kani-kanilang call center jobs.

Search for more job openings on the search function on the right.