Cold calling

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  1. IWillBelieve's Avatar
    • New Member
    • Posts: 13
    Re: Cold calling
    (Original post by MagicNMedicine)
    The OPs employer sounds dodgy as heck, I smell scam.
    Unfortunately this initial trial period is very very common in outbound telesales, especially in companies that run out of one building, and have no other connections to the outside world. A Serco run telesales office is going to treat you properly, but 'Advertising Sales Co Ltd' will most likely not.

    It's part of the 'interview', and you don't get paid for it.

    I did this once for a telesales company that said exactly the same to me 'yeah come in, start tomorrow, £6.50 an hour, heres a phone, heres a yellow pages, GO!',

    Did one day before deciding I didn't want to do it any, but figured I'd earned my first days pay, so next day I'd ask for my £50, which was a fair bit of change to me, but was forceably removed, shouted at in front of the whole sales force, threatened with violence and had the door shut in my face.

    Police did sweet FA.
  2. Luxray's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Posts: 3,324
    Re: Cold calling
    (Original post by IWillBelieve)
    I find there are a few things that really make the difference for me when cold calling.

    Good luck; just remember, any job you hate is better than no job at all when money is the primary focus. You just need to learn how to get competent at your job and you'll find you'll start to enjoy aspects of it.
    Thanks for your reply man. Well atm because I do the evening shifts mainly when most people have their dinner I don't get as many sales, I get about 3 per hour and I think I've memorised a lot of the questions. I actually enjoy completing a sale because its a break from saying 'thanks anyway' or 'have a nice day, bye!' to about 25 calls before a sale.
    It is so boring though, all I'm thinking about now is the money in my head. Its min wage and I think I've passed the trial because they asked for my bank details. But there still has been no mention of a contract so I am wondering if I should just mention it to the manager and ask if I need to sign anything. I don't even know what date I get paid and they haven't asked for my national insurance number
  3. IWillBelieve's Avatar
    • New Member
    • Posts: 13
    Re: Cold calling
    You're welcome mate, it's good to hear you're getting on well with the job.

    Sales are definitely a nice breaker of the tedium; but I've gotten to the stage where I take a book with me, read it whilst I'm in between calls, as soon as someone hangs up; back on the autodialer wait for the next call, so I distract myself from the rejection with a bit of a read. Technically not allowed, but no one says anything anymore.

    I wouldn't worry about being bored, as you say, its the money £$£$£££. I would however, worry slightly about the lack of attention your boss is taking regarding sorting you out on the payroll etc.

    If I personally was in your situation, I'd be rather blunt about it; walk up and say 'So have I got this job or what? Do you want my bank details so I can get paid? where is my contract? What date do i get paid?' and if no answer was forthcoming, I'd either walk, or be forceful in getting it sorted. It's probably some stupid knob anyway running the office who can't be bothered to do anything other than shout at people then drive home in his 3 series BMW wearing a bluetooth headset like a knobber. Urgh call centre management are near to scum.

    PS. BA Economics Manchester? Sure you can't find yourself another job that's a bit more secure? Hmm...

    (Original post by Luxray)
    Thanks for your reply man. Well atm because I do the evening shifts mainly when most people have their dinner I don't get as many sales, I get about 3 per hour and I think I've memorised a lot of the questions. I actually enjoy completing a sale because its a break from saying 'thanks anyway' or 'have a nice day, bye!' to about 25 calls before a sale.
    It is so boring though, all I'm thinking about now is the money in my head. Its min wage and I think I've passed the trial because they asked for my bank details. But there still has been no mention of a contract so I am wondering if I should just mention it to the manager and ask if I need to sign anything. I don't even know what date I get paid and they haven't asked for my national insurance number
    Last edited by IWillBelieve; 04-07-2012 at 20:38.
  4. Luxray's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Posts: 3,324
    (Original post by IWillBelieve)
    You're welcome mate, it's good to hear you're getting on well with the job.

    Sales are definitely a nice breaker of the tedium; but I've gotten to the stage where I take a book with me, read it whilst I'm in between calls, as soon as someone hangs up; back on the autodialer wait for the next call, so I distract myself from the rejection with a bit of a read. Technically not allowed, but no one says anything anymore.

    I wouldn't worry about being bored, as you say, its the money £$£$£££. I would however, worry slightly about the lack of attention your boss is taking regarding sorting you out on the payroll etc.

    If I personally was in your situation, I'd be rather blunt about it; walk up and say 'So have I got this job or what? Do you want my bank details so I can get paid? where is my contract? What date do i get paid?' and if no answer was forthcoming, I'd either walk, or be forceful in getting it sorted. It's probably some stupid knob anyway running the office who can't be bothered to do anything other than shout at people then drive home in his 3 series BMW wearing a bluetooth headset like a knobber. Urgh call centre management are near to scum.

    PS. BA Economics Manchester? Sure you can't find yourself another job that's a bit more secure? Hmm...
    I've only just finished second year so i haven't had the chance to apply for graduate schemes or jobs. This call centre job is just to save money for my final year. Well they said i get paid on a certain date and i get some sort of invoice but no mention of a contract, to be honest I can't even be bothered to force questions on them. I've not been able to get another job so I'm going to try sticking this one out til end of august. It's incredibly difficult finding a nice secure job depresses me quite a bit.

    Bringing a book is a nice idea but the dialler goes so quickly and the supervisor wouldn't be too happy. The manager is actually quite nice, there is just very little clarity anywhere and nobody seems to care. Im going to speak to a girl who started similar time to me and ask what does she think of it all.


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    Last edited by Luxray; 05-07-2012 at 11:11.
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