Losing confidence

I'm currently on a gap year and working. The job I am doing is quite demanding and I have quite a lot of responsibility. One of the many aspects of my job is dealing with telephone and email enquiries... I have no problem with the emails but I find dealing with telephone enquiries utterly unbearable. The thing is, I am quite a sociable, talkative person so it's not that which is an issue.. it's more the fact that I'm supposed to advise the people who call about the courses we offer, cold-call businesses to sell courses, etc, and I have had no training! Surely it's obvious that a 19 year old school-leaver would find this a bit much!?

The fact that I'm finding it stressful is making me lose confidence.. I feel that my communicative skills are becoming worse because I am so insecure. To top it off, I have a really annoying boss who makes me feel worthless because I am not as good at basically b***sh****g people like he is (bear in mind he is about 50 with a degree, masters in linguistics and PGCE!) I don't want to quit or anything because it's good experience and I will only be working until the start of September. I'm just worried that I will be a jibbering wreck by the time I get to university, which is annoying since I have always been pretty confident.

I'm sorry for ranting, I just felt the need to share my dilemna! If anyone has any comment/advice it would be greatly appreciated!

Reply 1

eurasianfeline

13

perhaps you can try to talk to your colleagues and ask them for any tips?
i'm sure you're not the only person who is / has been like this.

you can also try making some notes about the things clients are likely to ask / stuff you might forget etc. in point-form on post-it's and stick them in front of you.
so when you're stuck there are also those little notes to save you.

as for your boss, you can't put a sock in his mouth, but you can plug in your ears and try not to take his comments to your heart, especially if he treats everyone else like that!!

Reply 2

silent ninja

19

Dont worry too much. When you're new working on the telephone in any job its tough. You're only 19. Unfortunately the best way to learn is to make mistakes and go with the flow. When you're new to using the telephone and dealing with queries, things often happen quickly. Just take your time on a call and give it a few weeks you'll be fine.

Its kinda stupid not to have had any training, thats poor.
How long have you been at this job for?

Reply 3

SophistiCat

OP

2

silent ninja

Its kinda stupid not to have had any training, thats poor.
How long have you been at this job for?

Since January... the company I am working for is rather amatuer to say the least- there is no HR department or person for a start!

The thing that's getting to me is that they seem to expect me to be completely capable, and the fact that I'm not makes me feel like a disappointment. I feel inadequate compared to the other people in my office, but they are all graduates with a lot of work experience... but to be honest it is my state if mind, not the job, that I am concerned about. When I pick up the phone my hands shake and I feel really nervous... is this natural or am I losing the plot!!

Reply 4

eurasianfeline

13

you sou8nd like you're putting too much pressure onto yourself and expecting too much. you're the youngest (?) and the least experienced one and they would be very nasty to expect you to be as skilled in the job. you must first understand that or it'll be hard to improve at all!!

calmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

*massage*

Reply 5

Trousers

11

SophistiCat

Since January... the company I am working for is rather amatuer to say the least- there is no HR department or person for a start!

The thing that's getting to me is that they seem to expect me to be completely capable, and the fact that I'm not makes me feel like a disappointment. I feel inadequate compared to the other people in my office, but they are all graduates with a lot of work experience... but to be honest it is my state if mind, not the job, that I am concerned about. When I pick up the phone my hands shake and I feel really nervous... is this natural or am I losing the plot!!

I would suggest a two-step process for dealing with this:
1) Tell your boss and colleagues that you're having problems and try to sort it out.
2) If that doesn't work, leave.

You'll feel better about yourself if you work at the problem and try to sort it out, but staying in a job that's affecting your confidence is just not worth the hassle. There are plenty of jobs out there - find one with a better company that offers training. Also, I used to do cold calling while I was at uni, and it was absolute hell. There's no point in carrying on with it if it's making you miserable - sign up with a temping agency and get some office work instead.

Good luck!

Reply 6

silent ninja

19

I agree with the above. You should ask them for support and assistance. If they're not willing to do that, you should leave. The job's not worth the trouble its causing you. A miserable job will undoubtedly affect you outside of work also.

Losing confidence

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