
Being a millennial, it means you are unfairly maligned at points, you are described as lazy, entitled, and apparently we expect something for nothing. Yet, the vast majority of career go-getting millennials find themselves working in customer service roles, namely contact centers.
This may not be how most people view a career, especially if you are working in an environment where your efforts are not recognized, but, for lots of people looking to make something of themselves, either in industries like insurance, or customer service, this is a necessary evil.
With certain jobs being sent oversees for various economical reasons, service to clients/ customers has become an important role, and that’s where customer service roles come into play. But how can you survive the incessant ear bashing, ringing phones, and complaints left, right, and center?
Perspective
This will be the thing that will help anyone survive the contact center experience. You’ve seen those people who managed teams in offices, especially those in sales, remember that they all have to start from somewhere.
It’s very much a case of paying your dues in this respect. Working in a contact center can feel overwhelming, stressful, anxiety-inducing, but if you’ve got your eye on the bigger picture, which it’s unlikely the person next to you does, this will give you focus, and drive to work up the ladder.
Strive To Improve
The one thing that your experience in a contact center will teach you is that you are on the frontline, and you are experiencing the frustrations, not just from the perspective of the staff, but from the customers too.
At the end of the day, you’re working for a company that is trying to compete with other businesses, and if you maintain that sense of perspective, and focus on the bigger picture, you can start to gain an insight into what works and what doesn’t.
Lots of businesses welcome feedback, and if your feedback is sharp, erudite, and to the point, your managers will be thanking you. Lots of businesses work with third party companies to help improve their customer service experience, such as on http://forsythes.technology, where this company will work directly with your employers to help streamline the processes.
The great insight you have is that you are working on the frontline, so if you can condense your experiences into a plan and proposal that your line managers will listen to, this puts you head and shoulders above everybody else in your team. After all, most people don’t want to stay in a contact center role forever, because the experience feels like an ordeal.
Learn To Calm Down
The one thing that people take away from a contact center environment, especially if they work long shifts, is that it is, arguably, one of the most stressful jobs you can ever encounter. As a result, you may find that it will overwhelm you, regardless of your long-term goals.
So, to combat the negative feelings, and the dread that inevitably comes with clocking on for your shift first thing in the morning, is to combat the negative mindset and the symptoms of stress. There are plenty of websites like https://headspace.com that can give you the tools to cope with the side effects of working in this environment.
Remember, it is very much part of paying your dues, and when you are working up the career ladder, especially in sales or in insurance, this is a vital part of the process. So, keep your head down, keep your ears up for opportunities, and focus on the bigger picture.
Share other ways you’ve learned to deal with the stress of working in a customer service role. Leave a comment in the comment section.
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Great my sister
Thanks for reading, Ifeanyi. I hope you have an amazing week ahead!
I needed this. i currently work in customer service and even though i would consider myself a nice person, these customers can like to try me sometimes.
i really do need to calm down. lol.
Hi Tobiloba, so happy and excited to have you here. Welcome! I’m so glad to know that you found this article useful in some way. I understand that some customers can make one loose patience, I find that some people on the other end of the phone can be irrational sometimes that’s why I try to be as cool as possible when I’m speaking with a customer representative because I can only imagine how many people might have been frustrating that day. You can just zone off once in a while or just leave work stuff behind when it’s the close of day if that helps. All the best on your amazing career journey and do stop by often!