Job 1 — glorified call center. Zero job advancement. Zero job security. Those places come and go. Zero job satisfaction, unless you like being told to fuck off by people you cold call.
Job 2 — actually learn/do somthing, meet people so you can either: (A) move up or (B) meet someone who wants to hire you for a better job.
I really don’t want to see the quandry.
Good luck neg a higher rate in a call center. There’s 1,000,000 other applicants capable of going through the 2 week course to get cursed out every day. The turnover in those places is amazing. They can offer people amazing raises, but most will quit within 6 months.
OR
Gain actual experience that can get you somewhere.
Job number 2. Don’t play it safe when you are young.
Job #2. Sounds like it has more upward mobility and it will probably be a better leapfrog to another job should you choose to do that in a couple of years.
Also, traveling for work is awesome. I travel for work almost every week. In fact, I can’t remember a time in the last 5 years that I have spent more than 1 week at my home. At first it’s a little different, but you get used to it and you start to love it. Frequent flier miles, hotel points, eating out at nice restaurants on an expense account. Trust me, you’ll be glad your traveling for business after the first couple of trips.
Also, you can always find time to workout, so don’t let that direct you away from a busy job on the road. Every time I go to a new city I always look up the gyms in the area. I’ve never had a problem finding a gym. And I’ve also never missed a workout because of travel, or a busy schedule, even if it means I have to wake up at 4:30 AM to hit the gym so I can shower and be in the office for a 7:00 AM meeting.
Good luck!
Job1-
Find out if this is inbound or outbound call center (or if both, how what % of each)
Outbound will probably be cold calling, prospecting, etc
Inbound you would be dealing with existing clients, perhaps “upselling” and providing customer support
For the call center part, aside from sales, find out what the other metrics are
“Number of calls made or received”
“Average talk/handling time”
And also find out EXACTLY how you are rated on sales
You need to know more about this job because there are a lot of “hidden” aspects of call centers
You know 11-8 is set hours, your schedule is predicable, so will your day, etc
Job2-may not be as predictable in schedule, hours, your job function, etc, and all of that, with an equal pay as job 1 I don’t know if would be worth it…
Do you mind sharing who job 1 is with? PM me if you don’t want to post here.
Take Job #2
[quote]TheBodyGuard wrote:
I’m not reading the other replies because I don’t have time. You don’t say what your short or long terms goals are. I’m figuring you’re young since you have mentioned the ability to go to the gym in the morning as a consideration for job 1. Unless working out is your job, we all work our social lives and interests around our occupations. The issues you raise tells me this is not an issue of career. Which tells me this is no dilemma at all, you just don’t know which of two relatively comparable jobs to accept.
You do not state an interest, passion, short or long term goals. They both pay similar. You do not have a dilemma. You have an “abundance” when it comes to the choice…this is not a dilemma. Choose one and move on. [/quote]
I only read what BG writes and he’s right on the money again here.
OP, step out of your comfort zone. You’ll never regret your bad decisions only the ones you didn’t make in the first place.
When it comes to career choices specifically in the corporate environment you should take advantage of the following opportunities:
Special projects with significance within the company. Either leading it or being part of the team that executed it.
Working in as many locations as possible. Working in a global environment is a big deal to all multinational companies. When they know you’re mobile more opportunities and responsibilities flow to you.
People management. The sooner you learn to manage people the faster your growth will be.
P&L responsibility. This separates managers to Managing Directors, their ability to manage cashflow, numbers, projections and keep a tight control on cost.
Systems. If you are capable in streamlining, improving, upgrading how work is done, this is a major asset to all companies.
Work your ass off and the opportunities will come to you. Always.
PS - Both jobs are fine. But use your head when making this decision. Not your heart.
2
2, hands down
even for the “negative” reason of being away from the GF.
[quote]gabex wrote:
Job1-
Find out if this is inbound or outbound call center (or if both, how what % of each)
Outbound will probably be cold calling, prospecting, etc
Inbound you would be dealing with existing clients, perhaps “upselling” and providing customer support
For the call center part, aside from sales, find out what the other metrics are
“Number of calls made or received”
“Average talk/handling time”
And also find out EXACTLY how you are rated on sales
You need to know more about this job because there are a lot of “hidden” aspects of call centers
You know 11-8 is set hours, your schedule is predicable, so will your day, etc
Job2-may not be as predictable in schedule, hours, your job function, etc, and all of that, with an equal pay as job 1 I don’t know if would be worth it…
Do you mind sharing who job 1 is with? PM me if you don’t want to post here.
[/quote]
I don’t mind, and thanks to everyone for the replies.
It’s for Columbia Management, they were previously owned by Bank of America but were recently bought out by Ameriprise Financial. The job requires I get my Series 6 and Series 63 licenses to deal with mutual funds, so training is roughly 5 weeks before I even get on the phones.
I was skeptical when I heard “call center” and “customer service rep” in the same sentence, but it’s a lot different than what I thought. It’s an INBOUND call center, so I wouldn’t be churning out hundreds of cold calls a day. They said an average day is around 30 calls talking to financial advisors, wholesalers, etc. but would obviously increase a good deal in volume around tax season.
If your a very regimented person who likes stability I’d go with #1. If your a more free flowing person who likes to take things as they come, explore new things, and doesn’t mind an ever changing schedule than I’d go with #2.
I doubt negotiating will do any good for job #1. They probably will not go higher than $35k. For a call center rep, that’s fucking high to begin with anyway. Personally I’d probably go with job #2 but that’s just me, there seems to be more opportunity for money with that one.
I’d opt for job# 2.
Bottom line go with your gut, get advice from people you trust (namely us) & take the plunge.
Seriously, job# 2 seems to have more upside. In most facets of the way you hvae ocntrasted/compared the 2 jobs.
Salary seems to cancel out as both jobs offer the same crap figure but hey, it can only go up, although relying on bonuses can be tough.
You mentioned cubicle in the first job. Cubicle = office gopher farm = prison cell with a phone & usually no view.
You mentioned travel. Go for it.
I would say Job #2, for the same reasons others have said.
Also, wrt to Job #1, do you know what the turnover is? I only mention this because a friend of mine was doing the same thing, with a contract for one year and promises of a big raise upon renewal.
After one year, almost everybody in the department was let go, and they hired a new crop of unskilled labour.
[quote]fraggle wrote:
I would say Job #2, for the same reasons others have said.
Also, wrt to Job #1, do you know what the turnover is? I only mention this because a friend of mine was doing the same thing, with a contract for one year and promises of a big raise upon renewal.
After one year, almost everybody in the department was let go, and they hired a new crop of unskilled labour.
[/quote]
Hard to say. Since Ameriprise acquired Columbia they’ve been expanding their mutual fund operations in hopes of gaining a larger market share. The term “call center” is such a buzz word that when I’ve discussed this with friends they immediately roll their eyes and, without even hearing option 2, say to not take the job.
No one can make the decision for you, I think it comes down to what’s more important for you now. Structure/gym/gf or adventure/travel/unpredictability. You’re young and have you whole life ahead of you, pick the one you think will take you the furthest down the road.
I traveled for about a year when I was about 22, the hours sucked, the pay was good the adventures were great. At 35 with a wife and kid there is no way I’d have a travel job.
Both.
Seriously, #2 . No hesitation.
Job #2. BA work has lots of income potential, build up your career that way and good things will come. Call center work is crap. Sucks the life out of you, and you will have to live or die by metrics pulled from your phone records.
Job #2. BA work has lots of income potential, build up your career that way and good things will come. Call center work is crap. Sucks the life out of you, and you will have to live or die by metrics pulled from your phone records.