Do people who work at customer service call centers stay on the phone the whole time that they're at work?

Question

Or do they have other tasks or have periods or relative inactivity? I'm thinking of applying to a call center for a satellite company, but it seems like it will be exhausing being on the phone all day except for breaks and lunch.

Answer 1

You will be on the phone and the computer all day, but it is not as tiring as that sounds - the time passes quickly since you are busy.

However, the most tiring part is that most people call customer service because of a problem they are having so you have to be able to handle angry people without getting flustered. Most people are pretty easy to calm down though.

Answer 2

If you really weren't taking up anybody's time with your cellphone conversation, and you weren't being loud about it, then it was absolutely NOBODY else's business. Talking on the phone in public should be viewed as no different than having a conversation with a friend standing right next to you. Obnoxious cell phone use is one thing, but some people just hate cellphone users for no other reason than because they can't hear both sides of the conversation. Why should that even be their concern? And not liking somebody just because she's speaking in a foreign language is equally stupid and downright bigoted. There's really not much you can do, though, since the clerk is a federal employee and her supervisor probably won't do shite if you complain. I would just recommend giving her a good hearty "fork you" next time you encounter her, and tell everybody else to mind their own damn business.

Answer 3

1) you get a headset, so you wont be holding a phone
2) you have a computer, so you can surf the internet all day (im at work right now hehe)
3) depending on the contract sometimes you go hours without a call and you can sit around and talk to friends, or knit or read a book.. or whatever...

but then.. i work in a pretty cool call center..

Answer 4

yes. i worked at a call center for 3 summers while i was in college. the only time you're not on a call is if you're finishing up paper work from your last call or if its a slow time. it made the shift go by fast though.

Answer 5

Most places they'd be on the phone pretty much all day except maybe for doing paperwork on a call they handled. Yes, it does sound exhausting.

Answer 6

i dont know about all companies but i work for a bank and the telephone bankers are on the phone pretty much the entire shift... they have other people that also work there that do the running, filing, cleaning etc....