Mistakes can cost you the job. Photo from Caro Wallis via Flickr, Creative Commons
Call center job openings are in abundance nowadays, but so are the applicants who are trying to get their start in this industry. You can only imagine the amount of call center applications processed daily in the Philippines. It’s a challenging situation, whether you’re a fresh graduate looking for your first job or a career shifter who wants to make the switch.
It doesn’t mean that you should forget about trying to get a foothold here. Even call center agents without experience have a good chance to start a successful call center career. All it takes is the proper conduct when it comes to job interviews.
If you’re really dead set on being a call center agent, take heed of our call center interview tips. Get to know the mistakes that applicants commit during and after interviews, and try your very best not to make them.
During the Interview
1. Not taking the interview seriously
It’s not exactly a doomsday situation, but you’re looking for a career in the BPO industry after all and there are thousands more who are hoping to beat you into it. In no way should you ever assume that an interview is a mere formality and you’re sure to get a spot just because there are many vacancies. Keep in mind that interviewers go through a lot of people all day; they can already tell if someone is harboring such mentality. So it’s better to treat any job interview, regardless if you think you’re a shoo-in or not, as a very important matter.
2. Dressing like it doesn’t matter
The way you present yourself speaks volumes on your intent to land that job. Granted, there are call center dress codes that allow applicants to wear jeans for interviews, but why not give yourself an advantage by looking your best? If you don’t feel like donning a business suit for the occasion, you can settle for a pair of slacks and a decent jacket. Whatever you do, don’t wear dirty, beat-up sneakers. A job interview is the perfect reason to use your best footwear. Remember, you can never be too dressed up for an interview. Managers will appreciate your effort in putting on proper business attire.
In an interview, clothes do make the man. Photo from Alex France via Flickr, Creative Commons
3. Knowing very little about the job or the organization
As a fresh graduate or someone who has no experience in the call center industry, you can’t be expected to know absolutely everything that the position entails. However, you are expected to do your homework and at least know the basics of the position you’re applying for. This shouldn’t be hard to do—everything you need to know is on the internet. Reading up on the responsibilities of a call center agent and the history of the company is just a small effort to nail that interview and get that job. You don’t want to appear unprepared and uninterested. Your best bet is to turn the company website inside and out for stuff that you should know about the position and the company.
4. Dissing your current or previous employer
If you’re already an employee and one of the reasons you want a career shift is your dislike for your current or previous employer, it’s best to keep your feelings to yourself and resist the urge to spill your guts during the interview. You may have a valid reason why you hate this employer, but it doesn’t mean you are free to badmouth the organization whenever and wherever you wish. The interviewer will likely ask you why you left or want to leave the company, and the best way to answer this is to stick to a simple explanation without the emotional complaints.
So instead of saying “The company plays favorites and grants salary raises to only select people,” you can just say “The company is unable to give just compensation for deserving employees.” It’s the truth, yes, but it doesn’t reek of bitterness.
Speak no evil. Photo from SoCal Photo Design via Flickr, Creative Commons
5. Rushing the salary talk
Look, we all want good pay and the organization knows that. But it wouldn’t look good on your part to come across as someone whose only concern is money. Just like everywhere else, there is a right time to discuss cash and this is very much true in a job interview. The interviewer will surely bring up the topic at some point in the discussion and it’s best to just wait for it.
After the Interview
Now that the interview is finished, here comes the even harder part: waiting for the call. Say it’s already been a week and you haven’t heard from them yet. Should you follow-up about your application? It’s perfectly fine to check up on things, but there are still no-no’s you should take note of, actions that can cost you the job that you actually have a chance of getting in the first place.
6. Calling them too many times
If you’re lucky, the interviewer will tell you after the discussion when you can hear from them regarding the results of the interview. If you’re luckier, they will call at the time period that they mentioned. But what if this is not the case? You have to keep in mind that processing applications, especially bulk applications in call centers, may actually take longer than expected. Call or send them an email once or twice, with a weekly interval. If there’s still no update, just wait and hope for the best. See, if a company really wants to hire you, they will eventually call you sooner or later. Be patient.
For the meantime, you can tend to other applications that you have lined up, as a backup in case the one you’re waiting for doesn’t pan out.
Get off the phone. Photo from Eric Wienke via Flickr, Creative Commons
7. Mentioning other job prospects
In hopes of speeding up the application process, some applicants will drop hints about having other job offers waiting for them. It’s a very risky gamble, one that we strongly advise against doing. While it can work and persuade employers to hand you that job offer, they can also call your bluff and tell you that they can’t keep you from accepting a sure offer and they can just remove you from their list. You don’t want that to happen.
8. Becoming inaccessible
We’re not saying that you should drop everything while waiting for them to call you. You’re allowed to go on with your life while they’re still making a decision about your application. However, you should make sure that they can reach you anytime, especially during the final stage of consideration.
If you have to go out of town for a couple of days and phone signal can become an issue, just shoot them an email before you leave and let them know when you’ll be back.
If you’re now up to the challenge of going through a call center job interview and wait patiently for the results, here’s your chance to do it right. Take the first step and send your application to an organization that recognizes great potential and knows how to reward people accordingly.
Looking for an ideal BPO company to apply into? We recommend you apply at IBEX Global!
