Should I stay at this job I'm currently training for?
Asked by
Carly (
4555
)
January 30th, 2013
I was recently hired to work as a student admissions counselor for my college. Our main job is to call high school students on the phone and ask them questions to get to know them and then answer any questions they have about my college.
For the most part, I’m pretty well versed when it comes to answering questions; I know my institution very well, and I’ve been going here for 4 years, so I know what it’s like to be a student. When it comes to holding a “casual” conversation with a high school student, or really anyone I don’t know, I feel completely lost.
During my first 2–3 days of training I realized that I’m horrible at this job, and I’m wondering if it’s even worth it to stay. I say this because I feel extremely uncomfortable when I do training calls, and I don’t know if I’ll ever become less awkward in terms of my phone skills. I’m also noticing that my training manager is getting a bit frustrated with me because I’m not learning fast enough.
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7 Answers
I certainly can understand your feelings about this. There was a time I had the same problem. However… You could look at it as an opportunity to become skilled and confident in your phone skills… something that will benefit you in any job. Oh, and try not to over-concern yourself about your training manager. Just tell him or her you’re really trying to do something you’ve never done before and you’re going to keep trying till you get better at it.
Sounds like it is not for you. Do you have other employment options?
@marinelife I actually already have another job. I applied for this one thinking I’d be good at it, but it feels like it’s really backfiring.
@Carly Let it go. Life is too short to force yourself to do something that makes you uncomfortable.
Sometimes it can be worth making yourself learn skills that are difficult for you. Whether this is one of those situations, I have no idea. It’s a call you have to make.
I do think that it is worth learning sales skills, like how to be comfortable chatting with people. But this might not be the right time for you to do that. It sounds like you have already decided it’s not for you.
I did telesales for a year, I hated it. But I was determined to get a handle on it. It did pay dividends in my life.
Introduce yourself, tell them what it is exactly what you do there.
Have a set list of questions handy. Ask ones you, yourself wouldn’t mind answering.
Say up front that you would like to ask a few questions, just to get to know them as a person a little better. What type of things they enjoy etc.
Remove the focus from you focus on them, make notes to make sure you are listening to them. Write down a few things, then ask a follow up on that.
The more you call the less difficult it gets, but for me it was always tough job.
Find each call interesting.
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