Telemarketing Consultant Review

Not the experience I wanted but the experience I needed

Colleagues in similar role gave an "in the same boat" feel to the experience. Positive recognition from superiors varied

Given thorough induction training from HR for the foundation skills of the role. Specific product training from superiors varied in detail and quality from team to team. Students found themselves more knowledgeable on products than other experienced callers due to self-training. Team members (other callers) provided informal guidance and support. Support from management/supervisors also varied in quality and detail from team to team.

The role provided repetitive tasks with very little opportunity to think creatively about how you can improve at your job without sacrificing your performance. Any time "wasted" is frowned upon by the "high performance culture", we were encouraged to do our jobs and not much else as management figured out how we could better ourselves in our job.

Unless you are beyond capable as a caller, delegation from management or supervisors is slim. The job was just to call, unless you were promoted to a Lead Telemarketing Consultant or applied for a different management job in the rest of the company, you would not be given much responsibility.

As a Telemarketing Consultant, communication skills will improve and knowledge of sales techniques and skills will improve. There is the opportunity to improve on your time management capabilities (specifically set to the job) and, of course, team working skills is a big motivator for other members of your team. However, skills involving things such as leadership will not improve in this role.

Generally, the office atmosphere was not that of a high performance culture but an exhausted culture. Exciting parts of this experience was getting direct product training from the clients (even visiting a client's HQ) and schemes outside of the organisation in a social aspect.

The induction and integration into the company was very smooth, a majority of the workforce was welcoming, helpful, supportive and friendly with a few oddities.

In terms of personal training and development throughout the placement, the company invested quite a large amount of effort in me at different intervals during my in placement year but it rarely hit a good balance between overbearing and not recognising/perceiving you correctly. The company does have their favourites and they are not afraid to point out who they are, reward them for their efforts and nurture them to perfection which is good for motivating the individual in question. However, they could not find the right training and development solution that would motivate all the individuals to do better at their job. Individuals are promised tailored training and development but do not make it clear that you have to ask for it.

Only if I have no other option.

There is a strong social bond in the organisation but that usually only emerges during hours outside of work.

Prices were reasonable when haggled but quite extortionate for the quality of living standards in the area. Socialising in the local area for different clubs and hobbies is affordable but spaced out.

Drinks in the area were overpriced with no prope nightclubs. They more bars with dancefloors but a decent night out with friends for a student. Bouncers are more reasonable in Reading than in any other place I've been out in.

There were social activities and other schemes to get involved in but not many appealed to a majority of the workforce and some schemes even eliminated potential members to keep numbers down and workers focusing on their jobs.