I Never Felt Like This when CLINTON Was President!!

[mermaid]

I just started a new job Monday. Here it is Thursday evening, and already I am terrified they are going to fire me.
I'm in a training class for a Customer Service job. I'm not quite able to move thru the screens of info as fast as our trainer is. the others in the class of 30 don't seem to be having problems. I am.

I'm terrified that, if I even make it to the actual call floor, the first time a call comes in that I do not know the answer to the customer's problem...or I give the wrong information, because I don't know it...they will fire me.

But, because I am not quite keeping up, I'm having to have the trainer repeat it. Twice in two days the trainer has taken me aside to tell me some people in the class are complaining about having to go over stuff, that I am "repeating myself" when I ask questions...or that I'm asking "common sense" questions.

THEY AREN'T COMMON SENSE TO ME!!

I am desperate to want to do this job right, because jobs are so damned scarce out there. I am so stressing out every day. I'm in a room with thirty other people (not good already) with no walls or cubes or anything to separate us...I'm hearing jibber-jabber from six different directions, and I can't always hear what the trainer has just said, because everyone around me WON'T SHUT UP!!!

I'm partially deaf in my left ear, anyway...and it makes it therefore that much harder to hear the stuff I am supposed to hear, so that I will know what I'm supposed to know when I hit the floor.

I'm too a point where I feel like the only way I can save myself is to just play like I understand, that I'm keeping up...and just be quiet and not say anything, and pray that they don't expect me to be perfect when I hit the floor...otherwise I won't make it that far!

One I get out of that stifling room, with 30 people jibber-jabbering away so that I can't even THINK...I'm pretty sure I'll be okay. On the floor there are cubes, and walls and I'm not bumping elbows with the people next to me...my customer will be in my headset, speaking directly into my good ear...and I can always put an ear plug in the other ear so I don't have to hear everyone else in my vicinity.

I'm just having such a hard time concentrating...i'm not really good in a small room with THAT MANY PEOPLE like we have right now in this training...

God, if only it was like the Clinton days, when jobs were plentiful, and I didn't HAVE to stress like this...I could just go and find another job...now, instead, I have to take one I'm terrified I will fail at...and every day is a living hell, terrified that I will be fired, and thus unable to support myself...

So I feel I have no choice anymore but to do what I am doing....and I will just have to not ask any questions anymore, and just play like I'm keeping up.

See, I know how to find all the info I need to find...I just can't do it as FAST as the others seem to be able to...maybe because I'm obsessing, or I'm stressing, or I'm claustrophobic...I don't know what.

All I do know is when I am in that damn training room, my stomach is churning, my heart is racing, and I am absolutely PETRIFIED that I'm not measuring up and so will be "weeded out."

Why does it have to be like this?? Why can't we get rid of the last 3 1/2 years, make them go away, like it was all a bad dream??

If anyone wonders why I am voting for Kerry, this is why!! Because he will not continue to tank our rotten damned economy to the point I find myself in the situation I am in right now. I will be able to find the kind of job I'd really LIKE to have...one where it is very clear what you do...when A happens, you do B...wehn C happens, you do D...etc.

I don't know, I guess I'm rambling, I just need to get this off my chest so I can try to get some sleep. If you've read all this, thank you. If you have any other suggestions on how I can deal with this...just long enough to get me out on the floor and out of that stifling, cramped, training room with too many people in it...thank you even more.

Please help me, I'm at my wits' end as to what I should do about this...I feel totally out of control and it is scaring the crap outta me....

[Bake]

1. Take a deep breath, and relax if you can.

The key to feeling comfortable in ANY job is confidence. Confidence comes from preparation. Learn your material thoroughly, and you'll feel confident answering any question. Try not to freeze up -- take a deep breath, and try to relax.

Best wishes, and good luck.

Bake

[mermaid]

2. But That Is Just The Problem!!

I'm TRYING to learn the material thoroughly, and I'm catching flak for it...I just feel like maybe I ought just sit there, and nod dumbly, and just ACT like I'm getting everything.

[nini]

4. is the teacher approachable at all?

in a situation like that you're not going to learn the job thoroughly until you start doing it anyway. There's no substitute for actually doing the job itself.

My suggestion is to absorb as much as you can and know it's not all going to sink in right away and don't worry about the stuff that may seem fuzzy now. When you start doing the job tasks over and over it will all sink in. I've never had a job that the initial learning curve didn't freak me out so you're not alone. If this company expects people to be perfect right off the bat they're just plain old stupid.


Again, it can't just be you - the others are just going through the motions.

Hang in there! :hug:

[murielm99]

3. You will be fine.

You know what you need to know. When you get settled in your job, and past the training, everything will be fine.

Relax. Get some sleep.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

5. Sending some karma your way :)

I WISH that I could get into a training class for a customer service job but its so hard to find one in my area so if I were you , I would just take a deep breath , relax and put all of your worries away . If you have too much worry on your mind then you will not be able to concentrate . Is there anyway that you could get closer to the teacher if possible ? If so , then you should . Good luck and I hope everything goes well .

[Philosophy]

6. I've had a couple of call center jobs

The bosses are always more interested in your ability to bullshit the customer than in the accuracy of your service. Especially if there is any sales involved. Just act like you know what you're talking about even when you don't.

[AndyTiedye]

7. Have You Told Them About Your Hearing Problem?

Have you confirmed that you can hear well enough through the
telephone headsets they will be using? You might need one
with more amplification. That, and other reasonable accomodations,
should be provided under ADA if you need them.

In the class, you may want to sit up front, and to the left of
the instructor, so you can hear him better.

If you are in the front row, you won't have people all around you.
That may help you concentrate.

[mermaid]

8. I Will Try That Today

gonna sit on the front row, as far left as possible.

Only yesterday did I tell my instructor about my hearing problem.

I don't think that Ill have a trouble with the headsets...because my right ear hears perfectly fine, and I can wear the headset over my right ear. We haven't taken or even monitored any live calls yet, so I do not know how that will sound, but I don't anticipate problems there.

Yesterday I was to the right of the instructor on the front row...but she tends to hangs in front of the left side of the room more, and so, she was far away from me...and speaking towards my bad ear.

Also...one other thing, minor, but this may win me a few "points"...har laser pointer died in class yeasterday...it's built into a remote control...and that part works, so it isn't batteries, she doesn't know what is wrong, and was lamenting the loss of her pointer yesterday.
Today, I am bringing my own laser pointer (I mostly use mine to play with my dog...she likes chasing the little dot...even though she can't get it) and I'm going to offer it to her as a loaner.