On Telemarketing and Cold Calling

Before the advent of the Do Not Call List, telemarketers plagued households with unwanted phone calls between 8am and 8pm. Before caller ID became prevalent, I distinctly remember never having answered the phone during dinner hours, because it was assumed telemarketers were the only ones that would have the gall to interrupt a family meal.

I am now, more or less, a telemarketer and I see the other side of the coin, working at a job where I need to make hundreds of phone calls every day in the hopes of earning money at a commission-based job. Days are daunting, wondering whether or not I will actually be able to talk to the person with whom I need to speak. Secretaries do a good job of screening my calls, preventing me from speaking to the correct person. Even when I manage to get through to the right person, it's still a trial of patience.

Often, people do not even give me the time of day, opting to immediately hang up when I speak. Other times, people yell at me for being the umpteenth person to cold call them, completely unaware that I have no idea whether or not they've been called before, let alone how many times they have been called.

People answering the phone do a pretty decent job at making me feel like I am the scum of the earth for merely doing my job. It is as if people are unable to comprehend this is a legitimate job where success is difficult to achieve.

I will say there are people that make this job more pleasant. Not everyone who answers the phone is rude, some are friendly and polite. Some even joke with me on the phone, which is appreciated and helps brighten up my day. And we do joke in the office about some of the rude people that answer the phone, which does make it easier to shrug off their comments.

Overall, it is a difficult job to do. It is difficult to succeed, and it is a job that requires you to be able to laugh off people's rude responses to you. But it is still a job, and a job done well is something to be proud of, regardless of what you are doing.

Purpose of this Blog

My philosophy in life has always been coming to an accord that involves everyone is nigh impossible. There will always be people adamant in their opposing views.Unfortunately, these strong opinions sometimes lead to hateful rhetoric. This hateful rhetoric impedes thoughtful dialogue, which, in turn, impedes our ability as a society to progress.

The purpose of this blog is for readers to share their experiences in life, their points of view, their states of minds. The driving force behind this is understanding. By reading about the dispositions of other people, no matter how curious, we ourselves will not only grow our own knowledge base, but also learn more about our fellow human beings. It is my sincerest hope that this blog will promote a greater understanding of each other and further encourage dialectics about various topics.