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View Full Version : virtual call center
happysmileylady
04-14-2009, 09:01 PM
I have years of experience working in call centers and would have no problem doing a virtual call center, taking calls at home.
My only concern is that the primary reason for me to work from home is to avoid paying daycare. And I am not sure about my abilities to to take calls and remain professional with a five month old at home. Obviously babies require the attention they require IMMEDIATELY http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif I would hate to be on a call and have to put someone on hold to go get her out of the crib after she woke up from a nap or something.
I could avoid this if I had a fairly flexible schedule, but I am not sure how flexible these things can get. I looked around at some of the company folders, it looks like Alpine is more strict on this than West. Are there other companies that do this?
Those of you who do these virtual call center type of jobs, are your kids at home when you do these? How many hours and what hours each day do you do them? Are you able to keep your kids from distracting you for those hours?
My only concern is that the primary reason for me to work from home is to avoid paying daycare. And I am not sure about my abilities to to take calls and remain professional with a five month old at home. Obviously babies require the attention they require IMMEDIATELY http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif I would hate to be on a call and have to put someone on hold to go get her out of the crib after she woke up from a nap or something.
I could avoid this if I had a fairly flexible schedule, but I am not sure how flexible these things can get. I looked around at some of the company folders, it looks like Alpine is more strict on this than West. Are there other companies that do this?
Those of you who do these virtual call center type of jobs, are your kids at home when you do these? How many hours and what hours each day do you do them? Are you able to keep your kids from distracting you for those hours?
teshorr
04-15-2009, 12:09 AM
I work a phone job, and have a just-under 5 month old myself. I interviewed and have researched several companies, and many of them operate on east coast time, so depending on where you are, this may be somewhat of an inconvenience. I am in AZ, and often have to start work at 5am :(
Anyhow, when Dad isn't home to help out with the bambino, it is impossible to work (for me, anyway). Either he is fussy, needs to eat, needs to be held, or any other typical baby situation you can think of. We have a Mother's Helper who comes on the days I work for 3-4 hours, during the times that Dad isn't here to help. We pay her $7, and she keeps the little guy quiet and entertained so I'm able to work. We have friends who do something similar, but pay $75 weekly, and have their girl from 12-15 hours per week (the rate is a flat rate, they agreed upon the range of hours).
The general rule for working on the phones is that there cannot be distracting background noise that would be audible to a customer over the phone. I can assure you, you DO get "tested" on this, and it is zero-tolerance.
Anyhow, when Dad isn't home to help out with the bambino, it is impossible to work (for me, anyway). Either he is fussy, needs to eat, needs to be held, or any other typical baby situation you can think of. We have a Mother's Helper who comes on the days I work for 3-4 hours, during the times that Dad isn't here to help. We pay her $7, and she keeps the little guy quiet and entertained so I'm able to work. We have friends who do something similar, but pay $75 weekly, and have their girl from 12-15 hours per week (the rate is a flat rate, they agreed upon the range of hours).
The general rule for working on the phones is that there cannot be distracting background noise that would be audible to a customer over the phone. I can assure you, you DO get "tested" on this, and it is zero-tolerance.
