Is the grass greener on the other side?

[liamboyle06]

Hi everyone, I am having a hugh dilema. Where i work (call centre) at the minute, there is very little prospects of promotion, and i have reached the wage cap for my role.

Now a new Call Centre has come in to town, and have recruited all the best people(managers and back room staff) from this company, and are now looking for phone support agents.

The thing is, i am like a jack of all trades - can do everything in this company and am not recognised for it, although i did move positions recently, life has gotten so much more boring - not as much to do, which is not for me.

This new company is offering less wages (£1K less) than I am on at present (taken 6.5yrs to get here, with new starts coming in and earning less than £1K than me), but on the grapevine i hear the new company promote heavily from within.

So is the grass Greener?

[TheNorm]

If it was me, I would go for it! At the interview make a point about the £1K drop, as you are hoping to impress them enough to promote you pretty quickly!

The grass isn't always greener - but don't let the grass grow beneath your feet!

[Fingy]

Is Northbrook recruiting up there?

[liamboyle06]

Originally Posted by Fingy

Is Northbrook recruiting up there?

sorry not Northbrook, although they do have a centre here, Icicionesource is are here now.

[handyman]

Hmm an Indian owned outsourcing company. My only experience with outsorurcing showed that the agent skill level and call quality where lower than in house. Also wages tend to be less. That said there is normally a higher turn over of staff so promotion is easier to attain. I'd go in looking to get a Team Leader position at the very least.

[Hugh]

Originally Posted by liamboyle06

Hi everyone, I am having a hugh dilema. Where i work (call centre) at the minute, there is very little prospects of promotion, and i have reached the wage cap for my role.

Now a new Call Centre has come in to town, and have recruited all the best people(managers and back room staff) from this company, and are now looking for phone support agents.

The thing is, i am like a jack of all trades - can do everything in this company and am not recognised for it, although i did move positions recently, life has gotten so much more boring - not as much to do, which is not for me.

This new company is offering less wages (£1K less) than I am on at present (taken 6.5yrs to get here, with new starts coming in and earning less than £1K than me), but on the grapevine i hear the new company promote heavily from within.

So is the grass Greener?

Liam, perhaps I can help, as you are having a "hugh dilemna", and funnily enough, that's my name (hugh, not dilemna).

Seriously though, one way to go about it is to point out to the new company that you would be taking a drop of 1k, so could they (and you) agree some SMART targets

1. Specific – Objectives should specify what they want to achieve.
2. Measurable – You should be able to measure whether you are meeting the objectives or not.
3. Achievable - Are the objectives you set, achievable and attainable?
4. Realistic – Can you realistically achieve the objectives with the resources you have?
5. Time – When do you want to achieve the set objectives?

that if you reach, you get your 1k rise back to you existing salary (preferably more). That way, the company sees that you are worth the extra, and you get back to what you were earning (it should also stand you in good stead for promotions, as it will show you are realistic and can deliver).

hth

[liamboyle06]

Originally Posted by handyman

... I'd go in looking to get a Team Leader position at the very least.

Wish i could, but they are all gone already, they are starting with 160 Support Reps, and are having 1 TL to 20 Reps. the number of reps is increasing to 350 by Christmas, so If I can get in now, have a better chance of moving up Ladder
I got knocked back at all other levels which is causing my dilema.

[Jules]

Do you have a mortgage and/or responsibility's?, can you afford to loose 1K? It is always a far easier situation if you are single and not buying your own home as you have far less to loose.

Whatever you decide I wish you all the best

[Orior]

A Chara Liam,

Hugh Jarce is right. Get smart objectives. May I also add my own comments.

Didi someone actually say its Indian owned? Might be HCL. Otherwise possibly GEM.

Anyhow, I would check out the new Call Centre and study their order book. Such centres have a habit of appearing and quickly disappearing. Remember the recent recruitment with the telephone directory services? Teletech in Belfast had to lay staff off.

You existing employee may have a steadier/healthier order book. Plus, if others leave, then it should open opportunities. Also, check out the women. They might be better to look at in the new place, but can ye work with them!

Is mise le meas

[Hugh]

Originally Posted by Orior

A Chara Liam,

Hugh Jarce is right.

oy, denizen of land of my forebears - my surname isn't Jarce, it's Snockers - bit unfortunate for the wife, Norma.

[Orior]

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Escapee]

Its all down to deciding if you can loose the £1K a year, for someone working in a callcentre its a good chunk of your wage.

I have chosen to bite the bullet in the past, often I have regretted it for a period of time and the then the new job gets easier, If it doesn't I just start looking for a new one.

I'm not saying that lightly, because there are not that many jobs in my area of skills and commuting distance paying high enough wages. I could be looking at a £10K cut if I decided to find another job within 30 mins commuting distance of home in a hurry.

[CycoSymz]

I recently switched jobs after being with the same company for 17 years.
I know do the same kind of work for the same pay but for a better company with better hours, so for me the grass is definately greener on the other side.

[greencreeper]

I could have written the first post There should be a support group for call centre staff. Abused? Under-valued? Yawning sense of despair each morning when you arrive for work? Come and talk about KPIs with friends...

I may be promoted to a Senior Consultant, but there's a job in another team, which would mean no chance of my becoming Senior. There are days I love the job; and there are days (many thereof) that I hate the job. But the job is easy, in that I know the job and do it well, and it's close to home. Pay is sufficient but not great. I think it's about overcoming the inertia of a job that's bad, but not bad enough to push you to take the risk of moving to a job that could be worse. It also about the material values versus the values for which there's a phrase I've forgotten - the life values, if you like. Which are more important?

[liamboyle06]

well i have an interview next week with the comany and so will ask and hope to get some answers.
i have no debts other than my Mortgage, i only have 20mins travel time per day, which is where i'm at at the minute.

The company has a long standing agreement with SKY to provide support for Broadband, so reckon they are here for quite a few years, and yes they are an indian company.