This was a VERY tedious application process compared to any other job I've applied for. Extremely detailed online application, subsequent "test" call, webcam interview, and then an hour and a half on-site interview. While the process wasn't something that a recent college grad like myself shouldn't find difficult, it may prove to be extremely taxing for others. The on-site interview was frustrating for a number of reasons. The tour of the facility was supposed to demonstrate to me that by having salon-style massage chairs, a selfie-station (ugh), a half-assed gym that no one used, and a cafe filled with high-calorie food that it was the perfect place to work and in no way depressing. However, after sitting and watching a girl around my same age answering customer calls, I quickly realized how taxing the verbal abuse could be during at ten hour shift. I asked her how often she was subjected to these outbursts and she feigned an uncomfortable smile as she said "5 or 6 times per hour". While I have worked in a call center previously in addition to other customer service jobs, I have never experienced this frequency of attacks.
The next part of the interview consisted of questions aimed at understanding my level of experience with customer service, call centers, critical feedback, and metrics. However, the very first question was about my future goals. I told the interviewer that I was set on going back to school to get my Master's in the next few years. I could instantly tell by the look on her face that it was obviously not what she wanted to hear and/or something that she could not personally identify with.
The remainder of the one on one left me very irritated by the woman interviewing me because she had taken the time to print out my resume but obviously had only skimmed its contents. I kept having to correct her on her fragmented understanding of my previous jobs and she continually asked me clarifying questions despite my already having made clear the functions of my previous jobs. I tried to stay patient and keep my cool but this process was unbelievably frustrating and clearly demonstrated a lack of professionalism (or possibly intelligence) on her part.
We proceeded to the portion of the interview where I was to look at a script for 10 minutes and then receive a call from a "customer" (the interviewer on the other end). It was fairly easy although she did mention that I wasn't pushy enough trying to upsell the customer, which I will admit is indicative of my minimal sales experience. The last section involved me signing my life away to an 8 week training schedule which allowed for no absences and only gave me Friday and Saturday off. The agreement also suggested that the call center was open 365 days a year and that I would more than likely be required to work holidays, another huge negative.
The interview reached its end and when I was asked if I had any additional questions. I asked the interviewer why she enjoyed working for the company. She replied that she had been working there since graduating high school (shocker) and it was great and the company treated her well and basically just regurgitated up another script of corporate jargon. By the time I had left, I had very firmly decided that even if I had been given a job offer, there was no way I could work in this dismal setting. I was told that I would hear a response back in three business days. It took over 7 business days to receive an email telling me that I had not been offered the position. The email gave me more relief than anything. I knew that based on the corporate atmosphere, the ignorant and uneducated managers, the constant verbal abuse, and the inflexible scheduling that this job would have left me in a spiral of depression within the first month.