Could Call Center Work Be Your Dream Job?

All right, let’s be realistic. No one has ever waltzed into their high school guidance counselor’s office and announced, starry-eyed, “I can’t wait to go to work in a call center!”

And now, in the spirit of continuing to be realistic, let’s accept that call centers are often where the jobs are. Right now, you’re saying, “But all those jobs have been outsourced overseas!”

Wrong. In the 1990s, many call center jobs were sent to places like India and the Philippines. But in the mid-2000s, the trend began to reverse, and now it’s estimated that by 2022, call center employment in the United States will grow by a staggering 38%.

Now let’s talk about the stigma. You probably think that call center jobs don’t pay much—and to a certain extent that’s true. But when you consider that jobs in retailing start at $8 and top out at about $14 per hour, while call center jobs actually start at anywhere between $11 and $15 per hour, if what you’re qualified for is an entry-level position, you’re far better off in a call center.

Let’s take the comparison between call centers and retailing a little further. A retail store manager can expect to make around $42,600 annually. A call center supervisor is paid a little over $50,000, and a call center manager nearly $78,000. That’s a huge difference.

What about the customers, you ask? Well, here’s the thing … in almost any occupation, you’re going to have to deal with irate customers. Where would you rather have them? Across the counter from you, or in another state—separated from you by miles and miles of phone line?

A call center position also provides you with incredible opportunities for personal growth. At every level in a call center, whether it’s as a phone agent or a supervisor, you’ll have an opportunity to hone skills that will help you in other occupations. You’ll learn problem-solving techniques, refine your communication skills, and even learn complex tasks like interpreting billing statements and offering various types of technical support. Today, because customers can do so much for themselves online, call center workers are called upon to provide support for more complex issues. Far from being just a voice on the phone, you’re a highly trained professional with skills that you can take practically anywhere.

So, if you’re out of work, why not give the call center a whirl? Most of them promote from within, and the possibilities for advancement are significant. You could very well go from wearing a headset to running an entire department—or even the whole center—in just a few years. It’s worth considering.

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