My experience for getting hired was much like Kate’s only I applied in early October. I received an email the same day with those assessment tests (which I have to say were much more difficult than I expected).

I must have done well, and received a call the same day with a short interview and offer. I also accepted as I live in a very rural area where jobs are RARE and pay min.wage. Working from home for a decent wage sounded perfect.

I don’t want to scare you Kate but I have been through the training, and it wasn’t very good in my opinion.

A lot of the first couple days mainly is working out computer glitches among about 20 something people in the virtual classroom and conference call. (PS I bought a corded speakerphone right before training started and then returned it-you don’t need it after training fyi.)

Then of course people don’t pay attention and a lot was repeated.

We were so behind that last Friday they added an extra training day for last SUNDAY. All day, mandatory, even though our contract didn’t include it.

Monday was my transition day, and we started taking calls in the afternoon-but my headset wasn’t working and getting help was frustrating. They do have a help desk, and I got it figured out.

But they never actually went over the soft phones (they come through your computer) too much at all.

I was off Tues. and Wednesday was my first full day solo. It started out a disaster because I had no idea who my team leader was and where I was supposed to be. The day finally got better as it went on, and I was lucky to get a lot of kind, patient people on the phone.

Yesterday was my 2nd day and it was much better and I guess learning by the seat of your pants is effective, but I was sweating!

I also discovered yesterday that they completely changed my schedule with no notice. I was to be off Sunday and Tuesday and now I am working. Kind of hard to plan anything when they keep changing your schedule.

The hours I gave them for my availability (they had you choose when you are hired) were to be from 8am-6pm. Sun, Mon, and Tues I am on from 11am-7:30. Not exactly what I had in mind, and not exactly at all what is in my contract-but I don’t think they care even a little bit.

I am happy to have a job for some extra cash, but it seems to me they are just going to do this until the end of the season. If you don’t like it I guess there are 10 people behind you who will keep their mouth shut (I guess like me)

And Kate, you will NOT be able to effectively care for your child WHILE you are working, I just want you to know that. They are STRICT. You get your 2-15 min breaks and 30 min lunch and that’s it. You can’t just log off and leave your phone. They keep track of EVERYTHING. They can see your computer screen, they will listen to your calls without you knowing. They know when you are supposed to be on the phones and aren’t. Hmm they see you when you’re sleeping, they know when you’re awake…HAHAHAHA!!

I just wanted to give some insight from someone who’s doing it. That being said it’s not terribly hard once you get into the swing of things. I had done customer service for many years-many years ago.

I have no idea how I am doing with the “stat” requirements apparently you have to meet, I never worked under those conditions before. A call took as long as it took-here that is also something they look at apparently. I haven’t yet been advised what it all means.

So when you get an indecisive, elderly, hard of hearing person it ends up screwing you I guess. And I had a LOT of them LOL! But I don’t care. I enjoyed helping them and do my best. If they don’t care for how I do what I do then so be it. I received a great number of genuine thanks for MY patience and help and how pleasant I was. That’s what matters to me.

I do want it to work out though, but I hope for a different contract after the new year.

Good luck Kate, maybe I’ll see you in a quickstart chat (you’ll know what that is soon!)