Is it true that working in a call center is not counted as a work experience?
Asked by swetha b
i am gonna graduate from my college this may and the only job oppurtunities available are in BPO's/call centers....but people keep telling that working in a call center is of no use as it is not considered as a work experience.... anyone who has any knowledge about this please help ....i would definietly consider your suggestion.. thank you in advance for all the good advise.

Best Answer:
Any job you work at, whether you get paid or are volunteering is "work experience". At one time most companies would only accept information on positions that you have been paid for as work experience. Now volunteer or unpaid positions are considered as work experience since your time, learning new skills, dealing with people and operating certain types of equipment as well as having to follow a time schedule all count. In fact many companies do look for people that have been in volunteer positions due to the training and people skills learned. There is no such thing as a job for life anymore unless you own the company. Regardless what you do, paid or unpaid, you learn "transferable skills". You may have a series of jobs/positions before you land the position you want. Jobs are hard to get right now so anything you can get will help. If you have any spare time seek out some volunteer positions that you may be interested in. You will acquire new skills and gain other benefits as well. This will give you an opportunity to build on your "transferable skills". Here, in Canada, I worked at one call center handling the Comcast accounts in the US. The computer skills, troubleshooting and dealing with customers was all to my benefit. I also worked at another that handled major newspaper chains across North America. I also have worked at a call center handling Macy's. All of those positions gave me experience I would have never obtained anywhere else as a lot of customer relations as well as high tech skills were obtained. I volunteered for the Red Cross, Blood Donations, SPCA, A Seniors Extended Care facility and volunteering in various departments in the hospitals. Every position you have you acquire skills that can be applied to other positions. Even making coffee and serving cookies counts. Don't listen to other people. They may be lacking skills which they may need and don't want to see you get ahead. With jobs hard to get right now...anything and everything helps to get you to reach your goals. Besides, we all have bills to pay, food to put on the table and other necessities and luxuries that we want and need. You'll be surprised what you learn...and can take to the next job. Another thing to do is to be looking for another job while you have one. So many people quit their jobs and then start looking for another job. I have a friend who has been looking for a year now and the more of a lapse of no work doesn't look good on her resumes. Another thing that isn't in her favor is that she's basicly looking for work that her college diploma says she's qualified for. She may have her degree but she's passed up so many other good opportunities. Tell those other people "Phfffft" and continue building your bakground, work experience and transferable skills. I truly wish you well in any position you take and I know you'll reach your goals. You'll make it.

Bull I worked at ATnT when it was Cingular and I always havbe employers look and ask me about that job in particular. Itsjob experiences, you're working with custoemrs problems, dealing with customers. It IS counted as work expereince. you get paid to help customers correct? Last time I checked that was a job :p
Answered by lxl_jesika_lxl

It's work experience, although wouldn't likely be considered applicable to jobs you went to college for. But it's a paycheck......
Answered by Judy

Call centers and other telephone careers notice when you have had previous call center experience, so it is not completely wasted. Some of them even prefer that you have at least 6 months experience in order to hire you. It isn't a pretty job to have -- people can be quite rude over the phone at times, but a job is a job, even if it is just a temporary solution used to get by when times are tough. Experience is experience. It may not help you with your chosen career experience, unfortunately, but for a job in general it is still taken into consideration.
Answered by ladysorrowishana