Help My job is killing me

[macaroni]

I work in a call centre and let me tell you, its hell.

The product has this blaring fault wihch means we get calls every day from people who are (rightfully) furious. But the higher ups don't want to fix it because they don't see it as a priority (e.g they're too busy looking into ways to get more money and fixing issues would take precious time from that mission) so we grunts just get used as a punching bag day after day, week after week, month after month for the wonderful prize of minimum wage.

I can't even hear some passer-by on the phone without my body starting to panic and brace itself for conflict. It's depleted my mental health so bad I've been signed off work. I'm supposed to be using this time to look for a new job, but my mental health is so shit that I can't even go on job sites and see those typical buzz words like 'fast-paced environment' without struggling to breathe. I've been applying to jobs for over two years and I have a master's degree, yet I haven't heard anything. I went to a charity that's supposed to help you find employment by identifying what you can improve on, like your CV, but apparently my CV and cover letter are so good and they don't know why I'm not getting interviews so hey, that's fucking useless

My doctor has signed me off for another month but I don't know, I feel like both paths lead to suicide since staying at home isn't great either. At least going back to work is a fast track to death.

 

[unluckysadness]

I feel you. I'm disabled since 4 years because too much stress and other problems at my work. Only 1 colleague catch up on news. And she didn't for in the same office.

I should have quit my job before I got sick but it's too late now. once you leave you are quickly replaced and it's like your dead for them

 

[enjoytheride]

Hello! I can relate to everything you have laid out regarding your experience at the call centre and job hunting. All the PTSD you got from hostile customers. I really hope that there will be a breakthrough for you. Best wishes, dear fellow!

 

[macaroni]

Hello! I can relate to everything you have laid out regarding your experience at the call centre and job hunting. All the PTSD you got from hostile customers. I really hope that there will be a breakthrough for you. Best wishes, dear fellow!

It's actually astonishing how cruel some people can be just because they don't get their way. One caller made me break down crying on the call and then berated me for crying because "I'M NOT EVEN SHOUTING AT YOU!!!" haha

 

[enjoytheride]

It's actually astonishing how cruel some people can be just because they don't get their way. One caller made me break down crying on the call and then berated me for crying because "I'M NOT EVEN SHOUTING AT YOU!!!" haha

That's insane. I am very sorry. Doubling down after making you cry - that's just so inhumane. Some people are just idiots who think that when a person is far away on the other side of the phone, they can mistreat them without consequences. That's cowardly. The job surely teaches us a lot about what kinds of people there are out there.

Some of the outsourcing companies sometimes offer internal mobility to back office positions, where you wouldn't have to deal with customers directly. Are there any such options in the company you work?

A similar situation to the one you describe: a customer from Brazil on the phone berated me for not knowing the exact meaning of a word that is used in Brazil but not in Portugal. Instead of helping me help them, they poured their rage on me (plus I was a rookie, had started about 2 months before this interaction). Senseless person.

 

[macaroni]

Some of the outsourcing companies sometimes offer internal mobility to back office positions, where you wouldn't have to deal with customers directly. Are there any such options in the company you work?

There are other departments in the company I'd love to move into and am well qualified for, but unfortunately, they're never hiring. And when an opening does come up (I've worked here 3 years and it only came up once, one week into my employment) pretty much the entire call centre goes for it, and we're all very qualified

 

[Worndown]

I had a part time job that got me into a call center. I was doing other work.
The workers were very young.
It was absolute hell. All stress with management only caring about sales of a hard to sell service. A lot of tears.
There are better jobs out there.

 

[Six6Sick]

I had multiple jobs in social services. After a year of useless suffering I can't even fathom having another job. Yet do that for an entire life.
Best of luck to you for perservering thru such a job. I wish I had your strength.