Smooth Operator
Well, I've been working the phone lines for a day and a half. So far I haven't made my terminal explode or gone home crying, so I feel like a success. I'm not the most assertive person, so I've been wasting a lot of precious seconds apologizing to people about not being able to find the phone number they want, even when it's obviously their fault and not mine. Like the man who called up and wanted me to find his brother's phone number in Florida. No city, just somewhere in Florida. Or the people who call for their own doctor's phone number, but have no idea how to spell his or her name. Wake up, people. Shouldn't you have written that down somewhere? At least the doctor's name and the address.
My job would be a lot easier if people would talk slower and turn off the TV or radio. And if you're in the car, try rolling up the window before you call information, unless you like repeating yourself and having to spell everything out because I can't understand a thing you're saying. Another thing, operators get in trouble if they spend too much time on any one call, so don't take it personally if we hang up when you're right in the middle of saying thanks. Usually my finger is hovering over the call complete button as soon as I find the right number, just a second away from sending your call into oblivion. By the time my brain realizes my ears are hearing you start to say thanks or whatever, my finger has already darted down like a cobra on a furry little rat.
Monday, June 14, 2004
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Can You Hear Me Now?
I have been training with the phone company for 3 days so far. I think it will be okay, once I get comfortable with the keyboard. I'm used to this shrunken laptop keyboard. Plus, they changed some of the keys. For instance,the 'enter' key is what you push to look up a business and the right 'shift' key is what you push to look up a residential listing. I have to watch what I write about in here because I can't reveal any trade secrets. Not that I know any trade secrets. Not yet anyway.
A little operator trivia:
1) An operator that works 8 hours will deal with up to 1000 customers.
2) An operator is expected to average 25 seconds per call.
3) Telephone operators are union workers. I'm in the union, but I have no idea what union I'm in.
4) They made me take a drug test to give you the phone number for DialTix.
5) Verizon has KICK ASS insurance!
6) If you want a phone number, get your pen and paper BEFORE you call 411.
7) The operator can't get you Madonna's phone number, or Orlando Bloom's phone number, no matter how much you beg.
8) If you don't have any idea where a business is, don't get pissy when the operator can't find the number. Maybe you should've called Miss Cleo.
9) Verizon is 'adoption friendly' and will help pay for an adoption, and even give me maternity leave.
10) If you call information and the operator can't find the number it's not his or her fault. We only work with a couple of data bases. I'm sure your cousin really does own a dry cleaner on 5th called High and Dry, but if it's in a different data base I'll never find it no matter how hard I look.
I have been training with the phone company for 3 days so far. I think it will be okay, once I get comfortable with the keyboard. I'm used to this shrunken laptop keyboard. Plus, they changed some of the keys. For instance,the 'enter' key is what you push to look up a business and the right 'shift' key is what you push to look up a residential listing. I have to watch what I write about in here because I can't reveal any trade secrets. Not that I know any trade secrets. Not yet anyway.
A little operator trivia:
1) An operator that works 8 hours will deal with up to 1000 customers.
2) An operator is expected to average 25 seconds per call.
3) Telephone operators are union workers. I'm in the union, but I have no idea what union I'm in.
4) They made me take a drug test to give you the phone number for DialTix.
5) Verizon has KICK ASS insurance!
6) If you want a phone number, get your pen and paper BEFORE you call 411.
7) The operator can't get you Madonna's phone number, or Orlando Bloom's phone number, no matter how much you beg.
8) If you don't have any idea where a business is, don't get pissy when the operator can't find the number. Maybe you should've called Miss Cleo.
9) Verizon is 'adoption friendly' and will help pay for an adoption, and even give me maternity leave.
10) If you call information and the operator can't find the number it's not his or her fault. We only work with a couple of data bases. I'm sure your cousin really does own a dry cleaner on 5th called High and Dry, but if it's in a different data base I'll never find it no matter how hard I look.
Friday, June 04, 2004
Pitter Pat
Can you guess what my latest project is? Yeah, pitter pat, pitter pat, and I'm not talking about puppies. I'm not talking about babies, either. My husband and I haven't been able to have any kids of our own, so we're going to adopt a foster child, or two or three. I have been browsing this web site like I'm going through the produce section at the supermarket. There are so many really good sounding kids that need homes. Some of them look like little juvenile delinquents, but others have that adorable lost puppy-dog look.
I've learned the code words they use in the descriptions. You have to read between the lines. They can't admit any of the children are psychopaths, or go into detail on what kinds of abuse they have gone through. I know any of them that mention RAD (reactive attachment disorder) or ODD (oppositional defiant disorder) in their descriptions are ones to avoid. Some of them say they shouldn't be placed in a home with pets or younger children. Avoid them, too.
There are a few kids I really like, but they don't really give enough information in the descriptions to know if they would be a good match or not. Just in case you're wondering what we're looking for, we would like at least one or two kids, about 10 or 12 years old. I would like more kids, and older ones, too, but my husband doesn't want teen-agers. Of course, if we adopt a 10 to 12 year old they would be teen-agers in just a couple of years anyway.
There are a lot of reasons why I would like to adopt a family group of two or three kids. First off, a lot of people would rather adopt a single kid, so the good single kids get snatched up quick. Two or three good kids might have to wait longer to find an adoptive family. Plus the government likes to keep siblings together, so they will help you out more if you adopt a family group. I think they even give you a monthly payment to help support the children. Another reason to adopt a sibling group is because if they are bonded to each other it will be easier to get them to bond with me and my husband. A single child in foster care stops trusting adults, and feels like he can only depend on himself. If he stays with a brother or sister he won't shut down as much emotionally.
Can you guess what my latest project is? Yeah, pitter pat, pitter pat, and I'm not talking about puppies. I'm not talking about babies, either. My husband and I haven't been able to have any kids of our own, so we're going to adopt a foster child, or two or three. I have been browsing this web site like I'm going through the produce section at the supermarket. There are so many really good sounding kids that need homes. Some of them look like little juvenile delinquents, but others have that adorable lost puppy-dog look.
I've learned the code words they use in the descriptions. You have to read between the lines. They can't admit any of the children are psychopaths, or go into detail on what kinds of abuse they have gone through. I know any of them that mention RAD (reactive attachment disorder) or ODD (oppositional defiant disorder) in their descriptions are ones to avoid. Some of them say they shouldn't be placed in a home with pets or younger children. Avoid them, too.
There are a few kids I really like, but they don't really give enough information in the descriptions to know if they would be a good match or not. Just in case you're wondering what we're looking for, we would like at least one or two kids, about 10 or 12 years old. I would like more kids, and older ones, too, but my husband doesn't want teen-agers. Of course, if we adopt a 10 to 12 year old they would be teen-agers in just a couple of years anyway.
There are a lot of reasons why I would like to adopt a family group of two or three kids. First off, a lot of people would rather adopt a single kid, so the good single kids get snatched up quick. Two or three good kids might have to wait longer to find an adoptive family. Plus the government likes to keep siblings together, so they will help you out more if you adopt a family group. I think they even give you a monthly payment to help support the children. Another reason to adopt a sibling group is because if they are bonded to each other it will be easier to get them to bond with me and my husband. A single child in foster care stops trusting adults, and feels like he can only depend on himself. If he stays with a brother or sister he won't shut down as much emotionally.
Thursday, June 03, 2004
Hooray for Verizon!
Well, I finally heard back from the phone company. Doing a little happy dance. I had just about given up on that job. The lady that finally called said she wanted to hire me weeks ago, but couldn't find my application. It turns out when they filed my application they spelled my last name wrong. Can you believe they made me take a drug test to be able to ask people 'What number, please'? I guess since I'll be on their computer all day they don't want me erasing my phone bill, or sneaking a free cell phone account or something. But still, a drug test, to be a telephone operator? I could see testing a bus driver, or a cop, or even a bank teller, but a telephone operator? What is this world coming to?
So anyway, I start my new job Monday. Tomorrow is my last day at the factory. I was looking around at work today, remembering what it was like when I started. I thought the place was enormous. I wished they had given me a map because I was sure I would get lost going to the break room. It's strange how places shrink the more familiar they become. Some of the full time employees told me they were glad I found a better job. They have been working there for years, and told me if they started now they wouldn't stay longer than a week or two. I guess when you are a full-time employee and not a temp you have to put up with a lot more management meddling. All I had to do was put the empty plastic jugs on the conveyor belt. I didn't care how much we got done. If we were behind schedule or a machine broke down it didn't matter to me. I was just a helper monkey.
Well, I finally heard back from the phone company. Doing a little happy dance. I had just about given up on that job. The lady that finally called said she wanted to hire me weeks ago, but couldn't find my application. It turns out when they filed my application they spelled my last name wrong. Can you believe they made me take a drug test to be able to ask people 'What number, please'? I guess since I'll be on their computer all day they don't want me erasing my phone bill, or sneaking a free cell phone account or something. But still, a drug test, to be a telephone operator? I could see testing a bus driver, or a cop, or even a bank teller, but a telephone operator? What is this world coming to?
So anyway, I start my new job Monday. Tomorrow is my last day at the factory. I was looking around at work today, remembering what it was like when I started. I thought the place was enormous. I wished they had given me a map because I was sure I would get lost going to the break room. It's strange how places shrink the more familiar they become. Some of the full time employees told me they were glad I found a better job. They have been working there for years, and told me if they started now they wouldn't stay longer than a week or two. I guess when you are a full-time employee and not a temp you have to put up with a lot more management meddling. All I had to do was put the empty plastic jugs on the conveyor belt. I didn't care how much we got done. If we were behind schedule or a machine broke down it didn't matter to me. I was just a helper monkey.
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