You just graduated high school and/or entering or already in college and you want a full-time or part-time job that isn’t in retail or foodservice. You could already have a full-time career but need a second job to supplement your income. Perhaps you are the creative type and just need a job to get by until your big break. In either of these scenarios, a monotonous call center job that lets you earn a paycheck without frying the brain cells you need for your studies, your main job or creative pursuits is the perfect fit for you.
Call center and data entry skills can afford you the opportunity to work in a number of office settings. Phone companies, cable companies, medical and corporate offices are all areas where call center and data entry skills are utilized. You can build your data entry skills in a number of ways on your own. Because each call center is unique, call center skills are generally learned through on-the-job training by a call center that has hired you based on your data entry skills.
Learn alphanumeric and 10-key-by-touch typing skills for free on the “Learn 2 Type” website. This website offers interactive exercises that adapt to your current skill level and train you to become a better typist. As of 2010, “Learn 2 Type” offers certification for the typing skills you acquire through their free lessons and testing. Alphanumeric typing consists of the alphabetical keys with the top row of numbers on your standard keyboard, while 10-key-by-touch is the group of number keys located on the right side of your keyboard.
Purchase a learn-to-type program such as Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing or Typing Tutor. This is a viable option to learn how to type if you have a computer but do not have Internet access for the free online typing exercises. Practice often to see your words per minute and accuracy percentage increase. Both programs will train you sufficiently to test well on a data entry pre-hiring test.
Data entry will involve typing by touch while keying information given to you on paper and/or entering data into field boxes while taking information by phone. For example, you might be required to record a person’s name, address and telephone numbers as well as the nature of the call in a fast and accurate manner when working at a call center.
Find A Hiring Call Center in Your Area
Apply for a call center position after you have improved or mastered your data entry skills. Call center jobs can be found through Careerbuilder or Monster.com. Many companies go through temporary agencies to screen and test candidates for call center positions so it would be beneficial to check your local temp agencies during your call center job search.
Anyone with a high school diploma or GED and data entry skills can apply for a call center position. The application process at a call center will involve testing of your data entry skills. If you are hired, you will have a paid training period where you will learn the call center skills needed specifically for that particular call center. Even if you have call center experience from another company, no two call centers are alike, so you will need to go through a training period.
Training at a call center organization is usually held in a training room with a group of other new hires. The amount of training time depends on the company. Training can range from one week to two weeks or more. Call center organizations have a variety of options for conducting training for their employees. You may be trained with a computer, head-set and mock program tutorial by a company supervisor, or a call center instructor hired by the company to train its employees on their phone and computer system. You will learn proper phone etiquette and what to do when faced with a variety of calls the company receives.
