8 interview questions when applying to a call center -The JobNetwork

8 interview questions when applying to a call center -The JobNetworkWhether they take orders or offer customer service, call centers are all fairly similar. So there are a number of common questions you can expect to be asked when interviewing for a call center job. Here are 8 to anticipate, along with some suggestions for how to answer them. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) 1. Can you tell me about yourself?How to Answer It Emphasize your people skills, since call center work involves talking to people all day. If youve ever done volunteer work, now would be a good time to talk about how much you love it. Just be sure to give a fleshed-out answer. The interviewer wants to know mora than the kind of information that is already on your resume. Go deeper than your basic statistics.2. What do you think a call center is like?How to Answer It Stay positive Maybe taking calls all day is not your ideal job, but if you really want this one, you n eed to describe a call center as an environment of excellent customer service with employees who are flexible, cheerful, and extremely helpful.3. What do you know about our company?How to Answer It Before going on your interview, do a little research about the company for which you are interviewing. Being able to rattle off a few details about the company in very positive terms reveals an attention to detail, a team-player spirit, and a willingness to do your homework. Not having a substantial response signals that you dont take getting this job very seriously.4. Question Why do you want to work here?How to Answer It Explain that you have the people skills necessary for call center work. If you dont have call center experienceand you probably wont if you are asked this particular questiondescribe your other work or life experiences relevant to call center work. If youve ever worked with customers or clients before, or ever had to defuse potentially explosive situations, you should m ention such experiences in your response.5. What is quality customer service?How to Answer It Theres really only one answer to this question Going above and beyond expectations is quality customer service.6. What are your strengths and weaknesses?How to Answer It This is a common question in any job interview. If youre trying to get a call center job, your strengths should include patience, problem-solving, excellent communication skills, fast learning, and friendliness. Discussing your weaknesses can be a sly way to further emphasize your strengths. For example, you can offer I tend to work myself too hard as a weakness. Just dont mention anything too negative.7. What is the salary you expect to make here?How to Answer It Ideally, you would just request the standard salary for someone with your qualifications rather than a specific figure. If the interviewer asks for a specific figure, keep it reasonable without aiming too low or you may end up making less than you deserve. Do some research to find out how much someone with your qualifications should earn at a call center.8. Where do you see yourself in five years?How to Answer It This common question is a way to find out if you plan to stick around or regard the job as a temporary steppingstone. A company is not going to want to hire you if you plan to move on quickly, so tell the interviewer that in five years you see yourself working for this very companybut promoted to a more powerful position

How to be an Effective Business Mentor

How to be an Effective Business ratgeber There seems be a misconception among managers about supervision. They often feel that it is a part of a natural process of management, where through daily communications, coaching and feedback, employees are automatically being beratered. In actuality, mentoring requires a more formal approach, which has, as its objective, the improvement of managerial know-how. It should prepare the recipient to take on greater responsibilities within the company, and evaluate how far they can rise in the hierarchical structure of the organization.Mentoring is how any company should prepare for an eventual replacement of the key members of the organization, including the owner and founder. Without a plan, program, commitment of time and a strong belief that mentoring, at every level of the organization, is necessary for the survival of a company, it will be nothing more than a haphazard process without tangible benefits. Small geschftlicher umganges are often highly negligent in using mentoring as a succession strategy. There are certain proven approaches to effective mentoring that can be duplicated by any business.Every manager should mentorMost managers, holding a functional position within a company, have been, in some way or form, guided by others. This may have been a formal or informal process, which nevertheless led to the acquisition of skills and knowledge necessary to have reached a higher level of responsibility. It is to every good managers advantage to find a potential replacement for their position, because it frees them up to move on to other challenges. It can be also seen as a form of reciprocation for the benefits they received from others, who have taken the time to help them raise their game. Taking a protectionist stand, and not passing on what has been learned to others, is a sign of weakness that will undermine the productivity of the manager and the department which they lead.Be honest in your evaluationBe aware when trying to mentor a budding entrepreneur that they may be overly obsessed with their business ideas and concepts. You do not do such an individual any favors by being uncritical of at least some aspects of their business acumen. There are always some flaws in the thinking and concepts of even the most intelligent and creative individuals. Good mentors will find the gaps and use their deeper knowledge to make the other party take corrective action. Sometimes an honest opinion may involve character traits that are negatively impacting progress. While, in this case, a diplomatic approach is needed, it is nevertheless important that it be aired out.Be humbleThe worst kind of mentor is one that pretends that they know it all, and approaches the process from an arrogant and intemperate perspective. Mentoring involves give-and-take, particularly where new ideas and creative breakthroughs are concerned. Using a light touch, and respecting the opinion of the other party, is always a bet ter way to implant useful knowledge. In this type of interactive context both parties can learn from each other.Be genuineMentoring has to be based on a genuine willingness to help the recipients improve their business knowledge or ideas in some tangible way. They have to be convinced that the information being provided is well-intended, and that the mentor is fully committed to their eventual success. A halfhearted approach to mentoring sends the wrong message, and brings no plausible changes.Provide detailsWhen information is restricted to generalities and platitudes, it is bereft of any real substance. The benefit is in the detail. Taking the time to break down business theory or practice into specific and practical applications provides lasting mentoring benefits. More complex topics such as financial controls require greater detail and real life context in which they can be better understood. This boils down to having a preconceived mentoring plan and agenda that systematically provides more enlightenment.Check inThere is no point in offering reams of information and not checking in on a regular basis to see if that information is being absorbed. This is accomplished by having the recipient summarize the imparted information show that they are capable of paraphrasing it when asked pose intelligent questions on the covered topics and extrapolate on the content with their own creative ideas. Never assume that they have absorbed the information until you verify this. Keep in mind that you may be dealing with introverted personalities, who do not easily express themselves, and have to be drawn out.Know the recipients SWIt seems logical that, before you can mentor anyone, it is indispensable to know their strengths and weaknesses (SW). This is to be viewed both from the business perspective, and on a personal level. A person may be a natural schlussverkauf person and have strong practical knowledge and experience in marketing, but have a poor knowledge of fina ncial controls. It is clear in this situation where the mentoring focus should be. From a personality side, a brash and cocky individual must be handled differently from one who is more self-reflective and analytical. It is helpful to draw up an SW profile and keep it in mind when devising suitable mentoring strategies.George Mikituk is an independent small business consultant and business owner with a mission to help entrepreneurs improve their management skills. He has recently written a book featuring a DIY approach to small business restructuring, available on Amazon. Hisprofessional websiteand blogs are dedicated to providing practical solutions and insights to small business.This article originally appeared on MyCorporation.