These days we have many options way to communicate with others. Now talking on phone becomes something rare to do to me. I prefer to send a text message, an email or to have an on-line chatting with my family and mates. Therefore a phone call sometimes bothers me so much. Especially a phone call from an anonymous who is calling only to offer a product. I receive at least one akin phone call in a week. Most of them are telemarketer from a bank or an insurance company.
I often answer in an ill-mannered, and sometimes hang-up the phone right away when they are becoming loud-mouthed and did not want to receive any rejections from me. Sometimes I regret my reaction when thinking how disappointed the telemarketer will be.
Until one day I got my return. My boss asked me to assist other department in conducting a market survey on an offshore investment product. We have to call our big client-list and asking if they have any intention to buy the new product.
Following my experienced colleague’s suggestion, I started the survey at 2 pm. My first target was a woman who then asked me to contact her later since she was at the ATM at that time. I called the second mobile number on my list, but no one answered. I tried to call his office number several time, but the receptionist always said that the man was not at office. I put “Failed to contact” on the result column and moved to the next contact line. After that I could talk to the third candidate that immediately said “no” and disconnected the phone when I explained the reason I called her. The next woman I called also hanging-up the phone right away when I started to introduce my self.
After four times failed, I tried to call the client at their home telephone numbers. Finally I could talk to a woman who was with patience answering the 10 questions I asked, although most of her answers are “I don’t know”. As predicted before, the next five candidates I called were not at home. But I was feeling quite relieved by the nice responses I got from those who answered the phone. By the way they were talking; my prediction was that they are the helper at the house. It’s so ironic recalling the responses I got from the more educated people that was really impolite to me.
Then I move to the clients who are domiciled in other town. An old man – my prediction by recognizing his tone – was willing to join the survey. But what was happened next is I must listen to his 10 minutes complain on the services the man has been receiving in the five years of participation of one of my company’s investment-linked policy. I really wanted to scream so he could stop talking at the time. “Hey, I’m not a hot-line service girl!” Thanks God he finally turned down his voice after I said that I will report his complains to the company’s management.
The next conversation with other respondent was also got my nerves, so I decided to stop calling the clients. “I don’t deserve this”, I whispered. “I’m an assistant manager of a multinational insurance company who earned a master degree from the top university in Indonesia. But Hey..do they care who I am? Off-course not. What they know that I was only somebody who unexpectedly called them and bothered their activities at that time.
After two days calling, I got 5 respondents over the 30 clients list I have. My friend who often does the telemarketing said that it was a good achievement for an amateur like me. I really can’t imagine how stressful I am going to be If I have to do the job everyday.
Afterwards, I turn to be a woman who always tries to talk nicely to everyone on phone. But in the busy time, I prefer to ignore or press the red button when receiving a phone-call from someone whose number is not recorded in my phone-book. Because I can only guess if the unexpected call will bother me or not.
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