Cold Calling

Never never ever again!

This evening I worked for 4 hours from 5-9 for the job agency I'm imployed by. Their client was a market research agency who wanted us to cold call people from the phonebook in a certain town in the UK to do research on a housing company which has recently taken over the council properties. The company is looking to provide new services such as building maintanence and leisure facilities and various other things to both people who own or rent privately and who have council houses.

We had to say that the questionaire took 10 mins when in reality it was more like 20-30. It was very repetitive and boring to both read and fill in. A lot of the questions were hard for me to fill in let alone the people I was reading it to.

I'm sure you're realising by now that I didn't enjoy this experience!

Most people were polite and just said no thank you. One guy replied to my, 'I'm working for a market research agency' - 'oh you poor thing, what a shame' and slammed the phone down.

Unfortunately we were being paid £3.50 per survey, and although I managed to get through the whole side of a sheet from the phonebook, I only completed 3 surveys - that means I get less than minimal wage. Of the four of us, two did 6 surveys, one 4 and then me. To be honest I think it's the luck of the draw. We all had random lists, said exactly the same things in pretty much the same tone of voice.

All three of mine got fed up part way through. I felt sorry for the first old lady and hope that I haven't killed her off. She wasn't feeling well by the end of it and couldn't manage to finish it. Oops.

Never ever am I doing that again.