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You're definitely not alone in dreading the work week. I think that's pretty common for most people. I do think customer-facing workers struggle with mental health for sure though. It's not easy being beat up all the time by angry people, and CSRs get the worst of that
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You’re right. It really takes a toll on your mental health. Dealing with angry customers every day is no easy task.
It's not just you. This job wears on everyone. Even though the work is easy in theory, it's exhausting dealing with negativity day in and day out. I dream of getting a job where I never have to answer phones again.
Your right about the stess. My store is a revolving door with new hires. We actually have police in the store and have had 3 customer set fires last year. It goes beyond everyday stress to the point where my employer has to raise salaries to get people to work here. The stress comes from my employer not adequately preparing us for our job, intentional low staffing, unrealistic expectations and no boundaries with bad behavior with customers.
I've worked many jobs in my life. This one is part-time for a reason and a dog and pony show.
I've wondered that many times myself. Some people aren't as affected by the daily grind as others. I've never found that joy in my work the way that some people have and I am definitely envious.
They are the kisses that coast through the day
Been in customer service for 20 years, I make it a point to make those calls Happy Days! Turn it around! Make bad days into good days.
It can be awful. I’m lucky I can turn it off. To be honest it’s a let it go in one ear and out the other. I solve the problem and let it go.
Its not you at all, being a CSR is a very grinding, emotional, and mentally exhausting job. I used to have anxiety but not anymore. I used to be afraid to take calls because I was always getting yelled at. My first job in 1998 was a bank CSR working in a consumer lending as a CSR. I was terrified but I had to over come it. It did not happen over night, one of my ways to remain calm is just let the customer vent if they are angry and help them and end the call. I shook it off after the call, and got ready for the next one. Its not easy at all but if I got over anxiety over the calls Im sure you will too! You got this!
I used to have this issue too, turns out I have CPTSD/chronic anxiety and medication has helped a lot. It took a while to find the right one but it was so worth it.
For the most part I try to separate the customer’s upset from myself, it’s not about me and honestly I don’t blame them a lot of the time. Now colleagues annoy me more than customers lol
Pro
Definitely not just you. Mondays feel heavier when you know you’re walking straight into a wall of complaints. Some people start their week with coffee, we start ours with damage control.
I started a customer service job at a small company a couple of years ago and for the first few days the managers wanted me to simply sit and listen to the other two reps before they even told me the ruled, fees, etc. I was used to getting those details first, but it doing it this way was surprisingly helpful.
One of reps would get off calls and exclaim "I hate that person!" and she did it so many times I was starting to wonder what kind of company I had chosen to work for. But when the other worker took calls he was quite calm, even when the person on the other end was upset, and I paid close attention to how he deescalated the situation.
Maybe it was age and maturity - she was about 20, he was near 60.
Or maybe he was simply better cut out for the role. Some people can take difficult calls and let them roll of their back when they're done. That's what I did when I started taking calls. I'm a woman and also was about 60 at the time, but I won't say younger workers cannot do it. Not everyone is cut out for customer service - at least that aspect - but it may be a learned skill. Overall I enjoyed my job.
lol p lol k9
I feel you. I feel the same way with my job everyday. I feel stomachache before every work week. I hope I can get out of this job Asap
What I think is the worst part of the job as a CSR is working with a team that make you feel unwelcome and not part of the team. Everyday, I had stomach pains dreading reading my emails or will I get help that I need when I need it and will it be correct? . I had a supervisor who constantly said "You think you're doing well? "You really feel that way ?" or even be told in a IM from a previous manager WTF after being asked if my last call was done. The team was very cold as well. I worked for it for over 5 years. Before this role, I worked with some of the best people in a call center for a different company, and they were wonderful, they would help so much and I felt fine everyday going to work.