by Toni Foyer

Created on: June 24, 2009

The sales industry consists of all types of professions from selling cars, pharmaceuticals to insurance. Yet, we fail to recognize those individuals that cold call for eight hours a day trying to sell a service or product to consumers as professional salesmen. For some reason, people put these individuals in a box and create a perception that they are unskilled and uneducated. Recently, after taking a telemarketing job, leaving only because of daycare issues, I learned telemarketers come in all shapes and sizes and are extremely dedicated and intelligent human beings.During the short time I spent with this company, the team I had worked with had an array of work experiences and all were extremely dedicated to the job. Needless to say, the organization that I had worked for hired individuals with very specific skill sets and personalities, unlike most call centers that hire anyone off the street that is willing to pick up a phone and cold call all day.

Being in sales, cold calling had become second nature but learning to read from various scripts without sounding mechanical does take talent. Imagine having to pick up a phone trying to convey in a matter of seconds a reason to buy from the company. This does take a certain amount of talent. Telemarketers are trained and tested on scripts, product knowledge and company background. This type of sales position is often considered the most challenging since the voice needs to express confidence and intelligence in a very short period of time. Negative comments and the hang-ups never affected me during the process of cold calling. I knew not to take the negativity from consumers as personal but only motivated me to keep on going with the next call. I would only say to those people that become irritated with telemarketers calling them, be courteous and treat people the way you would want to be treated. I realize I chose sales as my profession and sales people are not entitled to anymore respect than others. What salesmen do deserve is decent treatment by others. When telemarketers call you at home, they don't always expect you to buy the product or service that they are marketing to you. A simple no thank you or any other courteous answer is sufficient if you have no interest. I understand telemarketers can call at inappropriate times and they may call someone that is experiencing a bad day, but it does not give you the right to be belligerent or even rude. Remember, telemarketers are not deliberately trying to ruin your day by calling. They just want a little respect and to make some sales to put food on their table like yourself.

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