As part of my new job I occasionally have to make phone calls. I hate making phone calls. I always have. I think it all started when I was in second grade. For the first time, my mom made me call my friend to set up my play date. I dialed the wrong number, and instead of getting my friend's house, I got the local grocery store. I was so horrified that I just hung up the phone and didn't say anything.
I remember my parents used to make me call people just because I hated doing it, and they thought I would get over my fear by practicing. Calling my friends or family wasn't so bad, but calling people to ask for something was what I specifically hated. When I got Nutmeg, my horse, I had to call the vet and the blacksmith and the horse dentist (little known fact: horses' teeth have to be filed down about once a year because they wear down unevenly). I HATED calling these people, especially the blacksmith. It's funny, because I knew the blacksmith personally. He was my softball coach. He coached my sister's AAU basketball team. Nevertheless, I dreaded calling him, and hate to admit that I often let my horses' hooves get really long before I called him to come trim them.
So anyway, my hatred of calling people has diminished a bit as I've gotten older, but I still prefer email, especially when I have to deal in Spanish. I write better than I speak, and read better than I understand.
But alas, I have to call people now for my job. Today I had to call a Chilean organization to find out one of their employee's job description, because my boss needed to write him a letter. I first searched their website, but found nothing. Then I called their call center, and the woman gave me the number for their central offices. I called the central offices, and asked my question. The lady connected me someone else. I asked my question again. This lady connected me to another number that rang for about 3 minutes until it disconnected. So I tried again, and explained what happened. They connected me to the same people and the same phone line that led to no one. I did a different Google search and found another number for the employee in question. I decided to call him directly. The number didn't work.
I felt really bad because I wasn't able to finish the task that my boss asked me to do, because it was time to leave. I suppose I'll try calling again tomorrow.
7 comments:
Que curiosa "fobia" tienes...yo no tengo fobia pero si ODIO hacia el teléfono, antes de trabajar como ilustrador pase por varios empleos y uno de ellos fue de telefonista en un call center de Movistar España y fue LEJOS, el trabajo mas desagradable de mi vida. Fuí condenado a atender llamadas de clientes (customer service) y ventas, eso por un mes y te juro que no quise ver ni atender ningún teléfono, ni siquiera el de mi casa. Solo atiendo mi celular y al igual que tu, prefiero el email o (skype en el peor de los casos) para hablar.
Creo que hoy en día ya no hay excusa para usar solamente el teléfono, hay otros medios de comunicación, uno de ellos que me gusta el e-mail y lo prefiero, lo uso mucho porque lo puedo ver cuando se me antoje y no me quita concentración en el trabajo.
This is the first time i heard someone is afraid to make a call, it's kinda weird.
In this email era we live in, plus Facebook, plus Twitter, I too hate phone calls!
I hate talking on the phone too, maybe not a fear exactly, but I don't like it and I put off certain kinds of calls I have to make.
I'm with you on this. I was really shy as a kid and to get over that my mom made me make calls all of the time. Stupid things like the dentist or calling to find out store hours. Really glad she did because now I'm over it (except I so get intimidated about Spanish a little but I'm hoping that will also change!)
Cbass: Jaja de verdad no es una fobia, solo lo ocupe de titulo porque suena bien. Pero si, no me gusta el telefono. Creo que para mi, trabajar en un callcenter seria como el infierno.
Anonymous: I never claimed to be normal. ;)
Andrea: Totally! If people would just check their email more in this country, I would be so much happier.
Annje: Yeah, I do too. I need to call my landlady. My lease expires tomorrow. Ooops.
Heather: Ahh so it worked for you! Not so much for me, I'm afriad.
Calling is scary! I told you I did collection calls in Spanish for about six months right? The first month was so hard/terrifying that my brain literally hurt every night after work. It got better though. I got a script down eventually that I would just recite if a, b or c happened. You'll do great!
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