Applying for a job can be very daunting for first-time job seekers. The stress is more pronounced because new applicants don't know what to expect in a job interview. While there is no substitute for experience, you can arm yourself with more confidence by familiarizing yourself on what to expect when applying as a call center agent.
Recruitment sites will be brimming with people. There will be plenty of applicants like you. For recruiters it is easy to spot the newbies from those who already have experience. Most new applicants are timid and formal, whereas experienced agents are more confident and relaxed. Job experience is not the main and only basis for hiring recruits however so don't feel intimidated if you feel you don't have much going on your resume. Be prepared to wait long hours though as there will only be a limited number of recruiters to go over a very long list of applicants. You will be asked to fill up a form which includes information about your educational background and job experience, your previous employers, references, your social security and BIR number, and affix your signature that all information declared is true.
When your name is first called, expect to be ushered into a room where you will have your first interview. You will be asked general questions about yourself, your educational background as well as your experience. The recruiter will be assessing your communication skills so make sure to give a good impression.
If you pass the first interview, the next step will be to take the computer test. The computer test will assess your comprehension, verbal and listening skills. To be more specific, you will be asked to read specific sentences on the screen, repeat sentences and paragraphs played from an audio file, as well as answer questions related to grammar. The computer test will also check if you can type fast enough and if you can navigate your way on a computer with a keyboard and a mouse.
After you pass the computer test, you will have your final interview. Questions asked are similar to the initial interview, but you are expected to expound more. Reading an article about answering the 50 most asked interview questions would be a good idea as most recruiters really just ask the basic questions like "why do you want to work in a call center?", "how do you see yourself five years from now?", "tell me about your job experience" etc. Pageant or philosophical questions rarely happen so don't waste your time researching or thinking of ways to answer them. Recruiters are there to assess if you have what it takes to work as an agent, so focus on your communication skills and sell yourself by being professional and pleasant.
If you passed the final interview, you will be asked to come back for your job offer. Some companies will call you back after a week or two, but most will sign you up same day as you applied. Now if you don't get hired, don't despair and give up. The first time may not always be a charm but keep applying as there are several call centers out there and each have different "profile" requirements. What one call center may reject, another may find potential in. So keep persevering!
