Call Centres get a relatively bad press as employers and yet, the fact is that the staff tend to be a happy crew! I think the perception is too negative and not always justifiable. These are my 3 reasons why working in a call centre can be a good idea.

Big brands

Some of the biggest brands operate call centres in the UK and one of the big advantages of working in a call centre is that you really can get an oversight of the whole company. As CEOs of multinational brands go undercover and back to the "shop floor" to get a feel for their customers, brand and staff; you're already in a perfect position to get a flavour of all of these. In fact, you can't help but take it all in and what you learn could give you a foothold to move up within the organisation in the future.

Team work

There is, undoubtedly, a sense of camaraderie in call centres, some of it built around the fact that the job can be challenging at times - you have to think on your feet and remember your training. The workforces tend to be hugely diverse, and most people find it very easy to make friends. Also the staff facilities can be impressive in call centres. You have the opportunities to relax at breaks - further opening up the social nature of the job, whether it's playing pool or watching TV over lunch.

In demand skills

Depending on whether you're starting on the job ladder or looking to use your skill-set effectively, call centres are great places to work. Negotiating and interpersonal skills will be learnt or utilised heavily within a call centre environment as you deal with customers in a courteous and helpful manner. In addition your problem-solving skills will undoubtedly be called on. You're not just taking phone calls; you are networking, managing customer accounts, perhaps even training others and developing your own skill set.

In call centres, as with any place of work, you have to be prepared to work hard and show initiative. You'll find positives and negatives but if you are looking for a challenge and an interesting work environment, then I would definitely recommend it!