Work - Ease and Effort

Currently, I'm working at a call center as a telephone interviewer. I call residents and ask questions about health and health practices. In a minute I will share my long list of reasons this works for me. First, the link to the questionnaires we use. Sometimes people are reluctant to answer questions over the phone. We give them the direct link to the study. So, check out the CDC and know where those statistics you read in magazines, see on the news, and hear in the media come from.

Just for fun, I have linked to my script. Eight hours a day I call and ask these questions. Imagine having this kind of information about a person you were planning to date, marry, or go into business with. If you have the attention, it is a long script, but with efficiency takes about 14 minutes to complete. Of course, it can take longer, depending on the responses.

I interviewed for the third time with the state agency for the same job they have passed me over for the past four months. At the end of the interview they ask if I have any questions. I could not remember it. Just drew a blank. On the way out I saw someone I know who shared that she too had received a rejection letter. As we shared our experiences in job search, she said we need to set higher standards. Then I remembered my question. "What's in it for me? Money notwithstanding, how does accepting this job serve me?"

I have committed to interviewing as practice in showing up authentically. Living my life freely and truthfully. When I choose another job, I expect my happiness to increase, my joy to overflow. Today I like what I do well enough and here's why:

1. I work in a friendly environment.
2. I am close enough to walk to work.
3. I work inside.
4. I have natural light - large windows within six feet of my cubical and trees outside.
5. I set my own schedule and can easily make adjustments.
6. The dress code is WAY relaxed.
7. There is great diversity amongst the employees - age, gender, race, ethnicity, expression
8. I get paid weekly.
9. There is filtered water available free of charge at all times.
10. I learn about varying choices of people across generations, populations, and incomes. 
11. I get to practice convincing arguments.
12. This is a low stress job. We come in, make our calls, go home. It could be and has been different, but today there are no worries.
13. I get to practice living in the moment, letting go and moving on, opening to the next opportunity, and keeping a smile in my voice. People get angry. They shout and cuss and slam the phone down. Next call...
14. I make a difference. 

Sometimes I can feel that I am making a difference. Other times I just know. Mostly I just ask questions without input, but occasionally the respondent needs to share their life story. There is no place for me to enter individual responses, but people need to say their piece. I am thankful to be there in those moments. I am also reminded again of why I like this job with it's brevity of interactions rather than a field in which I might spend 50 minutes in the process.

I've been checking out the customer service at home gig, but so far haven't found anything that works. Alpine Access requires travel to their office for training. West at Home requires $30 for a background check. When I know more, you will too. If anyone has better info, do say.

Until later... Hi-ho, hi-ho...