It's not Kansas, but it's not H*ll, either

So I have been in customer service for a week and three days.
The first three days were the worst and were reflected in the previous blog.
On Monday, my temporary job became much better defined and now I am (gasp - dare I say it?) actually enjoying being on the phones.
All I have to do is help college students register for services. It's not rocket science and it sure isn't the all-encompassing job that the other customer service representatives are doing.
I have real admiration for these women who spend their day dealing with customers over the telephone. What freaked me out when I was training with Mary was knowing that when the telephone rang, somebody had a problem. Folks seldom call to say "Thanks just for being there for me!"
Just hearing the ring made my heart beat faster. I felt like the lab rat in college that we trained to take a drink every time he heard a bell ring.
I like listening to the reps handle the calls. They are so cool and professional. Always polite even when the caller is not. Remember I was wondering why the reps are all women? It is because of that nurturing side. I can just imagine the Ump taking one of these calls.
Ump: "What do you want?"
Customer: "Um, is this customer service?"
Ump: "Yeah."
Customer: "Well, I have a question about my service."
Ump:
Customer: "Are you there?"
Ump: "Yeah."
Customer: "I said I have a question."
Ump: "I heard you."
Customer: "Well, do you want to hear my question?"
Ump: "Not really."
Customer: "What?"
Ump: "Listen, you're wasting my time. Do you think I want to listen to you whining all morning?"
Customer: "Uh? No. Sorry."
Ump: "That's more like it. Have a nice day."
Click.
I have had my share of comical moments,
One of the first questions I have to ask is what complex the student lives in. My mistake was to say "Where are you?" on one occasion only to have the student reply "In my apartment."
I also have to ask the students to come up with a password so they can access their accounts.
Me: "OK. I need you to pick a password between six and 10 characters..."
Student: Silence
Me: Hello?
Student: "Yes?"
Me: "I said you need to pick a password."
Student: "Am I supposed to tell you what it is?"
Me: Eyes rolling heavenward "Yes, please."
My favorite password yesterday was Misthang. One boy had a password that was rather rude. I wanted to ask him what his mother would say about that password.
On several occasions someone's boyfriend or girlfriend would do the communicating for them. And once I had a conversation with a Mom who was talking to me on one phone and her son on the other.
I've learned to take things in stride, just like the women around me. I hear them get off a tough call and share the details like soldiers sharing war stories. Their camaraderie is not part of the job - just who they are.
I certainly have not attained their level of confidence, but I can mimic it and so far that has worked for me.
I will be happy to return to my cube after my tour of duty, but I will miss hearing those war stories.