This week’s career memes acknowlege telemarketers, whose job it is to sell products or services by telephoning potential customers.
What they do: Identify potential customers from listings such as telephone and zip code directories, call prospective customers by operating automatic dialing systems and telecoms technologies, follow a script to inform and persuade customers to purchase products or services, respond to customer questions, and help complete orders by recording customer names, addresses and purchase information.
What they don’t do: Wait on hold for ages. (It wastes valuable calling time).
Educational requirements: Can vary. Some companies may require employees to have a bachelor’s degree and/or an extensive sales background, while other companies may accept relevant work experience.
Required skills: Knowledge of the products and services being sold, excellent sales, customer service and communication skills, and a tough skin.
Salary: A telemarketer can expect to earn an average annual salary of US$34,422, according to Salary.com.
