Criteria for public relations jobs

[JLM]

During the past two months I've had a lot of contact with people who have to deal with concerns from the public. I know this is just MY opinion but I'm honesty beginning to wonder, if the main criteron for qualifying for these positions is the INABILITY to speak and understand English. Am I onto something?

 

[karrie]

Customer service ranks right up there with cleaning latrines with your tongue, in terms of desirability as a job. Anyone who can speak English well, can get a job where they don't have to swallow people's crap like that all day long. It's not a job requirement... it's a job symptom.

 

[JLM]

Customer service ranks right up there with cleaning latrines with your tongue, in terms of desirability as a job. Anyone who can speak English well, can get a job where they don't have to swallow people's crap like that all day long. It's not a job requirement... it's a job symptom.

I'll give you 50% on that, a lot of people are shy on manners. Recently in my new town, I went to the medical walk in clinic and a young woman of south Asian descent took down my particulars. She asked me for my mailing address, I told her "General Delivery" Vernon which she asked me to repeat three times before asking me to spell it. When I got a form to take to the lab I noticed a sticker attached with my information. She had the word "delivery" all F*^&#d up.

 

[bobnoorduyn]

I think karrie has it right in that no one wants the job because it pays crap. You have have to deal with the public, and I am astounded by how clued out, rude, obnoxious, and abusive some of this public can be, and to have people deal with it you simply have to pay them more.

And, JLM, the front line employee you were dealing with likely wouldn't last in anything but one of the few games in town of its kind, (like a government service) and would instead be relegated to the complaints depeartment or help desk at any private enterprise. Probably with an uplift in wage especially if she were able to get you and others to give up and leave promptly at no cost to her empoyer.

There is a balance companies have to achieve, when is best to p*ss of the customers, before they buy, or after. Myself, I worked hard to get myself out of a position where I have to deal with the general public, or even general customers. For some reason I still I carry some unseen label of authority and am constantly accosted and asked questions I have no answer for. I have learned some answers recently that work especially well in Quebec, "Я не понимаю, Я не знаю". It is more comforting to draw blank stares than the looks of disgust I would if I answer'ed "I don't understand, I don't know" in Engleeski. Some of us look ignorant on purpose ;-) .

 

[JLM]

I think karrie has it right in that no one wants the job because it pays crap. You have have to deal with the public, and I am astounded by how clued out, rude, obnoxious, and abusive some of this public can be, and to have people deal with it you simply have to pay them more.

And, JLM, the front line employee you were dealing with likely wouldn't last in anything but one of the few games in town of its kind, (like a government service) and would instead be relegated to the complaints depeartment or help desk at any private enterprise. Probably with an uplift in wage especially if she were able to get you and others to give up and leave promptly at no cost to her empoyer.

There is a balance companies have to achieve, when is best to p*ss of the customers, before they buy, or after. Myself, I worked hard to get myself out of a position where I have to deal with the general public, or even general customers. For some reason I still I carry some unseen label of authority and am constantly accosted and asked questions I have no answer for. I have learned some answers recently that work especially well in Quebec, "Я не понимаю, Я не знаю". It is more comforting to draw blank stares than the looks of disgust I would if I answer'ed "I don't understand, I don't know" in Engleeski. Some of us look ignorant on purpose ;-) .

If you are doing a job that pays "crap", maybe there is no demand for your "skills" in a higher paying job. I would think if I were in that position, I'd want to do the best job for the company, hoping they would do things for me to encourage me to stay and give me a chance to improve my resume, like maybe occasional raises and job training opportunities.

 

[bobnoorduyn]

If you are doing a job that pays "crap", maybe there is no demand for your "skills" in a higher paying job. I would think if I were in that position, I'd want to do the best job for the company, hoping they would do things for me to encourage me to stay and give me a chance to improve my resume, like maybe occasional raises and job training opportunities.

Yes, but not everyone thinks that way, and not a lot of companies either. A major corporation I am close to is advertising internally for workers for positions in Calgary, but because head office is in Montreal they must speak French, and they start below what Tim Horton's is paying out there. Figure that one out. Thnink they'll get the cream of the crop? Or the ones who can't speak English worth a crap?

 

[JLM]

Yes, but not everyone thinks that way, and not a lot of companies either. A major corporation I am close to is advertising internally for workers for positions in Calgary, but because head office is in Montreal they must speak French, and they start below what Tim Horton's is paying out there. Figure that one out. Thnink they'll get the cream of the crop? Or the ones who can't speak English worth a crap?

Yep, mix mediocrity with stupidity and the result is a real mess. One place you can find that is "Canadian Tire" in Vernon from automotive repairs (at $96 an hour) to the workers on the floor, who spend a lot of time standing around socializing and if you ask where to find something you may get a "head gesture" in the general direction. Also they don't appear to "know" their products.