Horrible Phone Anxiety?!
Hello,
I was hired at Ralphs about four months ago as a courtesy clerk (bagging groceries, the lowest position you can get at Ralphs) and then was promoted to become their bookeeper within 2 and a half months. Normally, you go through cashier training, and then you can be a bookeeper if they promote you. (Our current bookkeeper is pregnant and so my bosses were scrambling to find someone fast to take over.) At first I was very hesitant to take on the job, but I decided to challenge myself and I knew I did not want to be scrubbing toilets and pushing carts, so I decided why not. So off to training I went, (10 days of the most stressful, brutal work days of my life) and after training was done I tried so hard to quit. (Suddenly pushing carts and scrubbing toilets didn't seem so bad) I decided it was just not for me, but I knew deep down that, I would be totally unprofessional since my bosses had already invested so much time in me. I needed to at least give it a couple of months. So along with bookeeping, I'm also responsible for directing phone calls to different departments in the store.
But I simply can't dial the department number and talk one-on-one over the phone with that employee. No, if you've ever gone grocery shopping, you hear a voice over the intercom/speaker calling to someone or asking a department to pick up a phone call for customer service. This is called paging someone/a department. When I figured out that I had to speak into the phone and have my voice be heard by all of my co-workers, bosses, and customers, I just about died of humiliation and anxiety. Tomorrow will technically be my third day on my own, and I know that I have to deal with paging people. I know it only takes a few seconds to get the message out, but you also have to speak up loud and clear. My job begins as early as 5:30 am, and wouldn't you know it, I am not a morning person. My biggest issue is simply picking up the phone, pressing the paging button and talking into it. At 5:30 am, my voice is groggy, gruff, low, scratchy, and along with my anxiety of talking loudly, this makes it near impossible to speak up. (My heart pounds, I get dizzy, and my hands sweat profusely) I wondered if any of you have gone through this much phone anxiety, for a job, and how did you overcome it. I appreciate any responses given. Thank you!
Hi Richere, We often make our lives more difficult than it should be. Think about it this way. You are paging for other people. That breathe, eat, and sleep just like you do. You are going to make mistakes at first give yourself credit. Get to know each person at that job become comfortable with each department and you will see that you made a bigger deal. Control the situation dont let it control you. You got this. Breathe, smile. You are doing a wonderful job! Best, Tru
My sister began working for Ralph's at the age of 18. She began as a bagger then next a checker/ cash register. The customers loved her to the point that if her line was long they would just wait. She had a chance to become a true cash handler ( manager, the one with the keys). She declined. Some people she worked with for years( she was in her teens when she started and stopped around the age of 25) began to steal even from her till drawer. I'm glad she began a new life because due to others, she might've went to jail or been fired.
U just need confidence in urself. Don't worry about what people think about u.
No I haven’t. You must have confidence in yourself and poise. Don’t be unhappy though. Make yourself happy no one else
Richere,
You are causing yourself so much stress over something so insignificant. No one cares what you sound like. All you are doing is letting someone know they have a call. Your voice is the last thing on anyone's mind (except for yours, obviously).
When I was a teenager, I worked in an arts and crafts store during the holidays. At the time I had to make pages to get customers help in different departments. Out of sheer rattled nerves, my voice would jump 3 octaves and I sounded like a little girl by the time I made my announcement.
I was horrified, until I realized, no one cared. Help still showed up, people still picked up their calls, and life went on. Nobody really paid attention to the voice, they just processed the message. After a few weeks I was able to use the paging system comfortably and without sounding like a little girl.
All that to say, no one but you cares how you sound. It's just talking.
You can also practice making your pages at home until you find the tone/pitch/cadence/speed and volume that works for you.
I know it's not as easy as just getting over it, but with time, practice, and repetition you will become more comfortable.
An entry-level bookkeeping job is a great way to begin a career! You are gaining such valuable experience, more than you could get from being a bagger and cleaning toilets. You are already in administration, now with work you can work your way into management over time. Grocery store management has HUGE income potential.
Find your voice, become comfortable, and page the hell out of those people!