Money Management
This is something that isn’t talked about enough.
Did you know? 1.3 million people in the UK work in call centres, that’s four per cent of the whole of the UK workforce.
And you will find that more and more people entering a telesales career now are 25 or below. Younger people that are fresh out of university or maybe have tried multiple jobs which haven’t worked out are becoming increasingly attracted to the job adverts of sales-based companies.
When you are young, if you see a job with a basic salary of over £22,000 with an OTE of £45,000 (as an example) of course you are naturally going to be interested, and subsequently apply. These adverts will heavily emphasise the career they could embark on, and the very real potential there is in sales.
This isn’t misleading however, it’s true.
Sales is historically emblematic of a healthy paycheck.
Picture this: A 21-year-old, with little responsibilities receives a paycheck of £2,500. They may have bills totalling to £1000. That leaves £1,500 to spend, and I know that when you’re that age, you feel like you must spend it.
Younger people want money in their pockets, they want instant gratification, and they want to fund their expensive lifestyle. We all do, but for the younger generation, that hunger is intense and new.
From my own experience there is a still a lot to learn when you’re in your twenties and being rewarded with big pay checks can be dangerous. I know a lot of young colleagues who had troubles with money or in debt management plans – all because they didn’t know how to manage their money from the outset.
Saving money and managing it at that age is categorically not the first thing you think about. I was that person, I got into all sorts of money troubles which led to serious marks against my name, making it hard to obtain credit for a very long time.
If only I had the awareness and support when I first joined sales, things may have been different. I think it’s important to encourage young adults who join your work force to ask for help, and to reach out if they feel overwhelmed by the amount of money they earn. They won’t reach out to their parents because that prompts a child-like discussion. Support from your employer is different, it’s speaking to one another on the same level.
Professionally speaking, an employee who is in money trouble leads to desperation, which leads to poor performance, which leads to frustration and misunderstanding. It bodes well for all parties for there to be a ‘door always open’ approach for young adults.
Learning how to manage money can significantly improve your wellbeing and set you up nicely for the future. Professionally and personally.