Hi, I'm Jessica

Posted on 13th September 2007 by Jessica Fitzgerald

Hi, I'm Jessica and this is my AOL blog. Think of it as my little window on life at AOL Broadband. Well where do I start? I suppose an introduction would be as good a place as any. So…. I'm Jessica, I'm studying Multimedia Applications and in my 3rd year at the Waterford Institute of Technology.

I also work part time at AOL Broadband, in fact I've almost been here 4 years now. I started out as a trainee in the Member Sales department, which is where we look after our customers and keep them happy, and recently I have become a SME ( Subject Matter Expert) which involves helping out other agents on the floor.

I'd worked weekends in a holiday centre before joining AOL Broadband, so I'd already gained some experience of dealing with customers. I guess it's turned out to be pretty useful because a lot of the skills I'd picked up with dealing with guests have followed me into working as a Sales Agent.

You've really got to be able to listen to people and have the initiative help resolve their enquires. Good communication skills basically. I like talking to people anyway (maybe a bit too much if you ask my friends!) and I'd found that from working with people that I got a buzz out of helping customers, so joining AOL Broadband was a natural step really.

The team here are really cool. Work can be a bit hectic and fast-paced at times, so having a good bunch of colleague's to help you out and give you some support is really important. We like a bit of team rivalry as well, and we're quite competitive when it comes to meeting targets. When you're working really hard together it's rewarding when the team meet its goals. You have to enjoy the thrill of a challenge and take a bit of pride in what you do.

And you know what they say “work hard, play hard” and that's true of AOL Broadband. It's got a really good social scene, but then I suppose when you're working together as a team you build really strong relationships and I've made some great friends here.

The working hours are pretty flexible as well, so it helps me maintain a healthy work/life balance and doesn't affect my studies or college time.

Blog Update

Posted on 20th September 2007 by Jessica Fitzgerald

It has been a hectic week for me so far as we only really started full lectures at college this week and after a busy weekend with the Ireland rugby match. There was a staff event on in Electric Avenue in town where we watched the match, we all had a great night as Ireland won!

In the member Sales department we have launched new offers for our new and existing customers which means more sales and more money for us. This is a great place to work especially when you're in college because the hours suit me so well, only a few evenings a week so I can spend the rest studying and doing project work or going out on class parties!

It's really good for my own development as well as with most computing courses you don't get to do any work experience, so most people graduate with a higher degree and don't have much luck with gaining employment without any experience. I will have 5 or more years industry experience when I am finished my degree and to be honest I would rather try and work my way up here because it is such a friendly environment to work in.

As the new offers for customers came out this week, we are kept going and time is flying. It's a huge opportunity to make a lot of money for christmas time as we will get paid for our sales in 3 months time.

There is huge competition between the sales teams which make it a lot of fun.

A Good Week

Posted on 05th October 2007 by Jessica Fitzgerald

Last week we had guess the minute competition where you guess the minute of the first goal for the rugby match and one of our team won an Ireland jersey!

We have a new intranet set up called Beacon like a social networking site within AOL Broadband, where you can keep up to date with new offers and check your schedule, we're all getting used to using it.

This weekend in the sales department along with the free tea, coffee and all the sweets you can eat, there is going to be loads of weekend activities including "Feel Good Friday" where we all get free lunch vouchers for the canteen and "Singalong Saturday" where the team leaders and coaches will play karokee on the playstation game singstar pack, there will be loads of prizes to be won (even if you can't sing like me) you just have to join in the fun!

The social club are having a basketball night in the WIT sports hall on Friday which is just a basketball blitz with drinks and refreshments in the Dome Bar afterwards should be alot of fun! My team also have a team night out this weekend where we will meet with our coach for free drinks and then go into town, so a jam packed weekend ahead :D