AAA Brings Jobs to OKC

[Blazerfan11]

No, I'm suggesting I'm not interested in any of those jobs but that doesn't mean lots of other people aren't.


And guru, my two older sisters (neither went to college) have worked for Hertz for 20+ years and are paid well, have good benefits and lots of other perks. Both own nice homes in good public school districts and have put their kids through college.

Thats a thing of the past though. 20 minus 2008 = 1988 last I checked. Things have changed since then with regards to call centers...were they highered on as temps? Probably not....etc etc bla bla bla

[adaniel]

...and that is when this thread lost all meaning.

Kerry, I think you give me too much credit. Blazerfan pretty well took this ship down several posts ago. The unflagging lack of enthusiasm for 1,200 new jobs - jobs that many of us might now want to take but - that will create 1,200 more wage earners spending money with your business or mine, sharing life on the tax rolls and otherwise contributing to the local economy, is mystifying (hence my Company X post). To guru's point, these are not designed for the top wage earner in most households but if this is all you can qualify for, it's time to get more qualifications.

I couldn't agree more....

Everyone thinks that we should be going after gushy coportorate headquarter-type jobs only. I think that is a great idea, but it is not realistic. Do you think that every corporate execuitve wakes up in the morning and says about his or her respective hometown, "Good GAWD! This place SUCKS! Lets move the company to City X and spend millions of dollars doing so" I think peoples opinion in OKC about economic development is a bit warped by the influence of our neigbors to the south in Texas, who will gladly whore themselves out to get any sort of company. If they were to announce this thing in Michigain, Ohio, or some rusty old hamlet with 10% + unemployment, you wouldn't see folks complaining.

I think it great that people in OKC have high standards for the community, but the fact remains that this is 1,200 jobs we didn't have yesterday. No, it won't create any millionaires, but I think to whine about it is a bit petty.

Just my 0.02 for what its worth....

[MikeLucky]

For those of you that are saying this apparent sweatshop is no big deal..... the question I have is this: Do you think they will have a hard time finding 1200 people to fill the positions??????

Maybe their operation and tactics will be so heinous that even people currently scrubbing toilets will opt out..... I don't know how they will be able to even get employees.....

Will I be giving up my current position as a professional writer of 11 years to take one???? Um, no...... but then again there was a time in my life I would have killed for a job like that..... and contrary to popular belief, those people do exist in OKC.....

And if someone takes this AAA job and then decides it IS the third ring of hades, then it's STILL in their own personal accountability to do what is necessary to get a better job, or acquire the skills that will net them a better job.... that point doesn't cease to exist regardless of how bad, or good the AAA jobs are......

[Pete]

Thats a thing of the past though. 20 minus 2008 = 1988 last I checked. Things have changed since then with regards to call centers..

One of my nieces started with Hertz a few years ago and a nephew works for State Farm in the former Shepherds Mall. Both really like their jobs and are well-paid for early 20-somethings.

And as previously stated, when 1,200 jobs come to town, there are lots of managers, HR, IT and other types of positions as well.

[Kerry]

I have a family member who has worked at: Hertz, Farmer's, AOL, Convergys and many others. All of these jobs are dead-end meatgrinders. - soonerguru

Call center jobs are meant to be entry level positions - not careers. If a person works at more than one call center job in their life time they might want to start expanding their horizons. You are correct though – going from one call center job to another would really suck. I would think a person would figure that out pretty quick. Then again, obviously not.

[Blazerfan11]

yah, it's not really that bad of a thing I agree...

[adaniel]

On a related note, I just noticed that AAA is based in San Francisco...is this the "unnamed financial company" the Journal Record was referring to that has a lesbian on its board and was spooked by Kerngate about moving here?

[Dave Cook]

At least the personnel department at Hertz and various other call centers tell it like it is and discourage certain individuals from applying.

I know of people with degrees and experience making 40K and over at previous jobs pretty much discouraged from going further in interviews.

But when you need a job, you need a job. And that´s what these are, indeed.

[OKCMallen]

Gawd what a negative thread for something that is ONLY good news.

[andy157]

Thats a thing of the past though. 20 minus 2008 = 1988 last I checked. Things have changed since then with regards to call centers...were they highered on as temps? Probably not....etc etc bla bla bla

I thought you said that you have an IQ in the triple digits. 20 minus 2008 is minus 1988. 20 - 2008 = <1988>

[Kerry]

I think he meant absolute value: -1988 = |1988|

[kevinpate]

If you'd like to whine about call centers, please press 1.
If you'd like to apply for the next available opening, please press 2.
If you have an IQ in triple digits, why didn't you already press 0 to reach a live person? Project much?
If you are still listening, please hold the line and someone will be able to assist you shortly, well, in the not too distant futu... you know what, if we're so busy we haven't cut in by now, you may as well hang up, go make a sandwich and try again. We don't really answer calls in order, but we do adore passing out false hope by saying we do.

[bretthexum]

So you're implying that only fat lazy slobs work at call centers. You're hilarious. Many people start at call centers part time during college, etc. Many times they are hired onto a more professional role after graduation. As for the rest... at least they have jobs and aren't living off welfare. I am not going to knock ANYONE who is at least trying to better themselves or their families. Maybe that's the best they can get at this point in their life? Do you think they actually want to work there the rest of their life? Probably not... but at least they are doing SOMETHING.

If you don't like call centers, then don't work there.

[Karried]

At least we won't have to call India when we need Triple A service ....

[Karried]

Yay Bretthexum!

Seriously, I loathe people who won't take a job because it's beneath them.. sheesh, if it comes down to the difference in feeding your kids, losing your home, living in a car or ??? take the job at McDonalds (or a call center) and put our your resumes out in the middle of the night.

[sethsrott]

Okay, I have a 122 IQ (not the most intelligent but in the top 6% people of the world) and I am THRILLED to have AAA bring those 1200 jobs to Oklahoma City, because you must first develop a diversified workforce before higher paying employers will consider Oklahoma City.

I think we need to take what we can get...while the rest of the country is in a recession people being laid off (look at the unemployment numbers) Oklahoma City is adding 1200 jobs?! and we are complaining about it?!

Would I love a Citi or JP Morgan to move their headquarters to Oklahoma City? Yes, do I think that is realistic when people from around the country and the world think that we still have gun fights in the street while we pump oil? No. We need to diversify before we can develop the high paying jobs that I think EVERYONE on this forum wants to see.

[Midtowner]

So you're implying that only fat lazy slobs work at call centers. You're hilarious. Many people start at call centers part time during college, etc. Many times they are hired onto a more professional role after graduation. As for the rest... at least they have jobs and aren't living off welfare. I am not going to knock ANYONE who is at least trying to better themselves or their families. Maybe that's the best they can get at this point in their life? Do you think they actually want to work there the rest of their life? Probably not... but at least they are doing SOMETHING.

If you don't like call centers, then don't work there.

I doubt anyone thinks that a new call center and new jobs is a bad thing. More jobs is always a good thing. I don't care what kind of jobs they are, jobs are good.

What is bad is that OKC is apparently having a tough time attracting businesses which aren't call centers.

It is legitimate to be concerned that OKC's image in the corporate world is one where we have a ready work force which is generally poorly educated and will accept low pay.

[andy157]

I think he meant absolute value: -1988 = |1988|

Kerry, I bet your right. I never would have thought of that. Even if I had wanted to. I only got 1.75 digits.

[OKCMallen]

I doubt anyone thinks that a new call center and new jobs is a bad thing. More jobs is always a good thing. I don't care what kind of jobs they are, jobs are good.

What is bad is that OKC is apparently having a tough time attracting businesses which aren't call centers.

It is legitimate to be concerned that OKC's image in the corporate world is one where we have a ready work force which is generally poorly educated and will accept low pay.

Well, then we can start a thread about that instead of raining on the 1200 job parade.

[Midtowner]

Well, then we can start a thread about that instead of raining on the 1200 job parade.

I'll rain on any 'ol parade I feel like rainin' on.

[andy157]

I doubt anyone thinks that a new call center and new jobs is a bad thing. More jobs is always a good thing. I don't care what kind of jobs they are, jobs are good.

What is bad is that OKC is apparently having a tough time attracting businesses which aren't call centers.

It is legitimate to be concerned that OKC's image in the corporate world is one where we have a ready work force which is generally poorly educated and will accept low pay.

Midtowner,I think your last statement says it all. Although I would have to somewhat disagree with your first comment, there are some who think they're bad. I'm not one of them. Any job, is a good job, for someone.

What bothers me more than anything, is when these companies roll into town with their hand out for huge incentives, while making huge promises to create hundreds, if not thousands of new jobs. It's happen time and time again. They get the money, but we don't get the jobs we were baited with.

Tower Tech, Owens Corning, Quad-Graphics, Dell, just to name a few. I'm sure there are many who have met, or even exceeded their end of the deal. And I applaud them. For those who fell short, and didn't make good on their promises, we did at least get some new jobs. I will consider my glass half full.

[bornhere]

Would this look better to everyone if AAA demanded $20 million or $50 million in tax incentives before coming here?

[Kerry]

I have an extreme dislike for any tax directly tied to earnings, either individual or corporate. I agree with the founding fathers that labor and the rewards of labor should not be taxed period and I will support 100&#37; any legal means to avoid paying such taxes. So to answer your question, no it wouldn't bother me.

[kevinpate]

Having never seen the insides of one, what's the pros and cons of call center employment beyond mundane work with limited advancement possibilities

[JLCinOKC]

I have worked in a call center and my fellow coworkers referred to it as the soul-sucking abyss! We had decent pay, great benefits and the company treated us very well, but the work was mind numbing.