Ali, tell us a bit about yourself – who are you and where do you come from?
I'm Ali, born in 1987 in the Ruhr region, and grew up in Dortmund. I'm Turkish, my wife is German – and five years ago I moved back to Turkey, for family reasons. My wife and my four-year-old son are still in Germany, but they visit all the time. I'm actually a trained parquet and floor layer by trade, but that wasn't really an option here in Turkey. So I had to find something new.
How did you end up in the call centre industry – and eventually at yoummday?
As a floor layer, I had no real prospects in Turkey, so I reinvented myself and started working at a call centre for a large electronics retailer. I was there for a year and a half, was one of the top performers, always wanted more responsibility – but they kept stringing me along. Instead of promoting me, they brought in someone from another project as team leader. That was frustrating at first, but I ended up forming a real friendship with that colleague. And at some point he said to me: "Hey, there's this platform called yoummday. You can work whenever you want, however you want, wherever you want." I said: Sign me up.
Were you sceptical at first?
Of course. I'd just bought a flat, had loans running – and then someone tells you to join a platform you've never heard of. My colleague wasn't even signed up himself, he'd just heard that they pay reliably. But I thought: what's the worst that can happen? One bad month? OK, that's a risk I can take. I just had to try it. And every single time, my money came through. Right up to today.
What surprised you in those first few months?
Honestly, the beginning was a steep learning curve. I didn't even know what onboarding meant back then, and I had nobody to guide me through it. I fought my way through on my own – but that's also what made me stronger. And then a project took me on, and the interview was with my current team leader. I couldn't have asked for anything better. After just three days I sent her a private message: "I've only known you for three days, but I want you to be my team leader." She wrote back: "We'll make it work – I'll do everything I can to get you on my team." I've been with this project ever since – now going into my fourth year.
And today you're an SME. How did that come about?
I just threw myself into it. I built a reputation, and then other team leaders and projects started reaching out to me. At some point I was juggling three projects at once on top of my SME role. But my main project – I'll never let that go. It's become my baby. I get along with everyone there, whether Talents or management. They can count on me, and I can count on them. That's not something you can take for granted.
What motivates you to open your laptop every morning – especially working from home?
My son. I want the day to go by quickly so I can call him in the evening. And of course the money – if you're not on the phone, you're not earning, that's the honest truth of this model. You're in control. I was reminded of that recently when I had a side job with an hourly wage. Seven hours sitting there, fixed schedule, no flexibility. It felt suffocating. I quit after nine weeks. What I earned there, I earn here too – if not more. And on top of that, the freedom.
What's the best thing about that freedom?
That you don't have to ask anyone if you can use the bathroom. Or whether you're allowed to open your front door when someone rings the bell. Your own front door – just think about that for a second. That sounds like an exaggeration, but that's the reality in normal call centres. At yoummday, you decide when you work, how long, how often you take a break. I think this model is especially great for mothers: drop the kids at nursery in the morning, work for three hours, pick them up, do another two or three hours in the evening – all completely flexible. That's a real improvement in quality of life.
Do you miss the colleague interaction you'd get in a traditional office job?
Not at all. The moment I put on my headset and go online, I'm not alone – not for a second. Through yoummday I've found friends from all over the world: Malta, Greece, Bosnia, Mexico. Last month I got to know four colleagues from another project – they came all the way to the sea near me and we celebrated together. That's not something you'd expect. But it happens here.
Is there a moment with a customer that has really stuck with you?
I have moments like that every single day. Customers reach out to me directly and say I gave them great advice. That matters more to me now than being number one in the stats. I don't want a customer calling back two months later saying Mr A. steered them wrong. So I really listen. I once had a customer who wanted something we simply don't offer. I still did the research for him, found phone numbers and contacts so he could get help elsewhere. He was thrilled. Those moments stay with you – on both sides.
You've brought over 90 Talents to yoummday and invest a lot of your time in helping new people. What drives you to do that?
It has a lot to do with knowing what it feels like to have nobody in your corner. When I started out, I was completely on my own. Now, when someone messages me and says "I'm going through a separation, I have two kids and I urgently need something" – I want to help. Not because of the referral bonus. I actually told someone recently: "Forget the bonus, let's just focus on getting you started." I always say: I'll open the door for you – but you have to walk through it yourself. Opening the door, though – that I can do.
That's why I really walk new Talents through the whole process: going through the onboarding together, sharing screens, taking it step by step. The Talents I bring on board today have it so much easier than I did back then. That brings me genuine joy.
My biggest piece of advice for anyone just starting out: don't give up. Don't be afraid of being on the phone – it all comes with time, it becomes automatic. And nobody here puts you under pressure. In a new project, nobody has ever told me: "You're not good enough, goodbye." They say: "Here's how you can do that better." You are not alone. That's a huge difference from a traditional call centre.
Ali, thank you so much for your openness and for sharing your story with us. What you do for the yoummday community – not just as an SME, but as someone who simply opens doors for others – is anything but ordinary. We're really glad you're part of the team.