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Call centre

SUNDER RAMACHANDRAN

Biotechnology to BPO

I did MSC in Biotechnology and am currently working as a Research Associate. Can I shift from biotechnology to BPO?

Raja Rao

You can certainly shift from biotechnology to BPOs. You need basic computer skills and good communication. However, with your background, I would recommend that you look for jobs in Pharma BPOs or companies that outsource work in your domain. You could even consider the Voice sector but that will mean a career shift for you.

Summer job

I am interested in working for about 2-3 months in a call centre during my summer vacation. Are such jobs available and how much do they pay?

Arunil. M

Attrition is a big challenge for contact centres and they generally avoid hiring summer interns for 2-3 months as it takes that much time to just train and get you ready for the job. But it also depends on the call centre you are applying for. The pay would be anywhere between Rs. 7,000 - 12,000 a month depending on your background and experience. A lot of call centres offer part-time options and you could consider that option as well.

Domestic vs international

All the job ads in the newspaper are from international call centres. Are there any opportunities in local BPOs?

Jayanth

There are several domestic BPOs as well which hire candidates and advertise in the newspapers. For ex: Airtel, Hutch, ICICI etc operate large domestic call centres that only serve Indian customers. The key difference being that International call centres are more demanding in terms of communication skills as you should be able to communicate effectively with a global customer base. The pay scales are also higher in the international segment.

Team leader

I have been working as a call centre executive for the last three years and would like to move up as a team leader. I would like to know about the selection criterion and how should I prepare for it?

Vani

Your performance as an agent will be taken into account. The fact that you have been with the industry for the last three years will work to your advantage.

Every call centre has their own performance tracking measures and promotion strategies. In general, you would be assessed on your leadership skills, ability to motivate people and analytical skills.

(If you have any questions, write to - sunder.ramachandran@gmail.com)

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