Conceptually, outsourcing is not new to mankind. Only this time, we talk of outsourcing in the business sense. After all, business is all about creating margin for higher revenue. Now, earning a profit is a two-way traffic. Either you can earn revenue, which is of course the primary goal of any organization; or you can increase the spread by cutting down costs. Either ways, it is a win-win situation.
BPO as the name suggests is an acronym for Business Process Outsourcing. It’s a trend that has gained momentum with the speed of lightning. This is being followed by most companies in order to reduce their operational costs. The competition in the international market compels organizations to offload internal jobs and processes to third party. As the IT sector developed to a global level, it became imperative for companies to become more productive and competitive.
Not only is the labor force down-sized considerably, even the arduous task of managing becomes easier. Out-sourcing has been in vogue ever since. However, with the introduction of specialized fields, this change in thought process and work culture has slowly emerged as a mandatory requirement to skyrocket amidst competition. The reason could be any – whether to strike an edge, or to avoid falling off from one!
In a glimpse, BPO is a domain outside of the main organization working for the client company. It is not only the overhead expenses that are economized; the investment in the manpower and administration is reduced to almost negligible. India has become the haven for major outsourced projects. Leading brands took the opportunity to experiment. There was no looking back since! India was no less in seizing the opportunity. The BPOs in India sprung up overnight as a refuge for the highly priced western economy. The west found the off-shore concept of BPO to be a blessing in disguise. This narrowed the gap of unemployment in India and increased the FDI. Back home, the situation was averse to making that extra buck, given the scarcity of trained personnel and a head count that cost a fortune.
The Indian market was congenial and ripe to be taken on. The resources were waiting to be exploited at a cost that cost the hiring companies almost nothing! The economics of business had taken on a new dimension. Be it the field of Information Technology, back-end processes for banks and insurance companies, voice and non-voice based customer services, front-end liaison in project management – The list has become endless, when it comes to serving the international market 24×7, 365 days a year!
Business Process Outsourcing to India has brought in various kinds of market to dabble in. Call centers for customer services, help centers for IT solutions, underwriting and billing, payroll and HR functions, data entry operations, medical transcription, centralized administration – are all an integral part and parcel of BPO jobs in India. Age and education are both on India’s side, and she has been paid well for it! The young generation is exposed to the international market. Courtesy social responsibility agenda in today’s business, the older generation and the home maker today has also been exposed to becoming independent, without exerting full time. With the increase in purchasing power, the direct and immediate impact has been on the standard of living in general.
When it comes to routing business processes into India, there is an absolute clarity at the decision making level. It is beyond doubt to acknowledge the fact that India has no dearth of specialized skill sets that can cater to diversified and demanding clientele. BPO organizations and therefore, jobs in India have enabled process synchronization conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection, keeping in line with the mantra of the west – no compromise on compliance.
Topics: Job Search |
Lanka eyes share of India’s BPO pie
Sri Lanka is emerging as a strong competitor in the IT-BPO sector. To know more, read on:
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Lanka-eyes-share-of-Indias-BPO-pie/674192/
Recruitment: JD(S) seeks Ramachandra Gowda’s resignation
Irregularities in the recruitment of staff in the Mysore Medical College and Research Institute and the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, has put the Minister for Medical Education Ramachandra Gowda into bad light. Read on:
http://hindu.com/2010/08/31/stories/2010083153670800.htm
India growth rate rises to 8.8%
The second fastest growing economy has registered a rise in the growth rate of GDP and inflation as well. For details read on:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11135197
Topics: Business News |
Writing a resume, despite how simple it looks, is not easy to write. Imagine the pressure of compiling all your achievements and committing them to paper with minimum words that will help you sell yourself! The key to writing simple but effective resume is in its presentation. Apart from skills and experience, a resume should also give the reader an idea about the kind of person, the prospective employee is. So, what exactly is a CV or curriculum vitae? It is a summary/overview of your qualification; past and current work profile and achievements.
It should essentially be a clear and precise document. Most employers just skim through them and the average time spent on a resume is usually between 1-2 minutes. All the more reason for your resume to stand out and grab employer’s attention. Some basic tips to write an effective resume:
- Summary/Objective: Begin your resume with a summary of your skills and work profile. Also mention your objective. Ensure that it is precise and brief.
- Key strengths/acumen: Highlight your key attributes and strengths that would enhance your competency as a candidate. Choose skills that are transferable and focus on those that can be used in your prospective company.
- Listing your work experience: Mention your job title and the position(s) you may have held throughout your work tenure. It is advisable to use bullet points while elaborating on your responsibilities/work profile. Mention all your job experiences in chronological order.
- Educational qualification: List down all your academic degrees and certificates that you may have received in recognition of your academic endeavors.
- Additional information: Include information such as extra languages known; both spoken and written under the heading Special Skills.
- Reference: It is not necessary to include a reference, but in the event it is asked for, mention the people who have known you professionally.
- Contact information: Write your full name, address, telephone number, fax (if you have one) and e-mail address at the end of your resume.
Resume should ideally be 1-2 pages and precise. As mentioned earlier CV is just a brief portrayal of you as a candidate and it would only help you in landing an interview with your prospective recruiter.
Topics: Job Search |
Most companies do not publish all the prevailing vacancies in the organization. They neither have the time to do that nor the time to validate all the responses that they get. With the booming job sector, the role of placement consultants in India is gaining wide popularity. These placement consultants prove to be a great help to a lot of job seekers and employers. Employers depend on them very heavily too when the requirement is in bulk; referrals and direct candidature may not suffice then. The consultants are a boon for the employers when vacancies have to be filled at short notices too, they cater to customized requirements in terms of profile, qualification, experience, domain knowledge etc. Since last few years these hiring agencies have delivered results for an amazing number of happy employees and employers.
The Placement agencies not only offer jobs or schedule interview but they also prepare candidates to face the interview. A consultant has the capability of offering a few or many similar requirements or positions to you. That makes one immensely comfortable to be able to look through the pre-requisites of each position and company and then apply as per your expectations and liking. Some of the good consultants also help you choose a correct fit as per your expectations and abilities. Some of them have a short interview session with the candidates who approach them for assistance before giving them offers for interviews. They assess them first and then suggest jobs. Good consultants also provide information about grade/level, salary fitments, joining dates etc. and assist you in delicate negotiations regarding these. Even arranging for meetings/discussions at mutually convenient time is a service that is highly appreciated by both parties.
The next argument though is a very age-old method of looking for jobs, is not a very contemporary one for everybody today. One because you cannot have referrals in every company, or you may not really want to or can work where your friend does and you may not be entertained that well if you walk-in by yourself as there may be candidates from a certain placement agency/s who would be given a priority in time. So this can get disconcerting and de-motivating for a job seeker.
Approaching a company directly or through friends / existing employees does appear to yield quicker results in that this approach wins you a meeting. But more often than not, this approach does not eventually produce the desired results. You may be hired without a specific job profile or job in mind to satisfy an intermediary again, which later can be very discouraging. Then, it may limit your ability to discuss job role and negotiate on your package, either because you are already obligated by your friend or acquaintance, or, you are too overwhelmed to finally get through the job and do not wish to lose it for a few more bucks as you may not have more offers to your kitty at that time.
So remember, change is dynamic and quicker we adapt ourselves to a positive change the better and profitable it will be for most of us. A Placement consultancy makes it a profitable deal for both parties, and you really do not have to bother much, as you can sit at home and be in touch with the agency from time to time after you have met them once, and keep looking for jobs and go out there for an interview once you have a good offer in hand, and all this at no cost to you. If you are hired, your company pays! It is by far undoubtedly the best way to search for jobs.
Topics: Job Search |
HP is badly in need of stabilization of BPO service lines to keep up with the players like Accenture and IBM.
Read more on: http://www.enterpriseirregulars.com/23367/time-for-hp-to-shephurd-its-bpo-business/
Automobile industry in India witnesses a surge in the car sales
Read more on: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10913711
Universally used social network becomes instrumental in recruitment campaign for an international accounting firm.
Read more on: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1008/S00237/internationally-acclaimed-social-media-recruitment.htm
Topics: Business News |
Telephonic interviews are a favorite amongst recruiters for interviewing prospective candidates. It weeds out the competent ones from the non-competent ones. Well, this can be a bit of a problem for people who are not very confident with speaking on phones. There are two purposes why recruiters prefer telephonic interviews. One is to check the communication abilities, attitude, adaptability of the candidates and secondly to check the candidate’s technical skills. Here are a few guidelines to help the candidates overcome their telephonic phobia.
Before attending telephonic interview, remember to check the static in your phone (in case it is a cell phone). If the line sounds clear, then nothing like it. But if you wish to play it safe, then always opt for the land-line.
Begin by grasping your caller’s/interviewer’s name. Use it in between conversations, to make sure you are saying it right. Remember to speak slowly and clearly. Indian speech pattern is faster than Westerners. It is recommended to commence the interview by enthusiastically greeting the interviewer “Good Morning/Good Evening” followed by his/her first name, “how are you today?” etc.
When dealing with an overseas call, remember to keep in mind the cultural differences that may arise. For instance, in the Western cultures, it is indecent to say “yes” or “yeah” as a way of acknowledgment, in between conversations. Also remember, there may be a slight time gap before your message reaches the other end. A pause may also signify that the interviewer is thinking of the next question. Remember; never interrupt the caller when he is speaking. You may put across your doubts and comments at the end of the interview.
You must extol your virtues to the interviewer whenever possible. An interview is not the place to be modest. You can start with your educational background; give significant career highlights that will help the interviewer zero in on you as a potential employee. After you are done with your educational biography, talk about your career and the role you played in it. After that, you may elaborate if asked to do so.
Another important point is never to answer in monosyllables and avoid negative answers like “I don’t know” or “I am not sure”. Instead, you can talk about other skills that you may have picked up and emphasize on your quick learning skills. It is advisable to take down notes during the interview in case the interviewer is giving out some job-related task.
At the end of the interview it is a good idea to keep some questions handy when the recruiter asks you, if you have any. Ask something which was probably not mentioned on their website. Refrain from asking about the salary/compensation unless the interviewer brings it up. Remember to thank the caller for his/her time and reiterate your interest in the post.
Topics: Job Search |
TCS BPO emerge as a winner in HR leadership
The business process outsourcing arm of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has emerged as a leader at Asia’s Best Employer Brand Awards 2010, in Singapore. TCS was awarded in six different categories for outstanding HR leadership.
Follow the link for further details: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/15081509.htm
Employment in IT-BPO sector to flourish by manifolds
According to Nasscom, IT-BPO industry is expected to grow four-fold to touch one crore by the year 2020.
Follow the link to know more: http://www.blonnet.com/2010/07/29/stories/2010072953000800.htm
Infosys BPO Gets Outsourcing Contract from Global Group
Read more on: http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2010/08/04/infosys-bpo-gets-outsourcing-contract-global-group/
Topics: Business News |
Looking for a new job? Well, there is always room for change. Sometimes it is a forced decision and at other times, it is a planned move. At some other times, it is an inherent need to explore options that might accelerate career growth. Instead of cowering or getting bogged down and vegetating with monotony, it is always rewarding to focus on the desired job / position with thorough investigation and preparation.
Before taking the inevitable step with certitude, make sure all the relevant documents are updated to fit into the selection criteria. The best practise is to be honest, in a smart way, by highlighting the skills and expertise in CV. The CV is the initial document that any employer would go through, within the first few moments. Mention your present status and achievements should top the list and be immodest enough to highlight them! If the information is relevant and adequately projected to prove ones worth, then half the struggle is over. The claims mentioned in CV should have sufficient material and substance to compel the employer in believing that you will be an asset, and not a liability to the organization.
First impression is the lasting one. Remember people who keep their dressing sense intact stand more chance of winning a job despite stiff competition. The old adage stands true till date, dressed for success! How you carry yourself, not only reflects your mental state but directly affects your productivity. Many an Organization of high repute, adhere solemnly to the dress code. Under any circumstance some unwritten laws must be followed.
In order to be hired, be prepared mentally. Walk tall, instead of dragging your weight. It is best to maintain an eye contact while conversing. Give a throwback stare and be sure to be thrown out! Sitting posture should be erect and not slouching. When asked a question, respond with confidence, not with arrogance. Remember that there is fine line between the two and it is best not to cross it! These are the subtle indication of a calm, confident professional. All this and much more only adds up to enhance the chances of securing a job. The basics must always be kept in view and practiced, irrespective of the fact that you may have been a winner or highly intelligent person with exceptional qualities.
Be sure to gather all the information possible about the organization you want to join. The inevitable question can put you on the wrong foot when asked “why do you want to join this particular organization”. The employer wants to know how you will profit the firm if hired. Come up with honest and to the point answers; be precise and avoid using fillers. Know yourself and the job profile. Expect the unexpected!
It’s easy and simple albeit hard work is required. Fulfilling the pre-requisite is just the tip of the ice-berg, you have to brush your knowledge and sharpen your senses. You are not the only one who is striving for that job. Be ready for rejection. Interviews can be nerve-wracking and strenuous. Remind yourself to be calm and keep at it, no matter what. Each interview will leave you with something new that you had never known before.
They call it “Trial and Error”, but we call it “Trial and Terror”! Overcome this, and know that there is no other option but to be rewarded!
Topics: Job Search |
So, here we are at last. Your CV has been shortlisted and you are called for an interview. But the battle is only half won. The interview is the actual battleground. This is where most people lose their footing. Do not panic. We are just trying to prepare you for every eventuality. If you follow a few general tips it would help you to a large extent to go through the entire process seamlessly:
• Get insights into the organization: It is advisable to have a basic knowledge about the company. Research and gather as much information about the company as you can. Visit the company website, read through press releases and company’s profile. If you have this information at hand you are sure to have an edge over the other candidates.
• Attire: Your personality forms the first impression; hence it is recommended that you dress formally. Having said that you should be in line with the dress code of the company and at the same time dress up in a way that would make you feel and look confident.
• Research about the job and prepare for the interview: Read through the job description carefully that you have applied for; the kind of responsibilities it entails. Prepare a questionnaire and their responses. Ensure you practice the answers that you may find difficult to answer impromptu.
• Be up-to-date on your respective industry and profession: When you are being interviewed for a job profile, it is not just about gauging strength and weaknesses; but also the knowledge base about the industry that you are working for. In case you are in the middle of changing career paths, it is advisable to research on the career trends, so that you are not caught off-guard. And that would help you to substantiate your choice as well.
This information may just help you set the first positive impression. Ultimately, it is all about marketing yourself and showing them what you are capable of, as an employee. A good research and pre-preparation would help you to gain a lead over the competitors and most importantly keep your thoughts calm and coherent at all times.
Topics: Job Search |
E-mailing/sending your resume is not enough, to make an impression it should be coupled with a covering letter/application. Essentially an application should prompt the prospective recruiter/employer to read your resume. You could either be applying for a specific role/position or making a speculative application to a recruiter. Either ways the format is more or less the same. Here are few tips and guidelines to write an effective job application.
Usually there are three segments of an application letter: The introductory paragraph, the main body and the closing paragraphs.
• The introductory paragraph: This should necessarily state your intention of writing to them. If it is about an advertised position, mention the source, the date and the position you are applying for.
• The body of the application: This section should be categorical. Here you need to summarize your skills and previous work experience, ensure to highlight and portray your strengths and acumen in line with the job pre-requisites. You can provide additional information which cannot be included in the resume, for instance if you are relocating or switching industry/domain you may specify the reason.
• The closing paragraph. This is an important segment of the application. This is where you can request/urge the prospective recruiter to line up an interview and show how keen you are to work with them. You should always conclude in a positive way and mention your contact details clearly. Remember to proof-read your application letter; it is as important as the CV.
Always keep in mind that the application letter is not a summary of your resume, it is rather a brief note that states your objective and emphasizes on the key points from your resume that are relevant to the role you are applying for. In a way it acts as a gateway to your resume, so keep it simple and precise.
Topics: Job Search |
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