Even with the number of industries open for new hires, today’s fresh graduates, as well as other applicants, flock to one industry: the Business Process Outsourcing or the BPO Industry. With its success here in the Philippines and in the rest of the world, there is a growing belief that BPO jobs lead to easy growth and easy money. In other words, many people think that entering this field means guaranteed success.
However, let us take a step back and review this. Should we rush into the BPO industry before actually learning what it’s about? Should we rush into a profession just because it means instant growth? If you’re a fresh graduate, here are some things you need to learn about working in BPOs. After this, we’ll let you gauge if you’re really for this area.
What are the pros of the BPO industry?
While it’s true that working in call centers and BPO offices can give you the compensation and benefits that you are hoping for early on, that is a limited way of looking at things. BPOs are not just a source of income. They can actually contribute to your personal and professional growth.
Usually, BPO services are international entities. Although you’re stationed here in the Philippines, you’ll be working with clients from all over the world (depending on your office). You’ll be exposed to different situations and people, giving you the chance to gain the experience that you’re looking for. In fact, call centers welcome with open arms both fresh graduates and undergraduates.
(SEE ALSO: 3 Common Call Center Ailments)
There are actually various fields in BPOs. Of course, there’s the Sales and Marketing department, where employees speak directly to customers and clients. Others include 1) IT and Programming, 2) Accounting and Finance, 3) Business Development, 4) Human Resources, 5) Production and 6) Quality Management. You can do research on these and on other departments if you wish. The bottom line is BPOs are not only limited to calling and answering. There are a lot of jobs there.
These BPO offices offer a wide range of training programs for their employees. These workshops help individuals develop skills not
only for the workplace but for everywhere else. These usually focus on areas like phone etiquette, communication skills, team. With that in mind, you’re sure to rise up the BPO ladder. Most call centers acknowledge the efforts of hardworking employees. In fact, there are some cases that by 2-3 months, agents get promoted to team leaders. In addition to that, BPOs are a growing industry in the world. For sure, you won’t have to worry about recession (at least for now).building activities and many others. Many of these are helpful in the real world.
What are the cons of the BPO industry?
Regardless of the fact that you get a stable career with call centers, it’s not always good. There are a few things you should remember. Due to the fact that your clients are mostly from other parts of the globe, you really have to adjust to their schedule. That is why most BPOs have the dreaded “night shift schedule”. It is rare for call center agents to work day shift unless they don’t come into contact with clients and affiliates. Because of that, you will have to adjust your whole lifestyle completely less time with friends and family; less time to go to the mall and so on.
Not many people are able to adjust well to the night shift environment. Majority actually experience things such as sudden weight loss/gain (because of the abrupt change in eating and sleeping habits); mild migraine (for some); and many others. There are also those who get sick more often. Although the salary is good, it cannot be denied that spending for medicine is actually costly.
Speaking of costly, food and drinks are also a disadvantage. Unless you can bring food from home, you will have to spend for them in convenience stores or in fast food joints. As you can see, if you’re working in a night shift schedule, there are no carinderias or cafeterias open. There is however pantries with vending machines inside. Even so, you will have to shell out money.
When you’re working in a BPO, you should be prepared for everything. It is very inevitable for you to shift schedules. When that happens, you will have to adjust over and over again. It is quite tedious and it can really cause a lot of things for your health and lifestyle. Aside from the change in office hours, you should also remember that because the BPO industry is continuously growing, it is very fast paced. You are expected to act accordingly. For some the pressure can be too much. That is why, if you decide to enter this field of work, make sure you are prepaed physically, mentally and emotionally!
Now that you know the pros and cons of the BPO industry, it will be easier for you to decide whether or not you want to pursue a career in this area. Make sure that you weight everything besides the salary. Good luck!
