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Resume Tips

The sole purpose of a Resume is to show the reader what you are

Many applicants believe that the purpose of a resume is to help them get a job. This is not true. The purpose of a resume is to help you get an interview. You will never be hired solely on the basis of your resume.

Resume is your selling document. It needs to be able to show your prospective employer that you are the person that they are looking for. This goes beyond experience, training and skills. It needs to demonstrate your personal strengths, capabilities and the type of person you are. The key to resume writing excellence is in presenting it the right way. Most people make the error of just listing their experience and qualifications, this ends up being a rather boring document. A good resume should not only demonstrate your skills and experience, but should also give the reader a good indication of the type of person you are. It needs to have personality.

If you are a new entrant in the job market, you need to perfect your resume before applying for your 1st job

Since you are fresh out of college, use your education as your strong point. Aggregate %, CGPA, accolades, club participation, etc. will be your focus

"Do I really need a resume? What should I write in my resume?"

These are questions which worry every college graduate looking for his/her first job. Welcome to the real world! Yes you really need to make your resume and how you present yourself in that resume will go a long way towards getting you your first job.

It's a myth that resumes of entry-level graduates are unimportant because they lack the 'pull' of experience. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not only is a well-made resume important for every job seeker, it is more critical for entry level graduates. A resume is a mirror of your professional identity. A well-defined resume impresses a recruiter. A sloppy resume immediately proclaims the candidate to be sloppy.

	The objective within the resume should be clear, well-defined and short. It should be aimed towards getting a particular position in a specific industry. Thus your objective should talk about the following: Position wanted; Functional area; Industry wanted

	The summary within the resume should sum up your resume in a nutshell and should be an opportunity to highlight your strengths. It invites the recruiter to read your detailed resume Sample : "Masters in Computer Application with specialization in J2EE/Web Technologies. Great operational, communication and computer skills. Good academic record throughout. Among the top three students out of a batch of 120 students. Undergone Industrial training in a top petrochemical Company.

	It is a good idea to include only those educational and professional qualifications which are relevant. Put your qualifications in a reverse chronological order i.e. the recent ones first followed by earlier ones. Entry level resume should also mention the names of their school and college, years in which they passed their board examinations. However, include your marks only you have shown a good academic performance.

	Work experience - An entry- level resume cannot compete with resumes of experienced workers in the area of work experience. But don't forget to list internships, voluntary work and summer training that you have undertaken. How you present these is very important. Make sure you clearly define your duty and responsibilities during this training.

	Read and re-read your resume for any mistakes. Check the facts, grammar, spellings.

	Ideally restrict your CV to not more than three pages. After all you should have some matter to talk about during your interview.

	Make sure your name, address, and a phone number appear on your resume and all correspondence, preferably at the top of the page.

	Never send a résumé without a cover letter. The purpose of a cover letter is to express your interest in an organization and to request an interview. The opening paragraph must get the reader's attention and interest in your employment potential. This paragraph should also refer to the specific position sought and areas in your background that make you an attractive candidate for it.

The development section (usually one or two paragraphs) highlights specific aspects of your education, training, and experience that relate to the position or organization to which you are applying. It also refers the reader to your enclosed résumé for further details.

The concluding paragraph should request action by the reader. You should request an opportunity to meet with the person to discuss your qualifications and employment potential in greater detail. Include information on how you can be contacted by providing both day and evening phone numbers.

It also needs to be a concise document. Most employers will skim through all the resumes and put aside only 5-10 that might be worth reading. On average an employer will only spend around 1-3 minutes on each Resume. In other words your resume has to stand out from the others. This does not mean that the resume should be full of graphics, colours or printed on coloured paper. Employers feel that if you have to use gimmicks to impress them, then you probably don't have anything to offer. The resume needs to have a clean, professional look about it. It needs to be easy to read and should look balanced.

The format or style you choose depends on the type of resume that you require, but no matter which one, the resume should always be easy to follow and read. It is true that we are selling ourselves through our Resume, we have to explain what all are mentioned in our Resume, the way of presenting is important in an interview.

To create an impressive resume, you need to pay attention to content, format and writing style. Remember, this document is often the first glimpse get of you. What do you want company to know? What can you offer that makes you unique and perfect for the job? Resume writing seems to be the part that gives people the most trouble. It isn't that hard if you follow some guidelines:

	Keep the words ‘current’ and ‘relevant’ in mind when you compose your resume. Company is looking for up-to-date resumes that clearly describe why you are right for the job in question. Keep your writing crisp, using bullet points wherever possible

	Format your resume such that it is easy to read and scan. If you are submitting your resume online, use plain text.

	Start talking about your major achievements early on. Be detailed, specific and quantify your work where you can e.g. managed a team of 10 members. This will allow you to stand out from the crowd and help them understand your level of expertise.

	List a few of your interests outside of work. They appreciate well-balanced people who can add spice to their work environment.

	Be honest. If inaccurate information comes to light later on in the recruitment process, you could lose your chance to join.

	Write simply and clearly. Jargon may confuse and bad grammar or spelling will only create a bad impression.

	Be sure your contact information is accurate, so that company can reach you if you have been short listed.

	Provide two referees - tell how (and how long) you’ve known them. Ideally, you would list your most recent managers so that company can understand the current information related to you

Interview Tips

What is an Interview?

An interview is a face-to-face meeting, for the purpose of assessing the qualifications of a candidate for jobs or admission to educational institutions or for the purpose of obtaining statement or opinion of any respected person.

Nowadays, several success formulas have come out to see your victory during these stressful moments of an interview. But they would fail if you do not prepare yourself beforehand and practice. These are not any difficult tasks. They will require just 30 minutes of your 24 hours.

Here are some commonly asked questions –

	Why are you here?! (never say ’’to attend this interview!’’. Say something like ’’I’m here to seek the position of.....in......’’)

	Tell me something about yourself (always asked. Never say what’s already mentioned in your CV. You may talk about your birthplace, your family and your personal interests. Keep the entire answer to 5 or 6 lines maximum).

	What are your strength and weaknesses?

	What is your work objective?

	In one sentence, tell me something about your personality

	When do you get angry?

	How quickly do you react to a decision?

	Tell me something about your earlier company and your role in it?

	Are you willing to work night-shifts?

	What is a BPO (or the domain which you are appearing for)?

	What does ’’customer-satisfaction’’ mean to you?

	Give me a instance when a customer appreciated your service?

	Why do you want to work in a BPO (or in the industry which you applied for)?

	What is the biggest challenge facing by this industry today?

	What, according to you, is the most important requisite for this job position?

	Why do you want to work in our company?

	Why should we employ you?

	What do you know about our company?

	What will you do if you’re not selected for this job?

It’s always better to be prepared. Regularly practice mock-interviews before the mirror. You’ll be able to notice your flaws and correct’em instantly.

More questions....

Expect some questions that are regularly repeated in many interviews. These questions form a base for the interviewer so that he can form a chain of questions from the answer you give. Let us list such questions, which we call Base Questions.

	Tell me about yourself

	What are your strengths and weaknesses?

	Why Should We Employ You?

	Why do you want to join our organization / institute?

	What are your future plans?

	Who is your role model and why?

	What Salary Are You Expecting?

	What do you know about our company?

These questions form the base for further questions. Let’s take an example scene

Him: What are your strengths?

You: I am honest, hardworking and reliable

Him: What makes you think you are honest?

You: I have never cheated with any person or never have lied to anyone.

Him: If suppose, you have to do a wrong stuff for the good of someone, then would you do it?

You: If it benefits someone then I won’t mind doing it.

Him: So this means you can break your honesty!

You: If only it benefits someone. Helping someone is a virtue and not a crime.

So, you see that the first question formed the base for the other questions that came up. The interviewer derives these questions from your answer. So think and talk. Never fall in the trap where the interviewer surrounds you with blames. This usually happens in a Stress Interview. So, prepare thoroughly for these questions and expect them coming towards you in an interview.

Dressing up

Sometimes, your dressing style can get you a job. However, this seldom works. But your outer appearance does make the first impact, which can make the interviewer have a preconceived notion that you are the one for the job. But I do not guarantee this will get you the job. Also, you cannot neglect it. Organisations like Jet Airways, Tata, Reliance, Wipro, etc. pay huge emphasis on your dressing. They prefer their candidates to come in formals.

Some companies are liberal with their dress code. In these companies you can go in jeans or any informal wear.

To get a good idea of the dress code, visit the company a day before your interview and get to know the work culture there. If there is a dress code, ask someone about it. Dressing does help and it gives the first impression about you to the interviewer.

Your conduct during an interview

Before entering the cabin, ask for permission. Like, ’’May I come in Sir?’’

After entering do not directly seat. It is bad manners. Let the interviewer ask you to seat. If he doesn’t then keep standing until he says the relieving words, ’’Please have a seat’’.

When you are seated, your legs should be firmly pressed on the ground. Your hands should not be on the table, and not folded. Have them on your laps. Sit erect and not bend.
Keep a smile going throughout the interview. This gives a suggestion to the interviewer that you are confident. The smile also reduces your stress and you feel comfortable. Try it if you want.
Never play with your hands or your pen or your tie. Be seated like a statue. Avoid clapping of hands. This is a sign of nervousness. The interviewer will quickly pick up your body language. And if he or she does not find you confident enough, they will just ask you to leave. So, never show sign of nervousness.

Do not stammer while speaking. Be fluent. The interviewer wants to see your chain of thoughts. They should keep coming one by one and in a continuous manner. Your voice should not be very loud, or very light. Speak as you speak regularly. Just be yourself. Do not enact anyone else and throw away your inferiority complex. You too are good like anyone else in the room. Have faith in yourself and God.

The most important document

Your resume or bio-data or curriculum vitae is the most important document. It should reflect your abilities, and should be true to very of its words.

It should start with your name, date of birth, address, phone number, E-mail address. Nationality and Marital Status can follow. Some company would like to know your height and weight. Give your height in Centimeters and weight in Kilograms. Then give your language capabilities. Then comes education. List all of them starting from SSC and ending up with the latest one. Write down the computer knowledge or any other professional education you had. Then comes experience. Give complete details of them by giving the duration, name of the company, location of the company, name of your designation, job description, salary last drawn and reason for leaving.

You can also state your expected salary. Feel free to write your figure. Then comes the reference. Give at least two. Then you can put in your interests, hobbies and achievements. Put in a photograph of yours. Add your signature at the end to ensure the authenticity of your resume. A complete and comprehensive resume is a very handy tool.

At the end of the interview, the interviewer may ask if you have any questions. You can ask questions like:

	Tell me about your company?

	Now that I have outlined my career goals, do you think you can offer me the opportunities I need?

	What kind of training and learning can I expect in your company?

	Describe the work culture and the management style of your company?

	What is the long-term vision of your company?

Expect the unexpected

Sometimes you won’t directly go in an interview. The company would have planned a short listing method. So, you can expect a group discussion or a listening comprehension test, or an aptitude test prior to the personal interview.

You can also expect some really weird questions. Some may ask General Knowledge questions. The only advantage with these topics is that you can speak anything you want; if you can prove your stand. There is no right or wrong in these topics. So, expect the unexpected every time you step in for an interview.

Some words of wisdom

Usually, interviews are conducted in English. So never use any second language. Enjoy the moment, instead of getting stressed out. Be yourself. Be natural and normal. Show pleasing and graceful manners, sufficient politeness and verve. Speak more. Do not complete your answer in a sentence. Increase the quantity of your answers. This will impress the interviewer and he will think that you really know.
Always be relaxed. Being relaxed during interviews is difficult. But try to reduce your tension.
Always keep in mind that the person who will be taking your interview is a human being just like you. He is not going to eat you up. So maintain a calm head.

So, we wish you all best of luck for whatever interview you were going for. Just stay calm and focused. For the rest, leave it to the others.

After the interview

	Before leaving the room, flash that billion dollar smile at all around and say an audible “Thanks” to the panel.

	Don’t start calling up the HR department for the results the moment you reach home. Processing candidates takes some time. Be patient for about a week or 10 days and then give a call asking for the status of the results. In case they are not ready, politely ask how much more time the processing is likely to take. Here again, most companies do not inform candidates who don’t make it past the interview stage while very few do it.

	Sit down and jot down the highlights of your interview on a piece of paper. Categories them into positive and negative. Try to recollect if you went wrong anywhere. A good post-mortem report will aid in ironing out any deficiencies and ensure that you don’t repeat the same mistakes next time.

	An interview is a two-way process. The employer and you, both evaluate each other from different perspectives. In the short amount of time that you spend with the potential employer, you will either be accepted or rejected. Therefore, project yourself in a positive and enthusiastic manner that subtly convinces the employer that you are the right person for the job on hand. All the best!

Seven Ways to Impress

	Be a good listener. Let your interviewer know that you're listening attentively by nodding, using facial expressions that make you look interested, leaning towards the interviewer, picking up on key words they've used and asking them to expand on subjects that genuinely interest you. But never interrupt your interviewer.

	Be honest. If you don't understand a question, ask for an explanation. If you're faced with something you really can't deal with, be truthful about it - it's more impressive than pretending to have the answer to everything. Use get-out phrases like 'that's something I'd need time to think about' or 'that's outside my present experience' to give yourself a bit of a breather.

	Be consistent. Many interviewers ask the same things in different ways as a means of checking you out. Listen to yourself as well as to them. If you feel you've made a mistake, put things right by saying, 'going back to what I said earlier about...what I really meant was...'

	Avoid the temptation to talk too much. If there are awkward silences when you've finished saying what you want, don't fill them with nervous chatter. Some interviewers use silence to see how you'll react. Pass the lead back to them by pleasantly saying: 'Does that answer your question?' Also, stick to providing the answer requested - don't inundate the interviewer with information they don't need.

	Be aware of your body language. Stillness is reassuring and fidgeting is a distraction. Looking your interviewer in the eye is essential, but don't overdo it - take your cues from the interviewer. A smile sets everyone at ease, but a constant grin is unnerving. Try to sit up straight. Leaning forward makes you appear attentive and enthusiastic - being slumped conveys boredom.

	Be positive. Even if your last job was the pits, if asked for your reasons for leaving, don't let a negative word pass your lips. Never say anything unfavorable about your colleagues, boss or job - it'll just make you look bad. Instead, say: 'I genuinely enjoyed my last job, but I'm eager to move onto a different challenge and use the skills I've gained'. Then, impress them even more by stating how those skills match the job you're after.

	If you're not asked about something that you feel is important, raise the subject yourself. This is your one chance to sell yourself, so don't waste the opportunity.

Basic Things

In addition to doing research and practicing your answers to common interview questions, you should be aware of general interview etiquette. Remember the following points when preparing for an interview:

Review your resume

Arrive at the interview ten minutes early to give yourself an opportunity to collect your thoughts and relax.

Dress appropriately for the position that you are applying to. Try to dress like the people who work there would dress if they were representing their organization at some function.

Make sure that you are clean, neat, and well-groomed. Interviewers do notice your appearance, and first impressions are critical in an interview situation.

Take a copy of your resume, transcript, references and perhaps a portfolio or work samples with you. Also take a pen and paper, as you may wan to record some important information.

TEN THINGS THAT AN INTERVIEWER LOOKS IN YOU!

	Family Background

	Education

	Experience

	Stability

	Initiative

	General Ability

	Interpersonal Skills

	Confidence

	Aptitude

	Pleasant Looks

Six Common Interview Mistakes

AVOID SIX COMMON INTERVIEW MISTAKES

Tip # 1: Don't discuss pay too early

As the manager of a software store for 10 years, I can honestly say that questions about pay in the first interview from anyone other than a temporary applicant always bothered me a little. Temp jobs aside, if you are not really out there just for the money, asking this question right out of the gate is going to make any other questions you ask sound conniving and insincere. Unless the subject comes up, don't wade into the issue of the pay in the first interview. You can talk about it after you impress the employer enough for a second interview.

Tip # 2: Talk tech to techies only

Feel free to discuss what you know, but remember: If you are talking to a nontechnical manager or human resources representative, you are not going to impress them with talk about life in the trenches. My previous supervisor was totally unimpressed with anything to do with technology. A sure way to put the man to sleep was to begin any story that had to do with computers.
When I interviewed for a previous position, the department manager actually had a technically savvy person participate in the interview to ask and respond to questions she would not understand. When I saw this tactic being used, I knew it was not a time to try to impress with a lot of techno babble.
Answer questions about your work history briefly and keep the tech comments to a minimum until you know the history of the company and the people involved in the hiring process. If you have questions about the technology in use at the site, keep your questions specific and relevant to the position for which you are applying.

Tip # 3: Keep your philosophy to yourself

If you hate Bill Gates, Windows XP, and the whole Office Suite, keep it to yourself. Ranting about your tech philosophy can ruin your chances at the position.
I once interviewed a young man for a retail sales position in a software store. When I asked about his opinion of the then-new Windows 98, the applicant ranted about "the revolution of UNIX" and loosening the grip of Microsoft on the PC market. I am not exaggerating; the man sounded like he was ready to sign on to a paramilitary group. I almost didn't have the heart to tell him my company was a Value Added Reseller for Microsoft.
Chances are, you will work with many people who need your help with one of the Microsoft products, so you don't want to blast the tools you will likely be using and supporting. If you are asked about how you feel about a product, be honest, but don't preach. The interviewer probably just wants to see how you respond to such questions.

Tip # 4: Don't climb the advancement ladder in the interview

If you are joining the ranks of a new company, the last thing the interviewer wants to hear is, "How fast can I get out of this job?" Do not ask about opportunities for advancement until the second or third interview. If you are joining a company just to advance into another position, silence is golden. Keep it to yourself unless the interviewer asks or unless it is somehow already known that you'll be advancing quickly. Remember that what you say now can come back to haunt you later. You don't want to brag to someone who might be under your wing after a promotion.
Further, you never know what may happen if you actually get the job. Learn to accept and adapt and, above all, be happy you have a job. Due to downsizing, a former coworker of mine did not move into the network administration position she wanted and was expecting to get. The bitterness fostered by her broken expectations eventually caused her to resign. In the tight job market of the time-similar to the one now-and with her lack of certified qualifications, she ended up seeking work at a local restaurant.

Tip # 5: Avoid the dreaded electronic interruption

Cellular phone and pager etiquette might seem a trivial thing to those that are hooked up, but you can kiss any job opportunity goodbye if you interrupt an interview to take a telephone call, especially if the human resources representative has a low tolerance for personal digital devices. Only if you are exchanging information by invitation should you reveal the fact that you carry a PDA. If you wear it on a belt loop or somewhere that is exposed, lose it, along with any other electrical device hooks and loops, and store them in pocket, purse, or briefcase. If you can't spare the time away from the rest of the world to do an interview, why are you applying for the job?
I have conducted training classes with people who, when asked to turn off their phones and pagers during class, place their devices in silent mode. When giving a lecture to a class or holding a discussion, watching a person being silently buzzed is terribly distracting and also aggravating.
If you think getting rid of electronic communications devices isn't important, just ask any human resources rep who has had a person answer a cellular phone during a job interview. Then ask if the person got the job.

Tip # 6: Remember to say thank you

Beyond thanking your interviewers for their time as you leave, it's vital that you follow up in written form. If the competition for a position is tight, a follow-up thank you note can mean a lot. If the manager is slow to hire, the arrival of a thank-you note can serve as a reminder about the candidate who's awaiting the manager's next move.
Just after you've completed the interview, take note of anything specific you discussed and make a point of referencing it in your thank you letter. Even a nice greeting card is better than nothing.
It may seem like a small detail, but the experts will tell you that this tried-and-true tactic really makes an impact. A coworker of mine, who successfully worked as a job coach, used to keep a stack of generic notes in her desk. When a participant in her program applied for a job somewhere, she would give the person one of these notes to have them drop in the mail on the way home.

Cover Letter Tips

Cover Letter

A cover letter’s primary purpose is to act as an employer’s introduction to your resume. Put simply, it is a brief outline of your career objectives, a summary of your previous work experience, and a list of some notable career highlights. This letter is all about who you are and what you do. The idea is to make this introductory top sheet interesting and so well written that, after reading it, the employer’s interest will be piqued enough to go on to read your resume.

It is always a good idea to send a cover letter with your resume — regardless of whether the employer requests one. It is proper business etiquette to send one, and it affords you another opportunity to sell yourself in addition to your resume. The main purpose of resume cover letters is to tailor your application to a specific job. Your resume acts as a general advertisement about yourself and the cover letter explains why your skills and work experience are applicable to the specific job. The resume cover letter also gives you an opportunity to show your personality, so use it.

If at all possible, you should address your resume cover letter to a specific individual within the company. Otherwise, your resume is more likely to get lost in the shuffle. Conduct a little research about the company or call them and ask who to send it to if a contact name is not overtly supplied.

In the standard resume cover letter format, the introduction should clearly state what position you are applying for. This should not only be the focus of the opening paragraph, but it should also be the focus of the opening sentence. One sentence should be enough for the opening paragraph of your resume cover letter, but you may want to consider using an additional sentence to mention the name of a personal contact within the company who recommended the job to you or to briefly mention your qualifications for the job.

The body of your resume cover letter should contain your sales pitch. Use several sentences to mention the specific job skills and accomplishments that make you the ideal candidate for the open position. Elaborate by using brief examples to explain why your unique job skills make you the right person for the job. Don't painstakingly list all your wonderful qualities; just stick to the qualities that are relevant to the open position.

Generally, a well written cover letter should provide answers to what the employers want to know:

	Are you the kind of person they are looking for?

	Do you have the relevant education, work experience and skills?

	Can you handle the work demands, based on the job description?

	Have you shown a commitment to this particular field of interest?

	How well can you communicate with others?

	Are you a team player?

	Have you any leadership qualities?

Rules Of Cover Letters

The first rule of cover letters: Never use a generic cover letter with only: "To Whom It May Concern." With tons of work on your desk, would you be interested in such a mass mailing? You would probably consider it junk mail, right? You would be much more likely to read a letter that was directed to you personally and so would human resources professionals.

The second rule: Every résumé sent by mail or fax needs a personalized cover letter even if the advertisement didn't request a cover letter.

The third rule: Résumés sent by e-mail don't need a cover letter. Use only a quick paragraph with three to five sentences telling your reader where you heard about the position and why your qualifications are a perfect fit for the position's requirements. E-mail is intended to be short, sweet, and to the point.

General tips for effective cover letters:

Show that you know a little about the company, and that you are aware of their current problems, interests, or priorities.

Express your enthusiasm and interest in this line of work and this company. If you have a good idea that might help the employer resolve a problem currently facing their industry, offer to come in and discuss it.

Project warmth and friendliness, while still being professional. Avoid any generic phrases such as "Enclosed please find." This is a letter to a real live person!

Make a personal link to a specific individual in that company, if at all possible -- also called "name dropping." For example, "My neighbor, Phil Lyons, works in your research-and-development department, and from what he tells me about the company and its current directions, I think I could be a good fit for your team."

Set yourself apart from the crowd. Identify at least one thing about you that's unique -- say a special talent for getting along with everybody at work, or some unusual skill that goes beyond the essential requirements of the position -- something that distinguishes you AND is relevant to the job. (Then, if several others are equally qualified for the job, your uniqueness may be the reason to choose YOU.)

Be specific about what you are asking for and what you are offering. Make it clear which position you're applying for and just what experience or skill you have that relates to that position.

Take the initiative about the next step whenever possible, and be specific. "I'll call your office early next week to see if we could meet soon and discuss this job opening," for example. OR -- if you're exploring for UN-announced jobs that my come up -- "I'll call your office next week to see if we could meet soon, to discuss your company's needs for help in the near future."

Keep it brief -- a few short paragraphs, all on one page.

The Cover Letter is for anyone who needs an effective document that introduces you and makes potential employers want to read your resume. Most resumes should be sent with a cover letter.

In the conclusion of the resume cover letter, state your desire to meet with the company recruiter or hiring manager in person. To facilitate this, provide your preferred contact method and invite the employer to contact you at anytime to set up the interview. Close the paragraph by thanking the employer for considering your application.

BPO Career Tips

Education and Careers over the past two decades has undergone a sea change. Until 20 years ago there were limited careers and standard routes to those careers. Today a student on the threshold of College Education or opting a Career is baffled by the myriad options before him. With the advent of liberalization and the opening of the economy to the international world, innumerable career opportunities are being created all the times.

India has seen the limelight in the past few years shifting rapidly, first it was computer education and training in the early 90's, Y2K was the star during the closing years of the last century. Then as the dot com boom soared high, it was followed by B2B and B2C, followed by the SCM and CRM mantra. Today’s star goes by the name of BPO or Business Process Outsourcing. India is today at the core of the Outsourcing Revolution. However as outsourcing moves beyond just call centers and cost cuts, clients are looking for companies that can provide them with that competitive advantage and go with them where they can’t go alone.

What's a BPO Career all about? A BPO career revolves around the core activity of delivering business process outsourcing services. This involves voice (telephone) and non-voice (email, chat) based customer interaction services, transaction processing, telemarketing, technical support or analyzing of customer specific data. It also involves back-end jobs such as claims processing and processing of Finance & Accounting transactions.

In a growing BPO organization, career opportunities exist across various facets of the business - extending from the core contact center to support functions like HR, legal, marketing, quality, administration etc. Opportunities in the contact center include customer support, telemarketing, technical support and multilingual support (which require people having knowledge of foreign languages like French, Spanish etc.). Opportunities also exist for experienced people from various backgrounds and industries. - like hospitality, services and the retail industry.

In a growing BPO firm the career opportunities exists across various parts of business, from core contact center to the supporting functions like legal, HR, quality, marketing, administration etc. Opportunities in contact center involve telemarketing, customer support, telemarketing, technical support and multilingual support. Because of its vast English speaking population, India has become an ideal candidate for outsourcing US workload through business process outsourcing. English is a popular and well spoken language here. Indians learn English as their second language and are familiar with it. But speaking the global language is not the sole reason for this choice.

Advantage India

The fact that Indian labor is relatively cheaper than American, was also a valid argument for those in favor of outsourcing. Indian labor cost is almost one tenth as compared to American when it comes to the call center industry in particular. That stems from the facts that Indian standards of living are lower than Americans and that Indian pay structures vary greatly from their American counterparts. So America saves costs and benefits from the same by outsourcing its work to India. Call center units are not very demanding as far as qualifications and prerequisites are concerned. Most call center jobs require a basic understanding of computers and a good grasp over English. And the urban youth of India are computer literate graduates with a command over English language. This is the ideal unskilled labor that the call center industry is looking for.

Call centers are a phenomenon that has taken over the young crowd of metros in India by a storm. Its implications are social, cultural and economic. It is a new society of the young, rich and free, selling the new dream of an independent life to the regular desi.

With a bang in telecommunications and the boundaries of countries fast disappearing because of the Internet, the world is shrinking into smaller and smaller dimensions. It is getting slighter by the day and faster by the hour. Whether it is culture, arts or economy, you are no more in your own national space. The world has telescoped into one big melting pot of ideas. In this shrinking economy, India has made its presence felt in many fields. And the Call Center industry is one of them.

Future Growth of BPO in India

What started as a niche service provision has evolved into a whole new industry in itself. Call centers are organizations in countries where an offshore company services American customers for American clients. Although the business did start off with America, it is no more restricted to the United States only. Countries like Australia, Canada and The United kingdom have also started outsourcing their work to India. The work that is outsourced is from various industries like credit cards, healthcare products, personal care products and education.

Call center units are not very demanding as far as qualifications and prerequisites are concerned. Most call center jobs require a basic understanding of computers and a good grasp over English. And the urban youth of India are computer literate graduates with a command over English language. This is the ideal unskilled labor that the call center industry is looking for.

Call center executives only need to be trained in soft skills that include voice neutralization and accent training. This helps to give them an accent more familiar with the people they are going to be talking to. For Indians, this is a smooth transition. Ours is not a country that has evaded the influence of the West and Americanism has seeped into our daily lives like ink on blotting paper.

Providing access to skilled workforce

New technology has had a strong impact on training and workforce development in various industries. Higher levels of advanced technology in all areas and competition due to globalization have increased demand for skilled workforce across various industrial sectors. Job Ready is an initiative from Mindlogicx Infratec Ltd and a direct response to these skills challenges.

The Job Ready Portal (JRP) provides FIFO (Fly In / Fly Out) opportunities for skilled/qualified candidates. It provides employers access to huge database of skilled workforce specifically trained as per the industrial requirements.

Every employer is looking for a specific set of skills from job-seekers that match the skills necessary to perform a particular job. But beyond these job-specific technical skills, certain soft-skills are universally sought by employers. In a survey conducted by NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) employers were asked to rate the importance of candidate qualities and skills on a five-point scale. The results indicated that Communication skills (4.7 average), honesty/integrity (4.7), teamwork skills (4.6), interpersonal skills (4.5), motivation/initiative (4.5), and strong work ethic (4.5) are the most desired characteristics.

If we look at future major areas like IT, ITES, Banking and Insurance services, which demand a strong proficiency in soft-skills and talent rather than the traditional skills, then the requirement of bridging this skill-gap becomes imminent. India produces nearly 4,00,000 engineers every year, but only one in four is employable. Lakhs of graduates pass out of colleges every year, but only 10% of them are fit to be employed in the industry. According to NASSCOM estimates, there will be a potential shortfall of 5,00,000 skilled professional by 2010.

The Job Ready Portal addresses this issue by supplying the skilled workforce to the industry. This task is achieved by GradFirst - The Hybrid Finishing School. GradFirst is an integral part of the business model for Job Ready Portal. While on one hand GradFirst readies the students as per the industrial requirements, at the same time Job Ready Portal provides employers an access to this skilled workforce. The entire student life cycle for the Empowering model is that the student enters GradFirst and exits as a professional with a career opportunity of his choice.

Students would enter the Empowerment model pyramid at the base as unpolished piece of stone. Through the reskilling programs, the students will grow to the mid of the pyramid. He would receive adequate training to be industry ready. The students can further receive upskilling through the myriad of courses available in their chosen stream. There is ample choice of programs the user can choose from. The programs have been chosen, keeping the industry requirements in mind and are regularly updated for relevance and content update. Once the student undergoes upskilling, he becomes a polished diamond and one who is ready to fit a job profile with ease.

Recruitment partners have access to the profiles of the students at every layer of the Empowerment model pyramid. As recruitment partners, corporate stand benefited from Job Ready as they get access to 99.9% accurate database of skilled manpower which they are on the look-out for. This database contains profiles of students who have already completed Reskilling and Upskilling Programs. The recruitment effort in terms of screening and short listing is reduced considerably. Along with this, because the students are equipped with industry specific skill set, not much training effort is required to be put in. The learning curve is sharper and the students turn around into value providing employees at a faster rate. This leads to a brilliant return on investment for the recruitment partners.

In this manner the Job Ready Portal rationalizes the market by bridging the skill gap existing in the country and enhancing the supply of skilled workforce for the industry.

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