Alternatives to Working in a Call Center

[Una_dagmar]

Hi Guys! I would like to get out of the contact center industry and yet continue earning as much as I am now or even more (like such a job exists!).

What would be your suggestions for me?

[tidus1203]

There are a lot of jobs out there that pay even more than call center agents such as marketing officers or purchasing officers. Thing is MERON BA SILANG QUALIFICATIONS? Dami kasing tao think that call centers are the best paying pero di nila alam daming ibang positions dyan na pays better and work environment is better yun nga la lang silang qualifications. Mababa kasi required qualifications ng contact center agents eh, kadamihan graduate OF ANY COURSE.

[what]

that depends on your qualifications, really.

[boogerflicker]

look at the classified ads.

[Japorms09]

I'm sorry to tell you that people with specialties are no longer in demand in the philippine labor market. The only course that are still getting much attention are IT and accounting.

You can still try to apply for other jobs and hope for the best. I suggest that you stick to the call center industry. They have a bright future. Try to save also and try to put up a business.

[disguisedfemme]

hehe.. tamad maghanap eh no?! hehe

nweiz.. not sure though, medical transcriptionist is like.. competing with the call center industry? is this true? kung oo.. eh malamang.. isa tong alternative. ^_^

[sierrafreeze]

It all depends on your qualifications. Working as a Marketing Officer, Sales, IT consultant pays good money. Plus the commissions and benefits.. and if you are in the right company, you will be enjoying a lot of perks such as car, representation, communication, transpo / gas, health care and trips abroad for events or trainings..

[firefly97]

I think "call center" is a volatile industry. You can observe this the way they hire and fire people. Ang bilis ng turn-over... Although the future of call centers in the phils looks promising, your first concern should be job security... whats the use of a high salary if you will always be worried that you could be replaced anytime by anyone...

[boogerflicker]

job security is a myth. be an entrepreneur or get into real estate.

[missfifty]

Mmm.. try PR or something in the events.. I think being in a call center improves your speaking skills, and so you can apply those in an events company or something where there is a high qualification for "communication skills".. Since nag-call center ka na.. might as well develop what you have learned from your industry..

[pro_tempore]

people tend to shy away from consultancy (/freelancing) but it's really one of the best ways to go.

a viable alternative is entrepreneurship. there are government programs that can help with startup small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

it's true, job security is a myth. don't stake your future on employment. be your own boss and set your own price.

[BeePeeOOO]

There are lots of opportunities for ex-call center agents in the local job market but it will depend on the types of accounts/clients that they worked for when they were in the outsource industry.

One thing I noticed when comparing job description for Philippine and American labor market[I was a veteran stock broker and financial analyst before getting into the call center industry] is that white collar jobs that require college education in the Philippines [these are non-call center jobs] normally just require high school education in the US. These give the illusion that call center jobs outsourced to the Philippines are no-brainer jobs[it is a mixture actually].

Example entry level jobs for mortgage and finance, backroom support for mutual funds and stock brokerages, inbound selling for telco products, tech support[level 1 and 2], engineering related customer support, backroom customer support for banks These are blue-collar jobs that local companies require college graduate people to fill-in but US companies normally require just high school graduates. Get my point? Remember that there are accounts in the call center industry where the training can stretch from 3 to six months - that is why it is tolerable to accept "graduates of any course"- local companies certainly will have a difficult time with the training expense. I was once trained for a call center account not related to my course and SEC license - and I got paid 18K a month for the training.

The problem is people tend to lump the contact center industry as one but in reality it is composed of a myriad range of unrelated industries with different skills specializations. Skills that require college education for Philippine companies but High school education for US companies.

What I do is simply choose to work in accounts that have marketability for the local job market. Inbound selling of computer and electronic products, technical support[lervel 1 and 2], customer support for stock brokerages. Take note that these accounts require college education in the local Philippine setting but in the US....High School level will do.

There are other accounts in the local contact center industry that have local use and can pay high salaries. I did a report for a politician for the BPO industry that is why I have a clear idea on how to relate the different conditions for the US and Philippine job market - the HS and college requirement difference as an example for white collar jobs- to clear away the notion that contact center agents cannot transition to the local job market.

REMEMBER CHOOSE YOUR ACCOUNTS WHERE YOU WANT TO WORK AND RELATE IT TO YOUR TRANSITION TO THE LOCAL JOB MARKET.

I HAVE WRITTEN EXTENSIVE POSTS ON A DETAILED OVERVIEW OF THE LOCAL BPO CONTACT CENTER INDUSTRY AND EVEN DETAILS ON HOW CALL CENTER EMPLOYEES ARE EXPLOITED AND HOW TO GO AROUND THESE ABUSES - IN THE CALL CENTER FORUM.

Being a former activist who had worked for elected politicans and military officers gives me the inspiration to be a voice in reforming this industry.

Good day to all!

[auxes]

Madami, yung nga lang if there are chances para magshift ng industry. Sa mga papuntang call center, choose the company not the pay. Also, alagaan ang work/pay. Save up while you're earning.

[badasschick]

Tama si pro_tempore, freelancing is one way to earn good money.

Our countrymen tend to shy away from it because Pinoys are conditioned to look for a good employer to earn a large salary. Of course, do not quit your job if you are a neophyte freelancer. Test the waters first.

Hopefully I will be able to do freelancing full-time, but I'm not ready yet. Okay lang, patience is a virtue naman eh. :)

[Krakista]

How about moving to a callgirl center or a callboy center? :lol: