100% PINOY: CALL CENTER o ABROAD?

Tweet

BPO or Business Process Outsourcing is now booming here in the Philippines. Major cities like Makati, Quezon City, Baguio City, Davao City and even Pampanga and Bulacan have call center facilities. Why do more and more Filipinos want to work in a call center? A lot of reasons actually! First is of course, the money! It is quite rewarding to work in a call center. The compensation is good. Second, the benefits are impressive (especially health benefits, I know a call center that gives a half-a million worth of health insurance to its employees) plus bonuses or incentives for sales accounts. Leaves that are often convertible to cash if you don't use them. Third, you don't have to be a graduate to be an agent. Especially nowadays that tuition fees are very expensive, lots of Filipino students are not able to finish their studies. Years ago, if you're not a college graduate, more likely you will end up in a job that doesn't pay much (sales lady, carpenter, tricycle driver, etc.) Now, BPO companies giving opportunities to even undergraduates, it's not that hard to land a job in one. All you need to have is basic typing skills (which you can acquire with practice), basic computer knowledge, and conversational English. Those qualities can be acquired by a short-term training and you don't have to be a college graduate to learn all that. those are just three of the reasons why people want to work in a call center, but I'm sure some of you who have experience working as an agent could enumerate more. I'm glad that the presence of BPO companies here in the Philippines have lessened the number of Filipinos who have to leave their families and homes behind to look for opportunities abroad since most of our countrymen end up being abused (especially women) and being victimized by illegal recruiters. one thing that is sad to know though is that whether you are working in a call center or abroad, you're still serving foreigners. though there are call centers for local companies like PLDT, GLOBE, SMART, etc., the compensation given by them cannot compare to the rates given by foreign companies. how can 6 or 8 thousand a month compensation by local companies compare to a minimum of thirteen thousand a month given by foreign BPOs? On the second hand, working abroad is one of the things most Filipinos think of as a way to escape poverty. Women (mothers mostly) work as domestic helpers while men often work as factory workers. Just a little percentage of those who work abroad are professionals. Would you rather work abroad? or would you settle for call center employment?