If you are a new graduate looking for a job, you may just find the perfect opportunity in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry. According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), BPOs have expanded their operations in the country, thus opening more vacant positions for qualified fresh graduates. Other areas that also posed positive hiring results include the hospitality industry, services sector, manufacturing, and construction.

5, 033 Call Center Agents

DOLE’s Region 7 Director Chona M. Mantilla said that BPOs now rank as the top industry in terms of available job vacancies. Among the 70,000 jobs listed by the department, 5,033 positions came from BPOs with call center agents as the top position offered.

Aside from call center agents, there are also numerous vacancies for sales clerks, service crew, and manufacturing/production workers. DOLE also cited receptionists for hotels, I.T. professionals, communication and equipment technicians, and people working with electronics as in-demand positions.

Director Mantilla, however, explained that even if there are a lot of job openings in these sectors, one’s employment would still be based on his or her individual skills, trainability, and educational background.

“There are plenty of jobs right now, but the question is, are they qualified?” asked Mantilla.

Qualifications to Get Into BPO Industry

Meanwhile, well-known job portal www.jobstreet.com.ph has enumerated several qualifications that are important for anyone who wants to try out their luck in the BPO industry. According to the job site’s Prospects and Growth report for BPOs, if one has relevant experience in hospitality and the services sector, he or she may already try to apply to call center positions.

Other specializations that have a chance at landing a job in the outsourcing world include finance, communication and information technology, accounting, and even linguistics or people who can speak a foreign language. The report added that Japanese, Spanish, and French speakers are very much in-demand aside from fluent English speakers.