Some facts about Business Process Outsourcing:

• It's 1 of the 3 fastest growing industries in the country
• BPO companies are contracted to do certain business functions on behalf of other companies (payroll, human resources, customer call centres)
• The industry is supported by government because it's growing so fast it can absorb a portion of the 300,000 new school leavers and 100,000 graduates who look for jobs each year
• 54,000 were employed last year in the call centre sub sector

Taking your call

One of the country's top award-winning BPOs, Fusion Outsourcing Services in Century City, Cape Town, employs 80 new people every two weeks in its call centres; and will continue to interview until end March 2011;

• Matriculants who are hardworking and have a strong desire to improve themselves and get ahead in life; and who have six months experience working with customers, maybe in a shop or restaurant
• Anyone who would like to grow her or his career, and take advantage of opportunities for quick promotion in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

Taking you further

More than 600 call centre agents have been employed by Fusion SA since May 2010. Thirty of these agents are already in coaching positions and four have become seconded team leaders after completing the company's Team Leader Development Programme. Candidates accepted for career development pay nothing for their training and eventual qualification. This is done at the company's expense.

In order to provide its call centres with the best-trained agents, Fusion SA is an accredited Further Education Training College offering skills programmes up to a NQF Level 4 qualification. Its Team Leader Development Programme is broken down into skills programmes which count as Recognition of Prior Learning credits towards a NQF Level 4 generic management qualification.

Unlike the in-house training offered by many other companies, a Fusion SA employee may complete modules at their convenience to use as Recognition of Prior Learning credits towards a SETA-accredited and transferable qualification, recognised throughout South Africa.

Quickly

Generation Y's, the 20-somethings out there, look for careers that offer job-satisfaction and an opportunity for personal growth. Dr Rene Nel, Industrial Psychologist and Human Capital Executive at Fusion SA, says, 'Our competitive edge is that we develop our people. Our agents go through a stringent training programme to be declared competent on the call centre floor. This training forms the basis of an agent's knowledge and the starting point from which they are able to progress in the company. We do not put a cap on how long you must be in the company to be able to move into another role. If you perform and meet the requirements, you move ahead whether through formally recognised or informal in-house training programmes.'

So... make the call

If you think you meet Fusion SA's requirements, contact Loren Ghansar on 021 527 6616 or Rene Nel on 021 527 6680, or you could visit www.fusionoutsourcing.co.za.