The outsourcing industry has grown exponentially in Fiji in recent years and those who have remained in the industry have grown along with it.
No longer is being a call centre employee a temporary job but a career.
This is according to executive committee member of the BPO Council of Fiji and general manager of Mindpearl, Erik Van Duivenbode.
During a graduation event for employees of local outsourcing companies that completed an upskilling course, Mr Van Duivenbode said that starting out in the industry often meant learning on the job, making it easy to lose touch with some skills over time.
“So upskilling courses for those already in the industry help build more experience and open the path for growing within the industry,” he said.
“Before there wasn’t really any education for getting into the BPO industry, so people don’t usually grow up saying I want to work at a contact centre. That’s something that is a bit new to people.
“But within these companies, even as startups, there is a team leader, a manager, a trainer, there are steps to the top. There are so many career opportunities within the industry for people to grow, and usually we find the best managers are the people who started at the bottom, who know everything the employees are going through.”
Having started as an agent himself 13 years ago and now being on the BPO Council’s committee, including leading the sub-committee for talent development, Mr Van Duivenbode highlighted the pathways for growth within the industry and encouraged those interested in the industry to think long-term.
“The BPO sector is a good option for career development,” he said. “This is not just a starter job; this is a career.”
