(1888PressRelease)
August 22, 2007 - Human resources firm Berkeley Systems Management announced that it had opened a new call center training arm in Cebu City to address workforce needs of business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in the city amid efforts to position Cebu as a regional information technology hub.
Company president and chief executive Edward Mendez said in a statement that Berkeley Institute was established primarily to increase the employability of Cebu City residents by providing them with the appropriate skills that meet the standards of the BPO sector.
According to data of the Department of Trade and Industry, the BPO sector employed 244,675 in 2006 and is projected to provide about a million jobs in 2010.
Berkeley has partnered with five major international call center firms operating in Cebu to ensure that graduates who passed the 60-hour curriculum get hired quickly, Mendez said.
He said that 263 had graduated from Berkeley Institute and 234 had been hired by call center companies in Cebu City.
The training covers English language enhancement, customer service, American accent, communication and culture, and typing. Others include advanced courses on information technology and sales and telemarketing.
Participants are taught how to “neutralize” their accents, review grammar and pronunciation, and are given interview tips for their job application.
Mendez said the program was open to those who have finished at least two years of college and are computer literate.
“Unknown to many, the call center industry is non-discriminating,” he said. “Applicants are likely to find employment in centers who accept agents regardless of their educational attainment, religion, cultural background, race and age.”
-From Inquirer.Net
