CAREER: Face the interview - GREAT TIPS!!!

What is BPO?

Business process outsourcing (BPO) is the contracting of a specific business task, such as payroll, to a third-party service provider. Usually, BPO is implemented as a cost-saving measure for tasks that a company requires but does not depend upon to maintain their position in the marketplace. BPO is often divided into two categories: back office outsourcing which includes internal business functions such as billing or purchasing, and front office outsourcing which includes customer-related services such as marketing or tech support.

BPO that is contracted outside a company's own country is sometimes called offshore outsourcing. BPO that is contracted to a company's neighboring country is sometimes called nearshore outsourcing, and BPO that is contracted with the company's own county is sometimes called onshore outsourcing.

Offshoring

Offshoring is a form of outsourcing. Offshoring is when a company moves business processes or services to a country other than its home country or primary marketplace. This is usually done in an effort to cut costs. Typically the new country has lower labor costs.

Offshoring and outsourcing are not synonymous, though to many they have the same negative connotation. However, outsourcing can mean job opportunities for those who want to work from home.

Homeshoring

The definition of homeshoring (also known as homesourcing), according to Dictionary.com, is "the transfer of service industry jobs to electronically connected home-based employees." So homeshoring is essentially turning office jobs into work at home jobs

But homeshoring is different from offshoring because in homeshoring the home-based jobs are typically done within the country where the employer operates.

Homeshoring may or may not involve outsourcing, which is contracting for work to be done by a third party outside the company. If a company employs its own home-based workers, then homeshoring is not outsourcing.

Examples: A company that uses U.S. home-based call center agents to take calls from within the U.S. is homeshoring. However, if the same U.S.-based company hired call center agents in India to take calls from U.S. customers, that would be offshoring.

What is the difference between a call centre and a BPO organisation?

A Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) organisation is responsible for performing a process or a part of a process of another business organisation; outsourcing is done to save on costs or gain in productivity.

A call centre performs that part of a client's business which involves handling telephone calls. A call centre, for example, might handle customer complaints coming in over a telephone.

Thus, a call centre can be considered a BPO organisation. The converse is, however, not true because there exist BPO organisations, such as medical transcription agencies, which handle their business through websites, and do not process any telephone calls on behalf of their clients.

List of questions for BPO interview rounds: 

Tell me about yourself.

• Suggestions: For the world's most wide-open questions, your best response might be, "That's a big assignment. Let me briefly outline the things I have done that I think are relevant to this job opening." 

Why do you want to join BPO?

• BPO is a place where I can utilize my all knowledge and skills. Apart from this I have a talent to solve the query of the costumer.

• Bpo is nothing but handling the different types of clients. At the same time handling the clients is a very challenging task. I like challenges. So i like Bpo.

• To enhance my speaking skills and communication skills and i m good in dealing with problem of others 

Why are you interested in our company?

• Suggestion: Include what you know about the firm. "From what I've learned so far about your approach to customers, I know I can make a contribution to this organization." 

Why are you interested in this position?

• Suggestion: See above. It's advantageous to know about the job before the interview. If you do not, early in the interview ask: "I have very general information about the job. I wonder if you could give me some more detail?" 

Where do you see yourself going?

• Suggestion: Be concrete. Try: "I would like to expand my ability to solve problems of the customers." 

What special qualities do you bring to this job?

• Suggestion: Make distinctions between qualities and skills. Emphasize your unique qualities as well as those widely held (ability to learn, creativity, imagination, leadership, etc.) 

What are your greatest strengths?

• Suggestion: Respond by describing those strengths that correspond to what the employer is looking for. 

What are your greatest weaknesses?

• Suggestion: Emphasize what you are honestly working on and improving. "I am working on improving my ability to prepare formal proposals." 

Do you perform well under pressure?

• Suggestion: The obvious answer is "Very well." To take greatest advantage of the lead, ask what kind of pressure there is and focus your answer on the response to that question. This will also give you a better picture of the job. 

Do you prefer to work on you own or with others?

• Suggestion: "I have no problem with either, depending on what needs to be done." 

I see that you majored in liberal arts. Did you take any business courses.

• Suggestion: Only narrow thinkers insist that the major field of study should match the job. A liberal arts background can be applied to business when refocused. Try this: "Yes, I did. I enjoyed the business courses I took and did well in them. Also, given the rapid changes in global business, a strong historical perspective from my liberal arts work should be very useful. 

I see you finished only three years of college. Do you plan to complete your degree work?

• Suggestion: Often you'll need to override a bias that a degree confirms success on the job. Counter this: "You're looking for someone with a degree. I understand that. I left college for financial reasons and found that my work experience served me well and will help me to learn a job more efficiently and effectively. Once I settle into the new position, I'll complete my degree, focusing on courses that will be most useful to this job." 

Tell me about your extracurricular activities.

• Suggestion: Mention any activities where developed skills and qualities could be useful at work (resolving conflict, organizing projects, budgeting, teamwork, etc.) If you had few or no extracurricular activities, you could say: "Most of my time outside class was spent support school expenses. This experience has helped me build a practical approach that will be useful in this job." 

I see that you finished around the middle of your class.

• Suggestion: To respond to a less than average performance, say, "My grades were not what they could have been. Those were years of change, and it took me a while to organize myself in an unfamiliar environment. Though my grades were low, I now know what it takes to get a job done. I can make a major impact in this job and will surprise you with the results. 

Tell me about your last job.

• Suggestion: Emphasize the relationship between your past accomplishments and duties and the responsibilities of the prospective job. Stress accomplishments more than the duties required of you. 

Why did you leave your last job?

• Suggestion: This is a key question. If you left involuntarily, "The work did not use my best strength, which is working with people. My mistake was that I did not remedy the situation before they did." If you are leaving you last job voluntarily, try something like this: "I liked the job and the people, however, I am interested in a job that allows me to make a bigger contribution, which is why I am talking to you." 

What were your biggest accomplishments in your last job?

• Suggestion: Be prepared to answer with results you produced rather than duties you were given. Point out specific items from your resume. 

How would your last boss describe you?

• Suggestion: If your performance was excellent: "She is eager to recommend me, although sorry to see me go. Please call her." If there is a problem: "The relationship could have been better. My boss was a good manager, but we had different ideas about getting the job done. If you would like a reference, contact______" and name a person you know will evaluate you favorably. 

Looking back at your last job, where do you think your performance could have been improved?

• Suggestion: Even though you did well, look at where you could have sought greater responsibility and results. Apply this to what you can do in the future. 

What are your long-term goals?

• Suggestion: Today organizations prefer employees to make continuous improvement in the quality and scope of their work rather than take rigid steps up an organizational ladder. Speak about expanding the range of things you can do, learn and apply. 

Are you interviewing with other companies?

• Suggestion: Let your interviewer know you are competitive and have other opportunities. The wrong answer would be to say, "No, this is the only place I am looking." A better answer: "I am looking at several different opportunities. What I see here so far looks good."  

At the end of the interview round, don't forget to ask questions to the interviewer. This will show that you are very much interested in this position & about your roles and responsibilities. It will also help you to understand your Manager (If the Manager is interviewing you).

You can ask simple questions like:

• Could you please explain more about the company /process?

• How long will be the training period & what kind of training will be provided?

• I would also like to know the IJP process (Internal Job Posting)

• How the salary is set? Based on my experience level or on the educational qualification? 

Most Important Step while leaving the Interview room:

• Give a firm shake hand with a smile while leaving the room, say thank you & once you get up from the chair, arrange the chair properly then greet the interviewer with a smile & leave. 

Have a Happy Career... Cheers!!!