Call center work, while potentially quite challenging, can be a good source of income for people who are suited to the job. While it can pay better than many other entry-level positions—and offer nice benefit packages—working as a call center agent also requires a certain set of skills and personality traits.
Here’s how to land a call center job in the Philippines.
Hone Your Communication Skills
Call center work is first and foremost about communicating. What’s more, that communication will almost always take place in a language other than Tagalog. In the Philippines, English is the dominant language of business and tends to be the most pervasive in call centers. However, call center agents can be required to speak a number of different languages from Europe as well as Asia and other parts of the world.
Additionally, it goes beyond just being able to understand a language. You have to be capable of communicating fluently. The good news is there are video tutorials, grammar books, online dictionaries and other types of resources to help you develop your language skills.
There are also online quizzes you can take to test your abilities before putting them on the line when you seek employment. Some companies use AI accent softening and conversion platforms like the one offered by Tomato.ai, to make it easier for callers to understand you when you speak. However, you still have to be fluent in the language to do the work.
Work on Your Patience and Resilience
Few jobs require as much patience and resilience as working in a call center. Many of the people you’ll communicate with will be upset. Something they bought isn’t working the way they believe it should. They want you to fix it as soon as possible—and they won’t always be polite about it.
Your job is to remain calm, listen to their concerns and find a solution that works—as quickly as possible. You cannot allow yourself to become flustered and you cannot respond to them with anger. This can be one of the most difficult aspects of call center employment, so it’s important to be certain you can do this before trying to go into this line of work.
Develop a Resume
Most companies are going to require you to submit a resume outlining your experience, expertise and traits as part of the application process. The elements of a good resume include your personal contact details, an overview of your educational background and a listing of your relevant work experience. You’ll also need to highlight the skills that will help you be a good call center agent.
Personal Contact Details
These include your full name, eMail address and phone number.
Educational Background
Nobody wants to know what grade school you attended. This section should focus more on your collegiate work. Include the time periods you attended, what you studied and when you graduated.
Work Experience
Provide details regarding places you’ve worked that might be relevant to call center work. Be sure to highlight duties that would apply to the job you’re trying to get. What responsibilities did you have? What were your accomplishments? How did you contribute to making the company better? For each position, provide the name of the company, its address, the position you held and the time period during which you worked there.
Skills
You’ll want to showcase your organizational skills and communication skills, as well as your ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. Highlight your ability to pay attention to details, as well as persuade people. Typing and computer skills should also be highlighted.
Your resume should be written and formatted so it’s easy to read and digest quickly. Stick to the details that make sense for the job you’re trying to get. Use everyday language and get straight to your points. Have someone who is good with grammar and spelling read over it to make sure everything flows well, reflects good grammar and is spelled correctly. Finding a pre-existing format and tailoring it to fit your situation makes this process easier.
Search For a Position
The best way to land a call center job in the Philippines is to be recommended by someone who already works at the company. This also gives you an opportunity to find out what working there is like before you hire on. Don’t worry if you have no inside line though, there are other ways to get in.
Here are some of the most effective platforms:
JobStreet
JobStreet is one of the leading job portals in the Philippines, featuring a wide range of call center job listings. You can filter your search based on location, salary, and job type. The platform frequently updates its listings, making it a reliable source for current job openings.
Indeed
Indeed is a global job search engine that aggregates listings from various sources, including company websites and job boards. You can search specifically for call center jobs in Manila or other regions in the Philippines.
SimplyHired
SimplyHired is another job search platform that allows you to search for call center jobs across the Philippines. It provides salary comparisons and company reviews, which can help you make informed decisions.
Kalibrr
Kalibrr is a hiring platform that facilitates the recruitment process for employers and job seekers primarily in Southeast Asia. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Makati, Philippines, Kalibrr has over 6 million registered job seekers, including many white-collar professionals, serving thousands of companies and many major global brands.
Outsource Accelerator
This platform offers insights into the BPO industry in the Philippines, including tips on working in call centers and a list of top BPO companies to consider for employment. It can be helpful for understanding the market and preparing for applications.
Networking and Social Media
Utilize platforms like LinkedIn to connect with professionals in the BPO industry. Joining relevant Facebook groups and participating in discussions can lead to job referrals and insights about openings.
By leveraging these resources, you can enhance your job search and increase your chances of landing a position in a call center in the Philippines.
Prepare for Interviews
Prep for interviews while searching for positions and submitting applications. The sooner you start, the more at ease you’ll be during the interviews. Make sure you get something nice to wear, work on your body language, grammar and pronunciation skills. It’s also important to study up on the companies to which you apply so you’ll know something about them when you get called in for interviews.
Some of the questions you’re likely to be asked include:
- Tell me something about yourself.
- What do you know about a call center?
- Why do you want to work as a call center agent?
- Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses.
- Why are you qualified to work in a call center?
- What do you know about our company?
- What achievement/s in your life are you most proud of?
Develop your answers to these questions and practice answering them with another person so you can respond quickly without seeming nervous or ill at ease.
How to Interview Well
Dress nice, get a fresh haircut, trim your nails, and present a fresh, crisp, professional appearance. Make it a point to be polite with everyone with whom you interact on your way to the interview —and especially when you arrive at the location. One of the people you encounter might turn out to be the interviewer.
Do everything possible to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled time. This makes you look eager. It also gives you a time cushion in case you’re delayed on your way to the appointment.
Look the interviewer in the eye when you’re introduced and give them a firm handshake. Do not sit until after they do so. During the interview, answer only what is asked. Make your points succinctly and don’t wander off topic.
Look the person in the eye when you speak, don’t fidget, keep your hands visible and still. Be honest. Do not lie about anything. If you’re asked something you don’t know, say so and follow it with, “But I’m a fast learner.” Avoid negativity. Do not say anything bad about your former employers, co-workers or yourself.
Thank the interviewer for their time when it’s over and ask for their eMail address—“in case you have some follow-up questions.” Use the address to send them a thank you note for taking the time to interview you, as soon as you’re out of the building.
Follow all of these steps and you are likely to get the job—if you’re qualified and everything goes your way.
Good luck!
