There’s a lot more than knowledge process outsourcing to what meets the eye, and a career in the field can be rewarding, says Reena Jhaveri
One known as the poor man’s five-CD changer, the radio has come a long way, and more ways than one it has become a lifeline for citizens. It is a humbling leveller for all kinds of listeners, for those who blast it on a state-of-the-art system in their top-notch brand cars to those who listen to it on their beaten down phones while talking the bus to work. There is a lot to choose from, the number of stations, the variety of songs as well as the theme-based shows conducted by the radio jockeys. Each and every programme has a loyal set of fans and followers, and this has made the industry robust and growing. With over 250 private FM stations operating in close to 90 cities, one can hardly say that this industry is not growing.
Financial reports show that the growth rate is robust, and the popularity keeps increasing according to many, since of the ease of access of the radio for everyone, opines an industry insider. He mentions that mobile phones have made it much easier for listeners to tune in any time anywhere. Even if radio is not a new concept for our country, earlier, a listener was expected to purchase a special radio device to listen it, and even it was small and easily portable, it was an additional thing to carry. The mobile phone solved this issue, since even the most basic model offers connectivity via radio. With such figures, the stage is set for major growth among the various radio channels. Needless to say, growth will bring more opportunities for those looking to be employed in this sector.
Being one of the foremost mediums of digital mass communication, it is a medium of entertainment for a majority of the country’s population, which relies on the radio.
The market is huge, and so are the opportunities with are closely related to a person’s qualifications, expertise and knowledge. Once you clear the interview levels of a particular company, you do not have to worry much, since the company will train you in the various processes and create an environment in which you can learn and grow.
Different kinds of job profiles cater to different types of roles. The industry is fast picking up in India, and needs a lot of trained personnel. One skill that you need is proficiency in the English language, along with your subject knowledge expertise. Apart from domain knowledge, you also need great web researching skills and hands on experience in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) as essential skills for this industry.
The remuneration is higher than a comparable industry within India, plus, this industry offers lots of incentives and perks. It also depends on the skill of the person. A KPO job offers its employees a chance to hone skills in a specialised field. A fresh graduate can start at Rs. 30,000-35,000 per month, whereas a professional with about two years of experience can look forward to an annual pay packet of around Rs. 6 to 8 lakh. An experienced professional can draw between Rs. 15 and 20 lakh.
The study routes are varied, since the processes are so different that the need a more expert approach in every sense. Hence, to get into this industry, first, you need to have a professional qualification and knowledge to that extent. Since knowledge process outsourcing is associated with standardised process with expertise, advanced technical and analytical skills are needed. The work could be related to any field such as finance, legal issues, intellectual property, analytics, market research and data management. It includes research work too. There is no particular qualification required as such to work in a KPO. These processes may include
Those with the ability to think and analyse, and a good command over the English language are better-suited to work in this industry. Working knowledge of computers and basic software suites is also expected. Another aspect is that this industry needs a high level of confidentiality of the work done, so if you are one who needs to unwind in the evening by rehashing work at home, make sure you do not give away the details!
Shefali Shinde / Financial management student
I have developed my knowledge in the field of finance in a pointed and focussed way, and I am looking at all the career options available to me in future. I know what knowledge process outsourcing means, but I do not know the details of this field. Do they hire fresh graduates? My communications skills are great, and so is my knowledge of finance, but I am not sure what this industry expects and how to break into it. Will I be able to do it?
Professional Sheetal Desai answers: If you have the expertise and the skills, why won’t you make it? It is only a matter of time, and you will be able to land a job in this field. You will also be able to do some satisfying work in this industry. As far as getting a break, you have to be on top of things. You need to look at opportunities in different organisations by visiting their websites regularly. There are some online job portals that specialise in listing job openings in the outsourcing sector, including KPO jobs. Search for the various outsourcing job openings available to locate a job opening that suits you. In terms of salary, the industry has some good prospects. Even those who are working at entry level are able to take home attractive salary packages. As you reach higher positions, salary and other perks will also increase.
This detailed profile is done at the request of our reader, SYBA student Naina Arora. If you want to know more about a particular career, write to us at knowledge@fpj.co.in
