Business process outsourcing (BPO) is the field in which a company contracts out work so that other businesses provide services that the company otherwise would have to hire employees to do. For example, businesses can outsource payroll functions or the process of ordering company materials and equipment. Many companies have explored BPO as a way to save on operation costs. Beginning a career in BPO involves completing at least four years of college training and gaining practical field experience.
To start a career in BPO, you should complete college training in a business field. For example, a four-year bachelor’s degree in an area such as accounting, business or finance can prepare any aspiring BPO professional for the industry. Embarking on a career path in BPO does not necessarily require a degree or completing studies in a particular specialization, but many employers prefer workers who have postsecondary training.
Students should submit their high school diploma or the equivalent certification to get into an undergraduate degree program that will prepare them for a career in BPO. Completing high school courses such as English, social studies, lab science and trigonometry will prepare individuals for BPO studies. Some employers actually prefer job candidates who have completed a Master of Information Science or a Master of Business Administration degree program, which require applicants to have a four-year degree in a related area before enrolling in the master's program.
While in a BPO training program, students should go over subjects such as statistics, economics, project management and technical communication. BPO courses also teach students how to use computer software programs and databases correctly. If you want to start a career in BPO, you should have solid leadership and training abilities, know how to solve complex problems, be good at selling to clients, possess strong organizational skills and understand how to develop budgets. Mastering how to speak another language also is helpful if you want to build a career in BPO.
One of the most important steps that you can take to start a career in BPO is to pursue an internship opportunity in this field. Hands-on experiences help aspiring BPO professionals hone their communication skills at companies that outsource data entry, technical help or customer service duties. Students also have the chance to select a specialized BPO management area of focus that interests them most. For instance, they can choose to concentrate on human resources, research and development, software or even finance in a BPO job position.
