Survey Says:
Closer Home-to-Work Location Primary Reason for Shifting to BPO
by Paul Catiang

At the recent Dell recruitment event held at the Vivere Suites in Filinvest Corporate City, a survey conducted among the attendees to determine what factors would convince them to make a career shift to the BPO industry.

The survey revealed that executives are more likely to consider shifting to the BPO industry if the work location were closer to their residences. A higher salary and compensation package only came second to this. Others cited reasons such as the convenience of not braving heavy traffic, exploring new opportunities, or working in a challenging environment.

Those who were less willing to consider career change cited transportation problems or unwillingness to work the night shift. Others still were willing to wait and see what the BPO industry has to offer in terms of salary and transportation services.

The respondents were also asked what they found important in considering an offer from a totally different line of work. Salary, along with compensation and benefits, was the first consideration, followed closely by the opportunity to grow in one’s career. A few others voiced an interest in more training—specifically communication skills training—and the rest said that less work pressure, the opportunity to travel abroad, and a change of pace were good reasons to consider getting a job in a different industry.

When asked about the non-financial elements they wanted to include in the compensation package, the first item the respondents mentioned was a car plan. Health and medical insurance came next, followed by gas allowance and life insurance. Other given items included a housing program, leave benefits, travel, education plans for their children, and a retirement plan. The list of financial elements was shorter; bonuses came first, with allowances and stock options tying for second.

They were also asked by how much of a salary increase they expected if they made the shift. Of the respondents, 33 percent said they weren’t sure, though 25 percent expected a 100-percent increase. No one expected a salary increase lower than 20 percent, however.

Lastly, the respondents were given a hypothetical, out-of-town location where a BPO would be set up. They were then asked what amenities would help them consider moving to that location. A gym and health facilities were the prime consideration. Coffee shops came second, followed by a spa. Laundry service and several entertainment and recreational venues—such as discos, restaurants, and cinemas—came last.

The sample population had almost equal numbers of male and female respondents (54 percent to 46 percent), and a decided majority of the respondents were married. The average age range was 36-40. With respect to educational attainment, the majority of them opted to not continue their education after completing a college degree. Respondents with post-graduate degrees followed closely at 38 percent, while some had taken post-graduate units.

The respondents were also classified according to their function and expertise: the majority specialized in manufacturing, with the remainder evenly distributed among banking, sales, general and project management, technical support, support services, and human resources. Their industrial categories were similarly distributed: manufacturing—both industrial and commercial—led the pack, followed by banking, information technology, wholesale and retail, pharmaceuticals, entrepreneurship, telecommunications, and lastly, hotel and restaurant management.

This study suggests that while a salary increase is a good reason to shift for an executive to take a job offer with the BPO industry, today’s professionals give greater priority to lessening work-related stress; thus they cite the need to have the work location as close as possible to their residences, the convenience of not going braving heavy traffic on the way to work, and other transportation-related concerns. They are, however, open to new experiences and are more than willing to undergo additional training and face the challenges of working in a different, if not unfamiliar, industry.