CNN Philippines: Leading BPO firm Alorica eyes hiring K-12 graduates

For Alorica alone, 3,000 job openings are waiting to be filled this October to cater to foreign firms with a growing need for support, as well as new companies looking to outsource their services.

Written by Melissa Luz Lopez. This article originally appeared on https://cnnphilippines.com. To read the full article go to https://bit.ly/3otUWEy

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 23) — Senior high school students may soon find jobs in the outsourcing industry and work for one of the biggest firms in the country.

Alorica, which mostly serves American companies, said it is considering to relax hiring rules to accommodate high school graduates.

Currently, the service provider accepts applicants who are at least 18 years old and have attended at least two years of college or university-level classes.

“We also support the government’s K to 12 program, so we’re starting to consider some functional areas for senior high school graduates provided they are 18 years of age,” Alorica Senior Vice President Jojo Uligan told CNN Philippines’ The Exchange.

Apart from the age and educational standards, the company needs applicants to be skilled in English communication, comprehension, and critical thinking. Some vacancies also require specific technical skills, with Uligan noting that jobs are now “highly complex” compared to the voice or call center operations which boomed a few years ago.

The salary is competitive, too. Uligan said the starting pay ranges between ₱20,000 to ₱30,000 depending on the client served, alongside other benefits.

He said apart from the voice component, BPO workers also fulfill chat services and back office tasks. There are also openings for managers, training officers, recruitment, IT, and other support functions.

Despite the global recession due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector remains buoyant as ever.

For Alorica alone, 3,000 job openings are waiting to be filled this October to cater to foreign firms with a growing need for support, as well as new companies looking to outsource their services.

Those looking to apply may visit Alorica’s offices around Metro Manila, as well as its hubs in Lipa, Batangas; Clark, Pampanga; Davao; and Cebu.

The central bank said BPO revenues help support the Philippine economy, bringing in over $22 billion (over ₱1 trillion) in 2019 and $9.9 billion (about ₱479 billion) during the first three months of 2020 alone.

The sector accounts for at least 6% of local economic output. Bangko Sentral Governor Benjamin Diokno said BPO receipts will grow by another 2% this year as more overseas companies outsource jobs, while demand grows for healthcare, telecommunications, and logistics services during the pandemic.