Once you land up in a job, think of the ways and means to move up in the career ladder.

In any industry, it is very important to have clear goals, both short term and long term, to be successful in one’s career. The BPO industry today has matured to an extent that it is no longer perceived as just a short-term arrangement but as a serious career option for anybody willing to work hard. To have a successful, fulfilling career, it is very important to map your career.

Once you are done with training, you will most probably spend a couple of weeks in transition. Transition is the process where you will be learning the job hands on for half the time and will be classroom for another half discussing what you learnt earlier that day. The objective of the transition period is to get you used to the work environment on the actual floor and to familiarize you with the various practices followed by the agents on the floor. Classroom training covers the theory part of the knowledge that you need to have to be able to fulfill your job requirements and the transition covers the everyday practical aspects and the processes you need to know to be productive.

When in training and transition, absorb and learn everything being taught. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask the questions. Do not hold back assuming that your question might be thought of as being dumb. The only dumb question is the one that is not asked. And for all you know, somebody else might have the same question in mind. Be friendly with everyone but do not be overtly familiar.

Growth in a BPO: Promotions are performance based in a BPO. It usually takes anyone between 2 – 4 months to understand the internal processes & work culture and become fully productive after the training period. Once you have settled into the job, it is very important to perform well consistently over a period of at least 9 months before you can apply for a promotion through an IJP. To move up in the career ladder, you have to take the initiative. For instance if you aspire to become a Team Leader, ask your Manager whether you could assist him in preparing reports, etc. If you aspire to become a Trainer, build your expertise in one specialized area and if opportunities exists, conduct refresher training for not only your team mates but also to members of other teams in your floor.

Get to know all your immediate Managers once in a while and about their roles and responsibilities. You should be in good terms with everyone you come across in your office, though there may be some persons with whom you do not feel comfortable.

Individual Development Plan: Most companies have Individual Development Plans to map the career growth of their employees. After you’ve settled into your job, identify your area of interest and discuss about your career goals with your Manager. Your manager will then chalk out a performance plan for you to follow which will cover all the metrics that you will be assessed on. Once you manager is satisfied that you are indeed performing consistently, he will assess your other skills by assigning small tasks and tell you whether you have the ability and aptitude for your chosen career path. He will also provide you with valuable tips and guide you as to how to acquire the necessary skills required for the role that you plan to move into. Only once your manager is satisfied that your performance in your current role is above par and you have the aptitude and knowledge for the career path that you’ve chosen will he recommend your name for an Internal Job Posting.