KPO Career India
KPO Career in India
Though I’m in financial education space for last 5 years, I constantly search for new things which I can share with Finance Walk readers.
I get a lot of enquiries from graduates and post-graduates about making a career in financial KPOs.
So, today I decided to write a post on it.
Here’s my experience and observation about KPOs in India.
1. KPO is different from BPO/Call Centers
Knowledge Process Outsourcing or KPO, by nature, is suitable for people who’re looking forward to make a Specialist career. It’s not for people looking for a Generalist role. What do I mean by that? OK, let me explain:
If you’re a graduate and looking for a job, it’s easier to get one in BPO—Business Process Outsourcing. Because BPOs are mostly process oriented where your general processing skills come handy.
If you’re a post-graduate and possess domain knowledge, you can make your career in KPOs as they require certain domain knowledge plus analytical skills.
2. Work timings
Generally, BPOs require you to work in different rotating shifts and KPOs have regular day shifts. But, this is not a rule and you should be prepared to work in rotational shifts if you’re just starting your career in this space.
My experience says in this time of uncertainty, it’s always good to be open to work in rotational shifts for 1-2 years. KPO industry offers lots of incentives and perks and you should not miss this opportunity.
3. Skill set
If you want to enter KPO industry, you should be a graduate/post-graduate and have right attitude and have realistic salary expectations. You should be able to communicate well in English. Interpersonal skills, positive attitude and getting along with people are the required skill set for KPO career.
Excellent domain knowledge, analytical skills, web researching skills and hands on experience in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) are the essential skills for this industry.
4. Job location
Most KPOs are in metros—Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Pune and Nashik (recently WNS has opened a research centre there).
5. How can you apply
First step is to visit the website of the company and check the job requirements and eligibility criteria.
Second step would be to check whether you’ve all these skills and you’re eligible. If you don’t have required skills, you should acquire these skills first and then apply. Remember, if you acquire the skills, it’s easier for you to apply and one more advantage of this is that you can apply to other similar openings in different KPO careers.
For example, if you want to make a career as a financial associate, you need to visit different financial KPO companies’ websites. You need to be a graduate/post graduate (MBA,CA,CFA) and need skills like:
1. Solid analytical skills
2. Curiosity and interest in analyzing, understanding companies in depth
3. Solid fundamental valuation skills acquired in business school
4. Interest in understanding, analyzing a company’s business
5. Clear financial and quantitative concepts
6. Ability to build financial models
7. Sectoral expertise in Telecom, Media, Technology, Insurance, Banking, Food & Beverage.
8. Strong analytical and MS Excel skills (Macros, V-Lookups and Pivot Tables) with strong communication skills
If you don’t know how to do sector analysis or can’t build financial models, then it’s always a good idea to acquire these skills first and then apply.
Third step would be to prepare your resume/CV and make it customized for the job you’re interested in. Remember, a good resume can fetch you interview calls.
Fourth step is to upload your resume on different job sites like Naukri, Monster etc.
Fifth step is to update your LinkedIn profile. Nowadays, many vacancies are filled by using LinkedIn database.
Sixth step is to visit KPO companies’ websites and fill their online application form.
Seventh step is to wait for interview calls and be prepared for interviews.
Remember, every step in this process is equally important to make a career in KPO industry in India.
If you do all these steps on your own, you’ll be ahead of 90% of the crowd.
If you want to know more about KPO career, then write to me in ‘Comments’ below.
Hi Avadhut, Recently i started reading your posts and they r just so straight n clear.. Right suggestions. I recently finished CA and CPA and started looking for a job . Despite having many credentials n ranks i just don’t understand why i am not even getting interview calls..I am not disheartened but i need to know what is lacking in my resume..I had to be jobless for 2 years after having a baby and now when i want to make a comeback nothing seems to work.. Pls advise..
Hi Keetu,
What role you’re applying for? Do you have required skills for the role?
Are you in touch with your friends who are working in the companies where you want to apply? Many companies prefer referrals from their employees.
Thanks for your reply Avadhut!! Yes i tried applying through referrals to HP and Shell and also NTT data.. But no response.. One of my friends says even referral doesn’t work sometimes as the dept which is looking for a resource employs directly through a consulting firm n may not look for referred candidates..I hear job market is concentrated n stuff..But i know i have my position and wanted to build my career now..Please let me know if there r any such consulting firms in Chennai or i need something else..
Hi Avadhut, i can send you my resume as well
Keetu,
Do you have the skills that thee companies are looking for? Have you mentioned it in your profile?
Yes, you may send your resume to me and I may suggest if it need any edits.
Hi Sir,
In relation to your article on KPOs, I had a doubt. Nowadays, many KPOs are looking out to recruit undergraduates with about 1 year of experience. What could be the possible sources of recruitment of such candidates? Candidates who are HSC passed with experience but are not pursuing further studies…..I would appreciate if you could help me out with this.
Hi Ketaki,
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) units do recruit people with HSC or Graduation. Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) units recruit either graduates with 2+ years solid experience with skills or Post-graduates like MBA/MCA/MMS/MCom.
For BPO recruitment, possible sources are placement companies and employee referrals.
Hi Sir,
Thank u for the reply. It clarified quite many doubts.
There was one more doubt I had…..you said that BPOs recruit under graduates and that KPOs recruit either graduates or post graduates……but if some KPOs DO recruit undergraduates, how different would their work profile be from those undergraduates recruited by BPOs??
I am guessing here that undergraduates would be handling data entry and such positions…..would I be correct in assuming so??
Hi Ketaki,
As per my knowledge, KPOs in India do not recruit people who haven’t completed graduation.
Can you please name 2 KPOs which recruit such candidates?
State Street Syntel, Sparsh, Tricom recruit undergrads…..
I am doing my Summer Project on the same topic so I wanted some info regarding the same.
I visited Tricom website. They are into BPO services.
Syntel requires you to have an Undergraduate degree which is a Bachelor’s degree.
I am doing my Summer Project in Syntel KPO….so I do know for a fact that they are hiring undergraduates who have completed their 12th and have atleast 1 year exp….not looking for further studies…..
I understand that it is a very niche target that we are looking at but we are looking at probable alternate sources of recruting these candidates…..so if you could guide me in that area it would be helpful…….
Thank you…
Hi Ketaki,
Thanks for your insights and inside information. I visited Syntel website and they clearly have mentioned that they recruit only Undergraduates (Bachelor’s degree).
Having said that, your details may have some value since you’re working in that company.
I haven’t yet collected such information that might be useful for your project.
All the best.
Dear Sir,
This is in respect to your above article. I have completed with my MBA in finance last year. I am getting job only of KPO’s and sales. I am least interested in sales. For KPO’s many have told me that KPO’s experience doesn’t count if you leave KPO industry and its just another outsourcing job. So, can you please help or guide me on the same.
Thanks and Regards,
Ankit
Hi Ankit,
KPO itself is a big industry and provided you look at it as a long-term career, you don’t need to look elsewhere for job.
Having said that every job is performance-based. If you do your job well, you will succeed. Focus on working in a KPO which will polish your high-end analytical and research skills.
Moreover, I have seen people making successful transitions in other industries.
Hope this answers your query.
Dear Avadhut,
Needed your help in my career, I completed B.com in 2001 and thereafter worked in sales & Marketing for 2 yrs, post which worked in BPO’s as Process executive, my last assignment was of process manager with a leading international bank, I have good knowledge on trade finance Investment banking, corporate loan and Treasury security services, however after quitting the company i have been jobless for 2 years and the current job that I am doing is not relevant, need guidance on what is the scope of starting a Banking and Financial Training institute and what are the challenges involved.
Thanks & Regards
Solomon Raj
Hi Raj,
Can you give more details about your plan of starting this institute? What courses you will run, whether Certificate/Diploma or Degree programs?
Nice article !
I am PGDM-Finance student from IMT Ghaziabad and completed my B.Tech in IT from College of Engineering, Pune.
I am also about to complete online course in “Computation Investing” from Georgia Institute of Technology in a week.
I am looking for opportunities as financial analyst, roles in financial modelling.
Thanks for your time and consideration.
Regards,
Pankaj
sir
i deepak kanodia have done mba in internatonal business in 2003 and also done a short term course by Analytics research institute on equity research and valuaton and currently working as self employed as equity portfolio manager handling equity portfolio of various clients, and give them returns based on fundamental and technical view, but not satisfied with the job i am doing. so currently pursing CFA (USA) and CFP (India) and also uploaded my resumes on websites like naukri,monster,shine, and also to many recruitment agencies and on company websites from last 3 to 4 months, but did not got calls till know. please tell me where i am lacking and how to find good analytical or research based jobs.
regards
deepak kanodia
Hi Deepak,
Can you tell me the skills that you developed during your experience?
i have fundamental skills comparing companies based n ratio analysis and DCF approach, reading annual reports,but not divulged deeply, and also have technical skills for equity stocks gained through reading books and trade in capital markets from last 6 years and also do bit of portfolio managing with mixture of 50% equity, 25% mutual funds and rest gold and fd.
Hi,
The article was very nice and informative.
I am MBA Finance and i want to make my career in the field of equity research or financial analyst etc.
I want to do some short tem course of Financial modelling/valuation and MS excel.
can you tell me which institutes/Tutors(mainly for MS Excel) are good for i?
Thanks.
Hi Lalit,
Thanks for your kind words.
We conduct short-term courses that cover Excel, financial modeling, equity research, investment banking and valuation.
Please click this link to see the course details.
Let me know if you need more details.
Regards,
Avadhut
Thanks for your updates. Am a Statistician(B.Sc, 2010) with little or no experience in my field of study. Currently, I’m a Mathematics teacher in a Secondary School. But I want to advance my career as a Financial Analyst. What steps should I take to make it achievable? Am in my early 30s.
Hi Erhueh,
I think going for a short term skill building program will help provided, if you’re ready to start at entry level.
i have passion in capital markets since 7 years, due to some of my personal problems i working as an accountant in a small proprietorsip company, now i want to change my carrier into corporate especially like equity research,investment banker,fund manager…. my qualification is ssc (1998) open university degree b.com (2003) there is no +2 qualification i have stick to about capital markets i have some experiences in trading ,investment,i give ideas to some of my friends & relatives, i study from starting 1 St class – 10 TY class in english medium, now i want to take training at your workshop and then go for apply a job for entry level post in above said field. from 2004 – 2013 still i working in related to accounts field pls give your sugesstion am i need to go for entry level job there is required post graduate in finanacial management certiicate / wealth management certificate / cfp certificate/mba certificate … i want continuing my further studies after getting job ( my opinion) with my graduation in my interest field, i little know to calculate eps,pe ratio, debt -equity ratio,opm,npm,share holders equity, pls send details only by email with kindly request.
Hi Ravi Sanker,
Please check your email.
Regards,
Good tips.
I want to ask you one question regarding my carrier. Iam an post graduate in Biochemistry but didnt get job in the lifescience field so I joined BPO company(Fidelity investment) for pension process nowhere related to my qualification. Now I have 2 years of experience and have good excel, PDF work experience and also in between I completed course in Datawarehousing using Informatica, pl/sql.
So can you please guide me which field I want to choose, iam getting rejected in some BPO company because iam not having Accounts background and also in Datawarehousing jobs because am not having computer background education but in my company I used to train peoples from from account graduation. so can you please guide me which field I want to select and also if any other courses do I need to takeup.
Hi thanks for your article its really good and realistic.
I want to ask you one question regarding my carrier. Iam an post graduate in Biochemistry but didnt get job in the lifescience field so I joined BPO company(Fidelity investment) for pension process nowhere related to my qualification. Now I have 2 years of experience and have good excel, PDF work experience and also in between I completed course in Datawarehousing using Informatica, pl/sql.
So can you please guide me which field I want to choose, iam getting rejected in some BPO company because iam not having Accounts background and also in Datawarehousing jobs because am not having computer background education but in my company I used to train peoples from from account graduation. so can you please guide me which field I want to select and also if any other courses do I need to takeup.
Hi Rohith,
I would suggest take your time to check different career paths available, chose one and stick to it.
Why did you join Data-warehousing program? What career path you wanted after that?
You can do a reality check in the market – invest some time to do research.
1. Shortlist 1-3 job roles that you’re interested in
2. Visit different job sites like Monster, Simply Hired and see what kind of skills and eligibility criteria employers demand.
3. Check whether you have those skills, if not acquire them through skills enhancement program.
4. If the learning curve is too stiff, time consuming, go for other jobs where you can use your transferable skills acquired through previous jobs.
5. Be realistic. Don’t go by media hype. Instead, invest 1-hour daily in skills enhancement. In a span of 6 months you will be on right track.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Avadhut
Hi Avadhut. Thanks for your suggestions.
Can you please list out few options available for me in Kpo with Msc lifescience graduation and 2years of experience in BPO pension process.Is there any IT related KPO carriers available for lifescience graduates And also Is SAS course helpful for me Will experience count if I do SAS course .
Hi Rohith,
By doing a simple search in Google, I found out that Syntel and IGate are in Life Sciences KPO/BPO market. Do some more research on it. I’m sure you’ll find something interesting there.
The query you asked is related to SAS and business analytics field. I am sending you a concerned person’s contact details. Check your email.
Regards,
Avadhut
I am really thankful for your article. Your article
looks very realistic and is very useful for those who
want to build a career in kpo. i have recently qualified
my ca course n looking to build career as a financial
expert n advisor, will this be right to join a kpo now.
please give n account of career growth in kpo and avg.
annual salary with 2 yrs, 5 yrs n 10 yrs experiance
respecticely. thank you once again, i shall,b waiting
for ur reply.
Dear Aalok,
Glad that you liked the article. Congrats for clearing CA program.
About KPO, I think it’s a very good area for beginners, you can spend 2-3 years in this area and check whether the field is right for you.
About salary part – it depends on many aspects like, company, candidate, how the interview goes, location of work etc.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Avadhut
Avadhut Hello!
Thank you once again for your valued reply.
Thnx
Regards
Aalok