October 23, 2007
India's Call-Center Jobs Go Begging
Interesting read from Time magazine on call centers in India losing their appeal to students.
"Call centers are symbols of India's economic boom... But now the boom is going bust because India's college graduates and young job seekers just don't want to be bothered with the business anymore.
Young people say it isno longer worthwhile going through sleepless nights serving customers halfway around the world. They have better job opportunities in other fields.
Students at Sri Venkateswara College where sked whether they would consider working at a call center, all eight said no, citing concerns about abusive customers and the long-term health effects of the jobs. "Earlier it was considered cool to work at a call center," said Nishant Thakur, 19, after the group had dispersed. "That died out quite quickly." Added Thakur's friend, Vishal Lathwal, 19, "If you work at a call center today people will think you don't have anything else to do or were a bad student."
... The lure of call centers may continue to diminish as India's economy grows and creates more opportunities for young college graduates. When the phone rings years from now, the call center may be in another country entirely."
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