Getting a job in a business process outsourcing (BPO) centre was always a piece of cake. Not so anymore. Job aspirants will now have to go through an entry-level assessment test designed by the National Association of Software Services and Companies (NASSCOM). NASSCOM will roll out its Nasscom Assessment of Competence (NAC) programme for potential employees from November 18 in Rajasthan first.
The NAC programme, being conducted in association with Hewitt Associates, is based on a grading system on the lines of TOEFL and GRE and the scores obtained will help organisations screen candidates and determine individuals' training needs. The test, however, is not mandatory as of now.
"In line with our efforts to strengthen IT-BPO workforce, we initiated the NAC certification, in addition to the IT Workforce Development initiative," said Kiran Karnik, NASSCOM president .The BPO industry is growing at an exponential rate with export revenues of $6.3 billion in 2005-06.