Do good looks matter at a BPO?

ou have lots of questions on how to face interviews at BPOs.

How to improve your speaking. 

Get Ahead BPO training expert, Nasha Fitter, answers your questions.

• Do you have a question for Nasha? Write to us!

I want to know how to face the extempore rounds of interviews because I am weak in this area.

- Abhishek

Extempore rounds during interviews test a few skills. 

First, they test your ability to speak English on the spot. So make sure when you speak that you are grammatically correct and that your sentences sound professional. 

Second, they test your ability to speak clearly and in a way that makes sense to the listener. Make sure your thoughts are logical. Get to the point quickly when you speak. 

Avoid sentences that are long and have unnecessary words. 

Finally, extempore rounds test your ability to add flavour to what you are saying. Be sure to intonate and emphasise words while you speak.

I working at a software company in Bangalore. I am from Kerala and have a thick Malayalam accent.

My English is fairly bad. I am doing exceptionally well in my current position, but people have started complaining about my accent.

One of my colleagues said to me, "I don't know how your clients appreciate you so much, with your accent. Or how you communicate with your clients."

I have not had any problems so far with my customers and they are happy.

What should I do to improve my English and neutralise my accent?

- Shibu

First off, it is fantastic that you are doing exceptionally well in your current job.

It is also great that you are looking at ways to further improve your skill set -- all of us need to try and better ourselves professionally. 

You may want to look at taking a class that will teach you how to neutralise your accent. 

There are lots of things you can do on your own to improve your English. 

First, start reading well-written publications like such as the Economist or BusinessWeek. 

Practise reading passages from these magazines out loud. Notice the way sentences are constructed, and see if you understand them.

There are plenty of tapes that help you improve your English as well -- that may be an inexpensive solution.  And lastly, watch television shows – American or British sitcoms and news shows. 

I have completed my B Com from a Hindi medium college in Rajasthan. I am now working on my CA course in an English medium institute.

How can I improve my communication skills in English?

I do not have access to a television or a radio.

- Puneet

Start reading The Economist or BusinessWeek, or newspapers and books. 

Practise reading passages out loud. Notice the way the sentences are constructed and see whether you understand them. 

There are plenty of tapes that help you improve your English as well -- it is an inexpensive solution.

Watching television is very helpful -- see whether you can go to a friend's house and watch English television shows. 

I once went for an interview at a call centre. I cleared the first and second rounds, but could not get through the last one.

Since I am not a graduate, what should I answer for the following question: Why do you want to join a call centre?

- XYZ

Your spoken English, especially extempore, may be the issue.

Extempore rounds in call centers test a few skills. They test your ability to speak English on the spot. Make sure you speak grammatically correct sentences, and that they sound professional. 

They test your ability to speak clearly and in a way that makes sense to the listener. Make sure your thoughts are logical. Get to the point quickly when you speak. 

Avoid sentences that are long and have unnecessary words. 

Finally, extempore rounds test your ability to add flavour to what you are saying. Be sure to intonate and emphasise words when you speak. 

For the question: Why do you want to join a call centre? explain to your interviewer that you want to build a career in a call centre -- emphasise on ambition. 

By starting before you graduate, you are a step ahead of your peers.

I am a data entry operator, and have attended many call centre interviews. Those who are selected are very good-looking.

I am very ugly and my face was burnt in acid.

Can I get a job in this sector? Do your looks matter for this job?

- Rajesh

The way you look does not matter. What does matter is the way you speak and how you present yourself. 

The issue may be your spoken English. Make sure you read business magazines and newspapers and that you sound professional during interviews.

Also, make sure you are confident in your interviews. Dress well. Keep your posture straight.

Remember, beauty is only skin deep: the most successful people are not always the best looking!