KPO: More opportunities than ever before

Overview KPO (Knowledge Process Outsourcing) industry is still naïve but is an exponentially growing phenomenon in India. In last four years, the industry has witnessed growth of more than CAGR (Cumulative Annual Growth Rate) of 26%, creating a sea of opportunities for young graduates and experienced professionals. By 2010, the industry is expected to provide about 250,000 KPO/LPO jobs to the prospects in India. KPO/LPO industry not only provides for an exciting and fast paced career growth, but also one that is highly rewarding. The industry offers a number of jobs in KPO/LPO industry across several functional domains. Some of these include:

• Research and Development
• Business and Market Research
• Data Mining and Analytics
• Legal Services
• Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnologies
• Intellectual Property (IP) Research
• Medical Services
• Financial, Equity, and Investment Analysis
• Clinical Research

Employment Outlook in KPO Industry Qualifications—Graduates of all the streams and functions, whether they are Doctors, Engineers, Scientists, PhDs, MBBSs, or MBAs, CA, CFA, Finance, Marketing, and Human Resources can make a career in KPO industry. Skills—Unlike BPO, where graduates are hired based on communication skills and English proficiency, the emphasis in KPO is on the domain expertise. The graduates employed in the industry typically possess high analytical skills, problem solving skills, excellent written and spoken English, and business aptitude. Experience—Experience professionals are a much wanted commodity in the KPO industry. People who have practiced or acquired sufficient industry experience in their domains can get a highly rewarding and exciting career in KPO industry. For example, a Marketing Manager with 3 to 5 years of experience can expect to earn somewhere Rs 7 to Rs 12 lacs a year. Career Path—KPO provides fast paced career growth not only in terms of responsibilities, but also learning and compensation. A young graduate can expect to join the KPO industry with a package of 3 to 5 lacs per annum, with an average annual increase ranging from 12% to 20%. Further, most KPO Companies design and introduce timely learning and development programs for young as well as experienced professionals to regularly update their knowledge and skills. Work Timings—Most KPOs operate in either early Indian shifts, that is from 7 A.M. to 3 P.M. or in night shifts from 10 P.M. to 8 A.M. Just like BPOs, most of the KPOs provide transportation facility to employees from home to office. Conclusion Clearly, KPO industry provides immense opportunities for a growing and rewarding career to both young and experienced professionals. Further, the work is always challenging with a lot of opportunities to learn and develop key skills and knowledge.