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Joplin call center to add 400 jobs
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JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) - A call center here said Thursday it is expanding its operation, bringing 400 additional jobs to the area.
NCO Group Inc. said a contract it has with electronics retailer Best Buy and its Geek Squad services will require the additional jobs as it calls for greater customer services work, as well as some sales and technical support.
NCO, based in Horsham, Penn., bought the Systems and Services Technologies call center in January. Since then, the company has said it would hire 350 people this year and add 300 more jobs next year. Company officials say they already have hired 500 new people this year.
The company received $1.3 million in state tax credits through an enhanced enterprise zone program.
Chris Autry, general manager of the Joplin center, said it needs the additional 400 people to satisfy its contract with Best Buy for additional customer-service needs. He said that since the contract was awarded earlier this year, the company has added the sales and tech assistance responsibilities.
“It's still taking care of customers,” Autry said. “We're not telemarketers here. We don't interrupt people during dinner to sell them something.”
Besides agents to handle customer service, sales and technical support, the 400 jobs will also include some support and management positions, including quality coaches, trainers, supervisors and managers.
“We need all of that infrastructure to take care of more customers,” Autry said.
Wages for the jobs will range between $10 and $22 an hour with benefits.
Kirstie Smith, communications coordinator with the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, said company officials were drawn by the area's existing work force.
“The people here want to work; they are happy to work,” Smith said. “These are highly trained folks. They deal with complicated issues, and the potential exists for them to make significant money.”
NCO employs more than 33,000 worldwide, providing services through 125 offices in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Panama, the Caribbean, India, the United Kingdom and Australia.
NCO Group Inc. said a contract it has with electronics retailer Best Buy and its Geek Squad services will require the additional jobs as it calls for greater customer services work, as well as some sales and technical support.
NCO, based in Horsham, Penn., bought the Systems and Services Technologies call center in January. Since then, the company has said it would hire 350 people this year and add 300 more jobs next year. Company officials say they already have hired 500 new people this year.
The company received $1.3 million in state tax credits through an enhanced enterprise zone program.
Chris Autry, general manager of the Joplin center, said it needs the additional 400 people to satisfy its contract with Best Buy for additional customer-service needs. He said that since the contract was awarded earlier this year, the company has added the sales and tech assistance responsibilities.
“It's still taking care of customers,” Autry said. “We're not telemarketers here. We don't interrupt people during dinner to sell them something.”
Besides agents to handle customer service, sales and technical support, the 400 jobs will also include some support and management positions, including quality coaches, trainers, supervisors and managers.
“We need all of that infrastructure to take care of more customers,” Autry said.
Wages for the jobs will range between $10 and $22 an hour with benefits.
Kirstie Smith, communications coordinator with the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, said company officials were drawn by the area's existing work force.
“The people here want to work; they are happy to work,” Smith said. “These are highly trained folks. They deal with complicated issues, and the potential exists for them to make significant money.”
NCO employs more than 33,000 worldwide, providing services through 125 offices in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Panama, the Caribbean, India, the United Kingdom and Australia.
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aswell wrote on Oct 23, 2008 6:17 PM: