By John Mark V. Tuazon
Computerworld Philippines
March 9, 2010

In an industry plagued by high attrition rates and inconvenient skills mismatch, establishing a common standard for pre-screening candidates eliminates the all-too nagging headache of having to cast a wide net in order to catch a few good fish.

This is the reason why BPA/P (Business Processing Association of the Philippines) launched on Monday a standardized test for BPO hiring, aiming to streamline the process of job-seeking for applicants and talent-hiring for BPO firms.

Developed along with Assessment Analytics, Inc. and with the help of CICT (Commission on Information and Communications Technology), the BPA/P National Competency Test (BNCT) will act as a “first screen” of potential recruits in the seven billion-dollar industry.

“The BPO industry continues to grow at a breakneck speed,” remarked Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua, commissioner, CICT. “The number one resource in this industry is human capital, so we have to make sure that we recruit only the highest level of talents.”

The BNCT, which will fully roll out by mid-April, will test potential candidates in basic skills sets such as learning ability, English proficiency, computer literacy, perceptual speed and accuracy, and behavioral components, among others.

BPA/P, however, was quick to emphasize that this will only act as a first-level screening test, eliminating the need to screen thousands of candidates only to pick out several of the lot after. “That way, companies can see the candidates who match their requirements and eliminate those that don’t,” said Jamea Garcia, executive director for talent development, BPA/P.

On average, Garcia said, BPO firms only hire 10% from thousands that file their applications. “The BNCT will provide companies quick turnaround time for recruitment,” she added.

Interested test-takers—especially those about to graduate from college, who are initially targeted to take the exam—can simply go to authorized testing centers or partner universities to take the two-hour exam, which Garcia estimated to cost around P500.

At least 10,000 free test PINs, however, will initially be provided by CICT, as part of its 62 million-peso budget in 2009. “The first release of the free test pins—which will be given to 2,000 test-takers—will be used to provide critical mass to the system in order to calibrate the test,” Garcia noted.

Career shifters, on the other hand, can still take the test in order to measure their level of competency against the industry’s requirements. “The test is computer-adaptive, so people who have already taken it can take it again to see how much they have changed,” Garcia related.

A similar test, called NAC (NASSCOM Assessment of Competence), has been implemented in India two years ago, and is nearing completion of rollout soon. “In the future, we will include a similar test for the IT industry, just like in India,” shared Oscar Sañez, President and CEO, BPA/P.

Sañez said the BNCT will try to improve the recruitment process of the industry by having a common standard for pre-hiring. “At the end of the day, it’s all about matching the supply with the demand,” he quipped.

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