If you enjoy working in a call center or the business process outsourcing (BPO) field, chances are that you are looking for an opportunity to advance your career. After spending time on the frontlines learning the tricks of the trade, you have the skills and knowledge to move up the corporate ladder. How do you set yourself apart from a sea of other candidate in the call center or BPO industry?

Be Dependable. One of the most important facets of working in a call center or the BPO field is being dependable. This means showing up on time, meeting your performance goals, and going above the call of duty to care for your customers. The exponential growth of outsourcing means that the clients your company serves are putting trust and confidence in your call center or BPO. Demonstrate that you are capable of showing up on time and providing excellent service. This is the first step to being recognized for your accomplishments in a call center or BPO company.

Be Flexible. Chances are that your call center or BPO company serves clients in different time zones. This means you need to be flexible when it comes to scheduling. Volunteer to work overtime. Volunteer to rotate shifts or work nights as needed. Flexibility is a desirable attribute in the upper echelons of call center and BPO management.

Be visible. If you work in a call center or for a BPO company, it’s likely that you work night or afternoon shifts. This means that you might not be as visible to key members of management or leadership in the organization who influence the promotion process. Make a point to build relationships with these key people, even if it’s just a matter of staying an extra 15 minutes during shift change to say hello. This will help to prevent you from being isolated and make your face familiar when you manager and leaders are making considerations about promotions, or when you appear in an internal job vacancy interview.

Advancing in the call center or BPO industry is usually a sequential process. You may move from customer service representative to a supervisory position. Then, you can set your sight on low level management. The need for excellent leadership and management in the outsourcing industries will continue to grow. It’s only a matter of time before you will be recognized for your potential and start your ascent up the corporate ladder.