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StarTek is “on track” to fill all 682 of its jobs by the time its ramps up to full operations in July 2017, according to site director Scott Farmer.
When the Colorado-based company first announced in 2015 its plans to open in the former Elder-Beerman building at 150 High St., it was the city’s single biggest announcement for new job creation in at least a decade.
So far, StarTek, which took its first call in July at its Hamilton offices, has hired approximately 225 employees in a variety of roles, Farmer said.
StarTek is a BPO — or business processing outsourcer — that delivers comprehensive engagement solutions to customers across voice, online and social media channels. It has more than 14,000 employees known as “Brand Warriors — in 22 locations worldwide and more than 50 clients in five different countries.
“We call our frontline associates ‘engagement specialists,’ our supervisors are called ‘coaches,’ and then we also have trainers and positions in overall operations like IT and human resources,” Farmer said. “We are actively hiring for open positions and probably will be hiring a little over 100 additional engagement specialists now through probably the first part of fourth quarter.”
Jody Gunderson, Hamilton’s director of economic development, said the city works to assist its growing companies in various ways, including sharing job opening information in utility bills, expanding the BCRTA bus routes to connect more people with job opportunities, and collaborating with workforce development organizations in the region.
“When our companies are successful, our community thrives,” Gunderson said.
Before deciding on Hamilton, StarTek considered other sites in the region, including places in the Dayton area and Middletown, according to local economic development officials and the company.
Farmer said the company prides itself on creating a “rewarding and empowering” workplace, one with numerous opportunities for development and advancement already in place.
The company also covers 100 percent of parking, has partnered with more than 20 shops and restaurants in the area to offer discounts.
In January, it partnered with Excel Development, a business only half a mile away that provides “significant discounts” to StarTek employees for child care.
“We believe we offer a competitive plan that helps us retain our great talent and it’s been a huge benefit for us attracting new talent to the organization,” he said.
He stressed that candidates must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma and “exceptional customer engagement skills” along with the drive to “delight” customers and exceed expectations.
“We do look for previous customer service experience and we also, during the interview process, really look for candidates who are positive, they’re motivated and they’re ready to make a customer’s day better,” Farmer said.
Hours of operation at StarTek are 7:30 a.m. to midnight seven days a week, but employees should be able to be flexible with their shift to meet client demands, Farmer said. Shifts are not set in stone and when schedule reorganizations occur, those who wish to switch would be eligible to do so based on performance and tenure, he said.
Compensation starts at $10.25 an hour for base wage but other positions pay more, Farmer said.
There are opportunities that allow employees to earn incentives based on performance up to an additional $24,000 annually, he said.
StarTek jobs are posted online at www.startek.com/careers.
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