Dell having trouble filling hundreds of high-tech positions

Dom

EDMONTON - Where are all the techies?

Dell Canada is finding it slow going recruiting people for its 500-staff customer contact centre in Edmonton, slated to open in October.

The Round Rock, Texas-based computer manufacturer, which announced in July it would establish a site in Edmonton, has already hired its first 100 new staff. They begin taking calls on Nov. 1.

But company officials say that after an initial spike of interest from prospective employees following its announcement, the flow of resumes has dwindled.

"People may have the impression that because Dell is a large, global corporation, that we already have all the people we need," said Michelle Blood, senior public affairs manager for Dell, who is in Edmonton for several days as the company gears up for a major career fair next week.

Dell has six customer and sales centres in Canada, and outside of Edmonton has about 500 employees. But Edmonton has the potential to be Dell's largest Canadian presence.

[Read More]

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Source: Edmonton Journal

ericdrum

Widespread depression due to the NHL lockout.

Shinjikun

I wonder if Dell still has the bulk of their support staff outsourced to India for U.S. support.

GutterPunk

i did not know they did that, thats interesting shin...

on the other hand, maybe people do not want to support the not so great and up to normal standard computers

farkas

Maybe they should of opened 1 or 2 more call centers and spread 500 employees across Edmonton, Montreal, Halifax. You can cover all hours more easily for everyone, and less people applying and being asked if they mind doing night shifts

Dom

BWX

Yeah they do-- I had to call for a friend (on their behalf) to replace a burned out video card.
I was on hold for an hour and then had to talk to someone who barely knew english. What a pain.. Just one on the reasons why Dell sucks.

Dom

It's not just Dell, a lot of non on-site tech jobs are being out sourced. Anything that can be done over the phone or on-line is either already out sourced or going to be. It's cheaper to pay workers in third world countries, obviously.

MSX

Uh, if you read down the page a bit you have to take a $500 course. And you can make more with other companies there being "unskilled" and anyone in Ed with MS certification already HAS a job.

LeanWolf

no, just another reason not to live in the us

Vikingod

guess they couldn't find anyone that you could not understand a word they say. lol

BWX

What the heck does that have to do with anything. I'd rather live in the IS than any other country.

LeanWolf

because it's only in the IS (idiotic states?) that they outsource customer service to india, pay attention!
and have you tried living in any other country?

BWX

"US", it was a misprint genius. I know they outsource to India, what makes you think I didn't know that? How about keeping your anti-American views in the political debate forum/ FWZ?

LeanWolf

really?
because you asked why living in the us was relevant:
you jumped on an assumed political debate, and i teased you about it
my bad! i could also ask you to reserve your oversensitive patriotic feelings for the political forum/fwz
i was just pointing out that if you don't live there, you don't have the problem

BWX

[/COLOR]


Don't insult the country I happen to live in for no reason while quoting me, especially in the news forum..

In fact you are always quoting me and making uncalled comments that don't have anything to do with the subject.. personally I don't even know you or care to, so quit trying to taunt me.

From now on I will just report them to the mods and start saving every single one for the record. You are always trying to start trouble with me, don't think I don't notice. From now on, since it is an ongoing problem, I will be reporting every single incident.

Dom

Cut the shenanigans, LeanWolf. Stay on-topic or I'll be forced to close this thread.

LeanWolf

sorry mom! clearly [color=red]I[/color] am the one overreacting and "ranting" here..

Dom

Moved to the Political Debate section. Rant away...

Sturmbahn

I thought they pulled out of India to an all US (or native English speaking as the case seems to be with Canada) set of call centers after a large public outcry.

Having worked at a call center (Convergys for SBC-Yahoo DSL support), I can tell you that the first line of support is full of phone monkeys whose main duty is to simply read scripts, collect basic information, try basic troubleshooting, and sending the call on to the appropriate call center (Level 2, Billing, 2-wire, etc.).

I hate to say it, but it works; Most of the people who call in are either: morons, elderly enough to need assistance regarding nearly all forms of new technology, own computers customized by an "IT guy I know" who appearantly had no common sense, or is the IT guy him/herself who is more interested in talking about all sorts of useless computer information without bothering to shut up long enough to actually recieve the assistance they called for. The minority are the people with actual problems - busted equipment, incomplete installation at the CO, etc.

BWX

Yeah I believe it. Another thing is that India is an "English speaking" country of sorts. That is probably how they were able to say that and get away with it...

Sturmbahn

Many of these "English speaking" Indians actually have Masters degrees in English. Unfortunately for us, correct grammer won't overcome an Indian accent that renders the grammaticly correct speech unintelligable to our ears. The same goes for anyone raised in the Caribbean. I wonder how the English view our American accents.

BWX

I don't know, but don't think it matters since we are the ones paying them.
It isn't their fault either- it's the cheap -ass companies trying to pinch pennies.

ronnn

I grew up in the Big E and it just is not a dell type of town. People make good money there and a cheapo sweat shop like Dell is going to have problems.