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Hiring begins at new call center

DETAILS

July jobless rates for counties in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metropolitan statistical area:

• Alexander: 8.6 percent

• Burke: 8.7 percent

• Caldwell: 9.5 percent

• Catawba: 8.1 percent

By John Dayberry | Hickory Daily Record

Published: September 6, 2008

HICKORY - An Ohio-based company has begun the hiring process for its new call center in southeast Hickory.

Convergys Corp. expects to fill about 200 positions at the call center by the end of this year.

The center, which will provide customer service for clients in the telecommunications industry, is expected to employ about 450 people by 2011. It will be on Seventh Street, SE, in the former Joan Fabrics headquarters.

The majority of new jobs will be for customer service associates to handle telephone calls and manage customer relationships.

The hourly wage range is expected to start at $9.50 per hour, based on customer service experience. Potential customer service position candidates should have a high school diploma or equivalent, computer skills and customer service experience.

Employee training is to begin Sept. 29.

Candidates should call (888) 484-HIRE (4473) or go to www.convergys.greatjob.net to apply.

Convergys will host information sessions at 9 and 11 a.m. today at Catawba Valley Community College on U.S. 70, SE.

The sessions will provide more details on available positions and benefits.

Convergys, which employs about 75,000 people in 85 customer contact centers and other facilities throughout the world, announced plans for the Hickory call center in June. It will be the company's fifth in North Carolina, joining Greenville, Jacksonville and two locations in Charlotte.

Hickory operations are expected to begin in October.

An investment of $4 million in building up-fit and equipment is planned.

Allan Mackie, office manager of the Hickory/Newton office of the North Carolina Employment Security Commission, said turnout at today's information sessions is expected to be heavy.

The unemployment rate in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metropolitan statistical area climbed to 8.6 percent in July, up from 7.4 percent in June.

The call center is not only bringing jobs to the area, it is adding diversity to the region's current industrial base, Mackie said.

"This is a welcome addition and is going to help," he said.