Date:19/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/05/19/stories/2006051903530600.htm

Back Scope to hire non-graduates, housewives

Our Bureau

Drive to recruit about 1,000 people in 2006

MR SREERAM IYER

Chennai , May 18

Scope International Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Standard Chartered Bank, is recruiting about 150 non-graduates and 50 housewives as part of its drive to hire about 1,000 people in 2006, according to its CEO, Mr Sreeram Iyer.

It is also tapping talent pool in Tier II cities in Tamil Nadu. The company completed one round of recruitment in Coimbatore and will move on to Tiruchi, Pondicherry, Cuddalore and Salem for further recruitment. The company recruited about 350 people in 2006, and plans to end the year with a total of 5,000 employees, he told newspersons.

Non-complex jobs

Mr Iyer said Scope would hire non-graduates to work on simple processing and also support their education through correspondence. The diversity of services that the company offers enables Scope to hire these non-graduates for non-complex jobs. The recruitment would be based on basic parameters such as English knowledge, communication skills, analytical skills and attitude. Already about 20 non-graduates have joined the company, he said.

The company would hire housewives who are talented, but do not want to take up a full time job. It is in the process of designing flexible time for specific job roles, which are suitable for women who want to work part time for gaining experience, contributing to the company's growth and adding to their family income, said Mr Iyer."This may be a form of corporate social responsibility initiative. However, if the strategy succeeds, we would be hiring more non-graduates and housewives," he said. Non-graduates and housewives would get about 15 per cent less in compensation when compared to an average entry-level salary of Rs 1.2 lakh a year. However, other perks would be the same as is applicable to other employees, he said. According to Mr Iyer, with more number of companies setting up presence in Chennai, there is going to be shortage of people, and the latest recruitment strategy allows the company to move to a wider audience.