Egyptian Outsourcing Companies Bet on University Students to Build a New Generation of Talent
As Egypt’s outsourcing sector faces escalating competition and strives to strengthen its position as a regional hub, major companies are looking to university students as a promising workforce to invest in early.
CEOs of three specialized companies confirmed that integrating young people into the work environment before they graduate gives them practical experience and equips them with the skills needed for the market.
They emphasize practical training and developing soft skills such as effective communication, language proficiency, and problem-solving.
They believe that specialized centers for teaching young people the principles of the industry will have a significant positive impact on preparing them for a career in this field.
With growing calls for greater collaboration between the private sector, the government, and bodies like ITIDA, Egypt’s outsourcing industry is preparing for a new phase that prioritizes investment in its human capital.
Fouad: The State’s Role is Not to Train Youth for Work
Shaimaa Fouad, CEO of Winners Outsourcing Services, stated that non-graduated youth (meaning those still studying) make up about 25% of the company’s employees.
She explained that by providing opportunities for young people, the company aims to support the industry’s workforce, prepare them for this sector from an early stage, and direct their attention toward outsourcing services.
Fouad believes that the state’s role is not to train young people for work; rather, the private sector should take on this role.
She cited Winners as an example, as the company trains young people, and even if some fail to pass the hiring tests, they are re-qualified and prepared again.
Gerges: We Work on Hiring Students Part-Time During Their Studies
John Gerges, CEO of Aura, said that the company hires students part-time while they are in school, and the number of available opportunities increases during the summer.
The company also offers them diverse opportunities to learn work skills in human resources, not just in call centers, but also in fields like recruitment and procurement.
Gerges added that the company is striving to help young people be qualified and have practical experience upon graduation, which makes them more competitive in the job market.
“If any of them have potential, we can offer them full-time jobs after they graduate,” he said.
“This approach will help us build a strong base of young talent that we can rely on in the future.”
Regarding the need for specialized centers to teach young people the principles of the industry, Gerges confirmed that this would have a significant positive impact on preparing them for work in this sector.
“Having a forum for those who want training will help us streamline the hiring process, as this group can be an effective alternative to the HR department, which speeds up the start of hiring operations,” he noted.
“Every company has its own needs, and this doesn’t conflict with the government’s commitments. On the contrary, it can enhance collaboration between companies and the government sector, especially with institutions like ITIDA and the relevant ministries that provide suitable training.
We will contribute to the growth of the industry, which benefits the local economy,” Gerges added.
Yassin: Customer Service is an Easily Trainable Skill
Khaled Yassin, Founder and CEO of Sky Bond, an English outsourcing company, said that customer experience jobs are careers that anyone can be trained for in a short period, so it is not necessary to teach them as academic subjects at universities.
Yassin stressed the importance of providing workshops and training centers to develop and train young people who want to join the industry on soft skills like effective communication and active listening.
This is in addition to mastering languages, especially English or another additional language, depending on the target market, and objection handling.
He continued: “Candidates for a call center job must also have skills in persuasion, upselling, cross-selling, working under pressure, time management, and using Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, in addition to the principles of handling customers through multiple channels (Omnichannel Support).”
He believes that qualifying young people in this way will enable them to join the industry quickly and with high efficiency.
It will also have a direct impact on the industry’s growth rates, whether through the private sector, with government support, or through a partnership between both parties.
