Call center will add 300 jobs

West Teleservicesto increase its local payroll to 1,700

Saturday, August 14, 2004

By GINA HANNAH

Times Business Editor ginah@htimes.com

West Corp., parent company of West Teleservices, an-nounced plans Friday to hire 300 additional customer service representatives at its Huntsville call center.

The new employees will handle incoming calls for a leading wireless company, said Carol Padon, vice president of investor and public relations for West. She declined to name the company.

The jobs will pay $9 per hour, with the opportunity to earn an additional $1 per hour for good attendance and performance. West offers insurance, paid vacation and other benefits, according to a company news release.

The new jobs will bring West's total Huntsville employment to 1,700. The call center is on Bradford Drive in Cummings Research Park.

West, based in Omaha, Neb., has 27,000 employees in North America, Europe and Asia. The company opened a call center in Huntsville four years ago. That center initially handled calls for DirecTV, and later added other clients.

DirecTV opened a call center of its own in Huntsville last month, announcing it would hire up to 1,000 people. At the time, DirecTV officials said they were working to move some of West's employees to the new call center. Padon said she didn't know how many West employees moved to DirecTV.

"If former West employees want to come back, they can re-apply," she said.

Training for the new positions will begin Aug. 30. Applicants must apply in person at West's Human Resources office, 5000 Bradford Drive East, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.




Call center will add 300 jobs West Teleservicesto increase its local payroll to 1,700 Saturday, August 14, 2004 By GINA HANNAH Times Business Editor ginah@htimes.com West Corp., parent company of West Teleservices, an-nounced plans Friday to hire 300 additional customer service representatives at its Huntsville call center. The new employees will handle incoming calls for a leading wireless company, said Carol Padon, vice president of investor and public relations for West. She declined to name the company. The jobs will pay $9 per hour, with the opportunity to earn an additional $1 per hour for good attendance and performance. West offers insurance, paid vacation and other benefits, according to a company news release. The new jobs will bring West's total Huntsville employment to 1,700. The call center is on Bradford Drive in Cummings Research Park. West, based in Omaha, Neb., has 27,000 employees in North America, Europe and Asia. The company opened a call center in Huntsville four years ago. That center initially handled calls for DirecTV, and later added other clients. DirecTV opened a call center of its own in Huntsville last month, announcing it would hire up to 1,000 people. At the time, DirecTV officials said they were working to move some of West's employees to the new call center. Padon said she didn't know how many West employees moved to DirecTV. "If former West employees want to come back, they can re-apply," she said. Training for the new positions will begin Aug. 30. Applicants must apply in person at West's Human Resources office, 5000 Bradford Drive East, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Copyright 2004 al.com. All Rights Reserved.