This week, Geico, with the help of Governor David Paterson and a myriad of other political figures, announced it would create a subsidiary location in Amherst. This location will sell and service auto, home, renters, boat, and other types of insurance.
Don't get me wrong - 300 jobs in a struggling economy is nothing to ignore. However, let's look at the types of jobs they will be recruiting for: sales professionals and customer service professionals, both of which will work in a call center environment.
None of these jobs are highly-skilled, highly-paid positions. Geico will keep its primary corporate headquarters location in Virginia, where most of its corporate functions like human resources, finance, and legal are located. The jobs in Amherst are support jobs - when it comes down to it Geico is opening a second call center, which will join the facility already present in Amherst.
A representative from the Empire State Development Corporation touted this move by Geico as "an enormous win for this region... which speaks volumes to both the quality of the local workforce here in Western New York as well as the pro-business environment New York State offers for companies and entrepreneurs alike." Does locating a facility mainly offering relatively low-paying, high-stress jobs really reflect our workforce in Western New York? I don't think so. And if it does, we've got big problems.
Buffalo has been called the "call center capital of the USA". Is this a good thing? Use the comment area below to give your opinion.
10 Largest employers in Buffalo:
Selecting keywords for your resume:
Writing a resignation letter:
Unemployed? The Erie Community College One Stop Center is here to help:
Careers 101: Colleges with MBA programs in Western New York:
Is Buffalo one of the worst cities in the US for a job search?
Comments