Dell calling for 1,000 more Ottawa workers

Computer-makerDell is dialing Ottawato fill 1,000planned call centre jobs.

Dell founder andchief executive officerMichael Dell announced Wednesday that the company's Ottawa call centre is expandingto allow Dell toincrease its total workforce in Ottawa from 1,500 to 2,500. The expansion is scheduled to be completed next September.

Dell was speaking at Algonquin College, where he told students that Ottawa's workers are worth the higher wages they demand compared to their Indian counterparts, who are famous for taking calls for companies around the world.

"The reason that we come here is we want skills, we want talent," he said. "Certainly, cost is important, but that's not the main driver for our customers to buy our product."

Dell said there will be opportunities for Algonquin graduates to staff the call centre as well as to provide repairs and other technical services.

But not all students were keen to hand over their resumes just yet.

John Parker, a computer systems student at Algonquin, said the jobs available will be "a long ways below" what he's training for now.

"It might be a good starting position for some people," he said, "but it's not a goal to get in there. It's not a career."

Dell opened its Ottawa call centre in February. In May, the company announced that the centre planned to employ 1,500 workers.