How to Become a Call Centre Agent in South Africa (Even With No Experience)
Call centres are one of the biggest employers of young South Africans, and many of them hire people with no work experience at all. This guide explains what the job involves, what employers ask for, what agents earn, and exactly how to go from “no experience” to your first call centre job.
Key takeaways
- Call centres hire beginners. Around 90% of new jobs in South Africa’s business services sector went to young people in 2025, according to the industry body BPESA.
- Most employers ask for matric, good spoken English, basic computer skills and reliability. Experience is usually not needed, and many companies train you.
- Most entry-level agents start at roughly R5,000 to R9,000 a month basic, depending on the campaign. Sales and collections roles can add commission.
- The hiring process usually includes an online assessment (typing, English and basic maths) and a role-play call, so practise before you apply.
In this guide
- Why call centres hire people with no experience
- What does a call centre agent do?
- Call centre agent requirements
- How much do call centre agents earn?
- How to get a call centre job: 6 steps
- Where to find call centre jobs
- How to pass the call centre assessment
- Interview questions to prepare for
- Frequently asked questions
1Why call centres hire people with no experience
South Africa is a popular place for international companies to run customer service, because of our English skills, time zone and costs. The sector keeps growing. In 2025 it created 26,346 new jobs serving international clients, its highest yearly total since 2018, and about 90% of those jobs went to young people (BPESA, 2026). Most of the jobs were in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
Because call centres hire so many people, they cannot only hire people who have done the job before. They look for the right attitude and skills, then train you on their product and systems.
2What does a call centre agent do?
A call centre agent (also called a contact centre agent or customer service agent) helps customers by phone, live chat or email. The main types of work are:
3Call centre agent requirements
Each employer sets its own requirements, so always read the advert. Most look for:
- Matric, the most common minimum requirement
- Clear spoken English (other South African languages are a bonus on local campaigns)
- Basic computer skills and reasonable typing speed
- A South African ID or valid work permit
- Reliability, including shift work, weekends and public holidays
- A clear criminal record; some financial services roles also run a credit check
4How much do call centre agents earn in South Africa?
Pay depends on the company, the campaign and whether there is commission, and salary websites give different figures. Here is what the sources say:
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| PayScale (all agents) | Average about R93,800 a year, roughly R7,800 a month (PayScale) |
| PayScale (under 1 year) | Average about R61,300 a year, roughly R5,100 a month (PayScale) |
| National minimum wage | R30.23 an hour from 1 March 2026, the legal floor for all workers (EWN) |
In practice, most entry-level agents start at roughly R5,000 to R9,000 a month basic. International campaigns tend to sit at the higher end, and outbound sales or collections roles can add commission on top. Experienced agents can move up to team leader, quality assessor or trainer roles.
5How to get a call centre job with no experience: 6 steps
Call Centre Agent
Handle a full call from greeting to close, calm angry customers, type faster, work with chat and email, and prepare for the call centre assessments.
6Where to find call centre jobs
- SAYouth (sayouth.mobi): a free job platform for young people run by Harambee. It is zero-rated, so it does not use your data (Bizcommunity).
- Harambee: runs contact centre learnerships and connects young people to entry-level jobs.
- Company career pages: large call centre and BPO companies advertise directly on their own websites.
- Job boards: search “call centre agent”, “contact centre agent” and “customer service agent”, and include your city.
- JobAlertsZA: upload your CV once and it applies to entry-level jobs for you every day.
7How to pass the call centre assessment
Most call centres test candidates before the interview. The usual parts are:
8Call centre interview questions to prepare for
| Question | What they want to hear |
|---|---|
| Why do you want to work in a call centre? | You enjoy helping people, you want to grow, and you understand the job (shifts, targets, busy days). |
| How would you handle an angry customer? | Stay calm, listen without interrupting, apologise for the problem, explain what you can do, and follow up. |
| Tell us about a time you worked under pressure. | A short real example: the situation, what you did, and the result. School, church, sport or a family business all count. |
| Are you comfortable working shifts? | An honest yes, and how you will get to work on time, including early or late shifts. |
| How do you handle targets? | You track your progress, ask for help when you need it, and keep quality high, not just speed. |
Once you have experience, call centres offer a clear career ladder. Many team leaders started as agents. Our Team Leader Skills course helps you get ready for that step, and Sales Skills helps if you want to earn commission on outbound campaigns.
?Frequently asked questions
Can I get a call centre job without matric?
Most employers ask for matric, but some smaller employers advertise without it. Read each advert carefully and show your other strengths: clear English, computer and typing skills, reliability, and any short course or certificate.
How much does a call centre agent earn per month in South Africa?
Most entry-level agents start at roughly R5,000 to R9,000 a month basic, depending on the company and campaign. PayScale puts the average for all agents at about R7,800 a month. Sales and collections roles can add commission.
Do call centres train you?
Yes, most call centres give new agents paid training on their products, systems and processes before you take live calls. They still expect you to arrive with good communication and computer skills.
What typing speed do I need for a call centre job?
It differs by employer, but around 25 to 35 words per minute with good accuracy is a commonly quoted target. Practising for 15 minutes a day improves your speed quickly.
Are there work-from-home call centre jobs in South Africa?
Some companies do offer remote or hybrid roles, usually to agents who already have experience and reliable internet and electricity at home. Most entry-level roles are office-based.
What is a BPO job?
BPO stands for business process outsourcing. A BPO company runs customer service, sales or back-office work for other companies, often international clients. Most call centre jobs advertised as BPO jobs are agent roles.
Is there a free way to find call centre jobs?
Yes. SAYouth (sayouth.mobi) is free and zero-rated, so it does not use your data. Company career pages and job boards are also free. Never pay anyone for a job.
Will a call centre course help me get hired?
A course will not guarantee a job, but it helps you prepare for the assessment and interview, builds your confidence on calls, and gives you a certificate to add to your CV. With the Purple Growth course you also get 6 months of JobAlertsZA Pro free when you finish.
Get ready for your first call centre job
Learn to handle calls, calm difficult customers, type faster and prepare for the assessments, on your phone, and finish with a certificate for your CV.
Start the Call Centre Agent course for R199
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