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I am an analyst working with an Indian brokerage.
I have been specializing in the FMCG sector for the
past 5 years. The firm is now downsizing and I have
been asked to look for another job. I am an engineer
from REC, Jaipur with a post graduate in management
from XLRI, Jamshedpur. I have been talking to a few
placement firms, and have had no luck in the last three
months. I have an offer to join the form I used to work
for earlier. My salary will be higher than what I used
to work for earlier, but not as much as I am getting
at the brokerage firm. It will be very embarrassing
for me to go back, but I don't think I have an option.
Please advise?
Your current firm is downsizing and the only offer
you have at present is from your previous firm. I assume
that in the last 5 years you have explored other avenues
and discovered the general lack of opportunities. The
conclusion, therefore, is pretty obvious. Before this
opportunity goes, take it. It is unfortunate that you
have to go back to the same company, but at least your
salary will be higher than what you were drawing when
you left it. Given all these considerations, the deal
you are getting isn't all that bad.
I am a 35 year old IIM-B graduate and essentially
a marketing man. I have recently joined a foreign bank.
I feel I am more competent than my immediate boss and
that I would do better in his position. My boss landed
the job purely out of the strong connections he had
in the upper echelons of the bank's management. How
should I proceed without harming my cause?
Go about your work in a manner, which is impeccable
and innovative. If you have good ideas, start voicing
them at meetings when your bosses are present - this
will get you noticed. Always be prepared to present
your plans for the company. If you are in a political
environment, it may not harm you to have a powerful
mentor. However, make sure you do not start impinging
on your boss' authority or he may take umbrage and nip
your cause in the bud. Lastly, change or try and change
your attitude - it seems too cocky to me. You need to
have some achievements to your credit before you can
lay claim to a position rung higher in the ladder.
I am a 40-year old consultant with an international
management consulting firm. I have been with the firm
for six months now. I was earlier working with a smaller
consulting form. The problem with my current job is
that I do not have adequate work. It is a painful task
filling up the time-sheets. What should I do? I am getting
a salary that is nearly triple what I was getting in
my old firm. Do I keep waiting?
You should try to do a good job of whatever task is
given to you, so that people eventually give you more
work once they are convinced of your abilities and competence.
However, if things do not improvise over time, you should
explore other options.
I am a 27-year-old sales manager in a IT company.
I am unhappy with my current work profile and want to
try something different. I will soon finish my MBA in
finance from a reputed management school in Delhi. But
I want to figure out what kind of work will satisfy
me before making a change. How should I go about this?
Fulfillment is a state of mind. It's difficult to attain
- professionally and otherwise. Career evolution and
changing career interests are not new for an ambitious
young executive like you. However, you need to be clear
about the reasons you want to change your present line
of work. You need to ask yourself if there is a anything
you specifically do not like about the sales department.
This will hopefully help you figure out what you don't
like about your present job and make up your mind on
the kind of job you would like to go in for.
I am the HR head of a pharmaceutical company. My
company is very employee friendly and allows married
couples to work together in the same office. There is
a colleague in my department whose spouse is a good
friend and also the head of the sales department. My
colleague's work is not up to the mark and I am unable
to bring this up for the fear of hurting my friend's
feelings. But, I now feel the other employees in my
department are displeased over this. What should I do?
I think you need to counsel your colleague about her
performance. Before that, however you need to tell the
CEO that this is happening and that you are going to
speak with her. Depending on how serious the situation
is, you could either transfer your colleague to another
department, which may be in keeping with her abilities,
send her for training or just give her your feedback.
It is a tricky situation since two careers are linked
to one and the head of sales is usually a key and powerful
position in most organizations. How you handle this
will depend on your abilities in counseling, handling
situations as well as your personal convictions and
the courage to stand by them.
I am 35 years old and hold a diploma in computer
science. Although the software company I am employed
in has given me the designation of a junior software
programmer, it employs me in the HR function. Consequently,
I have been able to gain very little programming experience.
To add to that, my remuneration isn't very high. My
friends are urging me to learn Oracle Financials and
improve my programming skills before switching jobs.
Though I feel I am a bit old to learn new programmes,
I am ready to do that if it translates into a better
job. Should I follow their advice?
Better qualifications do make it easier to land better
jobs. You could do additional courses in programming
job in another company. That fits in well with your
earlier qualification. However, as you mentioned, you
have not done much programming. So your experience will
not be given much credit. You have to be prepared for
that. Then again, since you have worked in an HR function,
you could specialize in that stream or even take up
an administration job elsewhere. Another option before
you is to choose a completely different option and make
a fresh start. Just remember, there is nothing wrong
with upgrading your skills at any age. Programming doesn't
have to be the only option before you if it is not something
you are keen on anymore.
I am an IT specialist with 8 years experience in
a software services company. I work in an extremely
specialized area and lack the broad expertise that several
of my colleagues possess. To make matters worse, a recent
accident has left me incapable of major physical exertions
while at work, I feel my career has reached a dead-end.
I can't afford to be laid off or leave my job because
I have lost quite a bit of my savings playing the stock
market. Leaving this company would mean losing out on
the stock options as well. Is there any hope for people
with a physical handicap in corporate India?
The kind of work you do does not seem to involve any
major physical activity, so I doubt if that will be
a big drawback in your career. However, I can sense
self-pity in your career. However, I can sense self-pity
in your tone. That can seriously affect your chances
of doing well in an interview or a job. You need to
accept your new circumstances. Your earlier work profile
will come in handy while looking for a new job. Think
positive. Take on work to help out others in the company,
that's one way you can get people to start overlooking
your handicap. More than anything else, work yourself
so hard that no one can accuse you of using your handicap
as an exercise.
I face a peculiar problem at the office: every time
the head of the department directly asks me for a favour,
my immediate boss gets upset. It is a difficult thing
for me to handle. I can't upset the department head
as he is responsible for my appraisal and I obviously
can't afford to annoy my immediate boss. If the situation
worsens, I might have to start looking for another job.
Is it possible to keep both of them equally happy?
Given your present situation, it is necessary to keep
both of your bosses equally happy. Unless, of course,
you are politically savvy to figure out who is going
to be more powerful in the future and accordingly decide
to humour that person more. Your immediate boss is probably
getting annoyed because he is feeling threatened by
your proximity to the head of the department. The best
way to tackle this would be to inform your immediate
boss whenever the department's head gives you work and
seek advice whenever possible. This should make him
feel involved, If things get too difficult, you could
confide in the head of the department. Then again, such
a course of action could have some unintended consequences.
Try and be a good subordinate and wait for your bosses
to realize your worth.
I recently graduated from college. Prior to my graduation,
I received a job offer from a reputed company, and because
of my inexperience I happily accepted their offer without
second thoughts. Now I have come to realize that people
at the same level as me are getting paid more. Although
I'm doing well at my job and enjoying the work, my low
salary is really bothering me. Should I apply for jobs
in other companies or should I talk to my manager?
Simple - do both. First subtly broach the topic with
the manager and see his reaction - don't push anything.
If his reaction is not very forthcoming, then look for
other jobs and find one. That will give you an idea
of the market, as well as provide you with a safety
net, After this, you can talk to your manager more directly
and with greater confidence about a hike in pay. But
make sure you don't burn your bridges with your manager.
I am a 35-year old engineer with an MBA degree,
working as a middle manager in an MNC having 12 years
of work experience. I feel that to climb the corporate
ladder a management degree from an Indian school will
not suffice and that a degree from a US B-school is
vital. But keeping in mind the present job market, I
am scared to give up my job and enroll in a US B-school.
But I have a rigging feeling that a second management
degree from a leading US university will open up new
avenues for me in the US. Should I take the plunge?
The answer to this question depends on whether you
are considering relocating to the US permanently. You
must know that Indian managers are highly valued in
most MNCs operating in India and those with a history
of international transfers provide you the opportunity
to work abroad. In this case, your Indian education
is not enough. However, if you are seeking to relocate
to the US on your own then another MBA from the US will
help. You need to take into account your personal circumstances
while making such a decision - family, financial security
and your risk taking ability. Having said that, let
me tell you a non-secret: There are no guarantees in
corporate life - MBA or no MBA.
I am a 33-year old diploma holder in chemical engineering.
I have worked with some leading companies in the industry
for five years. In 2000, I left my job to study for
a degree in management and specialized in rural marketing.
I then landed a job with a FMCG. But I could not meet
the sales target there and had to quit. Presently, I
am jobless. Should I stick to sales and marketing, or
should I return to engineering?
Have you tried to figure out why you were unable to
perform in your sales assignment? Perhaps, you do not
have an aptitude for sales. An honest introspection
should give you the answer. With your qualifications,
you could give sales and marketing in the chemicals
industry a shot. Your knowledge of the industry and
your recent qualifications could be useful there. However,
if you are more comfortable with the technical aspects
of your job, then you would be well advised to return
to your earlier line of work
I am a graduate in humanities and am currently studying
for a post-graduate in information systems management
from XISS, Ranchi. My course is a blend of human resources
management and the systems approach. I have a strong
inclination towards HR management and have worked as
an intern with a reputed organization. How should I
go about looking for a job? Do I need to get some additional
qualifications?
You already have enough qualifications. Your college
must be having campus placement services for students
and that is the first thing you should avail. Then,
of course, there are companies that have employed your
alumni and they may be inclined to accept you as well.
Ass and plain cold calling could be your next option.
With your qualifications, it should be easy for you
to land a HR information systems job. Failing that,
you could look at other areas of HR.
I am a senior manager in a financial services company.
Around 10 other senior managers from different regions
were interviewed for the post of General Manager, and
I am one of the three finalists being considered for
the senior level position. My acquaintances in the placement-outsourcing
firm that is handling this assignment tell me that I
am a close second. I'm keen to bag this assignment.
What can I do to tilt the scales in my favor?
I am sure the other two in the race are equally desperate.
Some people do try lobbying with the decision-makers,
but personally I am not in favor of that. It may work
in some cases, but it backfires in most. Also, I am
a staunch believer in merit speaking for itself. Having
said that, we don't live in an ideal world. I am sure
you can speak to your boss or some of your senior colleagues
in other functions who are well disposed towards you.
In an impromptu setting, ask them what they think of
your chances. Chances are, they may take up your cause
or at least talk about you favorably in other informal
for a. Make sure you choose these people carefully -
don't spread your net too wide and talk to people whose
voice will be heard. Lastly, ask yourself honestly if
you are the best person for the job and if you don't
get it - remember Rudyard Kipling's line - "For
they were better men than I".
I am a 28 year old with a degree in management from
IGNOU. I have done a course in Oracle from NIIT and
am planning to do a 3-month course on enterprise resource
planning (ERP). I wish to make a career in ERP consulting.
How do I go about it, considering that I have no work
experience?
You will have to start from the scratch. In this environment,
it may not be very easy to get a job in the ERP consulting
domain. You could try to get a trainee or junior consulting
position in one of the ERP consulting companies. On
a different note, I would advise you to start working
- you are 28 and have quite some way to go. It seems
to me that you enjoy studying and getting degrees. That
is great, but at some time you need to put them to use.
I am on the faculty of the chemistry department
of a deemed university. Although I enjoy interacting
with students, my passion and enthusiasm for teaching
has diminished over the years. I have applied for a
research and development (R&D) post in a reputed
Hyderabad based pharmaceutical company. The compensation
package is much better, but having been an academic
all my life, I am still a little tentative about joining
the private sector. In case I get an offer from the
company, should I take a sabbatical and try out the
new job before making a final decision?
There is a feeling of insecurity when one steps out
of his or her comfort zone. If you don't enjoy teaching
anymore, the sooner you move out the better it will
be for your career. If you let this opportunity go,
chances are that you would find it harder to get what
you want in the future. What you should keep in mind,
however is that the corporate world is quite different
from the academia. You should take that into account
while considering the switch. However, if you are keen
on a change, you should go for the interview with an
open mind. Remember, you have to take some risks to
get what you want. Even if you chose to pursue a corporate
career, you will stilt have the opportunity to teach
at universities as a visiting lecturer.
I am a senior manager in the HR department of a
MNC. A colleague of mine, who is married, is having
an affair with the executive assistant of the head of
the department. The problem is that as a good friend
of his, I am not only expected to do his part of the
work, but also cover up for his absence from the workplace.
This is adversely affecting my peace of mind and work.
As a colleague, his personal relationships are of no
concern to you, unless they are actually affecting your
work. If that is so, you need to have a frank chat with
him. If the problem persists, you could take up the
matter with the HR head. As a friend, you could advise
him on the personal entanglements this affair may land
him in. You also need to be absolutely honest with him
about your problem. Chances are your friendship may
come to an end, but you should be prepared for the consequences.
As an HR person, I am sure you know how to handle the
situation sensitively and tactfully.
I am a 38-year-old graduate from IIM, Calcutta.
I was recruited by a Tata group company and went on
to work with them for eight years in the marketing function.
When the company offered an early separation scheme,
I grabbed the offer. But now, a year later, I want to
go back to my previous company and they are ready to
hire me again. However I can't rejoin because I had
left the company under a voluntary retirement scheme
and there are legal hurdles involved. I am ready to
refund the amount accrued to me under the scheme. Is
there any way out of this mess?
There are ways around the problem, but none of them
is simple. I do not see why you or the company would
want to go through such great lengths. It would be far
easier for you to join another group company than the
one you left. Try looking for employment elsewhere -
there is no need to limit yourself to this one company
or one group.
I am a 21-year-old final year engineering student
at IIT Delhi specializing in Electronics engineering.
I have received a scholarship from Nanyang Technological
University, Singapore to do my masters in wireless communication.
The catch, however is that I will have to sign a bond
that makes it mandatory for me to work for Economic
Development Board of Singapore for two years after the
one year course's completion. I have, in the meanwhile,
received an offer to join Siemens as an applications
engineer immediately after graduation. Now I cannot
decide whether to go for the masters degree in Singapore
and be bound to a two year compulsory contract or settle
down to a cushy job with a big company in India. Please
advise.
It's a tough decision. The future is in wireless. Not
that you can't get into wireless after a stint as an
applications engineer, but you really have to think
about 'now' versus the 'future'. You are only 21 years
old, so you have ample time to build your career and
unless you have economic compulsions, consider the Singapore
opportunity seriously. I know that signing a two-year
bond is very exciting, but you think of it as quality
international exposure. Working with a state-run public
policy body can be very educative. The rest depends
on your personality and comfort levels.
At what point in the negotiation process should
I ask my prospective employers if they would consider
allowing me to work from home given that the work I
do is extremely conducive to it?
That depends on whether you want to work only from
home or you have a preference for that but would not
mind working from the office if the job requires it.
Anyway, the best time to do that is after the employer
is very keen to hire you and you are confident enough
on that score. But in all fairness to the employer,
bring it up well before he has said 'no' to the other
candidates. You need to make a judgement about the timing
depending on the situation at that moment. You also
need to decide on the question of pay - that may become
another point of contention if the organization thinks
it is making a concession of allowing you to work from
home.
These days, new recruits hired at any level get
higher salaries because, apparently, their experience
is extremely valuable to the company. But how does an
insider negotiate his pay? Is job-hopping the answer
to me problem? I have been working in my current company
for the past 6 years and enjoy job satisfaction. How
do I handle the situation?
This was a very serious problem till companies realized
it and from time to time made salary corrections in
order to balance remuneration of the existing employees
with the new recruits. Your company obviously does not
belong to the league of companies that has done so.
If you are satisfied with your work and don't want to
quit, you should speak to your boss or someone in the
HR department. If you have already raised the issue
to no avail you need to look for a job. This is unfortunate
since you enjoy the work so much but in the long term
staying on may lead to more frustration.
I have recently become the marketing head of my
company. I was a junior manager in the same company
earlier. Most of my peers are still around, but their
attitude has changed drastically. They try to bypass
me, make snide remarks and tend to ignore my requests.
How can I change the situation without taking the matter
up with my boss?
What you've described is a very natural reaction among
peers when a colleague gets promoted over them. The
first things you should do is to prove that you have
been promoted on the basis of merit. Also have informal,
one-to-one sessions with your colleagues (preferably,
outside the office), so that you can identify trouble-makers.
Above all, be firm and make your team members understand
that you will be an understanding boss provided there
is no negligence towards work on their part. It is a
good thing that you do not want to approach your boss
in this regard. This will work in your favour. You'll
need a lot of maturity, patience, and assertiveness
to handle the situation, If it works, these very people
may turn out to be your greatest supporters.
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