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Towards a green future!
Guiding Light
FOOD for THOUGHT
Being BOSS
India Inc’s employee cost grows slower in Q4
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Towards a green future!
The information technology revolution barely two decades ago opened up several hundred thousand new jobs in software, hardware and IT-enabled services. Now, a new green jobs sector promises millions of new employment opportunities, as consciousness about the environment and climate change grow. But in order to avail of these opportunities, appropriate policy changes in education and other fields need to be made now.
Whether it is an architect helping design energy-efficient buildings, a rural woman practicing sustainable farming or a plumber installing water-recycling systems, they are part of the change required to green the economy. Green jobs relate not only to renewable energy, biodiversity preservation, waste management, water conservation and treatment, and carbon management, but also to the change in employment patterns in favour of greener, cleaner and more sustainable employment. A green job is one that helps bring about and maintain a transition to environmentally sustainable forms of production and consumption. Green jobs can be work in any field that contributes substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality. Experts say that the vast majority of green jobs in India will come from managing natural resources such as water and land, not just from deploying renewable energy like wind and solar power. The investment going into restructuring our economy to be more sustainable will completely dwarf our IT revolution. Large IT firms together employ less than a million people. That is the amount of jobs we can have in biogas production alone. The ongoing economic downturn has given policymakers an opportunity to take a second look at their growth strategies, and many have concluded not only that serious structural change to a low carbon economy is necessary, but also that the time to make appropriate investments has arrived. This marks a shift in the economic narrative surrounding climate change from one of cost to one of opportunity. Research by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) suggests why governments in recession are starting to take the environment so seriously. A global market value for environmental products and services doubling to USD 2.740 trillion by 2020; 2.3 million new jobs already in renewable energy; and clean technology the third largest sector for venture capital in the US. So, where does India fit in this picture? Well, to put it briefly, right in the centre. The UK Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) has identified India as the third largest market in low-carbon and green goods and services, with a 6 per cent share of the $5 trillion global market. This means that green technologies and industries in India will attract spending in the region of $150 billion (Rs 7.6 trillion) between 2008 and 2017. Importantly, renewable energy is set to attract the lion’s share, with Rs 1.34 trillion in wind and Rs 200 billion for solar. Indeed, the Indian government is currently considering some very ambitious expansion plans, including one to boost solar power generation from almost nothing to achieve 20 GW by 2020, 100 GW by 2030 and 200 GW by 2050. What does this mean in terms of employment? It’s a straightforward equation – the high propensity to substitute capital for labour in the Indian economy makes it likely that the investments highlighted will translate into relatively high numbers of green jobs. For instance, ILO has predicted that India can generate 900,000 jobs in the biogas industry, 600,000 of these in processing areas such as making pellets and the fuel supply chain. At the same time, the green economy will include an increasing number of high value jobs. The challenges that face this new revolutionary approach to creating sustainable livelihoods, particularly in a developing country like India is the lack of political commitment to invite more investment in the sector, and it remains to be seen if growing political pressure on governments leading up to the Copenhagen Conference in December will yield further green investment. Another challenge is to ensure that the millions of jobs that are likely to be generated are not crowded out by simultaneous spending on carbon-intensive sectors elsewhere. Yet another challenge is to build trained human capital and students today need to be making the educational and training choices that will set them up for participating in the green growth sectors and our infrastructure needs to support them by providing the right training. Although it’s taken a global recession to get there, the policies and investment designed to avoid the most serious impacts of climate change are starting to be put into affect. More resources will have to follow, but now that the perceived trade-off between low carbon and growth is starting to de-couple, there is a wealth of opportunity in this space.
(The writer is Director, The Climate Change Project, India)
Raining jobs
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Career Hotline Q. What are the career opportunities available in radio? Can you suggest a good course for RJ (preferably not a private one)? — Prerna Chaube
Radio jockeys interact directly with the audience. They must be adept at handling the console with its numerous buttons, the inflow of phone calls and messages, and make the programme engaging or “sticky”. An RJ should be articulate, engaging, spontaneous and alert. Behind the RJ is the producer who comes out with the ideas for the programmes. The producer often works along with the scriptwriter who writes copy for different promotions, advertisements and mini-plays. Both producers and scriptwriters should have a strong creative bent. Music is a very important element in radio. Those with a keen ear for music and melody become music managers or sound engineers. In addition, as in any other media organisation, there are jobs for those who market the radio station as a brand as well as those who procure ads and jingles for the radio. Incidentally, the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi (www.iimc.gov.in) is organising a two-month certificate programme in radio jockeying. For details log onto their website or e-mail them at radiojockey.iimc@gmail.com
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Different strokes calligraphy
Q. Although I picked up calligraphy as a hobby, I am thinking of taking it up as an additional career. Could you tell me how to get started and what are the prospects?
— Deepti Gautam Most calligraphers spend years perfecting their technique so that each stroke appears like poetry in motion. Indian calligraphy is strongly influenced by religion. Besides Indian calligraphy you could even specialise in East Asian, Tibetan, Persian, Islamic or the ever-popular Western form of calligraphy. In the modern context, calligraphy is extensively used for graphic or logo design, for illustrating maps, designing 5-star menu cards, greeting cards, invitations, or even on legal documents, on your degree, poetry and visiting cards. If you want to make it your “bread and butter” line, you can use computer aided design (CAD) to come up with newer options. CAD has facilitated the creation and dissemination of a seemingly endless variety of fonts that are in use today. But don’t worry, it’s not as if computers will make calligraphers completely redundant. Hand lettering artists will always be in demand for their ability to create something unique and beautiful that cannot be replicated by typeface technologies. Traditional calligraphers are also in demand for making miniature paintings, adding titles etc. Once you make a name for yourself, you can earn close to Rs 30,000 a month. Incidentally, it was a course in calligraphy that Steve Jobs took way back in college purely out of fascination for the subject that helped him incorporate the brilliant array of perfectly spaced fonts or typefaces while designing the interface for the Apple Mac years later!
For budding
calligraphers...
Boil starch water and dip the paper in it. This strengthens the paper quality. Add tea leaves or a walnut to give it a brown tint. You can use gold flakes in the ink for highlighting. Experiment with a variety of brushes and quills to add new dimension to the script.
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Consolidate skills, then switch jobs
Q. After my schooling I did a diploma in computer hardware and networking. For the last four years, I have been working but have not been able to make much progress. The salary is also not too good. I want to make a career but not able to decide which way to go. I completed my study in Urdu medium and also have a problem communicating. Please suggest.
— Javed Sheikh You also need to work on your communication skills. If you make a systematic effort, you’ll progress in no time. Do pay attention to your written communication. Check spelling before your send out e-mail (use the spell check function on your PC to avoid obvious errors. The unedited version of the mail you’ve sent me could certainly do with some improvement). In my view, technical skills related to your job are more important and need immediate attention. Once you’ve got those in place, you can concentrate on improving your communication skills. You can do both in tandem, but being technically sound should be your first priority.
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Protecting intellectual property
Q. Can you please tell me something about IPR practice and suggest a few courses?
— Lata Nair The study and application of Intellectual Property Laws has gained further momentum due to the IT and entertainment revolution and globalisation of the business environment. The importance and goodwill of a brand in the modern scenario has driven the demand for registering trademarks and patents. Anyone pursuing law can opt for IPR as a specialisation during the final year of LLB. Practicing advocates and company secretaries can also practice as trademark agents. A practicing lawyer can also practice patenting. Non-lawyers need to acquire the IPR qualification to practice trademarks by giving a one-day exam and viva at the trademark office. Similarly, you need to take a one-day exam at the patent office to be eligible to practice patenting. Patenting being a somewhat techno-legal area, you also need the basic skill of writing patents, which is honed only by experience. You can either top up a bachelor’s in law with a degree in IP law or if you have expertise in a given domain that, too, can be topped up with a qualification in IP law. Check out some of the following courses:
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National Law University, Jodhpur Course: Master’s degree in IPR; PG diploma in IPR Laws (distance mode) Contact: www.nlujodhpur.ac.in
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Amity Law School, Delhi Contact: www.amity.org
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Delhi University, Department of Law Course: Diploma in IPR Contact: www.du.ac.in
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FICCI Institute of Intellectual Property Development, New Delhi Course: PG Dip in intellectual property management admin & law (six-month duration, evening classes). Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree. Contact: 011-2378760-70 (extn 316/368) The Global Institute of Intellectual Property [GIIP] has tied-up with the University of Washington’s Centre for Advanced Studies & Research on Intellectual Property [CASRIP] to offer an Advance Certificate Programme on Patent & Intellectual Property. The programmes are offered through Software Technology Group (STG) training centres in Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata and Mumbai. IGNOU and Queensland University of Technology, Australia, have jointly developed a master’s programme on intellectual property rights (two-year, online).
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Guiding Light
Choosing a career is a complex process, more so as there are many more aspirants for every study course, and thousands of applicants for every job. The fast changing work environment has brought about drastic changes. While there are thousands of jobs everywhere, there are still over 40 million registered job seekers. In this dynamic economic situation, when job security has been thrown out of the window, making a career decision is more difficult and demanding than ever before. Yet often, this decision is made on the basis of unrealistic professional aspirations, inadequate knowledge, parental and societal pressures and emotional factors that should rightly be irrelevant to this decision. Our society is specifically one that finds no child worthy unless he can become a doctor, an engineer, business manager or a chartered accountant out of him. Each individual is unique in abilities, values, interests and personality styles, and there are thousands of work opportunities today, and individuals can choose to enter a particular occupation based on a number of reasons which could be interests, external influences, such as job market trends, or parental expectations and aspirations. The role of the career counsellor is, therefore, to assist people with objective and professional guidance that can enable them explore, pursue and attain their career goals. Professional career counselling has been introduced in most schools today as it helps improve the performance of students to a great extent, enabling them to grow physically, mentally and emotionally with the knowledge, motivation and freedom to make informed career choices. Career counselling basically consists of four elements: n
helping individuals gain greater self-awareness in areas such as interests, values, abilities, and personality style, n
linking individuals to job opportunities, information and resources so that they can become more knowledgeable about jobs and study paths, n
engaging students in the decision-making process in order that they can choose a career path that is well suited to their own interests, values, abilities and personality style n
assisting individuals with job search strategies, including managing career changes and transitions, and professional development. Career counselling and advising can be done in different ways including working with students individually or in groups. Most schools have a career counselor, or at best a school counselor who can also handle career guidance for students. Career counselors can also work at counseling centres open to students and individuals at different stages of their careers. Career decision-making is not something that happens only once in a person’s life but, is an ongoing process that might take place at any age. It is important for a career counselling centre to have specific resources available for students so that they can access information to help them in their career decision-making. This can include books and videos and other material that provides information about different types of jobs, such as educational requirements, remunerations, and descriptions of the work. Most career counselors also conduct career tests and assessments to provide information about the individual’s interests, abilities or personality style.
Getting In
Most counsellors have a background in psychology as this provides an insight into human behaviour that helps career counsellors to understand better the problems of their clients. There are no specific courses in career counselling, but the courses in guidance and counselling cover career counselling too. Candidates who have masters in any area are eligible to apply for a diploma in counselling, although some institutes prefer students with psychology background. Teachers with some years of experience can also take up career guidance and counseling. It is also possible to enter this field directly after post-graduate study in psychology, and work with a career counsellor. Most career counselors work in schools and educational institutes, or with career and study advisory services. They can also work with career information centres and career education programs. They advise on college majors, admission requirements, entrance exams, and financial aid. They help students develop job-finding skills such as resume writing and interviewing techniques. Career counsellors can also work with recruitment agencies and specialise in employment and placement counselling to assist students with career development and in locating and applying for jobs. With the increase in overseas education, career counselors also advising students on choice of study course, institute and country, as well as assisting in the application process. Depending on the job, career counselors can earn from around Rs 15,000 – 30,000 starting salary. Most school counselors are taken on teachers’ pay scales, while those working with career management services and with employment agencies can earn more. It is only in the last ten years or so that professional career guidance is being taken seriously and recognised as a means to help individual’s arrive a an informed career decision. However, there is limited awareness about career planning in large parts of the country, because of which out of the 30 million who graduate every year - 20% are unemployed and most often, unemployable. At the same time there are thousands of jobs without suitable applicants. Trained career counsellors providing appropriate career counseling could help fill this gap. More than academic qualifications, counsellors must have the emotional stability and maturity to handle the career problems of others. They should have a strong interest in helping others, be sensitive and perceptive in assessing people and be able to inspire respect, trust, and confidence. They should be able to work independently or as part of a team. Career counsellors also need to be well informed and constantly updating their information on study and career options. Career counseling is a challenging and fascinating career. Each individual is different with skills and aspirations that can lead to any number of job opportunities. Guidance must therefore be given with a keen sense of responsibility as the future of an individual depends on the advice you give.
(The writer is a career expert)
Institute watch NCERT is the premier institute for training in career counselling and runs programmes in New Delhi, Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar and Mysore. Other institutes offering PG Diploma courses in guidance and counselling include University of Bombay, Bombay, Karnataka University, Dharwad, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Panjab University, Chandigarh and Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Jnana Prabodhini’s Institute of Psychology(JPIP) at Pune offers a full-time, postgraduate diploma in school psychology for graduates of psychology, BEd and MSW students. In addition IGNOU, New Delhi, and Annamalai University also offer certificate courses in guidance and counselling through correspondence.
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Carrots outscore sticks in team building
Carrots seem to go a much longer way than sticks when it comes to building teamwork and cooperation, according to a latest study. Previous studies have focused almost exclusively on punishment for promoting cooperation but the one by Harvard and Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) researchers says that rewards are much more successful. Rewards robustly build compliance and cooperation and could help in developing solutions for thorny problems requiring the cooperation of large numbers of people to achieve a greater good. Researchers used a computer-based public goods game, a classic experiment for measuring collective action in a lab setting. Study co-author David G. Rand, a researcher at Harvard University Program for Evolutionary Dynamics, says the work has implications far beyond subjects’ behaviour in a computer game. Rand and colleague Martin A. Nowak from Harvard’s Program, examined cooperation among 192 participants in a public goods game probing the fundamental tension between the interests of an individual and a group. “All of us engage in public goods games, on both large and small scales,” Rand says. “Climate change is a huge public goods game: If each person does his or her part to conserve energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, it benefits us all.” “On a more local level, public goods games include volunteering on school boards, helping to maintain public facilities in your community, or cleaning up after yourself and doing your share of work at the office,” says Rand. “Rewards can change individuals’ behaviour and encourage cooperation without the destructive negative consequences that come with punishment,” Rand concludes.
Don’t be lazy at
workplace, it’s hated!
A new study has shown that lazy and underperforming colleagues are hated most at workplaces. The next thing on the list that workers did not like was feeling unappreciated and unrecognised, while communication issues came third on the list. Inconsiderate peers, lack of teamwork, negativity, and gossip and backstabbing also made the top 10. More employers also needed to behave as a supportive coach rather than a dictatorial boss. According to management consultant James Adonis, who spoke to 2400 Australian employees and has included the findings in his new book, ‘Employee Enragement: Why people hate working for you’, also discovered work-life balance often touted as the no. 1 workplace issue failed to appear in the top 50 reasons we hate work. Pay and rewards was also well down the list, scraping in at No. 32. But despite our problems with colleagues, working in isolation is not the answer. “In the same way it is people’s colleagues that get them angry at work, it’s also people’s colleagues that engage them the most at work,” he said. “It just happens to be that if they are bad, they are really bad and if they are good, they are great,” he added.
Can’t sleep? Blame it on the office bully
Exposure to workplace bullying is associated with increased sleep disturbances. A study has claimed an association between observed bullying and sleep disruption, indicating that bullying has unfavorable effects even when it is experienced indirectly. It also helps reveal the prevalence of workplace bullying, with 11 per cent of women and nine percent of men facing “hostile behavior” in their jobs at least weekly and for at least six months during the previous 12 months. The other factors such as age, occupation, weekly work hours and depressive symptoms were taken into account too, but yet it was found that exposure to bullying was significantly associated with self-reported sleep disturbances. The adjusted odds ratio of having disturbed sleep was more than two times higher in men than women who were nearly two times more likely to report having sleep disturbances if they had experienced daily or almost daily bullying or had been exposed to bullying for more than five years. Principal investigator Isabelle Niedhammer, PhD, epidemiologist and researcher at the UCD School of Public Health & Population Science at the University College Dublin in Ireland said that workplace bullying may be considered as one of the leading job
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Sign language
Unsaid words say more than said ones. D.C. SHARMA on the significance of reading between the lines at the workplace Latest psychological studies have revealed beyond doubt that unsaid messages of employees harm an organisation more than the said ones. Even a shrug of the shoulders, a sigh or a moment of silence from a worker conveys sufficient meaning. Only the one who can read between the lines can be instrumental to bring about maximum output, which is why the value of non-verbal communication these days. Sample this: Mohit is a hardworking supervisor in a multi-national company. But whenever one of his colleagues goes astray without telling the reason out loud, he is unable to handle the situation. He fails to notice many non-verbal messages from his subordinates. Pushpinder, on the other hand, is a very popular supervisor in another wing of the same company. Do you know what he did to solve such problems? A team member, who would always wish him a very cordial ‘Good Morning’ suddenly stopped doing so. The tremendous change in the otherwise nice behaviour was evident. Pushpinder at once analysed the matter, read between the lines and called him to his office. Giving him an assignment, he politely asked the team member: “By the way, is everything fine?” In a matter of minutes the problem surfaced. Pushpinder solved it there and then. Every employee praised his unique skill! A sudden change in the behaviour of the supervisor also means a lot to the team. While making a round of the area under him, a supervisor once looked sharply at team-mates talking during work-hours and turned away abruptly. It surely communicates something serious. His non-verbal gesture indicated that he was not happy with what was going on. He, basically, gave them an opportunity to mend their ways. To succeed, a supervisor must never miss the signs. He must know that it is in his own interest to keenly observe how and when members of his team communicate through gestures. He should be wise enough to initiate dialogue with them in time and in a resourceful manner. Whenever a team leader finds the workplace environment hostile and threatening, he should sense the situation. Unsaid messages matter more in such a situation. Taking his trustworthy colleagues into confidence, he must open floodgates of communication. It is then that the unsaid messages surface up in a befitting manner. As Lord Chesterfield has written in his book ‘Letters to his Son’: “Learning is acquired by reading books, but much more necessary learning — the knowledge of the world — is only to be acquired by reading men, and studying various editions of them.”
The right words
PSYCHOLOGICAL research has revealed that the same type of communication can’t work with each employee. Communication must be tailored according to every individual. However, non-verbal communication is a sure way to express what is on the mind of the worker.
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meltdown Marginal salary increase for IT Attrition rate comes down to 15 pc The economic slowdown seems to have seen a drop in attrition rate and salary increase of IT employees, according to a survey. The average IT sector attrition rate, which was 18 per cent last year has dropped to 15 per cent, according to a survey by IDC, a premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and Dataquest. Despite the marginal increase in salaries, a freeze on fresh induction, lay-offs, cutting down on talent and keeping offer letters on hold, the industry saw a dip in attrition rate to 15 per cent. The average retention rate, defined as percentage of employees retained out of the total employees as on March 31, 2008, improved to 85 per cent, from 79 per cent in 2008, the survey stated. The survey results indicate a visible improvement in work environment even though the average salary increases during the year were pared to 1.4 per cent. The salary increases for employees with less than two years of experience was 2 per cent, those between 5.1 and 10 years received an average salary hike of 5 per cent and those with over 10 years experience earned four per cent salary increase. In addition to work-life balance, job security came out as a crucial factor in the survey. The study reveals that there is a drastic fall in the number of people who feel that their job is secure within their company. The reducing bench and mass layoffs by the larger players seems to have left an impact on the minds of people. A majority of IT employees said they changed jobs for better salaries and compensation (53 per cent), overseas postings (38 per cent), better job security (18 per cent), flexible working hours (18 per cent) and training and development (9 per cent). The survey also reveals that companies have become more transparent in their communication with employees giving them a sense of belonging. They have also gone ahead and adopted a higher degree of professionalism in their dealings with employees as well as customers or suppliers. Another key finding is that more employees are satisfied with the interest shown by their companies as well as their immediate seniors in helping them strike a work-life balance compared to last year. More employees believe that training has helped them in their all-round growth. On the salary and compensation front, a surprisingly high number of employees feel that they are being paid at par with industry standards compared to last year. — PTI
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India Inc’s employee cost grows slower in Q4
India Inc’s staff cost went up by 11.2% during January-March last fiscal, growing at a lesser pace than the previous three quarters of 2008-09, reflecting the economic slowdown, according to an RBI study. The staff cost of 2,549 companies taken for the RBI study had risen by around 20% in each of the first three quarters of 2008-09.
However, with corporate India reducing its overall expenditure, the rise in manpower costs, too, were arrested. As the impact of the global downturn became severe since September-October, the corporates were forced to cut down the pace of the total expenditure. “Reflecting the impact of the financial market turmoil, economic activity post-September weakened substantially,” the study said. The total business expenses, which grew by over 36 per cent in the first two quarters, contracted by 0.5 per cent during January-March period. The growth in October-December quarter had slowed to 12.6 per cent. On an annual basis, manufacturing firms covered in the study posted 14.7 per cent increase on staff costs largely on account of higher pace of expenditure in the first half of 2008-09. In the services sector also, IT firms registered a growth of 24.7 per cent on staff cost and non-IT companies posted an increase of 23.1 per cent.
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Happiness @ work Bosses need to handle talented and hardworking juniors with care, as they will be welcomed wherever they go. “Brave, learned, fair — wherever they roam, Without delay are quite at home,” says the Panchatantra.Duryodhana lost the services of an infallible archer in Vidura during the Mahabharata war. The Prime Minister of Hastinapur refused to fight as he was constantly insulted by Duryodhana. Loudmouth Ravana got his name from the loud shout that disturbed Shiva’s meditation. Later, while uncle Mareecha didn’t have the option to refuse participation in Ravana’s plans, Vibheeshana did. Forced by his nephew, Mareecha participated in Sita’s abduction. But Vibheeshana, after being kicked by his elder brother in public, joined Rama to save his dynasty and kingdom from annihilation. Of bosses who fly off the handle, saint Thiruvalluvar in his Thirukkural asks, “He who sees the returns kindly speech affords, Would he make use of harsh repellant words?” — Sai R. Vaidyanathan This column appears weekly. The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
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AXGreen jobs are opening up opportunities in the current economic downturn. Majority green jobs will come from managing natural resources and not just from deploying renewable energy like wind and solar power
Career Hotline
Latest psychological studies have revealed beyond doubt that unsaid messages of employees harm an organisation more than the said ones. Even a shrug of the shoulders, a sigh or a moment of silence from a worker conveys sufficient meaning. Only the one who can read between the lines can be instrumental to bring about maximum output, which is why the value of non-verbal communication these days.
The
Happiness @ work
Each of the 600,000 villages in the country would require a water and waste manager – that alone means 1.2 crore jobs! It is necessary to build awareness about such less known facts, the motive behind the country’s first Green Jobs Fair being held between September 24 and 26 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, to showcase opportunities in the sector.
A. With over 300 FM radio stations being launched in the near future, radio offers great career prospects. A typical radio station is divided into four parts – creative, activation, marketing and sales. The creative side, dealing with the programme content of the radio station, is provided by the radio jockey (RJ), the producer and the scriptwriter.
A. Wow! That’s a really offbeat choice for a career and I am glad that you are looking at it as an “additional” option. This is not to say that there are no takers for this ancient art form. However, you need to be exceptionally talented to make your mark in this profession. 
A. Typically, salaries are commensurate with our skills — i.e. more the skill, better the salary. Also, in a competitive scenario, you will be able to keep your job only if you are good at it. If you don’t upgrade skills and keep up with the latest developments in your field, your knowledge will become obsolete. Then even retaining your present job will become a problem, leave aside getting better opportunities elsewhere. While this applies to all fields, it’s more so with IT. Employers continuously evaluate the worth of their employees against their output and what fresh new talent from outside can do for them. So, please try to consolidate your position before looking at changing your job.
A. There are only 1,000-odd practicing patent professionals in the country. According to a NASSCOM report, 33 per cent of the IP demand is from the Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) sector. 
Among the new careers gaining popularity is one that is possibly the oldest in the world: Career counseling or helping others make decisions about their working lives. And while choosing a career is one of the most critical decisions we will make, career counselling still does not merit the time, attention and expenditure given to the other critical decision of our lives — choosing a life partner!
