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India Inc battles attrition now
food for thought
Study Abroad UK
For a good cause
Flexi routines, healthy output
Happiness@work
Career Hotline
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Thrive on NETWORKING
A network consists of a grouping of computers that communicate with each other or a central computer known as a server, on which computer files, programmes, and other information are stored. In today’s computing environment, networking is everything. A PC that is a part of a network is also a part of the connected world, with the emphasis on the world wide web, and all the information and other resources that it can provide. A network may be as small as two or three computers or as large as the Internet, the world’s largest computer network. IT professionals who enjoy working with computers and troubleshooting can work in the networking field. Here one of the crucial job profiles is of a network administrator who installs the necessary hardware and software to set up a computer network, and customizes it to meet the needs of the company using it. The network administrator analyzes, designs, tests, and evaluates network systems, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), Internet, intranet, and other data communications systems. Getting In
The basic qualification for getting into networking is preferably a Degree/Diploma in Computer Science/Electrical/Electronics/Telecommunication followed by a course in Computer Hardware. Those with non-engineering background who possesses good knowledge of computer fundamentals can also enter this field by taking up diploma and certification courses in networking technologies. Moreover, most companies prefer to recruit those with global certifications. Some of the popular International certifications available for LAN/WAN Administration are MCSE, UNIX Admin, LINUX Admin, CNE, etc., while for WAN Administration you need CCNA, CCNP, CCDA, CCDP, CCIE. There are a number of authorised computer institutes that offer diploma and certification courses in all aspects of networking. Students with little or no computer background can take advantage of starter courses in hardware and networking which builds a solid foundation in computers at institutes.
You can also take up the comprehensive MNA course that covers all major networking platforms as well as security technologies in a fast track programme for graduates and diploma holders For getting into network/Internet security you should be familiar with the intricacies of the specific systems being used by a company like for instance Windows NT, Novell, Unix, Linux, virus protection schemes, system diagnostic utilities, and experience with routers, hubs and bridges. Certifications like Microsoft’s MCSE or Cisco’s CCNA or CCNP or CCIE or Novel’s CNE or Sun Microsystem’s Sun Solaris Administrator is useful for this job. With the Internet and telecom-based applications like remote servicing and interactive voice response on an upward curve, the demand of network specialists is increasing and expected to continue for the next couple of years. As networks expand qualified administrators will always be in demand whether small or medium sized firms in any industry. Moreover, more organisations are realising the need for developing fool proof e-security systems to safeguard their networks and databases from rampant cracking and taking on professionally trained network security specialists. Network professionals need to have a good command over both software and hardware as they are not isolated from any function and need to keep a tab on everything. All new hardware and software are installed on the recommendation of network administrators who have to constantly update themselves with the latest advances in this field.
Pay package
Jobs in this field are therefore well paid. Entry level salaries can be as high as Rs 20,000-25,000 for those with relevant vendor certifications like CCNA, etc, while diploma holders could expect to earn Rs 7,000-10,000. Those with good knowledge of ISPs, TCP/IP, lease lines, particularly Microsoft Exchange Server can earn Rs 75,000 up to 1.5 lakh. So if you are good in maths, have strong logical skills and love fiddling around with the computer then here is a job that can be challenging as well as remuneratively satisfying!
For details of online programmes & other certifications check CISCO: www.cisco.com Computer Associates: www.computerassociates.com Microsoft: www.microsoft.com Nortel: www.nortel.com Novell: www.novell.com Sun Microsystems:
www.sunmicrosystems.com
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India Inc battles attrition now
Attrition
rate Hiring
plans Improved business climate has set the ball rolling for top executives to go after more lucrative job opportunities as more and more senior level executives are switching jobs.
A large pool of executives wants to try their hand at something new and innovative and is looking for challenging assignments. As the economy stabilises, some firms are taking up the opportunity to nab stars from competitors. The industries that are witnessing more poaching include technology, entertainment and marketing. Switching jobs by executives obviously brings a considerable rise in their salaries, which companies dole out to attract the top talent. Attrition at top level has increased as off shore service providers gear up for aggressive hiring to meet the upsurge in demand from key markets in the US and Europe. According to Sachin, a software engineer based in Panchkula, the rising attrition is in sync with the growing demand for seasoned hands to handle the new projects and ramp ups. The cautious hiring of the last two quarters has given way to more aggressive additions by large companies. TCS, Wipro, and Infosys added over 35,000 employees to their rolls till March, 2010. IT companies are slated to hire around 1,00,000 personnel in the current financial year. With the companies lifting the freeze on wage hikes and promotions, analysts expect the trend in attrition to accelerate in the coming quarters. TCS announced a wage hike of 10 per cent, while Infosys announced a rise from 10 to 15 per cent. In India, the average attrition rate in the BPO sector is approximately 25 to 30 per cent. It is true that this is far less than the prevalent attrition rate in the US market (around 50 per cent), but the challenge continues to be greater considering the recent growth of the industry in the country. The US BPO sector is estimated to be somewhere around three decades old. Keeping attrition levels low is a major challenge as the demand outstrips the supply of good agents by a big margin. Further, the salary growth plan for each employee is not well defined. All this only encourages poaching by the companies that can offer a higher salary. If a person leaves after the training it costs the company about Rs 60,000. For a 300-seater call centre facing the normal 30 per cent attrition, this translates into Rs 60 lakh per annum. Many experts believe that all these challenges can turn out to be real dampeners in the growth of this industry. This only raises the responsibility of “finding the right candidate” and building a “conducive work environment”, which will be beneficial for the organisation. Another major problem is the high attrition and growth aspirations of the workforce. Almost 30 per cent workforce changes jobs every year, and about 80 per cent of them look for better leaders. Team leaders want to upgrade to supervisors, quality professionals or operations heads. The HR problem threatens to become grave soon. Good executives are becoming hard to find, and with tardy infrastructure, big moves to the much talked about smaller towns will take longer. The public sector banks, too, are expected to come under pressure on the manpower front basically because around 25 per cent of workforce is likely to retire within the next year and a half. Along with this many others are likely to opt for the VRS scheme in the wake of recent industry wide wage settlement. The government has asked banks to get tech savy and experienced persons for the posts that are likely to fall vacant. Apart from this crisis at the senior level, there is a high level of attrition at junior level too, as youngsters keep changing jobs for betterpay packages.
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food for thought
One of the quickest and the most effective ways of adjusting to an ‘uncongenial’ job is to compare it with jobs that one would find even less attractive. By the time you have pondered over a few others means of earning a living that you feel convinced you could never face, your own prosaic occupation begins to seem almost attractive in comparison. Another, and far more effective method in the long run, is to set out to do your job better than anyone else could ever do it. By adopting this method even the dullest of jobs can be made interesting. Suppose you are engaged in the work of maintaining office and find it uninteresting. But it can become fascinating when you settle down to discover more effective means of keeping records. Moreover, your efforts in this direction may not merely result in your making the work easier for yourself; they may even lead on to promotion and to far more interesting work! Study your work carefully to discover ways and means by which you can earn personal gain over and above the wages. For instance, if you are engaged in office work and are called upon to deal with correspondence. Instead of regarding it boring, why not set out of improve your ability as a letter writer? Instead of churning out the same old office clichés as many might do, you could aim at developing mastery over the language. By doing so your work would take on an interest and joy that you never knew it could possess. And you would be getting paid in the bargain. Perhaps you are not good at socialising and want to improve your skills in this direction. Well, what better opportunity could you have than in your daily contact with those with whom you have to work. You may protest that some of the people with whom you work are difficult to get along with but even this should be a challenge. Instead of regarding such people with contempt and telling yourself that but for your job you worked have nothing to do with them, you can create a fascinating hobby out of learning to understand them and sympathise with their problems. You may even end up adding to your store of friends. You can also regard an uncongenial work as a means of strengthening your character. Even if your work involves hard labour, there is no need to regard it with weariness and distaste. You can depend upon it as useful means of keeping fit and healthy. Consider how thousands of people spend a great deal of their leisure time and money to get exercise. Think of what a wonderful consolation that can be. While many health conscious workers in sedentary jobs will be spending their precious evenings and weekends sweating out in the gym, you can relax without feeling guilty.
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Study Abroad UK Courses in demand Agriculture and related subjects, Applied and Pure Sciences, Architecture, Building and Planning Art, Aviation, Beauty and Personal Care, Economics, Education and Teaching, Engineering, English language (EFL), Fashion Designing, General Management and Business Hotel Management and Hospitality, Humanities, IT and Computer Science, International Culture, Literature and Foreign Languages, Law, MBA, Mass communication and media, Medicine and Life Now with stringent student visa laws in place for studying in the United Kingdom after some education providers gave a ‘No IELTS’ call for admission to some colleges, conveniently flouting the country’s immigration laws, the UK overseas education seems to be back on the track after the ‘winter of discontent’ of our boys and girls. On the other hand, some student visa consultants in India rue the fact that the UK Border Agency (UKBA), which isresponsible for securing the country’s borders, has taken some colleges off its list all of a sudden. “It’s quite painful to see some colleges just off the UKBA list in the morning after we had completed all visa formalities for our students for these colleges the previous night,” said Jaspal Singh, a Jalandhar-based visa consultant. “We consultants, students and their parents are suffering equally as a result of the UKBA’s action,” said the Managing Director of Caan World Consultants. Excerpts from an interview: How successful has the UKBA been in curbing student visa frauds? Unfortunately, the UKBA in India is seeing increasing numbers of forged documentation. If a student uses deception in his visa application, including submitting forged documents, and fails to disclose previous visa application refusals, his application will be rejected. We have a very effective document verification process to detect forgery which enables us to bar the applicant from entering the UK for 10 years. Cases of fraud are also referred to Indian law enforcement agencies. Moreover, we have a robust licensing system which includes regular monitoring of sponsors to ensure that only genuine education providers are able to offer admissions to international students. Sponsors take responsibility for students during their period of study and report a student’s failure to register at the institution or attend classes. This means if students do not abide by the terms of their visa, we can also take action against them. In addition to these measures, only the highly trusted sponsor category introduced recently can provide higher risk courses at NQF Level 3 and equivalent and work placement courses below degree level. Chances of fraudulently issued offers can be curbed now after the Visa Letter has been replaced by an electronic facility called the Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS). So, what will be the scenario if a student applies to an education provider whose licence is suspended or withdrawn? The UKBA works with UK education providers in India and the UK and bona fide agents, to tackle abuse of the student visa system. A student should make sure that his chosen provider is on the sponsors’ register before he applies. He can still apply for a visa if his sponsor has been suspended, but no decision to issue a visa can be made on his application until the status of the sponsor is resolved. He may withdraw his visa application and re-submit the application with a new sponsor and CAS. However, his visa fee will not be refunded. Please check the sponsors’ register again before leaving for the UK. How
student-friendly are recent Tier-4 rule changes? These rule changes is to ensure that those who seek to use Tier-4 to circumvent the UK’s immigration rules are prevented from doing so, while the interests of genuine students are protected. What should a student do in case his visa is refused? Visas can be refused, for example, if a student does not meet the maintenance requirements; does not provide supporting documents, including originals; his documents are not in the correct format or not translated; and submits forged documents. In the event that a student believes that the wrong decision has been made on the basis of the information he submitted, he may apply for a review of the decision. This is called an administrative review and information about this process will be included in the notice of refusal. Please note that a student cannot submit new information at this stage, so it is really important that a student follows the guidance carefully and provides all the specified documents in the correct format when he makes his visa application. He may also make a fresh application, ensuring that he addresses the earlier reasons for refusal. How can students get their tuition fee refunded if they are no longer able to apply for a visa or their visa has been refused? If a student is refused a visa or no longer wishes to study with the education provider, he needs to talk directly with the UK education provider about the refund. If a student has an agent, he may be able to assist. Overseas students can also contact the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) at www.ukcisa.org.uk for publicly funded institutions, and the British Accreditation Committee (BAC) at www.the-bac.org for those applying to higher education providers. It is important that before a student hands over course fee to an education provider, he understands the terms and conditions attached to the transaction and when/how deposits are refundable. Some Indian students are still confused about English language requirement for the UK. Could you clarify this please? If a student is intending to study a course that is below NQF level 6 – equivalent to a degree course (excluding foundation degrees), or an English language course, his education sponsor must also ensure that he is competent in English language to a minimum of level B1 CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). It is currently the responsibility of a student’s sponsor to make the assessment and to decide how best to do this. If the sponsor used an English language test to assess a student’s English language proficiency then this document should be included in the visa application. In the future, it will be mandatory for students studying at these levels to pass a UKBA-approved English language test. Further information about testing will be announced in due course.
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For a good cause
The Indian social sector is growing at a phenomenal speed to cater to the needs of the people. It is, therefore, an opportune time for people to consider a career in this field . Just like any other commercial organisation, an NGO/International Non Profit Organisation (INGO) has to be run professionally to achieve its objectives and aspirations. Hence besides providing an opportunity to contribute to the betterment of society, the social development sector in India, today, also allows aspirants to groom themselves, professionally, to be able to explore any career opportunity within the sector and even outside, if need be. Over a period of time, the perspective of the social sector has broadened. From being a synonym of activism, in its initial days, activists now are being seen as social workers and social work is being considered a profession. Social work has very appropriately blended with social entrepreneurship. No longer is it an occupation of people with “spare time”” and some “interest”. The best part about this transformation is that the sector is not just about NGOs or social organisations but also includes companies working for developmental goals. We see that the world today is much more cause focused and the not-for-profit organisations are more regulated, organised and professional, with some even offering attractive salaries. The social sector now includes organisations ranging from grassroot level non-governmental organisations, (NGOs) to not-for-profit organisations such as those in the microfinance space, as well as funding agencies that lend to social enterprises. In fact, salaries at funding agencies and in not-for-profit organisations are tending to be very competitive. As a result many professionals are giving up a dream career in top corporate houses for these. Within the social domain itself, career opportunities are huge, be it in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arena, grassroot implementation agencies, grassroots funding agencies, multilateral funding agencies or the government funded projects. While the gap is narrowing, the salary and other monetary rewards in the social sector might still lag behind the corporate. However, if one could weigh the rewards of the joy of giving, making a difference, the social recognition and acceptance, it would surely out-weigh the slightly bigger monetary reward elsewhere. Moreover, there is the added benefit of learning from the rich experience of an NGO in the corporate, should one choose to do so at whatever stage in life. Professionals who work for a few years in the NGO/non-profit sector may be highly in demand later in the mainstream corporate sector due to their enhanced knowledge of rural business opportunities. Also, as the interest in CSR increases, such professionals with experience in both for-profit and non-profit world may be highly attractive as leaders to head CSR initiatives. CSR today is not just about publicity but a serious investment towards social development by corporate and institutions involving a cross section of stakeholders. In the past, there was this gap in information arbitrage between people looking for jobs in the social sector and employers looking for the right skills. That gap is now being filled as the network between mainstream corporate and the social sector is narrowing. It is the diversity of challenges offered by social enterprises which is making it a prime training ground for those looking to build entrepreneurial skills as well. With the social sector in the country becoming more accountable in its work and not shying away from ensuring their investors make profits through them, there is a healthy amalgm of the two interests. As interest in the space is growing, companies in the social sector are hiring with care. The challenge is to find people with professional skills and the right value systems. Perhaps, the biggest factor that is contributing to the growth of social sector organisations has been increased funding. With most corporates paying salaries that are rocketing skyward, funding is what keeps employees from being lured into mainstream corporate jobs and helps fend off societal pressure to earn and spend more. Today, people are more aware, compassionate and responsive to the events around them. This has opened up new thought processes in favour of social causes. The social sector is, therefore, becoming a more viable career option, fraught with new challenges and opportunities to make a real difference. For those looking to build a career in the business of social world, the time is clearly here and now.
The writer is Chief Placement and Training of JK Business School (JKBS), Gurgaon
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Flexi routines, healthy output
Researchers have found that telecommuters balance work and family life better than office workers and can even squeeze in extra work each week. Researchers from Brigham Young University analysed data from 24,436 IBM employees in 75 countries, identifying the point at which 25 per cent of employees reported that work interfered with personal and family life. Given a flexible routine and an option to telecommute, they could clock in 57 hours per week, as against 38 hours in a regular schedule. “Telecommuting is really only beneficial for reducing work-life conflict when it is accompanied by flextime,” said lead study author E. Jeffrey Hill, a professor in BYU’s School of Family Life. “Managers were initially skeptical about the wisdom of working at home and said things like, ‘If we can’t see them, how can we know they are working?” Hill said. But managers are increasingly encouraging a flexible environment because they think it increases productivity. “A down economy may actually give impetus to flexibility because most options save money or are cost-neutral,” Hill said. “Flexible work options are associated with higher job satisfaction, boosting morale when it may be suffering in a down economy.” The study, titled “Finding an Extra Day or Two,” will appear in the June issue of the Journal of Family
Psychology. — ANI
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Happiness@work
Separation helps
Just as a pause in work could help get a fresh perspective, so could the moving away from the arena of work. Better decisions can be made away from hectic activity. The tumultuous sounding of conchshells, bugles, trumpets, drums and horns on both sides bewildered Arjuna and he requested Krishna to draw the chariot between the two armies to assess his task ahead. Away from the melee, he listened to the 700 verses of the Gita. Confusion removed, he picked up his Gandiva bow. To gain a similar advantage, Indrajit went to a secluded spot away from the battlefield to perform a sacrifice in order to gain more powers. But Lakshman, on Vibheeshana’s advice, interrupted the proceedings and killed the mighty son of Ravana. After being sent to jail 11 times by the British and his differences of opinion threatening the unity of the Congress, Subhas Chandra Bose realized he could be of more use from the outside. He left Calcutta on January 7, 1941, and reached Singapore via Peshawar, Kabul, Moscow, Berlin and Tokyo, organised the Indian National Army (INA) and formed the Azad Hind Government. His INA reached Kohima in Nagaland on March 18, 1944. Separation from his motherland made his desire to see her free keener. The consolidation of an empire requires things beyond ruthless force, Akbar realised this and moved his capital to Fatehpur Sikri where Sufi saint Salim Chisti lived. A policy of religious tolerance followed with the abolition of jazia, a tax on Hindu pilgrims, military and marital alliances with Hindus, high offices to Hindu officials in court and the promulgation of Din-i-Ilahi, his all-inclusive faith of God. Indeed, in the company of the good, one’s good qualities come to the fore. Not accepting FAO’s advice that dairying was for corporates not farmers, Verghese Kurien shifted base to Anand village in Gujarat. The White Revolution that followed made India the world’s largest milk producer by
1998. — Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at
svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
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Career Hotline
Corridors of POWER
— Gaurav bedi A. It’s wonderful that young people like you are showing an interest in participating in our country’s political process. Over the past few years the number of people taking part in the panchayats or other local or municipal bodies has grown very much. Sure, belonging to a political family helps one in getting a foothold in the field, but beyond that it’s entirely up to one’s performance and capability. If you’re not up to the job, no party or voters will re-elect you. Here’s a super opportunity to test the waters and get up close to scene of action. Designed for exceptional young Indians like you who are seeking opportunities to widen their understanding of the nature of politics and policy making in India, the Legislative Assistants to Members of Parliament Programme is based on the lines of similar exposure offered to youth in other democracies such as the US and UK. Besides providing valuable experience, the opportunity to assist MPs for their work in Parliament will serve as a launch-pad for future careers in management, law, public policy, journalism etc. Each Legislative Assistant (LA) would be assigned to a specific MP, catering to their individual research needs and duties. They will help the MP frame questions, raise issues and prepare for committee meetings and speeches. The Indian Parliament has about 790 members affiliated to over 40 political parties. Each Member of Parliament (MP) represents close to two million citizens. MPs pass about 60 Bills a year on an average, but do not have a dedicated research staff or institutional support to help them understand the implications of various legislations. This makes it difficult for them to prepare for debates and committee meetings. The programme is coordinated by PRS Legislative Research an independent research initiative that works with Members of Parliament (MPs) across party lines to provide research support on legislative and policy issues. As the focus of the programme is on Parliament, the LAs need to be based in Delhi for the entire period of the programme: 10 months full-time (July 2010 - May 2011). You will receive a stipend of Rs 10,000 pm + Rs 2,000 pm for internet, telephone and conveyance costs. Motivated fresh graduates in any discipline can send in their CV along with a 500-word description of why you would like to participate in the programme to talent@prsindia.org with ‘Legislative Assistants for MPs Programme’ in the subject line. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in the week starting June 21, 2010. Offers will be made on June 28, 2010. The Programme commences on July 12, 2010. Hurry, the application deadline is June 16, 2010.
Conservation concerns
— Mandira Chugh A.
Certainly, why not? The Himalayas are melting, The Pacific is rising, Polar bears are dying and we are losing the untapped information and potential of plant species at an alarming rate. We need to protect the earth not just for ourselves but for our future generations. And as Yugratna Srivastava, speaking on behalf of the world’s 3 billion children at the UN summit ahead of the Climate Change Conference at Copenhagen asked the assembly of world leaders: “If not here, then Where? If not now, then When? If not us, then Who?” However, to work in this field, you not only need a passionate concern for the environment, but also a clear idea about what needs to be done for conserving and improving it. If you have a logical mind, and a working knowledge of subjects like geography, geology, botany, chemistry and zoology, along with good communication skills, there are quite a few routes to working as an environmentalist without studying environmental sciences per se. Here are some you could consider: Environmental Education & Communication: This typically involves conducting awareness programmes in colleges/schools, coordinating community awareness programmes – on rural and specific urban issues etc., communicating through the media — television, radio, internet, press etc. Environmental Journalism: Growing public awareness has generated enthusiasm and concern for environmental protection. People’s voices are now beginning to be heard and reported in the media. Reporting environmental issues such as nuclear tests, construction of dams etc., making documentaries on various aspects of the environment, and producing films on various issues concerning the environment are areas that environmental journalists/photojournalists can actively pursue. Environmental Law: This would involve working as a lawyer for an environmental consulting firm, environmental organisation, conservation group, or the
government. Environmental Activism & Social Work: This would involve working with an NGO, fundraising/lobbying for an environmental organization, conservation group or actively espousing environmental concerns. Don’t expect a fancy salary, but the work can be very satisfying and purposeful.
Aircraft maintenance & women
— Ritika Salat A. Sure you can! You have to obtain a licence from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Government of India to become an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. This course is not a degree course, but a certification course, which must be imparted only by DGCA approved and recognised institutes. The minimum eligibility for getting admission into any of the institutes is Plus II or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Attractive scholarship to the tune of Rs 60,000 are offered to per annum to deserving and meritorious students as well as rebates in fee and other amenities for girl candidates are offered to attract more and more young people. Just make sure the institute is duly recognised by the DGCA. You can see the complete list of such institutes on their website: www.dgca.nic.in. However, do find out about the employability factor upon completing the course. It’s not all that easy for freshers as far as finding a job is concerned.
Apply immediately
Q. I have done my graduation through distance mode from DU’s School of Open Learning. Can I apply for BTC in UP? — Jignesh Pant A. As long as you have done your graduation in distance mode from a recognised university like DU, you should have no problem. A vibrant educational system depends to a large extent on the quality of teaching at the elementary level. To improve the quality of teachers, the government has set up various institutes that offer Basic Training Certificate (BTC) courses in every state in India so that maximum number of teachers can avail of the training to help improve the quality of education in India. Moreover, BTC courses are becoming increasingly popular as recruitment boards of primary teachers in various Indian states regard it as part of the minimum eligibility criteria for appointing primary school teachers. The syllabus and curriculum of the 2-year BTC is provided by the NCTE (National Council for Teacher Education). Hurry, the deadline for UP BTC is June 16.
The writer is a noted career expert and director, Career Guidance India (CARING). Please send in your queries with your full name, complete address and academic qualifications to: The Editor, Jobs and Careers, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030, or at careers@tribunemail.com
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Fortnightly Quiz-363
2. Who recently became the first Italian woman to win a tennis grand slam singles title? 3. When is World No Tobacco Day observed? 4. Which space shuttle of NASA recently ended its 25 years of service? 5. Which hill station in North India recently recorded a temperature of 32.4 degrees C, making it hottest in 170 years? 6. Which temple in Andhra Pradesh, nestled among a string of seven hills, is believed to be the country’s richest in terms of donations? 7. Which is the first Indian state to be hit by the annual south-west monsoon? 8. What is the full form of NREGA? 9. Which Indian has won four World Chess Championship titles? 10. Which country recently surpassed Australia in playing the maximum number of one-day international (ODI) cricket matches?
— Tarun Sharma
Winners of quiz 362: The first prize by draw of lots goes to Aanandita Tandon, class IX, Saint Joseph Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, Chandigarh, Pin Code - 160044 Second: Jaya Sharma, class VI, Kendriya Public School, Mall Road, Karnal, Pin Code - 132001 Third: Parul Sandhir, class VII-A, MD DAV Public Senior Secondary School, Ambala City, Pin Code – 134003 Answers to quiz 362: Dilip Donde; David Cameron; Arjun Bajpayee; Apa Sherpa; Rabindranath Tagore; Banda Bahadur; John Shephard-Barron; ‘Laila’; India and South Korea; England Cash awards of Rs 400, 300 and 200 are given to the first, second and third prize winners, respectively. These are sent at the school address. Note: Kindly mention the pincode of your place to facilitate the delivery of the prize money.
Answers can also be sent at quiz@tribunemail.com
Name ………….…………...............
Class………….......….……............ School
address..........….......... ... .............................................
... ................................................
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Social Sector is an emerging career field for management graduates
Gems of ancient wisdom
Networking is a phrase that is used a lot these days, more so when one is trying to build up a network of friends and social contacts through websites that connect you to thousands of people at the press of a few buttons. But more than social networking, it is the physical network of computer that has allowed you to connect, not only with other computers, but also the rest of the world. 
A network administrator is more concerned with handling the technical side of the things — look after new installations, maintain the disc images for new computer installs and maintain the standards for server installations. While a network technician or engineer designs and sets up the infrastructure for a computer network, a network administrator usually configures and manages an existing network, or customises the network to an individual company’s needs by connecting the necessary hardware and software to the network. They could also maintain the vast servers, which host these websites, and so network administrators need to have good knowledge of both hardware and software. Even if you are not programming software, you must know their functions. Administrators also control user access to the network. This includes setting up passwords for individual users and determining which files, programmes, or features each person is allowed to use. The administrator adds computer programmes, such as e-mail, that the company’s employees use on a daily basis, and monitors the performance of the network and troubleshoots any problems such as slow performance or network crashes.
The IT enabled services (BPO) industry is being looked upon as the next big employment generator. It is, however, no easy task for an HR manager in this sector to bridge the ever-increasing demand and supply gap of professionals. Unlike his counterpart in the software industry, the BPO HR manager is not only required to fulfill this responsibility, but also has to find the right kind of people who can keep pace with the unique work patterns of this industry. Adding to this is the issue of maintaining consistency in performance and keeping the motivation levels high, despite the monotonous work.
When you can’t get what you like, you have to like what you get. This is true where your daily work is concerned.
You may long to do something artistic such as writing brilliant short stories or designing
wonderful clothes, but as long as circumstances tie you to a job that you would rather not do, and there are no immediate prospects of a change, it is as well for you to cultivate a liking for that job.
Ms Sam Murray, the official spokesperson of the UKBA at the British High Commission in New Delhi clarifies the agency’s stand on the issue.
A growing number of young Indians are seeking to build a career in the social sector today, forsaking more lucrative corporate career opportunities. And this is not without a good reason. India is home to several non-profit organisations and there cannot be a feeling of greater job satisfaction than the one you get by doing philanthropic work. Interestingly, this is one of the few sectors that has remained untouched by the recession in the last couple of years. The huge potential that this sector holds, in the years to come will lead to substantial demand for talent to ensure its growth and success. And we see just that happening with the social sector providing employment opportunities to a cross section of management aspirants who believe in making a difference to their milieu. 
Q. I have just completed my graduation, and am very keen to join politics. Two of my friends also want the same. But everyone says that this field is meant only for the children of political families. So how do we, who have no such connections, start out?
Q. I am passionate about nature and wildlife. However as science is not one of my favourite subjects, can I still opt for a career in environment?
Q. I am Science student (PCM). Can women go in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering. Tell me about institutes in Delhi and scope for women in this field.
1. Name the only player after Bjorn Borg to have won men’s French Open title five times.