Careers in retail management
A brand apart
Usha Albuquerque

Retailing can be defined as the buying and selling of goods and services. It involves the distribution of products from manufacturers to the consumers through convenient channels and a direct interface with the customer. This means a business activity that stretches from the concept or design stage of a product, to its delivery and post-delivery service to the customer in a retail store.

With the growing middle class and the increasing purchasing power, the retail sector is booming in metros while picking up momentum in smaller cities and towns too. As Sunil Mittal of Bharti plans a huge retail empire in partnership with Wal-Mart, many others are following suit. Retail companies like Pantaloons and Shopper’s Stop have expansion plans afoot, while companies like Reliance and Tatas have huge plans to get into this sector too. Not surprising therefore that India’s retail industry is among the largest industries in the country, with revenue estimated to be around $ 220 billion and growing at a rate of over 20 per cent every year.

Job profile

Retail professionals try to understand and interact directly with the customer in a store in order to be able to provide him/her the product closest to his need. A Retail Manager plans and co-ordinates the operations of retail outlets be it small franchisees like speciality shops, fast food chains, or sections of supermarkets or department stores. This would involve determining the layout of merchandise so that it is presented as attractively as possible; monitoring the stock levels; placing orders and managing the supply chains and keeping and analysing records of sales figures and financial transactions. A retail manager is also expected to maintain a high level of customer service by observing customer preferences and ensuring that complaints are resolved quickly. Retail managers often work in different areas of a store, obtaining practical experience of each department and gaining selling, marketing and managerial skills.

Luxe choice

A new area of work in retail management is that of luxury brand management. Cashing in on the upsurge of shopping interest luxury brands like Longines, Valentino, Dior and Ferragamo, Mont Blanc and many others, catering to those with high disposable incomes and a penchant for luxury have come into the country expanding the field of retail. According to Forbes magazine, India has the fastest-growing population of millionaires in the world with the current figure around 1,40,000 crorepatis according to an NCAER Household Income. This conspicuous rise in the number of the urban elite has seen many international luxury giants wooing the Indian customer. Premium merchandise and services ranging from designer dresses and handmade jewelry to watches and accessories, custom cars, premium vacation resorts and exotic real estate are today on offer for those who can afford to pay the price. This has lead to the creation of a new career in retail management, i.e luxury brand management.

Luxury brand management is different from the regular retail marketing as the type of customers involved fall in a different class altogether. Such customers are influenced more by glamour and style and think nothing of dropping Rs 50,000 for a Luis Vuitton bag or Rs 6 lakh for an Ermenegildo Zegna’s top-of the-line, custom-tailored suit. Brand-building is a very important part of luxury goods management as it involves creating a demand for something which is not really needed. Fashion shows, special events, and other public relations efforts are directed towards keeping the brand popular while retaining its exclusivity. The celebrities and pop icons who endorse the brand are also selected carefully to convey the desired image. A luxury brand manager, therefore, has to understand the value and tradition of a brand as much as managing the clientele who need to feel the requirement for such a product.

Skills needed

If you have good communications and organisational skills and a flair for selling, retail management could be a good career option for you. This is a customer-oriented field and you should be able to put your business skills to practical and visible application.

You must enjoy working with people and have a good product knowledge or interest in marketing areas like fashion, music, computer games, etc You also need good numerical skills and must have the ability to work accurately and neatly.

Formal training courses

While the huge demand for retail professionals has resulted in many getting into this career without formal training, focused retail management courses are now available at many institutes. These courses provide necessary inputs to those wanting to make a career in this field. However, you can look at a career in retail management even if you have done a BBA, or MBA with marketing, or have a simple graduation.

Many of the training institutes have been set up by retail chains. K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management & Research Studies, Mumbai, was the first to introduce the subject, and offers an 18-month PG diploma in Retail Management, which includes six-month professional practice in a Pantaloon store.

Others such as the Welingkar School of Retail Management Studies and Indian Retail School, New Delhi also offer specialised programmes in retailing and retail management. Bharti Wal-Mart Training Centre set up at Amritsar recently is another retail training centre aimed at bridging the shortage of skilled workers for cash-and-carry and organised retail formats. The centre offers short-term vocational certification courses that will equip candidates to become floor and sales assistants or supervisors at wholesale cash-and-carry and retail ventures.

Fashion institutes such as NIFT and Pearl Academy of Fashion, New Delhi offer specialisation in apparel retailing and merchandising.

For those wanting to specialise in luxury brand management, a course in communication management or an MBA would go a long way. Some management experience with a natural flair for networking and an ability to build a rapport with high net worth individuals is essential to enter this field. Luxury brand management involves a high level of customer interaction and those able to build a rapport with potential customers will do well in this industry.

Currently the only direct course available is the Global Management Programme for Executives in Luxury Management offered by IIM, Ahmadabad in association with the ESSEC Business School, Paris. Participants of the programme will get trained at ESSEC, Paris, where they get to interact with faculty, alumni, touring international fashion houses and luxury business houses followed by intensive training at the IIM-A campus.

Scope

There are plenty of opportunities in this field. Departmental stores, designer boutiques, fast food chains, super markets, company stores, music stores, electronics showrooms, automobile dealers all employ retail professionals. There are now supermarkets/grocery chains like Food World, Spencers, Big Bazaar, Convenio, and fast-food chains. There has also been a substantial increase in the non-food retail segment, in a variety of new sectors. These include lifestyle/fashion segments like Shopper’s Stop, Globus, LifeStyle, Westside, Pantaloon, Levis, Reebok, books/music/gifts segments like Archies, MusicWorld, Crosswords, Landmark, even in appliances and consumer durables such as Croma, as well as health care and pharmacy. With the spread of the PVR, DT and other chains the entertainment and cinema segment is also today offering a retail choice.

Moreover, premium segments like custom cars, fashion, wines, chocolates, spa services, jewelry, leather accessories, watches, signature pens etc. have arrived on Indian shores and are in need of experienced brand managers. Brands, including Tag Heuer, Girard-Perregaux, Breguet, Corum, Audemars Piguet, and Jaeger LeCoultre, are all set to grow in terms of their retail presence in India in the next year or so. Specialised malls are also coming up catering only to the high-end luxury segment.

With 500 persons required to man a single mall, and 250 malls expected to be set up in the next five years, organised retail is going to become a well paying full time occupation. And even if you are not a shopaholic, retail management, particularly the one in luxury brands, could have you shopping every day, and getting paid for it too.

Career Hotline
Pervin Malhotra

Judicious choice

Pervin Malhotra

Q. I am a lecturer in a private college. I am interested in doing some charity work in my spare time. How do I go about choosing a good NGO which can provide me exposure to the social sector?

— Radhika George

A. Over the past decade, NGOs have proliferated in India, while remaining relatively unregulated. There are over 12 lakh NGOs, over half of which are based in 6 lakh villages. Many do good work, but lack of accountability and transparency or voluntary code of conduct has allowed the less-credible ones to undermine the work of the credible ones, leading to a dilution of trust between donors and beneficiaries. Many of them have been found to have abysmal standards of accounting and reporting. A few put up their financial accounts on their websites. While it's not fair to paint the whole sector black, it's important to sift the grain from the chaff.

Working in an NGO is certainly a good option if you are passionate about charity work. However be careful about the NGO's bonafides and credibility. Before tearing out a leaf from your cheque book, make sure you check if the institution is genuine and committed.

The Council for Advancement of People's Action & Rural Technology (CAPART) has blacklisted hundreds of NGOs (770+) for indulging in unscrupulous activities. These NGOs have misused the funds sanctioned by the government, indulged in financial mismanagement and even submitted forged documents.

Make sure you also check the governance structure of the NGO.

A genuine NGO would have a systematic structure with an active set of trustees.

Another way to check the credentials of an NGO is to visit the centre to get a first-hand peep into what and how it is carrying out the social activity.

Apart from organiszations like CAPART there are others like Give Foundation, Karmayog and Concern India that run independent checks on the credibility of NGOs. Use these resources, besides speaking to friends and experienced social workers to zero-in on a befitting place.

Go for a professional course

Q. I am in Class XII and am really interested in becoming a TV or film make-up artist. What does the work entail and how should I go about it? Will joining any normal beautician course help?

— Deepali Verma

A. Not all actors or models are born with flawless skin or perfectly chiselled looks, but professional makeup can transform the girl-next-door into the proverbial swan.

Besides a steady hand, speed and the stamina to stay on your feet for long hours, imagination and appreciation of the human form are the prerequisites for a successful make-up artist.

TV and film make-up is quite different from fashion or party make-up. And being somewhat heavier, film makeup is different from TV makeup. Depending on whether it's a period film or horror flick you may have to use wigs, false teeth, highlights and shadow make-up for each character - maintaining the continuity shoot after shoot. If it's a thriller, materials like foam latex and gelatine are used to change the shape of the face or create life-like scars.

Professional makeup artists research and minutely plan the make-up required for each production. The medium - video, still or film - also determines the kind of make up to be done. Make-up for the ramp is different from that for TV, and that for TV is quite different from that for film.

Although a traditional male stronghold, the number of women makeup artistes in the Indian film industry is rising steadily - as in every other hitherto male-dominated field, which is a refreshing change.

To learn the ropes, I suggest you go for a professional course that focuses on how the camera perceives the face under different kinds of lighting. A good course in media makeup that combines both theory and practical demonstration from a reputed beauty school will be ideal for you. Incidentally, besides Pearl Academy of fashion and NIFT, even FTII, Pune offers a short-term programme in makeup.

After that, interning under professional/professionals will give you the necessary confidence and hands-on experience to make your mark in the industry.

Studying at NASA

Q. I completed my intermediate in 2009 and am now Now doing diploma in mechanical engineering. Please tell about the procedure of studying in NASA.

— Kavit Rawal

A. To be an astronaut you need to specialise in Aeronautical / Aerospace engineering at an advanced level.

The men and women who make up America's astronaut corps must possess a unique blend of personality traits. A glance at the credentials of the less than one per cent who do make it through NASA's weeklong screening process reveals that they comprise top scholars, decorated pilots, and accomplished scientists.

Astronauts spend years training before they can lift off into space. They learn to operate shuttles, perform experiments in zero gravity (and eat bugs if they must survive in the wilderness should a practice flight go out of control).

Early missions used to be short and dangerous. Now astronauts are trained for the long haul. So, you must be capable of negotiating long periods of isolation, extended confinement, boredom and uncertainty drawing on inner resources to sustain yourself.

Interestingly, over 1/3rd of NASA employees are of Indian origin.

The NASA-Ames Research Center has implemented a new automated recruiting and staffing system called NASA STARS. For more information on how to apply, please visit the NASA website: http://hr.arc.nasa.gov/students/ index.html.

For information on other student programmes or job opportunities, visit the following websites:

NASA Jobs: www.nasajobs.nasa.gov/

Federal Government Student Jobs: www.studentjobs.gov

Education Associates Programe (EAP): http://edassoc.arc.nasa.gov

Undergraduate Student Research Programme (USRP): http://education.nasa.gov/usrp/

Summer High School Apprenticeship Research Programme (SHARP) : www.mtsibase.com/sharp/

Eligibility for medical services exam

Q. Are degree-holders in Ayurvedic / Unani systems of medicine eligible for taking the Combined Medical Services Exam?

— Farhan Akbar

A. No. Only those who have an MBBS degree or those studying in the final year of MBBS are eligible for taking the CMS Exam.

However, medical science can be offered as a subject in the Mains in the Civil Services Exam.

Nuclear medicine

Q. I am studying in the medical stream (MBBS). I want to know about the course of nuclear medicine technology. With related information also tell me about institution.

— Ujjwal Johri

A. There aren't too many courses available in the subject as of now. But here are some of the leading ones:

The Radiation Medicine Centre of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai offers two programmes to equip candidates for working in Nuclear Medicine Centres.

The courses are offered under the aegis of the Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai (a Deemed University). These full-time programmes include lectures, demonstrations, practicals, theory exams, apprentice programmes and clinics.

Selection is based on an all India Common Entrance Test (CET) and interview.

Diploma in Radiation Medicine (2-years)

Eligibility: M.B.B.S. with internship from a recognised university. Post-graduate medical qualification-holders and sponsored candidates can also apply.

Common Entrance Test: 100 Multiple Choice Questions of the III MBBS level [Fields: Anatomy, Physiol, Biochem, Pathol, Internal Medicine (Cardiology, Pediatrics, Oncology), Infectious diseases, Neurology, Nephrology, Endocrinology and Recent Advances in Medicine].

Diploma in Medical Radioisotope Techniques (1-year)

Eligibility: B.Sc. (60% agg) in chemistry, physics, life sciences, biophysics, B.Sc. in Nuclear Medicine Technology or B.Sc. (Medical Radiological Tech). M.Sc. degree-holders can also apply.

Sponsored candidates with 55% aggregate in B.Sc. can also apply.

The Common Entrance Test covers 100 MCQs on science subjects of class 12 level.

50-odd candidates, in order of merit, are called for an Interview.

The syllabus for both programmes can be downloaded from the HBNI website www.hbni.ac.in.

HBNI also offers a Diploma in Radiological Physics.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029.

Course: (MD (Nuclear Medicine), 3 years

Christian Medical College, Thorapadi Post, Vellore (TN) (http://home.cmcvellore.ac.in)

Course: PG Diploma in Nuclear Med

Punjab University, Chandigarh (ww.puchd.ac.in)

MSc Nuclear Medicine (2-yr)

Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raibareli Road, Lucknow 226014 (www.sgpgi.ac.in).

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

Dare to dream

Starting one’s own venture is not an easy road to take, writes Pawan Kamboj

The trend of starting one’s own entrepreneurial ventures is catching up with the youngsters these days. More and more professionals are preferring to be their own boss rather than slog in a nine-to-five cushy job. There are many views on what makes someone an entrepreneur and what an entrepreneurial venture is. An entrepreneur is a leader who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.

India offers a unique incubation environment for most entrepreneurs greatly distinguishing it from other western democracies. In the present scenario, entrepreneurs are driving the growth of the Indian economy. For the first time in 200 years, India is getting back its position as an economic power. With GDP growing at a hectic pace, experts are expecting the Indian economy to overtake the developed countries in the decades to come.

But it is not a smooth ride for those starting on their own, as the Indian society and government are not very encouraging towards entrepreneurship. To a large extent, the Indian society is risk-averse. People usually seek secure and long-term employment, such as government jobs. Social attitudes, lack of capital, inadequate physical infrastructure and lack of government support are the major obstacles that a person faces while starting his own enterprise. The root cause of the failure or moderate success in business is not a lack of knowledge or capital. It is the poor fit between the owner and his chosen venture.

A successful entrepreneur always enjoys a good relationship with the business. It’s really no different than analysing one’s career options or choosing a mate. People do have ideas but realising those ideas involves taking risks, which we are not accustomed to. To realise these ideas, the gap between ideas and investors should decrease. Nurturing an idea is key to entrepreneurship.

As the Director of Galgotias Business School, Dr. Renu Luthra puts it, “Being an entrepreneur is about having the attitude and drive to succeed. Successful entrepreneurs have a positive image of themselves and are focused to achieve their goals. Successful entrepreneurs know the importance of keeping track of everything that is happening in their industry. They are also extremely competitive and willing to accept constructive criticism”.

The focus should be on the idea and how much we can rely on the idea. There was one person who used a piece of bun added some vegetables to it and we got a burger, another man was selling flavored supari and tobacco on cycle, he went on to market pan parag.

So the right vision is very important as V.S.S Mani, Founder and CEO of Just dial puts it, “Dare to dream and pursue it passionately is of course the quintessential element. Besides this, an entrepreneur needs to have an innate sense of belief in oneself or just ‘raw faith’ and a vision that goes beyond the immediate scenario. One must couple that with an eye for detail and look at every challenge as an opportunity. I’d say, work hard, work smart”.

First Person
Believe in yourself

Jitin Chadha

First generation entrepreneur Jitin Chadha established management institute Indian School of Business & Finance, in New Delhi in 2006 at the age of 28. He talks about the challenges of starting one’s own enterprise and the strategies that ensure its success:

What makes an entrepreneur different from others?

Entrepreneurs are more open to taking risks than others. They have a high levels of self-belief and are more confident. More importantly an entrepreneur has a mission to do something different and make a mark for oneself.

What kind of difficulties does one face in the initial stages?

One has to face quite a few difficulties in the beginning. Following are some of the difficulties that an entrepreneur, especially a first generation one, is likely to face in the initial years:

zThere is extreme pessure to succeed as the Indian society still values a cushy job in a good company more than an entrepreneurial venture of one’s own.

zRed tape and archaic laws serve as a dampener for many. You face difficulty in registering the company, opening a bank account, obtaining a Service Tax number and so on. Despite tall claims of the government of transparency, one has to fight even for obtaining the right name for one’s organisation.

zOne of the biggest problems is to generate funds to start a business. Usually a beginner ends up using his own savings to start his own venture. It is ironical that when you need money no bank supports you, but when you don’t need money every bank chases you to develop a relationship with them.

zIt is extremely difficult to attract the right talent for a start-up and you end up paying more for lesser quality of talent.

What are your suggestions for those willing to start their own enterprise?

To start an entrepreneurial venture one needs to take care of the following:

• Think through the plan very thoroughly.
• Plan the financial aspect in advance
• Develop an alternate plan as a back-up plan
• Meet people who have gone through a similar experience. It is more important to meet people who have failed in their effort to understand where one can go wrong.
• Develop a strong network of people in the proposed area of work
• Be committed to the plan and work hard in executing it. Execution is more important than developing strategies.
• Manage with minimum expenses in the beginning. Cut down on the frills and spend only when it becomes a necessity for the business.
• Maintain a clear distinction between personal and professional relationships. One should not mix these at any point time.
• One needs to have a high degree of resilience and should bounce back from any failure.
• Throw away personal ego and develop a very high level of work ethics. One should be able to deal with a diverse set of people.
• Multi-tasking will be the key as one does not have the luxury of having extra manpower.

Office Mantra
The fun of solving problems
R.C. Sharma

Amit Mohan, a senior executive in an MNC, was all set to return home, when his boss called him to solve a work-related problem urgently. Tired and irritated Amit did trudge into the boss’ cabin to tackle the situation but even after spending the whole evening trying to find a solution he was nowhere near it.

Such situations are not rare in the corporate world. People often invest more time and efforts than required to handle and solve such problems. The main reason behind this is their attitude towards problems and the approach applied to solve them. Problem solving is a creative activity and it requires a suitable bent of mind.

However, keeping in mind the conditions in which employees work nowadays, they have to learn to activate their minds to be fit to take this challenge. They must train their minds to find a solution to problems in any type of situation.

A research published in the Annals of Behaviour Medicine has reiterated that as people derive lesser pleasure during exercise (physical), they are less likely to continue with it. Panteleimon Ekkekak, one of the authors of the study, said in the Wall Street Journal, “Evidence shows that feeling worse during exercise translates to doing less exercise in the future.” Similar is in the case with problem solving. When you see it as a burden or as a complicated and tiresome activity, it will prove itself to be so.

Solving problems, whether it means resolving a conflict or devising a strategy or developing a new product, requires 100 per cent commitment for best results. And this commitment is possible only when you really want to do the task; you like it and enjoy doing it.

Here are some tips to help you know how to solve your day-to-day problems at the workplace easily:

Make it a fun activity

The first step in tackling a problem is to make it a fun activity. Begin this by telling yourself that you are smart enough to solve the problem and you relish such challenges. Recollect some past instances when you solved difficult problems and re-experience that thrill, happiness and pride. Be cool. Go for a walk, listen to music or do something exciting before you tackle the problem situation.

The right approach

Understand and practise the right approach to problem solving. Firstly, simplify the problem. Deconstruct it, and start solving these small problems. People often postpone beginning because they lack interest or fear failure. This is the reason why most problems in the workplace remain unresolved. Attempt the easier and important ones first. Their success will boost your morale and encourage you to proceed further.

Don’t get stuck

If you are stuck with one of the problems, move on to the next. This may provide an easier way to solving the bigger problem or give an idea to solve the previous problem. Pat yourself for each small problem you manage to solve.

Do in-depth research

Do a comprehensive research before meeting your boss and be ready with a tentative plan. The Internet can provide a solution to most of the problems. Make the best use of the search engines at your disposal.

Write approach

Write down the solution that you find to be the perfect one. List the obstacles that can prevent you from reaching that solution. Then make a sub-list of factors that are not in your control. These two lists will help you to reach a practical solution quickly, and will also prevent you from slogging in vain.

See the intermediate failures as lessons and laugh away your ignorance. If you feel tired or frustrated, re-energise yourself by taking a break and relax.

Be open to inputs

Be receptive to other people for inputs related to the problems. You should be ready to make changes to your solution so that it is acceptable to others connected with it. It is best to be flexible and be considerate about the expectations and demands of others.

For the managers

As a manager you have to kindle the spirit of problem solving in your team by creating an environment where the activity is both fun and rewarding. In a situation, where it is difficult for your team to solve a problem, you can take the help of other departments to encourage and inspire employees; announce a reward for whosoever solves it. Gifts like iPods, Xbox or laptops etc. are better than monetary rewards in this connection.

Fun competitions like this boost employee morale, enhance team spirit and encourage togetherness at work.

Fun boosts creativity, fosters healthy competition and leads to better solutions in lesser time. It keeps employees motivated and improves their performance. It is, therefore, for the managers to make work enjoyable and fun. This is an imperative leadership quality.

The skill of solving problems is one of the paying factors in getting a job and is necessary to survive in your organisation. It is important for moving up the ladder of success in your career. It is also required for success at individual, team and organisation level.

Employees should learn this skill and managers should help them to acquire it. Making it a fun activity will make solving even the trickiest of problems a child’s play.

Happiness @ work
Gems of ancient wisdom

Find a shoulder to cry on

Don’t bottle up office frustrations. Find a shoulder to cry on — a colleague, a friend or even your spouse.

When Rama, the epitome of poise who relinquished his kingdom with a smile, was angry and sad at the abduction of Sita, he found support in brother Lakshman.

Whenever Draupadi needed help, she called out to Krishna. He came to her aid at the Hastinapur court when Dushashana was ripping off her clothes. He again came to save her and the Pandavas from the curse of sage Durvasa who had come with his large retinue to have lunch.

Plus, Krishna reassured her time and again that her humiliation would surely be avenged.

Standing in the midst of both armies at Kurukshetra, Arjuna’s hands started trembling and his bow began to slip due to perspiration. His charioteer Krishna gave him a patient ear and then cleared his doubts.

Kashmiri Brahmins had been given six months by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb to either convert to Islam or face imperial atrocities. One among them — Pandit Kirpa Ram — saw Guru Tegh Bahadur as their saviour in a dream. He went to Anandpur Sahib and told the guru his tale of woe. To protect them, Guru Tegh Bahadur, on November 11, 1675, made the supreme sacrifice.

King Trisanku, an ancestor of Rama, was in love with his physical form. He wished to go to heaven without discarding his mortal coil. He approached the realm’s preceptor Vashisht who dismissed the ridiculous suggestion. “At death, the five elements in the body must merge with these elements in nature,” said Vashisht.

Then, Trisanku stumbled into Vishwamitra, who at that time was competing with Vashisht. Vishwamitra heard it all — the King’s wish, his rejection at the hands of Vashisht and his sons, the loss of his beautiful form as a result of a curse — and then proceeded to help him. Using the power of his austerities, he built an upside-down universe for Trisanku.

When Ravana and the other Rakshashi women would leave after frightening her to death, Sita would find solace in crying on the shoulder of Trijata. Time and again, Trijata kept telling Sita about the wellbeing of Rama and his army.

Sufferings when shared reduce to half, say wise men.

— Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com

NEWS BOARD
Aptitude test

The All-India Management Association (AIMA) will hold a new online test to evaluate B-School students on their employability in line with the current industry trends. The test will certify and check the students’ readiness and aptitude before they enter the corporate world. The Management Aptitude and Skills Test (MAST) will be held on February 20 all over India. This online test will benefit students as well as those already employed.

MAST will address employers’ long-time grievance aboutpoor employability of a large number of fresh management graduates. The students will be tested on the parameters of general ability, domain knowledge and psychometric or personality traits. The test will be of immense significance to the recruiters as it will give them a detailed analysis of the skill-set of candidates. The students will have a pan-India exposure to the job market. It will also act as a level-playing field irrespective of geographical location or category of the B-School. The Aryans Business School (ABS) has become first B-school in the region to take initiative to motivate and inspire its management students for MAST. — TNS

Management scholarships

The School of Management at UK’s University of Southampton is offering five PhD scholarships for full-time entry for the session starting from September 29, 2011. The scholarship applications will be considered for undertaking research in any area of management, including accounting, accountability and governance, banking, corporate social responsibility, entrepreneurship, financial markets, health management, human resources, information technology/systems, innovation, management science, marketing, organisational behaviour, organisational research, risk, supply chain management, and strategy. One of the scholarships will be awarded specifically for the area of ‘quantitative management science/operational research’, involving research in green logistics and transport, healthcare, optimisation and heuristics.

The candidate would need to submit the following documents to apply for the scholarship:

• A full research proposal
• Two academic references
• Certified copies of degree certificates
• Transcripts and an English language certificate (if appropriate)

Healthy hiring trends

Recruitment activities in the country are expected to be good in the coming months in many sectors, including manufacturing, job portal Monster.com has said.

“Seeing the overall hiring activities in 2010 and in the beginning of 2011, I am optimistic about the whole (hiring) scenario,” Monster.com Managing Director (India/Middle East/ South East Asia) Sanjay Modi told PTI.

The latest Monster Employment Index, that offers a snapshot of online job demand in India, showed that hiring trends picked up in January.

“All industries have the potential to do well. But at the same time, the market is also getting competitive,” he noted.

Many sectors such as manufacturing are likely to see good hiring trends this year, Modi added.

Going by the index, travel and tourism industry registered a 56 per cent growth in January 2011 as compared to the same period last year. Other sectors that saw improved recruitment activities include retail and education.

Modi, however, cautioned that employability of candidates is turning out to be a big challenge for employers.

“There are challenges when it comes to employability (of people)... There is a significant skill gap apart from having a limited talent pool. These (factors) are adding more pressure on companies,” Modi said.

— PTI

Fortnightly Quiz-381

1. Name the smallest planet ever discovered outside our solar system.

2. What is the full form of UIDAI?

3. In how many years is the Census exercise conducted in the country?

4. When will the 12th Five Year Plan begin?

5. Which is the largest country in Africa?

6. What is the capital of Yemen?

7. For how many consecutive years have the Kila Raipur games been staged?

8. What is the name of Force India’s car for the 2011 Formula One 
season?

9. Which city is holding the 34th National Games?

10. Who is the only player to have played in six cricket World Cups?

— Tarun Sharma

Winners of quiz 380: The first prize by draw of lots goes to Nivya Bhardwaj, class VIII-C, Gian Jyoti Public School, Phase II, SAS Nagar, Mohali, Pin Code - 160055

Second: Hem Raj, class V, Government Primary School, Dini Khas, village Dini, PO Rehan, tehsil Indora, district Kangra (HP) Pin Code – 176022

Third: Pankhuri Salotra, class IV Lotus, St Francis School, Batala, district Gurdaspur, Pin Code – 143505

Answers to quiz 380: Kirana; Hosni Mubarak; Five; Gujarat; At.mosphere; Maharashtra; Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati; Kim Clijsters; Novak Djokovic; Cycle racing

Cash awards of Rs 400, 300 and 200 are given to the first, second and third prize winners, respectively. These are sent directly 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.............................