JOBS & CAREERS
 


Beauty and bounty
Nowadays the desire to look good is not only restricted to women, the young, or the well-off. More and more men and women are visiting experts and specialists not just for make-up or hair styling, but often for a total make-over.The beauty business is marching ahead in leaps and bounds as more people, in many cases some as young as 16, are visiting cosmetologists for a number of treatments, including laser hair removal, chemical peels, removal of warts, freckles, acne scars and so on.


Test your aptitude
Explore Biostatistics
Entering the banking sector
Full of choices
Make the best of what you have

No pain PhD
Procrastination is the biggest hurdle for anyone wanting to go in for a PhD degree. The hesitation about stepping into a lengthy process of research leaves many a bright scholar wandering on the threshold of the hallowed hall of "doctors".

Careercature
Sandeep Joshi


You have seen 22 IPL matches and everytime the team that you betted on won. Do you think this is your achievement for appraisal?

office mantra
Negate negativity
Ragini Gulati gives tips on handling hostility at workplace
Each workplace comprises individuals from different upbringing, background and personalities. Since each one of us is different in so many ways, working together is bound to result in conflict and misunderstanding.

CET for 3 Sanskrit varsities
A common entrance test (CET) will now be held for getting admission to professional courses in teacher's training as well as for registration for Vidyavaridhi (Ph.D.) degree in three Sanskrit Universities of the country. 

India’s best employers
FMCG major Hindustan Unilever, telecom player Bharti Airtel and state-owned NTPC were adjudged among the best employers in India by leading global human resources management company Aon Hewitt.

Happiness @ work
The captain exists till the team does
Gems of ancient wisdom
When devotees asked Lord Vishnu why he incarnated time and again, he said, “Who will worship me if I don’t take care of my children?” Freedom fighter Subramania Bharati was thinking of asking for a raise when he was working as Assistant Editor of Swadeshamitran, a daily from Madras. But he dropped the idea when the ‘considerate’ Editor, G Subramania Iyer, sent him a coffee through a peon.

Fortnightly Quiz-387

 

 

 






 

Beauty and bounty
Usha Albuquerque

Nowadays the desire to look good is not only restricted to women, the young, or the well-off. More and more men and women are visiting experts and specialists not just for make-up or hair styling, but often for a total make-over. The beauty business is marching ahead in leaps and bounds as more people, in many cases some as young as 16, are visiting cosmetologists for a number of treatments, including laser hair removal, chemical peels, removal of warts, freckles, acne scars and so on. Often the blemishes are almost invisible, but it is the desire to look attractive, and stylish that makes people try out a range of beauty treatments.

Cosmetologists provide a variety of personal services that help clients to look and feel their best. These services primarily involve the application of beauty treatments for skin, hair and face. The work involves knowledge and use of a wide range of treatments, products and equipment to treat various facial and hair imperfections. It also includes advising clients on grooming and make-up techniques or dealing with skin complaints that do not require medical treatment. Cosmetologists must be able to recognise skin abnormalities such as acne, pigmentation, scars and warts etc and recommend effective treatments to correct these. The treatments also involve consultations about beauty products and cosmetics as well as health and wellness.

Some of the new beauty jobs include:

Aroma therapists specialise in giving therapeutic and rejuvenating massage using essential oils. These therapists must have the knowhow about preparing different oils, the method of extraction and blending techniques and their use for different purposes.

Therapeutic massage and spa therapies are being offered for rejuvenating the face and body. There are a number of natural treatments such as heat therapy, mud wraps and baths, salt exfoliation, body wraps, reflexology as well as a number of massage techniques for curing diseases, rejuvenating the skin as well as for losing weight.

Those who administer such treatments need to be trained in the therapy being offered and have to be familiar with the basic physiology and anatomy of the human body, as well as with the specific health conditions that can be rectified or healed.

A Nail Technician handles a variety of hand and foot treatments, including natural nail and nail enhancement manicures and nail art.

Makeup artists provide services in a variety of settings, including a spa, and model makeup application for photo shoots, fashion and television shows. They need to know all about makeup, the proper use of makeup brushes and tools, the art and science of basic skincare, sanitation, blending and application, bridal makeup etc. They also need to develop camouflage tricks to hide imperfections.

Training

As practical skill is the most important requirement, those entering this field need more practical experience than academic degrees. There are several training schools that run beauty and haircare courses. Most require no particular academic qualification. However, a Plus II or at least a Class X level qualification is preferred.

The duration of these courses varies from institution to institution, and also depends on the area of specialisation chosen by a candidate.

Some of the institutes imparting training in beauty and cosmetology include VLCC, Shahnaz Hussain's Women's World International, Habib's Hair Academy, RVTI for Women (National Council for Vocational Training) at Allahabad, Jaipur and Indore, and South Delhi Polytechnic for Women.

Most of these institutes offer certificate, diploma and advance diploma courses in beauty care, with specialisation in cosmetology, hair styling, beauty therapy, massage, make-up, facials, pedicure, manicure, herbal beauty care and electrolysis.

Students should be prepared to take classes in anatomy, physiology, hygiene, infection control, chemistry, and other technical and business-related subjects. Important aspects of training include latest make-up and hairstyling techniques, laser therapy, handling of specialised equipment and its correct usage, as also the use of herbal cosmetics, special masks for different skin-types, scalp treatments, spa therapy and so on. Training in tatoo techniques and body art is also being offered by some institutes. Business-building classes could include topics like professional ethics, sales techniques etc.

OPPORTUNITIES

In India, the beauty industry has developed significantly in terms of manufacture, promotion and marketing of different products. After completing any of the above-mentioned courses, one can further specialise to increase employability.

One can either work with a reputed salon or spa or start up one's own venture or become affiliated with a distribution or manufacturing firm and assist it with education, product training, marketing, sales and more. One can always find lucrative openings in the fashion industry which continuously requires professionals to groom models and other fashion stars, or as makeup artistes in the glamorous world of fashion, advertising, film and television.

Because of the growing diversity of services, those with a broad range of training and experience enjoy the best employment and earnings prospects. Research and science is constantly throwing up new techniques and treatments for skin in order to minimise the signs of ageing. Needless to say, a smart approach to move forward in this line of work is to stay abreast with the latest developments that are happening elsewhere in the world.

The beauty of the beauty business is that with a good sense of aesthetics, an imaginative mind, and the ability to communicate well and maintain a trusting relationship with each client you can not only put a smile on other faces but wear one yourself also.

The writer is a career expert

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Career Hotline
Test your aptitude
Pervin Malhotra

Q. I cleared my Class XII in science (PCM) with 50 per cent marks last year. I am very confused about what to do next. Should I do B.Sc from IGNOU? Can I participate in competitive exams and apply for PG courses in another university?

— Neetu Srivastava

A. Yes you can sit for most competitive exams as well as apply for Postgraduate courses (unless specifically mentioned to the effect).

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) offers B.Sc (Gen), B.Sc (Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Life Science, Nautical Science) as well as BCA and B.Tech programmes.

Just make sure you can cope with the rigours of the course though. If you are genuinely interested in pursuing a career in/related to science, great! But you don't necessarily have to pursue a degree in science, just because you had the subjects in Class XII. Equally interesting and lucrative options are open to non-science graduates as well.

Simple, if you love and enjoy what you do, you'll be successful. And believe me, each one of us has a personal calling, a gift or talent.

If you're confused about what career to opt for, or if you are not quite sure of the range of study and career options that are compatible with your personality and interests, you might consider taking the i-Opener Career Selection Exercise.

It will help you discover what it is that you enjoy doing so much that you lose track of time when you're doing it...! Just send an e-mail to: testcaring@gmail. com with your name and contact no in the 'Subject:' line to receive a copy of the test along with the step-by-step instructions.

Explore Biostatistics

Q. I could not clear the medical entrance exams so I opted for BSc Mathematics instead as I had taken PCBM in Class XII. But I have great interest in medicine and related fields. Is there any specialisation that will make me eligible to work in the field of healthcare or medicine?

— Vanya Sharma

A. One option that immediately comes to mind is Biostatistics which is an inter-disciplinary field that applies statistical methods and techniques to collect, manage and analyse data on living organisms and biological systems.

Biostatisticians also study the risk factors that lead to the development of a disease and apply experimental design and projection methods, descriptive statistics and specific applications to health and biological sciences.

The real skill lies in identifying and assessing the sample and accurately analysing the mass of data, as in the case of bioinformatics for instance, for mapping the number of genes on a chromosome or a large study of patients.

The work also involves analysing clinical trials of new medicines before they are released in the market. There are three phases of a trial:

The first step is to check the toxicity of new drugs on volunteers; the next step is to study the economic viability of the drug and the last step is to determine the exact dosage.

Biostatisticians perform all these assessments. However, biostatistics — and even applied statistics — are only just beginning to take shape in India. You can opt for working in any of the following areas: programme management, policy analysis or teaching. You will work closely with doctors, paramedics, pharmacologists, sociologists and other related professionals on collaborative projects in hospitals, pharmaceutical firms and large biochemical and bioengineering labs with strong research programmes and public health policy research centres to structure and plan effective public health programmes or devise strategies for disease prevention and control, population and nutrition studies etc.

There a huge demand for trained professionals who can crunch numbers and feel at home with handling complex data. Exciting new methods like neural network modelling (fuzzy logic) makes this field highly challenging and fascinating for those with a bachelor’s in mathematics (pure or applied) or statistics, and computer science and an interest in health and medical sciences. Medical practitioners with an interest and aptitude for statistics can also specialise in this field.

Only a handful of universities offer a specialisation in biostatistics at the master’s level. Typically a bachelor's degree in mathematics or applied mathematics or statistics is required for admission to these courses.

Biostatistics is also offered as a subsidiary subject at the Bachelor’s degree level in BSc Zoology in some universities. 

Entering the banking sector

Q. I am a B.Com student and want to join the banking sector. What should I do for this? Also please tell me about DOEACC courses. Will these courses help me in getting a job in the banking sector?

— Avik Rastogi

A. There are two broad routes that you can take to enter the banking sector - as a generalist (through the Bank PO exam) or as a specialist with higher study in areas of management, economics, IT, statistics, engineering, etc.

Public sector banks recruit Probationary Officers through PO exams from time to time as per their requirement.

The minimum requirement is a bachelor's degree. No minimum percentage of marks is specified except in some cases (SBI asks for 65 per cent, RBI asks for 60 per cent at the bachelor's level or 55 per cent at the master's level). The age limit is usually 30 years (relaxation for reserved category).

The PO exam tests your reasoning ability, quantitative skills (numerical), English usage and general awareness (essentially, current GK and financial awareness).

Only those who clear the written test (objective and subjective, bi-lingual) are called for GD/Interview.

The SBI test includes a psychometric (aptitude) test and a test of computer literacy.

The DOEACC Society (an autonomous body of Ministry of Information Technology, GoI) conducts an established accreditation and certification programme in IT education.

Under the DOEACC scheme, hundreds of computer training institutes in the non-formal, i.e. private sector have been given accreditation for conducting specified levels of courses subject to meeting certain norms and criteria. Four levels of (AICTE-approved) courses are offered under this scheme:

O-Level, or Foundation Course, certifies your competence as a junior programmer, EDP assistant, web designer or lab demonstrator.

Eligibility: Plus II/ITI Certificate (1-yr) after Class X.

A-Level, or Advanced Diploma Course qualifies you to work as a programmer, web administrator, training faculty, web content developer or trouble-shooter.

Duration: At least 1-year.

Eligibility: Level 'O' / 3-year Engineering Diploma after Class X or XII/Bachelor's degree.

B-Level, or graduate level course, is equivalent to BE/B.Tech, MCA or M.Sc and attests your proficiency to work as a network systems administrator, database administrator, software engineer or senior faculty member. The government (MHRD) recognises the exam for employment in the Central Government wherever MCA is the desired qualification. This makes B-level graduates eligible for government jobs in all departments of the Centre, States, UTs as well as in all PSUs. You can also take the GATE to pursue ME/MTech courses.

Eligibility: Level 'A'/PGDCA/3-year Engineering Diploma/Bachelor's degree.

C-Level, or Master's Level Course, is equivalent to M.Tech (although this not formally notified by MHRD) and certifies you as being fit for the systems specialist or project manager, IT consultant or R & D scientist.

Duration : 18 months

Eligibility: Level 'B'/BTech/BE/MCA/MSc/Bachelor's degree in Maths, Stats, Operations Research/MBA with BSc/BA (Maths/Stats), GATE (Comp).

Details: www.doeacc.edu.in

O, A & B Level is recognised by GoI for employment.

Full of choices

Q. I am a student of Class XII (PCB). Could you please tell me what career options does one have in Life Science (PCB)?

— Mridula Laroya

A. Life Science is the study of any branch of natural science dealing with structure and behaviour of living organisms. It includes subjects like Genetics, Cytology, Taxonomy, Entomology, Pisciculture, Physiology, Comparative Physiology, Pathology, Parasitology, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Plant and Molecular Biology, Biomedical science and engineering etc.

Life sciences is a hot topic world-wide. Institutions across the globe are financing research in this field by offering scholarships or fellowships.With an M.Sc in any of these subjects you could either take up teaching at the school level after doing your B.Ed or at the college and university level (after clearing the NET Exam for Lectureship and Junior Research Fellowship) or the SLET for teaching at colleges in your state.

If research interests you then you should pursue your Ph.D at any reputed university or prestigious institution like the National Centre for Biological Sciences (TIFR), Bangalore. Most jobs in life sciences lie in research in universities, scientific research organisations, government health departments or pharmaceutical companies. There are job prospects in all sectors of biotechnology (medical biotechnology, plant biotechnology, industrial biotechnology), pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences, in research institutions, hospitals and industry, law firms in patents and IPR etc

Bioinformatics is another hot option. Several institutions offer PG courses in bioinformatics for postgrads in life sciences. You could even pursue a course in forensic science if you like.

You are also eligible for the post of Scientific Officer advertised by the Union Public Service Commission.

Make the best of what you have

Q. I had always dreamt of studying in the US. However, since my father had to take a loan, I have opted for a small college close to the place where my aunt lives, so that I can save on board and lodging expenses. My friends say that my going to such a college is pointless. I'm now very confused.

— Vineet Jaypal

A. Let people say what they want. Just because someone goes to a snooty private college doesn't mean s/he is any more educated.

There are a whole lot of students who went to really small, un-sexy colleges and community colleges or state universities who are now doing incredibly well. At the same time, there are some who went to colleges like Stanford and Harvard and basically drank and partied on their parent's money and ended up as first-rate losers. They never amounted to anything because they were admitted purely because they had the money.

What you do in college and how well you study is more important than where you go. Even if you went to an Ivy League college and did well, that still doesn't guarantee success in life. Besides, once you have your foot in the door in whatever profession you choose, where you went to study no longer matters.

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No pain PhD
Preetinder Kaur

Procrastination is the biggest hurdle for anyone wanting to go in for a PhD degree. The hesitation about stepping into a lengthy process of research leaves many a bright scholar wandering on the threshold of the hallowed hall of "doctors". There are plenty of myths associated with the process of doing a PhD as that one has to be a 'genius', or you have to do something totally original, or that the doctoral thesis is the best work that a scholar would ever do.

If you don't recognise the dangers of these myths, then you will not have realistic expectations about doing your PhD which will make you less effective and is likely to lead to disappointment. Here we bring some tips and strategies for those who have been putting off their decision to enroll for a PhD due to the above-mentioned misconceptions.

Tips

General

If you haven't already written one, then I recommend that you write a fairly detailed (two-page) proposal and timeline. When you start writing things, you will be able to assess the merits of your work by comparing it with that of the other people.

Literature Review

Early on get a list of the top 10 journals in your field. You need to do this throughout to keep up with the latest literature.

Get to know how to use your institution's electronic library and e-journals.

Build up and systematically organise a mini-library of your own, made up of relevant (and recent) articles.

Writing

Write early, write often. The more you write, the better you will become at it. Even if you are not going to try and publish anything while you are doing your thesis (this is probably a mistake), you must get into the habit of penning down your ideas. Start with a modest target — maybe review three articles in your field (3,000 words say) then give it to your supervisor and ask for feedback.

If English is not your first language then :

l Speak English at every opportunity

l Seek specialist tuition if you need to and find out what help is available in the university. Do this immediately to save yourself the labour of redrafting. You will have to learn the language to a very high standard, and this is a long term process which starts now.

l Remember it isn't your guide's job to proof read what you write, they are interested in your ideas - they can't be expected to correct your English (though they should give some help), and they only have a limited time available for you - try to use that time to most effect, i.e. get advice about your PhD, not your English.

Strategies

Managing your guide

I think it's helpful to see the relationship with your guide(s) as a long term, professional one.

l Build confidence

l Clarify expectations

l Share information

l Make specific commitments and honour them

Your guide will have several legitimate expectations. They will want you to:

l Show initiative, be proactive etc. basically be independent - these are key to doing PhD research .

l Be honest about how things are going

l Produce quality written work that is not a first draft

l Meet deadlines (or explain why not)

l Meet regularly to discuss your progress (regularly doesn't necessarily mean weekly)

l Listen to their advice. This does not mean you have to always follow their advice (you have to be independent).

l Tell them what you are learning (you will become an expert)

Here are some more suggestions:

When you go to meet your guide always take a pen and some paper, together with a list of things you want to talk about. This is so that you show: attentiveness, planning, that you are seeing her/him for a reason, that you recognize their time is important. It will help you get what you want as well (partly because you won't forget what you went in there for), and force you to be focused.

If you phone your guide always asks first if they have a couple of minutes, and offer to call back later if they can't talk to you then.

Try to gain a sense of your guide's preferred style of working - they may prefer a written document or e-mail, or they may want to discuss things and periodically review your work, likewise they may want to meet frequently or they may be happier with a more structured, formal arrangement. If their way of working isn't helping you, you could try gently 'educating' them, by being more organised yourself, and clearer about what your needs and expectations are.

How to finish within a reasonable time

Firstly keep in mind the myths and keep your eyes on the final goal — a PhD is above anything else, something that is finished. Secondly, don't get disheartened if it seems like it's taking you a long time to get going. This is a common feeling during the first year or so. It is better to take the time to be really clear about what you are doing and how, than to try to go and 'collect data' (for example) only to find it's not relevant to your needs.

Goals to remember

l A title for your thesis

l Clearly formulated research questions, which are 'good' questions, by which I mean: practical / feasible (you can answer them), interesting (to you at the very least), will lead to a contribution and symmetrical (i.e. whatever you find out, you'll be able to tell a story - you could come unstuck if you set out to prove or find something and you don't)

l Being able to summarise your (expected) contribution in two sentences

Unless you have submitted and are waiting for a date for the viva there is never, ever any excuse for not being able to do some work that is relevant to completion. This can be reading, writing, analysis, or something that is extremely important - planning.

Do not fall into the trap of thinking you have to wait for feedback about your latest piece of submitted work till you can progress or move to the 'next stage'. This will slow you down.

Be aware that your plans may change. In fact, if you are to do well, they will probably need to change. Finally, not everything in the process is within your control, and this can be very frustrating. Remember that when you finish is not necessarily a sign of how good your work is, the important thing is to finish.

GOOD LUCK!

(Some of the ideas expressed are also discussed in the book 'How to get a PhD' by Phillips and Pugh. If you haven't read this, just grab it wherever you find it.)

The writer is Project Assistant, IIT, Ropar

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office mantra
Negate negativity
Ragini Gulati gives tips on handling hostility at workplace

Each workplace comprises individuals from different upbringing, background and personalities. Since each one of us is different in so many ways, working together is bound to result in conflict and misunderstanding. Although minor disagreements are common, there is always a possibility of work place environment becoming hostile.

Hostility may arise due to various reasons, including jealousy over position and pay, stressful profile, personal insecurities etc. A hostile work environment can be hard to deal with for an employee. Most individuals are unable to last in such an environment, much less thrive there. Working in a hostile environment has a negative impact on the physical, mental and emotional well-being of employees, too. It not only generates feelings of frustration and anger but also restricts a person from giving his best to the organisation.

Accept

The first step towards handling workplace hostility is to acknowledge and accept its presence. Being in a denial mode about the negative treatment in office will further aggravate the stress associated with it.

Be vocal

Speak up instead of suffering the hostility in silence. While many people prefer to keep quiet, it only makes them an easy target for everyone. Be prepared to deal with hostility by defending your actions, expressing displeasure or bringing it to the notice of the HR. Letting your voice heard will make people realise that you are not willing to be a scapegoat.

Keep your cool

Learn to remain calm and composed even in extremely irritating situations. Practice meditation or indulge in deep breathing exercises to avoid reacting to insensitive comments. Give yourself time to cool off before responding to an annoying e-mail or escalating a matter. Don't get drawn into an argument, instead say only a few words and get back to work.

Focus on the positive

Focus energies on the task at hand rather than mulling over the negativity and hostility around. It will not only divert attention from the unpleasantness but also highlight your skills and capabilities. Most importantly keep reminding yourself the reasons for taking up the job in the first place. It will give strength to survive each day and put up with the negativity.

Professional approach

Be professional and courteous despite being subjected to hostility at workplace. Avoid stooping to the offender's level by showing aggression either through words or body language. Keep your tone low and refrain from using profanity or insults since it would only worsen the situation.

Make an effort

Make an effort to resolve the misunderstandings or problems immediately rather than let them blow up. Approach the person concerned and listen to his point of view with an open mind. Exchange ideas about the various ways to solve the problem and finally work out a mutually decided solution.

Support network

Develop a support network at office to share experiences and gain perspective on issues. Having a strong professional relationship with a fellow worker gives a sense of encouragement and support. Like minded co-workers can help ward off feelings of isolation and loneliness in addition to sharing work load. Moreover, knowing that there are individuals in the organisation one can depend on gives the confidence to face detractors.

No gossip

Avoid engaging in workplace gossip since it only worsens the hostile environment. Draw a clear line between professional and personal life to make things easier at work. More than usual unnecessary socialisation in office leads to information being misinterpreted and misconstrued.

Plan B

Finally stay on the look out for alternate options outside the organisation. Despite all efforts there is always a possibility of the situation not improving and getting unbearable. Update your resume, develop skills and obtain additional qualifications to improve your chances of getting a better job. Network through professional associations and revive old contacts to find to a new job as soon as possible. 

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CET for 3 Sanskrit varsities
Kirti Dhall

A common entrance test (CET) will now be held for getting admission to professional courses in teacher's training as well as for registration for Vidyavaridhi (Ph.D.) degree in three Sanskrit Universities of the country. These universities include Rashtriya Sanskrti Sansthan (RSKS), New Delhi, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Sanskrit Vidyapeeth (SLBSRSV), New Delhi and Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth (RSV), Tirupati.

Prior to this step taken by the HRD Ministry to hold a common test, 6,000 students sat every year for separate entrance tests in each of the three universities, for admission to the Shikshashastri (B.Ed.) course. Each students having registered for the CET has been provided sufficient literature and guidance to appear for the common entrance test. Steps have also been taken to convert ICR forms into OMR and question papers were designed to test the language skills, general awareness, comprehension and aptitude for teaching of the examinees. For candidates willing to take admission for Vidyavaridhi research programme, the CET has been designed to test aptitude for research and application of interpretative and analytical methods.

The three Universities are conducting CET for Shikshashastri(BEd), Shikshacharya( MEd) and PRT (Pre-registration Test) for Vidyavaridhi by rotation. The RSKS is conducting the Common Entrance Test for this year, the RSV, Tirupati will hold the examination for the academic year 2012-13, and the SLBSRSV, New Delhi will assume the responsibility of conducting the examination for the year 2013-2014. The CET for Shikshacharya (MED) and pre-registration Test for Vidyavaridhi will be held on 18th June. Result of the CET for B.Ed. course will be declared by June 10.

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India’s best employers

FMCG major Hindustan Unilever, telecom player Bharti Airtel and state-owned NTPC were adjudged among the best employers in India by leading global human resources management company Aon Hewitt.

Aon Hewit in its seventh ‘Best Employer in India Study 2011’, done in partnership with magazine Outlook Business, has listed the country’’s 25 companies that provide the best working environment for employees.

Hindustan Unilever is put on top of the list as the best employer, followed by Aditya Birla Group, LG Electronics India, Godrej Consumer Products, Bharti Airtel, NTPC, Becton Dickinson India, Aircel, Wipro and Marriott Hotels India.

According to the study, despite wide variance in industries and company profiles, the firms share some common winning traits such as — alignment of people practices to the overall business strategy of the firm and an environment which creates a positive employment experience.

“Best Employers in India represent organisations that have done an outstanding job of aligning people strategy with articulated business strategy. “The best have been able to offer a compelling career proposition to their employees in a high performing work environment that differentiates needs, expectations and drivers of different employee segments,” Aon Hewitt India Project Director Rakesh Malik said.

These companies are achieving superior business results, through better execution of people programs, more investment in high quality staff with higher average salary and more rounded skills development.

The top employers include companies from various sectors such as banking, manufacturing, IT & ITes, telecom, hospitality, FMCG and consumer durable, with staff ranging from less than 1,000 to over 7,0000 employees.

Other companies that figure on the list include Kotak Mahindra Bank, Scope International, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Whirlpool of India, Maruti Suzuki India, Canon India, Ford Group, Tata Teleservices, Mindtree, NIIT, Tata Steel, Jubiliant Foodworks, Cognizant Technology Solutions, FirstSource Solutions and Aegis.

The companies were judged on the various criterion including — organisation score on a combination of the overall engagement and alignment scores, scores on leadership, diversity and development. — PTI 

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Happiness @ work
The captain exists till the team does
Gems of ancient wisdom

When devotees asked Lord Vishnu why he incarnated time and again, he said, “Who will worship me if I don’t take care of my children?” Freedom fighter Subramania Bharati was thinking of asking for a raise when he was working as Assistant Editor of Swadeshamitran, a daily from Madras. But he dropped the idea when the ‘considerate’ Editor, G Subramania Iyer, sent him a coffee through a peon.

When she heard that the Bijapur army under Jannopant was on its way to attack Keladi (in Malnad area of Karnataka), Queen Chennamma distributed her jewellery among the soldiers and picked up the sword to defend the kingdom. She later gave passage to Rajaram, son of Chhatrapati Shivaji, to go to Jinji and stood her ground against Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. After enlisting Jhansi’s men into her army, Rani Lakshmibai held a haldi-kumkum ceremony to inspire confidence in the women. The services of these brave women were put to use in the battle against the British.

When some African slaves, who had escaped from Goa that was under Portuguese occupation, reached Kittur (near Belgaum), Queen Chennamma gave them some land. So thankful were the slaves that they sacrificed their lives when Chennamma took on the British under the command of Thackeray, the British political agent at Dharwar.

When Madhvacharya, the proponent of Dvaita, realised that his disciple Satyatirtha cannot keep up with him on their way to Ved Vyasa’s ashram in Uttara Badri, he transported Satyatirtha through the air back to the ashram at Badri.

The denizens of Lahore were discontent with the three Sardars who ruled the city as the trio was always busy with wine and women. So they sent a delegation to Ranjit Singh to take over Lahore. He took great care of his people and was crowned Maharaja on April 12, 1801.

As Lal Bahadur Shastri was in prison during the freedom struggle, his family had to go through a tough time. So a kind neighbour arranged and paid for some provisions for the Shastri household.

When Hinayana scholars found out that they were no match for Hiuen Tsang, they decided to kill him. So King Harsha immediately made a proclamation that anyone who attempted to hurt the master would be beheaded.

In contrast, disregarding the rules of warfare and the fatigue of his soldiers, Commander-in-Chief Drona let the war continue into the night. The result was that Karna was forced to use up Indra’s Shakti for killing Gathotkacha that he had reserved for arch rival Arjuna. A commander needs the army as much as the army needs the commander.

— Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at

svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com

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Fortnightly Quiz-387


Celebrating a legend

1. Who recently took over as the chairman of software giant Infosys Technologies?

2. In which city was Osama bin Laden gunned down?

3. Which birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore is being celebrated this year?

4. On which world heritage rail track is the Kandaghat station, which was gutted recently, situated?

5. In which year did the Chernobyl nuclear disaster take place?

6. Who has been appointed the next Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile?

7. For which club does the footballer Wayne Rooney play?

8. Where is the annual Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey tournament held?

9. Who has been appointed the coach of the Indian cricket team?

10. Who recently scored 37 runs in an over in an IPL match?

Tarun Sharma

Winners of quiz 386: The first prize by draw of lots goes to Ravnish Kumar, Dayanand Model School, class X-A, Model Town, Jalandhar, Pin Code - 144003

Second: Swati, class VIII- A, Kaintal School (Sr), Sanour Road, near Adhwala Peer, Patiala, Pin Code – 147001

Third: Saurav Garg, class VII Rose, St Xavier’s High School, Rampura Phul, Pin Code – 151103

Answers to quiz 386: Siddharta Mukherjee; Maharashtra; Brazil Russia India China South Africa; Sriharikota; Jammu and Kashmir; Denmark; Directorate General of Civil Aviation; Aston Martin; Vostok; Sachin Tendulkar

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 on the letter/postcard to facilitate the delivery of the prize money.

Answers can also be sent at quiz@tribunemail.com

 

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