|
|
|
|
| JOBS & CAREERS |
|
|
Digital footprint
demography
Biotechnology
FILM-MAKING
office
mantra
JOB INDEX
Effective time management
MANAGEMENT TIP
Happiness @ work
COURSE
WATCH
|
|
Digital footprint
Digital marketing is a business practice of promoting brands with the help of interactive media like the Internet and mobile phones. This method promotes products and services with the help of several digital distribution channels in order to reach consumers in the most cost-effective manner. Besides proving to be cost-effective, digital marketing is also a timely and personalised method of reaching prospective customers. Throughout the US, Europe and now India, investment and activity in digital marketing is growing rapidly. Digital media, such as the internet, email, mobiles, TV and radio, now play an increasing role in both tactical initiatives and as a key component within fully integrated, multi-channel campaigns. No marketing budget, plan or strategy can now be considered complete unless it includes a digital component. As a result, today's organisations need marketers who truly understand digital marketing technologies, applications and techniques. They need people who know exactly what is possible, achievable, affordable and effective within digital marketing. They need people who can plan and direct online campaigns, execute them cost-effectively, and integrate them with their traditional marketing activities. The rapid emergence of digital marketing has left employers desperate for staff who understands how the internet revolution is reshaping their business and will continue to impact it. These digital marketing programmes put you on the fast track to understand the industry and gain the skills needed to secure exciting marketing roles with leading brands and agencies around the world. The detailed learning includes:
l How to plan, evaluate and measure digital marketing l How to acquire customers through digital channels l What makes a good website and why l Why integration and multi-channel marketing are important l What effect social media is having on organisations and their customer relationships l How to convert and retain customers online l How to measure and optimise performance l How organisations and business models must change to reflect this new media environment In India, marketers with a thorough understanding of the digital technologies are in very short supply, and digital skills have proven difficult to quantify or verify. Part of the problem is that digital marketing is a
relatively new professional discipline. But, more significantly, very little professional training or qualification in digital marketing is available within India. There are a few digital marketing courses available both offered by institutions and online. Most of the institutions are private institutions dedicated in this field. The available career options in this field are digital marketing manager, digital copywriter, search engine optimisation marketing strategist etc. with handsome salaries being offered these days. It's no wonder that the demand for digital marketing skills is high and the need for a professional qualification in digital marketing is so great. "Digital marketing is a must for all progressive companies. Every industry that wants to make profits inspite of the ever-rising costs, has to look at digital marketing solutions. You can't sell an I-Pod to youngsters without going digital." The writer is senior faculty member at the Asia Pacific Institute of Management, New Delhi
Programmes for working executives NIIT Imperia has launched Digital Marketing Programmes for executives in strategic partnership with IAMAI and Google in different cities. The classes are part-time and held in NIIT Imperia’s centers equipped with satellite receivers to enable students to learn while interacting with the faculty. These programs are meant for working executives where people can attend classes, without disrupting their work schedules. Advanced Programme in Advertising — Google l Overview of AdWords & Online Advertising l Hands-on experience of running a campaign with pre-allotted advertising budget, monitoring and measuring performance of online campaigns l Understanding CPC (cost-per-click) and CPM (cost-per-impression) advertising models l Joint Google - NIIT Imperia Certification l Venue: NIIT Center in your city l Schedule: Monday — 6:30pm to 9:30pm l Fees : Rs 34,745 Advanced Programme in Social Media Marketing — IAMAI l Overview of Social Media Marketing l Hands on experience of 5 Social Media Tools - l Create & apply Integrated Social media marketing l Last Date to Register: September 16, 2011 l Venue: NIIT Center in your city l Schedule: Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday — 6:30pm to 9:30pm l Fees : Rs 21,163 Advanced Programme in Digital Marketing — IAMAI l Overview of Digital Media Marketing Strategies l
Suitable for Managers l Create & apply Integrated marketing strategy l Schedule: Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday — 6:30pm to 9:30pm l
Fees : Rs 34,745 All these programs are conducted live nationwide through Synchronous Learning Technology. Institutes offering courses IMRI — Bangalore IMRI is India's first ever global training leader that can tell you all you ever wanted to know about it. The Institutet has collaborations with leading companies and agencies. IMRI has a broad spectrum of marketing programmes with placement assistance and internships all rolled into one. IMRI classroom and online learning centres are across India at Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad etc. They have virtual classrooms and distance learning centres in 26 countries. IMRI offers two programmes in Digital Marketing l GPDM — Graduate Programme in Digital Marketing is a 12-month digital marketing training programme for graduates/post graduates to learn in depth about the internet world. l EPDM — Executive Programme in Digital Marketing is a six-month advanced training programme for professionals to learn the latest tools and techniques in expanding the reach of the brand through industry's best-practices of user experience, online consumer behaviour, in-depth market analysis and optimisation of web pages to meet the set standards of search engines, online consumers, portals etc. IICM — International Institute of Creative Marketing, Mumbai The International Institute of Creative Marketing has been founded by Creative Merchants, one of the world's leading Digital Marketing company for the professional development of creative practices in direct, data and digital marketing. The institute offers certificate courses in digital marketing. It is specifically designed for students who will be actively involved in the operational aspects of planning and managing digital or multi-channel marketing campaigns. It will also benefit marketing executives who have some level of responsibility for digital marketing, or who wish to make more effective use of digital marketing techniques within their overall marketing mix. IDMI — International Digital Marketing Institute IDMI offers certificate programmes in digital marketing covering most of the elements of digital marketing mix. Recently they have started offering a two-day intensive digital marketing bootcamp conducted by global digital marketing experts which will equip participants to plan complete digital marketing end to end campaign in most efficient manner. Digital Marketing Institute The institute offers India's first certificate course in Search Engine Marketing. It offers courses for seasoned media professionals, as well as freshers. It is backed by IAMAI( Internet & Mobile Association of India).
|
|
Training trail
Pervin Malhotra Q. I will be completing my BTech (Comp) this year. What should I keep in mind while going for in-house training in a company. Is it a very grueling affair?
A. The pattern of in-house training varies considerably from organisation to organisation. While some firms rely on on-the-job techniques that involve learning while performing the function under the guidance of fellow employees; others prefer to take in qualified and experienced personnel. In most medium and large software firms, the typical pattern of training involves an organisational orientation followed by short intensive modules in specific areas. Fresh programmers are generally taught programming languages and procedures, over a few months. This is followed by the application of such skills to an internal project, usually integrated into a closely supervised programming team. Further training for software professionals is largely on-the-job, combined with more formal periods of formal study when you will work to specified objectives, writing procedures, testing them and liaising closely with other members of the team under the guidance of the project leader or manager. Your progress will be closely monitored through a process of regular and detailed appraisals, often linked to salary progression. The length of the training can extend from six months to two years depending on the functional area and your role in the organisation. After the initial training, career development is fairly rapid in most IT companies. In fact, some organisations have developed accelerated promotion and career development schemes to ensure retention of their key people. As for your last question, no I don't think it will be grueling. Rigorous certainly, but also a great learning experience (many say, the real learning starts here). Look at it as an opportunity to put all your theoretical knowledge to practical use.
Think beyond US
— Naresh Avasthi A. Academically speaking, the top non-US schools differentiate themselves rather 'creatively' from US
programmes by offering personal coaching, humanities courses, and condensed formats that allow students to complete their MBAs in half the time. As a result, they are much more on the radar than they were eight years ago. You'd be surprised to know that the number of US MBA applicants sending GMAT scores to non-US schools has upped 35 per cent in the past four years. Being smaller in size, they can deliver a personalised experience unheard of at most US B-schools. For instance, at Queens in Ontario, Canada (No.1 International Non-US B-school in the Businessweek ranking), each student has access to five coaches - from a personal development coach who checks in with you regularly to a personal fitness trainer. At IMD (No. 7), in Lausanne, Switzerland, each student gets 20 hours of therapy to help them understand themselves and their managing styles better. Team coaches actively encourage disagreements, forcing students to learn how to deal with confrontation. Some non-US programmes take the international experience to a level that simply can't be matched by the study-abroad trips and international case studies featured in US programmes. At London Business School (No. 5), in the first year all six students in a study group are from different parts of the world. At INSEAD (No. 3), in Fontainebleau, France, no more than 10 per cent of the faculty comes from any one country. And at Madrid's IE Business School (No. 2), last year's class of 287 included 55 diverse nationalities, including Kazakhstan and El Salvador. Incidentally, IE scored the highest student satisfaction rating of all BusinessWeek ranked schools - US and international. The goal: to produce graduates adept at navigating a multicultural business environment. While top US MBAs follow a traditional two-year format, more top schools in Europe and Canada are condensing their programmes to fit a one-year time frame. Even London Business School now allows students to graduate in 15 months instead of 21. Other innovations include lessons in communication. At Oxford University's Saïd Business School (No. 10) students are encouraged to take classes in the humanities and social entrepreneurship. University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management (No. 8), has added new humanities workshops to create an "integrative thinking" curriculum that challenges students to solve business problems in non-traditional ways. Knowing a foreign language would also add to your resume when applying for a job in any European country. For prospective MBAs some of these B-schools may be well worth considering. One caveat though: getting a work permit in Europe is no mean task. Overseas students find it tough to even land temporary jobs, more so with the ongoing meltdown.
Alternative to MD
— Dr Tirna Das A. A Diplomate of National Board (DNB) is recognised by the Government of India and the Medical Council of India as equivalent to a postgraduate degree (MD/MS in broad specialities) and as a post-doctoral degree level qualification (DM/MCh) offered by Indian universities. For MBBS students it's a three-year course, while for those with an additional diploma it's of two years duration. Those enrolled for the DNB receive a stipend from the hospital to which they are attached. The exam is held in two parts: Primary and Final. The common Primary Exam for all the broad specialities as well as for the direct five-year courses in neurosurgery, paediatric surgery and plastic surgery is open to all candidates who have completed their internship. The exam is of the standard of the MBBS course. However, postgraduates in any speciality (both degrees and diplomas) from universities recognised by the Medical Council of India are exempted from the Primary Exam and can directly take the final exam. After clearing the final exam you can apply for the post of specialist in any hospital other than a training or teaching institute. For teaching appointments in the broad specialities, you must have at least one year of experience as a tutor/registrar/demonstrator or hold an equivalent post in a recognised undergraduate medical college in addition to the NBE Diplomate. For Diplomate NBEs in super-speciality subjects, the training period is two years in a medical college offering postgraduate degree in the speciality concerned for appointment as a lecturer. Admission to DNB courses is on the basis of the CET, a centralised entrance exam held twice a year in June and December (The application deadline for the next CET on December 11, 2011 is September 30). Over 10,000 candidates apply for 400-450 seats, which makes it highly competitive. The Information Bulletin and Application Form can be accessed on www.natboard.edu.in For meritorious but less affluent medicos, this is a credible alternative to achieve professional competence and a PG qualification at nearly 200 recognised medical colleges in India and abroad and 240 accredited institutions and hospitals. Thousands of medical graduates have obtained the DNB qualification and many of them have distinguished themselves in their respective fields both in India and abroad. In fact, some countries like Kuwait prefer DNB to other PG degrees for appointment as consultants. The board confers the DNB in over 30 broad specialities ranging from anatomy to forensic medicine, radio diagnostics, orthopaedic surgery, health administration, family medicine, pathology as well as a whole array of super specialities, including direct five-year courses (e.g. plastic surgery, paediatric surgery, neurosurgery) and dental specialities (i.e. prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics and conservative dentistry).
|
|
demography
Demography is the study of human population (quantitative and qualitative aspects) with statistics (size- total population), growth, density, distribution, composition, structure and movement, educational quality, crime, race, social class, wealth and well being. As a scientific study, it is the branch of economics and also sociology that studies features of population. The population scientist is known as demographer, Human Resouce Development (HRD) expert and a sociologist. For sustainable development with inclusive growth, we need manpower planning which sadly has not been able to get the place it deserved in Indian planning since 1951. This calls for demography to become the basis of all kinds of socio-economic development of a nation. It can no more be neglected. The increased Indian population in Census 2011 is 1210.19 million of which 623.7 million (51.54%) are male and 586.46 million (48.46%) are female. Keeping in view the demographic dividend of the Indian population in younger age group (15-60), HRD activities have to be strengthened in a big way. This justifies the nature and content of the course of demography covering quantitative and qualitative aspects, including education, health, environment, tourism and gender studies. Kurukshetra University has promoted the subject of demography with great motivation in not only the Department of Economics but also in sociology and social work under the faculty of social sciences. Demography is being taught at Mahrashi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Punjab University Chandigarh, Madras University Chennai and at the International Institute of Population Sciences, Mumbai. The choice of the subject is perfect for those who are motivated and also possess communication skills. There is ample scope of jobs in public and private sectors along with self employment avenues for all those who understand demography. Industrial units in production of goods and services need to conduct market surveys which can be done better by a demographer. There are possibilities of obtaining and undertaking research projects of the international, national and state organisations and earn money as self-employed persons. The writer is Professor of economics & Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra Email: mmgoel2001@yahoo.co.in
|
|
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a booming industry and is expected to grow at a tremendous pace in the next five years. A recent survey by FICCI has revealed that the shortage of doctorate and post-doctorate scientists in biotechnology is around 80 per cent. This is the reason why job prospects in biotechnology are 10 times more than those in other life science industries. Hence, a student with a professional degree in biotechnology is sure to find a good job and good remuneration.
Profile Getting in Students with physics or agriculture, chemistry and biology at the Plus II level are eligible for B.Tech and BSc courses. Graduates in all sciences / engineering technology/ medicine are eligible for the postgraduate (M.Sc.) courses. Admission to the integrated M.Tech. programme offered at IIT Delhi and Kharagpur is through a joint entrance examination (JEE), which is held for students who have successfully completed the Plus II or equivalent examination, with physics, chemistry and mathematics. Job scope The field of research and development is a promising one in which one can find a job with a hefty salary. Professionals will also be able to find employment in MNCs as well as in Indian companies. Students with professional degrees in biotechnology are absorbed in chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Companies, which are involved in the activity of controlling pollution, also hire the services of experts in biotechnology. Some of the governmental agencies and academic institutions involved in R&D activities are the Department of Biotechnology, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Department of Atomic Energy, Indian Council of Medical Research and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. Graduates in biotech can get placements in these agencies. One can also become an entrepreneur by setting up a biotech company of one’s own. Today, India boasts of more than 150 biotech companies which are either manufacturing products or are into the provision of services. Many companies demand scientists with experience in genomics and proteomics research. One will also be able to find employment in the fields of bioinformatics, tissue engineering and cancer research. Cell and molecular biologists find employment in the field of tissue engineering. In the field of tissue engineering, one will work with robotics engineers, equipment developers, computer — assisted designers, biomaterial engineers and microscopic imaging specialists. Biotechnology companies are also placing huge demands for scientists with experience in computational methods in addition to a deep knowledge in thebiological sciences. Biotech is a knowledge-based industry which requires manpower with an understanding of technology and managerial expertise to harvest technology into profit-making ventures and promises ample job opportunities in biotech under its umbrella. —The writer is CEO, NGF College of Engineering & Technology, Palwal
|
|
FILM-MAKING
The film industry needs talented people who are driven to create movies that will captivate audience. There are a number of specialisations that one can opt for and be a part of this industry. If you love writing scripts or story lines, then scriptwriting is your field. Filmmaking schools offer different courses needed to develop writing skills. If you want to become a part of the film crew, then you can choose from options like operating camera equipment, handling lighting effects, and sound monitoring etc. There is plenty of scope for those with business acumen also as marketers, advertisers and accountants are also an important component of film making. There are more job offers in the filmmaking industry than you could ever imagine. Basic Skills A film maker should essentially have an artistic flair, ability to work in a team, sense of responsibility, ability to work under deadlines, have great physical stamina, strong visual sense, good communication as well as administrative skills. Besides, one also needs to have determination, patience, apt attitude, passion, and sporting spirit. A filmmaker should have an extensive and expert level knowledge in his specialisation from being a director to capturing it as a cinematographer, assembling the visuals in an edit room and adding sound to it. Getting in Generally, most universities conduct aptitude tests and interviews to assess candidates’ potential for this specific field. There are diploma, degree, postgraduate diploma and even certificate courses in different areas of specialisation, including production, direction, editing, cinematography, film processing, animation, acting, sound engineering, make-up, photography and so on. A course in film-making give students immense practice and hands- on training with the world-class equipment enabling them to evolve as eminent film/video professionals. Remuneration In this field the nature and amount of work that one gets depends largely on the quality of the work of the professional and his networking skills. Further, it also depends upon one’s specialisation, the type of film, its budget and the negotiation between the producer and the person concerned. While for the Hindi mainstream commercial films the remuneration runs into lakhs of rupees, for short features and documentaries, it may be limited to a few thousands. Media industry is an industry whose canvas is becoming broader and broader each day and it is one of the most booming industries in India. This is an industry where the eligibility is your talent combined with patience and perseverance. According to IBEF, “the Media industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in India”. The industry primarily involves the creation, aggregation and distribution of content, products and services, news and information, advertising and entertainment through various channels and platforms such as television, radio, and films. The industry’s strong growth potential is attributed to factors such as: Growing potential of the regional markets
The government’s thrust on digitisation and addressability for cable television, is expected to increase the pace of digitisation leading to tremendous growth in DTH and digital cable. Hence the perception that there is a lack of opportunities is not a reality. — The writer is Business Head, Zee Institute of Media Arts (ZIMA)
|
|
Surviving change
Preetinder Kaur
These changes present new challenges and demands to everyone - from the CEO to the telephone operator. All members of the organisation must, therefore, learn to cope with change or suffer the consequences. When change is not handled well, additional loss of jobs can occur. In addition to this demoralisation of the work force, increased worker turnover, decreased cooperation and teamwork, and increased levels of stress, anxiety, absenteeism, illness, and mistakes can also follow. Be prepared for change
Change is and always has been an inevitable part of life. In today's business climate, however, the pace of change has definitely increased. Since most people normally hate to go through change, you can easily understand how today's pace of change can be stressful for many employees. Like successful professional athletic teams, most businesses today must continually make changes to remain competitive. Thus, instead of fearing change, resisting it, or hoping it won't ever happen to you, it's much better to prepare yourself mentally for the inevitable changes that are likely to occur. Assume that the "rug could get pulled from beneath you" at any time. Then, if this happens, you won't be caught off guard. You'll already be psychologically and emotionally ready. Here are some strategies that will help you tide over the change successfully.
Remain upbeat and positive
Even though you may be feeling stressed, angry, or scared about your future, you still need to remain upbeat and positive in most things you do. When the change occurs, the climate should remain positive, even though individual members of the organisation may be having all sorts of negative or uncertain feelings. I know this sounds contradictory, but it's not. Acknowledging any negative feelings that you might be harbouring will actually improve your ability to remain upbeat and optimistic. When you're willing to look at all sides of your company's reorganisation or change, your ability to notice the positives, as well as the negatives, improves. Then you can choose to focus on the positives, rather than dwell on the negatives. If a few key people in each organisation or department take on this role as a positive emotional leader, it will quickly spread to other employees as well. If nobody steps forward to remind people of the truth, it's will be easy for company employees to remain stuck in a chronic state of negativity
Stand up for yourself
During times of change, it is common to let yourself and others be easily abused. When workers have been fired or laid off, there is a natural tendency to wonder if you might be the next. This climate of fear might prevent you from speaking up forcefully when excessive or unreasonable demands are placed upon you. Anxiety quickly spreads to the entire workforce, making it even more difficult to obtain support for questioning unreasonable company policies. But sometimes, questioning policies is healthy and appropriate. If you feel that you or fellow workers are being unfairly abused, try to tactfully broach this subject with your immediate superiors. Try to do this in a way that isn't offensive or that doesn't make you appear to be lazy, uncooperative, or unwilling to do your share.
Acknowledge work pressure
One of the biggest mistakes most companies make when they downsize or restructure is that they fail to acknowledge the increased pressures, demands, and workloads that temporarily fall upon remaining employees. Sometimes, retained workers are asked to do the work of two or three individuals with little appreciation or acknowledgement. Their salaries are not increased commensurately or perhaps even at all. While at the very same time, the demands on their productivity might be significantly increased. All of this could occur without even a word of thanks or gratitude from the company leaders who ultimately benefit from such an arrangement. Whether your company realises how short-sighted this failure of recognition is, you don't have to compound this mistake. Be sure to regularly acknowledge to yourself and to your coworkers if your responsibilities have been substantially increased. While it may take time for you to successfully readjust, always strive to acknowledge whatever is true for you at the moment.
Expand your value to the company
When times get tough and people are being laid off, remaining workers become very fearful. Instead of worrying or losing sleep over the possibility you might be let go, why don't you go into action and stack the deck in your favor. How? Very simple. Just make yourself incredibly valuable to your company. Offer to take charge of some problem or project that isn't working. Contribute creative ideas to appropriate people in the chain of command. Stop worrying about yourself and your future and get busy helping your company grow and prosper.
Rise to the challenge
Instead of viewing your particular situation as a problem, see if you can view it as an exciting challenge instead. Remember, change is inevitable, but being stressed by change is not. It all depends on how you look at change and how you choose to respond to it. In every organisation undergoing change, some people rise to the challenge, while others don't and get left behind. Which group do you want to be in? Think about it seriously. You've got the power and ability to end up in either one.
Avoid complacency
Once you've survived and successfully adjusted to a major organizational change, avoid the trap of becoming complacent. Future changes will probably occur, and you should be prepared for them - emotionally, physically, and also financially. Keep developing your skills and enhancing your value to the company. Learn to do as many jobs as you can. Take on a leadership role in having your company be successful. Take pride in helping others below you. And always let your superiors know you are ready and willing to help out whenever the need might arise. If you try to follow most of these steps and still lose your job, so be it. You will have gained many useful skills and derived much personal satisfaction in the process. Your next employer will certainly be grateful to add someone like you to their team. The writer is Project Assistant, IIT, Ropar
|
|
Steady hiring in Chandigarh
The Naukri job speak index for Chandigarh indicates that hiring in the city has been continuing at a steady pace over the past few months. However, a yearly comparison shows that the hiring activity this year is higher than what it was last year. This is primarily because the key job creators of the city, IT- Software, Banking and Pharma were hiring at a rapid pace in the first half of 2011. In August, 2011, the job speak index for Chandigarh moved up by 3 per cent from 1148 in July to 1187 last month, but on a year on year (YOY) comparison the index moved up by 21 per cent in August,2011 over August, 2010. Other progressive non metros of the country, Ahmedabad, Pune and Coimbatore have also witnessed 3, 5 and 6 per cent upward movements in their indices in Aug-11 over Jul-11. This indicates that the global recessionary fears are yet to affect the Indian recruitment market An in-depth analysis of the sectoral index shows that the index for IT Software and ITES sectors moved up by 8 and 19 per cent, respectively in August, 2011 as compared to July, 2011. Among the other key sectors of the city, both Pharma and Telecom sector saw steady hiring levels in August, 2011when compared to the previous month. Mirroring trends of the IT- Software and ITES sector, software and BPO professionals saw their monthly index move up by 7 and 15 per cent, respectively in August, 2011 over July, 2011. The demand for project management and production professionals dipped by 4 and 6 per cent, respectively when compared with last month.
|
|
Effective time management
Sometimes it becomes difficult to decide whether something is important or urgent for us and we keep on oscillating between “important” and the “urgent”. How to decide whether something is urgent and not important or important and not urgent becomes a nerveracking dillemma. This creates confusion as we may find the important as urgent and urgent as important. This further takes us to the compartmentalisation of urgent and the important leading to its following categories based on “importance” and “urgency”:
l
It is important but not urgent. l It is neither urgent nor important. l It is both important and urgent. Seeing its relevance, we enter the sphere of time management that reveals that urgent things are not always important and important things are not always urgent. When it comes to accepting one out of the two, it becomes almost imperative to distinguish between the “importance” and “urgency” of a situation or a thing. The urgency of a situation may demand our attention. Should we concentrate on it taking it to be urgent and give our fullest attention to it? Well, we will have to be careful. We may squander our time in dealing with things we deem urgent when they may not be so important and we may not be left with enough time to see other important things that are not urgent. Productivity demands that we should spend most of our time on important things without allowing the important things to become urgent. When we concentrate on important things before they become urgent, we save ourselves from a crisis situation. Everything is important to begin with. It becomes urgent only when we don’t do it in time. This happens when we fail to prioritise and go on waiting until the last minute. It is very important to draw a line between important and unimportant tasks. If we succeed in doing so, then we remain successful in grabbing the critical skill in effective time management. Some simple questions can help in deciding whether a particular task is important or not: What are our gains in a given task? The idea about our gains in a given task can help to reveal whether the given task is important or unimportant. More the gains, more important the task is. What are the losses if we do not do? We will have to remain conscious of the consequences of procrastinating such a task. If there are no negative consequences of not doing, ignoring or delaying the task, we can decide that the task is no so important and it will not effect us much even if we don’t do it. What will be our achievement? What will we achieve if we complete this project? We will have to see how this task fits in the scheme of our current project. Can this task help us to achieve our goal? If yes, then the task is important if not then the task is unimportant. We will have to see whether the given task fulfills our aims and objectives. If yes, the task is important. If not, it is unimportant. Does it meet our goals? If the task meets goals, it is positive and important. It is good if think of our long-term goals. Otherwise, it is unimportant. The logical answers to these questions can help us in segregating the “important” from the “urgent” and “important” from the “unimportant” in effective time management. The writer is Professor and Head of the Department of Communication Skills, Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Gharuan, Mohali
|
|
Dealing with slow workers
“Employees who are slow to react can be frustrating, especially in environments where it’s imperative to respond and adapt to change quickly. However, don’t assume these slow pokes are trying to undermine progress or resist change. They may have very good reasons for their response times. Next time you’re waiting on someone’s input, go talk to him. Explain that you are all under pressure and that you value knowing his response. Ask that he get back to you quickly — within a day or so. He may have a thoughtful rationale for proceeding cautiously, or when he realises that the matter is in his hands, he may speed things up.” — Adapted from How do you motivate older reports who are set in their ways?
|
|
|
Safety saves
Gems of ancient wisdom
As Arjuna didn’t have any shield to save himself from Indra’s Shakti that his rival Karna possessed, Krishna didn’t let Arjuna come in front of Karna till Gathotkacha’s death on the 14th day of the Mahabharata war. Before going into his final battle, Ravana’s son Indrajit embarked upon an asuric sacrifice that would bestow invincibility on him. But Vibheeshan and Lakshman interrupted it and killed the mighty son of Ravana. On knowing that Arjuna had vowed to either kill Jayadratha by the evening or himself enter fire, the entire Kaurava army was placed in front of Jayadratha. Realising that Duryodhana’s final duel with Bhima was at hand, Duryodhana’s mother Gandhari, through the merit she had earned lifelong, uncovered her eyes to give adamantine strength to her son’s body. Luckily for Bhima, Gandhari’s glance didn’t fall on Duryodhana’s thighs. Vaanara king Vaali had a necklace from his father Indra which gave him half the strength of the one facing him. This was the secret of his invincibility. Rama found a way to get around this problem and shot him in the back. Hiranyakashyap’s sister Holika had a dupatta that protected her from fire. To burn her nephew to death, she wrapped it around and entered a pyre along with Prahlad. But the wind-god blew the dupatta from her on to Prahlad. Even to this day, the death of Holika is celebrated as Holi. Tired of the six-month-long Anandpur Sahib siege, Guru Gobind Singh accepted a single-handed archery duel with Mughal General Painda Khan. The Mughal General’s confidence stemmed from the fact that he had an impregnable steel armour. The guru shot his rival in the ear killing him instantly and bringing victory to the hard-pressed Sikhs. From the churning of the ocean for nectar, the world’s deadliest poison Halahal had issued forth. Only Shiva, the god of dissolution, could handle it. But Parvati feared for her lord’s life. As he drank it, Parvati clutched his throat so that the poison may not reach his tummy. As a result, Shiva’s neck turned blue and he became renowned as Neelkanth. Our freedom fighters used disguise as safety device. Chandrashekhar Azad dressed as a priest and a saint to escape the police net; Bhagat Singh dressed as a sahib; Subhas Chandra Bose disguised as a Pathan; and Rash Behari Bose dressed up as a scavenger and as a member of the royalty. Just as a womb saves a baby and a peel the pulp, let your helmet save your head. — Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
|
|
|
COURSE
WATCH
Apeejay Stya University
Apeejay Stya University, Gurgaon has invited applications for various UG and PG Design courses for the academic year 2011-2012. These courses will be offered in School of Design & Visual Arts. A range of merit scholarships are available across all programmes. The courses are as follows- Bachelor of Design Technology (Specialisation in Lifestyle Design, Space Design, Media Design) Duration: four years Eligibility: Pass in Plus II Master of Design (Specialisation in Fashion Design, Interior Design, Visual Media) Duration: Two years Eligibility: Bachelors Degree in Design or Fine Arts Availability of forms: ASU Prospectus & Application Form can be downloaded from the link: - http://university.apeejay.edu/ or can be obtained from the Apeejay Stya University Campus at Sohna and City office at Gurgaon. LISAA LISAA, a premier French Design school, has invited applications for three new short courses: Portfolio Making, Textile Designing and Accessory Designing. International faculty would be conducting these courses. Portflio Making course that includes drawing, sketching, painting and mixed media. Duration : 50 hrs Classes: Twice a week Textile Designing Duration: 50 hrs Classes: Twice a week Starts in October Accessory Designing Duration: 50 hrs Classes: Twice a week Starts in October Contact: LISAA School of Design, Building 99, Sector 44,
Gurgaon, NCR,New Delhi. — TNS
|
|
2. What is the length of the India-Bangladesh border? 3. Name the flagship programme of the government aimed at providing literacy, skill development and basic education to those above 15 years who may have missed the opportunity of formal schooling. 4. Which radioactive substance has been found to be present in drinking water in two districts of Punjab in a report of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)? 5. Which trade talks, launched in 2001, aim at liberating global trade? 6. Name the first Indian-American ever to be elected the Governor of a state in the USA. 7. How many years ago were the World Trade Center twin towers brought down in a terror attack? 8. Who is the world 200m men’s athletics champion? 9. Name India’s first century-maker in Test cricket whose birth centenary was celebrated recently. 10. Who recently became the first cricketer to play in 100 winning Test
matches? — Tarun Sharma Winners of quiz 395: The first prize by draw of lots goes to Parag Rehani, class IX-B, SAV Jain Day Boarding School, Una Road, Hoshiarpur, Pin Code – 146001 Second: Vidushi Dhiman, class VIII-A, DAV Senior Secondary Public School, Dehra Gopipur, district Kangra Pin Code – 177101 Third: Ankush, class IX, St Carmel School, Katli, Ropar, Pin Code – 140001 Answers to quiz 395: Dr Baburam Bhattarai; INS Satpura and INS 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 Answers can also be sent at
quiz@tribunemail.com
|
||
|
The Internet has dramatically changed the way in which businesses interact, market, and sell to customers. The rapid replacement of traditional media by social networking sites, websites, blogs, and video sharing sites has created an urgent demand for professionals who can think innovatively about how to successfully capitalise and capture the opportunities of an enormous audience through digital channels.
The Internet has dramatically changed the way in which businesses interact, market, and sell to customers. The rapid replacement of traditional media by social networking sites, websites, blogs, and video sharing sites has created an urgent demand for professionals who can think innovatively about how to successfully capitalise and capture the opportunities of an enormous audience through digital channels.
— Raghav Handa
Q. I have been working for four years in an IT company. I am now planning to do my MBA from abroad. I have heard so much about US B-schools. Would it be a good idea to look at B-schools in other parts of the world as well?
Q. After doing my MBBS, I have been trying for an MD in a government college, but the number of seats are so limited. Please tell me what are the pros and cons of doing the DNB as compared to an MD or MS degree. Will I be eligible for specialist jobs in all hospitals?
In a prevailing scenario of unemployment among educated youth in India and elsewhere in the world, we need to identify employment opportunities. There are some specialisations not known to many which are having abundant job opportunities. Demography is one such field.
The work profile is largely scientific and research based and biotechnologists can be involved in production, marketing and research. A highly scientific mind and approach, inquisitiveness, eye for detail, patience and perseverance are some of the key qualities that one should have to excel in this field. Proficiency in computers and analytical and interpreting skills are also very important for a biotechnologist.
Healthcare and patenting is one sector which involves a considerable application of biotechnology and hence a career in this sector is a viable option. Other fields in which one will be able to find jobs are manufacturing, quality assurance and marketing.
Biotechnologists can also work as technicians, production managers, quality control managers, marketing and sales personnel. Both public and private sectors offer plenty of job opportunities in this field.
Film making has always had an aura of glamour that lures thousands of youngsters each year to this career field. Massive growth of this industry has given rise to a wide range of employment opportunities. Thus, those considering to make a career in this field can easily reap the benefits of this boom. One can find ample job opportunities in areas like cinematography, film production, editing, sound, voicing, screenwriting, pre-production, post production, distribution; and actors, film directors and other film crew members.
Students willing to enroll into a degree course in film-making must have cleared Plus II or an equivalent examination. There are various diploma courses as well in this space for SSC pass students.
Many companies today are under intense economic pressure. Reorganisation, takeovers, mergers, downsizing, joint ventures, and other major changes are extremely common as companies try to grow and survive in this kind of economic scenario.
l It is urgent but not important.
The workplace is not the place to display bravado. Don’t forget to wear the protective gear that has been recommended.
1. In which Indian state does the river Teesta originate?