increasing employability
Time to build skills
The wide gap between the talent available from colleges and the skills required by the Industry has made employability a major concern. With skill development becoming the buzzword, efforts are afoot to make students job ready
Swati Rai

India is among the fastest growing economies of the world. The 11th Five Year Plan clearly states, “The thrust of the plan will be on creating a pool of skilled manpower in appropriate number with adequate skills, in line with the requirements of the ultimate users of manpower such as the industry, trade and service sector.” In the 2012-2013 Union Budget, the government has doubled its allocation of funds for skill development to Rs 1,000 crore, raising the corpus of the National Skills Development Fund to Rs 2,500 crore. The National Skill Development Corporation has identified more than 21 key sectors that need immediate focus. The notable among these key sectors are textile, retail, healthcare manufacturing, construction and automotive.

High stakes

The big question is ‘Is the youth in India industry-ready’?

There, no doubt is an assembly line of young graduates populating the job seekers’ queue, but their employability leaves much to be desired. A huge chunk of job seekers can’t match up to the expectations of the employers due to lack of skill training and as a result they land into a thankless job or they leave it at an early stage. Talking of an average graduate’s skills and the employability of graduates, the Planning Commission’s ‘An Approach to the 12th Five Year Plan’ titled — Faster, Sustainable and More Inclusive Growth — states, “Graduates now require the skills beyond the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic (the 3Rs). Skills such as critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity (the 4Cs) are now important in more and more jobs. Special emphasis on verbal and written communication skills, especially in English would go a long way in improving the employability of the large and growing mass of disempowered youth.”

Talking of the current status of youth employability, Shalini Dutta, Country Head, HR VHIRE4U says, “The service, industrial and banking sectors fall in the category of high growth sectors and there is an estimated 58.6 million added jobs in the domestic economy. The knowledge and skill domains have multiplied and become more complex with time. Yet, more than 80 per cent of the resources enter the world of work without any formal or informal training. The gaps are evident at all levels of screening, with the benchmarks being lowered to meet the numbers. This is largely evident through the selection process, where our selection ratios get as poor as 1:15 at this level.”

Good grooming

Clearly, there exists a mismatch between employer’s expectation and the prospective employees’ skills. More often than not the employers’ have to take training interventions, Shalini adds, “Organisations partner with companies that offer services in multi-campus recruiting and training services to pick better qualified and employable resources.” 

One such skill development provider is TMI e2E, Hyderabad, which is part-funded by the National Skill Development Corporation. T. Muralidharan, MD TMI e2E Academy says, “A majority of graduates and freshers are not employment ready. They lack clear reasoning, problem solving, critical thinking, analytical skills, teamwork and creativity. The college curriculum which is drafted on the British system of inventory-based education is not attuned to the industry norms.”

Amit Bansal, the co-founder and CEO, of PurpleLeap, a skill-enhancement company in Bengaluru while talking about the practical aspect of education in colleges laments, “In colleges in tier-2 and tier-3 cities almost eight out of 10 students cannot execute simple practical tasks expected from an engineering graduate. The implementation of the curriculum is so academic in nature that a computer science engineer can get a first class degree (more than 60% marks) without actually having the ability to write a simple programme. The only programmes that such a student will be able to write will be the ones that he has mugged up for exams.”

Future course 

India is poised to becoming one of the youngest countries in the world. It is the skilled youth that will be the driving force behind our economic prosperity. The Annual Report to the People on Employment, Ministry of Labour and Employment, 2010 gives the big picture on this demographic forecast, “Currently, India is passing through an unprecedented phase of demographic changes. The demographic changes are likely to contribute to the ever-increasing size of the labour force in the country. The census projection report shows that the proportion of working-age population between 15 and 59 years is likely to increase from approximately 58 per cent in 2001 to more than 64 per cent by 2021. In absolute numbers, there will be approximately 63.5 million new entrants in the working age group between 2011 and 2016. Further, it is important to note that the bulk of this increase is likely to take place in the relatively younger age group of 20-35 years. Such a trend would make India one of the youngest nations in the world. In 2020, the average Indian will be only 29 years old. Comparable figures for China and the US are 37, 45 for West Europe, and 48 for Japan.”

The youth is touted to be nation builders and will aid in making India a robust economy. Well, India may not be shining yet but one can safely say that it is certainly being polished for its future role!

Professional approach Speaking from the employers’ perspective, K.V. Balasubramaniam, Managing Director, Indian Immunologicals Limited, Hyderabad, says, “The markets have become very competitive. If you have new recruits who don’t have the required skills then the organisation’s overall performance will suffer. Therefore, the new recruits need to have some level of proficiency so that the business doesn’t suffer.” So what are the basic skills that our freshers lack and which effect their employability quotient. As Bansal puts it, “I have found that technical, functional, organisational and problem solving skills are lacking the most. And the main reason for these is the paucity of time and resources at the disposal of our colleges. These are the factors that make it difficult for colleges to get the students industry ready.” So is there a quick fix method to make the youth job ready? Bansal disagrees, “No 40-hour training can compensate for the lack of quality inputs during the four years of technical education. I believe the educational institutes that invest beyond the building and landscaping and focus on providing quality education and not just work as a degree printing machine will be the only ones who will be providing completely ready and employable workforce to the Industry.”   Thus, while employability remains the ultimate goal and steps have been initiated in this regard, change is not going to be visible overnight. As Shalini says, “Rome wasn’t built in a day! We have to take steady steps to making India job ready. Colleges should introduce compulsory industry-faculty interaction in the curriculum. Institutes should tie up with professional houses to cover the last mile and provide employability training to graduates in the final term. Establishing two-way sabbatical exchange programmes between Industry and academia and running faculty-development programmes are a must.”

— The writer is an English language and life skills' trainer

Career Hotline 
Try instructional design
Pervin Malhotra

Q. I've done MSc mathematics and BEd. After working as a teacher in a school for a year, I joined the back office of a company in Chandigarh on a salary of Rs 8,000. My parents and relatives, however, advise me to make a career in teaching as it is more suitable according to my education. They say it's a noble and good profession for girls and the hours are also not long. But I don't have any interest in teaching. Instead, I'd like to work in companies in Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Chandigarh etc. But in these companies only IT professionals get a good package. Some of my friends also suggest that I should do a course in a foreign language to improve my career prospects. Will a foreign language course help me in getting a good job with a good package? What should I do and which profession should I choose? — Tanu gupta

A. While teaching is a great option, if you're not too excited by it, so be it. Considering that you've done your MSc and BEd in mathematics, there's a lesser known but equally well-paying option that you could look at - instructional designers.

The global need for customised e-learning packages has opened up a host of exciting new career opportunities for professionals in this field. And with ID services being farmed out from other parts of the world, it is emerging as one of the fastest growing fields in India.

Instructional designers draft the blueprint for a whole multimedia project - from determining the educational design and content of the project to deciding how to present it to the target audience.

As an ID you will work closely with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to organise information in such a way that the learner can comprehend it easily. In your case, you can wear both hats (maths being your area of specialisation).

Be prepared for extensive brain storming sessions on pre-design activities such as content design, analysis of context, content and learner needs. While teaching and training skills are desirable attributes, it goes without saying that you need excellent communication skills in English with a good understanding of web-based training. No wonder the field is dominated by journalists and teachers.

As a trainee ID, your main responsibility will be to implement design specifications. You can also work as an integrator, animation or graphic artist or visualiser, depending on your talents.

Today the need for IDs is being felt in corporate training institutes, in the public sector as well as in educational institutes.

In his/her previous avatar the role of an ID was restricted to designing curricula for instructional books or manuals. The new age ID, however, is much more tech savvy and offers consultation in fields ranging from educational TV, computer-based teaching, instructional video, business training and multimedia to print media and classroom design.

Starting out at as a trainee, you will rise to the position of e-learning project manager and eventually as a consultant.

As for learning a foreign language, I don't see that helping you in the immediate future.

E-tutoring is yet another option and several companies in the Gurgaon, Delhi and Noida region are involved in online coaching of foreign students. Your background would lend itself to this well-paying field as well. And though it's related to teaching, it's very different from the classroom teaching.

Can I do graduation in one go?

Q. I am serving in the Army. I want to know if there is any provision that allows one to take the exam of all three years of graduation in one sitting? Is there any university for this? Is this a legal and authenticated process? Being in the Army it's very hard, at times, to get leave during exam time. So please guide me on this issue. Can I complete my graduation in one year? — Balour singh

A. No UGC-recognised university offers a bachelor's degree in one year any more. All single-sitting BAs have been discontinued. As per the rules, Graduation has to be of three years. However, you'll come across a number of unscrupulous institutes/colleges that make such promises. But there's no guarantee of their so-called 'degrees' being recognised by the Government of India or UGC. So better to be safe than sorry.

However, if you are doing your bachelor's degree from an Open University such as IGNOU, then you have much greater flexibility in terms of completing the course, which may suit your requirement (keeping in mind, the exigencies of leave etc).

Age limit concerns

Q. I would like to join a public sector bank, but I am running out of age. I am 28 now and due to the centralized examination system I only have two chances left. Are there any public sector banks that have a higher age limit (more than 30 years)? Please let me know if there is any such option because I am not finding any answers anywhere else. — Harkiran Singh

A. None that I know of. All public sector banks now recruit Probationary Officers as well as clerical staff through a common written exam conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS). And the first eligibility condition which serves as a filter is the age limit. However, the age limit of 30 years for POs and 28 years for clerical staff is relaxed only for candidates belonging to certain categories.

However, if you have really set your heart on getting into the banking sector then two chances are good enough. Prepare thoroughly, practice meticulously and you could well sail through! There's a huge demand for personnel in this sector. Just going by recent notifications, Punjab & Sind Bank requires 900 POs (Deadline: 10 May); Punjab & Sind Bank needs 800 Single Window Operators 'A' (Clerical Cadre). (Deadline: 18 May); and Bank of Baroda requires 125 Specialist Officers). (Deadline: 15 May 2012).

Failure — the learning tool

Q. I often hide my failure by keeping it a secret from my friends. But sensing my sadness they come to know that something serious has happened to me. The more they ask me about it, the more puzzled and depressed I become. Is this the reason that I fail time and again? How should I react whenever I fail? — dalbir kaur

A. Your query reflects that you take failures as a symbol of your weakness. You are wrong here. Remember everyone fails, and the great ones fail frequently. The only difference is that those who rise in life never hide their failure and they learn more from their failures. Only those who hide their failure never learn a lesson. Take it this way, failure is the best thing that can happen to you. Failures always make one right but only when taken in the right perspective. Merely regretting and not changing your modus operandi will land you in trouble.

Always acknowledge your failure sincerely. This will build your power to cope with it. Keep a record of your failures and note down the lesson you learn each time. Don't keep any regrets even if you fail again and again. By sharing you will learn more ways and means to succeed. 

Engineering twinning programme

Manipal University has invited applications for its International Centre for Applied Sciences’ (ICAS) twinning programme. This programme is a collaborative arrangement with 26 international universities. Under this credit-transfer programme, students complete two years of the programme in Manipal University, India and the next two in a partner university in USA/UK/Australia/Canada. ICAS students are assured of an international engineering degree from a university of their choice. This programme provides a wide array of specialisations that are not available in Indian universities.

Disciplines offered: Students can choose from over 15 engineering branches, including architecture, automotive engineering, aviation/aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil/construction engineering, computer/software engineering, electrical and electronics engineering, electronics and communication engineering, environmental sciences engineering, industrial/manufacturing engineering, material science engineering, metallurgical engineering and mechanical/mechatronics engineering. It offers students the flexibility in choosing or changing the branch or major area of specialisation after entering the programme at the international university.

Eligibility: Candidates should have passed Class XII/A Level/High School with a minimum of 60 per cent marks, with English, physics, mathematics and chemistry/ biotechnology/ computer science/ biology as the optional subjects. Candidates who wish to take up architecture should have studied English, physics, mathematics with chemistry or computer science or engineering drawing or biology as the optional subjects.

To apply: www.manipal.edu/icas or email to icasadmissions@manipal.edu

Deadline: July 31, 2012.

Cool Counsel
Salary dilemma
D. C. Sharma

Q. I have just completed my studies with distinction, and am trying to find a good job. But I am getting job offers with very low salary. My parents have spent a lot on me and had even taken education loan and now they look to me for support. I have high aspirations but feel I have no choice but to accept a job with very less salary. When I read about freshers getting hefty packages, I really get depressed and lose all confidence. Do you feel that it is a good decision to accept a job with low salary or I should reject this offer and wait for a job with handsome salary package? — Sahil dhillon 

A. First of all convince yourself that the salary package offered to you is no reflection on your capabilities or intelligence. And don't forget that you have just finished your studies and don't have any experience. So your goal at present should be to gain experience and learn rather than count the zeroes in your salary slip. If it is a job that will give you valuable experience then it is a good choice and a solid foundation to build the edifice of your career and you will also be helping out you parents in the process. And don't get disheartened by the news of hefty packages at placement drives, the reality is very different in many such cases. So instead of feeling sad and tense just be happy that you are earning. Dale Carnegie was not wrong when he said, "It's easier to act yourself into good thinking than it is to think yourself into good action." So keep working with confidence and one day you will be proud of what you are doing now.

scholarship roundup
Huawei Maitree

Leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider Huawei has announced 'Maitree Scholarship Programme 2012' as a part of its education-based CSR initiative in India. Open to aspiring Indian students who have already secured admission to institutions of higher education in China, the Maitree Scholarships aim to build a platform for exchange of ideas between the two nations, fostering a closer understanding of each others' culture and society.

Number: 10

Amount: Up to $ 10,000

Eligibility: Students who are pursuing academic courses in China.

Subjects: The scholarship programme enables aspiring Indian students to opt for various streams, preferably in the emerging areas of science and technology, culture, social studies and development related programmes in Chinese universities.

Check out: http://www.huaweischolarships.org

Deadline: July 15, 2012

For undergraduate courses at ASU

Apeejay Stya University is offering Dr. Stya Paul Memorial Scholarships 2012. Under this scholarship scheme the university will offer 95 per cent scholarship on the tuition fee to 100 meritorious candidates in all bachelor's programmes.

Eligibility: ¢ All students who have appeared for their Plus II examinations ( CBSE or an equivalent board recognised by ASU) between March 2011 and April 2012, and have secured 90 per cent and above aggregate score.

¢ The students who are awaiting their board results this year (but have scored 90 per cent aggregate in their pre-boards) can also apply.

Application process: Interested candidates are required to fill up the scholarship application form along with the regular university application form. Both these forms can be filled online on the university's website itself, or obtained from the university or admissions office.

Deadline: May 30, 2012

Research openings in New Zealand

The New Zealand Government is offering doctoral research scholarships — New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarships (NZIDRS) — for international students to study in New Zealand.

Study Subject(s): Any

Course Level: PhD

Eligibility: Students who are traveling to NZ specifically to take up the NZIDRS. No student already located in NZ is eligible to receive this amount.

Students will need to provide evidence that academic supervision is available.

Applicants should ensure that their proposed (New Zealand based) Supervisor completes the relevant page within the NZIDRS Application form

Details: Recipients are selected upon academic merit and the NZIDRS provides full tuition fees, plus living and other allowances for successful applicants.

The scholarships include:

n Full tuition fees for three years of full-time doctoral study

n NZ$25,000 per annum living allowance (NZ$2,083.33 per month).

n Up to NZ$600 annual health insurance allowance

n NZ$2,000 (across 3-year tenure) travel allowance. This is intended to be used for conference attendance and field research

n NZ$800 (across 3-year tenure) book and thesis allowance

n NZ$500 one-off establishment allowance. Only to be paid to those students who are travelling to NZ specifically to take up the NZIDRS. No student already located in NZ is eligible to receive this amount.

How to apply: Online

Deadline: July 16, 2012

Check out: scholarships@educationnz.govt.nz

career compass: sports medicine
Be a game for challenges
Gauri Chhabra

Sports medicine is a field that brings about a marriage of contrasts. It has come a long way as a discipline offering valuable service in understanding, predicting and influencing human behaviour in physical activity and sports.

Now what exactly is Sports Medicine? Sports medicine is concerned with the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of sports-related injuries.

Sports medicine specialists serve as consultants, counsellors, performance enhancers or educators to provide scientific input to the established and budding sportspersons. Sports scientists are involved in sports psychology, sports nutrition, sports biomechanics, training methods, rehabilitation and research.

The Indian Association of Sports Medicine (IASM) is a professional body, which includes professionals from diverse fields of sports sciences. The aim of IASM is to have a better interaction between different categories of sports scientists. Sports medicine has of late become an attractive career option in India in the wake of a growing sports culture. It's only a matter of time before all sportspersons become dependent on sports medicine professionals to keep them in fine fettle.

As sports get increasingly competitive and the stakes become increasingly higher, nothing short of perfect fitness can give a player the crucial winning edge. A simple swelling on the wrist may not only result in a dropped catch but could well cause the World Cup to slip from your hands!

With the recent fusion of sports and entertainment industries taking the names of IPL and the like, the demand for sports medicine professionals is on an upswing. The profession is new on the Indian field but there has been an increasing awareness about the valuable services that these professionals render to the megabucks sports stars in the West. With competitive games and sports involving crores of prize money becoming ever more demanding, a meticulously supervised training regimen is essential to maintain the fitness of the new tribe of sports millionaires. It's the job of sports medicine specialists to treat athletes for injuries, as well as to advise preventive measures to help them avoid fitness and injury problems.

Course cursor

Sports medicine has many areas of specialisation. From the athletics trainer who interacts with the athletes on a daily basis to the fully trained medical doctor who specialises in orthopaedic surgery or cardiac rehabilitation. An athletics trainer or fitness instructor may coach athletes about the correct techniques to perform exercises to avoid sports-related injuries.

The courses offer a vast variety and include anatomy, sports nutrition, conditioning and biomechanics. A bachelor's degree programme in sports medicine and fitness technology may include courses in athletic injury prevention, exercise leadership, applied kinesiology, substance abuse and strength training. Students in a master's degree programme in exercise physiology might take courses in electrocardiography, clinical exercise physiology lab techniques, statistical interpretation and cardiac rehabilitation. Courses within a PhD programme in rehabilitation science might include exercise physiology, eating disorders in athletes, rehabilitation biomechanics and disability epidemiology.

Educational threshold

Sports medicine is a highly specialised career with the minimum qualification for admission into study programmes being the five-year MBBS degree. In India the most reputed institute is NIS, Patiala, which offers a two-year programme in sports medicine recognised by the Medical Council of India. Kolkata also boasts of reputed institutes such as SAI, Salt Lake; West Bengal Sports Medicine Centre, Netaji Indoor Stadium; CAB Medical Unit and IFA Medical Unit, Eden Gardens.

For those who believe in Freidman's flat world, there are reputed sports medicine institutes abroad like American College of Sports Medicine, Indianapolis; American Sports Medicine Institute, Birmingham, Alabama; University of Nottingham, UK; University of Bath, UK; and University of Queensland, Australia to choose from.

Students pursuing a master's degree in physical therapy may choose a sports medicine specialisation. The specialisation covers supervised clinical practice, hands-on practice on patients and lab instruction. Students interested in research in sports medicine may wish to pursue PhD. To focus on treating sports-related injuries, a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) may do a specialised residency in sports medicine after completing an accredited medical school programme and passing a national licensure examination.

Jobscape

Specialists in sports medicine are hired by the Sports Authority of India, and sports bodies of different states, sports federations and large private hospitals and sports clubs and institutes.

A sports medicine professional can contribute immensely apart from healing and curing. He can advise relevantly on the kind of sport a person should choose based on the body type, anthropometric and physiological tests. For example, a marathon runner must have a lean physique, while a discus thrower must have a muscular body. He can also check a person's inherent medical problems and advise him accordingly about his sports choice.

So, if you are one of those who look for the road less travelled pick sports medicine as your career option and make it the right choice

pay cheque

Bonuses and sponsorships are getting bigger and better. Therefore, multinational corporates sponsoring sports events are increasingly employing sports medicine professionals to help star players and athletes cope with stress and maintain fitness. Consequently pay scales and remuneration packages tend to be attractive, starting at Rs.50,000-60,000 per month.

specialisations

Areas and sub disciplines that one might pursue for a career in sports medicine also include:

n Exercise physiology

n Kinesiology

n Physical therapy

n Sport dietetics/nutrition

n Massage therapy

n Occupational therapy

n Sports medicine research

— The writer is a Ludhiana-based career consultant

course cruising
Dairy gains

The College of Dairy Science and Technology under the aegis of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana offers a four-year programme in Bachelor of Technology in Dairy Technology.

The main objective of the college is to make available trained human resources to the dairy industry and at the same time to educate the milk produces, entrepreneurs and consumers about the quality aspect of the milk by imparting short term trainings in various aspects of milk handling. Therefore, besides offering four year degree programme in the field of Dairy Science and Technology the college also imparts short term trainings to the various stakeholders of this field.

Course: BTech. in dairy technology

Duration: Four years

Eligibility: The candidate should have cleared Plus II or equivalent with physics, chemistry and mathematics and English from a recognized board/university with at least 50% marks in aggregate (except optional subjects) for general category and 40% marks in aggregate (except optional subjects) for all other reserved categories.

Getting in: Interested students will have to appear in the common entrance test conducted by GADVASU, Ludhiana in June. The admission is based on the merit of the candidate in this entrance examination. The test is held for 25 seats. In addition four seats are filled through an entrance test conducted by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. One seat is reserved to Kashmiri Migrant, but the candidates have to appear in the common entrance test conducting by the GADVASU. Three additional seats are for NRIs.

Deadline: May 14, 2012

Check out: www.gadvasu.in

field in focus: real estate
Hot property
Sameer Khanna

Is the Indian real estate sector the right place to make a serious career in now? Compared to more developed countries, the Indian real estate sector still lacks sophistication and transparency. However, it continues to be in the limelight of domestic and international investments. This has naturally brought along the need for better, more capable human resources.

Though real estate is not nuclear science, there is a fair degree of complexity involved. As in any other business, real estate businesses operate either on:

n The basis of knee-jerk reactions to currently existing market trends and opportunities

n A learned understanding of the market, anticipation of emerging possibilities and with provisions for market integrity over the long term

The first method is reactive and often opportunistic. The latter is based on information rather than gut-feeling, and results in assured growth rather than short-term gains via calculated risks. There is increased emphasis on the latter approach today - therefore, there is definitely scope for making a career as a real estate professional.

Courses

The scenario is changing fast and there is a lot of professionalism coming in because of the arrival of major international players. Developers are cleaning up their act and introducing best practices and higher transparency now, thanks to an evolving market dynamics. People equipped with the right know-how, training and professionalism are in high demand, and are paid correspondingly.

There are a number of real estate courses that aim to equip their students with some requisite knowledge, thereby giving them an edge. However, academic learning needs to be backed by hands-on, practical experience in order to reap fruits. A real estate course is at best a means to an end, but certainly not an end in itself.

The emergence of Indian real estate as a new academic focus is, of course, heartening. Equipping students with a basic understanding of the real estate market is as valid as instructing them on stock market dynamics - knowledge of either field can open up various career possibilities and attract youthful progression in the sector. Also, the real estate professionals of the future are responsible for bringing about some badly-needed regulatory frameworks in the sector, and for catalysing a higher degree of transparency.

The fact that they now have opportunities for being academically prepared for this is nothing but positive. That said should one choose to attend such a course, checking its accreditation and verifying that the courses are officially recognised is extremely important. In the final analysis, no learning is ever wasted. At the very least, even rudimentary real estate courses can whet the appetite of our youth to acquire experience and proficiency in this exciting, dynamic sector. Here, as in every other business field, the instructed youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.

— The writer is Head, Human Resources, Jones Lang Lasalle India

Career options

n Residential real estate broker: A broker dealing in residential properties may represent either the buyer or the seller.

n Commercial real estate broker: Such a broker sells hotels, office space and similar commercial real estate properties. He/she may concentrate solely on retail office space, mall space, industrial space or hospitality space. He/she is involved in extensive market analysis, since commercial real estate is a preferred investment sector.

n Real estate appraiser: Such people determine the fair market value of a home for sale. They assess the value of properties on behalf of an appraisal firm, a bank or even major private investors. They are involved in refinancing, too.

n Property manager: Such a person usually is part of a professional property management firm and looks after the investment of the property owners. He handles customers and manages lease and rent deals. Good negotiation and people skills are de rigueur in this line.

n Facilities manager: Facilities management as a concept has just begun emerging as the best possible route of maximise profitability and reduce overhears in large real estate projects such as residential townships, office buildings and malls. There is still a severe dearth of adequately trained facilities management personnel. Professional property and asset management companies such as Jones Lang LaSalle train their operatives on the ground.

n Real estate investment consultant: Such a person has extensive inside knowledge of the real estate market and advises property investors on the best investment options. His main focus is to locate properties that will appreciate in value.

n Project development experts: Such people are at the very nexus of the property market, and help create saleable properties. They advise developers on all aspects of the project, from the blueprint stage of final deployment.

training poultry farmers
Birds of profit
Rajinder Singh

Diminishing returns from agriculture and high costs involved in farming have made thousands of rural youths migrate to big cities in search of jobs. Increasing unemployment has been a major concern for the government as well as society making self-employment opportunities in rural areas and diversification in the traditional farming trends the need of the hour. Steps in this regard enable rural youths to become self-reliant and also generate employment for others. Poultry farming is one such avenue which has a lot of potential for employment generation in rural areas. Poultry farming was a largely unorganised sector till the 1970s and was primarily in the hands of economically weaker and backward castes and little attention was paid to the feed and the living conditions of the birds. But now it has become a well-developed and organised industry.

Business in the poultry industry is now divided into two sectors — layer (for eggs) and broiler (for meat). India ranks third in the world in egg production and fifth in broiler meat production. As many as 3 million farmers and 15 million agrarian farmers are employed in this industry that grows poultry ingredients for feed and contribute about Rs 26,000 crore to the national income. India is the fifth largest producer of egg and ninth largest producer of poultry meat. India was positioned 17th in the world poultry production. In 2009 the Meat and Poultry Processing Board was set up by the Ministry of Food Processing to work for the welfare of poultry farmers and to provide them with opportunities to increase their earnings.

Poultry farming has become a lucrative option for farmers in Haryana and Punjab as they can increase their income and also provide opportunities to unemployed rural youth in these states. Earlier, Ambala, Panchkula (Barwala) and Gurgaon were the leading districts in the state. Jind, Bhiwani, Karnal, Rohtak, Fatehabad, Yamunanagar, Sonepat, Hisar and Sirsa districts have also shown tremendous rise in large commercial layer and broiler farms along with established hatcheries.

Due to its proximity to Delhi, youths in Haryana can get very good returns by getting into poultry farming. The recent trend for emu farming has also seen excellent response.

Support services

Training, education, prevention and disease control: Ambala, Karnal, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Jind, Mahendergarh and Veterinary college of Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (LLRUVAS, Hisar) have disease-investigation laboratories (DIs) to help farmers keep a check on disease outbreaks. Farmers are also apprised of the vaccination schedule for the birds by laboratory experts.

Experts from LLRUVAS lab organise two free of cost poultry training programmes in a year to train farmers. These training programmes lay emphasis on proper breed selection for broiler and layer, the right quality of feed, management of chicks (especially brooder temperature), light, space for bird feed and water management, housing management of poultry about cage and litter system.

Credit and loan: After getting training, the interested youths can approach banks for finance for their ventures. NABARD, through the district lead bank officer (LDM), also helps the interested youths in getting their farms financed on nominal interest rates.

Marketing and profit:. On an average there is a gain of Rs 5-10 per broiler bird in a time frame of 40-50 days. However, sometimes the profit can be really substantial due to lower expenditure and higher price of broilers. Recently a poultry farmer in Kalinga village near Rohtak-Bhiwani border, who has a broiler farm with the capacity of 9,000 birds, earned a net profit of Rs 3,00,000.

Emu farming is also a very lucrative option due to high profits and high disease resistance of this bird. This Australian bird also has high environmental adaptability (tolerance to extremes of temperature), elegant looks, labour saving due to its good nature and medicinal value of bones, oil and feathers. Many emu-rearing farms have come up in Mahendergarh, Bhiwani, Gurgaon and Yamunanagar districts in Haryana as the young poultry farmers have shown keen interest in rearing this bird. LLRUVAS Rohtak extension centre is holding regular sessions to train farmers in emu farming techniques.

- The writer is Senior Extension Specialist, (LLRUVAS), Rohtak

smart strategy: dealing with a missed promotion
It pays to stay positive
Ragini Gulati

Getting passed over for a promotion can be a disheartening experience irrespective of the level or designation. Although it is not as serious as being laid off, yet it can throw your career off track. There are many factors that are considered when employees are evaluated for the next higher position. As a result it is futile to blame the organisation, supervisor or even yourself for the debacle. Instead keep things in perspective by taking stock of your failures and weaknesses. Move forward by looking towards the future while learning from the past. The key is to develop a strategy and take appropriate action to regain control and confidence.

Calm down

It is perfectly normal to feel frustrated and angry after missing out on a promotion. The instinctive reaction might be to lash out against the immediate supervisor or colleague who got promoted. However, running to the boss and demanding an explanation would only cause more damage. Take time to collect your thoughts and digest what has happened. It is critical to regain composure before making any decision about the next step. Although there may be a sense of unfairness at being passed over, don't bottle your emotions. Rather than isolating yourself, try sorting through your feelings with someone outside the organisation. Reach out to family and friends and seek their support to manage the setback.

Schedule a meeting Subsequent to cooling off set up a meeting with the boss to discuss why you did not get the promotion. Ask questions about how seriously you were considered and the deciding factors in your case. Request specific situations that made them doubt your ability to handle the higher position. An honest and candid conversation will help you discover what really went wrong. However, ensure that you handle the meeting with objectivity to avoid any perception of being defensive or confrontational. Also take the opportunity to inform the supervisor about your eagerness to move up the ladder. They will be more likely to keep you in mind for upcoming promotions after learning of your intentions.

Improve skills

Utilise the feedback received from the supervisor to re-assess your strengths and shortcomings. There is a possibility that you were overlooked due to lack of key skills required for the position. Seek ways to develop your abilities in targeted areas through internal trainings and courses. In addition to improving communication style, make sure that your technical knowledge is up-to-date. Prepare yourself for the next promotion by requesting for challenging assignments to gain experience. Identify areas where you need to improve for achieving career development and professional growth. Aiming at a broad range of skill set will not only make you versatile but also valuable to the organisation.

Increase visibility

In today's world hard work and excellent reviews are not always enough to get ahead. Very often mediocre employees get promotion simply because they tell the upper management what they have done or planned. In fact, one of the key factors for moving up the corporate ladder is visibility. It is crucial that colleagues, especially immediate seniors, know the value you bring to the organisation. The more people know about your capabilities and ideas, the more likely will your promotion will be. Network and talk to officials who make a difference. Provide your boss with regular status updates so that he is aware of your accomplishments.

Stay positive

Although easier said than done, it is important to maintain a positive attitude despite the setback of not getting promoted. Rather than dwelling on the disappointment concentrate on preparing for the next opportunity. Take action immediately to get back on track by demanding new and challenging projects. Consider the rejection as a wake-up call to seek new challenges and break old habits at work. Soon what seemed like a step backward may prove to be a catalyst to move ahead. Most importantly share the success of those who have been promoted by congratulating them. It will show the goodness of your spirit and also that you are an able team player.

Look beyond

If in spite of all your efforts you realise that no matter what you may do the organisation is not going to give you a promotion, then it is time to look elsewhere. Sending out resumes may be in order to climb the next notch, rather than sticking around. Keep your network open and active in order to explore new avenues and opportunities. However, make sure that you take the decision for the right reasons, without reservation or impulsiveness.

hiring trends: flexible jobs
Set perfect terms
Getting into the job market through a professional staffing company? Be aware of your rights and tread cautiously
Basudev Mukherjee

Hiring is a complex process that is constantly changing. Many organisations are now turning to professional recruiters for their expertise in hiring the right talent. Outsourcing their HR also lets them focus on their core functions. The recent global financial crisis has also led to many companies resorting to the concept of hiring employees on contractual basis; which today are provided by professional temporary/flexi staffing companies. This reduces employer's cost, improves compliance and accuracy as it allows them to hire people with niche skills to address their seasonal and cyclical demands.

For candidates a contract job is one of the most effective ways to get into the job market. Unlike permanent employment short-term jobs can easily be found through professional staffing companies; and could be used to gain experience. However, with the success of flexi staffing many unscrupulous players have also entered the market, hence, there are some key points to be considered both by the employer and the candidates before they connect to a staffing company.

If you are looking to follow this path to get a job then consider the following factors before signing on the dotted line:

n Evaluate the job offer thoroughly before accepting.

n Most importantly, check your name/address, ensure they are correctly incorporated in the contract

n Look for a clear description of the job and if necessary, be prepared to sharpen skill set and try to gain additional knowledge through available sources.

n Have a clear understanding of the compensation and benefits (medical, vacation, performance reviews, and others perks).

n If you are going through a placement consultant make sure they don’t charge you to getting you a job.

n Make sure that the company/staffing agency provides you with a written job contract/ appointment letter

n A good company/staffing agency will provide you with all social security benefits such as PF, medi claim, insurance etc.

n Location, work hours, transport facility and flexibility are also important. Do check these.

n Are there any opportunities for career growth and innovation in the organisation? If there are structured training programmes or promotion opportunities, it will be helpful to know 'what is in store' for you.

n Other terms of employment (how long is the probation, contract, etc), the legal aspect of the contract, etc should be declared to you along with job security and termination clauses. All this will get you prepared for 'what to look out for'.

n A good grasp of the vision and growth of the organisation will give you a clear picture of what you are getting into.

n Knowledge of the values/ethics/corporate culture and transparency of the organisation should match your personal goals well.

Above all, candidates should be willing to unlearn, learn, re-organise their job priorities to be in line with the employer's requirement, if they want to secure and grow in their 'dream job'.

Before signing, also review other job offers, if there are any, and accept the best offer. This will help you gain better credibility in the long run, as with online communication, one cannot escape any damage to one's image status that can travel across the industry/sector/market within minutes.

— The writer is Executive Director, Indian Staffing Federation

Happiness @ work
Gems of ancient wisdom
Pay attention to work, not words

Sweet talkers say one thing and do another. Persons in positions of power should take their words with a pinch of salt.

Emperor Akbar and his son Jahangir had seen that Shah Jahan was better than his brothers in every way. By his military skills, he outstripped his siblings in power and rank. Jahangir conferred the title of Shah Sultan on him making him the first Timurid prince to do so in his father’s lifetime.

But his stepmother Noor Jahan wanted prince Shahryar to succeed Jahangir as he was married to Noor’s daughter by an earlier marriage. She poisoned Jahangir’s ears against Shah Jahan. Shah Jahan was first declared be-daulat (wretch) by his father, then defeated by his father’s forces near Delhi, made to flee from place to place for three years and then had to surrender his two sons to Jahangir. On Jahangir’s death, Shahryar proclaimed himself Emperor. After his defeat at the hands of Asaf Khan, Shah Jahan was crowned on February 24, 1628. Lord Vishnu proved that his presence everywhere was not just a claim when he emerged from a pillar as Narasimha to kill demon king Hiranyakashyap. For having kept the combined forces of Shiva’s hordes, gods and sages at bay, the young Ganesh is worshipped first on all auspicious occasions.

One day, Narada bragged to Vishnu that he had conquered his senses. “As the senses are very powerful, one has to be on guard always,” Vishnu warned. A little later, Narada felt drawn towards Shrimati, the daughter of King Sheelanidhi. When Narada realised his folly, Vishnu appeared and told Narada that he had created that illusion to drive his point home. Despite having killed demons Dhumralochana, Chanda, Munda, Raktabeeja, Nishumbh, Rakshasha king Shumbha believed Goddess Ambika’s words that she was just a helpless woman. The result was that the Mother Goddess killed him in a mid-air battle.

As Sanjna, wife of Surya, wanted to visit her father against her husband’s wish, she breathed life into her shadow Chhaya and told her to take care of her three children. Surya didn’t notice the switch as she looked like Sanjna and behaved well with the kids in front of their father. But behind his back, Chhaya abused the kids who complained to their father. When Surya confronted her, Chhaya was forced to speak the truth.

Akbar realised that Soordas was a true fakir as he first refused to come to Akbar’s court. Then, when the Emperor visited him, Soordas refused to become a courtier. Thirdly, he refused even a grant of land in his name.

Actions speak louder than words, if you care to listen.

— Sai R. Vaidyanathan

The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com