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art
conservation and restoration
Career Hotline
Give yourself a booster dose of NLP
Scholarship roundup
career compass: technology reviewer
Fair chance
Course cruising
hard facts: do good looks matter?
news board
biz sense: running a start-up
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art
conservation and restoration Restoring and saving the precious art heritage involves painstaking effort for long periods of time. But the growing interest in art has opened up lucrative career prospects in this field and specialists are in great demand Usha Albuquerque
Conservation and restoration and is a specialised skill that aims to examine, document, treat, and extend preventive care to art objects, and to bring old or existing works of art to conform as closely as possible with their original condition. Restoration and conservation covers all artistic creations such as paintings, murals, sculptures, manuscripts, textiles and other art objects. Restorers are also required to distinguish between fakes and the original, as works of art continue to be smuggled out, and covered up through fakes. The challenge
Restoration, on the other hand, involves repairing the damage, where it occurs, by filling in the gaps in the canvas support and the paint layer to maintain the visual continuity of the work. A restorer’s job is to undo the damage done by time, ignorance, neglect and bad storage. Weather extremes as well as humidity expand and contract canvases. Dust and in places of worship, smoke from incense or candles and other materials also affects works of art. Often the artists themselves paint with little thought of conservation, using materials that break down, fade, change colour or crack. A committed conservator must, therefore, have a full range of technical skill, experience, a fine sensibility as well as empathy with and respect for the object being handled. The correct attitude is one of minimum interference. For this reason, restorers must have a keen eye to judge the work’s original appearance. They must also be conversant with the work of the period and of the artist in particular.
Some paintings can be restored to their original appearance while others, like watercolours, can’t. The process, on a single oil painting, can take between 15 days to one year to complete, depending on the extent of the damage. Sculptures are restored in much the same way as paintings. Restoring, sorting and arranging manuscripts may require approximately three months. The restoration process is often carried out in various stages. This involves diagnosis which involves a visual and chemical analyses, using the latest laboratory technology, such as the infra red and ultraviolet scans, X-ray and chemical and microscopic analyses to assess the damage and decide on the appropriate treatments for each. Then comes the cleaning, which requires the careful removal of layers of dust, grime and corrosion from acidic paint. This ‘consolidates’ the painting by arresting further damage and bringing out its original figures and colours. After that structural repairs are undertaken. The painting is given a backing, defects are toned down and holes are filled in with a variety of materials. Retouching or ‘inpainting’ is the final stage of restoration. Job options Historically, India has focused more on conserving its monuments under the auspices of the Archaeological Survey of India. But over the past 40 years, paintings and decorative arts have been garnering more attention, in part because it’s in this period that the value of Indian art appreciated significantly. Yet there is a growing awareness of the need for specialist care and expertise as interest in art grows. Given the varying climatic conditions across the country, the extreme humidity in coastal areas and the dry air in inland locations, combined with minimal climate control, rudimentary framing and poor storage, make works of art especially vulnerable to damage like fungus build-up, waviness on the canvas, spots, pigment damage and tears. In addition to the challenges of the damage itself, another impediment to restoration in India is the lack of local materials. Restorers must rely on a minuscule number of suppliers who import materials needed to restore works properly. Although a number of laboratories and experts have been set up over the past decade, there still exists a large gap between the demand and availability of skilled art restorers and conservators in India. The two most important organisations involved in art restoration in India are the National Museum Centres and the INTACH Art Conservation Centre. Currently there are a few restoration centres at the National Museums at Lucknow, Delhi, and Kolkata. These National Museum centres look after their own art works and those of the other state museums. By and large, their services are confined exclusively to government collections. Private art works are only taken on for restoration and conservation if that art object is marked as one of national heritage and importance. In Mumbai, the independently run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, or CSMVS, Museum, is upgrading its conservation lab over a three-year period, courtesy a Rs 20 million ($400,000), grant from the Ministry of Culture. Art restoration laboratories are also springing up now with the increasing development of the art industry in India. Now there are art restoration laboratories in several cities that undertake consultancy and restoration work for private collectors as well. Some highly experienced restorers with their own studios and equipment have also begun to branch out on their own. Private owners - hotels, schools, colleges, libraries, old organisations like banks, and old companies, temples, churches, mosques, gurdwaras require trained people to help them maintain and restore their valuable collections. Libraries also employ art restorers and conservers to restore and preserve their manuscripts as well as other art objects they may have in their possession. Even auction houses employ art restorers and art conservers for such jobs. Other job options include teaching, art journalism, archaeology, art dealing (involves trading art materials which requires not only a good business sense but artistic skills as well). The prospects of art restoration are generally better in developed countries where there are large museums and private collections. Moreover, art restoration courses or degrees in Fine Arts from India make one eligible to work as art restorer in other countries, as there a wide quantity of Indian art objects stored in other parts of the parts of the world and which, thus, require specialised knowledge. The high price of raw materials coupled with the tremendous work and responsibility involved makes restoration an expensive business. Restoration and conservation of a single painting may cost tens of thousands of rupees. As such there are no fixed pay scales in private practice, the quantum of work and the time required to complete it are the deciding factors for the fee. There is enough work in the field to make a good living out of this profession and success is entirely dependent on the restorer’s skill and sensibilities. It does, however, take many years of experience, working under an expert, before an individual restorer can launch into private practice. Given the demand for conservation/restoration, there’s a need for more trained people to come into this profession. So those with an abiding interest in art who wish to take up restoration and conservation may take time establishing themselves, but can be re-assured that given the acute shortage of trained manpower this career can only grow upwards. — The writer is Director, Careers Smart Pvt Ltd., New Delhi Institute watch
Universities offering courses
Getting in Given the expertise required in this field, professional training is mandatory, as a damaged work could be ruined by an untrained person. Even after training, it is necessary to gain hands-on experience under an experienced guide. New entrants into the profession initially work under the guidance of an experienced restorer, handling larger responsibilities as they grow in expertise. It takes many years of experience before a qualified restorer is able to handle a work of art on his own. For joining a course in art restoration in any one of the institutes anywhere in India, a person needs to possess a basic degree with specialisation in subjects like archaeology, ancient and medieval history, history of world art and so forth. Most of the training given is in Art History where graduates then go on to learn on-the-job, working as apprentices. To get into this specialised field you need to be good at art or painting, or any other art form such as sculpting, handling textiles, manuscripts or photographs to work as an art restorer. Along with the creative ability, you need to have a finely tuned visual sensibility, a quick observant eye, a mind for detail and an empathy with and respect for both art and the artist. In addition, a careful, steady hand, patience, technical skill, and a scientific temperament are added advantages. Most art restorers also specialise in a particular area of restoration and work only in those fields. You can, therefore, specialise in a particular period, that is, a particular art movement or a school of artists. You can also specialise in a particular medium, that is, in paintings, metal objects, murals, monuments and sculptures, manuscripts and paper objects. For manuscripts, you will need to work in conjunction with literary and textual scholars. Some colleges and universities offer courses in Fine Arts, or on the history of art. Graduates from these institutions then usually learn on-the-job, working as assistants to veteran restorers.
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Career Hotline
Q. I am very keen about becoming a professional make-up artist. Please tell me something about the scope and courses in this field preferably in or around Delhi. — jenifer d’costa
A.Not all actors or models are born with flawless skin or perfectly chiselled looks, but professional makeup can transform the girl-next-door into the proverbial swan. TV and film make-up is quite different from fashion or party make-up. And being somewhat heavier, film makeup is different from TV makeup. Depending on whether it’s a period film or horror flick you may have to use wigs, false teeth, highlights and shadow make-up for each character — maintaining the continuity shoot after shoot. If it’s a thriller, materials like foam latex and gelatine are used to change the shape of the face or create life-like scars and wounds. Professional makeup artists research and minutely plan the make-up required for each production. The medium — video, still or film — also determines the kind of make up to be done. Although a traditional male stronghold, the number of women makeup artistes in the Indian film industry is rising steadily. Besides a steady hand, speed and the stamina to stay on your feet for long hours, imagination and appreciation of the human form are the pre-requisites of a successful makeup artist. To learn the ropes, I suggest you go for a professional course that focuses on how the camera perceives the face under different kinds of lighting. A good course in media makeup that combines both theory and practical demonstration from a reputed beauty school. Incidentally, even FTII, Pune offers Course in Film Makeup. After that, interning under a professional make up artist will give you the necessary confidence and hands-on experience to make your mark in the industry.
Here are some courses you could look at:
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Right course of action
A.The MBA route will lead to a career in the corporate sector, while IAS will lead to a career in the government impacting the lives of the public. The MBA route would help you to play a role in the success of private companies making a difference to the bottom line and reach of one company/ organisation’s business while the IAS will allow you to make a difference to the lives of a wider public. Life is good on both sides, but the decision of which is better would depend upon the individual’s perception and priorities in life. Selection to the IIMs as also in the IAS, would be very competitive.
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Low salary blues
A.Make no bones about it…most often, a starting salary is just that. Experts suggest that you have a little talk with your boss first, to give him a chance to know you better. Try to shift the focus of the discussion away from money. Show enthusiasm for the tasks assigned to you and on the company's business. Discuss the future — where you see yourself in two to three years and what you hope to accomplish — and mention how this job fits into your overall career plan. Describe what you want to do for the company, not just what you hope they’ll do for you. Most jobs have “offsets”, meaning that a relatively meagre salary is offset by other things that you can get enthusiastic about, such as more-flexible working hours, or a fancy designation, or clear opportunity for advancement. You must convey that, whatever the offsets are, you value them. The thing is to look at the entire package, not just the pay.
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Is engineering degree must for taking GATE?
A.Absolutely. Non-engineering degree holders such as those who have done MCA or MSc as well as those who have obtained Associate Membership through exams conducted by professional societies or bodies recognised by the UPSC / AICTE as equivalent to B.E./B.Tech. i.e. The Institution of Engineers (India) (AMIE) The Aeronautical Society of India (AESI) (eligible only for aerodynamics, structures and propulsions streams) The Indian Institute of Metals (AMIM) The Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (including Polymer and Environmental Group) (AMIIChemE) The Institution of Electronics & Tele-communication Engineering (AMIETE) Even those who have completed section A or equivalent of such professional courses are eligible.
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Give yourself a booster dose of NLP
The concept Neuro stands for how we gain experience through neurological processes which govern our five senses. Linguistic indicates how we make sense of these experiences through a set of filters, including language. The language we use can affect the way we experience things. Programming is a way of controlling the outcome of something. Thus NLP can help predetermine excellence by adjusting the language we use. Using words, and the meanings associated with them, we can adjust the way we view the world. All that can alter one’s behaviour and the outcome of that behaviour in a myriad ways. NLP provides techniques and tools to overcome the obstacles in one’s career. It helps employees to acquire peace of mind, concentrated focus, happiness, and excellence. Two American academicians, John Grinder and Richard Bandler, who discovered NLP in early 1970s, were fascinated by the relationship between language, behaviour and excellence. How it works NLP helps change an employee’s mental set up. Each of us is an amalgamation of all our past experiences. We have programmed ourselves to behave the way we do. If our output is low it is because we believe that we can’t perform after a certain threshold. We all can change our behaviour, outcome, and the impression that we make upon others by bringing about a change in our beliefs. Research has proven that generally brain has nothing to do with changing one’s beliefs, values or the fundamental person he thinks himself to be. Using NLP one can realise that whatever one’s flaws may be, these are not unchanging truths. To bring out the best in himself, a person gains greater understanding of how his behaviour affects the outcome of certain things and how, in turn, his behaviour is determined by the kind of employee he is. Human brain works like a computer. And yet it differs from it. A floppy disk can programme a computer. Human brain can be programmed only with NLP of which the individual makes use even unknowingly. It works through suggestions and auto-suggestions. “...what you think about, you bring about. You are creating your life according to what’s going on in your mind right at the moment,” says Paul Harrington, the author of the Secret to Teen Power. He clarifies that we think in words which work like dynamites of creative power, bringing about what we think into concrete reality. Why employees who cry and complain about their career problems suffer more than those who always work in a happy, gay and contented mood? NLP provides a satisfactory answer to this commonly asked question. Most of us go on repenting, thinking of the negative aspects about our minor problems, and our subconscious provides us the same in a magnified form. How can everyone benefit from NLP In order to benefit from NLP, a flashback is of great value. Each one of us has learnt his/her programming from others. It may have come from some of our friends, class-fellows, or colleagues, here or somewhere else. Naturally we pass on such programming to others with whom we work or come in contact with. While acquiring such thought patterns one hardly realises that one is developing a self belief which would affect one’s life. We need to make it a habit to apply it in our daily conversation, workplace situations, learning methodologies, and should even paste such posters and photographs near our workstations. That will help us visualise success. Such contents will make a positive effect on our mind and psyche. On a daily basis, if you apply NLP with a firm faith, your magical results will need no proof! The impact which advertisements make upon readers and viewers is nothing but the miracle of NLP. — The writer is a psychologist and a career expert
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Scholarship roundup
Eligibility: The scheme is open to both Indian nationals and foreign citizens. Scholars who have sound academic or professional credentials and have made significant contribution to knowledge in their respective fields, as reflected in publications in reputed and referred journals and books authored by them, or persons with significant creative work in any field of art or culture, are eligible to apply. Number of award: In the first category viz, ‘Tagore National Fellows’ (15 awards) and in the second category viz, ‘Tagore Research Scholars’ (25 awards) are offered. Details: How to apply: The eligible candidates are requested to apply directly to any of the 37 institutions. Deadline: December 26, 2012 Check out: www.indiaculture.nic.in/indiaculture Nanyang scholarship Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore is offering an extensive scholarship programme for international undergraduate students. These scholarships are fully funded and cover up to the normal programme duration. The scholarships are awarded to the students who maintain a record of good academic performance and show satisfactory performance to the university. Eligibility: Details: Selection criteria: Scholarships are awarded based on competition amongst shortlisted candidates. Scholars are required to maintain a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.5 over 5.0. Academic performance will be reviewed every semester. How to apply: Online Deadline: The same application period for admissions applies. Applicants are required to submit your application for admission before submitting your application for scholarship. Check out: www.lkcmedicine.ntu.edu.sg
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career compass: technology reviewer For the love of tech talk Gauri Chhabra
Passion for gadgets and an innate ability to decipher their complexities and translating it into understandable information is the playing pitch for a technology reviewer. Canvas of work The canvas open before a technology reviewer is so wide that he can fill it with any colour. To put it more clearly, as a technology reviewer, you would be the one helping people to read what is written on the tech canvas. You would be required to test the latest technology consumer products both from the functionality and the end user’s perspective by testing against different scenarios that the end user can encounter. Any technology is useful only when it is user-friendly. Besides, you should be able to write detailed test cases and test scenarios consumable by even a layman. You might also be required to bring about any hardware co-ordination required for smooth functioning of the product. Linearly, you would also be required to write detailed reviews on the same in simple and syntactically correct English. The best way is to follow the functionality in a linear manner and ask yourself the question - who is this product for? What pain points of the consumer will it alleviate? Follow the KISS formula — keep it short and simple. All that you have to do is analyse the new gadget, product or technology and describe its pros and cons in simple consumable chunks. Work hours If you are the 9-5 kind of a person, technology review is not the profession for you. On the other hand, it is meant for people who can easily slither in dynamic work schedules stretching from long hours of work or intermittent and pulsating hours. In this world of shrinking product life cycles, people want to know about the project in real time. If a particular smart phone is launched and you spend life time to provide a review, you have lost the race. Who can get in? Any graduate or undergraduate with a passion for technology, who understands the minor functioning details of consumer tech products and can test them and give an opinion on it. Besides, you have to be a keen follower of the happenings in the field of personal technology. More than the qualification, it is the passion for the world of gadgets that you will need to enter this profession. A degree in science or technology and probably an MBA along with excellent communication skills will help you sail smoothly in the sea of technology. Breaking into this field as a professional with a steady job can require many years of hard work and dedication. However, if you have knowledge about the realm of gadgets, can write well, have a good work ethic and keep your eyes on the long-term goal, you can get your dream job of reviewing gadgets. Besides, you should also have the skill to attract the audience. Your reviews should be able to tell a story rather than revolve around dry data. Who will hire you? You can be hired by the leading IT companies, magazines, portals, media houses to review the latest products that are launched in the market. You need to adopt a witty, conversational style of journalism makes consumers feel comfortable, not intimidated with the latest technologies. You also get a firsthand look at the latest products and your reviews influence buying decision of your readers. You are supposed to come up with responsible reviews without any kind of bias towards any company or product. If you team your skills with an MBA, you can also be invited by leading companies to create a Unique Selling Proposition of their products and position it in the market cutting across the clutter. You can have your way into Sales and Marketing positions for major new products manufacturers from Texas Instruments and Panasonic to Apple and more. You would be there for the launch of products that make our daily lives simpler and more fun. Remuneration As a technology reviewer, your salary may range from Rs 2-6 lakh per annum. Average technology reviewer salaries can vary greatly according to company, location, industry, experience and benefits. Future track If you are looking for an exciting job that gives you an opportunity to change every minute this is the profession for you. You may not get an escalation path carved ahead of you as it is in the other career paths, but you may be elevated to a senior position in the IT space at a lightning pace. You can also be a globe trotter as the companies today have offices all across the globe. So gear up to make your passion your profession. — The writer is a Ludhiana-based career consultant Who is a Technology Reviewer?
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Fair chance
But our historical and cultural background necessitates some special proactive measures for managing the imbalance between the genders in the classrooms of B-school. That’s why B-schools need to proactively attract women aspirants by educating them about the benefits of a management degree. The following steps can be effective to resolve this gender imbalance in B-schools: Involvement of women role models: Most of the time women have no idea about the independence and pleasures that can be gained through business education. This under-networked community is unaware of the reality of organisational life and their universe moves around the projections of their parents or few informal networks. Thus strengthening the awareness horizon of women about role models can be a first step towards managing gender diversity. The under-visibility of successful women role models has been taken as unavailability of the role models and this myth should be broken by the B-schools. Facilitating career management services: Women are skeptical to join B-schools as they think that this education will make them end up in a career which will disturb their family life and mental peace. Here also the B-schools must understand that ignoring the existence of work-life balance issues will not solve the purpose. Make business education more value driven: Women are different kind of leaders as they are less motivated by money, status and competition but more by the emotions, interest, content and values. This value-driven leadership is required in the business arena to understand the human complexity in today’s business scenario. This women leadership should be tapped by inspiring more and more women in B-schools. For this business schools must include gender difference leadership in the curriculum. Scale the glass ceiling: Most of the B-school curriculum stays far behind in bridging the gap between what is taught and what actually is required in organisations. Generally the curriculum consists of theoretical discussions that are far removed from organisational reality. The curriculum should prepare them to adapt, to change or to survive, so that, their perception towards business (in contrast to their value system) is improved and women think out-of-the-box and the mental glass ceiling that professions like medical, teaching and law are more value driven (than business), is scaled. Therefore, the curriculum should include the courses which can enhance their communication skills, self-awareness capabilities and networking skills. Another difficulty in joining B-schools comes from the financial resource crunch at family levels for which the scholarships and other grants provided by these should be sufficiently enhanced, so as to attract more women students. Attract women to join early: Women generally get motivated to enhance their career skills in their late 30s or early 40s as earlier they remain occupied with the family responsibilities. This makes them lag in career as compared to men. So it is better for the business schools to tap their energies in their 20s or early 30s so that they can fulfill their family responsibilities afterwards. For this the feeder universities tie ups should be created to tap their potential straight from graduate colleges. Mentoring clubs and networking opportunities: The women who are culturally unprepared for the reality of organisational life need a lighthouse to cover the organisational journey successfully. For this women need mentors and specifically the women mentors who can empathise with them. That is why B-schools should take initiative and mentoring clubs with women mentors in the senior level positions in organisations are identified. — The writer is Assistant Professor, Marketing and Editor, Asia Pacific Review at Asia Pacific Institute of Management, Delhi
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Course cruising
Applications are invited from highly motivated students for admission to the Integrated Ph.D. programme starting from August 2013 at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research – Thiruvananthapuram (IISER-TVM).
Research areas: Biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics Eligibility: Application procedure: Online application form and detailed instructions are available at http://iphd.iisertvm.ac.in. Only online applications acceptable. Deadline: January 4, 2013. Check out: http://www.iisertvm.ac.in Graphic communications course Applications invited for UK-based Loughborough University’s BA Graphic Communication and Illustration course The School of Arts at UK-based Loughborough University has started inviting applications for its undergraduate programme in Graphic Communication and Illustration (BA Hons). The course: This three-year programme has been designed with the aim of enabling students to explore the fundamentals of Graphic Communication and Illustration. It provides students an opportunity to develop a range of creative idea-generating and visualisation skills, exploring the right approach to connect with different markets (commercial, social, political or environmental). Between year 2 and 3, the students will have the opportunity to spend an optional year out undertaking either an industrial training placement, leading to the supplementary award of a Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) or a foreign university placement, leading to a Diploma in International Studies (DintS). Eligibility: It is preferred that applicants have completed a post A-level pre-degree course prior to entry; BTEC Foundation Diploma or BTEC Extended Diploma etc. How to apply: Online. Application must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Deadline: January 15, 2013. Fee: £16,750. Check out: www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/sota/foundation.html#images/foundation/foundation Development leaders for social change Applications are invited from working professional and fresh graduates for two-year master’s programme in development at Azim Premji University. The course: Students have the opportunity to pursue a balanced general programme or specialise in areas such as: Public Policy, Livelihoods, Health and Nutrition or Law and Governance. Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline. Candidates with work experience are actively encouraged to apply to both these programmes. Selection criteria: Selection based on national written test to be held at 36 centres across India on February 24, 2013 and personal interviews. Further details are available on the University website. Deadline: February 8, 2013. Check out: www.azimpremjiunversity.edu.in
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hard facts: do good looks matter?
Yatan Ahluwalia, Image consultant and Director and Head, Operations, Y&E Style Media, Delhi, India’s leading corporate grooming and imaging company, comments on the changing definition of conventional good looks, “Every five years, there are new grooming standards, expectations, products and services. For instance, eyebrow plucking and shaping was unheard for men in the late 90s — today most companies expect their male associates to do it and men themselves consider it to be an integral part of their grooming regime. Skin care too has gained importance, so has a healthy diet and lifestyle. Grooming and looking good has gone beyond using gel and putting on lipstick — it encompasses the person on a larger level. People and companies need to update their look on regular basis — it is better to keep up than be left out!” At workplace some of the aspects that make you look ‘good’ also include good communication skills, power dressing, assertive personality and good social and professional etiquette. Good looks now also include a range of aspects such as confidence, bearing and dress sense; all in all it is more of a package deal that includes a holistic personality. Looking good is also about feeling good; so sound body and mind is the mantra these days. No wonder then many organisations have a gym, spa and Yoga centres within their campus for employees to get an instant health fix. Priya Warrick, President, Priya Warrick Finishing Academy, Delhi says, “Good looks are important but they have to be just more than a pretty face. It is not only about how you look but also about who you are from inside and out. It includes how you carry yourself, how you speak, how you dress and most importantly do you have a positive attitude. India is full of professionals who are extremely intelligent and skilled but at the end of the day, all other aspects being equal, which prospective employee do you choose, definitely the one who has a great personality too.” The question is how do good looks leverage one’s work profile and how beneficial is it in upping the professional world we function in? Yatan explains, “Most companies base hiring not just on experience, performance and qualifications but also on how employees present themselves. Until recently, greater importance was given to grooming only by service based industries such as hotels, airlines, banks, retail chains, PR, Sales and Marketing and such forth, but this now extends to other businesses as well such as hospitals, media, multinational companies, consultancy firms, FMCG and infrastructure companies.” First impression At an interview, one is faced with peering eyes from behind the table from those who make the first impression of the prospective employee by the way one carries oneself that includes one’s posture and stance. The second look takes in the suitability and appropriateness of dress for the occasion. It is, therefore, imperative that you are comfortable in your skin and being yourself. It is equally important not to ape any trend blindly and wear what one is most at ease in. Also important is to dress according to the situation to avoid sticking out like a sore thumb. Yatan explains, “Looking good and well turned out will open doors and opportunities - both in your personal and professional life. A well groomed person is taken seriously and will always be put in key frontline positions. Looking good also increases confidence and performance levels. You are more self-assured when you are well turned out.” Lasting impression It is also true that first impression is also not the last impression. Having a goal to merely get hired is not enough. It is important that one continues to groom oneself in communication skills too. Honing one’s language skills is as important as applying make-up or styling one’s hair! Warrick explains, “It is not as simplistic as it seems, good looks will see you through the first gate and but what about later? For true personality improvement and self-projection, one has to work on one’s inner confidence and also focus on language and soft skills. If you are only aiming to look good you are missing the forest for the tree. You have to also focus on etiquette, attitude, and also very important is fitness. With the latter I do not imply size zero or a muscular body. What I mean is that one has to be toned up and have the stamina to work long hours”. Therefore, it is just as well that you are dressed well it is great if you have the good to back up the good looks with. A pleasant demeanour, calm patient handling and having the presence of mind are also equally important in contributing to personality formation. There are some who will argue that professional qualities that lie inside of an employee matter the most; but equally true is the fact that a person’s demeanour, soft skills and over all personality weigh equally in furthering an organisation’s interests. A fact that is proven by the increasing number of image consulting institutes, grooming experts and personality development classes catering to the corporate world. There is no denying that mere good looks and a pleasing personality cannot be a passport to success, but equally true is the fact that in the hyper connected world we inhabit, it is difficult to ignore the growing importance of a great personality. — The writer is a skills trainer
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news board
Hiring activities are expected to pick up in the next three months as companies, especially in in the IT and FMCG sectors, seem to be bullish on business prospects, says a survey.
According to the survey by recruitment tendering platform MyHiringClub.com, the country’s net employment outlook, an indicator of recruitment intentions, rose by two percentage points to 40 per cent in January-March quarter reflecting a positive environment for job seekers. “Employers seem to have positive attitude toward hiring new employees for the next three months. Despite several economical and political issues, recruitment outlook for coming quarter is expected to be healthy compare to the last quarter,” MyHiringClub.com CEO Rajesh Kumar said. “It would not be strong employment, but we will get some good months where jobs will surprise on the upside,” he added. “Indian employers predict steady headcount growth during the fourth quarter, with 41 per cent predicting an increase in headcount, 8 per cent forecasting a decrease, 39 per cent anticipating no change and 12 per cent does not know, the resulting net employment outlook stands at a favourable 40 per cent,” the survey said. A sector-wise comparison shows that employers in all nine industry sectors expect headcount to grow during the fourth quarter of FY'13. The most optimistic projections are reported in the IT and ITeS sector, with a strong net employment outlook of 23 per cent. The survey, conducted among over 3,000 employers in India, said hiring intentions have strengthened in all four regions both in terms of year-on-year as well as quarter-on-quarter basis.
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biz sense: running a start-up
But for every business that is successful a couple of dozen fail. And failure is one thing a businessman wouldn’t associate himself with, even in his nightmares. So, ideally what do you need to make your start-up business a successful one? The answer lies in being aware that there’s a new world out there. It is not essential to apply for loan always from traditional sources of financing. Ideally, save enough money to fund your own start-up, so that so you have enough capital to survive in the testing times. You can also go for supplier credit or credit cards, which might arm you for the higher cost of borrowing. This may sound like a cliché, but thinking outside the box is a basic thumb rule for any start-up business to survive. The idea here is to look at the ongoing norm, and break away from the shackles of traditional ways of running your business, and let your creative juices flow. Always set your keen eye on the new perspectives and be always open to thinking differently. Creating true value for customers is an art, and should be practically applied in an originally inspired way. Do not blow your earnings at one go. Keep enough cash flow in hand to tide over crisis situations. In the end, just make sure you focus on the following points as a budding entrepreneur: 1 Always take a hard look on your competition. 2 Your unique value proposition should be your strength. 3 Your business objectives should be mapped realistically. 4 Have a strong brand-building foundation to keep abreast of the marketing objectives of your company. 5 Always keep marketing pretty close to sales. 6 Chalk targeted investment plan, and build a solid business infrastructure route. 7
Golden rule to remember is that speed and hard-nosed execution is everything. — With inputs from Deepak Kaistha, Managing Partner Planman Consulting
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Happiness @ work
To educate his brilliant son Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in Sanskrit College, Calcutta, his father lived on one meal a day and stayed in a one-room tenement in Burrabazar. Subhas Chandra Bose’s objection to a derogatory statement about India by college professor Oten led to Subhas being assaulted by Oten. When Subhas hit back, he was rusticated from college. Subhas’ parents supported him and he returned home to Cuttack. Despite being poor and widowed, Ramdulari supported her son Lal Bahadur Shastri’s wish to join the freedom struggle. When Gandhiji’s elder brother sold off a part of his gold armlet to pay off a debt without his parents’ permission, Gandhiji confessed to his father. Instead of hitting him, his father tore up the paper and wept silently. For Gandhiji, it was a lifelong lesson. Despite knowing that his son Ajatashatru was destined to kill him, King Bimbisara of Magadha refused to abandon him. As Humayun was very ill and no remedy was working, a holy man came to meet his father Mughal Emperor Babur. “Sacrifice something precious in exchange for your son’s life,” the holy man advised. What is more precious than my own life, thought Babur. “Take my life and let my son live,” Babur said to the Almighty. Humayun recovered and Babur died two months later. As a Brahmin, Drona had no need to take up arms. But for his son Ashwathama’s upbringing, he took up service at the Hastinapur palace. And as soon as his son’s death was ‘reported’ in the Mahabharata war, he renounced his weapons and his mortal coil. When Vayu, the wind-god, came to know that his son Hanuman had been seriously hit by Indra’s thunderbolt, he hid himself inside a cave — leading to breathlessness in the three worlds. Only when the gods showered boons on Hanuman did Vayu resume duty. When the Queen of Chedi realised that her brother’s son Krishna was destined to kill her son Shishupal, she requested Krishna to pardon 100 of his mistakes first. For the care that his foster mother Radha had given Karna, he preferred to be called ‘Radheya’ even after knowing that he was Queen Kunti’s son. On finding an abandoned boy at the edge of Laher Tank en route to Varanasi in 1398 AD, bride Nima decided to take him home even when she knew tongues would wag in the town. The boy later became renowned as Kabir. A generation gap between you and them doesn’t make them unworthy of respect. Remember, they gave you their blood and sweat. The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
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2. When is National Energy Conservation Day observed? 3. In which sea are Spratly, Diaoyu/Senka and Dokdo islands situated? 4. Where will be the Kumbh Mela held in 2013? 5. What is the full form of AFSPA? 6. Which technology hub, according to a recent international survey, has emerged as the best city to live in India, pipping four metros like New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai? 7. Where is hangul, one of the critically endangered wildlife species and only Asiatic survivor of red deer, found in India? 8. Which country won the men’s and women’s world kabaddi championship this year? 9. Name the English cricketer to have scored the maximum number of centuries in Test cricket for his country. 10. Which footballer recently surpassed Gerd Mueller’s record of 85 goals in a calendar year? Winners of quiz 427: The first prize by draw of lots goes to Saurav Garg, Class 8th Rose, St Xavier’s High School, Rampura Phul, Bathinda, Pin Code – 151103 Second: Arindam Kalra; class VIII-A, Roll No. 26; OP Jindal Modern School; OP Jindal Marg; Hisar; Pin Code - 125005 Third: Abhay Jhatta, Class VIII-A, Gobindgarh Public School, near GT Road, Mandi Gobindgarh, district Fatehgarh, Punjab Pin Code - 147301 Answers to quiz 427: Ravindra Jadeja; Punjab Agricultural University; Inder Kumar Gujral; Non-member observer state; Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva; Aam Aadmi Party; Catalonia; Suneet Singh Tuli; Aston Martin; Ricky Ponting Cash awards of Rs 400, 300 and 200 are given to the first, second and third prize winners, respectively. These are sent at the school address. Note: Kindly mention the pincode of your place on the letter/postcard to facilitate the delivery of the prize money. Answers can also be sent at
quiz@tribunemail.com
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India’s art market is on the upswing. Art galleries have mushroomed, exhibitions of works of art, and art auctions attract more than just connoisseurs and critics, and even artists can expect to eke out a decent living from their artistic endeavours. But it is not just the contemporary art market that the country can boast of, India has a long history that includes archaeological and historic structures and artefacts that go back centuries which require conservation and restoration if they are to be preserved. India, with its wealth of antiques and artefacts is in urgent need of skilled, qualified people who can preserve these treasures for posterity. Awareness of the need for a more scientific approach has come only recently to India, a need that becomes more pressing as an increasing number of works, due to neglect and ignorance, pass beyond any hope of restoration.
Conservation work basically covers the preservation of all original art materials whether paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, cloth, metal etc. and their treatment to prevent further deterioration. 
Restoration work also involves a great deal of complex chemical and other scientific treatments. During the process, care must be taken not to tamper with the original work. The job demands hours of painstaking effort. Sometimes it takes more time to restore a work of art than to create one.
Q. I am in third year of BTech degree course. I am unable to decide about my future options which mainly consist of getting into an MBA course or taking a shot at the civil services exam. I am confused about which stream would offer a better life. Do advise — umang upreti
Q.I have managed to get a job in a marketing firm after completing my MCom. But the starting salary is very low. I’m feeling very upset, but I had to take the job because I had nothing else in hand. — sumit bedi
Q. Please tell me if non-engineering degree holders are eligible to take the GATE for pursuing master’s degrees in engineering colleges like the IITs? — kaya bhatia
NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) is a body of practical knowledge and understanding, concerning the nature and functioning of human mind, language, and behaviour. Its proper use can enhance productivity, shaping one’s job and career, making one’s life productive and constructive. To reap its astounding benefits, one must be clear about how NLP works.
The Ministry of Culture invites nominations/applications for the award of fellowships/scholarships under the scheme of Tagore National Fellowships for Cultural Research. The objective of the scheme is to invigorate and revitalise various cultural institutions by encouraging scholars/academicians to affiliate themselves with these institutions to work on projects of mutual interest.
The most fascinating point about the tech TV show — Gadget Guru — is the ability of the anchors to portray the techno babble in consumable chunks that a common man can understand and comprehend.
In simple words, a technology reviewer makes money by telling the customers how to use a new gadget or technology. If the latest gizmos and gadgets like MP3 players, GPS and smart phones in the market excite you, you can very well create corridor between your avocation and vocation. Technology reviewers describe what the new gadgets available in the market are, what their features are, how they work, what their technical specifications are and how these compare with other comparable products. More importantly, how can they seamlessly make your life fluid and easy?
While business schools have opened their doors to admit more women candidates by changing the selection criteria, extra weightage for the degree level marks, business situation written analysis as selection criteria (instead of group discussion) and a request to admission panelist to remain sensitive towards women candidates are the few initiatives that have been taken by the premier Indian B-schools for enhancing the gender diversity.
We live and work in the world of increasing public interface. Be it a client meeting, a sales pitch or an official presentation, the pressure to look good is ever increasing. But has the definition of good looks changed over time? Has it now been replaced with good personality and a positive image? What role does good grooming and looks play in getting a leg up in one’s career? These are some questions that need answering in a world where a lot depends on the face value!
Modestly speaking, as an entrepreneur there is most definitely nothing more significant than to see your business thrive and prosper. After all, you want to prove that your concept works, and your business can most certainly be your ticket to achieve your professional goals.
Support and motivation from one’s parents is very important to excel in one’s career and in life.
1. Which Indian will be posthumously honoured with Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award?
