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Destination abroad
office mantra: how to manage teams efficiently
Mechanics of remote working
Mid-tier IT firms may hike wages
career compass: visual merchandiser
in conversation
Cool Counsel
A career beyond MBBS
Online hiring down as firms get cautious
Happiness @ work
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The winning move
Students aiming to get admission in a foreign university need to plan methodically to realise their dream Gauri Chhabra
What is SAT?
The SAT, that was initially called Scholastic Aptitude Test, then the Scholastic Assessment Test, is a standardised test for most college admissions in the US. It is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a non-profit organisation in the United States. The test is intended to assess a student’s readiness for college. It was first introduced in 1926, The current SAT Reasoning Test, introduced in 2005, takes three hours and forty-five minutes to finish, and costs $50.
Areas to be tested
SAT consists of three major sections: Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. Each section receives a score on the scale of 200-800. All scores are multiples of 10. Total scores are calculated by adding up scores of the three sections. Each major section is divided into three parts. There are 10 sub-sections, including an additional 25-minute experimental or “equating” section that may be in any of the three major sections. The experimental section does not count toward the final score. The test contains thee hours and 45 minutes of actual timed sections. Easier questions typically appear closer to the beginning of the section while harder questions are towards the end in certain sections. However, this is not true for every section (the Critical Reading section is in chronological order) but it is the rule of thumb mainly for maths and the 19 sentence completions on the test. The Critical Reading is made up of three scored sections — two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section, with varying types of questions, including sentence completions and questions about short and long reading passages. Critical Reading section normally begins with 5 to 8 sentence completion questions; the remainder of the questions are focused on the reading passages. Sentence completions generally test a student’s vocabulary and understanding of sentence structure and organisation by requiring the student to select one or two words that best complete a given sentence. The bulk of the Critical Reading section is made up of questions regarding reading passages, you may get short excerpts on social sciences, humanities, physical sciences, or personal narratives and answer questions based on the passage The Quantitative Section consists of three scored sections. There are two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute sections. One of the 25-minute sections is entirely multiple choice, with 20 questions and the other 25-minute section contains 8 multiple choice questions and 10 grid-in questions. The writing portion of the SAT, includes multiple choice questions and a brief essay. The essay sub score contributes about 28 per cent to the total writing score, with the multiple choice questions contributing 70 per cent. This section was implemented in March 2005 following complaints from colleges about the lack of uniform examples of a student’s writing ability and critical thinking.
Taking the test
The SAT is offered seven times a year in the US — in October, November, December, January, March (or April, alternating), May, and June. The test is typically offered on the first Saturday of the month for the November, December, May, and June administrations. Candidates may take either the SAT Reasoning Test or up to three SAT Subject Tests on any given test date, except the first spring test date, when only the SAT Reasoning Test is offered. Candidates wishing to take the test may register online at the College Board’s website, by mail, or by telephone, at least three weeks before the test date. The SAT Subject Tests are all given in one large book on the day of the test. Therefore, it is actually immaterial which tests, and how many, the student signs up for; with the possible exception of the language tests with listening, the student may change his or her mind and take any test, regardless of his or her initial sign-ups. Students who choose to take more subject tests than they signed up for will later be billed by College Board for the additional tests and their scores will be withheld until the bill is paid. Students who choose to take fewer subject tests than they signed up for are not eligible for a refund.
Scoring
You will receive online score reports approximately three weeks after test administration (six weeks for mailed, paper scores), with each section graded on a scale of 200-800 and two sub scores for the writing section: the essay score and the multiple choice sub score. In addition to their score, you will also receive your percentile. You may also receive, for an additional fee, the Question and Answer Service, which provides the student’s answer, the correct answer to each question, and online resources explaining each question.
Documents required
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
The admissions committee would be looking at choosing a class that is well-balanced and has a healthy balance of students with differing yet competent personalities. So apart from good scores,the committee would try to pick out students who will make the class a stimulating place filled with interesting, confident and keen students. Your SOP should give them these vibes. Your SOP is your voice that tells the admission committee of your dream college about your education and career goals, your future plans and aspirations. As its name signifies, a statement of purpose should state the purpose behind your application to a particular college. A well-thought, well-written SOP can do wonders for your application, even if you have average SAT/GRE/TOEFL scores. Don’t throw away your chances of making it to the college of your dreams by writing up an average SOP. Make your SOP as good as it can get. Make it crisp yet detailed, short yet comprehensive. Writing a perfect SOP can be a time-consuming process. So take your time — 2-3 weeks at least. Come up with at least a dozen drafts before your finalise your SOP. Remember that you will not be the only student applying to study in a college abroad. Your SOP should make you stand out from other applicants. A college would try to understand where you come from, your personality, your ambitions and how driven you are etc from your SOP. So make sure that you make these things clear to them through what you write.
ACT
American College Testing (ACT) is another standardised test for high school and college admissions in the United States. It was first administered in November 1959 by as a competitor to SAT. The ACT has historically consisted of four tests: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science Reasoning. In February 2005, an optional writing test was added to the ACT, mirroring changes to the SAT that took place later in March of the same year. From 2015 ACT will be offered as a computer-based test that will incorporate some optional Constructed Response Questions.
IELTS and TOEFL
Other tests whose scores are essential to help you secure a seat in a foreign university are IELTS and TOEFL. Scores in both of these are used by several universities to assess the English language skills of applicants. IELTS is widely used in the UK and Australia and is also recognised by most American and Canadian universities, including the Harvard Business School. TOEFL is used mainly by the American universities, though it is also accepted in the UK and Australia IELTS operates on a nine -point band, where a nine indicates that the student has a level of English equivalent to a highly educated native speaker, and it tests all four skills ( reading, writing, listening and speaking) in an academic context. — The writer is a Ludhiana-based career consultant
Universities that accept SAT score
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I have no taste for client servicing
Pervin Malhotra
Q. After graduation, I got job as business development profile in two firms. But I am not comfortable with the profile... like calling, pitching, convincing, keep on following up (even if the person on the other end is rude and disinterested). I used to hesitate to call the clients. Everyone says you have to do marketing and selling. I agree, in day-to-day life we do a lot of bargaining, convincing our parents, etc. But I don’t like doing it. I am more interested in coordination, organisation etc. I don’t know how to get a job or apply in an ad agency. Nowadays you require reference, just sending resume on an agency’s job portal doesn’t help. Should I go for some other course? A. Honestly ask yourself what it is that really attracts you towards a client servicing profile in an advertising agency. Is it the perceived glamour or excitement? No one expects a fresher to have experience. Advertising agencies (big and small) recruit freshers as trainees and you’ll learn on the job. But fundamentally you need to be comfortable with the profile and tasks involved. If not, then this cup of coffee is not for you. Choice of career must be made keeping in mind your unique combination of interests, personality, and abilities (hard and soft skills). Think about the things you enjoy doing, your personality traits, academic and extra-curricular areas you excel in, and then consider your suitability for different careers and courses. What are
SAP system applications?
Q. I have completed BE in Mechanical Engineering with a good CGPA and have been placed in a reputed software company. I wanted to know about SAP-System Application and Product. Should I undergo a course under SAP that is suitable to my branch? —
Marut Piparya A. Which SAP training do you have in mind — SAP End-user Training, Functional Training or Technical Training? Here’s what’s involved in each of them. End-user Training: enables you to use the SAP system installed at your company — sure go ahead. Functional Training: If you want to work in IT consulting, to do SAP implementations of particular modules — you don't possess sufficient industry experience for this profile as yet. It generally requires an experience of five years or more Technical Training: This is a “techie” qualification that enables you to work in an IT company doing the actual implementation, configuring and system and software setting as per the process document prepared by the Functional consultants. MBA is not necessarily required for this. So now that you have a somewhat better idea, choose the one that interests you, and then act accordingly.
Scope of a career in architecture
Q. A. On the contrary, architecture offers plenty of scope. Apart from designing the ever-growing number of buildings, houses, malls, airports, hospitals and hotels, trained architects also specialise in fields such as urban planning (town planning), interior design, industrial design, exhibition design, furniture design, transportation system designs, landscape architecture and planning, and architectural conservation (of ancient buildings and monuments). Architects now play a critical role in areas such as evaluating new projects, developing prototypes or liaising with national or overseas architecture firms. Leading developers have increased their team of architects by 4-5 times over the last couple of years.
What are the career opportunities in occupational therapy?
Q. A. Occupational therapists help the disabled to develop, learn or recover skills necessary for day-to-day living. They specifically help patients with emotional, physical or developmental disorders live an independent, productive and satisfying life. OT is undergoing rapid changes globally. It plays an important role in every aspect of the person’s life from self-care to home and workplace ergonomics. Tracking the client’s activities and progress and maintaining accurate records is a key part of an OT’s job. Most importantly, you need to be patient and posses strong interpersonal skills to inspire your client’s trust. Being innovative in adapting activities to your client’s needs is an asset. Like all other medical and paramedical professionals, you’ll essentially work in hospitals, orthopaedic departments, rehabilitation centres for the handicapped, schools for physically disabled children, healthcare centres and defence medical establishments. To become a qualified occupational therapist, a bachelor’s degree
(BPT/BOT) or a diploma in the subject is essential. The typical eligibility is class 12 (PCB). The requirement for occupational therapists (and physiotherapists) in India and abroad, especially in countries like the US, UK, Canada and Australia is huge. However, they usually ask for at least two years of post-registration experience abroad. In India, the starting salaries are relatively modest, but improve with experience. You can also set up your own practice down the line. The work can be emotionally and physically demanding, but helping patients enrich the quality of their lives and achieve self-sufficiency can be an immeasurably rewarding experience. email your queries to
careers@tribunemail.com
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office mantra: how to manage teams efficiently Simran Oberoi While managing teams is one of the most important responsibility of managers, there is no generic approach that applies to all teams, even if these are within the same organisation. The first step to manage teams effectively is to understand teams in the context of the current business landscape. Managing a ‘vanilla’ team — comprising employees from the same demographic segment whether it is the age group or gender — present at the same location and performing well-defined roles (usually with one single reporting manager), is a significantly complex task in itself. So one can imagine the complexity of the whole exercise if one starts adding variables to have a team composition reflective of the present day business scenario. Today’s teams have a mix of women and men, different generations, different cultures and geographic locations.
The first step, thus, in order to manage a team efficiently is to ensure that there is clear understanding of its uniqueness and composition. From that the methods to manage the challenges will emerge. The second step is to anticipate the challenges that can arise from the same and plan solutions to address the same. Effective ways to manage a team
Defined team roles It is important to define team roles, especially as per the strengths of the team members, since that allows for smoother team dynamics. If you as a manager intend changing the roles or responsibilities periodically or based on projects/clients it is imperative to make sure that your team members are kept in the loop and theyknow the protocol to follow. Articulate business goals As a manager, it is important to ensure that you clearly articulate the business goals that the team is working towards. After that, setting the team goals that percolate down from the overall business goals becomes easier and the team’s acceptance of the goals is higher. When there is clarity on the expectations as well as the strategy, there is a high likelihood that the team members will start thinking through solutions that they can work on together. Channelise team strengths To manage a team effectively, you have to garner their support and commitment but more importantly energise and stimulate them constantly and channelise their strengths. As a manager rewards and recognition are some of the ways to do this, but depending on the motivation profile of your team members, you may want to identify what drives their work related focus and guide the same in the right direction. Be organised It pays rich dividends to have a clear project plan with time lines, accountability, follow-up procedures, action items and red flags. This allows you to set reasonable deadlines and helps the team understand the need to complete tasks. Build communication As a manager, you should establish a clear network of intra-team communication as well as communication related to you. By network of communication it means that team members should be regularly interacting related to their work areas instead of only during a scheduled team meeting. This could be through individual knowledge-sharing sessions; smaller sub-group brainstorming discussions; senior team members informally mentoring the junior ones. Empowering the members to share what might be working and what’s not, fosters a healthy climate. Apart from this you need to have an open channel of communication with individual team members as well. Continuous reinforcement The team must work as a cohesive unit in a seamless manner in order to deliver. Hence the manager’s role is to regularly reinforce how important it is to stay as a team and the criticality of the results that the team needs to work towards. Positive reinforcement as well as activities to develop, team spirit in each member are key to ensuring superlative performance from each member. Be firm when required and curtail negative energy: There are going to be situations of conflict which can impact the performance of a team. Even if one of your team members has a problem at work or in life, that negative energy could impact the whole team. As a manager, you can help the member solve his problem. As a manager, you should also regularly give feedback to your team. Peer feedback should also be essential as long as it is constructive and valid. Appreciate Finally, as a manager, you should always appreciate as much as you can. Remember, there is never too much appreciation, always too little. Hence even small aspects such as an appreciation mail or words go a long way in encouraging the team.
Challenges of managing teams Cohesiveness One of the biggest challenges is to actually believe that a team is a cohesive single unit driven by similar values and goals. Creating this alignment with each other and an overall sense of belonging is the role of the manager. Culture Due to significant differences in the members sometimes, there is no common team culture or climate but several sub-cultures instead. Managing the team effectively would mean creating a unique culture that defines the team. Communication Given the composition of today’s teams, it is important for managers to understand which communication approach will work best. —
The writer is Knowledge Advisor, Society for Human Resource Management
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Mechanics of remote working
The definition of ‘work’ is changing and it is very different from what it used to be two decades ago. Today, “being at work” is less about being present at a particular location, filling timesheets, and more about closing business irrespective of where one is. Remote working, teleworking or telecommuting comprises a variety of work arrangements in which work is performed at an employee’s home or some other off-site location instead of in the traditional physical office space.
In India, too, this trend is catching on as a large number of companies now have a remote workforces. Because of this the focus is now on the right strategies required to manage the ‘remote’ workforce effectively. A flexible strategy rather than a forced policy on remote working will go a long way in increasing employee morale and motivation for an organisation’s future growth. However, there are a lot of myths surrounding this work arrangement which talk about reduction in speed and quality of work. This calls for a fair performance review mechanism that is just to employees who choose to work remotely for convenience. Organisations also need to ensure that remote working does not smother innovation and dynamism. Needless to say, the success of remote working also depends on the type of work that one does. A person who needs space and needs the creative juices to flow might put on some music, get on the couch and use the environment for the advantage of productivity. While on the other hand, an employee who is not able to manage his work load at office might have issues negotiating with the distractions at home. Hence, in order to make this model work well for everyone, it is imperative to have proper expectation setting with the reporting managers. In the present scenario, the advent of technology keeps all involved stakeholders connected through a strong web of communication. However, the challenge for the organisations is to engage remote employees through effective communication — enabling them to give their feedback; understand what is expected; track schedules to closure and get the appreciation and recognition for the work they do. Along with this, managers need to have a clear, concise and hands off communication approach while ensuring that their actions are aligned with business goals and also help in the career growth of the employees. Nevertheless, good remote management demands extra effort. One needs to go out of the way to address issues that would come up naturally and spontaneously if all are working in the same place. A manager needs to move beyond the guidance or answers, allowing the team to move forward with their work, which helps strengthen mutual relationships. No longer can managers be obsessed with controlling and dictating their employees’ day-to-day activities. Instead, they have to step back and assess the bigger picture of end goals. By communicating openly with team members on agreed objectives, the manager can then leave them to determine how they can accomplish those goals. A University of Illinois study revealed that those in charge of leading employees who work outside the office — either at home or abroad — need to change their leadership style. The study reveals they might find more success handling remote workers by using a “leader-member-exchange” method which involves cultivating a personalised relationship characterised by trust, loyalty, developmental feedback and support between the team leader and member. Hence, a healthy mix of both office work and remote working is the best way to give the employees what they need the most — freedom to do what they want! — The writer is Global Head, Talent
Acquisition, HCL Technologies
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Mid-tier IT firms may hike wages
Mid-tier IT firms such as Tech Mahindra and MindTree may raise salaries by 7-12 per cent this fiscal to ensure they do not lose talent to top players TCS, Infosys and Wipro, according to HR service providers.
The larger players have announced wage hikes ranging between 6 per cent and 10 per cent for this fiscal. “Current environment is challenging and companies are looking at preserving their bottomline. Despite that, keeping employees’ interest in mind, organisations have given hikes ranging from 8-12 per cent, which is a good development... “In general, we can expect 7-12 per cent hikes for employees working with mid-tier IT companies,” Randstad India President (Staffing) and Director (Marketing) Aditya Narayan Mishra said. He added that as the demand for IT services increases in the coming quarters, one can expect above-average hikes. Last week, Infosys said its employees in India will get on an average 8 per cent increase, while Wipro said it has raised salaries by 6-8 per cent. Onsite employees have seen salaries going up by 2-3 per cent. India’s largest software services exporter Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has increased wages by 8-10 per cent in India and 2-4 per cent for overseas workforce. HCL Technologies has started its appraisal process and is expected to make an announcement by July-end. Most Indian IT firms give increments around April or May. “IT sector has been fairly conservative in terms of pay hike. We recently did a survey, where we asked some of our customers on increments this year and almost 46-47 per cent of the respondents said they are looking at wage hikes between 6-15 per cent,” HeadHonchos.com CEO Uday Sodhi said. The IT firms are also looking at the global economic scenario, which plays an important role in determining the hike percentage. — PTI
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career compass: visual merchandiser
A lot of youngsters, however, are confused between the roles of a visual merchandiser and an interior designer. The fact is that while an interior designer may or may not be a visual merchandiser, a visual merchandiser is certainly an interior designer.
Role and responsibilities
Visual Merchandisers must combine their artistic flair and creativity with technical know-how to set up displays that maximise the space of the store while effectively catching the eye and appealing to the senses of their target customers to serve these purposes:
Getting in
Besides completing Plus II in any stream, the other required criteria for getting admission to the related courses is to have great imagination, aesthetic sense and a flair for designing as well as the ability to use technology creatively. A graduate level degree in Fashion or Visual Merchandising is considered to be an asset for building a career in this field. Having working experience in consumer psychology along with a background in retail or design is an added advantage. Retailing experience gives a better understanding of the operation of the retail business whereas, the knowledge of art, design and fashion industry forecasts and trends help in becoming a superior Visual Merchandiser. Several institutes are offering certificate and diploma courses in this field. It’s even taught as a separate subject in courses related to Fashion Designing, Fashion Merchandising, Graphic Designing and Interior Designing. There are also bachelor’s degree programmes in visual merchandising. Students pursuing a four-year graduate degree course get a complete knowledge of the use of 3D design software along with visual merchandising concepts, strategies and techniques. Further, there are associate degree programmes also. A candidate satisfying the necessities of a two-year associate degree programme in fashion merchandising can pursue a career in visual merchandising. Associate visual merchandising degree courses offer fundamental know-how of creating eye-catching in-store displays and setting-up competent store layouts. The main areas where visual merchandising programmes focus are:
Career prospects
Though in India right now this field is in its nascent stage, its future prospects are excellent as the demand of visual merchandisers is anticipated to zoom in the near future. With government’s clearance to FDI a substantial number of international brands are likely to set shop in India in near futture and this influx is going to give a boost to the demand for trained professionals to take care of the visual aspects of the retail outlets. Presently, besides the jobs offered by reputed companies like Westside, Pantaloon, Shopper’s Stop, Titan, Lifestyle, Ebony, Mango, Wills Sports etc., there is an up-coming opportunity in online trade space for Visual Merchandisers. Visual Merchandisers are offered job opportunities in exhibitions, five-star hotels, boutiques, shopping malls, online fashion stores, event management companies, window designing of stores, mortar and brick retail stores, exclusive boutiques etc. They are even recruited by Indian textile industry to arrange international exhibitions and to improve the artistic appeal of fabric. During festival seasons, when consumers just splurge in those retail stores, fashion boutiques and jewelry shops, comes the challenge for these professionals who are expected to add an extra zing to those shops and boutiques which attract consumers for their creativity in designs, graphics, lighting, interior decoration and window displays.
Remuneration
Remuneration is decided by personal skills and abilities of an individual. The normal pay packages of fresh graduates in this industry are between Rs 25,000 and 30,000 per month. With some years of experience and extraordinary talent one can easily reach up to Rs 40,000-50,000 per month.
Institute watch
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Bridging skills gap the MS way
Ambika Sharma
With barely 30 per cent of the Information Technology (IT) pass outs being employable and another 20 per cent requiring adequate training to be fit for the requirements of the IT companies, there appears to be a dearth of efficient manpower in the IT sector in the country despite a large number of students passing out in this field each year. Arun Rajamani, General Manager, Public Sector and Education, Microsoft, who was at Waknaghat to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bahra University shared these views while talking to The Jobs and Careers. After this agreement, certification courses in 2 MOS and 1 MTA will be offered to the students of all streams of engineering and MBA with the opening of a Microsoft IT Academy at the university in Waknaghat. The university will conduct ITA programmes to the Microsoft Certified students. A Microsoft Innovation Centre would also be opened up in the near future. Excerpts: What are the major challenges for the IT sector in India vis-à-vis global scenario? Though India has always been in the forefront of the software industry globally, the domestic industry has seen a slower uptake of new technologies, such as the cloud and virtualisation. Take the example of Disaster Management — very few companies in India have a back-up plan in case a disaster occurs. Having data on the cloud can mitigate such risks. Second, productivity can be enhanced manifold by providing employees with devices like smart phones or tablets — sales teams can provide quotes or get requisite information for the customers in the field itself rather than waiting to return to the office to send this information to them. Finally, aspects like security are not taken seriously. Data is money now and companies have to ensure data is not compromised. The Indian IT industry needs to take preventive steps to ensure its data is secured. How will these courses enhance the employability of the students? MS believes that capacity building and skill development initiatives are crucial for lowering the barrier of IT adoption, especially in remote locations. MS Learning provides a range of technical courses and certifications focused to give students a toehold in the knowledge economy. It provides the industry’s latest leading learning programmes and solutions that help bridge the IT skills gap, for both technical jobs and jobs requiring basic IT skills. During the last decade, Microsoft has provided Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) skills to approximately 36 million IT professionals and 15 million developers globally. Which are the skills which are found largely missing in the students opting for IT jobs in India and those opting for such jobs abroad? Real life practice of team collaboration; analysis and synthesis of the deluge of information; and specialised domain skills are generally very weak in freshers passing out of different institutions here. What are the various programmes being offered by the Microsoft to the undergraduate and postgraduate level students and what is the main focus of such courses and which universities in the North offer such courses? Microsoft (MS) offers IT courses for student learners via its Microsoft Learning. Under this umbrella package, the Microsoft IT Academy comprehensively helps support ongoing technology education for students (as well as for teachers and faculty). The programme features access to software licenses, E-Learning, official Microsoft course materials, and certifications. E-Learning and course materials range from computer basics to high-level programming, along with information and communications technology (ICT) management. Students can get hands-on experience with the latest Microsoft software and hundreds of web-based E-Learning courses. yThe DreamSpark programme enables students and academic institutions to have access to developer and design tools and software free of charge. y In addition, the Microsoft BizSpark programme offers support and visibility at no cost to budding start ups in order to build entrepreneurship and innovation within the local IT ecosystem. Is there a dearth of qualified IT teachers in the private universities in India? Do private universities fulfil the requirements of the highly competitive IT field? A couple of years back there was a mass outflow of the academic sector teaching fraternity to the IT industry on account of the wage disparity as well as opportunity to work on new technologies. There are two aspects that we are witnessing now — (a) with the pay commission, salaries have increased stemming the flow of faculty from academics to industry (b) industry academic collaborations are seeing an upward spiral on account of which the IT faculty is getting exposed to the latest technologies. Private universities, no doubt, need experienced faculty to attract students. Secondly, the industry, too, is now working with all kind of universities — public, private as it wants to ensure that the new generation getting into the knowledge economy takes the least amount of ramp up time. Are there special courses for the students wishing to go abroad to work in IT companies? MS Industry Certifications are recognised globally — so even if a student takes the certificate in India, it would be accepted as an industry credential abroad. Microsoft Certification helps students gain advanced, market-relevant skills that employers recognise and respect.
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Cool Counsel Harpreet Singh
A standard MBA is normally of two years and offers general subjects on marketing, finance, HR, statistics, economics , production and operations in the first two semesters and specialised courses and projects in the next two semesters. A vast number of specialisations are available now, but one needs to weigh and evaluate one's aspirations, strengths, interest, skills, and the scope of a field before choosing the right specialisation. One should not get into the trap of following a fad when it comes to selecting MBA specialisation just because enviable salaries are being offered in one particular sector. Sector specific specialisations like IT, insurance, retail have been linked with the boom in these sectors which is often shortlived. Considering the span of our careers, we should go for general MBA with focus on one of the core functions like marketing, finance and HR depending on our skills. The focus should be on long-term employability, rather than short-term attractiveness. Introspect on your strengths and personality traits before taking the decision. Some people have inherent leadership qualities, while others perform the best when they work independently. Some are good with numbers while others are good with people. Finance deals with huge number crunching and marketing is a highly people-oriented segment, companies would require people with these skills and traits. Consider the career goals and aspirations. Gone are the days when students only aimed at getting a job after their MBA. Many now want to become entrepreneurs even before they decide to go for an MBA. For those, who aspire to start their own business eventually, a general MBA is the best with specialisations in marketing and finance to give them the skills set necessary for running their own venture. Understand the curriculum before selecting the specialisation. An analysis of the course and subjects would apprise you of the expectations from the specialisation. Therefore, give enough time to do a research on the subjects and the areas where you can apply those. From a macro point of view, one also needs to consider the overall division of jobs in the companies which is 70 per cent jobs in marketing and sales; 15 in operations, 2 finance and 3 per cent in the rest of the functions like HR, IT, legal etc. Therefore, one needs to accept the fact that the maximum jobs would be in marketing/sales. Choosing a specialisation is a critical matter which cannot be altered later in life, therefore a 360 degree evaluation of internal strengths and external environment is necessary to take this informed decision. — The writer is President, JRE School of Management, Greater Noida
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A career beyond MBBS
A lot of students who dreamt of joining MBBS face disappointment and in most cases because of their low marks, there is absolutely no chance of reattempting the entrance exam. The common trend noticed amongst these students is that the ones who have a strong urge to become a doctor but score a low rank either take up BDS or engineering. Very few students look beyond this, but the students who are keen to pursue a steady career in the medical field itself, there are plenty of opportunities beyond MBBS. Being a doctor is not the only way a student has to be a part of the field of medicine. They may not be able to do all the things a doctor does, but they will surely have an opportunity to work with doctors and be an advisor to them, be their colleague and also be a good specialist in their own area and have their own patients.
In addition to BSc they can go in for the various diploma and certification courses:
UG courses
Diploma courses
Certificate courses
The remuneration will depend on the job profiles and also on the nature of work. However, graduates in the field of science are assured of an initial salary. So it is not the end of the world if you can’t get into a medical college. A whole new vista of opportunities lies ahead of you beyond the same so brace yourselves to conquer the field of medicine by creating your own unique identity in this sector.
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Online hiring down as firms get cautious
Recruitment activities in the country witnessed a slowdown in the month of May as employers chose to tread cautiously due to global economic conditions, says monster.com. The job portal’s employment index declined to 127 in May as compared to 136 in the previous month, registering a decline of 6.62 per cent.
On year-on-year basis also the index witnessed a decline of 1 per cent as compared to May, 2012. “This decline is reflective of the cautious approach of the Indian employers owing to the global economic conditions," Monster.com (India/ Middle- East/ South East Asia) Managing Director Sanjay Modi said. Despite the overall downtrend, a sectoral analysis showed that hiring in sectors like education, production and manufacturing continued. — PTI
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Happiness @ work Just as a ship can’t stay in the harbour all its life, individuals who wish to rise in their career have to leave their comfort zone at one time or another. Depending on your nature and strategy, you can choose from among taking on extra responsibility, job jumps or making career shifts.
Sensing a Mughal attack on Assam, King Chakradhwaja Singh was on the lookout for a commander “who holds honour dearer than life”. In order to check if Lachit fitted the bill, he was summoned to court. When Lachit knelt to salute the King, a soldier took off Lachit’s turban and tried to run away. The King’s intervention stopped the soldier’s beheading. Satisfied with what he saw, the King invested Lachit with the title Barphukan (Commander). When Durgadas, son of the Prime Minister of Jodhpur Thakur Aaskaran, saw that the King’s camels were destroying the crop and the attendants were assaulting the farmers, he attacked and drove them away. Impressed with his principled stand, King Jaswant Singh made him join his retinue. Later, Durgadas was instrumental in the defeat of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in Dewari and the capture of his wife and son Akbar. On Jahangir and Noor Jahan’s way to Kabul, the Empress went ahead and crossed the Jhelum to make arrangements. By that time, corrupt courtier Mahabat Khan’s battalion surrounded the Emperor’s party. Noor Jahan took a small section of her army, crossed the river and confronted Mahabat with a demand to meet Jahangir. She told Jahangir to order Mahabat to make arrangements for an immediate army inspection. Sensing no threat, Mahabat agreed. At that moment, Noor’s remaining soldiers launched a surprise attack and defeated Mahabat’s forces. At Barrackpore on March 29, 1857, sepoy Mangal Pande of the 34th Native Infantry Regiment decided to take on the British. None of his mates joined him. Pande nearly killed Adjutant Lieutenant Baugh and Sergeant Hewson. Colonel Whelan and Brigadier Grant’s orders fell on deaf ears. Finally, General Hearsey, at gunpoint, forced the sepoys to “quick march”. Finding himself alone, Pande decided to kill himself but was only injured. He was tried, sentenced to death and hanged on April 8, 1857. This lone warrior took the initiative and singlehandedly started the First War of Indian Independence. Patriot Subramania Bharati first took up the job of a teacher. The Raja of Ettayapuram made him his court poet. Then, he became Assistant Editor at ‘Swadeshamitran’ daily and later, Editor of ‘India’ weekly. Heroes perform, spectators watch! — Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
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MSc in Instrumental Analytical Chemistry
UK-based University of Southampton is inviting applications for its new MSc in Instrumental Analytical Chemistry programme. The course will enable graduates to develop vital specialist knowledge and hands-on practical skills for a successful career in analytical chemistry. This one-year programme is structured around a solid core comprised of the three main analytical techniques — Mass Spectrometry, NMR Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction. Each of these techniques contains a number of key common themes (data collection, analysis and management). The master’s degree, which combines academic rigour with practical sessions on state-of-the-art equipment, includes both group and individual research projects and sessions on how to run a commercial analytical laboratory and set up scientific business enterprises. On completion of the course, students will be offered a degree which will be recognised as a badge of quality and commitment that is meaningful to employers both inside and outside the chemical industries. Eligibility: The normal entry requirement is at least an upper second class honours degree in Chemistry from a prestigious university, or a closely related subject with at least 50 per cent chemistry content. Candidates who do not hold any of the above qualifications, but who have relevant professional experience in the fields of instrumental analytical chemistry may be eligible for admissions, but are advised to contact the MSc Admissions Tutor prior to applying. The programme commences in September 2013. Deadline: For overseas applications is June 30, whilst UK/EU applications remain open until the programme commencement date. Check
out: www.southampton.ac.uk/postgraduate/feesandfunding/pgfees_home.html.
MBA (Honours)
Admissions are on for the MBA (Honours) course offered by LPU. It is a fully residential programme. Apart from specialisation in finance, marketing, HR management, operations, international business, IT, retail, strategy, law, hospital and healthcare management, entrepreneurship & retail, MBA (Hons) programme provides students an opportunity to work on entrepreneurship and consultancy projects under mentorship of highly experienced faculty. Case based teaching is used to develop skills in analytical thinking and reflective judgment. Duration:
2 years (Semester System) Eligibility: Pass with 60 [er cent aggregate marks in bachelor's degree or equivalent or, Pass with 50 per cent aggregate marks in bachelor's degree and 80 percentile in CAT or XAT or MAT/ 600 marks in GMAT Admission Criteria: Subject to clearing Group Discussion and Interview. How to apply: Students can apply online and through post Deadline: July 25, 2013 Check out: www.lpu.in
Executive programme in Applied Finance
NIIT Imperia in collaboration with Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIMC), invites applications for the one-year Executive Programme in Applied Finance. This programme aims to comprehensively cover key finance concepts and their applications. The programme has been designed for the professionals seeking to develop their careers in corporate finance, executives in the banking and financial services sectors and for professionals working (or planning to work) as broking/security analysts, consultants, and chartered/cost accountants. Eligibility: The applicant should be:
Selection process: Eligible applicants will be selected on the basis of their performance in the Programme Aptitude Test (PAT) to be conducted by NIIT Imperia, together with the assessment of background and motivation (Statement of Purpose-Annexure I of the Application Form) based on the application form submitted. How to apply: Visit www.niitimperia.com to fill the application form online. Application forms can be obtained from local NIIT Imperia Centres as listed in www.niitimperia.com How to apply: Online Course commences: October, 2013 Fee: Rs. 2, 18,260/- (inclusive of Service Tax as applicable) Check out:
www.niitimperia.com
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SINGA PhD awards
Applications are invited for The Singapore International Graduate Award
(SINGA) August 2014 intake. SINGA is a collaboration between the Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR), the Nanyang Technological University
(NTU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS). Scholarships are provided in science and engineering. Applicants can pursue a PhD degree in any field of study for which they can demonstrate interest and capability. Eligibility: Open to all international students
Number of awards: 240 Duration: Four years of PhD studies. Details: The stipend amount is SGD 24,000 annually, to be increased to SGD 30,000 after passing qualifying examination.
Selection: The selection criteria for SINGA include the applicant’s academic record, publications, recommendations from academic referees, personal achievements, passion and ability to excel in research, and an interview if short-listed. How to apply: Applicant will first need to fill up an online application form and submit it through the SINGA website. Then send hard copies of supporting documents via post. These supporting documents include :- Deadline: January 1, 2014 for August 2014 intake. Check out:
www.singa.a-star.edu
SIA youth scholarship
The Ministry of Education offers SIA Youth scholarship for Indian students in Singapore. Scholarship is available for pursuing Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education ‘Advanced’
(GCE ‘A’) Level (or equivalent) certificate. The scholarship is for two years of pre-university studies in selected Singapore junior colleges and is renewed annually subject to the satisfactory performance of the scholar. Study
subject(s): Courses offered by Singapore Junior Colleges. Eligibility: Students who meet the following criteria are invited to apply for the scholarship:
Duration: Two years Details:
Annual allowance of S$2,400 with hostel accommodation
How to apply: Online or hardcopy application. Each applicant should submit only ONE application. Deadline:
July 14, 2013. Check out:
www.moe.gov.sg/education/scholarships/sia/
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Wheebox ties up with SA
college
Wheebox, International Talent Assessment Company has signed an MoU with South West Gauteng College, South Africa. Under this partnership Wheebox has incorporated its proprietary product CloudBank Application to SWGC portal and all candidates studying at SWGC would be a part of the Industry Connect portal. All registered candidates of South West Gauteng College would also be able to register on a centralised data bank with their details and will be able take Employability Skill Test of
Wheebox. Post registration of candidates, Recruiting companies from South Africa will have an access to registered students and assessed data for hiring.
Emergency medical technician and allied health courses launched
VIVO Healthcare has entered into an agreement with Parkway College, Singapore (Parkway) to launch international standard emergency medical services (EMS) and allied health training programmes in India. The new programmes will offer international standards of training and build skills for entry and specialist level jobs in the healthcare sector. The programmes are targeted towards high school graduates and healthcare providers looking to upgrade their skills. VIVO and Parkway will also launch short-terms programmes designed to develop specialist skills and best practices targeted at medical professionals, including nurses and doctors.
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Fortnightly quiz 441
1. In which district of Uttarakhand is the famous Kedarnath Temple situated?
2. At which place does the confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers take place?
3. What is the full form of
NDRF? 4. Name the world’s largest helicopter deployed by the Indian Air Force in the Uttarakhand flood relief operations. 5. Name two countries in South-East Asia that were recently hit by severe air pollution for many days caused by forest fires in Indonesia’s Sumatra island. 6. Name the newly elected President of Iran. 7. Which Indian state’s six majestic hill forts were recently granted the World Heritage Site Status by UNESCO? 8. Which place in New Delhi occupies the fifth place in the world in the overall occupancy cost for office areas? 9. Where is India’s longest rail tunnel, stretching for 11.7 km, located? 10. Who won the Golden Ball award for the bowler with most wickets in the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy?
—Tarun Sharma Winners of quiz 440:
The first prize by draw of lots goes to Akhil
Sahota, Class XI (non-medical), Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Paprola, Pin Code — 176 115, tehsil
Baijnath, district Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) Second: Dishika Goel; Class – IX; School Address - Little Flower Convent School,
Mangwal, Sangrur; Pin Code — 148001 Third:
Anju Narang; class: IX-B; CL Public School, Kapoor Complex, the Mall,
Solan; Pin Code — 173212 Answers to quiz 440: Narayana Murthy; National Counter Terrorism Centre; India; Susan Rice;
Kerala, Bindeshwar Pathak; Japan; Great Nicobar Biosphere Island Reserve; Europe; Eight 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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With Class XII results out, Sumit is deeply immersed in the college admission process — filling up admission forms of different colleges, checking out the fee and faculty in the top institutions, but amid all this he is envious of his best friend Rohan’s luck as he is all set to fly to the US for continuing his undergraduate studies there. Well, getting admission in a college abroad is not just a matter of luck.
The definition of ‘work’ is changing and it is very different from what it used to be two decades ago. Today, “being at work” is less about being present at a particular location, filling timesheets, and more about closing business irrespective of where one is. Remote working, teleworking or telecommuting comprises a variety of work arrangements in which work is performed at an employee’s home or some other off-site location instead of in the traditional physical office space.
With Class XII results out, Sumit is deeply immersed in the college admission process — filling up admission forms of different colleges, checking out the fee and faculty in the top institutions, but amid all this he is envious of his best friend Rohan’s luck as he is all set to fly to the US for continuing his undergraduate studies there. Well, getting admission in a college abroad is not just a matter of luck. It involves a lot of planning and meticulous hardwork to secure a seat in a college abroad. If you nurture the dream of studying in a college in the US or in any other country then stop dreaming or hoping offers to fall in your lap — it is time to get into action and start the groundwork. How does one seek admission in colleges across the USA? The main eligibility criterion to get admission in US colleges is the SAT exam score. Taking the exam and applying to different colleges, however, may take months so one has to start planning immediately after Class X if you don’t want to wait a for a year after Class XII. Carry out a thorough check of the different colleges and their admission criteria and subject combinations. Then shortlist a few where you can send your application and seek admission. Scoring well in the qualifying exams like SAT, ACT or TOEFL and IELTS is of utmost importance as your admission will depend on these scores.
I did my Bachelor of Mass Communication (with advertising). Though my area of interest lies in the client servicing department of an ad agency, I don’t have any experience as such in this department. My queries as follows:
I am planning to take up architecture but some people say that it does not provide job guarantee and lacks scope. Please advice. —
Lokesh Pathania 
I have not scored well in the medical entrance exam. What are the career opportunities & scope in Occupational Therapy? —
Kamini Upreti 
Having added these variables to the equation, one also needs to understand that roles that individual team members perform are also multi-layered and the reporting structures are matrix. Can one even begin to imagine how many permutations this can have and how inadequate a generic approach or management theory will be in this case? 
Visual Merchandising, which is all about presenting the merchandise inside stores more strategically, offers a creative career field. It is about making the product look as desirable as possible in the eyes of the consumer, in order to encourage them to purchase. Research shows that consumers use VM to understand whether a brand fits in with their personal lifestyle or not, even whether or not to even enter a store, based on the exteriors and interiors.
Although a management degree does not put one in a big league overnight and requires as much of hard work as any other profession, still it can accelerate the pace of one's career if rightly planned and pursued. Choosing the right specialisation is one of the most important aspects of this growth plan.
On his father’s death, Shivnarain Birla of Pilani refused to take his father’s place as an accountant. He came to Bombay and became a broker. His grandson Ghanshyam Das Birla started off as a broker but later became an industrialist.
