|
|
|
|
|
|
Scope for Economics students
Cool Counsel
admission scene in amritsar
first person
work station
smart strategy: how to impress senior management personnel
Hiring scene
|
|
Profitable Economics
Gauri Chhabra We all have unlimited wants, needs and desires and the means to fulfill these are limited. If you want to strike a balance between your unlimited wants and limited resources, then economics is a subject that would make you cruise through the fundamentals of resource planning and management. Resources can be human or other living and nonliving things in the environment. Economics is a vast area of study that explains how economies interact and work. The subject focuses on all walks of life irrespective of business and finance. Along with these aspects, it also focuses on family, crime, politics, and so on. This is a subject that has made inroads into most of the fields as well as other subjects. It is the language of money and trade, of production and consumption, of distribution and development. There is also an economics of welfare, manners, language, industry, music, and art. There is an economics of war and an economics of power. Wherever alternatives exist, economics comes into play. Options for students
Following are the options in economics after completing Class XII: You can either join a three-year degree course or the five-year integrated master’s degree course. BA Economics: The course duration is of three years and you will be well versed in the economic theories and policies by the time you get your bachelor’s degree. The opportunities would be available in the fields of financial analysis, accounting jobs, teaching etc. Institutes like FICCI, PHDCCI recruit economics graduates to fill vacancies for different posts. The Ministry of Economic Affairs also provides lots of job opportunities for finance candidates every year. BSc Economics: Students are awarded a bachelor’s degree in science after successfully completing this course. It is normally for three years and examination is held at the end of each semester. You will get practical experience in the field of economics and will be able to identify the economic issues and also find solutions. Integrated master’s degree : Only a few institutions in India offer an integrated five-year master’s degree course in economics. The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences under the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, offers a unique and innovative five-year master's programme for meritorious Plus II students leading to a master's degree in three disciplines — economics, development studies and English. The distinctive feature of this programme is that it allows students to choose their disciplines after giving them a wide exposure to humanities and social sciences. During the first two years students would be exposed to common subjects related to all three major disciplines offered from the third year. These common subjects help students to appreciate the multidisciplinary nature of fundamental concepts in humanities and social sciences, and enable them to appropriately choose their professional disciplines.
Add on Courses
Over the past few years the value of additional courses along with the regular degree has increased manifold. For students of a subject like economics that has a vast range and scope it is very useful to add an extra edge to their bachelor’s degree. Punjab University, Chandigarh offers several “Add On” courses for undergraduate students who have opted for economics as their main subject. Under this programme, each student along with his conventional degree is awarded an additional Certificate/Diploma/Advanced Diploma in the add on course that he/she opts for. So , you can earn a Certificate, a Diploma, an Advanced Diploma after the successful completion of first year, second year and third year, respectively. Students at the undergraduate level from any stream can opt for certificate course. If you plan to make a career in economics, you can take up the following courses Insurance Business: Here, you would be required to learn about the need for security against economic difficulties risk and uncertainty, individual life insurance, nature and uses of life insurance, life insurance as a collateral, as a measure of financing business continuation and as a protection to property as a measure of investment. Foreign Trade: The course content involves the theory and practice of foreign trade, balance of trade and balance of payments, objective of trade policy and role of foreign trade in economic growth, instruments of trade policy tariffs, quantitative exchange restrictions, control and exchange rate adjustments and study of international economic institutions like GATT , UNCTAD, IMF and World Bank and Trade Blocs and Regional Economic Cooperation. Bank Management: The course content comprises banking system in India — role and functions of commercial banks, development banks and merchant banks in the modern economy. Reserve Bank of India — its role, functions, process of multiple credit creation sources and uses of bank
E-Commerce: The certificate course includes electronic commerce framework — its history, basics and tools of e-commerce, comparison of web-based business with land-based business; growth of e-commerce, electronic commerce environment, electronic data interchange, digital signatures, cryptography, interoperability and intercompatibility and the like. E-Banking:
The course content includes functions of e-banking in India, E-delivery channels and their functions — ATMs (fixed and mobile), credit and debit cards, online banking, Internet banking, tele- banks, electronic fund transfer — problems and prospects of e-banks in India.
Future options
Numerous job opportunities are available once you have graduated in the field of economics. On the successful completion of BA Economics, you can try for jobs in the public and private sectors. In the government sector, you may try for Indian Economic Services, jobs in Reserve Bank of India, PSUs and other public sector banks. You can even appear for UPSC exams, IAF account exams and Combined Defence Services exam. Besides, you can apply for jobs with institutes of management or with multi national companies. Educational institutions and the finance sector also provide good job prospects for students of economics. So, gear yourself up to jump start your career with the evergreen subject -Economics. —
The writer is a Punjab-based Shreya Sharma, student of BA Economics second year at SD College, Chandigarh
Nivedita Sharma, Associate Professor, Economics, Kamla Lohtia S.D College, Ludhiana
Institute scape
Higher Education
|
|
Where can I pursue a course in nuclear medicine?
Pervin Malhotra
However, the Radiation Medicine Centre of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai offers two programmes to equip candidates for working in nuclear medicine centres. Offered under the aegis of the Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai (a Deemed University), these full-time programmes comprise lectures, demonstrations, practicals, theory exams, apprentice programmes and clinics. Selection is based on an all-India Common Entrance Test (CET) and interview.
Eligibility: M.B.B.S. with internship from a recognised university. Post-graduate medical qualification-holders and sponsored candidates can also apply. Common Entrance Test: 100 MCQs of the MBBS level (Fields: Anatomy, Physiol, Biochem, Pathol, Internal Medicine (Cardiology, Pediatrics, Oncology), Infectious diseases, Neurology, Nephrology, Endocrinology and Recent Advances in Medicine.)
Eligibility: BSc. (60 per cent aggregate) in chemistry, physics, life sciences, biophysics, BSc. in Nuclear Medicine Technology or BSc. (Medical Radiological Tech). MSc. degree-holders can also apply. Sponsored candidates with 55 per cent aggregate in BSc. can also apply. The Common Entrance Test carries 100 MCQs on science subjects of Class XII. Only a limited number of candidates in order of merit will be called for an interview. For the syllabus for both programmes, log onto the HBNI website: www.hbni.ac.in The seats in each programme are limited. HBNI also offers a Diploma in Radiological Physics.
Course: MD (Nuclear Medicine), three years.
Course: PG Diploma in Nuclear Medicine
MSc Nuclear Medicine (two years).
Lucknow (www.sgpgi.ac.in). Eligibility:
MBBS.
Chiropractic training institutes
Q.What exactly is chiropracty? Can you please tell me where is it taught? — kajal sethia
Circumventing surgery (in most cases) cuts down recovery time and costs by half. Chiropractic therapy is remarkably successful in conditions such as slip disc, cervical/lumbar spondilytis, golfer’s elbow, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, whiplash, sciatica, frozen shoulder, knee, ankle and hip joint problems etc where normally surgery (entailing fair amount of hospitalisation) is recommended. Ancient Chinese texts on Kung Fu and our Vedas and puranas contain references to this form of treatment (merudand or marmabindu chikitsa). Incidentally, Dr NK Sharma, Sr Consultant, VIMHANS was the first doctor in India to introduce the practise of chiropracty in the country.
Which courses are available in population studies?
Q. I am in my final year of Geography (H) course. I am now toying with the idea of pursuing a postgraduate degree or diploma-level course in population studies. Could you please tell me about the courses and prospects of this field? — jaikeerat bir Central Government offices like the Census Office, Registrar General and Census Commission and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment at the Centre and corresponding departments at the state level also employ specialists in Population Studies as do some NGOs and professional bodies such as the Indian Association of Population Studies. You could do your master’s in population studies from the following universities:
Eligibility: Master’s in Stat, Maths, Econ, Sociol, Anthro, Psy or Geog.
If you wish to pursue higher studies in the subject, then you could opt for an MPhil in Population Science from JNU. The eligibility for this programme is MA in Geography. This interesting programme covers fields like human settlement, methodology, morality, urbanisation, census and vital statistics etc. Besides these, more than 10 universities offer PG diploma courses in Population Studies for graduates: Maharshi Dayanand University, University of Madras, University of Burdwan and Panjab University. University of Rajasthan offers a post-MA Diploma in the subject. Email your queries to
careers@tribunemail.com...
|
|
Art of making your goal smart
D. C. Sharma
With the results of different exams already out, it is time for youngsters to decide their future goals and make efforts to achieve them. Robert Half gives a timely advice: “Laziness is the secret ingredient that goes into failure, but it’s only kept a secret from the man who fails.” Yes, there are many who don’t seem to get anywhere worthwhile, even though they work hard. The key reason is that such people are lethargic and do not give enough time to attain their goals. Though goal setting is a powerful, ideal and motivating factor. It can enable you to realise what you really want to achieve, and where to concentrate. Goal setting enables one to spot distractions that can lead them astray. But just setting a goal is not enough, one has to back it up with diligence and sincerity. Goal setting sharpens one’s clarity and vision about what to do and what to achieve. With clarity about the goal one can make the best use of one’s time, energy, and resources. When one regularly concentrates on the goal, one becomes more confident and energised. With such a smart goal setting, the best of ability and competence comes under one’s conscious command. Mastering the Art The word SMART reveals efficient gears through its five-letter combination. While the letter “S” exhorts us to make our goal specific, the letter “M” is for making it “meaningful”. The word “A” cautions us to choose a goal that genuinely suits our attitude, “R” means that the goal must offer a rewarding career, and “T” clarifies to make the goal time bound with a deadline attached to its tail. A specific goal brings out the best in a person. A rare sense of achievement makes one avoid all ‘borrowed’ goals. A borrowed goal is the one that makes people copy others, even prompting them to depend on others. As we learn to make our goal specific, it acquires its own independent dimension and becomes easy and possible. It is this specific tilt in goal setting that authenticates the theory of existentialism. Learn to make your goal meaningful. Only a meaningful goal has the power to motivate an achiever. To aim for a worthless goal neither motivates nor inspires one to work hard. It is only when some meaning is attached to a goal that it brings a sense of high self esteem to its aspirant. Our attitude is our window to the world and it matters a lot in goal setting. a popular saying goes thus: “Your day goes the way the corners of your mouth turn.” If you are fun loving and fond of mixing up with people, your goal to become a detective won’t work. If you are rude and haughty by nature, your goal to go in for public relations department won’t do you good. So while setting your goal, never ignore the ingredients of your attitude.
|
|
Slew of new courses & opportunities
Neeraj Bagga Students getting into college in Amritsar have a range of new courses to choose from as several institutes have introduced new courses. With private, government and charitable societies-run colleges competing with one other to attract maximum number of students, there is a visible spate of new courses. Farms and fields
Global Institutes is also offering a four-year BSc Agriculture course with an annual intake of 60 students. Students with Plus II in medical/non medical streams can seek admission to this course. The BSc. course provides general knowledge and skills in agricultural production, process and farming based on agricultural, natural, technical and economical sciences in diverse areas of modern agriculture. The main emphasis of the programme is on agriculture, farm management, economics, agricultural extension and practical work. Students also learn about floriculture, horticulture, landscaping, agro climatology etc.
Professional courses
Khalsa College for Women has introduced two new professional courses — Fashion Styling and Grooming and Retail Management and IT. These are purely vocational graduate degree level courses to be undertaken after Plus II. Both the courses offer 40 seats each. “These new courses have been launched as there is demand for qualified professionals in these fields and a number of students are interested in these these as the job market for fashion designing and retail is huge in the country”, said College Principal Dr Sukhbir Kaur Mahal. After completing these courses students can get jobs with salary between ~15000 and ~20, 000 per month. “Besides, there are ample opportunities for self-employment as they can set up their own ventures in these two sectors”, added Dr Mahal. Khalsa College that is well known for its heritage buildings and spacious campus, has also launched two new professional courses BSc (Biotechnology) and BSc (Food Science and Technology) with 40 seats each. These vocational degree courses can be undertaken after Plus II. The courses have been started due to increased market demand and job opportunities. “There is a huge demand for food science and technology in which the scope for higher research is vast”, said Dr Daljit Singh, Principal of the college. After getting degrees in these courses students can get a starting salary of around ~20,000 per month in MNCs as well as centres of higher research. Apart from jobs there are opportunities for self-employment and teaching.
Art and entertainment industry
Following the sanction of a grant of ~1.85 crore by the UGC,
BBK DAV College for Women has started Bachelor of Vocation Courses, including, Theatre and Stage Craft, Entertainment Technology from the current session. Bachelor of Vocation in Theatre and Stage Craft under the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) has 30 seats. College Principal Dr Neelam Kamra said, “Theatre and stage craft is a very well established field of performing arts which is now changing into a multidimensional and flourishing industry. It has immense scope of absorbing technically trained artists for live as well as pre-recorded presentations. Computer and Multimedia have become essential tools of stage craft and theatre. So theatre techs/ supervisors/managers/designers and music and dance directors-cum-choreographer are in great demand. The course has been sanctioned a grant of ~92.5 lakh. Bachelor of Vocation in Entertainment Technology has 30 seats. Entertainment industry is growing at a very rapid pace and there is a huge demand and supply gap in the availability of technically trained persons not only at regional level but also at the national level. The students will be trained for film and TV production techniques. This specialised training will focus on cinematography, sound studio, visual effects, production management and direction. College has signed MoUs with Industry for training and placement of students. A grant of ~92.5 lakh has been sanctioned for this course.
Financial wizards
The Amritsar College of Engineering and Technology
(ACET) has introduced BCom (professional) course from this session. The course offers jobs in the banking sector as graduates could be employed as financial analysts, investment analysts and business analysts. This course provides a strong foundation in the functioning of business organisations and various specialised operations such as accounting, finance and capital market. This course provides an opportunity to students to pursue professional courses like CA, CS, CFA, ICWA by including foundation course in the curriculum.
Financial markets courses for Punjab students, professionals
Students and professionals in Bathinda can study different aspects of the financial markets by opting for one of the National Stock Exchange’s Certification in Financial Markets (NCFM) modules run by the National Stock Exchange besides appearing for the test at NSE’s Bathinda centre. NCFM is an online testing and certification programme which gives students and professionals expertise in the financial markets and helps them to get attractive jobs in the financial sector. In Punjab, apart from Bathinda, candidates can also appear for the tests in Amritsar, Chandigarh, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, Jallandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala. As many as 23,100 candidates have appeared for the NCFM modules in the state so far. NSE has conducted more than 16 lakh such tests all over India, from the time the certification courses were launched in 1998. NSE runs more than 150 centres in different parts of the country, especially in Tier II and III three cities, for the NCFM tests. The exchange runs different modules, including topics like commercial banking in India, equity derivatives, market risk management, capital market, fixed income, debt markets, investment analysis and portfolio management, macroeconomics and banking and insurance. A student or working professional interested in one of the modules can apply online on NSE’s website www.nseindia.com or get the registration form from the closest regional office (in this case the Delhi regional office). After registering for the module, the candidate is sent written material on the module by courier, which he or she has to study and on the basis of that, appear for the test on that module. On qualifying, the candidate gets a certificate from NSE for that module. Who can take the test These online tests can be taken by students, teachers, investors, employees, housewives or anybody interested in the Indian securities market. There is no age or qualification bar for students to appear for these exams. There is no limit on the number of attempts as well. The course NCFM courses are based on objective-type questions carrying negative marking. These courses will help candidates to understand various products, participants and the various functions of the securities market. Successful candidates who pass these modules become more eligible in the job market, in the fields of banking, insurance, investment banking, brokerages, research, trading and operations as well as in knowledge process outsourcing units.
New Regional campus at Sathiala
Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) has introduced professional courses BTech in Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering (four-year courses) in its newly established rural regional campus at Sathiala from this academic session. It is located about 30 km from the city. The number of seats in each course is limited to 60. The rural campus is also offering MBA in Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management and BTech in Computer Science and Engineering and Electronics and Communication Engineering. GNDU Vice-Chancellor A.S Brar said since the region is witnessing a construction boom, there is an increased demand for civil engineers. Thus, the students opting for these courses will be conveniently absorbed in construction, planning, PWD, architecture, transportation engineering and even in the Engineering wing of the Army. Similarly the scope of mechanical engineering is in the field of automobile engineering is immense these days. Iron and steel manufacturing industry, machine tool industry, marine engineering and various governemnt departments provide suitable job placements to engineering graduates in this field.
|
|
first person
Housekeeping is commonly referred to as ‘the heart of the hotelas it has a direct and critical impact on a hotel’s operations. Good Housekeeping enhances the guest experience. Although the staff providing this service does not necessarily interact directly with guests, the quality of their work is critical in shaping guests’ memories. Housekeeping is no more limited to cleaning; it has much more wider spectrum now. Executive Housekeeper or Housekeeping managers have a tough job of maintaning the highest standards at all times besides handling the staff’s training and motivation levels. Rachita Sood, Rooms Division Manager, JW Marriott, Chandigarh talks about the challenges of this profession.
What are the key challenges of this job? Housekeeping is, no doubt, the largest department of a hotel. When we think of housekeeping our initial thought usually is of the people cleaning rooms and perhaps how hard and/or time consuming can this actually be? Actually being a room attendant is one of the most physically demanding, repetitive and crucial roles within hotels today. As a result the biggest challenge that the majority of housekeeping managers’ face involves keeping their team consistently engaged and motivated all year round whilst providing them with sufficient support. Recruiting quality staff and proper training is another challenge as a wrong hiring decision can reduce team morale and compromise quality standards. Introducing referral programmes and presenting housekeeping as a stepping stone to a career in hospitality can help attract quality applicants. Managing a staff of diverse cultures, ages and economic backgrounds is also a great challenge for any housekeeping manager. By instilling in the staff a culture of pride in their job and empowering them to handle guest concerns or requests, management can engage workers and motivate them to improve. Just as customer service lies in the details, good employee relations ensures that the housekeeping staff have every tool and supply they need to perform their jobs, and that their accomplishments get noticed. Further, problems with hotel housekeeping range from guest dissatisfaction to injuries on the job. A guest may complain about housekeepers over an untidy room and broken or missing personal belongings. Housekeepers are required to clean many hotel rooms per day and must often interact with guests, visitors and employees. The long hours and strenuous work required by housekeepers are quite demanding—making the job physically dangerous. How has this field evolved over the years? What are the new trends that are being adopted? Housekeeping job always involved a lot of physical work but at the same time it was also a clerical job for the housekeepers. Housekeeping department has large number of staff working right from the EHK to housemen. Everyone was responsible to finish their respective paper work. With the use of technology now the workload of paper and manual job has been cut down to the minimum though not completely. Technology has improved the work efficiency and eliminated most of the time-consuming work in the housekeeping department. Today, technological evolution being the mantra globally, most of the hotels in the world have installed and applied various applications and software systems. There are various technology solution companies providing application and services to the hotel industry in India. PMS, iPads, smartphones, maintenance related coordination, inventory tracking system, RFID (a chip, created by linen technology tracking, are being sewn into anything made of cloth inside a hotel room where a sensor will go off to alert the hotel immediately while taking it) is an example of how technology has changed the housekeeping department. What are the key skills that a person wanting to get into this profession should have? Housekeepers should be friendly, presentable and dependable, since their work involves close contact with a variety of people, including employers, employees, patients, students, business personnel, doctors, nurses, teachers, and many others. Housekeepers also need to be cognizant that their efforts at maintaining clean and comfortable environments are seen or experienced by a variety of people, and their work represents their employers’ attention to such detail. GV
|
|
Make the best of a bad day
Ajay mehta Everyone has had one of those days when nothing seems to be going your way and you feel that the whole world is against you. But a bad day at work is only going to get worse if you don’t at least try and do something about it. How we respond to a bad day can just be the difference between a quick recovery and lasting damage. It may be tempting to just write off such a day from one’s memory, but it’s better to take action that can turn things around or at least stop them from getting worse. Looking on what’s inducing your bad day, here are some tips on how to twist a bad day around: The administrator: This person, more than any other, has the authority to interrupt your work, so learn to read your supervisor’s mind and keep things friendly. If you’re having a bad day, stay out of your boss’ way coz that is not the right time to be proactive about interacting. May be you’ll get irritated and say or do something that may be held against you for a long time. In a similar way if your boss seems to be having a bad day, try to keep back the things reschedule your essential conversations until another time. Fellow worker: Colleagues can be more difficult to manage than bosses because you’ve got them around you all day. If stress has built around a specific issue, try to discuss it reasonably with the right individual. At times, when you’re having a bad day, you might feel a little bit more courageous in getting things up. Alternatively, you might decide to wait until you’re feeling better about things. An occasional day working at home can give you a time out from team politics. Work stress: This affects all of us often in our careers. Divide what’s important from what’s not. Recognise what can be done promptly and that will take heat off you. Make a to-do list when you turn up at work. Set yourself realistic targets such as “I’ve got to do this”. Pay and promotion: Maybe the raise or promotion you desired for hasn’t come through. This is bothering you and makes you angry. Look at the other advantages to your job, like experience in a new field, the possibility to work with friendly colleagues, or a flexible work schedule. If not, step forward your networking pains to find a new position. Feeling ill: We all are bound to feel under the weather at some point of time and for many a little physical discomfort is not reason enough to take a day off. But this can make one irritable and the risk of committing mistakes is also increased. You may feel like a weakling staying home, but it’s important to pay attention to your body. Not taking care of your health could just stretch the recovery time. And if you’re feeling too sick to rivet, you’re not doing anyone a favour by showing up at work. Accident or home damage: Personal security and our home are vital to our lives. Whether it’s a traffic conflict or a home tragedy it may be essential for you to drop everything at work and deal with the crisis. If anything happens likes that, split down what you have to do into different tasks and perform them one at a time. Let your boss also know what’s going on right away so that you can bring out the time you need to handle things and won’t have to deal with questions later. Sudden change: Sudden changes happen frequently within organisations and this can sometimes be demoralising. Start by examining their impact on you. If necessary, give a deep thought to it until you feel better. Many a times something which looks like it will damage or obstruct you might actually work for your benefit in the long run. If you ever arrive at work on a wretched Monday morning and suddenly get that feeling, it might be worth thinking back to the last bad day you had and how you got over it. Soon, you could become a specialist in covering with bad days and be the leader of all your colleagues in this particular aspect. — The writer is an HR consultant and corporate trainer at ERA Business School (EBS), New Delhi.
|
|
|
smart strategy: how to impress senior management personnel
Quite a few senior level managers do test newbies to see what they are made of; some ask tough questions to see if they can handle them. If your are a fresher then interacting with you gives them an idea of your basic capabilities. Making a good impression in front of your boss itself is tough and here we are talking about impressing the top managers, does it seem far-fetched to you? It’s not impossible if you follow these suggestions: Just take a chill pill Being nervous, anxious and uncomfortable around your manager’s boss is quite natural. However, this should not prevent you from showcasing your best talent. Being nervous can at times lead to bodily reactions like sweating, stuttering, running out of breath and reddening of face while talking. In case any of these symptoms appear, take a break for five seconds and drink a glass of water. Thereafter compose yourself and continue doing what you were doing. Remember all you can do is the best you can do. Be prepared for questions Listen carefully to the questions, and respond point wise. It’s best to avoid long answers and don’t choke yourself to death by trying to answer in a single breath. It’s good to answer in 30 seconds as it gives you time to organise your thoughts. Most of the employees get jittery when they are bombarded with questions. Don’t ramble and fake answers, most of the senior level managers will appreciate the answer — “I don’t know, however the question is quite intriguing and I will get back to you in two -three days with my thoughts.” Be ready for opposition Some of us are caught off guard when our argument is rejected outright. If this is the case draw the other person out to see if you have been misunderstood and clarify. If that’s not the case, let the disagreement be as it is. Your manager’s boss may not respect you for starting an argument as soon you face disagreement. Rehearse the worst-case scenario List all your worries and fears on a sheet of paper and practice your responses in case you were to be asked about them. Try to rehearse responses in front of a mirror, get your colleague to ask you counter questions to make it better. Rehearse what you are going to say multiple times, so that you can do it naturally without getting nervous. Time is money, after all Baring a few individuals most of the top managers do not like to waste time. Treat their time with respect and plan how you will present yourself. The idea is to keep it short and sweet. We simply cannot reveal everything about ourselves in one interaction; it is impossible. We must edit the information to make it relevant to the occasion. In case you are presenting make sure you have the logistics ready before they arrive on the scene. Visit the venue of presentation beforehand to get a view of the seating arrangement; place yourself in a central position so that you are audible. Check the font size and colour on the screen, if necessary, make adjustments well in advance. Advance preparation ensures that the meeting time is utilised productively. Interact more frequently with top management Try to meet senior level managers in informal gatherings and social events. You will be safe, as most of the higher ups will avoid questions related to work in social gatherings. These events will allow them to know your hobbies and thought process. You will soon realise that senior level managers are normal human beings like you albeit with more experience in life. These informal interactions will make you feel more comfortable in dealing with them in official settings. In addition to this, reading biographies of known leaders will give you an insight into how they think and work. A textbook’s author picks and chooses information so that the reader gets to the point without getting overwhelmed or confused, similarly we must pick and choose information to manage the impression we create in the mind of senior managers. Impressing senior management is like presenting an edited work designed to convey key messages effectively. To leave a lasting and favorable first impression it may be a good idea to “package” information to help the audience draw the “right” conclusion. — The writer is an HR and Strategy consultant for start-up ventures and owner of www.humanresourcesblog.in
|
|
|
Hiring scales maintain stability
While the overall hiring activity remained stable in May, the IT and ITES sector saw double digit growth in hiring numbers. The Naukri Job Speak Index for the month of May 2014 was at 1,600 indicating a stable hiring scenario when compared to April 2014. Yearly comparison shows a 14 per cent increase in hiring activity. According to Hitesh Oberoi, Managing Director and CEO Info Edge (India) Ltd., “Hiring activity is seeing a period of stability. Since the elections are now over and we have a stable government at the Center, we expect companies to start recruiting in the coming months”.
|
|
Happiness @ work
One cause of friction at the workplace is that the instructions have not been followed precisely. This leaves a gap between the superior’s expectations and quality of the work done.
On reaching Badrinath, 13th century saint Madhvacharya prayed to Veda Vyas who summoned him to his ashram in Uttara Badri. Madhvacharya wrote a farewell message to his disciples and went to meet Vyas. Satyatirtha, a disciple who couldn’t bear separation from his guru, decided to follow him. He saw the guru at the distance but couldn’t cover the gap. As he was tired, he couldn’t go further and couldn’t return as he didn’t know the way back. So Madhyacharya had Satyatirtha lifted by the wind and deposited at the ashram in Badri. When Shamskhan, the Sultan of Nagaur, asked for help from Kumbha, the Rana of Chittor, he said, “I will depose your brother Mujahid Khan, but you will have to demolish a part of the battlements of the fort of Nagaur as part of the deal.” After the Rajput attack, Mujahid fled and Shamskhan was back on the throne. But Shamskhan reneged on his promise. He first delayed the demolition by asking for more time and then, began strengthening the battlements. Enraged, Kumbha’s forces attacked Nagaur and drove Shamskhan out. As the Roman rulers were taking a census, Joseph, along with a pregnant Mary, had to return to their hometown Bethlehem. A little later, three wise men told King Herod of Jerusalem about the birth of Jesus Christ, the newborn King of the Jews. So Herod told the trio to look for Jesus. As Herod saw Jesus as a threat, an angel appeared and told the wise men to take another route out of the country. Then, the angel appeared before Joseph and Mary and told them to go to Egypt as the King was killing all the newborns. They returned to Nazareth after the angel reappeared and informed them of Herod’s death. Years later, Jesus saw two boats at the Lake of Galilee. One of them belonged to a fisherman named Simon. The fishermen had worked all night and caught nothing. Jesus said, “Go out into the deep sea and let down your nets.” When the nets were lifted, they had caught the best catch of their lives. In the Ramayana, Bharata arrived at Chitrakoot to persuade Rama to return to Ayodhya. Bharata offered to stay in the jungle instead. But Rama clarified, “Our father’s word is for me to be sent to exile and you to rule for 14 years so return and fullfil his wish”. For a film, a director’s actor is better than a whimsical superstar. — Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
|
|
|
scholarship roundup
Birkbeck is offering an unlimited number of merit scholarships for pursuing one-year taught master’s degrees starting in September 2014. Scholarship has a value of £2,000 paid as a contribution towards tuition fees.
Eligibility: Applicants must be Indian citizens with a bachelor’s degree from a recognised Indian university with a final grade of 70 per cent or higher.
Details: Scholarship has a value of £2,000 paid as a contribution towards tuition fees. Selection Criteria: The scholarships will be awarded on merit basis. Duration: One-year. How to
apply: No formal application is required as all applicants who meet the above criteria will be automatically considered. Deadline: August 30,
2014.
SML International Merit Scholarships
Heriot-Watt University, UK, is offering up to five merit scholarships to Indian students for pursuing postgraduate (taught) degree. Applicants who have accepted their offer of a place on a postgraduate taught programme in the School of Management and Language are eligible for these scholarships. Eligibility: All Indian applicants who pay the overseas fee level, have accepted their offer of a place on a postgraduate taught programme in the School of Management and Language, and have paid their deposit (where applicable). Number of
award(s): 5. Details: £2000 scholarship is awarded as fee abatement. How to apply: No separate application is required. Applicants will be automatically considered for this scholarship. Deadline: June 30, 2014. Check out:
www.hw.ac.uk
Fellowships in Japan
The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
(JSPS) is offering research fellowships for researchers of all countries having diplomatic relations with Japan. JSPS conducts two programmess (a short- and long-term
programme) under the Invitation Fellowship heading. These programs are intended to help advance the overseas researchers’ research activities while promoting science and internationalisation in Japan. Details: Long-term [IF01]: A round-trip air ticket (based on JSPS’s regulations), ¥369,000 per month and domestic research trip allowance (¥100,000), Research expenses (¥40,000) and overseas travel insurance.
allowance (¥150,000), overseas travel insurance.
How to apply: Host researchers, except for those under Pathway fellowships, are required to use JSPS’s web application system when applying for fellowships. Applications under this programme must be submitted to JSPS by a host researcher in Japan via the head of his/her university or institution. Deadline: The application deadline for 1st recruitment (long-term, short-term and short-term S) is September 1, 2014. Check
out: www.jsps.go.jp
|
Pt Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences (UHS), Rohtak, is all set for a change in its administrative regime. While the post of Pro Vice-Chancellor has been lying vacant for the past several months following the retirement of Prof S.N. Chug, the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Prof S.S.Sangwan is also likely to put in his papers shortly. Lobbying for the coveted posts is in full swing these days. As per UHS insiders, the departure of the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, who has remained at the helm of affairs at the institute, would be a turning point for the university. Dr Sangwan was the first Vice-Chancellor of UHS and got a second term as well. Prior to the upgradation of PGIMS to university, he has also served as the Dean, Director and MS at the institute. Commonwealth fellowship for Dr Sujata
Dr Sujata Sethi, Senior Professor at the Psychiatry Department of UHS has been awarded the Commonwealth fellowship of the UK. Professor Sethi underwent extensive training for six months in diagnosis and treatment of various psychological disorders associated with childhood and adolescence. The psychiatrist said in the present-day era, disorders like attention-deficit hyper disorder, stubbornness, aggression and depression etc were becoming common due to fast-paced life. — Contributed by Sunit Dhawan
|
|
course cruising
Management Development Institute Singapore (MDIS) has launched a 12-month comprehensive MBA programme in International Marketing in association with Bangor University.
The course: This full-time course is spread over eight modules and offers rigorous training in International Marketing, its related services along with various extension programmes for capacity building. The curriculum will provide students from India with a global view on International Marketing and help them understand what it means to be a strategic and successful leader in this sector. Eligibility: Graduation or equivalent overseas qualification and grade may be considered on a case-by-case basis. English language requirement is IELTS 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each component: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Fee: The course fee for the entire curriculum is S SGD 22,470.00 (about
Rs 10,65,677.92 lakh at the current exchange rate). Date of commencement: The first session of the two programmes starts in October 2014. Check out: www.mdis.edu.sg
Master’s in Public Health
The Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR), Jaipur, invites applications for Master of Public Health course. The three terms of this one-year course will be conducted at IIHMR, Jaipur, followed by the final term at John Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA. Seats: 60 Eligibility:
How to apply: Download pre-screening questionnaire from www.mph.iihmr.org and send responses, along with your resume, to mph@iihmr.org. Fill online application form on John Hopkins portal (www.jhsph.edu/admissions), to be submitted along with personal statements, letter of recommendation and credentialed transcripts (from international credentialing agencies WES, ECE or FIS) Deadline: August 3, 2014 for submission of pre-screening questionnaire August 15, 2014 for submitting online application form of John Hobkins Check
out: www.mph.iihmr.org
Design courses
Raffles Millennium International, New Delhi, invites applications for advanced diploma from RCHE (Raffles College of Higher Education, Singapore) and bachelor’s degree RCDC (Raffles College of Design & Commerce, Australia) in MultiMedia Design for 2014 session. The programe will be for the fundamental broad-based skills in graphic design, skills of transforming 2D into 3D via creating interfaces & integrating programing abilities. Duration: 2+1 year, full-time. Eligibility: The applicants should have cleared Plus II from any recognised board with 70 per cent in English and 65 per cent in aggregate marks. For IGCSE- A level within minimum 3 subjects, English compulsory. The RMI Entrance Exam will take place before each intake, followed by a personal interview. How to apply: The application form is available at RMI institute . Applicants may send a request for application form at rmidelhi@educompraffles.com mentioning subject as “Application Form” alongwith their details and contact number. Form should be submitted along with required documents mentioned in the application form and Cheque/ Demand Draft of ~2,500 in favour of “Educomp Raffles Higher Education Ltd”, or by Cash. Deadline: July 15, 2014 Check Out: www.raffles-millennium-delhi.com
TISS diploma in Community Media
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has invited applications for Post-Graduate Diploma in Community Media (PGDCM) / Dual Degree for TISS Alumni with master’s degree Eligibility: A bachelor’s degree of a minimum three years duration or its equivalent (under the 10+2+3 or 10+2+4 or 10+2+2+1 year bridge course pattern of study or any other pattern fulfilling the mandatory requirement of 15 years of formal education) from a recognised university, with minimum aggregate marks of 50 per cent (40 per cent for Scheduled Castes [SCs] and Scheduled Tribes [STs]). How
to apply: Download application
from: http://download.tiss.edu/admissions2014/Short_Term_Programmes_2014-
2015/Application_Form_SMCS_PGDCM_2014-15.pdf Deadline: July 12, 2014 Check out: www.tiss.edu
|
|||
With entrepreneurship becoming an exciting trend among youngsters it is very important to be informed about the strategies and techniques that are essential to set up a business venture of your own. This book provides useful information in this very regard in an impressive and practical way. The first few steps taken to set up a business are the most important components of its success and require the maximum planning. Just as 97 seven per cent of a rocket’s fuel is used in the first three feet of its launch , a new venture too needs maximum preparation for the initial 90-days. Author Scott Duffy presents a practical approach for turning a big idea into a thriving venture by focusing on the crucial 90-day period immediately before, during and after starting your business. Based on his own experiences as a successful serial entrepreneur who has worked with Richard Branson and Tony Robbins, and true stories of other big names in business Duffy has collected all the lessons you need for launching a successful new venture. Taking up a very precise and methodical approach Duffy gives three-stage plan involving — The Pre-launch Checklist: What it takes to get your house in order, develop your plan and limit your personal risk every step of the way. Fuelling the Tank: How to assemble your resources, pull together your team and capital, and ready your business to execute successfully. Countdown and Blastoff: How to bring your idea to market through partnerships, marketing initiatives and customer-engagement strategies. This book will help any entrepreneur take a new business to the moon.
Corporate Reputation Decoded traces the journey of Indian companies in building corporate reputation (CR). The book addresses CR in the Indian context and is in response to the growing interest of companies in this area. The authors Asha Kaul and Avani Desai both noted academicians, explain the process of building, maintaining and strategising for CR, various aspects of CR-company’s stakeholders, situations demanding CR interventions, and the impact of a company’s culture, ethics and leadership on its CR. The book expounds on these using Indian cases (Tata, Infosys, HUL, Reliance, Aditya Birla Group, HDFC, among others), which enhance the understanding of CR in India as well as benchmark CR best practices in India. The book is of major significance to CR practitioners, scholars, teachers, students and C-Suite professionals who will also find the techniques proposed in the book interesting as they can assess, evaluate, adopt and adapt strategies followed by other companies for reputation enhancement.
|
Students getting into college in Amritsar have a range of new courses to choose from as several institutes have introduced new courses. With private, government and charitable societies-run colleges competing with one other to attract maximum number of students, there is a visible spate of new courses.
Everyone has had one of those days when nothing seems to be going your way and you feel that the whole world is against you. But a bad day at work is only going to get worse if you don’t at least try and do something about it. How we respond to a bad day can just be the difference between a quick recovery and lasting damage. It may be tempting to just write off such a day from one’s memory, but it’s better to take action that can turn things around or at least stop them from getting worse.
The add on course that I have opted for is Journalism. Since I plan to go in for a niche sector i.e business and economic reporting, I not only need to know how companies and markets function, but write articles that appear in daily newspapers and business journals as well as on different blogs and websites. The course provides a platform for the same. This course saves time as I do not need to wait till I complete my degree to hone my skills in the field of my choice.
Economics offers immense career potential. You can make a successful career as a corporate lawyer after BA in economics followed by
LLB. Since economics is a significant component in business administration and management courses, students can go for MBA in specialised areas like stock-broking, finance, banking etc. The Master of Finance and Control
(MFC) programme is another option. One can also opt for a career in Indian Economic Service
(IES). 
Undergraduate Courses
Q.
I am currently studying medicine. I want to know about the course in nuclear medicine technology. With related information also tell me about the institutions offering this course. —
The Amritsar College of Engineering and Technology (ACET) has introduced BSc (Agriculture) which offers job placements in the banking sector, fertiliser, seed and pesticide companies, and grain procurement agencies. According to the Chairman of the college Amit Sharma there is a wide scope in tissue culture, vermiculture, sericulture, apiculture etc. One can start own business like nurseries, floriculture farm, agro-processing industries etc after finishing this course.
You may love it or hate it, it’s for real that senior management incumbents are hard pressed for time and tend to make a quick first impression. I have noticed many a times that these one-of interactions are remembered for years and may make or mar the destiny of an employee. Remember — “You never get a second chance to make a first impression, never let them see you sweat.”
