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Field in focus: Data Analytics
Career Hotline
how students of class xi can prepare themselves for the jee
avenues for research-oriented people
career compass: jewellery designing
How your social media profile affects employers
Cos bet on internal talent management tools
Apps for positive feedback
Handling office politics important
bookshelf
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Field in focus: Data Analytics Usha Albuquerque
Analytics was once restricted only to telecom, healthcare, retail, and financial services. Now this complex amalgamation of science and art has entered the world of engineers. Last year at IIT Bombay, 27 companies made 94 offers in analytics and at IIT Delhi, 5 per cent of the placements last year were for analytics. What makes data analytics such a hot job? Data Analytics is a process of summarising data with the intent to extract predictive information and develop conclusions from the data and use it for making strategic decisions and operational policies. Big data refers to using maths and technology to extract useful information to create business and social value by extracting useful insights and applying them in a variety of business settings. So data analytics can identify for companies their most profitable customers, offer them the right price, accelerate product innovation, optimise supply chains and identify the true drivers of financial performance. Data analytics in India is extensively used in the banking and financial sectors. Companies looking for customer segmentation and profiling as well as classification of respondent and market segments, etc. hire the data analysis services being offered by a range of IT and ITES firms. Moreover, a varied range of data analysis services in India help clients optimise the design of new products, do association rules discovery, check customer loyalty, etc. Companies across sectors, particularly FMCG, retail, IT and consulting, are looking at using big data to gain competitive advantage. Companies such as Tata Consultancy Services, Genpact, Barclays Bank, Morgan Stanley, Boston Consulting Group, Bank of America Merill Lynch and Goldman Sachs are therefore hiring professionals trained in data and business analytics for playing a key role in this data driven era. While the "data scientist" title is somewhat all-encompassing now, it is expected that the work will get segmented into three specialty fields: Technologists, who write the algorithms and code to stretch across the large amounts of data; statisticians and quantification experts; and artists and creative people who can navigate content and find something that can be used productively. Each area will require specific training. Getting In Although a data analyst can technically come from any stream of education, there is a clear preference for those with a degree in science, statistics or mathematics. Data analytics is essentially all about numbers and so a solid foundation in maths, modelling and statistics, is useful when you need to sort through, analyse and interpret data. Given that data analytics involves writing codes, number crunching and logical thinking, most companies hire engineers, as also mathematicians and statisticians. However, extracting knowledge and valuable insights from data requires knowledge of variety of fields, including advanced computing, economics, econometrics, marketing, finance, HR, creative visualisation, as well as general business and management skills. Analytics is not so much about tools or technologies, it is a way of thinking that allows the use of knowledge, tools and technologies to extract valuable insights from data. As a data scientist, you need to be acutely in tune with the pulse of the business, understand business terminologies, have good organisational skills and be able to drive and influence change. Many of the business schools, including the IIMs, ISB and others have set up data & business analytics programmes. Job prospects The volume of data available today is colossal with some of the largest quantity being generated in countries like India and China. No wonder that India already has more than one lakh professionals in this field, and consulting firm McKinsey estimates that, "By 2015, there will be a shortage of 1.5 million analytsts/managers, who can make data driven decisions." Most companies hiring analytics professionals include large IT companies, who have an Analytics practice, Analytics KPOs, large corporate with in-house analytics departments, and independent analytics firms. Top firms in India including Citibank and HSBC are branching into the analytics industry, while Accenture and Genpact, Gramener, Tesco, Hitachi, and a large number of Knowledge Processes Outsourcers or KPO companies are not far behind. With spending on big data by companies, expanding aggressively entry level salary for data analytics professionals has also increased to around Rs 6-9 lakh, and could be higher depending on experience and skills. Little wonder then that in this global and highly connected world, data analytics is the new big game to watch out for. The writer is Director, Career Smart Pvt Ltd., New Delhi Institutes offering training programmes ISB Hyderabad — Certificate Programme in Business Analytics. A one year programme, a combination of classroom and technology aided learning platform Indian Institute of Management — Calcutta — Executive Programme in Business Analytics is a one year long distance programme delivered through HughesNet Global Education, suitable for engineers, graduates and post-graduates with 50 per cent and at least two years work experience. Shailesh J Mehta School Of Management at Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay — one year programme is for those new to business analysis and who work with business analysts, including application developers, systems analysts, business managers, and anyone involved in solution development. Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad — Advanced Analytics for Management programme for managers and decision-makers to use advanced analytics for better decision-making. Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIML) and Kelley School of Business (KSB), Indiana University, USA is offering one year part time certificate programme in business analytics for executives (CPBAE), a combination of class room and an online learning platform Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore — Business Analytics and Intelligence programme is suitable for those already working in analytics and for those with analytical aptitude to start new career in analytics. Praxis Business School — One year full-time PG prgramme in Business Analytics, designed and delivered in collaboration with knowledge partner ICICI Bank and knowledge supporter PwC. NIIT Programmes in Business Analytics is suitable for all learners with a background in business management, engineering, mathematics, statistics, or economics. MSc course in Data Science University of Sheffield, UK is offering a one year full time MSc course in Data Science. Indian students can pursue this course to get an in-depth understanding of the theory and practice of Data Science and its application in different organisational contexts. It will let students gain practical skills in handling structured and unstructured data, analysing and visualising data, data mining, as well as gaining hands-on experience of software tools used and their application in real-world settings. In addition, it will allow students to gain the skills of a data manager who understands what the algorithms (e.g., for data mining or handling 'Big Data') can do and when to use them for the benefit of the organisation and to drive decision-making. The course is centred on three key aspects of data science: Fundamental data-related principles; supporting infrastructures; and organisational context. The course is taught in two semesters. The first semester focuses on key concepts and principles of Data Science to help you put into context what is being taught in the programme. After this, the second semester focuses on the fundamental data analysis principles, methods of data mining and visualisation. After the second semester, students complete a research project or dissertation. The annual fee for the programme is £15,610 however, automatic scholarships of £2000 are available to Indian students. The programme will have intakes in September 2014 and application should be sent before July 31, 2014. Eligibility: Prospective students must have an honors degree along with an inquisitive mind, a practical and analytical approach to problem solving and an ambition for a career in this particular field. No prior knowledge of statistics and data analysis or work experience is required. Applicants who do not have their first language as English need an overall IELTS of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component. Check out: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/is/pgt/courses/data_science.
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The road ahead to aircraft maintenance engineering
Pervin Malhotra email your queries to careers@tribunemail.com
A.The aviation sector is growing at a rapid pace. New sophisticated aircrafts are being deployed and more air routes are being opened. The open sky policy has encouraged new operators to launch their airlines and feeder lines are becoming viable. Besides our large network of domestic airlines, several international airlines now operate through India. To become an AME you need to obtain a licence from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), GoI. The AME (Associate Membership Exam) certification is not a degree, but a specialised licensing programme for servicing and maintenance of aircraft and only those institutes approved by the DGCA (www.dgca.nic.in) can impart training in this field to prepare you for the AME exam conducted by the Aeronautical Society of India (www.aesi.org). Upon clearing the internal exams (Section A & B), the DGCA will issue you an AME license, which is considered at par with a BE/B.Tech in Aeronautical engineering from an Indian university. The minimum eligibility for enrolling in this programme is a pass in class X. If you have cleared 10+2 (PCM), you are directly eligible for Section A. Age limit is 23 years (at times, the upper age limit is relaxed for engineering diploma-holders in any branch of engineering (50 per cent marks) and science graduates. Many flying clubs have tie-ups with training institutes. However, only few of them offer training on heavy aircraft and jet engines, as most make do with small aircraft and piston engines. So do check whether the institute you are enrolling in has the necessary aircraft, engines, library and modern teaching aids, etc. Also make sure the institute is listed on the DGCA website (www.dgca.nic.in). On completing of first year (2 semesters) of the 3-year training programme, you can take the basic Paper I of the AME license exam, followed by Paper II at the end of second year, and Paper III on Airframe/Engine/DR Compass on completion of the 5th semester (2 and a half years). Clearing these 3 papers at the earliest will fetch you the Basic Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Certificate (BAMEC) from DGCA, which will make you eligible for a job in the aviation industry. That leaves you with Paper IV in your specific area of competence, which will fetch you the coveted AME License. The course typically covers 18 topics: Flight aerodynamics, workshop technology, metallurgy/electricity, electronics/jet engineering, etc. as applied to aircraft maintenance. Training in the maintenance of sophisticated appliances such as radio equipment, compass systems, gyroscopic instruments, aviation direction finder, radial and line engines is also incorporated in the course. Alternatively, you can opt for a BE/B.Tech in aeronautical engineering from a regular engineering college. While these courses include instruction on maintenance of the aircraft and its components, the emphasis is more on the design and development of commercial and military aircraft..
When law is on your side
A.As you must have probably gathered by now, corporate lawyers, broadly speaking, advise organisations on their legal rights and obligations. Very few matters actually come to the court. Instead, rock-solid contracts are negotiated upon to prevent chances of litigation. Unlike earlier, 75 per cent of the work is transactional while litigation constitutes only 30 per cent. The demand for corporate lawyers with experience in securities and transactions has grown in proportion to changes in the global marketplace. Today even small players have foreign transactions requiring the services of corporate lawyers who are well-versed with the International law. IPO and GDR issues, taxation, due diligence, structured finance and banking are some of the services offered by corporate law firms. To become a corporate lawyer, no additional qualification other than an LLB degree is really necessary. BBA would be an added advantage in grasping concepts in accounting, finance and business. Start an intensive job hunt and start working either in a law firm or in the legal department of a company.
Profile of a fund manager
A.Despite soaring salaries, there is an acute shortage of fund managers at a higher level. Poaching from rivals is rampant. Adding to the crisis, even top-notch fund managers move to less stressful positions such as consultants or advisors that offer even fatter pay checks coupled with an easy lifestyle. As a result, several people in equity sales, who have an analyst background, switch to fund management because of this shortage. But don't be in a hurry to jump in. It takes a few years to groom a good stock-picker that is someone who knows how to invest and where to invest at a minimal risk. The agent or distributor assumes the role of a financial advisor and is the key channel for bringing mutual funds to a large number of investors all over the country. The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), which sets the industry standards for all funds operating in India, has a certification process, the AMFI Mutual Fund Test. This certification has been made mandatory by SEBI for anyone engaged in selling mutual funds, agents as well as those employed in distribution companies and banks. Upon clearing the test, you can apply for your AMFI registration number to become a certified AMFI Registered Mutual Fund Advisor (ARMFA). AMFI has prepared the necessary study material to help you prepare for the Test. The workbook can be obtained from the AMFI office in Mumbai. For details log on to: www.amfiindia.com/testingprogram.html There are some excellent books on the subject e.g.: www.visionbooksindia.com.
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how students of class xi can prepare themselves for the jee Mohan Prasad
But practice needs to be undertaken smartly. A proper strategic plan and a disciplined execution are the keys to JEE success. As a Class XI student, you have ample time to prepare for your goal. Here are some tips to help you get started: Evaluate your interests The first thing that you need to do is to evaluate your goals. Do you really want to study engineering? If you are clear about this, then the next step is to identify your strengths and weaknesses. How well do you remember what you were taught in classes IX and X? Take a test and weigh your performance objectively. Stop following the herd All your friends are going to that best coaching institute in town to prepare for IIT because a lot of students have been able to get top ranks, you should follow right? Wrong! Everyone has a unique learning style and everybody needs personal attention and guidance at all times during their preparation period. Most coaching institutes have a high number of enrolments in one batch. If you must join a coaching institute, where the teacher is able to cater to your doubts personally. Do well at school The basic mantra to crack the JEE is to do really well at school. You need to build a strong foundation of the basics in subjects like maths, physics and chemistry. Instead of mugging up theories with the aim to just pass the exam, try to actually understand how things work and how formulae are derived. Remember, you have to be in the top 20 percentile of your board to be considered eligible for JEE Advanced. Focus on building your knowledge core in Class XI and use Class XII to sharpen your analytical skills and speed. Do not ignore the humble NCERT textbook and take to other glorified books. Use these books only for practice after you have understood the topics. Use the Internet Today we have everything at our fingertips so don't get stuck studying the old way. If heavy, thick, boring textbooks make you shun studies, the Internet has a variety of websites that have hosted videos and animations to help you understand tough topics easily. Online learning websites by different education providers have a large number of video lessons that can be accessed at all times to understand difficult concepts. Use your time wisely Don't get complacent just because you have two whole years to prepare for the JEE. The syllabus is vast and you need to be thorough with the concepts to be able to speed through the exam. Revise well and get as much practise in each topic as you can. If you begin to study regularly now, you will be able to finish the first round of preparations well in time. Don't let go of your hobbies Remember, all work and no play makes you dull. If you like to paint, play football, cricket etc, read, play music, dance or anything else that relaxes you in your free time, continue to make it a part of your preparation period. De-stressing yourself at regular intervals is necessary to avoid burnout. A lot of students give up on everything else while preparing for the JEE because they unduly fear wasting time. Effective preparation is one where you are also able to handle the stress and anxiety that is always ready to mount on you while you study. Join a study group Collaborative learning is one of the most important and effective ways to prepare for exams. It not only helps to keep all that stress in check, also helps to infuse new ideas to solve difficult questions. The peer group is able to collectively solve a problem better than one individual. You can take tests together and compare your performances. You will also know where you stand among others in terms of your preparation and can get ideas to improve your preparation technique. Features such as live tests and ask and answer forums available on online test prep websites such as Meritnation, are quite popular with aspirants of these exams. The JEE is a test of your analytical skills, the depth of your understanding of concepts and your speed in solving problems. You need a specialised testing tool which accurately identifies the gaps in your understanding and gives you customised suggestions to improve your performance. If you are able to identify your weaknesses early, you will have ample time to convert them successfully into strengths. The writer is IIT- JEE Expert, Meritnation.com
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avenues for research-oriented people Gauri Chhabra
— Richard Branson, CEO Virgin Atlantic Attention to detail is a singular feat that differentiates ordinary from the extraordinary. With too much on our plates and our jumping from one hot coal to another, attention to detail has taken a back seat. If you have aptitude to pay attention to detail, then careers that involve research are the best suited for you. Are you research oriented? Now the question arises, how to determine whether you are a research oriented person or not? There are many personality tests like the Myers Briggs that determine your personality, but a few simple questions would make you feel your own pulse and find out about your personality type:
If your response to the above questions is 'yes' then you have the patience and perseverance to take up jobs that involve a lot of research. Skill set For excelling in any sort of research, one needs to have an inquisitive mind and passion for the subject. You also need to be resourceful in finding ways to gather information. It takes an analytical mind to interpret the data you find, and communication skills to present your findings. You have to be determined and willing to accept failure because, more often than not, you'll wind up at several deadends before arriving at the final solution. At a minimum, most careers in research require a BA or a BS in a related discipline. Advanced positions generally require an advanced degree. Unlike such careers as investment banking or management consulting, many research positions, particularly those in social science or science - are the kind you network into on the basis of your independent accomplishments in the field. What would you do? Whatever field you are in, you will have one primary objective: To uncover the meaning, significance, causes, and effects of whatever topic you're investigating. The work you do can have academic, commercial, political, social, or scientific impact. You may be trying to advance society's understanding and appreciation of a particular subject, or develop products or practical applications based on their findings, or advocate changes in their organisation's policy. During the course of your work, you would review previously published findings, formulate hypotheses, and gather original data to support or rebut hypotheses. In technical or scientific fields, you develop experiments and conduct trials to test hypotheses and gather new data. Where are the jobs? There is a broad field encompassing careers with myriad responsibilities in myriad industries. Researchers can find employment in private industry as well as the public and non-profit sectors. In private sector, most of the large companies have research and development (R&D) departments to create or improve their products. Consulting firms conduct research for clients to solve operations, strategy, and marketing issues. In the public and non-profit sectors, government agencies, courts, health organisations, think tanks, museums, universities, and activist groups all generate research. Career pathways: Following are the general career paths in research
This calls for research activities in drug discovery, genetics, clinical patient care, diagnostics, information technology and preventive medicine and clinical trials research, which involve the performance of studies in a population with the objective of determining ways of diagnosing or treating diseases or preventing or screening for diseases. Types of profiles within the clinical trials discipline include: Medical director, bio-statistician, clinical research associate, medical writer and director of regulatory affairs among others. The educational requirements range from MBBS to PhD; with the salary range depending on the specific position and the level of experience and education. Organised retail: One of the sectors that hinges heavily on surveys, studies, and focus groups to collect data about consumer behaviour is Organised retail. A background in psychology or statistics may be required for some market-research positions. The FMCG sector uses the information that market researchers gather in various ways. They try to organise a focus group to find out what consumers think about a new product, test the effectiveness of an advertising campaign, or find out how people use a website. Alternatively, they may commission a survey of middle-income households to find out what people are willing to spend on an environmentally friendly dishwashing liquid. Ideally, you should have analytical abilities, because the job depends on gathering data from human subjects as well as crunching numbers and interpreting the results.
As a research professional, you might do any one of these things. In sum, if you're a science buff, a bookworm, or a philosopher - if you get a kick out of conducting scientific experiments, you might find your professional calling in research — The writer is a Punjab-based career consultant
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career compass: jewellery designing
The art of jewellery designing is now being approached with a certain reverence. Jewellery designers now stand at par with fashion designers. Jewellery houses are coming up in droves, not only in metros, also in tier-II and tier-III cities, thus the probability of multiple openings for students equipped with a jewellery designing degree. Apart from that you may also start a stand-alone business. Whatever your mode of income, you will be expected to deliver to clients more modern, unique, iconic and edgy jewellery designs that make a style statement. Gold may still be the king, but other rare gemstones and metals are not far behind in the race to be designed. Courses available: Many jewellery designing institutes in India have in their curriculum long-term, short term as well as distance learning programmes. For joining a diploma course, graduation is required; but you can pursue short term courses straight after Class X or XII. You can do a BDes (Bachelor in Designing) from accredited design institutes. However, specialized courses are available too. A sneak peek here:
Course overview A budding jewellery designer will be taught about grading gems, testing gems, making moulds out of rubber and models out of wax, enamelling, polishing, electroplating and financial aspects of jewellerymaking. Furthermore, many institutes give students computer-aided training in jewellery designing with the help of softwares like Rhino, Jewel Cad, Auto Cad, 3D Studio, etc. With the help of photoshop and corel draw, students learn about volume and weight of gems and metals. Outside the class, the focus is on providing first-hand exposure to students. Many institutes join hands with jewellery houses or individual designer for internship for the students. Many institutes send students for international exposure. Many schools are also now focusing on teaching students about metal clay. It is a crafting medium consisting of very small particles of metal such as silver, gold, bronze or copper mixed with an organic binder and water for use in making jewellery, beads and small sculptures. Skill set required Designing jewellery is no child's play. It takes oodles of creativity and skill and an eye for detail. Plus, the designers should be able to catch the pulse of the changing trends. Some of the trends doing the rounds are tribal jewellery, DNA jewellery (it is made keeping in mind the unique traits of an individual) visionary jewellery (inspired by the graphic and print art movement, it consists of motion, techno-sensitive engineering and 3D effects) and of course every jewellery house these days prides itself in being minimalistic. Apart from having a good aesthetic sense, a jewellery designer is supposed to have a vast knowledge of all the aspects of jewellery designing. The challenge doesn't end here, a jewellery designer should also take care of protecting the jewellery design he/she has painstakingly worked upon. Many designers suddenly wake up to the danger of cheap replicas of their designs flooding the market as soon as their work hits the shelves. It's the biggest challenge in the Indian market today. Moreover, many Indian customers are not aware of certification standards, and so a jewellery designer should ably guide consumers on this front. The designer should take care to maintain the fine line between market research and historical research in order to be at the top of the trade. Pay package Entry level salaries are somewhere between ~8,000-10,000. Soon one can start earning in the bracket of ~18,000-20,000. As a freelancer, though the market is wide and open, and your earnings are directly proportional to your creativity and marketing skills. The writer is Entrepreneur,
an MMTC Panel member and a visiting faculty at NIFT.
Top Institutes:
Goldsmith
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How your social media profile affects employers
A fair amount of recruitment today takes place through recruitment consultants, who are mostly staffed by Gen Y operatives. These operatives are extremely savvy about social media, and therefore use it extensively to filter candidate profiles. Here are some best practices that candidates applying for jobs should follow as far as their portrayal of themselves on social media sites is concerned:
Can blogging give you a competitive edge? — The writer is an HR and Strategy consultant for start-up ventures and owner of www.humanresourcesblog.in
Tips for women candidates with respect to their social media profiles
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Cos bet on internal talent management tools
Experts believe that cross-functional promotion of internal talent is very critical for any firm as this approach enables well-rounded development of employees. Cross-functional promotions allow people within a company to apply for vacant positions in different functional areas such as engineering, sales, marketing and HR. Companies like PepsiCo, Sapient, Pitney Bowes have active cross-functional development programme. “Internal job posting process is a platform that empowers all employees to drive their own career and make conscious decisions. Every open role in PepsiCo is first up for grabs for the internal population before a search is activated externally if required,” PepsiCo India Director (Talent Acquisition) Raman Singh said. The success of this process is backed by strong factual evidence where over the last three years more than 70 per cent of open roles have been filled internally, many of which have been cross functional, Singh added. Elaborating on Sapient’s cross-functional promotions, Prashant Bhatnagar, Director-Staffing and Hiring, SapientNitro India, said, “Cross-functional promotions are a proven strategy in developing talent and realising their full potential.” At Sapient, the Vice-President of Learning and Organisation Development comes from our consulting business, having spent many years with the clients before moving into this HR role. Likewise, Sapient’s Senior Vice-President and Head of People Team has a background in Programme Management. Customer communication and management solutions provider Pitney Bowes also applies a multi-layered approach with the objective to ensure the right talent with right potential is available when needed. “Last year, 10 per cent of the workforce in Pitney Bowes India had an opportunity to participate in our cross- functional development programme,” Manish Chaudhary, Vice President, WW Engineering at Pitney Bowes, said. Moreover, this HR tool — developing internal talent — can also be helpful in succession planning and retention of employees. “Today the talent pool is not just diverse, it is truly global. Any company that is trying to succeed at a global level has to take heed of the fact that their talent will be from a wider demography than ever seen before,” Jyorden T Misra, Managing Director, Spearhead InterSearch, said. Moreover, this also serves as a powerful retention tool as it provides motivation of being identified as the key player of the organisation. — PTI
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Apps for positive feedback
Wondering how well things are going on the job and what your co-workers think? New apps remove the guessing game by allowing colleagues to anonymously rate each other. Knozen, a free iPhone app, allows colleagues to rate each other on traits such as assertiveness, patience, analytical ability, friendliness and skepticism. "Knowing more about yourself is a gift, and knowing more about how you're perceiving others and where it's different and where it's the same can be really useful," said Marc Cenedella, the founder and chief executive officer of New York-based Knozen. The app, which operates via a work email address when at least seven colleagues in the same company are signed up, poses questions about which colleague is likely to exhibit a particular personality trait such as assertiveness or patience.
The app plots each person’s results on a matrix showing personality traits on a scale of one to five. Users can also see the traits they are more prone to than others. “When we say someone is patient, it means that compared to everyone else they will be more likely to wait longer and not get snappy,” Cenedella explained. He added that greater self-awareness can help people work better in teams by understanding their strengths and weaknesses better. Another free app for iPhone, Good.Co, which is available worldwide, lets people take quizzes to assess their personality and to receive feedback from contacts in their Facebook and LinkedIn networks. The app uses positive questions and provides a score that measures the compatibility of employees with each other and with companies based on personality traits, attitudes and motivations. — Reuters
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Handling office politics important
Agility in office and surviving the politics at workplace are some of the most important factors for career success and the lack of it can put a brake on the professional career of a person even when his/her performance does not slow down, says a survey says.
According to a snap poll on common career derailing factors, during May-June 2014 conducted by HeadHonchos.com, a leading job search portal for mid-management and senior professionals, agility is most crucial for career success. Career-savvy professionals recognise the fact that careers are not just about job performance, says the poll, pointing to agility -- the ability to take on change with a positive attitude and to come up with quick-thinking responses to new realities - as a crucial career skill. Over 1/3rd of professionals (34 per cent) who voted in the poll ranked the failure to be 'agile' as the number one factor that can derail a career. As per Leadership Advisor Lee Colan, agility includes flexibility to stretch your mind to take in new knowledge or information, strength to continue to develop core competencies while absorbing the change around and speed in responding & acting to new developments. The poll findings further said that 31 per cent of respondents said surviving workplace politics is the top issue and a failure in this regard could bring career growth to a grinding halt. A further 23 per cent of respondents believe that the inability to grow into an expanding role is a career concern, putting the focus squarely on personal evolution to keep pace with new responsibilities and finally, 12 per cent respondents believe that the presence of ego issues and a lack of ego management can lead to a career slowdown. Professionals will need to manage ever-growing career complexities, as employees who score high on agility and managing workplace politics become the ones to gain the most. — PTI
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Making the rules
Seerat Toor Grewal
The transition phase when one is entering the professional world from school is very critical and fluid. It is the time when one is not exposed to the new-fangled requirements of the corporate culture. Many new-intakes who bank on their textbook- knowledge to tackle everyday situations usually fall flat in their performance. Also, relying on experience alone isn't a good idea as it will considerable take time before you come to terms with the "what" and "why" of work-life. These times which could have been used for brighter and innovative thinking are actually wasted and land one among the crowd where the same rat-race for promotion starts. The whole idea to stay ahead and win is defeated. The book which is based on bitter-sweet experiences from lives of successful people puts the reader on the trajectory of growth. The author strictly believes that there is no one-size-fits-all solution presented in the book. Instead he has strived to push the reader to introspect, gauge and chart-out one's own set of rules that will take them ahead. Chowdhury has played a balanced act and has enumerated the importance of unlearning in order to learn more. Reading endless books, articles etc. about career management without taking time to reflect on them, is meaningless. The book presents a unique case by stating that it's not the idea but the effective implementation which makes all the difference. This book serves the need for all who are going to step into professional world, one's who are facing a mid-life crisis and are caught-up in some kind of catch 22 situation or the ones who are planning to start some entrepreneurial concern. It strives to bring-out the best in you as it will encourage you to search within yourself and be brutally honest while answering questions which you have always brushed under the rug. This will not only make you more complete and aware but also land you on a new platform from where success will no longer seem to be a distant dream. All the ten chapters have been compiled thoughtfully and the author has definitely done justice to the topic. Beautifully woven anecdotal references qualify the book for a true masterpiece.
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Scholarship Roundup
Eligibility: Candidates must demonstrate proven financial need and be able to provide evidence of their financial accounts. You may be asked to submit additional documentation during the application process. Preference will be given to candidates residing in emerging/developing countries and to those who will have limited access to loans. Details: Average scholarships amount €12,000. Selection Criteria: Applicants will be selected on the basis of need. How to Apply: Apply and submit essays online (one application for all awards). In addition, please forward supporting documents (no originals or legal certification required), irrespective of campus choice, to the MBA Financing Office. List of documents required:
Copies can be sent by e-mail: Finance-MBA.FB@insead.edu or by fax or by regular mail. Deadline: Supporting documents have to be submitted by July 21, 2014 (Round 2) and by September 26, 2014 (Round 3) for December 15 Class. Check out: http://mba.insead.edu/ PhD at CBMR Applications are invited for PhD positions from eligible JRF qualified candidates at Centre of Biomedical Research (CBMR). Candidates who are interested in pursuing research in interdisciplinary areas are encouraged to apply. Study Subject (s): Positions are available for a research project entitled "Mechanistic and Structural Biology of Peptides/Proteins of Biomedical Relevance Using NMR in combination with molecular modelling and MD simulations". Candidates who are interested in pursuing research in interdisciplinary areas are encouraged to apply. Eligibility: The applicant should have master's degree in Life Sciences/Biochemistry/Biotechnology/Microbiology/ Bioinformatics with a good academic record and should be CSIR/UGC-JRF, ICMR-JRF, or DBT-JRF qualified. Details: The position will include Rs 16,000 + HRA (or as per the norms of funding agency). Selection Criteria: Selection will be based on the following criteria:
How to Apply: Applicant should send: a brief statement of purpose regarding his/her interest in structural biology and detailed Curriculum Vitae, preferably, by email at (dineshcbmr@gmail.com) or by post. Deadline: July 31, 2014. Check out: http://cbmr.res.in/
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Course Cruising
Eligibility: Candidates should be having a bachelor's or master's degree in any discipline from any university or an examination recognised equivalent to or should have passed the final examination conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India or equivalent or Institute of Company Secretaries of India or equivalent or Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India or equivalent with working experience. Candidates should have at least 50 per cent marks in graduation/PG. How to apply: The Application form and ordinances can be downloaded from the website www.punjabiuniversity.ac.in Completed application forms are to be submitted to the Head, School of Management Studies, Punjabi University, Patiala, along with a bank draft of Rs.1500 drawn in favour of Registrar, Punjabi University, Patiala. Deadline: Last date of submission of application without late fees is July 14, 2014 and with late fees of Rs.500 is July 21, 2014. Check out: http://punjabiuniversity.ac.in/pbiuniweb/admissionnoticesnew.html PGPEX programme at IIMC India's first national institute for Post-Graduate studies and Research in Management — Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC) has announced the commencement of online submission of admission forms for the PGPEX course. This will be the 9th successful year of this residential programme providing a combination of theoretical knowledge, innovative problem solving skills, orientation of ethics and human values, case discussions, experience sharing and networking opportunities for the middle and senior level executives. The course: The PGPEX programme gives mid-career professionals an ideal platform to augment their existing skill sets as they endeavour to arm themselves to face challenging roles in the industry. The course is generally self-funded, but loan assistance is also provided. The PGPEX students are required to undertake an international immersion module as part of their curriculum. This module provides an opportunity to the students to work in a group preferably in a cross-cultural environment to address complex business issues. The international immersion is a combination of factory visits, short industry internships and attending a few classes at international business schools, over a period of 2 weeks, which this year is from 28th July to 8th August 2014. This year, the PGPEX students will be going to Mannheim Business School, Germany and Ashridge Business School, United Kingdom in 2 groups between July 28 and August 8, 2014 for their immersion. While 25 students will be going to Ashridge Business School for the Global Leadership Immersion Module, 25 students will be going to Mannheim for the module "Doing Business in Germany. Eligibility:
Selection procedure: Based on academic background, professional experience, GMAT score, personal interview, statement of purpose and recommendation letters. IIMC will be organising 'PGPExplain' on July 12, 2014. 'PGPExplain' is an event organized by IIM Calcutta in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata simultaneously on the same day where aspiring candidates (for PGPEX) can meet the faculty and alumni and discuss the programme details, admission processes, and expected takeaways from the programme. Check out: www.iimcal.ac.in BTech courses KIIT College of Engineering Gurgaon invites application for its engineering courses B.Tech - CSE, ECE, EEE, Civil, Mechanical and M.Tech- CSE, ECE for the academic session 2014-15. Eligibility: Candidates should have completed 10+2 examination from a recognised board/ with physics, chemistry and mathematics. Application forms can be purchased from the institute office or from the website Candidates appearing in final examination 2013 can also apply. Applications forms can be purchased from the Institute office or campus. Selection procedure: It is based on entrance exams, group discussion, personal interview, past academic record, extra-curricular activities and Work Experience. Deadline: July 30 2014. Check out: www.kiit.in; E-mail: info@kiit.in (M) 9811-62-67-67. KIIT Group of Colleges, KIIT Campus, Sohna Road, Near Bhondsi, Gurgaon-122102. Diploma in Fashion Styling JD Institute of Fashion Technology invites applications for British certificate Residential program in Fashion Styling at JD Campus, London. The course: The programme offers the students an in-depth understanding of the subject. Form transformation from an inspiration to final design is taught through various interactive sessions and under the guidance of the best faculties there. The residential programme also offers the students to be a first-hand genius and guard them to dedicate changes to the environment. The course strengthens the unique vision of the students, which will challenge them to constantly break new ground with new ideas. Duration: 1 Month Eligibility: Applicant should have passed 10+2 from a recognised board in any discipline. How to apply: Application forms are available at JD Institute of Fashion Technology, Hauz Khas Village. Deadline: August 25, 2014.
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Happiness @ work
Patriot Chandra Shekhar Azad ran away from home in Bhanwra village, Madhya Pradesh, with a pearl dealer. On reaching Bombay, he began working as a painter’s assistant at the docks. But after a few months, he realised that that sort of work wouldn’t benefit him in the long run. So, he went to Varanasi and enrolled himself in a Sanskrit ‘pathshala’. That education helped him while he was on the run after the Kakori train robbery on August 9, 1925. At Dhimarpur village near Jhansi, he posed as a Hanuman devotee at a temple there to escape from the police and later began teaching at the village school. After his insult at the Nanda court, Chanakya began looking for an alternative to the Nanda Kings. Instead of wasting resources on training a commoner to be a king, he chose Chandragupta, a descendent of the Nandas but born to a “low-caste” woman. Little Ram, a poor, illiterate Brahmin boy from Mahuli, took up the job of a menial at the household of Anagal Saheb in Satara. One day, he was fascinated by the pearl earrings of his master and wanted to wear those. But Anagal told him to “become worthy of them”. So — at the age of 16 — Ram reached Varanasi and joined a school. After 12 years, he graduated as Ram Shastri, who went on to become the Chief Justice under the Peshwas of Maharashtra. Not wanted at home at Sihi village, near Delhi, for being blind, Soordas began staying near a lake outside the village. His sixth sense and devotional songs earned him the respect of the villagers who took care of him. But Soordas realised that these worldly possessions were blocking his spiritual uplift. So he left the place and reached Runakta. There too, he was engulfed by the love of the residents. Leaving Runakta, he wandered about till he reached the Gaughat near Mathura. Here he composed hundreds of songs in Krishna’s praise. To succeed, right attitude is as vital as aptitude. — Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
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Fortnightly quiz 468
2. Who scored the goal for Germany in the 2014 football 3. Who was awarded the Golden Ball award in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final? 4. Who won the Golden Boot award in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final? 5. Who won the Golden Glove award in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final? 6. Name the coach of the German football team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil. 7. By what margin did Germany defeat Brazil in the recent Football World Cup? 8. Which Indian city has become the world's second most populous one after Tokyo, according to a recent UN report? 9. Who won the men's singles Wimbledon title this year? 10. Name the two England players who recently created a world record in Test cricket by scoring 198 runs for the 10th wicket?
—Tarun Sharma Winners of quiz 467: The first prize by draw of lots goes to G.Swetha; Class V-B, DAV Senior Secondary Public School; Phase -10, Mohali; Pin Code -160062 Second: Dishika Goyal; Class X-A; Little Flower Convent School; Mangwal (Sangrur); Pin Code - 148001 Third: Bhanu Sharma; Class IX-A; DAV Public Senior Secondary School; Rajpura; Pin Code -140401 Answers to quiz 467: Kulu; 1954; June 26; 100; 32; Baltal route and Pahalgam rote; Mandi; Gas Authority of India Limited; Saina Nehwal; Uruguay 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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Which career is the hottest off the block at the IITs today? Which field is offering 40-50 per cent higher joining salaries to students? And, which is the exciting new field for those with a natural knack for maths and stats? The answer to all three questions is Data Analytics — “The sexiest new job of the 21st century”, according to a recent report on CNBC. Data Analytics, as the name suggests, is the scientific process of analysing data through the use of strong techniques and tools and deriving business insights from raw data to support decision-making. With the explosion of internet users and mountains of data, the demand for data analytic specialists is enormous. These data scientists know how to manage this tsunami of information, spot patterns within it and draw conclusions and insights. Organisations today realise that they have gigantic amounts of data, which they have not been able to use for profitable business purpose.
Q.I want to go for aircraft maintenance engineering. Please tell me how to proceed. —
Satbir singh chahal
Q.After doing BA Eco (Hons), I'm doing LL.B (final year). I am interested in corporate law. The problem is that I can't decide whether to go for LL.M or MBA? If I opt for the former, from where in India or abroad should I do the course? Or should I just go for a job after completing my LL.B? I am terribly confused. —
Dhanajay krishna
Q.I have done MBA with specialisation in Finance. Presently, I am working with ICICI Securities. I am interested in becoming a fund manager. What are the special skills required to be a successful fund manager. —
T. Srinivas
The world's largest sporting carnival FIFA World Cup has just been wrapped up; it also provided some extremely insightful lessons. The people who make it on the field are case studies on their own. The safest presumption one makes about them is of the thousands of hours of practice that they put in to get a chance to represent their country in this prestigious event. In fact, practice, practice and practice is the only mantra and the most important criteria for success in any competitive field, be it sports or clearing the competitive exams like JEE and AIPMT. The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for admission into India's premier engineering institutes, the IITs, is among the toughest out there.
It's time to deliver your promises. And the only difference between merely satisfactory delivery and great delivery is attention to detail…
Science: If you have analytical ability, coupled with a high degree of creativity and intellectual curiosity, scientific research is the career for you. You would be required to study natural and physical phenomena, from diseases and global warming to atomic fission and ecology for private and public and nonprofit sectors. While you would be working in the private sector, you would generally work under tighter time frames. Your job would be to turn ideas and hypotheses into products that will sell. You would be working in R &D and Quality assurance sector developing and testing new products, and finding ways to make production processes more efficient and lean.
Jewellery designing is a fascinating subject, one that makes you want to spend hours together trying to appreciate the sharp cuts of a rare gem. After all, the jewellery piece will be going to be the centre of somebody's universe. Apart from being interesting, it also paves the way for a career that pays you well and makes you rub heels with the best in any business. After all the elite of the society try to outshine each other by owning a Tiffany ring or a Cartier's Parcours d'un Style Collection. Add to that the fact that India is the world's largest jewellery market, well you are beginning to get the picture, aren't you?
Career scope:
Many new generation companies are looking at the social media profiles of prospective employees and using these as a filter along with resume. Companies are especially interested in the recommendations and endorsements that candidates have on social media accounts like LinkedIn.
Personal branding experts are now beginning to recommend that candidates start a blog so that they can showcase their expertise and knowledge to future employers. The benefits of blogs are that they:
At a time when employers in India are struggling to find suitable candidates against vacant positions, HR experts are betting on internal talent management tools such as cross-functional promotions that help in resolving manpower crisis in any organisation.
This is a very accessible read for all those who are standing at crossroads of their careers and are afraid to take the next step. It compels the reader to think beyond oneself and present a newer and improved version in-front of the world. The language is simple and the logic clear. The text is supported by ample examples from the lives and saying of famous leaders in India and abroad. Chowdhury believes that anyone who is able to outperform one's previous threshold with grit and a burning desire to make a difference to the world is successful in the true sense of the world. Academic or professional success are mere parameters which help gauge the level of success in a particular activity. However, success is more in terms of a lifetime than just a career-which forms a small portion of it. The parameters so-defined are case-specific and are liable to change with time. It is a thread of small accomplishments which once seemed big.
Applications are invited for need-based scholarships for international students to study MBA programme. Preference will be given to candidates residing in emerging/developing countries and for those with a marked socio-economic disadvantage. To be considered for any one of these scholarships (listed below) only one application is required. Successful candidates will receive only one of these awards. The awards are: IAF Diversity, INSEAD Alumni Association (IAA), MBA Class Reunions, Greek Friends of INSEAD, Financial Aid, the Gabel Family and the Bischoff Family, INSEAD Diversity, Ian Potter '93D and Family Endowed Asia, MBA '89D Endowed, Antonio Borges Endowed, Deepak and Sunita Gupta Endowed, Sam Akiwumi Endowed and the Russian Alumni Scholarships. For some IAF Diversity scholarships the alumni will actively encourage those receiving an award to make their own contribution to the Alumni Fund.
School of Management Studies, Punjabi University, Patiala, has invited applications for admission to MBA (CC) Programme for the session 2014-2015.
To reach the pinnacle of success, it is vital that you begin at a position not lower than what your skills set allows. Otherwise, the journey to the top will become an unnecessarily long one. After his marriage to Janakiammal in 1909, mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan started looking for a job to make both ends meet. But the lack of a college degree made things difficult. When he met mathematician R Ramaswami Iyer, founder of the Indian Mathematical Society, Iyer didn’t want to “give this young man a low-level government job and smother his genius”. Ramanujan’s big break came when he wrote to GH Hardy at the Cambridge University on January 16, 1913.
1. How many times has Germany won the football World Cup?
