indian economic services
Empower the economic resurgence
Gauri Chhabra

Does the topic of ever- increasing prices, bank interest rates, the announcement of the annual Budget interest you? Are you curious about economic advice, regulation of money and generation of employment opportunities? Do you wish to be a part of the excitement of making economic policies? If the answer to all these questions is yes, then Indian Economic Services (IES) is the right option for you.

The Indian Economic Service (IES) is the administrative civil service under Grade A of the Central Civil Services of the executive branch of the Government of India. It was constituted in 1961 with the objective of institutionalising a core professional capacity within the government to undertake economic analysis and render advice for designing and formulating development policies, strengthening delivery systems, and monitoring and evaluating the public programmes. With the initiation of large-scale economic reforms in 1991 and the proliferation of the regulatory role of the government, such analysis and advice within the domain of the service has escalated exponentially.

The work

By opting for Indian Economic Services, your role would include providing economic advice, economic administration, and implementation of development programmes, besides dealing with other areas such as economic reforms, regulation, price fixation, monitoring and evaluation of various economic policies and reforms.

Getting in

At the entry grade of IES i.e. Junior Time Scale (Grade-IV), 60 per cent of the posts are filled through direct recruitment and the remaining 40 per cent by promotion of feeder post holders. Direct recruitment is on the basis of an All-India open competitive examination called the IES Examination, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission normally in the month of November. The notification for conduct of the Examination will, as far as possible, announce the number of vacancies including reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Physically Disabled categories and Other Backward Classes to be filled, as indicated by the Cadre Controlling Authority.The 40 per cent departmental promotion quota at the entry-level is filled by promotion of Economic Officers or officers holding equivalent posts recognised for this purpose as feeder grade by the Cadre Controlling Authority.

Eligibility

The candidates should have a postgraduate degree in Economics/Applied Economics/Business Economics/Econometrics from a recognised university. Final year students awaiting results can also apply.

The minimum age criteria is 21 years and candidates should not be more than 30 years old on the first day of January of the year in which the examination is held, subject to relaxation in the upper age limit for such categories as notified by the government from time to time.

Test structure

The IES examination is structured into: (i) Written Examination [consisting of papers viz. General English (100 marks), General Knowledge (100), Economics Paper-I (200), Economics Paper-II (200), Economics Paper-III (200) and Indian Economy (200)]; followed by (ii) Viva-voce (200). Economics Papers-I, II and III include mainstream Economics topics such as Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Public Finance, International Economics, Monetary Economics, Growth and Development, Econometrics and Environmental Economics.

Qualifying candidates are called for viva-voce by UPSC. Candidates are also required to undergo Medical Examination Part-I (i.e. Medical Examination minus X-Ray examination of Chest) by the Central Standing Medical Board. Offer of appointment would be made in case you are declared fit consequent to the medical examination, and after receipt of your satisfactory character verification reports.

Training

After being offered appointment, you will have to undergo a comprehensive probationary training comprising the Foundation Course conducted for the All India Services and the Central Civil Services, training on Economics at the Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi, and training at various national-level Institutes of repute across the country. Besides, an ongoing capacity-building programme in case of serving officers is carried out by conducting various in-service training programmes building up professional capacity at work as well as in developing soft skills. The flagship in-service training programme is the mid-career training of six-week duration comprising domestic learning and foreign learning component. Officers of the service are required to participate in three such mid-career training courses at different phases in their career.

Role and responsibilities

Your entry in the IES would mean you would be working on a broad spectrum like finance, rural development, education, health, agriculture, industry, trade, transport, IT and the like. Even if you are in the nucleus of cadre posts as in the Planning Commission, you would be taking care of snags in development across various sectors and industries and play a pivotal role in both planning and formulating policies pertaining to micro and macro level economic issues. With the economic reforms ushering a whiff of fresh air into the economy since 1991, IES has emerged as a significant arena in providing economic expertise that is well placed to meet the growing demand for analytical economic inputs for policy-making in the government.

You would also be required to ensure that policy pursued by individual departments is consistent with the overall direction of economic policy contained in the Union Budget, Five-Year Plans, etc.. The Economic Advisors posted in different ministries/departments interact with the Chief Economic Advisor in the Department of Economic Affairs, on a continuous basis, and ensure that economic implications of policy changes are analysed comprehensively, and they also facilitate individual departments to spearhead reforms in the direction envisaged by the government.

Career pathways The Indian Economics Service (IES) offers many career offshoots. You would be placed in the Planning Commission, Planning Board, Ministry of Economic Affairs, National Sample Survey and other allied offices. You would start your career as Assistant Director. The existing hierarchy in the service is as follows: Higher Administrative Grade (*Principal/Chief Advisor) Higher Administrative Grade (*Senior Economic Advisor / Senior Advisor, Senior Administrative Grade (*Economic Advisor) Non-Functional Selection Junior Administrative Grade (*Joint Director/ Deputy Economic Adviser/Deputy Adviser, Equivalent to the posts of Deputy Secretary to the Government India) Senior Time Scale (*Deputy Director/ Assistant Adviser/ Assistant Commissioner/Senior Research Officer, Equivalent to Under Secretary to the Govt. of India) Junior Time Scale(*Assistant Director)

IES Services The service is an inter-ministerial and inter-departmental service. You would be required to work in departments dealing with economic and social sectors. In the rapidly globalising environment, decision-making is increasingly guided by economic rationality. Besides cadre posts, you can be sent on deputation to serve in various domestic and international organisations such as UN bodies, foreign governments, state governments and regulatory bodies. Officers from the service are also appointed on deputation to posts in the Central Departments under the Central Staffing Scheme.

— The writer is a Punjab-based career consultant

Career Hotline
Pervin Malhotra
email your queries to careers@tribunemail.com

Logistics management

Q.Can you please throw some light on the logistics sector in the country? What is the difference between Logistics & Supply Chain Management? Is this the right time to contemplate a career in this field? — lavesh sirohi

A.Well first of all, let me explain what logistics means. In layman terms it’s concerned with the transportation and storage of goods. The growth of the logistics sector is directly linked to the growth of the economy. The sector is expected to grow at an average rate of 15-20 per cent during the current and the next year. This would place the total size of the sector at about $385 billion. Logistics is an umbrella term that encompasses various segments such as road transportation, rail transportation, warehousing, cargo movement by sea, express cargo, cold chains etc.

Logistics Management primarily deals with transportation and movement of goods.

Supply Chain Management, on the other hand, is a broader concept that includes logistics. It encompasses various aspects such as procurement, material management, inventory management, production management etc. As far as contemplating a career in this field is concerned, well there couldn’t be a better time. The new government is focusing on making India a production hub for the world. This in turn, would definitely throw up a huge demand in the times to come for supply chain professionals.

How is GPA calculated?

Q.What exactly is GPA, and how is it calculated when you study abroad? — nakul baweja

A. Grade-point average (GPA) is a standard formula used by almost all colleges and universities, particularly in the US, for evaluating the overall performance of students.

At the end of a term, each professor evaluates your work and your test results to determine your grade in the course. At most US universities and colleges, you’ll be given a letter grade with a numerical equivalent. This number will be used, along with your other grades, to determine your Grade Point Average. Grade points are evaluated by first multiplying the number of hours (units, credit, or credit hours) assigned for a course by the numerical value of the grade and then dividing the sum of all grade points by the total number of hours carried. The most common system of numerical value for grades is A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, and E or F=0. The values assigned to each letter grade may differ at some schools.

Pre-programmed calculators are available on websites like www.usnews.com to help you calculate your GPA in a jiffy. Students in the US work very hard to maintain an above-average GPA because it caries considerable weight at the time of recruitment as well as for admission to graduate (Our PG) degree programmes. 

What are the prospects for microbiology students? Q. I am in final year of BSc Microbiology and would like to pursue a master’s-level course in this field. Can you guide me as to the prospects and different specialisations in this field? — Kamaljeet Sondhi A. Microbiology occupies a central place in life sciences as it seeks to explain all phenomena of life at the molecular level. The microbiologist investigates the role of micro organisms in human and animal diseases, seeking ways to prevent and cure them. This is a highly challenging and fascinating interdisciplinary science which overlaps with other areas of biology, and chemistry like microbiology and particularly genetics and biochemistry. The general study of microbiology entails the study of the basic features of micro-organisms i.e. ecology, genetics, metabolism, physiology and structure. Cell biology studies the properties of cells including their physiological properties, their structure, their organelles, interactions with their environment, their life cycle, division and death. Molecular and cellular biology are interrelated, since most of the properties and functions of a cell can be described at the molecular level. Like all other life sciences, it examines and solves a broad range of critical biological problems i.e. designing, producing and testing new drugs to treat AIDS, cancer, asthma, diabetes or new peptides to fight bacterial infection. A lot of work is under way in new areas such as gene mapping, gene therapy and drug delivery systems using advanced DNA technologies. Starting from the evolution of the cell and small molecules, your study of microbiology at the bachelor’s level would have covered energy, biosynthesis, macromolecules, protein function, basic genetic mechanisms, recombinant DNA technology, control of gene expression membrane, ionic basis of membrane excitability, intracellular compartments and protein sorting, cell signalling, the cytoskeleton, maintenance of tissues, and the immune system. At the master’s level you’ll learn various computational methods, including molecular mechanics, molecular dynamics, pharmacophore mapping and modelling (plotting the spatial arrangement of a small number of atoms or functional groups) and some software packages. Theory will be complemented with considerable lab work and experiments. Some of the specialisations in microbiology are: Agricultural Microbiologists study the role of microorganisms in soil fertility and spoilage of farm products by plant diseases. Industrial Microbiologists use microorganisms to produce products such as alcoholic beverages, amino acids, antibiotics, citric acids and vitamins. Medical Microbiologists study the effects of microorganisms on the immunity of living beings. Marine Microbiologists study microorganisms obtained in the ocean. If you are fascinated by the beauty and intricacies of the tiniest life forms and are prepared to work hard, this can be an extremely challenging and promising field. You will essentially work on research programmes at institutes, pharmaceutical and agri-biotech firms and universities to provide accurate and reliable diagnostic data based on modern molecular methods to cure various diseases and develop new and high yielding breeds of plants. You could even work as a DNA fingerprinting expert or work on research projects at the global level. Be prepared to study till PhD-level though, if you want to be involved in serious, ground-breaking research. This will also open up options for you to work in research and development (R&D) departments in industry, public sector laboratories, universities and hospitals. Research organisations like CSIR, ICMR, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Indian Institute of Science, Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Institute of Microbiology, Center for Cellular & Molecular Biology and defense labs recruit microbiologists. The food processing industry, biotech and bio-process based industries also require microbiologists in large numbers.

scholarship roundup

Sydney Achievers International scholarships

University of Sydney is offering Sydney Achievers International Scholarships for new international students. The scholarships are available for pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses commencing from 2015.

Eligibility:

For undergraduate: Applicants must have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification or an international senior secondary qualification accepted by the university with outstanding results, as deemed by the University of Sydney.

• Students completing Foundation Studies Programmes offered by Australian or New Zealand universities are eligible.
• Students who have already commenced/completed tertiary studies, or students transferring with credit exemptions and/or advanced standing, are not eligible.

Selection criteria: Selection will be based strictly on academic merit.

How to apply: A candidate must receive an Unconditional Offer of Admission. Applicants receiving an Unconditional Offer of Admission for will be invited to lodge an Expression of Interest.

Deadline: The application deadline for undergraduate admission is September 30, 2014 and for masters admission is January 30, 2015 of the same year.

Check out: http://sydney.edu.au/scholarships

Fellowships for mid-career academics

Applications are invited for Commonwealth academic fellowships available for mid-career academics from developing Commonwealth countries. The scholarships are being provided by the UK Department for International Development (DFID). These fellowships enable fellows to spend three months to network and update knowledge and skills related to their academic subject and responsibilities at any approved UK university or higher education institution.

Eligibility: Candidates should:

• Be permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country
• Be available to commence their Fellowship in the United Kingdom on October 1, 2015.
• Have been employed for at least five years as an academic staff member of a university in a developing Commonwealth country

Deal with maths anxiety
Change in teaching approach can make the subject easily understandable by students
Yugank Goyal

Recently, four young and illustrious mathematicians won the Fields Medals. This is one of the rare moments when blank mathematical surfaces in popular imaginations of India (and many such math-prizes-malnourished countries) began getting inked. Indeed, last week, our narrative broke and we were uncomfortably reminded of how badly our children performed in mathematics in school in their last exam. Perhaps some of them were even shown the newspaper stories, which featured an Indian origin Princeton mathematician, Manjul Bhargava.

Browse through any study guide book shelf and you will only see math-anxiety books. Not literature-anxiety, physics-anxiety or commerce-anxiety. There have been studies on the subject specific horror that mathematics contains. The first math-anxiety scale was developed in 1972, by Richardson and Suinn and has been succeeded by newer scales. Several studies have shown that math-anxiety is related to poor performance in maths achievement tests, and also connected with avoidance of the subject. This means that students may suffer from math-anxiety because they don’t practice it, and they don’t practice it because they are math-anxious. It then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Recently, according to a research conducted in University of Chicago, which relied on brain scans, math-anxiety manifests during anticipation of having to do math, and not while doing it actually. Where does the problem lie? It definitely does not lie in us. After all, we use mathematical thinking in problems of everyday world. Nor does the problem lie in the subject. Maths is the only subject whose principles have remained unchanged for more than two millennia!

It is because of the way this subject is instructed to us in the classroom.

Let’s face it — mathematics is abstract. It relies on tautology. We know that 2+2=4; but here, I define both 2 and 4. (Perhaps that’s where the name comes from – Greek word, ta mathemata, meaning knowing something you already know.) Numbers are abstract elements. It is difficult to imagine or define a number without relating any physical object to it. One cannot see it. One cannot express it in isolation of the world. One cannot discuss, debate or alter it. And yet in schools we are all made to operate on numbers as if these exist all around us. Students go through class after class trying to solve trigonometry, coordinate geometry, calculus or probability, without being able to learn anything. They are made to calculate elements they have no relation to. And it only becomes denser.

This does not happen in chemistry for example, or history. Chemistry lets you undertake an experiment, and you see, relate and theorize it. History is a narrative, which grows on the soil nourished by the existing frameworks of historical imaginations of our own past. Mathematics on the other hand exists only in the mind. Hence, it cannot be instructed the way other subjects are. This is the reason because of which often students who are good in mathematics are not very good in other subjects, and vice versa. Inherently, mathematics is a different subject. Actually it is a way of thinking, not a subject. It cannot be drilled like a machine, with expectations that it will fit inside the skull like another subject perhaps does. Other subjects fit in because these can be related to whatever already exists in the mind. Mathematics has to be floated gradually inside, only after locating the orifices from where it can seep in.

To locate these mind-orifices, the teacher needs to do two things: first, understand the purpose of mathematics, because only through that can one can find out what kind of orifice is needed; and second, dust off the hidden orifices to remove the clogging frameworks that children adopt from their environment, which is highly physical and sensory. Mathematics need opening up of creativity and imagination.

The purpose of mathematics is not to be able to calculate. We have computers to do that. Its purpose is to impart the exercise of logic and reasoning. Students need to understand why the sum of angles in any triangle will always be 180° not just by inductive reasoning (making several triangles and measuring the angles), but also by proving it deductively (proving a theorem). Such reasoning offers undisputable truths, and inspires the power of certainty amongst students. Students learn not how to draw a picture, but to imagine one. They see invisible things, and create images. This can be addictive indeed.

It also enables children to reconstitute newer frames of imaginations that their experiences have hidden from them. When they are shown how mathematics is the language of nature (occurrence of Fibonacci series in nature, laws of motion, spider webs and fractals all around us), they begin configuring physical problems into the mathematical ones. It offers them a whole new world of thinking. It opens the potential of their minds hitherto untouched. This requires a sensitive instruction, creative teaching and empathetic pedagogy. It requires reassertion and encouragement to the students that they all can think in mathematical language.

Sadly however, incalculable harm has been done by making mathematics, a dry subject in its treatment like any other. Students are made to memorise formulas (without proofs) and asked to battle in the exercise sheet with it. We make students who can calculate, not think. This fits into creating a technocratic society with administrators, rather than imaginative thinkers. There is little effort to unlock their creative thinking, so that before solving a problem, they are able to see it in their minds, and can come up with creative ways to address it. If they are taught to reason, and to logically approach a problem, much of their learning in mathematics can be automatic. No wonder that in ancient Greek (and even in modern times), many mathematicians were also philosophers. Children often see math problems as someone speaking a language they don’t understand. They recede and become anxious about the subject.

Manjul Bhargava has asserted how important it is to design a creative instruction for mathematics. One needs to sensitise abstract reasoning through different pedagogical tools, and then invoke reality at every step. Students who are good in mathematics have perhaps developed this abstract imagination through their experiences.

Indeed, others solely depend on their teachers. The real headline stealer of this year’s Fields Medal story is that of Maryam Mirzakhani from Iran, being the first woman to win this award (111 years after first woman won a Nobel – Marie Curie in 1903 in Physics). When she joined middle school in Tehran, Mirzakhani did poorly in her mathematics class. Her maths teacher didn’t think highly of her, and this lowered her confidence. By her own admission, she had lost interest in the subject. The next year, Mirzakhani had a more encouraging teacher and her performance improved enormously. She never looked back.

Mathematics is art. It is not a subject. It cannot make a technocratic society, only an imaginative one. The sooner we accept it, the better it will be for our younger generations.

— The writer is an engineer who teaches mathematics at Jindal School of Liberal Arts and Humanities 

subject matter: gerontology
Mature gains
Usha Albuquerque

Gerontology is the study of aging and older adults. It is the branch of science that focuses on what happens to us as we get older. It is the study of the aging process and the problems that the elderly might encounter. Here are some disturbing facts related to aging population in our country:

• India has the second largest elderly (60+) population in the world
• 80 per cent are in rural areas
• 40 per cent are below poverty line
• over 73 per cent are illiterate.
• about 90 per cent of the old people have no official social security (i.e., without PF, Gratuity and Pension etc).

So if you are interested in this field of work, enjoy working with older people and have effective oral and written communication skills, this could provide challenging opportunities. Gerontologists must also have compassion and patience for elderly people and must have a genuine interest in improving the lives of older people. Besides these, one should have listening skills, commitment to excel in their respective field, self confidence and problem solving ability.

Institute watch Institute of Home Economics (IHE) www.ihe-du.com Course: PG diploma in Health and Social gerontology National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) socialjustice.nic.in/ Course: One-year PG diploma course in Geriatric care Tata Institutes of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai www.tiss.edu/ Course: One-year part-time diploma in Gerontology National Institute of Social Defence, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, offers certificate course in geriatric care. Calcutta Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology www.cmig.in Course: One-year P.G. Diploma in Gerontology & Age Management Centre For Gerontological Studies, Thiruvananthapuram The KMM Academy of Health Sciences www.geriatricsindiacenter.com Course: Certificate courses in gerontology. Kochi, Nightingales Medical Trust, Bangalore, www.nightingaleseldercare.com Course : Certificate courses in gerontology PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Peelamedu, Coimbatore Course : Certificate courses in gerontology

— The writer is Director Careers Smart Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi

career scape: international business 
Word is your oyster
Paroma Mitra Mukherjee

The world has become a small village now and companies are competing with their core competencies. Due to technological advancement which allows instantaneous information transfer for facilitating business transactions, the scope of economic boundaries laid down by the nations has been reduced substantially. Furthermore, growing distribution networks, supply chains, and transportation hubs have simplified the movement of products expeditiously across the nations. The broad networks of worldwide financial institutions have also reduced the issues related to currency to the periphery. As a result an increasing number of business professionals specialising in the nuances of international trade are required for the servicing the needs of customers around the world.

Opportunities

IB offers an ample scope for a successful career in international and transnational corporations. Candidates after completing master’s degree/ diploma in IB find jobs in the export companies, public sector houses, international banks and companies having subsidiaries in other countries. Graduates with IB specialisation are required in export houses, merchandisers, custom clearing houses, special economic zones, dry ports, ports, logistics and transportation corporations, state trading corporations, shipping companies/corporations, directorate general of foreign trade and pre-shipment and post-shipment quality control labs.

Export Marketing: These firms require marketing graduates with IB specialisation for promoting overseas sales, searching new business hubs and potential markets globally. Export houses also look for international marketing professionals for suggesting suitable strategies to predict demand and find potential buyers abroad. Media reporting and journalism related to import-export and commodity-specific reporting can also be a good opportunity for young people having a flair for IB in print and electronic media.

Regulatory Compliance: For those with expertise in issues related to international trade legislations, negotiations and research, can find a suitable position in WTO, UNCTAD, IMF, World Bank, Regional Trade Blocks and trade associations. A degree in IB aided with a qualification in law would be sufficient to grab several opportunities available in this sector.

International Finance: People possessing analytical skills and background in international finance along with IB occupy different positions in finance department of banks and other financial institutions. Nowadays banks have their own separate wings for foreign exchange transactions, export finance, risk management and consultancy in international financial management where every task related to foreign exchange dealings and export import finance is performed e.g. letter of credit etc. Thus, banks also appoint specialised people in international finance, foreign exchange, risk management and currency derivatives. Such professionals are also required in insurance companies particularly those engaged in marine insurance activities. International accounting is also an area where the experts in accounting operations could be utilised in multinational corporations and firms engaged in IB operations. These professionals are required for ensuring compliance of international accounting norms and standards.

Entrepreneurship: This is another lucrative career option for those with expertise in international trade practices. Professionals having requisite experience in export-import documentation can establish their offices in dry ports, special economic zones (SEZs) and export processing zones (EPZs) and provide services to the clients (in this case exporters and importers) related to varied procedural requirements of export and import.

Consultants: In addition, as another lucrative career option, IB professionals can also opt to become “consultants” . In this role, they are responsible for providing relevant and up-to-date information about various aspects of global business development and regulatory compliance issues faced by multinational companies. They guide companies about foreign business investment opportunities, competitive environment and even information about business practices and legal implications of owning and operating a business in another country. Risk analysis and business analysis based on research also forms a part of his responsibility.

Education: Despite the increasing demand for experts in IB management, there is an acute dearth of faculty in IB in various management institutions offering and planning to offer these courses. If you have flair for acquiring and disseminating your knowledge in IB, enormous opportunities are available in teaching and research profession.

— The writer is Assistant Professor, at Asia-Pacific Institute of Management, New Delhi

Skill set IB broadly comprises knowledge of international economics, regulations governing international trade operations and foreign exchange markets apart from export-import legislations, policies and documentation. International trade operations cover myriad specialised functions such as quality control, standardisation, multinational production systems and other global supply chain activities viz. global sourcing, packing, insurance, shipments, logistics, custom clearance, merchandising etc. The issues related to international taxation, research and development, export processing zones, regional trade blocks, multi-lateral and bilateral trade agreements also require specialised knowledge in international business. In addition, a large number of professionals, who can understand international trade and business, are also required to manage human resources globally. The specific skills and knowledge required for this purpose pertain to professional ability to operate successfully in cross cultural business environment. International trade and businesses accordingly offer tremendous scope in terms of employment and entrepreneurial opportunities globally.

course cruising

Family business programme

Indian School of Busines (ISB), Hyderabad is inviting applications for Management preogramme for Family Business (MFAB). The course is a comprehensive general management programme designed for young business leaders of family businesses who intend to manage their business and for individuals who aspire to work in family business. The programme draws from best management practices in family business from across the globe and aims to groom business scions in areas like planning, objective setting and astute management of their family’s business. While each family’s situation is unique, there are many best practices which can be applied to all family businesses. The course content will be contextualised to the needs of family business. It helps participants understand their business better, prepares them to sustain it through phases of transition and to grow it in an environment of increased competition.

Eligibility: Bachelors’ degree or an equivalent qualification (like CA, etc.) Applicants should have completed the bachelor’s degree as the time of submitting the application.

No work experience is required for admission. However, an experience of 4-5 years will add a lot of value

Early application deadline: October 30, 2014

Final application deadline: November 30, 2014

Application fee: A non- refundable application fee will have to be paid at the time of submission of the application. Payments can be made only via credit card. It also includes the fee for BAT. The fee amount is dependent on the date when the application is submitted.

Fee for Early Applications will be Rs 5000 (Applications submitted by October 30, 2014).

The application fee for final deadline will be Rs 15,000.

Check out: mfab.isb.edu

Law course

National Law University, New Delhi is inviting applications for Certificate/Diploma Course in Competition Policy and Law. This is India’s first ever professional course for students and working professionals In the areas of law, economics, business management, CAs, Company Secretaries etc. The enforcement of competition law and its pervasive presence across the sectors and business function is creating a high demand for competition professionals. These courses, specially designed by practicing experts, to inculcate necessary knowledge and skills, amongst the participants to deal with the issues relating to anti- competitive agreements, abuse of dominance, mergers and acquisitions, IPRs, etc. and would greatly enhance career opportunities and provide early mover advantage. The classes will be scheduled on weekends in Delhi. For other places, on-line classes will be held.

Eligibility: Graduation in any discipline from a recognized University or Students in final year of Graduation or Students who have completed first three years of graduation programme of five- year integrated programme

Duration: Six months for the Certificate course and one year for Diploma course

Deadline: September 30, 2014 Check out: www.circ.in/cpl or http://nludelhi.ac.in/ or write at : courses@circ.in.

newsboard

King’s College London course at Doon School

The Doon School and King’s College London is inviting applications for the first ‘Winter at Doon with King’s College London Course’ that will take place from December 7– 19 at The Doon School, Dehradun. The programme aims to develop the necessary academic and study skills, intellectual rigour and creativity needed at a world-class university. This is one of the first courses of its kind where a globally-ranked university and a boarding school link to teach courses to first year undergraduate level and in a multi-disciplinary manner.

Winter at Doon with King’s College London is open to interested students, boys and girls aged 16-18 years in Grades XI and XII from India and other countries including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Kathmandu. The courses will be taught by experienced tutors sent by King’s College London.

Students can select one of the following subject courses:

Into Space: exploring space through science, English Literature

Geographical Explorations: Global Cities, Global Economy, and

History with International Relations: The Evolution of the International System.

Dr Peter McLaughlin, Headmaster,The Doon School, said, “The courses will take the pedagogical approach taken by other first ranked universities in the UK, US and elsewhere in the world in an undergraduate’s first year. Successful applicants will have the chance to develop and hone the much needed critical thinking, reading and writing skills that they will need for a successful Class XII examination regardless of curriculum choice. The applicants CVs will be substantially enhanced as they will be able to demonstrate their genuine interest in the subject of their choice. Such aptitude and skills will also be required to study successfully at first class universities world wide.”

For more information contact +91 (0) 135 2526515 or visit www.doonschool.com/winter/kcl

Online magazine for teachers Education management software solutions firm KNEWCLEUS has launched an online magazine for teacher — theteachersdigest.com. The e-platform is designed to act as a Digital School for teachers across India and allow them to learn new skills, share best practices, experiences and opinions within their community and beyond. The magazine aims to create a community for teachers wherein they can share resources and knowledge with each other, participate in discussions, learn new skills and processes that would better the education system as a whole.

Job portal for the differently abled

Svayam (an initiative of Sminu Jindal Charitable Trust) in association with AFCSR- ASSOCHAM Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility, launched a new job portal — ‘Equal Opportunities’ recently. This job portal will facilitate persons with disabilities find appropriate employment opportunities. Persons with disabilities have the right to work on an equal basis with others. However, they are often not considered potential members of the workforce due to lack of awareness about their abilities and prevailing myths and prejudices. The job portal will be a step forward towards mainstreaming this marginalised segment into society, enabling the differently abled to lead a life of economic independence and dignity. Svayam has been engaged in making various public places accessible to all, especially the elderly and the disabled. TNS

Career sweetener 
Confidence vs cockiness

Being arrogant is about the “I’m right, you’re wrong” belief. Most of the times people tend to mistake their arrogance for confidence. Arrogant people are usually seen as distant loners who prefer their own ideas to those of anyone else. Formally being arrogant means to devalue others and their contributions. Arrogant people measure themselves against other people and judge themselves to be better. It usually results in people feeling diminished, rejected and angry. So what are the common signs of arrogance?

You always have an answer and presume it’s the only answer

This is the biggest sign of arrogance, the failure to listen to thoughts and opinion of others. You are known for giving instant output and sharp reactions; you very quickly jump to conclusion and categorically dismiss what others are saying. You are often seen as intolerant and closed minded, and therefore people have small conversations with you with a hunch that you anyways are going to shoot it down before they complete their sentence. You believe in getting to the point fast, why go around in circles and if people are mature enough to handle this approach it’s their problem.

You keep personal and professional fronts independent

You deeply believe that the personal and professional side of lives are two different sides of the same coin, and the twain shall never meet. You keep distance between yourself and other colleagues at work. Keeping in mind that people find it hard to relate to an arrogant person, your reputation to be based on short unsatisfactory transactions with your colleagues. Your side of story is that people just don’t understand you. This approach would have been gospel in yesteryears, however nowadays more and more Millennials prefer to mash up both, with increasingly blurred boundaries between them.

God has made good people and bad people

Through your innate sharpness and killer instinct to dissect the human behaviour, you have been able to categorise people as good and bad. The best part is that your hypothesis has been proved right till date. Your family and near and dear ones rely heavily on your advice to judge people and you have war stories to share on how you predicted and singled the son of Satan from the crowd and saved your friend from his evil design. You tolerate no nonsense and very quickly signal your discontent to bad people, without wasting time on listening to them.

You are widely acclaimed for your intelligence

You are really talented and near perfect and your colleagues have a hard time getting used to you being mostly right. Others believe that you feign knowledge and share it to show them down. Due to your sharp intelligence and the heavy title donned by you in the business world, you are always the center of attention. You are the ‘go to’ person whenever there is a crisis, the management would crash if you decided to move on. You are the Hercules — son of Zeus .

You like to drop the names of your contacts now and then

You like to tell your colleagues how well connected you are and how the who’s who of the world value your time and company. Completely unsolicited you talk endlessly about your “contacts”, who they met and who they go around with. You firmly believe that your hard work and intelligence led you to this elitist inner circle of literati, by telling others you are motivating them to follow you in your footsteps and maybe some day they may even crack the code. Your colleagues — the poor souls need to be enlightened with the pearls of wisdom you pick from these literati sessions.

So what’s the solution?

Arrogance definitely involves ‘firm conviction’ which, of course, is the upside but I firmly believe that you can hold on to your views without projecting arrogance and at the same time give credence to others’ view as well. It, however, does not mean that one has to agree with the other person’s stand but there is a way to show disagreement without creating bitterness.

During interaction with your colleagues, even if you know the answer and it’s correct, give a patient hearing to the other party. Listen without being judgmental and make sure that your body language is not negative and conveying your disinterest. The most important part is to allow your colleagues to save face; you don’t have to make them look stupid even if they have lost the argument.

There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance. This is especially true given both entail a strong belief in one’s own abilities. When it comes to the responses they trigger, the similarities end. Confidence is inspiring and pulls people to you; arrogance is a turn-off and keeps people off from you. Most of the people have difficulty in differentiating between the two; you need to exude confidence and not display cockiness.

Career Tips from www.careersweetener.com . 
Follow on twitter @CareerSweetener

smart strategy: use cawtb tool
The formula of success 
D. C. Sharma

Once upon a time a man known to President Roosevelt casually told him: “Something interesting is always happening to you!” To which the President promptly yet seriously replied: “I take good care that it does.”

Taking good care of one’s surroundings is the first and foremost formula to make magic work at your place of work. In fact, this rule applies to every employee. It is another matter that most people don’t care what is being said and how things are shaping up. But those who care about what is going on around them and are proactive add to their overall productivity, impression, respect and honour. But making this happen requires efforts on the part of the employee.

Organisational psychology has a wonderful tool to enable any employee to work magic with the wonderful tool of CAWTB (care, appearance, work, talk and behaviour). Commonly called the steering wheels of progress and prosperity, these five factors have their own yardsticks that are useful for all employees. Here is how you can make the best use of them.

Care: Taking care of your workplace surroundings means you ought to be careful not only about your own work but also of those working under you, working with you, and working for you. It means that you have to help them, guide them and even work for them whenever they need your help, guidance and support. This also includes taking regular care of the machinery with which you carry out your work.

Appearance: Your own appearance at workplace matters a lot not only for your own growth but also to the overall growth of your colleagues as well as of your organisation. So take care to be suitably attired at all times. The dress you wear should give a boost to your productivity rather than causing a hindrance. Remember, a peacock is the most beautiful bird on the earth. But it does not flaunt its tail of many hues to annoy other peacocks. Coloured tails and flowing manes of animals speak of Nature’s majesty. So does your appearance when you take it in its true perspective by doing your best at workplace.

Work: Work is the basic requirement for any job or career. Unless your work reflects and sparkles your good qualities you have no standing as a worthy employee. Learn to do your best, do it in time, do it in a dignified manner, and your work will stand out to establish your reputation, power and prestige. If the work that you do is of a poor quality, then it is unlikely for you to expect to grow in your career. Remember at workplace people don’t like you because you look attractive, but because you are truly productive, because you do your best, and help others do their own best.

Talk: Good talk at workplace means that you talk in a decent way and with dignity. Earlier it was thought that wearing the best dress would make one stand out in a professional set up. But recent studies have shown that it is the way a person talks that matters the most. Leading researcher Tamara Rakic has proved that one’s accent is much more important than one’s looks. Communicating well is a very important skill in workplace as it helps one in networking as well as in dealing well with clients. You might have seen people whose work is almost always of a good quality but they know not how to talk well and be pleasant to other colleagues or clients. While there are others who appear to be decent individuals but when the open their mouth they talk rot. The sooner you learn the art of communicating well the better it will be for your career.

Behaviour: Decent behaviour often covers up many weak points of an employee. But remember that the rude and odd behaviour of even a good employee can easily mar his chances of growth. Keeping one’s emotions in check in workplace situations is very important. Emotional maturity and proper etiquette are the two things that every employee need to cultivate and work upon consistently in order to have a bright career.

The CAWTB tool thus, can be used effectively to deal with several tricky workplace situations and emerge as a productive, reliable and mature employee with leadership qualities. Just learn to use this formula each day and you will never have to repent.

— The writer is a Kangra based psychologist & career expert

cubicle trends
Social media posts can cost you that job

Social media has emerged as a major background-check tool for employers and nearly 68 per cent of them decide against hiring a person after finding negative details about the candidates, a survey has found.

According to a survey by job site CareerBuilder India, as many as 59 per cent employers are currently using social media to research on job candidates, while another 33 per cent are planning to access the platform soon. Interestingly, the survey said 68 per cent employers who research job candidates on social media have found ‘content’ that caused them not to hire the individual.

The findings of the survey are based on responses by top 1,200 corporates in the country.

The most common reasons for employers to reject a job aspirant were that the candidate lied about his qualifications (50 per cent), had poor communications skills (50 per cent), posted provocative or inappropriate photographs or information (47 per cent), shared confidential information of previous employer (42 per cent). Other reasons were that the applicants had posted details about their drinking or drug habits (38 per cent), were linked to criminal behaviour (35 per cent) and had bad-mouthed their previous company or fellow employees (32 per cent).

“It’s vital for job seekers to remember that much of what they post to the Internet —and equally importantly, what others post about them — can be found by prospective employers, and that can affect their chances of getting hired down the road,” CareerBuilder Human Resources Vice President Rosemary Haefner said.

“Job seekers need to stay vigilant, and pay attention to privacy updates from all of their social networking accounts so they know what information is available for others to see,” Haefner added.

Meanwhile, many employers surveyed said they were likely to hire the candidate if they find on social media platform that the individual’s background supported their professional qualifications, their personality was clearly a good fit within the company culture, had great communication skills, is creative and has wide range of interests, among others. PTI

on my own
Setting the bar high

Abhishek Gupta, Director, Indian Mesh Pvt. Ltd.

At 26 Abhishek Gupta is in the league of entrepreneurs who have used the enthusiasm, drive and idealism of youth to chalk out a career course not only for themselves but also for other young enthusiasts. This engineering graduate, who also has a PG degree from Harvard University, left a cushy job in the USA to set up an IT solutions company in Chandigarh with an initial investment of a couple of lakhs. Three years down the line his Indian Mesh venture is not only a trusted brand among his clients but with major focus on previously ignored small, medium, non-profit and home based organisations, Gupta’s venture has also spearheaded a change in the field of business support services. It is the first company in Chandigarh that has developed a full-fledged one of its kind mobile application, produced a monthly tabloid and is running a successful practical training centre all under one roof. In an interview he talks about his journey as an entrepreneur.

The inspiration

While working in the US I realised that there was huge scope in the IT/ITES sector in India. This coupled with the fact that I was uncomfortable doing a cushy job and yearned for the challenge and thrill of setting up my own venture made me pack my bags and come back to make a fresh beginning. Chandigarh, rather than the “silicon centres” like Bangalore or Gurgaon, was my first choice as it is my hometown and an upcoming IT destination. Starting in Chandigarh was also a financially prudent decision as the initial capital investment as well the rentals and salary burden was much less here than it would have been in other established centres. Besides I wanted to excel and stand out in a small centre rather than get lost in a big IT centre like Bangalore or Gurgaon.

Taking up the challenges

There is no dearth of challenges if you decide to start a venture in India. Even getting your company registered is a huge challenge here. Getting the right talent was the major challenge here as there is severe shortage of "job-ready" IT professionals. While companies in Bangalore can fill a position in a day, in Chandigarh it may take upto three months. It was tough to find the right team. This is when the idea of starting training modules struck me and I launched IMesh Lab which is an Industrial Training Centre where we provide a widerange of technical and soft skill training courses. The courses include Web Designing & Development, Mobile Application,3D and Animation, Enterprise Management and other courses.We have two modules of training. In the first one we take up complete freshers and start from the scratch, while in the other module those with some knowledge of IT are given supporting training to make them proficient in the role assigned to them. Trainees are given an opportunity to work on live projects so that they get experience as well as a sound technical knowledge and valuable industry insights. Our motive is to focus on the concept of each course right from the basics.

Growth factor

In the past three years the growth has been steady as my main focus has been to consolidate different resources. As a result we now have a good client base and project portfolio. There is no gap in securing regular projects and the team has also got stronger. We have grown from 0 to over 60 employees and are now earning $15,000 to 20,000 per month.

Advice for freshers

The decision to start one’s own venture should be taken after thorough deliberation. Always assess how much salary you can get in a job and what you can learn from your current employer before taking the plunge and gather your resources before venturing out in this direction.

Future

We are looking towards expanding the training modules and focus on moblie app development and online marketing. These are the areas where maximum growth will be in the next few years. My next target is to touch $1,00,000 per month within a year. — Geetu Vaid