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Toxicology
Competition thrills but kills
scholarship roundup
campus notes
newsboard
EMBA — Is it for you?
Read for success
course chat
smart strategy: coping with career crises
Limited scope!
cubicle trends
Acknowledge your looks
cubicle trends
Cheer for job seekers
Career sweetener
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Tackling toxic substances Preetinder Kaur With increasing awareness about the harmgful effects of products, medications and chemicals to which we are being exposed in our everyday lives has magnified the scope and importance of one area of study, which is referred to as Toxicology. It is the science that deals with the toxic properties of substances and involves the study of the effects that toxins or chemicals have on humans, animals, plants and other living organisms. This field studies the harmful effects of drugs, environmental contaminants and naturally occurring substances nad broadly covers two main areas — one deals with the effects that toxic materials have on humans, and the other with their impact. Toxicologist is the professional who explores the effects of chemicals on living organisms. Without toxicologists it would be difficult to gauge the extent to which some of the ingredients in food stuff or other products could cause damage. Getting in This research-oriented field requires candidates from various inter-disciplinary branches like biology, mathematics, veterinary sciences, pathology, physiology, immunology, and genetics. BSc is a must for those interested in exploring this subject area . After bachelor’s, one can go for a master’s degree in toxicology i.e MSc Toxicology. There are various specialisations in this field and each one requires a specific background in some or the other subject. Toxicologists not only figure out chemical makeup, they use their knowledge of biology and chemistry to devise strategies to reduce or control exposure to harmful chemicals. Toxicologists use scientific principles in order to determine the prevalence, quantity and effects of a certain chemical on the environment and on people’s health. The work A toxicologist’s work can include testing the effects of particular chemicals, determining their concentration, assessing the risk factor by interpreting data, and searching for mechanisms of toxicity. The main aim of toxicologists is to examine the threats and hazards surrounding man and conduct research and experiments to provide protection to the private, public, commercial and industrial sectors. Research is the focus of toxicologists work. Most toxicologists work in a lab or office environment and work in a team with other toxicologists and scientists. Toxicologists can work in educational institutions, or as consultants or scientists in big corporate houses. Toxicologists, who work as consultants, may need to travel to represent their company or clients in meetings. As a manager of a team of people who have different personalities, imbalances are bound to happen. These dynamics make feedback an invaluable tool. It is important for a manager to give critical feedback to the lagging members of the team because if this task is avoided, other members will have to bear the brunt of inefficient workers. So how does a manager offer constructive criticism without bringing down the productivity and morale of the employee? Give suggestions instead of orders Caution needs to be exercised before criticising an employee. Instead of using harsh words like “Don’t do this” and “You’re doing it wrong”, employees would respond much better to suggestions and gentle prompts. For instance, “What if we were to try”, “Have you considered” and “Let’s see how this works”. In order to reduce the sting, “I might be wrong” or “Might I suggest” could also be used. No matter how gentle the words are, if the tone and gesture are intimidating, the result would be a dejected employee with low productivity and morale. Criticism can be made worst by intimidating gestures and harsh tones. So, a friendly tone should be adopted.
Illustrate with examples When an employee is given a suggestion, there is still a lot of doubt in his mind regarding how to implement it. This leads to skewed results and rework. Using examples while explaining a certain condition can eliminate all this. For instance, instead of telling them to “work faster”, the manager could try suggesting tips which would increase the speed of their employees. Tips like “here is a list of common time saving keyboard shortcuts” and “try to use keyboard shortcuts instead of going for the mouse” will be much more useful than a simple “I need you to work faster”.
Monitoring performance Even if the feedback offered by the manager is crystal clear, the learning curve would take some time. During that time, it is important to keep an eye on the employee’s work and see if they need any additional help. Do they require additional motivation? Is there a reason why their work is lagging? Have they found a way to fix their performance? These are some things that managers can notice sooner than the employee; given their additional experience, and they can advice a course correction if needed.
Appreciation after improvements When an employee tries to improve after constructive criticism, they will give it their best shot. All that will go wasted if the manager is not appreciative of the efforts that the employee has taken. So, while monitoring post-feedback, if the employee shows signs of improvement, it is important to give them thumbs up. Even if everything hasn’t been sorted, little improvements should be lauded for maintaining the confidence of the employee. This would let them know that they are on the right track and are doing a good job. Keep them going. So, the next time you wish to give feedback to your employees, remember that positive connotations always work irrespective of the situation. Career Tips from www.careersweetener.com.
Follow on twitter @CareerSweetener As a toxicologist, it is important to be able to work in a group or as a team. They need to report their research findings for which strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential. Patience is an asset in this profession. Toxicologists also require excellent analytical abilities, logical thinking, attention to detail and problem- solving skills. Strong writing and computer skills are also essential to excel in this field. Knowledge of environmental issues may be an added advantage. Prospects and options As people have become more health conscious, the need for those studying the effects of various toxins has also increased. At present, organisations in India are unable to meet the demand because most toxicologists are attracted by lucrative positions and better research facilities in other countries. There are various fields of toxicology and hence there is potential to grow within this field in different ways. Many industries employ toxicologists to assist in evaluating the safety of their products. Toxicologists work as consultants in companies that deal with food, chemical or cosmetic products. Numerous career avenues exist in chemical, food, pharmaceutical, and environment-related industries; in teaching and research, and in government organisations dealing with regulation of chemical usage. Biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are the largest employers of toxicologists. Pharmacovigilance (monitoring and preventing harmful effects of medicines), which is gaining prominence in India, is expected to absorb more professionals with an MSc in toxicology. Toxicologists can also work for epidemiological surveys carried out by the health authorities. A toxicologist’s responsibilities will depend on the institution they work for. Depending on their area of work, toxicologists can be divided into eight distinct groups: industrial, pharmaceutical, academic, clinical, forensic, regulatory, occupational, eco-toxicology. Industrial toxicology is a specific area of environmental toxicology that deals with the work environment and constitutes a significant part of industrial hygiene. The industrial toxicologist plays a crucial role in developing a wide range of effective and safe products, including petrochemicals, medicines, pesticides, cosmetics, food and drink, and household products. Often, an industrial toxicologist works closely with regulatory authorities to ensure that a company’s products and production processes conform to local, national and international regulations. Pharmaceutical toxicologists determine the efficiency, mechanism of actions, and the potential adverse health effects of the active pharmaceutical ingredients being produced. Clinical toxicologists work in the medical field and study the harmful effects of chemicals, drugs, pesticides and other substances on humans through clinical diagnosis of symptoms and detection and diagnosis of biological poisoning. Clinical toxicologists may work in hospitals or pharmaceutical companies. A clinical toxicologist, might work on research-based therapeutic studies or support a medical team during poison or drug overdose emergencies. Forensic toxicologists investigate causes of death and study crime scenes with law enforcement personnel. A forensic toxicologist specialises in the study of alcohol, legal and illicit drugs and poisons, including their chemical composition, preparations and identifications. They find opportunities with private forensic laboratories, law enforcement agencies and in hospital departments of forensic medicine. Occupational toxicologists study the effect of chemicals that may be encountered by workers during the course of their work environment. A regulatory toxicologist has the primary role of ensuring public health and safety from the use of chemicals, drugs and pesticides, by identifying potential health risks posed by exposure to such substances. Regulatory toxicologists work for pharmaceutical companies and government facilities to research new drugs and chemicals. They determine whether a new product is safe for public consumption and use or not. Environmental toxicologists or eco-toxicologists study the effects of chemicals on the environment. They research in the field and in laboratories to learn how pollution affects ecosystems, air and water quality, survival of the species and public health. Environmental toxicologists continually monitor and measure the level of toxins in environment. They play an important role in safeguarding public health. Pay and perks As there is shortage of trained professionals in this field in our country at present, qualified and experienced ones get paid well. The salary range depends on various factors like the geographical location, organisation’s size and work experience of the individual. Industry positions generally pay higher than academic, non-profit, or government positions in this field. Starting salary for a MSc degree holder in this field can range between
Rs 25,000 and Rs 40,000. Those with experience and specialisation can even earn up to a lakh per month. For example, a toxicologist with a veterinary or medical degree, and a postgraduate qualification can draw over
Rs 50,000 a month.
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Competition thrills but kills
If we dive into the depths of time and try to bring about nuggets of something that has stayed with us through time immemorial, we would bring a singular idea with us - Competition. The word has been ingrained in our systems by our parents, teachers, school system and society. We have been told that winning is important and if we have to win, someone has to lose. Life is all about winning and losing.
In a competitive culture, you are told that it isn't enough to be good -- you must triumph over others. Success comes to be defined as victory, even though these are really two very different things. Even when you manage to win, the whole affair, becomes a vicious circle: The more you compete, the more you need to compete to feel good about yourself. The game of winning and losing has become so imperative that it has crossed the barriers of schools and colleges and entered the appraisal meetings in the form of balanced score cards. It thrills and makes you strive hard but also kills. Here are some of the ways in which extreme competitiveness can harm your prospects: Kills self esteem Competition kills self-esteem, it interferes with learning, sabotages relationships, and isn't necessary to have a good time. Most people lose in most competitive encounters, and it's obvious why that causes self-doubt. But even winning doesn't build character; it just lets you gloat temporarily. Feelings of self-worth become dependent on external sources of evaluation as a result of competition: Your value is defined by what you've done. Worse - you're a good person in proportion to the number of people you've beaten. Kills creativity Yes, competition kills creativity. Today we live in an era of destructive, winner-takes-all form of competition; if ideas are hoarded so that their owner gets sole credit; if communication stops because others are viewed as "the enemy". But the most innovative companies, in fact, foster a form of collaborative competition. Apple's Macintosh computer was only one of two parallel windows-and-mouse computer projects created by Steve Jobs; the other was the Lisa. Multiple parallel projects, in competition with each other, can drive innovation forward because they generate more potential solutions. People succeed in spite of competition, not because of it. Most of us were raised to believe that we do our best work when we're in a race - that without competition we would all become fat, lazy and mediocre. It's a belief that our society takes on faith. It's also false. Kills productivity There is good evidence that productivity in the workplace suffers as a result of competition. Why? First, competition often makes you anxious and that interferes with concentration. Second, competition doesn't permit you to share talent and resources as cooperation does so you can't learn from one another. Finally, trying to be number one distracts you from the goal. It may seem paradoxical, but when you concentrate on the reward and appraisal, you become less focused on what you are doing and more on taking credit. The result: Performance declines. Kills values Competition kills values of sacrifice and co-operation and is a recipe for hostility. By definition, not everyone can win a contest. If one wins, another cannot. This means that each person comes to regard others as obstacles to his or her own success. Competition makes it difficult to regard others as potential friends or collaborators; even if you're not my rival today, you could be tomorrow.bbb Competition kills relationships. This is not to say that competitors will always detest each other. But trying to outdo someone is not conducive to trust - indeed, it would be irrational to trust someone who gains from your failure. Existing relationships are strained to the breaking point, while new friendships are often nipped in the bud. Cooperation, on the other hand, is marvelously successful at helping people to communicate effectively, to trust in others and to accept those who are different from themselves. Competition interferes with these goals and often results in outright anti-social behaviour.
So what do we do?
Compete with yourself and no one else. The only person you can truly compare yourself with accurately, is the person you were at any moment in the given past. Your progression is the best sign of how competitive you are. Cooperation, on the other hand, is marvelously successful at helping you to communicate effectively, to trust in others and to accept those who are different from you. Competition interferes with these goals and often results in outright antisocial behaviour. The choice is ours: We can blame the people who cheat, turn violent, or withdraw, or we can face the fact that competition itself is responsible for such ugliness. You can be taught about competition, prepared for the destructive forces you'll encounter, without being groomed to take part in it uncritically. You can be exposed to the case against competition just as you are taught the harms of drug abuse or reckless driving. You will have to decide how much compromise is appropriate so you are not left out or ridiculed in a competitive society. But at least you can make your decision based on knowledge about competition's destructiveness. Like so much else with innovation, the right solution is the Goldilocks solution: not too much cohesion, not too much competitiveness, but somewhere in the middle will be “just right…”
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Airbus internships in UK
Applications are invited for AIRBUS aviation internships. These internships are awarded to undergraduate international students. Applicants can put theoretical knowledge into practice and gain crucial aviation industry experience. It is paid internship program. Applicants get the chance to build a network, gain industry contacts and demonstrate their ability and potential to the business in order to improve their opportunities in the future. The internship can be taken at United Kingdom (Filton, Bristol and Broughton, near Chester). Eligibility: To qualify, applicant must be enrolled in a university and be looking for a placement that will last between three months and one year. At Airbus their main business language is English, so applicant must be fluent. Depending on the internship applicant apply for, they may also need to speak another local language. Details: In addition to the opportunity of gaining experience in a professional workplace for a world class aircraft manufacturer, applicants will receive:
Duration: Airbus internships generally last 6 to 12 months Selection criteria: Applications will be screened against the entry requirements by the Airbus Group Recruitment Centre and Recruiting Line Manager and successful candidates will be invited to an assessment event. Whether or not you get selected will depend on applicant’s academic achievements as well as a number of other attributes such as IT and data management skills, analytical reasoning and problem solving ability. Airbus looks for individuals who work well in a team and on their own initiative, and who have a creative mind, an interest in aviation and a basic knowledge of Airbus. How to apply: Online. Deadline: December 12, 2014. Check out: www.airbus.com/work/early-careers/internships/internships-in-the-uk/ Curtin International Merit Scholarship
Curtin University, Australia, is inviting applications for international merit scholarship for pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate degree level courses at the university. Eligibility: Students commencing studies at Curtin’s Western Australia campuses in 2015 who apply through a Curtin-registered agent Details: This scholarship provides eligible students 25 per cent of their first year tuition fee, up to a maximum of AUD$10,000. Selection
criteria: The scholarships will be awarded on merit base. Deadline: February 13, 2015. Check
out: www. curtin.edu.au/scholarships TSU scholarships The Texas State University (TSU) of USA has invited applications for assured scholarships for the academic session of 2015 for students studying at the university. Eligible candidates can apply for the following two scholarships: President's honor scholarship: Total award of $32,000 ($8,000 annual). Texas State achievement scholarship: Total award of $16,000 ($4,000 annual). Eligibility: Those applying for the President's Honor Scholarship must possess minimum 1400+/32+ SAT/ACT and must be amongst top 15 per cent of graduating class or IB diploma or Cambridge Capstone Credential and for the Texas State Achievement Scholarship the candidates should have minimum 1200-1390/27-31 SAT/ACT. International student who are a freshman or transfer student for the 2015-2016 academic years can also apply for the same. How to apply: To apply for the scholarships, the interested students are required to visit the official website to fill up the online application form. Deadline: December 15, 2014 for freshmen and march 1,2015 for transfer students.
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Do I have to take GATE exam for admission abroad?
A.Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) scores are not required for admission to postgraduate courses abroad. For seeking admission into an MS or MTech course, you need to take the GRE instead, particularly if you’re seeking financial aid for studying in the US. Some universities may also require you to take GRE Subject Tests in the area concerned, especially in the fields of science and technology. For MBA courses in the US, GMAT (Graduate Management Aptitude Test) scores are necessary. However, for Canada, UK and Australia, your GPA here and TOEFL/IELTS scores would generally suffice. Admission to postgraduate courses in these countries is mainly based on academic merit. However, all the reputed B-Schools require at least 3-4 years of work experience over and above good GMAT scores. However, do check out the specific requirements of the specific course for which you wish to enrol on the institution’s website. Career options in PSUs
Q.I am currently in third year of BTech in Computer Science & Engineering branch. I would like to know about the various career options available in PSUs or other government organisations for me. I am mainly interested in doing a government job, so how should I proceed after my B.Tech degree? What exams do I need to prepare for? —
Paramjeet ahluwalia A.GATE qualification is now the minimum requirement to apply for various jobs and fellowships awarded by most government organisations. If you’re interested in working for the Army, Navy or Air Force then there are several entry routes for tech graduates as well as for final-year students like the University Entry Scheme etc. See the respective websites for details. The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) employs highly qualified and competent tech graduates (and scientists) who constitute the Group “A” to Group “G” Technical Service known as the Defence Research & Development Service. Of course, you can also take the Indian Engineering Services Exam conducted by the UPSC. Your seniors and teachers would be well-equipped to guide you on the preparation aspects. If your college has a placement cell then stay in touch with it.
Avenues in shipping industry
Q.After completing my MCom, I am now preparing for my B-school entrances. I wish to make a career in the shipping line. I have been told that this is not a suitable field for girls. Is this true? —Rritika
Jaiswal A.Girls are certainly eligible to join the Merchant Navy, and you’ll now find several of them working in the shipping industry. Generally though, this line was not a preferred option for women as it involves extensive travel and staying away from home for 4-6 months on end and also being a physically demanding job. Given your age and educational background, you are not eligible for joining the Merchant Navy. You require science stream (PCM) in Plus II with a minimum of 60 per cent. However, shore-based jobs such as port management, logistics and ship broking are areas that you can certainly consider. What’s more, the Indian Maritime University (www.imu.tn.nic.in) offers MBA programmes in Port & Shipping Management and an MBA in Logistics.
Skills required for social advertising
Q.I am pursuing BA in sociology. Can you please tell me something about social advertising? Does it require any special skills? —
Avneet Sinha A.Social advertising essentially portrays issues of social relevance. It seeks to acquaint or educate people on an issue that concerns society at large. Advertising agencies have rediscovered their passion for social advertising, which also affords them a platform to showcase their creativity. Many of the leading agencies have a special department for social advertising. The best of advertising talent is taking up the challenge to make films on social messages such as targeted at creating awareness about AIDS, family planning, child abuse, drug abuse, adult literacy, environment conservation etc, many of which are an aesthetic treat. The volume of such films has also increased as corporates increasingly support causes or initiatives to enhance their people-friendly image or corporate social responsibility (CSR). Some of these ads are so ingenious and creative that they corner a fair share of awards on the global stage. Not to be confused with social media, social advertising also gives you a free hand as the work is largely pro bono; TV channels and radio stations run these public service ads free of cost, although newspapers carry these at a discounted price. Needless to say, to create effective social advertising (or any other advertising for that matter) you need excellent communication skills. But over and above that, you must possess the ability to conceptualise a theme and present it simply yet powerfully in a manner that will appeal and communicate to the target audience. The deceptively simple message may involve a great deal of research and testing. Hard work? Sure, but knowing that you’ve made a difference, howsoever small, can be hugely satisfying!
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campus
notes
University Grants Commission has sanctioned an research project entitled “"Effect of Life Skills Training on Psychological Capital and Attitude of Punjabi Youth towards alcohol and drug abuse” to Dr. Kirandeep Kaur, Professor & Head, Department of Education and Community Services, Punjabi University, Patiala. This project amounting to
Rs 8 lakh will be completed within a period of three years. Dr Kirandeep Kaur has presented research papers at various national and inter-national conferences. Asian medalist honoured
Compound archer Trisha Deb and her coach Jiwanjot Singh Teja received a rousing welcome as they reached Punjabi University after winning two bronze medals at the 17th Asian Games at Incheon, South Korea. They were received by university Vice-Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh and Director Sports Dr Rajkumar Sharma along with other senior officials of the university. Congratulating the duo, the VC announced
Rs 2 lakh cash prize for Trisha and Rs 50,000 for Teja. Komagata Maru stamp
During their trade mission to India, the President of the Komagata Maru Heritage Foundation, Canada, Harbhajan Singh Gill presented a plaque, carrying a stamp released by the Canada Post Department depicting the fateful incident, to the Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Dr Jaspal Singh in his office recently. The stamp is commemorative of the 100th anniversary of the incident which involved the killing of 19 passengers, of a Japanese steamship that was carrying 376 passengers from Punjab in 1914. Except 24 passengers, who were admitted, others were forced to return to India, redirected to Budge Budge near Kolkata, facing arrest and massacre. — With inputs from Gagan Deep Teja
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Asia Pacific Institute signs MOU with University of Northern Iowa
Asia Pacific Institute of Management, New Delhi, recently signed an MOU with a College of Business Administration, University of Northern Iowa, a premier USA University. The main objective of this understanding is to develop and build global awareness among the participants. The purpose of this association is to develop the exchange of faculty and students and joint research activities within specific field of study, development of professional programmes and conduction of joint projects. Employability drive The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has entered into a partnership with a leading consumer Internet Company AskMe to enhance skilling and employability of youth across India. Under this partnership, AskMe will list all NSDC -authorised training centers across the country, operating under Public Private Partnership model, on Askme.com. These listings will enable youth to locate a training center in their vicinity and reach out to them and help them acquire new skills in the sector/ job role they are interested in. The training will be imparted across various sectors like leather goods, manufacturing, automobiles, finance, healthcare, electronics, handloom and handicrafts, software etc. Prospective trainees can log on to www.askme.com or call 0444 444 4444 for further details. In addition interested applicants can also download AskMe mobile app or visit http:// www.nsdcindia.org/ for additional information. — TNS
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EMBA — Is it for you?
An executive MBA is graduate-level business education designed for working professionals. The course is especially beneficial for those who cannot attend a regular full-time business programme due to personal or professional constraints. It is generally aimed at mid-level professionals who want to fast track their career growth and advance to a senior level position.
Most executive programmes require students to possess some amount of management experience. Rather than teaching core concepts, the thrust is towards helping them acquire those strategic and business tools that they can apply in their current organisations immediately. One might confuse the term ‘Executive MBA’ with ‘MBA for Executives’. While the former is offered to working professionals while they continue with their present jobs and get their education simultaneously, the latter is another name given to full-time management programmes for professionals with varied amount of experience. Why Executive MBA The best reason for choosing an executive MBA programme is that you get to attend your programme while working, saving you the salary you would have to forgo if you opted for a regular programme. It is also very flexible and allows you to attend classes either in the evenings or on weekends and comfortably complete your course in less than two years (in most cases). You get to hone your business acumen without taking a break and have better chances of a promotion in your present company. You may also end up with a better job offer post the completion of the programme, but heaven forbid if that does not happen; at least you have your present job to rely on. So, safety is a big aspect to factor in while choosing this option. Eligibility Work experience is absolutely imperative. Some amount of management experience is also desired so that you may be able to relate to the classroom concepts. Since you will be spending a much lesser amount of time in classroom as compared to that in a full-time MBA, you need to possess a certain level of maturity which will be assessed through your application and interview. Admission procedure The admission procedure is similar to that of a full-time MBA and generally, a GMAT score is required in addition to the completion of an online application. Once you clear this initial scrutiny, you will also need to clear an interview. Generally speaking, the acceptance rate for these programmes is higher. The accepted GMAT score range also tends to be a bit lower so admission is slightly less challenging. Duration The duration of Executive MBA programmes vary, depending on schools and location. Many Indian business schools complete the course within a year, whereas many top schools in the US run the programme close to two years. Choosing the best fit programme depends on finances, location preference and industry of choice. A professional working in India and wanting to continue his/her career here itself will most likely choose an Indian executive programme because of relevant industry knowledge and skill enhancement pertinent to functional area and also the return on investment. Points to remember The experience of an Executive MBA is similar to that of a regular MBA in a way that you get to interact with extremely talented, dynamic and fast-paced professionals geared towards senior leadership. You get to share ideas and learn from each other’s experiences and also gain first-hand insights into different functional areas and industries. There is a holistic mix of sectors in a class including IT, Hospitality, Healthcare, Engineering, Government Services, Media, and NGO Sector among others. The disadvantage is that you do not get to network as much or interact personally with peers. You also lose out on one-on-one interaction with the faculty members. However, with the advent of technology and excellent virtual classrooms, it does not feel very different from a full- time course. Participating in virtual interactive sessions requires a great deal of self motivation and dedication, especially when you are not using a webcam during your sessions. The downside is that it can be harder to maintain your momentum to study and stay up to speed with your coursework. Balancing your academic, professional and personal commitments can be a huge challenge. Fee structure Such programmes generally tend to be more expensive than the regular MBAs and the range of fees vary significantly. Brand name and location are the big variables and major factors deciding how much you will spend on your education. Indian schools charge anywhere between
Rs 15 lakh and Rs 30 lakh and top ranked international schools can charge you anywhere above
Rs 50 lakh. Corporate sponsorships More and more companies are realising the importance of retaining talent and investing in training professionals who demonstrate potential to move into senior management roles. A corporate sponsorship implies that the student will remain with the company and is construed positively by business schools too thereby easing the process of admission for the candidate. Sponsorship can be full or partial. It really depends on the agreement between the candidate and the company. Even if the course is not sponsored by the employer, co-operation is certainly needed as the student will need to make adjustments in his work schedule and require flexibility in order to fulfill the demands of the course. —
The writer is master coach for MBA admissions
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Read for success
“ I have so much study work, there's no time to read,”
They can spend hours, effort and money driving their kids to piano and tennis classes, enroll them into drama, singing and dancing activities, and sundry other so called enrichment and personality development activities — but for reading, alas, there is really no time. The argument is, students already have their study books to read — and for many, that should suffice. Not surprising then that the reading habit among those that do read, often starts with Harry Potter in junior school, graduating to Twighlight Saga, and Hunger Games and ends with Chetan Bhagat. However, with the recent burst of Indian authors and chick-lit books in the market, reading is slowly rising in the popularity charts —that is if you judge by the attendance at book launches and Lit fests. In short reading is not a felt need. Yet for the minority that loves books — there is no alternative to curling up with something you enjoy reading. But more than the sheer pleasure, it is being able to derive meaning from the written word that enables us to develop intellectually, socially, and emotionally. One trait that appears to be directly connected with the level of success you can achieve in life is the amount of reading a person does. Why is it important to read? Expands knowledge A wise person once wrote, “The more that you read, the more things you will know.” The more you read, the more you gain knowledge of the world, expose yourself to new things, new information, new ways to solve a problem. Knowledge forms the foundation of all the actions that we can take, and therefore, all the growth we experience. By investing heavily in educating ourselves about a wide variety of subjects, we can expand the opportunities for personal growth and development. Books are one of the few mediums today that can efficiently allow us to educate ourselves. Everything you read fills your head with new bits of information, and you never know when it might come in handy. Moreover, through reading you are gaining new insights or perspectives on a variety of issues that can help you have a better understanding of the world around us. Develops self-esteem The more you read, the more you know, and the more comfortable and confident you will be. When you are reading, you are actually gaining the knowledge and experience of someone. It’s like a mountain of gems for you to discover in books, which contain people’s successes, failures and advice. There are thousands of great men and women, and reading is the right path to get to know them, and learn from these great people. Moreover, being articulate and well-spoken is of great help in any profession, and knowing that you can speak with self-confidence can be an enormous boost to your self-esteem. Exercises the mind Reading stimulates the mind, and this is why reading is associated with academic success. Studies have shown that reading, as with doing puzzles, such as chess or Sudoku have been found to be helpful with cognitive stimulation. Reading keeps your brain working and keeps you up to date with language and vocabulary while expanding your imagination and your knowledge. It is also a good exercise for your memorization skills. Every small bit of information creates a thought process which forges new synapses (brain pathways)and strengthens the existing ones, which assists in short-term memory recall. Reading exposes you to new experiences, and new experiences are very stimulating for the brain, awakening creative thought in the mind, which carries over to problem solving skills . Reading also improves focus and concentration. It is not an activity that can be done while checking email, keeping an eye on twitter, monitoring your smartphone, and interacting with friends. Reading requires undivided attention. When you read a book, all of your attention is focused on the story-the rest of the world just falls away, and you can immerse yourself in every fine detail you’re absorbing. In the process, your concentration skill is enhanced. Enhances communication skills Reading connects you with the world. Being well-read, well-spoken, and knowledgeable on a variety of topics with an awareness of literature, scientific breakthroughs, and global events is a great boost to any career, as communication skills are essential for professional growth. Reading also helps you to gain access to a variety of descriptive words and literary elements, thereby improving your ability to communicate feelings clearly. It aids written and verbal communication, and benefits your spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Helps in relaxing A study conducted by the University of Sussex had discovered that only 6 minutes of reading can reduce the level of stress for more than two-thirds of people interviewed, which provides a better result than listening to music or going out for a walk. Reading also provide you with the necessary relaxation from the hectic urban lifestyle and affects your health in a positive way. Experts from Oxford University have concluded that reading books is as beneficial for the human organism as playing a game. Not only does it increase intellectual ability, it also reflects positively on the overall psychophysical health of people. Finally, whatever your taste may be - classical literature, poetry, fashion magazines, biographies, religious texts, young adult books, self-help guides, street lit, or romance novels — there’s something out there to capture your curiosity and imagination. So step away from your computer for a little while, crack open a book, and replenish your soul.
Tips to improve reading skill
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Industrial engineering courses
Aspirants for postgraduate diploma in management can now apply for admission to National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE). The courses are two-year full time programmes. Courses: Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Management (PGDIM) Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Safety and Environmental Management (PGDISEM) Eligibility: The candidates must have a degree in engineering/ technology with 60 per cent marks in aggregate and a valid CAT score. Final year engineering/ technology candidates can also apply, provided they qualify the above criteria for exams appeared till date. Students appearing for final year exams in 2015 will be permitted to submit their result by September 30, 2015. Selection criteria: Shortlisted candidates will be called for group discussion and personal interview at NITIE, Mumbai, for the final process of selection. How to apply: Interested and eligible candidates can apply by filling applications online. An application fee of Rs 1000 for all candidates except for SC/ST candidates who will pay Rs 500. The amount can be paid online/ challan through all branches of SBI and ICICI bank. Deadlines: Last date for payment of Challan: December 15, 2014 Last date for submission of applications: December 16, 2014 Group discussion/ personal interview: March/ April 2015 Sports business courses The Institute of Sports Business at the Loughborough University’s London campus has started inviting applications for its MSc courses in Sport Business Innovation and Sports Leadership. Loughborough is the UK’s leading university for sports teaching, research and performance and was named UK University of the Year for Sport by The Times Good University Guide 2014. The course: The MSc in Sport Business Innovation focuses on innovation and enterprise, which are the core skills in the world of sport business. It allows students to recognise the link between theory and practice to improve their management skills. Some of the modules of the programme include Innovation Management, Entrepreneurship, Sports Markets and Industries, Research Methods for Sport Management among others. Eligibility: Candidates who wish to apply for both the one year courses are required to acquire a minimum of 60 per cent in any subject/discipline. In exceptional circumstances, applicants can apply with substantial relevant work experience, however; an overall 6.5 score is required in IELTS with a minimum of 6.0 in each subtest or equivalent. The courses commence in September 2015. Fee: £19,950. How to apply: The applications for the courses can be made online atwww.lboro.ac.uk/study/apply/postgraduate/.
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smart strategy: coping with career crises
Career disappointments and bloopers can come in many colours, may be you have been passed over for a promotion, you have been moved out of the most prestigious project the company is working on, or you have been disciplined and it has been put in your personal file by HR.
If you are facing a hard time in your job or have gone through a tough time in the recent past, trust me you are not the only one. Most of us would have faced career disappointment at one time or another in our career. Steve Jobs was fired from his job at the age of 27, from the company that he had founded. After an initial period of recluse, Steve went on to do path-breaking work at Next Computers and Pixar. History points out that, it does not matter how successful you happen to be, there will always be some dark and gory moments in your life and career, and your ability to see these in the right perspective is what will help you bounce back and achieve even greater heights. Most of the disappointments are generally unpredictable events that cannot be avoided in an individual’s career plan. These tips will help you rebound quickly and paint your life bright. Sort out emotional mess After the initial shock, the first thing to do is to work through emotional responses such as anger, disappointment and sadness. Vent out to your close friends; don’t suppress these emotional responses, as these are a part of the psychological coping process. At the same time don’t let them take over your psyche and fill you with negativity. Rajiv Singh, Deputy Managing Director of a large US MNC, was denied a promotion and was told that the company was bringing someone from outside to do his role; they offered another position to him in a different location. Rajeev was shocked, as he had no clue about this and was seething with anger, but he controlled himself and came to terms with the reality. As a piece of advice, Rajiv says “ What is done cannot be undone, so it’s better to move on and do what will help you build your future, no point in name calling or being in gloom. It’s important to recover your composure before deciding on the next step, give yourself time to regroup so that you don’t take any knee jerk reactions.” At times career setback may come at the most inappropriate time, you may be the only bread winner of the family and lo behold! the company has decided to trim its staff. The world would come crashing on you, you don’t have any savings and credit card borrowings are already breaking their boundaries. It is normal for these thoughts to cross your mind. Alfred, ( a COO with an Indian real estate developer, was one of the many to face the brunt in the 2009 downturn. He had lived his life to the hilt with parties and lavish lifestyle as key motivators. He was numb after hearing the decision to lay him off. Alfred says, “ It’s like being run over by a truck and feeling completely flattened out, nevertheless go back to your family make quick changes and draw a 90-day plan to combat the crisis.” Alfred took six months to find a new job and he says he survived by picking up odd freelancing assignments. The worst thing to do in such situations is to become a symbol of pity and expect that the world will help you in overcoming the crisis. That my dear friend is not going to happen, rather you would become a symbol of mockery and a butt of jokes; which would further erode your confidence. Even when the situation seems to be out of your control, keep in mind that you still have the power to decide the next step and take action. Instead of seeing yourself as a helpless victim of circumstance, it is better to take a proactive approach to resolving the problem. When Antony Singh was disciplined after the investigation committee found him guilty of overburdening employees and being harsh to them, his morale was hit as according to him he was only trying to coach people in his own way. Recalling how he coped with those tough days, he says, “ Follow the example of people you admire who seem to take these kind of situations as a challenge to overcome. Ask yourself how did they react when they faced a personal crisis? Evaluating these positive responses can help you bounce back quickly.” Career bloopers and disappointments are tough learning experiences, but you can turn the tide in your favour by showing resilience and will power to overcome the situation, no matter how tough it gets. —
The writer is an HR & Strategy consultant and authors www.humanresourcesblog.in
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Limited scope!
“Flexible working has revolutionised how, where and when we all do our jobs. So, if working nine to five no longer applies, then why should strict annual leave (vacation) policies?”, questioned Branson. The sole premise on which Sir Richard Branson announced the ‘unlimited holidays’ policy was that one should focus on what work has been done, and not on how many hours or days a person has worked. Virgin is not the first one to introduce this concept, as reportedly other companies like Netflix, Zynga, Groupon, Glassdoor, Evernote are some who offer such benefits. Such a policy may seem benevolent but in industries where human talent is critical for a competitive advantage, it could be a game changer for attracting and retaining talent and for creating favourable corporate branding, experts said. “Companies that offer unlimited vacation time tend to invest in hiring motivated, responsible employees who balance taking time off with getting their work done. Such a policy is great in attracting and retaining talent,” Thomas Cook (India) COO and Head Human Resources Mona Cheriyan said. Sharing similar views Kempinski Ambience Hotel GM Puneet Singh said, “having the freedom to work, whenever one wants, for however long one wants, boosts morale, creativity, productivity, quality of life. ...however, it is limited to companies, that work on project based or time bound sector, or where creativity is at the core”. Unlimited holidays is an interesting approach but it can be applied partly and in limited situations in India as our work ethics, corporate culture is not ready for this, experts say. In India, ‘being there’ for the sake of being there when bosses are around, is still the case in a majority of corporations, they added. In a majority of companies, even something as basic as a 5-day week is not introduced and people are still slogging for 6 days, 9-12 hours a day, a top HR official said. However, most US companies have 7-8 public holidays and 1-2 weeks of paid vacation while in comparison Indian firms typically have 10-12 public holidays and 4 weeks of paid leave. “India is yet to mature to this flexibility as employers and employees still believe in time spent in the office rather than productivity on the time spent,” executive search firm GlobalHunt India MD Sunil Goel said
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cubicle trends
Employers are increasingly using retirement plans as a top benefit to retain employees, says a survey.
According to the Global Benefits Attitudes Survey, conducted by global professional services company Towers Watson, employer retirement plans have emerged as the top source of income for retirement for many employees.
Besides employer retirement plan, other sources of income during retirement are savings or investments and property. Interestingly, retirement benefits are emerging as an important retention driver. Only 12 per cent of employees, who agree that their retirement plan meets their needs, plan to leave their organisation in next two years as against 39 per cent of those who disagree with their existing plans. When given a choice between a better retirement provision and larger base pay, employees have begun opting for generous and guaranteed retirement benefit, the survey said. “As the war for talent intensifies, retirement benefits have emerged as a powerful tool to boost employee retention and given its growing importance, progressive employers will re-examine the total rewards mix and leverage such benefits as a differentiator,” Towers Watson India Director, Benefits, Anuradha Sriram said. However, when given an independent choice between the various components of rewards, Indian employees still prefer a larger base pay hike across all age groups, signalling a visible need for employers to enhance retirement education and help employees understand the value of retirement benefits. With a majority of Indian employees expecting to retire around 60, despite a high savings rate, a large number are not confident of affording a long spell of retirement. "Traditionally, retirement planning has never been an important financial priority owing to Indian family structure and elders’ dependence on their children,” Sriram said. “However, the breakdown of traditional support systems, increased longevity, rising inflation and rapid urbanisation now require a large proportion of the current working population to build their own retirement corpus,” she added. The Global Benefits Attitudes Survey examines employees’ attitudes toward health and retirement benefits. Conducted in 12 countries, the survey was completed by 22,347 employees working in large non-governmental organisations, including 2,006 employees in India, of whom 1,669 are members of a retirement savings plan. — PTI
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A research has revealed that acknowledging appearance may reduce bias when beautiful women apply for male-dominated jobs.
The study at the University of Colorado Boulder found that when an attractive woman applied for a job typically filled by men, like a construction job, and said, “I know I don't look like your typical applicant,” or “I know there aren't a lot of women in this industry,” and pointed out successes on her resume, she received higher ratings from reviewers than counterparts who made no mention of their looks.
Lead author Stefanie Johnson said that it turns out there’s merit in the old Pantene ad, “Don’t hate me because I'm beautiful” and if a sufferer of female-beauty stereotyping addresses the issue, the perpetrator leaves behind preconceived ideas and is able to more clearly see her professional qualities. The study also identified the two main types of sexism that cause people to mentally disqualify women from masculine jobs, one, dubbed “benevolent sexism” that is paternalistic and causes individuals to see women as incapable and in need of protection from job difficulties and physical challenges or dangers and the other, dubbed “hostile sexism,” causes individuals to see women as violators of gender roles, encroaching on job turf that's rightfully male. Johnson added that another issue they explored during the study was unattractive women who acknowledge their looks when applying for masculine jobs as there was no benefit to the acknowledgment. The study is published in Organizational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes. — ANI
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hiring scene
Exuding bullish sentiment, India’s largest software exporter TCS recently said it would offer 35,000 jobs for freshers at campuses in 2015-16, 10,000 more than offered in the current fiscal.
The Tata-group company also said that it is likely to overshoot its overall stated target of hiring 55,000 professionals, including lateral ones, during the ongoing 2014-15 fiscal. “We will be overshooting that 55,000 number but at the moment we are not looking at what that final number is going to be. We will be doing 35,000 campus offers next fiscal,” TCS executive vice president and global head for human resources, Ajoy Mukherjee, told PTI in Mumbai. The process has already been set rolling and the company is visiting campuses, he added. Of the 25,000 offers made for FY15, Mukherjee said he expects around 71-72 per cent freshers to actually join the company. “The overall need of what we require for the next year and planning our head-counts from that point, campus (recruitment) is one of the things we have to do,” Mukherjee said, adding that the overall hiring number for FY16, including the lateral ones, will be decided in February next year. After declaring a 13.2 per cent growth for the July- September quarter profit at Rs 5,244 crore, TCS chief executive and managing director N Chandrasekaran had said that he is bullish about 2015-16. “Across the sectors, and across markets, we remain very positive. If at all, we are only increasing our investments both in sales and capability building. We have already hired 36,000 people (as against targeted 55,000 for FY15)... So, we remain bullish about next year,” he had said. — PTI
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The Naukri Job Speak Index for the month of September 2014 at 1518 indicates a 23 per cent growth in hiring when compared to September 2013. Industry wise hiring sentiment remained positive with sectors such as Banking and IT seeing an increase of 52 per cent and 34 per cent, respectively in September’14 as compared to September’13. Among the top metros, Bangalore and Pune saw maximum growth in hiring with the index moving up by 36 per cent and 35 per centrespectively in the same period.
Hitesh Oberoi, Managing Director and CEO, Info edge (India) said, “The Naukri Job Speak Index has been growing steadily for the past two months, suggesting a sustained momentum in hiring activity. We expect the upward growth trend to continue in the coming months”. An in depth analysis reveals that apart from the Banking and IT sectors, the Oil & Gas and Pharma sectors have also seen yoy growth of 35 per cent and 28 per cent, respectively in the index in September’14. The Telecom sector has also moved positively with the index going up by 26 per cent yoy in September ‘14. The BPO and Insurance sectors have also experienced growth with the index going up by 16 per cent and 13 per cent respectively in the same period. Functional area analysis The demand for professionals working in HR and Banking grew the most . Professionals employed in the IT and Supply Chain functions witnessed a year on year growth in hiring (as represented by the Naukri Job Speak Index) of about 32 per cent and 29 per cent, respectively in September’14. Other areas such as Accounts& Finance and BPO grew by 23 per cent each in this time period. — TNS
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As a manager of a team of people who have different personalities, imbalances are bound to happen. These dynamics make feedback an invaluable tool. It is important for a manager to give critical feedback to the lagging members of the team because if this task is avoided, other members will have to bear the brunt of inefficient workers.
So how does a manager offer constructive criticism without bringing down the productivity and morale of the employee? Give suggestions instead of orders Caution needs to be exercised before criticising an employee. Instead of using harsh words like “Don’t do this” and “You’re doing it wrong”, employees would respond much better to suggestions and gentle prompts. For instance, “What if we were to try”, “Have you considered” and “Let’s see how this works”. In order to reduce the sting, “I might be wrong” or “Might I suggest” could also be used. No matter how gentle the words are, if the tone and gesture are intimidating, the result would be a dejected employee with low productivity and morale. Criticism can be made worst by intimidating gestures and harsh tones. So, a friendly tone should be adopted. Illustrate with examples When an employee is given a suggestion, there is still a lot of doubt in his mind regarding how to implement it. This leads to skewed results and rework. Using examples while explaining a certain condition can eliminate all this. For instance, instead of telling them to “work faster”, the manager could try suggesting tips which would increase the speed of their employees. Tips like “here is a list of common time saving keyboard shortcuts” and “try to use keyboard shortcuts instead of going for the mouse” will be much more useful than a simple “I need you to work faster”. Monitoring performance Even if the feedback offered by the manager is crystal clear, the learning curve would take some time. During that time, it is important to keep an eye on the employee’s work and see if they need any additional help. Do they require additional motivation? Is there a reason why their work is lagging? Have they found a way to fix their performance? These are some things that managers can notice sooner than the employee; given their additional experience, and they can advice a course correction if needed. Appreciation after improvements When an employee tries to improve after constructive criticism, they will give it their best shot. All that will go wasted if the manager is not appreciative of the efforts that the employee has taken. So, while monitoring post-feedback, if the employee shows signs of improvement, it is important to give them thumbs up. Even if everything hasn’t been sorted, little improvements should be lauded for maintaining the confidence of the employee. This would let them know that they are on the right track and are doing a good job. Keep them going. So, the next time you wish to give feedback to your employees, remember that positive connotations always work irrespective of the situation. Career Tips from www.careersweetener.com. Follow on twitter @CareerSweetener
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“ I have so much study work, there's no time to read,”
“ I read when I can find the time “ Reading is not a preferred leisure activity among young people today, and comes way down in the pecking order after social networking, internet, video games, TV and music. It’s definitely not a “cool” activity, as young people see it. Even parents feel that reading a book takes away time from studies, which should be of paramount importance to their children.
Q. I am doing BTech (mechanical) and am interested in doing my master’s in technology or management from a university abroad. Can you please tell me whether I will have to take the GATE exam besides appearing for TOEFL? 
As companies across the world experiment with concepts like ‘unlimited holidays’, human resource experts in India believe the country is not ready for such agile HR policy and people here would rather appreciate benefits like leave encashment and sabbaticals.
Last month, Richard Branson, Founder and CEO of Virgin group said he would offer his employees unlimited holidays.
