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Get a head start in conversation Career Hotline
newsboard MBA MENTOR scholarship roundup
acca qualification newsboard DU inks MoU with NSDC for skill-based courses career brief: product design
course cruising smart strategy: how to soften the sting of appraisals smart strategy: how to soften the sting of appraisals Don’t get caught in the crossfire cubicle trends Career sweetener
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Get a head start Today, when we look at corporate giants like Amazon, Apple, Google and Flipkart, it is hard to imagine that they were once ‘start ups’. If you are thinking of starting your dream venture and while looking at the world’s largest companies you wonder, “I could never have done something like that”. You may be completely wrong. The fact is that most of these companies were the brain children of minds like you — it took them decades — with the right mix of money, men, luck and hard work to reach where they are today. If you are a budding entrepreneur with a start-up plan then always remember it’s not about where you start. It’s where you end up that matters. Here are a few guidelines for start-ups: Timing As an entrepreneur, you need to understand that everything has an opportunity cost, most of all time. Each moment you spend away from your project delays you to an extent that costs may rise, you may no longer have the first-mover advantage, market conditions may change, and also your own personal circumstances. So, once you have the plan completed do not wait till eternity to get it off the ground. You can dot your 'I's and cross your 't's once you hit the ground running also. Discipline Business is about setting goals for yourself and achieving them. It does not leave any room for passing the buck. And all this involves discipline in all areas. Planning small sprints for yourself, evaluating yourself every now and then, raising the bar higher once the previous goals are achieved. Setting new milestones and riding dynamically on economic cycles and sentiments is what is required of you. Social skills As an entrepreneur you need to be the captain of the ship, dealing with people of different mindsets and temperaments. You need to be tirelessly committed to leveraging your existing network and seeking out opportunities to make connections with people both while creating your team and while running your business. Either way, having an ability to form new relationships and nurture and maintain the existing ones is extremely crucial for your business. Capital This is the thing a start-up needs to be set and there are a lot of different ways to get it. Whether it's seed money from your own pocket, angel investments, or small-business loans, you can pursue the option that suits you best. You can either bootstrap your company or go in for incubators and accelerators. Adaptability If you plan to start your venture, you need to be fluid like water - most willing to move and adapt to the changing demands of the market. When you put so much time, effort and faith into one business plan, built on one business model, it's logical that you would have trouble accepting that maybe it needs to be modified, or worse yet, scrapped and rebuilt entirely. Unfortunately, at any point in the startup process - from concept to actually being in business - the market dynamics can change and some part of your plan would require tweaking. Being passionate about your business plan is one thing - being married to one specific method or course of action is another. You should be the most responsive to the ever-changing dynamics of the market, demand and supply forces and competitor movements. The
final word The crux is, you may plan and be immaculate to the core yet failure might stare you at your face. But failure is a part of getting up and growing. In order to achieve greatness, you have to fail greatly. This is what all major corporate giants have tasted at some point in their trajectory. So, if you want to create a difference and be heard of again - keep going Business incubators and accelerators Start-up incubators are a growing trend and a great thrust to support first-time entrepreneurs across India. There are all kinds of efforts in this direction - government supported Institute-based technology incubators, private business incubators started by industry veterans and start-up accelerators supported by companies and VC funds. There are differences between how they incubate, structure the programme, operate, fund and accelerate the ventures. Difference We generally hear these two terms used interchangeably. Accelerators accelerate the speed of your business — in most cases an existing business or an idea through short and specific programmes. They help you hone your idea and build it out, whereas incubators incubate your early pre-product idea, help you make a POC (Proof of Concept), and further modify according to the feedback and make a final product. Some incubators and accelerators: *
Indian Angel Network (IAN) Incubator: Established from the support of National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB), Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India. *
Technology Business Incubator, IIT Delhi: Proposals are accepted from ventures that should be initiated by one or more members of academic staff, students or alumni of the Institute or a faculty-student led company for this technology incubator. *
Tlabs, by Times Internet Limited. * GSF: multi-city accelerator with presence in Delhi, Mumbai and
Bangalore. * Technology based Incubator Society (TBIS), University of Delhi
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Be flexible
Nitin Maheshwari is Founding Partner, Uniwix, a start up in Chandigarh which has five verticals and serves as a one-stop shop that provides end-to-end solutions in medicine. A young entrepreneur who quit a high-flying job with the leading IT giant Accenture Bangalore, shares his mantra of setting up own venture: Keep in mind: Well, the idea I would say is the most significant. The idea has to be substantiated by market segmentation besides data analysis and judgment-based analysis of how your venture could help in reaching the desirable condition. Thereafter, you also need to determine what would be your revenue cycleand plan a strategy to scale out and scale up. Do funding agencies help? Yes, I strongly feel that an agency can help a budding entrepreneur in many ways. First, it shares your risk appetite and gives you a better kick start. Besides, you get to align with the Investors experience with the market ups and downs. However, as far as my venture is concerned, it is all bootstrapped. There is no investment money of any kind, only some family and friends. A word of advice: Be passionate about your idea and plan, but do not fall in love with it and be over obsessed with it. At the end of the day, knowing how to do something is more important than knowing what needs to be done.
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Is operation management related to my field? Pervin Malhotra email your queries to careers@tribunemail.com...
A. Most B-school programes are structured to introduce and familiarise you with concepts in general management in the first year — lay a foundation, if you will. You will cover subjects and topics ranging across managements disciplines of Marketing, HR, Finance, IT, Communication and Operations, etc. It is in the your second year that you will choose you specialisation — partly based on your performance and partly your preference and interests in any of the above mentioned areas and proceed to acquire specialized knowledge and skills. Don't let your BTech degree/specialisation become an albatross round your neck. Consider all options with an open mind, explore them further and then decide.
What are the prospects in fashion marketing?
A. Fashion Marketing Management is a relatively new branch of management that caters to the demand for people who can combine skills of communication, marketing and management. The fashion retail industry requires a mix of expert design, marketing and floor management skills to successfully run a fashion store. This warrants a creative out of the box thinking all-rounder and hence the need for focused fashion marketing professionals. They need savvy online marketing professionals who understand how the web operates and know how to make it work to their benefit by creating a buzz of viral marketing and inbound traffic through the internet, social media, blogs etc. With the influx of international brands at the luxury as well as mass market levels, in-depth knowledge of fashion marketing can give a boost to a fashion professional’s career. With the retail boom, avenues in all fields of Brand Management, Sales Management, Key Accessory Management, Marketing Management, and Product Management are bound to rise making it a good career choice for those who have a passion for fashion and a flair for marketing like you.
Will technical writing be a good field for me? Q. I have done BSc physics. Although I enjoy reading about science, I’m not interested in pursuing an MSc or any other academic qualification in this line. Instead, I have good communication skills and enjoy writing. Would technical writing be a good field for me? — ujjwala bhatia A. Certainly, and let me explain why. Most of the products we buy — computer software and hardware, cars, electronic stuff etc come with instructions. This could be in the form of a user manual, a maintenance manual, catalogue or assembly instructions etc. This information not only allows consumers to use and maintain products easily and safely, but also protects manufacturers from being sued if it is ambiguous or fails to explain the correct usage. It’s the ‘Technical Writer’ who organises and presents this information in a simple, logical and user-friendly manner that can be understood even by a layman. This basically involves simplifying the product information and breaking down complex procedures and unfamiliar technical jargon into easily understandable steps — so that there are no gaps in communication between those who develop the product and those who use it. Technical writers are now referred to as ‘Technical Communicators’ because the job involves much more than writing i.e. creating electronic documents, layouts, diagrams, charts and design for web-based communication. The most essential requirement for an aspiring technical writer is excellent writing skills. You should be able to communicate clearly and concisely. Greater the product’s complexity, greater is the need for clarity and simplification. Equally essential is some technical knowledge of the product you’re writing about. For instance, if you’re targeting the IT segment, a working knowledge of DTP tools (e.g. PageMaker), development tools (RoboHelp), and web tools (HTML and XML coding) are a definite advantage for those working in an online environment. If you are curious about developments in science and possess a basic understanding of computer hardware, operating systems, software applications and programming languages, this may be the field for you. The need for good technical writing has steadily caught on in India. The cutthroat competition between companies and entry of MNCs has boosted the demand further. The proliferation of MNCs has also brought to the forefront issues of globalisation, localisation and translation. Since technical writing has also jumped onto the BPO bandwagon you need to be conversant with differences between American and British English Most high-end software firms like Microsoft, Oracle, Adobe, Quark have in-house technical writers on their rolls. Technical communication is a rewarding career and if you’re at the high-end of the ladder (an engineer or engineer-like acumen, working in a hi-tech software company with a few years of experience), you could gross over a lakh p.m. Starting out as a trainee, you can become a full-fledged Technical Writer, Team Leader, Project Leader, Programme Manager, Documentation Or Publication Manager, and later, Director.
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OBE for British School Principal
Dr Nick Argent, Director of The British School, commented that 'the OBE has been conferred by the UK in recognition of Vanita's 23 years' service at The British School during which she has worked single-mindedly to promote British educational values and student achievement. I wish her many such laurels in future.”
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MBA MENTOR
How should I create a unique story while applying for the international MBA programmes? How to see the uniqueness in my profile? These are two main queries that most MBA aspirants have. Here are some points that can be kept in mind to present your story in a unique way: What makes you stand out from the rest? If you are of the opinion that your personal, professional, academic and/or extracurricular achievements and experiences are not very notable, then it is all the more pertinent that your essay reflects an aspect of you that makes you appear unique from other candidates. There are a few ways in which you can showcase your unique talent or traits successfully as follows: If you were the youngest person to do some kind of work/activity etc. If you have made a unique contribution If you have a very different academic, professional, family or personal background If you have unique talents or skills If you have a notable global experience If you have been the recipient of any scholarship, awards etc. You can also enlist your post-MBA goals if they make you appear unique You must remember that being unique or different is only how you represent yourself and present it in your essay. Hence the onus lies on each applicant to show how his/her presence/contribution can enhance the classroom experience and their peers’. Hence, the trick lies in making yourself appear different and unique, even if you do not strongly believe so. The truth is that each one has something that makes him/her unique in their own special way. The leadership quality Schools love to educate leaders, and put them in action. MBA programmess bring people from very different walks of life — coming from diverse extracurricular, professional and educational backgrounds. However, the one thread that is common amongst them all is the fact that they had undergone a leadership experience at some point in time. When it comes to admissions, schools are very selective in choosing candidates that fit their description. Here are some points to keep in mind in this respect: A school might not be upfront in asking you to explain how capable you are as a leader in the essay; however, this is what you have to evidently write about. Leadership is not a trait or a quality that comes easily and if your resume already has enough evidential support of having performed leadership roles, then you might choose not to repeat the same in the essay. However, you should not think of leadership as a formal responsibility or simply a title without explaining it in your context, as it will not bring out about you in such a responsible position. There might be instances wherein an applicant has not held any leadership position in a formal manner. For those who have held formal leadership positions, they would be having a significant amount of material to write on regarding decision-making, vision, impact and so much more. However, the same can be done in the case of those candidates who have not held a formal leadership position or a title. Analytical aptitude and appetite Schools provide its students with a highly challenging and competitive work environment and therefore, only the best can flourish. When it comes to writing about ‘Analytical Aptitude and Appetite’ then most of the candidates tend to think of this as describing academic potential. Therefore, this can be easy to write about for some. However, one thing to be taken into account here is the fact that you need to demonstrate the extent of your analytical intelligence as well. A good GPA and GMAT score are good enough, but if you have not scored too well, then it would be best to focus on your high analytical aptitude and appetite by citing references and examples. Those who have exceptional test scores and a stellar academic background need not focus on these aspects. However, if you seem to have some weak spots when it comes to academics, then these pointers should help you in mitigating them. Hence, on the whole, an essay is a space wherein you have the liberty to mould the Adcom’s perception of you by representing your candidature in the best way possible. Engagement in community This might sound like having taken up some kind of leadership position in an NGO; however, it is quite different from that. By having engaged in community programmes, schools are basically looking out for candidates who have the potential to make a contribution in this respect. This is what is expected of them, coming to the fact that the MBA programme is essentially collaborative in nature. Although the major role in classroom learning is performed by the academicians, however, classmates too impact learning through their interactions both within and outside the classroom. Hence, the education that one received during an MBA programme is essentially on the basis of building relationships. One of the main prerogatives of the MBA admissions committee is to select candidates who would turn out to be collaborative classmates. Hence, if the adcom and the director have selected the best candidates, then they will transition into eminent alumni and prove to be great ambassadors of the school. — THe writer is CEO & Co-Founder of
PythaGurus, an education consultancy.
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Cargill Global Scholars Programme
Applications are invited from high performing university students who demonstrate exemplary academic achievement and leadership potential for Cargill Global Scholars Programme. The scholarship will be awarded to study in a field relevant to Cargill’s world of food, agriculture and risk management. Eligibility: Applicants must: Be a citizen or permanent legal resident of Brazil, China, India, Russia or USA. Attend a partner university in the country of citizenship or permanent legal residency Be a first or second year university student Demonstrate high academic performance Demonstrate leadership potential Details: The selected candidates will: Receive an annual scholarship award for up to three year. Participate in a fully-funded three-day leadership seminar during the first year of the programme. Have the opportunity to become one of five students from each country cohort to participate in a fully funded Global Leadership Programme to be held at one of Cargill’s global locations. This activity will bring the top performing Cargill Global Scholars from around the world for a week-long seminar that will involve a series of experiential learning enrichment activities coupled with networking opportunities with Cargill executives. Selection criteria: Preference will be given to applicants who: Demonstrate financial need Specialise in fields of study that are identified as preferred fields Are from a disadvantaged or underrepresented group within their country How to apply: Online. Deadline: March 1, 2015 Check out: www.cargillglobalscholars.com HRD fellowships for health research The Department of Health Research (DHR) invites applications for health research fellowships for those working in Indian institutes. This scheme has following components: Short-Term Fellowships for 1-3 months from regular faculty (In India and Abroad, Age: up to 55 years) and Long-Term Fellowships for 6-12 months from regular faculty (In India and Abroad, Age: upto 45 years). These fellowships provide advanced training to medical and health research personnel in cutting edge research areas concerning medicine and health. Eligibility: Long-term Fellowship: Only Indian citizens working in Indian institutes are eligible. Having MD/MS/ MDS or MBBS/BDS/MVSc./M.Sc./ M.Pharma/ M.Tech or equivalent with PhD in topic related to health research. Faculty having at least three experience in the institute as regular employee. Person with below 45 years of age as on last date of receipt of application Details: Foe Indian institutes: A consolidated stipend of ~40,000 per month for a period of stay in host institute, which is at different station from the parent Institute. In case, the training is at the same station, the rate of stipend payable will be ~20, 000 per month. Expenditure on travel will be as per the TA rules of the parent organisation. One-time contingency grant of ~30,000 (maximum) to meet the expenses of travel, local taxi charges, attending meetings etc. For foreign institutes: A consolidated stipends of $ 3000 per month (or equivalent in other foreign currency) for the period of stay in host institute abroad. Cost of air passage in economy class by Air India from the parent institute to the foreign host institute by the shortest possible route. nOne time contingency grant of ~50,000 (maximum) to meet the expenses of local taxi charges visa fee and Health insurance, attending meetings etc. A grant of $ 600 for fellowship duration for attending conferences /institutes of interest may be given with the recommendations of the Guide in the foreign host institute. Selection criteria: Selection of the “Fellows” will be made through a two-tier system of screening. Screening based on the details provided in the prescribed applications by an Expert/Technical Evaluation Committee at ICMR, followed by interview of short listed candidates, based on merit, by specially constituted Committee by the Secretary DHR. Candidate must route their applications through the Head of the institute agreeing to the terms and conditions. The proposals duly recommended by the Screening Committee and Evaluation Committee of ICMR fulfilling technical and administrative criteria would be referred to the DHR for final approval to Approval Committee constituted by Secretary DHR. How to apply: Applications should be addressed to: The Programme Officer, HRD scheme of DHR, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and submitted by post. Deadline: December 15, 2014. Check out: icmr.nic.in Singapore option Management Development Institute, Singapore is offering merit scholarships for Graduate, Post-Graduate and Pre-Degree Studies The Management Development Institute, Singapore, is offering merit scholarships. The scholarships will be awarded to qualified students on the basis of academic merit, leadership potential and special talents. The scholarship applications are invited for master’s degrees valued at S$4,000 each, bachelor’s degrees valued at S$3,200 each and for the pre-degree programmes valued at S$500 each. Eligibility: The candidates must apply for admission to MDIS and have good academic achievement and inter-personal communication skills. Details: The scholarship award does not cover non-tuition fees, remodule fees, trip expenses and other miscellaneous fees or expenses. Deadline: December 31, 2014 Check out: www.mdis.edu.sg/
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Add value to your finance degree Usha Albuquerque As the Indian economy grows both nationally and internationally there is an increasing need for professional accountants and professionals with strong financial qualifications. While the numbers taking up the Chartered Accountancy course in India keeps growing, there is now the additional professional qualification of ACCA (Association of the Chartered Certified Accountants) which can give finance people an opportunity to work for multinational firms in India as well as abroad.
The ACCA course not only provides specialist knowledge in finance and accounting but also enables candidates to acquire valuable skills in organisational management and strategy, as the course covers traditional auditing as well as the finer aspects of Financial Management. The curriculum includes tax, audit and business law as well as the core accountancy subjects. The ACCA qualification is designed to provide accounting knowledge, skills, and professional values to finance professionals who understand the financial needs of business and who can evaluate and present effective business solutions, whether in the public or private sector, in accounting firms or in business. The wide ranging and forward looking syllabus, recognises the fact that finance professionals are increasingly required to demonstrate strategic thinking, excellent communication skills, people skills and fluency with information technology. Eligibility Any graduate can undertake the ACCA course, although ideally a background in commerce with subjects like maths and English are preferred for undertaking such a programme. Students with Plus II (pass in five subjects, including English and mathematics/accounts, marks of 65 per cent in at least two subjects and over 50 per cent in the others), BCom graduates from recognised university and any degree (BA/BSc) from a recognised university can apply for the ACCA course. For entry to ACCA's professional qualification you must be at least 18 years of age, or 21 years to qualify under the Mature Student Entry Route (MSER) and pass papers M1 and M2 (equivalent to papers 1.1 and 1.2) within two years from the date of your first eligible ACCA examination session. ACCA also offers a vocational, open entry introduction to accounting - Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) course for applicants who are 16 years or older who will be eligible for direct entry to Part 2 of ACCA's professional examination. The duration for the course is six semesters (2 ½ years) for school leavers, and five semesters (2 years) for BCom students. Students can register with ACCA twice every year, during June and December. Admissions are done purely on merit basis, and eligible students will be selected for group discussion and personal interview. The course consists of 16 papers though the students need to select and pass in 14 papers only, and includes theory and practical case studies. The ACCA written and computer-based exams are administered by the British Council in June and December every year at all metro cities in India. Job prospects ACCA is not a university degree, but a membership in the association (professional body) set up in the UK, and accepted and followed in 170 countries. Those with ACCA qualifications can also, therefore, practise in India. Once you have completed all the papers in ACCA you will become an Affiliate. The Affiliate can be elevated as Associate after completing three years' professional experience (PER). As the course gives students not only specialist knowledge in finance and accounting, but also valuable skills in organisational management and strategy, there are several career options available to ACCA professionals in a vast range of activities like fund raising, foreign exchange, treasury management, investment banking, money market operations, securities management and financial and strategy consulting. They can also work with the finance departments of companies, consulting firms, banks, investment organisations and brokerage firms. A large number of ACCA candidates join the large corporate practising firms such as Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG & PricewaterhouseCoopers, as well as smaller practices handling international clients. Those looking to work abroad can join the financial services sector, to work practically anywhere, as International Financial Reporting Standards are becoming statutory requirements in most countries. In addition, as more and more multinationals are setting up offices in India and many Indian companies providing global services, there is an increasing demand for internationally qualified ACCA accounting professionals. Not surprising that many CAs are themselves adding on the ACCA qualification to enhance their career prospects. Over the last few years, with the emergence of a global economy, there has been a revolution in the role of finance and accounting. Moreover, with rapid globalisation of financial services, and development and integration of professional standards, negotiations are taking place between ICAI and ACCA to recognise both Indian CA and ACCA for the purpose of permitting the respective members for public practice in both countries after undergoing a proficiency course in taxation/corporate laws of countries. So it is likely that those with ACCA qualifications would be more readily accepted for Indian practice as well. So if you are looking for stimulating and rewarding work, and are serious about making a career in finance then the ACCA qualification can be right for you. It could not only add value to your resume, but also help you reap rich career dividends. - The writer is Director, Careers Smart Pvt Ltd., New Delhi
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Apollo Hospital tie-up with Fiji varsity
Apollo Hospitals & Fiji National University recently signed an MoU to work together to develop healthcare in Fiji. This collaborative initiative was announced during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Fiji National University last week. The MoU was signed by Ms Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Group of Hospitals, India and Vice-Chancellor of Fiji National University. Sharing of content on medical education and training programmes, including e-learning portfolio will be an important part of the collaboration. Cardiff metropolitan University to develop Art courses in India
Cardiff Metropolitan University recently signed an agreement to develop Art and Design courses to be offered in India. The University’s Vice-Chancellor Prof Tony Chapman and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Internationalisation), Prof Mohamed Loutfi, signed an agreement to work with Qualifications and Assessments International (QAI) to develop Diploma and Advanced Diploma programmes in Art and Design to be offered in India. Once finalised, the programmes will enable students to transfer to study degree courses in Cardiff or to complete their degrees in India at approved centers. QAI is a private and international awarding body that offers a range of academic and vocational qualifications and assessments for specific purposes including skills assessments for employability and English language.
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DU inks MoU with NSDC for skill-based courses
Delhi University has signed an MoU with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) for the introduction of skill-based courses for its students.
“The objective of the MoU is to improve the employment potential of the students with systematic training, certificates of competency, and placement assistance,” said Malay Neerav, DU's Media Coordinator and Joint Dean of Students’ Welfare. These courses shall be made available in colleges under DU as add-on short-term courses/compulsory courses/long-term courses for undergraduate students. The agreement, which is expected to integrate skill-based training as part of the graduation curriculum, was signed last week between DU Vice-Chancellor Dinesh Singh and Dilip Chenoy, Managing Director and CEO of NSDC. The training shall be in sectors such as banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), IT and IT-enabled services (ITES), healthcare, media and entertainment, tourism and hospitality and the automotive industry. “Seventy per cent of all students under this programme shall be assured of receiving a placement through NSDC for jobs or for becoming entrepreneurs in the above sectors,” he added. The implementation of the MoU will be taken care of by a Skill Development Advisory Committee (SDAC), which will include two members from each of the parties to the agreement. According to the MoU, DU will identify and provide NSDC with a list of colleges/institutions where to consider the introduction of skill-based training. Colleges desirous of introducing the scheme will be responsible for providing the required infrastructure for the delivery of courses under it. NSDC will provide the curriculum and accredit the one best suited for the students. It will provide training through its approved training partners, which will be shortlisted and selected through a joint process by NSDC and DU. DU had earlier signed an MoU with NSDC in May this year for introduction of certain job-oriented courses under the controversial Four-Year Undergraduate Programme which was discontinued in June following pressure from UGC. — PTI
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Productive designs Sanjay Saxena If you are interested in art as well as science then product design this is the right choice for you. In India with the opening up of the market economy and liberalisation, design has become a very crucial domain. India is one of the largest markets in the world. The products of Indian companies face tough competition with global MNCs that employ the best technologies, qualities and better aesthetics and are cheaper too. This made the Indian companies change their strategies from technology of products to design of products.
Who is a product designer? A product designer is a specialised professional who creates aesthetically appealing and innovative, user friendly products which are functional too. Therefore, product designers need to have an extensive understanding of diverse subjects such as lifestyle trends, branding, marketing, types of materials, manufacturing processes etc. An extremely important characteristic of this discipline is ergonomics relating to comfort of human interface with the product. Moreover, product designers should continually be aware of the requirements of the society with great sensitivity to its cadence, influence and its regional and spiritual ethos. Product designers are centric to definite areas such as automobiles, consumer electronics, interior products, medical equipments etc. However, as their skills are transferable and they can also work for many other related disciplines, such as:
Storage units Courses and institutes: Several multi-disciplinary design schools offer diploma and advance diplomas in this field. The duration of the diploma product design programme is of two years. This course is essential to develop the aesthetic sensitivity, attitudes and sensorial skills which are necessary to get ahead in this field. Most of the product design courses also cover subjects like history of design, information theory and computer aided designs etc in addition to design, technology, ergonomics etc. Minimum qualification: Most organisations prefer to employ product designers after a diploma of two-year duration along with minimum three months hands on exposure at corporate level. Compensation: Product designers receive good initial salaries after graduation. In fact, the bandwidth of compensation earned by product designers can be substantial and highly profitable. — The writer is Head of Operation, AD the Design School
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course cruising Management Development Institute Singapore (MDIS), Singapore, has invited fresh applications for its 18-month bachelor’s programme in mass communications. This comprehensive undergraduate programme at MDIS’s School of Media and Communications is offered in association with Oklahoma City University, US. The programme on its successful completion awards students with the Bachelor of Arts (in Liberal Studies with concentration in Mass Communications). The course: This programme is the first American-style Liberal Arts mass communications programme in Singapore, since 1992, and combines a sound liberal arts curriculum with theoretical and practical courses in mass communications. The full-time programme has 14 modules, including a three-week on-campus residency, which involves real-time TV production at OCU’s campus studio. Eligibility: The applicant must have an Advanced Diploma in Mass Communications awarded by MDIS and validated by Oklahoma City University. Other relevant diplomas may be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis. Deadline: November 27,2014 Check out: mdis.edu.sg or email ib@mdis.edu.sg Library and Information Science The Department of Library and Information Science, University of Calcutta is inviting applications for admission to Master of Library and Information Science course. Eligibility: A BLIS degree from a recognised university in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 sessions. Candidates who have appeared in the BLIS Examination 2014 may also apply. Admission will be made in order of merit with reservations (SC, ST, OBC & PH) as per prescribed norms. Seats: 25 (60 per cent direct admission for CU students according to marks and remaining 40 per cent from rest applicants by Admission Test (merit wise). How to apply: Duly filled in application in the prescribed form available at the University Sales Counter on payment of ~300 for admission to the First Semester MLIS Course (2-years 4-semester Day) will be received by the Department of Library and Information Science, Asutosh Building (3rd Floor), College Street, Kolkata – 700 073. Admission schedule (January 2015 - December 2016): Deadline: December 11, 2014 Date of publication of merit list/selection list: December 16, 2014 Date of admission-cum-counseling for 60 per cent seats: December 19, 2014 Date of publication of result: December 26, 2014 BBA Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies (SCMS), Pune, is inviting applications for BBA course. Eligibility: Plus II pass in any discipline from any recognised board /council /university with minimum 50 per cent marks for general (open) category Seats: 300 (approx) Selection criteria: Qualifying the Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET), Personal interview and writing Ability Test . Indian students will be admitted on the basis of the merit list drawn out of the results of the selection process through SET and PI-WAT. How to apply: Online Deadline: Registration for SET begins in second week of February, 2015 Check out: scmspune.ac.in BSc in Fashion Design Interested candidates can check out the BSc in Fashion Design course offered by IMS Design & Innovation Academy, Noida. Eligibility:Plus II from a recognised board or equivalent with minimum 50 per cent marks. How to apply: Prospectus alongwith the application form can be obtained for ~500 by cash from the academy or by post enclosing a DD of ~ 600 in favour of Design & Innovation Academy, payable at Noida. Duration: 3.5 years Selection criteria: Design Entrance Exam (DEE) score. Deadline: Applications forms will be available from the first week of February, 2015 Check out: www.diaindia.co.in Design courses Eligible candidates can apply for Bachelor Programmes (BDes.) courses being offered at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). The different undergraduate courses include the four-year BDes in Accessory Design, Fashion Communication, Fashion Design, Knitwear Design, Leather Design and Textile Design and BFTech in Apparel Production Eligibility: All aspirants applying to NIFT must possess working knowledge of English language and basic computing knowledge and skill as applied to operating system, word processing, text editing, spread sheet, data base application, presentation as well as net surfing abilities How to apply: Candidate has the option to apply for two programmes; taking test for the first programme on Feb 8, 2015 and for the Second Programme on Feb 22, 2015. Deadline: January 16, 2015
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smart strategy: how to soften the sting of appraisals We are about to enter the month of December and getting ready for the year-end rituals. One of the biggest annual rituals performed by most of the organisations around this time is the “Annual Appraisal Ceremony”; more often than not this leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of the appraisee with the appraisers leaving no stone unturned in justifying their verdict. Discontent and feeling of being let down resonates for a few months, the origination being in the way the appraisals are done. So what can you do to remove the resultant sting? First and foremost the appraiser and the appraisee must be on the same page regarding the goals and the methodology or scale to be used to measure the end output. It’s important to define the yardstick for measuring success; you cannot change the scale as per your convenience and mood. Define the goal post at the start of the year and jolly well stick to it. It is not a dumping ground Appraisals should not be regarded as an event that takes place once or twice a year, when you unload all the negative comments you have stored in your direct report. Unleashing the avalanche of comments piled up during the year can make the other party very anxious and shocked. If you have not made any comments or corrected the worker during the course of the year, the employee can only interpret your silence, as ‘no feedback is good feedback’. Thereafter, to the workers’ surprise in the annual review you suddenly become vocal and shower complaints, as to how you believe they have done badly in the preceding months. The result is a nuked out and bewildered employee seething in anger with extremely low motivation to work for you. It is not an Instant food order There is a world of difference between making instant noodles that are ready in two minutes and doing an annual performance appraisal, nevertheless some managers believe in allocating appraisal time akin to cooking instant food. When you are conducting the performance appraisal allow enough time for it, provide privacy and don’t open up the session by saying “let’s get over with it quickly, I have other important work to catch on.” When you state or imply to your direct reports that you consider the review session a waste of time and you need to get back to real work, the subordinate will view this as an exercise in futility and feel let down because you cannot even take out an hour in a year to review their performance. The employee may feel that they are mere objects of use with zero intent from management to make them grow. It is not a fashion parade During the course of the performance review don’t contrast the performance of one individual with another, there is nothing that you would stand to gain by making comments like “ You should work as hard as Pritam or Kabir is doing better than you in closing sales “, this approach builds anger against you and animosity against the worker they are being compared to. Your discussion should center on the job and not the personalities involved in doing that job. Any criticism should be voiced in terms of the job, e.g. “You are not meeting the weekly target” instead of saying,“Pritam is achieving the target and you are not achieving it, what’s wrong with you”. You are not a psychologist Unless you are the counselor on the company payroll, there are dim chances that you will be trained enough to deal with personal issues which need psychotherapy or expert advice. The common misconception among all mangers is that they understand human behaviour and are fully equipped to offer counseling advice; nothing can be farther from the truth. Leave the work of counseling to the experts and you should focus solely on the job and its aspects. If the individual has a personal problem and that is eventually impacting the job, be concerned about that, but desist getting involved. More often than not, in the quest of being helpful we offer advice that we are not qualified to give and it may do more damage to the individual. If properly used, a performance review session can aid in building great relationship between the team and its managers, this deepened relationship can foster trust which drives emotional engagement and performance. — The writer is an HR & Strategy consultant and authors www.humanresourcesblog.in
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Don’t get caught in the crossfire Getting caught in a conflict at the workplace is bad enough. But getting ground-up in the middle when two of your superiors are going at it, is much worse. Almost everyone’s been through it — your boss and his boss don’t get along, they constantly snipe at each other, and you get caught in between. Another variant of the situation is when you have multiple bosses. In today’s flat office structure it is quite common to have more than one managers to report to. It is also true in cases where the business is family driven and you find yourself reporting to various members of the family simultaneously. So, what’s the way out? At times it’ll seem like there really are no easy answers, besides praying a lot! However, one can put together a game-plan that will keep you out of the firing line most of the time. Here are some things that you can do to come out unscathed from such a dicey situation: Be diplomatic: This maxim holds true for probably any situation in life, but we tend to ignore it often. Or we tend to equate it with weakness. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Diplomacy is the grease that lubricates everyday life and more so the all important ‘office life’. Using tact to get your point across, thinking before you speak and balancing diverse viewpoints will not only keep you out of thorny situations, but also establish your reputation as a ‘mature head’. Keep your likes and dislikes to yourself: An office, foremost, is a place of work. Not a place to blow off steam. Tilting the balance more towards socialising, and personalising issues, upsets your work relationships. That co-worker who comes to you daily with his or her complaints, whines, grouses and pet likes and hates, gets tiresome after a while. And that person becomes an easy target for the boss’ ire — called or un-called for. Draw your lines in the sand: Being diplomatic does not mean rolling over and getting beat every time someone else feels like letting off some steam. If your seniors know that you are not an easy target, they will usually not include you in their conflicts. Just cast an eye back to school. It was usually the kids who had not made it clear where they stood, who got picked on. What holds true for school kids, or for your co-workers, also holds true for your bosses. Know very clearly who your direct boss is: While it is true that a person can have several bosses at the same time, it is equally true that a worker fundamentally reports to only one boss at a time. Who writes your reports and annual reviews? That’s the person who stands first in line as far as you are concerned. Build a rapport with your immediate boss: If you understand each other well, he will not take it amiss if in a public forum you sometimes support his rival. This usually is a reflection of the trust you have built up with people. If it is known that you are not the type to betray somebody, or hurt somebody’s prospects, then you usually can get away with saying things that others cannot do. Try and get your bosses to get along with each other: Well, if that’s a tall order then at the very least try and get them to communicate with each other. Share information about your actual workload with them and involve them in your problem-solving issues. That will make them see your point of view much more closely and appreciate your situation more. No personal element: And, last but not the least, don’t take it personally. It is more than likely that the people concerned are merely pushing their own agenda and are not gunning for you. See things in the broader picture. As that old Bob Dylan number says, “You’ve got to serve somebody”. Bosses and multiple bosses are a reality of life. But if you play your cards right, and balance personalities and issues, you surely can be the boss of your own situation. — The writer is a management, sales and customer service trainer
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cubicle trends A new book has claimed that lazy employees are actually valuable assets to an organisation. According to Selfish, Scared and Stupid by Kieran Flanagan and Dan Gregory, the “lazy” yet results-driven employee tend to look for an easier way, will actively seek out the shortcut or try to save time, energy and resources and even have a minimum effort, maximum result mindset, News.com.au reported. The authors concluded that what people need today are employees who will constantly re-evaluate, rethink and adapt to the systems to the modern world of business and look for better ways to do what must be done. ANI Bullying common in Indian offices A large number of employees have been bullied at their workplace, with most of them facing false accusations and constant criticism by bosses or colleagues, says a survey. According to the survey by job portal CareerBuilder.in, about 55 per cent of Indian workers revealed that they have been bullied at work. The two most common forms of bullying reported by employees was of being falsely accused of mistakes they didn’t commit (33 per cent) followed by being ignored, wherein their comments were dismissed or not acknowledged (32 per cent). Besides, 31 per cent workers were found to be constantly criticised by the boss or co-workers, while 29 per cent said they were purposely being excluded from projects or meetings. The survey noted that over 40 per cent of the workers did not report of such incidents to their HR department, with 81 per cent saying that they had confronted the bully themselves, with varying results. Of those who reported being picked on, 37 per cent said that action was taken while 21 per cent said nothing was done. “It is important to remember that bullying impacts workers of all backgrounds regardless of race, education, age, income and level of authority within an organisation,” CareerBuilder Vice President of Human Resources Rosemary Haefner. “Many of the workers who have experienced bullying don’t confront the bully or decide not to report the incidents which can prolong a negative work experience that leads some to leave their jobs,” Haefner said. The survey covered more than 1,000 people aged 18-70 working in corporates. — PTI
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Career sweetener Creativity is a very valued skill as it is one of the biggest building blocks of innovation and organisations that lack innovation are not able to match pace with the market realities and challenges. In the modern age, premium is placed on people who are able to exhibit creativity. However, many of us are or have been conditioned to show restraint, stay narrow focused, hesitant and scared of making an error so as not to make a fool of ourselves. All of this kills creativity inside us, to be creative you have to follow a two-pronged approach, first you need to get off these constraints that throttle creative instinct and secondly add skills, which make you more creative. Here’s a roadmap for being more creative: Take out dedicated time In case you have a problem at hand, one approach is to find a solution in jiffy and get done with it. The other approach is to get immersed in the problem, getting ideas is not akin to a car race; you need time. Study the problem, talk with others and look outside your cocoon to see how others in your industry have solved a similar problem. If your response to this is that you don’t have time on hand, that very well explains why you have a dearth of new ideas. Thinking out loud Talking out loud is a great way to refine your thought process; once you hear what you are thinking the brain gets triggered to throw out more options. Find a good sounding board, one who is willing to listen to your thoughts without interrupting or judging you. Talk to an expert in an unrelated field, your goal is not to take their input on your proposed approach, but to see if your proposition follows the basics of problem solving. A lot of times people who are from the same field are blinded by reality and group-think, an outsider views the situation without any such baggage. Get into the skin Look for patterns that don’t match the trend, you would be surprised that the most creative people look for solutions in the opposite direction when confronted with a problem. The key is to get to the root cause and not be blinded by the symptoms of the problem. Remove the barriers What is preventing you from being more creative; figure out your personal barriers. By its very definition being creative implies treading on the path of uncertainty and throwing up uncertain things for review and critique. At times being creative may start with being unpractical and looking for solution where most people feel none exists. Look at the case of Apple; it is a classic case of moving beyond set notions and making it extremely simple for people to use their product. You need to get out of your comfort zone to be creative. Fail fast and fail early Do quick experimentation with you ideas and run a controlled pilot, the proof of the pudding is in eating it. Do a prototype, test case and only then will you know the effectiveness of your idea. The biggest success stories in the world were born out of mistakes, some one used it differently for good. Do you know ‘Post It Notes’ before its incarnation was failed glue that did not stick. Holding on to ideas for the fear of being proven wrong is the biggest inhibitor of creativity, get over with the failure as it is a data point in your life history, it does not define you. More often than not, we keep on waiting for creative ideas to dawn on us, however, using these simple techniques can make you usher in a wave of creativity. Remember you control your creativity and not the other way around. Career Tips from www.careersweetener.com .
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Today, when we look at corporate giants like Amazon, Apple, Google and
Flipkart, it is hard to imagine that they were once ‘start ups’. If you are thinking of starting your dream venture and while looking at the world’s largest companies you wonder, “I could never have done something like that”. You may be completely wrong. The fact is that most of these companies were the brain children of minds like you — it took them decades — with the right mix of money, men, luck and hard work to reach where they are today.
So, how are these similar to the ideas that you have in your mind? They, too, started with nothing. Just an idea and a plan — whether it’s a garage, a basement, or a dorm room, every business started from nothing.
Q. I’m an electronics and communication engineer planning to pursue MBA. However, I am confused about the subject that I should choose as my specialisation? Please tell me about the scope in HR, Marketing, Banking and Insurance? Is Operation Management related to my field? I was interested in telecom. Please tell me which subject to choose from the above mentioned fields which would help me create a solid career. For HR I guess one needs work exp which I don’t have. Please tell me in detail about the Operation management and telecom and their scope. — tejinder gulati
Q. I have done a course in fashion design from a polytechnic and am working in a small boutique. Someone suggested that I should do a course in fashion management to improve my prospects. Although I enjoy being in the fashion industry, my designing skills are average, but I enjoy dealing with clients. — aashni verma
The British School’s Principal, Vanita Uppal, was presented the Order of the British Empire (OBE), by the British High Commissioner to India, Sir James Bevan KCMG, arecently. The OBE is a civilian honour typically awarded for distinguished public service. Vanita is the only Indian woman currently working in India in the field of education to hold the honour. 
If there is something that you were the first person to do
Popularly known as the British CA, ACCA (Membership in the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK) is a professional qualification in the field of Accountancy, Auditing and Taxation and is similar to Chartered Accountancy Qualification (CA) of India. It is a 2-3 year full-time course which can be taken up in India and enables one to pursue a rewarding career in accountancy, audit, finance, management and taxation across the globe.
To survive in the global competition the industry as well as the economy generates need for designers who have international outlook and sensitivity to local requirements with aspirations to take forward these requirements to the markets. Product design is an exciting combination of of art, science and technology. Practically each product that you see around you or use during your lifetime is created by a product designer. The safety pin, the chair, the key board of your system, the I-phone, tooth brush, door handle, surgeon’s scalpel, the interior & exterior of a car etc. have all been created by product designers. 
An inch is an inch
It’s usually a no-win situation for you. One boss will want things done one way and the other just the opposite. Sometimes you listen to one and sometimes to the other. And you end up displeasing both people. 
The book said that lazy employees are valuable because they question, they reinvent and innovate systems that make life and work simpler, easier, more efficient and faster. And in doing so, they change our world for the better, in contrary to the diligent ones who tend not to question, agitate or innovate.