|
|
|
| JOBS & CAREERS |
|
|
|
|
|
It’s going to be all right
THE last quarter of 2008 brought only gloom and doom on the job scenario. Some of the bigger foreign banks with retail banking operations in India started reducing the number of employees in their consumer banking operations. The Indian arms of global banks also started cutting jobs with business volumes declining due to the economic slowdown. Goldman Sachs slashed its workforce in several of its offices, while Credit Suisse also slashed jobs in the country. Airlines are cutting back on expansion plans and battle low occupancy and rising costs, with the result that jobs opportunities for pilots have virtually been grounded. And the list goes on...
Insured Success
ALONG with banking and financial services, the insurance sector has also seen a sizable growth with private sector aggressively positioning itself to service the Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. India promises phenomenal growth opportunities for the insurance business because the potential for future expansion remains strong, thanks to low penetration levels, and attractive demographics - only 24% of 300 million potential people are today insured, whether for life, health or any other risk coverage. Reliance Life Insurance is one company that appears to be bullish on the growth of this sector, as it plans to hire 2,500 managers, besides 90,000 advisers who work on a commission basis in the sales functions. MetLife India, another private sector insurer, also plans to hire about 2,000 managers, 30,000 advisors and double its branch network — a move that comes in the midst of talks about wide-scale layoffs and trimming of businesses due to a global financial crisis.
With job opportunities shrinking, recruitment at a low ebb and compensation packages getting smaller, where are the jobs you can look out for in the coming months? Which are the sectors that will provide growing opportunities? Will the New Year, with its promise of hope and cheer, bring any good news on the job front? Whatever be the worldwide economic slowdown, it is reassuring to know that India as a developing economy has huge requirements for goods and services that will continue to fuel a demand for trained professionals. Infrastructure still needs to be set up, particularly power lines, roads, schools and health centres in smaller towns and cities, a growing awareness has increased the demand for media and entertainment, while the upcoming Commonwealth Games will have a multiplier effect on the hospitality, food, media, health and a range of other services. So, while some sectors may slow down or plateau out, others are set to expand and enlarge. Young people today therefore need to be open to looking at new ideas and opportunities and to developing skills that can see them transition through towards a positive goal.
Management Fundas
Another interesting trend is that the Middle East is fast opening its doors for management talent from India. Major Gulf recruiters such as MH Alshaya, Arthur D Little, Olam International and UAE Exchange have been recruiting interns from IIMs and other top B-schools as well as niche schools like Pearl Academy of Fashion (PAF).
Bank on This
A CAREER in finance has not yet hit a roadblock. Banks and financial institutions continue to look for good people, although in smaller numbers. Many Indian banks, particularly in the public sector, which had stopped recruitment a couple of years ago, have, in fact, resumed hiring new candidates. Even as most financial institutions are globally handing out pink slips as part of their cost cutting measures, the country’s top lender, State Bank of India, is looking to hire more than 4,200 employees for its associate banks — a development that comes within days of its plan to recruit 25,000 people. Another leading public sector lender, IDBI, has also announced that will recruit 652 people at managerial level for its retail banking business and in the SME financing division.
Accountancy Wizards
SO, if you’re good at number crunching numbers and have set your heart on a career in finance there are still several options. Moreover, it may be reassuring to know that there will always be a demand for finance specialists, accountants and auditors. The traditional chartered accountancy course offered by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India can lead you into another career that will not lose its sheen. Because of the expertise developed in the field of audit and accounting, taxation and consultancy, CAs are indispensable for any organisation.
Engineering Dreams
ENGINEERING which still attracts large numbers of students mainly as a conduit to a career in business management is now coming into its own. After taking a beating for several years, the manufacturing industry appears to be gaining ground mostly in the area of infrastructure and construction, power, petroleum and automobiles. With large automobile manufacturers setting up facilities in India and the spurt in infrastructure development, the scope for engineers has increased tenfold. From mechanical and automobile engineers to petroleum, civil and structural engineers, this demand is likely to continue. Toyota, the world’s second largest carmaker, has kickstarted a recruitment exercise nationally to support its India expansion plans. The ongoing hiring drive is for 200-300 diploma holders and engineers from mechanical and electrical streams for jobs in the production functions. GM India is also increasing its employee strength from the present 4,000 to 4,500 by 2009 for the car plant and the power train facility in Talegaon. Moreover, with the discovery of large deposits of oil in Rajasthan and Gujarat, companies like Cairn India and Reliance Petro-chemicals are setting up huge infrastructure projects for processing and producing oil and natural gas and require geologists, geophysicists, drilling, mining and petroleum engineers and a host of specialists.
IT Wave
THE Satyam scandal comes at a time when the IT sector is coping with a slowing demand for its services in the US and European markets. Yet, jobs in IT companies still remain among the top choices for young people. Although numbers have decreased considerably, IT companies continue to look for good people. India’s third-biggest software exporter, Wipro Technologies, plans to hire around 13,500 engineering graduates for the company’s BPO arm, on salary package anywhere between Rs 2.75 and Rs 3.25 lakh a year. The company has come up with the option since it anticipates a slowdown in projects in its software services business. These fresh hires would be in the non-voice segment, dealing with transaction processing, which requires technical expertise and will transition to the IT services segment within 12-18 months as their BPO experience would be considered relevant. As for IT skills, information security remains a hot skill set with companies dealing with zero-day exploits, insider attacks and high-profile data loss. Today, there is an acute shortage of information security personnel. Microsoft had estimated a requirement of 2.5 million ITS experts by 2010. According to NASSCOM, the demand for ITS Experts in India will be 10 lakh by 2010.
|
||
|
It’s going to be All Right
2009 is not going to be a cakewalk on the job front but USHA Albuquerque predicts some safe careers
Media Blitzkrieg
A GENERAL increase in literacy and awareness levels has raised the demand for news and entertainment, which the media industry has celebrated with a wave of new radio and television channels, programmes, and new media outlets like internet, web and digital telephony. The violent events of the past couple of weeks have amply illustrated the need for trained people to handle not only news reporting and presentation, but also behind the scenes jobs like production and editing as well as camerawork, sound, lighting and designing of new programmes, video graphics, and multi-media.
FM radio is also back on the scene. Delhi NCR already boasts of nine FM channels, Mumbai has around 6, Srinagar has one, too, and many more are mushrooming in different parts of the country. Each TV and radio channel requires producers, directors, editors, sound engineers, performers, scriptwriters, RJs, VJs, lighting technicians and so on. Education for All
WITH the announcement of revised pay scales for teachers, particularly at university level, teaching is another good option. Little recognised, and certainly not one of the more popular choices, education is one of the areas where new jobs are being created. As the demand for better educational facilities and professional training institutes increases, many private organisations, corporates and politicians, too, are looking at the financial viability of setting up schools, colleges and institutes of higher learning. This means an increased demand for teachers and educators for all subjects, from biotechnology and business management to media and deejaying. In addition to academics there is a whole new area of educational marketing which looks promising for those with the right aptitudes. Foreign institute representations, foreign study advisors, promotion of institutions and career counselling are other major areas of future growth.
Balancing Act
A SPECIALISATION in IPR is just one of the areas of growth for law professionals. This is yet another profession which has been resurrected in a new avatar. Highly reputed law institutes offering the 5-year integrated law degree are attracting some of the brightest students, who may never have otherwise considered law as a career choice. With the entry of international law firms, and a demand for corporate lawyers, as well as those specialising in human rights law, international law, environment law, patents law, cyber law, and so on the legal career has become fashionable once again. There is also a growing requirement for paralegals, employed by large law firms, government agencies, and companies who perform a variety of duties, short of giving legal advice, and presenting cases in court.
Enterprise Perfect
MORE and more young people are looking to start up ventures on their own, preferring entrepreneurship to a job. Several stories of IIM graduates opening up fastfood outlets, starting coaching centres, setting up NGOs and so on are inspiring many others. The scope and variety of self-generated work is unlimited. Whether it is making chocolates, growing organic foods, telemarketing, event management, setting up a travel or a real estate agency, providing IT/ design/recruitment services, entrepreneurship is the call of the day. A lack of opportunities in the formal sector is also driving young people to strike out on their own. But often it is the big bucks in the long run and the freedom to choose their own lifestyles that are the major guiding factors. In fact, for growing numbers pursuing the MBA-led-high-profile-MNC job is no longer a major attraction. Offbeat careers like deejaying, health and fitness expertise, growing organic foods, wedding planning, adventure tours, art management, choreography, cosmetology and music technology and many others can open up opportunities not dreamt of. There is no guarantee that if you aim your career toward a certain discipline, there will be a job opening for you, but there are occupations in the coming year which will be required and where your employment odds are better than average. Jobs are created and destroyed all the time, so it is best to keep an open mind, examine your talents, and keep updating your skills to meet changing demands. There will certainly be opportunities awaiting you in the months ahead. Have a happy 2009! (The writer is a career expert)
|
|||
|
More, the better Pervin Malhotra Q. Is it alright to enroll with more than one placement agency? How much should one pay them? — Krishna Shastri A. To answer your last question first: Not a single paisa. If you’re a candidate going to a search firm, you should never pay a fee. It’s the hiring company that pays the recruitment firm to fill the position. As for whether it’s fine to simultaneously sign up with more than one placement firm, the answer is: Sure, why not! Recruiters are the engines to which you hitch your wagon – so it helps to have as many driving your cart. Every placement agency understands that you want a job and that you’ll work with whoever can help; so don’t worry about hurting their feelings. But, if a particular agency starts pushing your resume around actively and enthusiastically to companies, it’s wise to stay loyal. They may feel somewhat cheated if you use someone else, but what the heck, in times like these, all is fair. Fashion ka hai yeh jalwa!
— Ritesh Jain A. There’s nothing like making your passion your profession and, fortunately, you are eligible for both programmes. Let me explain their ambit so you can choose the one that’s right for you. The M.F.Tech programme at NIFT helps you understand and integrate technology with management and equip you to offer strategic solutions for apparel manufacturing. Combining theory, practicals, and applied research, the programme gives you a global trade oriented perspective. Armed with this qualification, you can pursue a career in apparel technology management, industrial engineering, quality management, production management, R & D and consultancy in the fashion industry. On the other hand, the Masters Programme in Fashion Management (MFM) develops your managerial skills in fashion marketing, merchandising and retailing ideally suited to the garment export and fashion retail sectors. You will be exposed to creative merchandising/marketing, innovative fashion management practices, fashion forecasting and trends and business practices through field visits and industry internships. The programme offers a solid platform for anyone wishing to pursue a career in international marketing, fashion merchandising, brand management, retail buying and global sourcing, product development, retail management, visual merchandising, export merchandising etc. Eligibility: While any bachelor’s degree (or diploma in accessory / fashion design / FIT from NIFT) is fine for the MFM programme, the M.F.Tech requires a B.E. / B.Tech. (textiles / apparel / mechanical / industrial / production / electronics / computer / IT) It’s all about studying smart
— Udita Naval A. Few of us realise that success at college requires a level of skill we have not yet acquired. Note that I’m using the word "skill", not "brains" or "intelligence". Effort alone is not enough. It’s all about working smarter, not harder. If you’ve got admission to a reputed college, it is safe to assume that you are smart enough to be there and have the basic intelligence required to succeed. Like many others, what you lack is the set of skills necessary to put that intelligence to study at college. Strangely, while we are taught all kinds of subjects at school, the critical "how to study" bit is invariably ignored. And just like swimming or bicycling, these skills don’t come naturally. A few lucky ones get it right, while the rest try to figure it out through trial and error. Universities in the West offer special study skills seminars and courses. There are some excellent books on the topic. If you want me to suggest a few send me an e-mail with "Study Skills" in the subject line and I’ll send you a list. Good study skills and habits are not just relevant to school and college it is also transferable to most other aspects of your life. This kind of mental training is also what most employers look for when hiring new employees. A valuable transferable skill you’ll learn at college is the ability to think and effectively apply yourself to new tasks and situations. And you’ll acquire this gradually as you study seemingly impractical subjects like calculus and game theory. Economics is a fascinating subject, but you will discover its beauty only if you delve into its depths. You may not end up as an economist but the mental gymnastics required in such courses will be very helpful in the "real" world. Therefore, each time you open your textbook or notes, solve a mathematical problem or prepare for a class assignment, you are getting ready for the real world. Remember, education is the most portable asset you will acquire. It goes wherever you go. Go in for B.Tech, then a MBA
— Anuj Arora A. While integrated courses are fine, they are not of much value unless done from a top-notch institution. It may be better to do your graduation first, particularly if you are a science student and contemplating a B.Tech anyway. Work for a while to gain some practical experience and then go for an MBA from a really good B-school that offers excellent placement facilities. This is a better option than tying yourself down to a mediocre five-year course. Moreover, a techno-management qualification is highly rated in the job market. Waitlisting isn’t a no, hang in there Q. I have been waitlisted at one of the top 20 B-schools in the US. Does that mean a polite rejection? I am heartbroken; I had worked so hard for it. — Harish Punj A. Often, people assume that being put on the ‘wait list’ is the same as not being accepted, and they give up. But lots of waitlisted applicants do get admitted. If you’ve ended up on the ‘wait list’, make the most of it. There’s an art to it. If your GMAT score was relatively low, take the test again. Send another recommendation or two, if you can. If the B-school wants you to come in for an interview, do that. And keep in touch with the admissions committee. You don’t want to hound them, but it’s perfectly okay to send a letter if you get promoted or if you’re working on a ‘stretch’ assignment that broadens your skills, suggest those who’ve managed to convert it into a ‘pucca’ acceptance. At the best of times, getting accepted into a top MBA programme is an arduous, time-consuming process, with plenty of potential pitfalls along the way. But the most prestigious and selective B-schools — Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, and their ilk — accept 10% of all those who apply, which is a lot better than our own IIMs and the like!
This column appears weekly. Please send in your queries, preferably on a postcard, along with your full name, complete address and academic qualifications to:
|
|||
|
A spam-struck world
Virus-infected computers are woven into “botnets” used to attack more machines, and to send sales pitches to e-mail addresses in low-cost quests to bilk readers out of cash. “Every year we see threats evolve as criminals discover new ways to exploit people, networks and the Internet,” Cisco chief security researcher Patrick Peterson, who was involved in drafting the report, said. According to the Cisco Annual Security Report, junk e-mail make up for nearly 200 billion messages daily, approximately 90 percent of email worldwide. As per the survey, the US is the biggest source of spam, accounting for 17.2 per cent messages. Turkey and Russia ranked second and third, accounting for 9.2 per cent and 8 per cent spam respectively, according to Cisco. In 2008, botnets were used to inject an array of legitimate websites with an IFrames malicious code that reroutes visitors to websites that download computer viruses into their machines. “The botnet is, in many cases, ground-zero for online criminal threats,” Peterson said. “Using malware to infect someone’s computers is an incredibly common mechanism and harnessing them all together is a way they do their click fraud, spam emails, and data stealing,” he added. Online criminals are turning botnets on web-based e-mail accounts. Hackers are “reputation hijacking” by using botnets to figure out weak passwords protecting web-based e-mail accounts, according to Peterson. Weak passwords consist of family names, birthdays, home addresses or other terms considered relatively easy to deduce. Once access is gained to legitimate e-mail accounts, a plethora of spam messages are sent in the owners’ names.
— ANI
An hour a day, GONE
AN average worker wastes an hour a day sending and receiving emails, a new UK research has shown. Experts came to the conclusion after a poll of UK employees found that most do not filter or organise their emails correctly, while many of the emails that are sent do not help workers to do their jobs. The survey was conducted on 4,000 people from 150 UK
businesses. A spokesman for Expert Messaging, the communications consultants that commissioned the study, said that workers had not been given appropriate training for proper use of emails.
|
|||
|
Future imperfect?
Bad timing: This March, 1.2 lakh MBA graduates will pass out. As getting a job gets tougher, aspirants settle for lower salaries, upload resumes on online job portals & approach employment agencies “Everyone is scared,” said Neha Verma, who is one of a crop of 20-something management graduates at a New Delhi college. In past years, firms riding the wave of India’s economic surge would fight over the newly minted talent produced by India’s prestigious business colleges as they scrambled for an advantage in a country with a lack of middle-management talent. Nowadays, jobs for graduates are drying up as India’s economy feels the pinch of the global recession. “The fact is there is a hiring slowdown,” said Sudip Bandyopadhyay, chief executive officer of financial services firm Reliance Money. “Anybody denying it is just trying to bury his head in the sand.” While Reliance Money is recruiting for recently launched wealth management services, Bandyopadhyay said his company is an exception in a bleak job market and slowing economy. A survey by global staffing-services firm Manpower Inc says Indian firms are likely to slow their hiring to a 3-½ year low in the first three months of 2009, further evidence the global economic slowdown was taking its toll. After growing at 9 per cent or above for the past three years, India’s trillion-dollar economy, Asia’s third-biggest, is showing consistent signs of slowing. Squeezed by plummeting demand overseas and expensive credit at home, factory output contracted in October, the first year-on-year drop in more than 13 years, while exports and sales of cars and buses have fallen heavily. Economists and government advisers expect growth for the fiscal year to the end of March to brake sharply to around 7 per cent, and the governor of the central bank recently said 2009 would prove more challenging than a “difficult” 2008.
Empty corridors
MANAGEMENT and information technology campuses usually come abuzz November onwards as employers recruit students preparing for their finals. While students at premier academies such as the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) may escape the worst of the downturn, job fairs at second-tier colleges are attracting few takers. “The ones who were expected to come have either deferred their visit or are not coming at all,” said 25-year-old Abhishek Chaudhary, who studies at the Institute of Marketing Management in New Delhi. Less than a dozen companies were recruiting at Chaudhary’s institute in 2008, down from 50 last year, he said. “Only 25 students from my batch of 120 have got offers,” said Pawan Nahata, another management student in Delhi. In a normal year, everyone would have been snapped up by January, said Nahata. “Fearing a volatile environment and fast changing business scenario, many companies have not decided on their numbers to recruit,” said Munish Bhargava, placement adviser at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi. Fearing the usual route to a comfortable career may not deliver, students are uploading resumes on online job portals or are approaching employment agencies, while others scale back their salary expectations.
— Reuters
Dreams shattered
LONDON-BASED Mohit Mathur saved for three years to pay his way through a good B-school. His dream came true when he was selected for an executive MBA at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. But the 30-year-old is worried the job market may not have recovered by the time he graduates in early 2010. “We might pass out either at the peak (of the financial crisis) or when it is close to ending,” said Mathur. Some 2,90,000 candidates took the admission test to the top business schools in India in November, compared to 2,30,000 in 2007. There are only 1,700 places at the seven IIMs. Until recently, international investment banks were the flavour of the month and were hiring the best talent, said Bandyopadhyay of Reliance Money. “Students also were running after the large names – the Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns of the world. This year, those institutions don’t exist.” Like all good gurus, teachers and academic staff are advising students not to panic and to knuckle down to some serious work with the hope the economy will change for the better by the time they get their degrees. “It’s the best time to study,” said Arvind Narasimhan, placement secretary at Delhi’s Faculty of Management Studies.
|
|||
|
Out of the box
Functionality & ergonomics key to a comfortable home office
“Some people use these home offices for private correspondence, for online banking, tax returns or just to surf the Internet,” says Ursula Geismann of VDM, the German Association for Office Furniture. Regardless of its purpose, the home office should be planned and carefully furnished. “Ideally, a separate room for working is the solution,” says Geismann. But, if there is not enough space, the office could be stored in a wardrobe, recommended Doris Haselmann, a Nuernberg-based author and furniture expert. A wardrobe with a sliding or folding door can be used to hide a PC, monitor and printer. A sliding drawer for a keyboard, an adjustable monitor stand, integrated lighting and spaces for sockets and wires are vital. But Haselmann says these multi-function centres are not suited as permanent workspaces, especially as storage space is quickly maxed out... the more peripherals, the less shelf space. So, calculate the required storage space beforehand and then purchase the furniture. Most people who work at home usually spend many hours online. When setting up a home office, people usually focus on whether the furniture looks good and whether all the computing systems are set up properly. “Less attention is paid to the ergonomic needs of people who spend a lot of time in front of a PC,” says Detlef Detjen of AGR, a German society that focuses on helping people keep their backs healthy. “A healthy PC workspace will have a desk at a height of between 62 and 79 cm,” says Haselmann. In an ideal situation, the monitor will be a little higher than the keyboard. If they are at the same level, typing can become a strain. Some people experience pain in their wrists because their keyboards are too high. Conversely, if a monitor is positioned too low, a user runs the risk of neck and shoulder pain. “A good office chair is a must for people who work a lot at home,” said Detjen. And a swivel chair should allow people to change positions routinely while working because sitting still for a long time can cause stress and pain. An office chair must be able to be set for individual preferences. “It’s vital that the seat level and depth, the height and resistance of the back and arm supports are all adjustable,” cautions Detjen. The seat level should be high enough to allow a person’s thigh and calf form a 90-degree angle when seated. A person should be able to sit with their back touching the support. An appropriate seat level allows a person to easily insert two or three fingers between their knee and the desk. Even in the computing age, a home office usually requires plenty of folders, books and writing material. “If you have a lot of binders and books, then a shelving system is a good idea,” says Geismann. Narrow shelves that can be rolled away are a good idea, if space is tight. Wheeled containers also offer plenty of storage and can be hidden beside or under the desk after work.
— IANS
|
|||
|
Yoga for all
HP plans to introduce yoga in all classes in state-run schools
Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan project director Rajesh Sharma said yoga was already being taught as an optional subject in classes XI, XII at the senior secondary level and a 15-day vocational course had also been introduced in 376 high schools of the state last year. He said that a detailed plan report was being prepared which would be put before the state cabinet for its final approval to introduce Yoga education in remaining state-run schools. Sharma said that the education department was working on the selection of professional yoga faculty and evaluating required expenditure before implementing the decision. He said that PT teachers in these schools could be imparted yoga education by providing refresher courses and additional training. There was also a proposal to hire services of yoga professionals from Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Peeth or train new teachers under the fresh policy of the state education department. Sharma said that detailed research was being carried out before introducing yoga in the classes and curriculums and syllabi framing work was almost complete. If approved in time, the proposal could be implemented in the new session, he added. Yoga, as a full-fledged subject, is already being taught in Himachal Pradesh University.
— UNI
|
|||
|
Fortnightly Quiz-327 1. With which sport is Somdev Devvarman associated? 2. Who recently became the youngest-ever Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir? 3. Name the isthmus that connects the northern Jaffna peninsula with the rest of Sri Lanka? 4. Which movie, capturing the rags-to-riches story of a Mumbai slum-dweller, won the Film Critics Association’s 14th Annual Critics Choice Award in Los Angeles recently? 5. Where is Asia’s biggest officers’ naval training academy located? 6. Where is the world-famous Pashupatinath temple situated? 7. How many years ago did the communist revolution take place in Cuba? 8. Which part of the body is affected by glaucoma? 9. Which two countries in the Gulf region will be linked by the world’s longest marine causeway by the year 2013? 10. By how many runs did Sri Lanka crush Bangladesh in the second Test at Chittagong recently? — Tarun Sharma
Winners of quiz 326: The first prize by draw of lots goes to Namandeep, class XI-C, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 46-D, Chandigarh, Pin Code - 160047 Second: Mayank Thakur, 7th-A, DAV Public School, Sector 8, Chandigarh, Pin Code - 160008 Third: Mansi Jaisingh, class IX-A, Police Public School, Police Lines, Bathinda, Pin Code - 151001 Answers to quiz 326: Science and technology; Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh; Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir; Watergate; Sonia Gandhi and Shahrukh Khan; Chhatisgarh; Hindustan Aeronautics Limited; Football; Usain Bolt; South Africa Cash awards of Rs 400, 300 and 200 are given to the first, second and third prize winners, respectively. These are sent at the school address. Note: Kindly mention the pincode of your place to facilitate the delivery of the prize money. Answers can also be sent
at quiz@tribunemail.com Name
……………….…………........... Class
....………….......….……........... School address
……….....…............
|
|||
| HOME PAGE |
|
Tense about hitting the job market this year? Don’t be. While some sectors may slow down or plateau out,
others are set to expand & enlarge, writes USHA
ALBUQUERQUE. Be smart, quick & open to the new 
BANKING and finance has taken the greatest beating in the past few months but there continues to be a rush for business management qualifications that will open doors to large corporates and MNCs. While recruitment numbers may have dropped dramatically, consulting firms are hiring mainly for handling advisory business needs, as more companies are seeking advice in dealing with cost cutting measures due to the impact of the economic downturn. Global management consultancy firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu has, in fact, announced that it will ramp up its headcount in India by 3,500 to 12,000 employees in the next three years, as it continues on a growth path amid the economic downturn. 
Q. After completing B.Tech,
I have been working in tech support for the last two years, but to be
frank, my heart really lies in fashion. I have heard that NIFT offers
two PG programmes in fashion namely M.F.Tech and M.F.M. What is the
difference between the two?
Q. Since I managed to get
a decent percentage in the boards and had won several prizes in dance, I
got admission to B.A. (hons) economics in Panjab University, Chandigarh.
However, despite poring over my books for hours my performance in
college is pathetic. I barely manage to scrape through most papers and
find the course very dry and uninteresting. Subjects like linear
algebra, statistical methods and economic history seem academic and
pointless (economics in school was so scoring and interesting!). I am
very depressed.
Q. I will be giving my
Class 12 boards this time. I am thinking of joining a five-year
integrated MBA programme offered by a university in south India. Please
tell me its worth and prospects. Does an integrated MBA have the same
value as a regular MBA? Should I pursue B.Tech instead?
A RECENT survey has found that 90 per cent of the emails sent to a person’s inbox are usually spam. The survey report suggests that more and more hackers are devising new ways to send in spam emails. 
WHEN the MBA students at India’s top business schools began their studies their future was full of promise as companies tripped over each other to lure graduates. But 24 months of study and a financial meltdown later, prospects are glum for the estimated 1,20,000 business school graduates who will enter the job market in March after their final exams.
AN office at home is no longer unusual and home-offices are being used for everything from freelance work and telecommuting to more personal pursuits like surfing the Internet. 
AFTER making yoga an optional subject in plus two, the Himachal Government is now planning to introduce yoga in all the classes in state-run schools. The move is being considered as it would help physical and mental development of young students.