BOUNTY of numbers
If you are good at problem solving, have a clear mathematical mind and reasoning ability then economics is the subject you should be opting for, writes Usha Albuquerque

Many students have little knowledge about subjects like Economics and are reluctant to take up this subject in Plus II, or graduation. What can I do with Economics is the oft heard lament. Unknown to many economics is one subject that every individual deals with from an early age — ever since we start buying goods and services or think about money matters. In fact, as is sometimes mentioned — economics is the science of commerce.

Economics is the study of how society distributes its resources, such as land, labour, raw materials, and machinery, to produce a variety of goods and services.

Economics is the study of how society distributes its resources, such as land, labour, raw materials, and machinery, to produce a variety of goods and services. Economists conduct research, by collecting and analysing data, and monitoring economic trends, so as to develop forecasts on a wide variety of issues, including energy costs, inflation, interest rates, exchange rates, business cycles, taxes, and employment levels, among others. They then try to find trends and develop predictions based on the data, which can be used by governments, organisations and companies to make informed decisions. It is for this reason that the study of Economics is applied to practically all sectors such as industry, health, education, agriculture, law, energy, the environment, and other areas.

Career Avenues

A large number of economics graduates enter the business and financial sector. Whilst some go on to study for a higher degree in economics or related areas, many pursue other higher education options such as management, accountancy and statistics. Most economics graduates pursue employment in the private sector, work with multi-national companies like consulting firms, advising private and public sector organisations regarding business issues, or in areas related to marketing and finance often taking the MBA degree to fast track their career growth.

Jobs where a degree in economics would be useful

An economics graduate would be particularly well placed, in terms of background knowledge and skills, in the following careers, some of which would require further study:

n Chartered accountant — providing financial information and maintaining general accounting systems, performing audits and liaising with clients or management colleagues. Opportunities in industry, commerce, private practice and the public sector.

n Actuary in an insurance company — assessing probabilities and risk traditionally in the field of life assurance and pensions, but increasingly in other areas. Would suit economics graduates with strong mathematical and statistical interests and skills.

n Insurance underwriter — assesses risks and premiums to be charged, liaises with clients and brokers. There are also insurance opportunities in broking, claims and sales which involve more direct client contact.

n Commercial banker— advising private and corporate investors; promoting financial products. An MBA after graduation in economics is usually preferred in banking.

n Investment banker — advising corporate and government clients on raising capital, changes in financial structure, mergers and acquisitions. An MBA after graduation in economics preferred.

n Credit analyst — undertakes risk assessment analysis of lending proposals.

n Management consultant — advising private and public sector organisations regarding business issues. Here too an MBA is useful.

n Marketing manager — analyses market information and promotes products with a view to achieving optimum market share and profitability.

n Market research executive — acquires and analyses information on purchasing habits, prepares and presents reports with forecasts and recommendations.

n Academics — research and teaching at university level. Those who wish to stay on in the field of economics can look forward to careers in advisory and research areas. These can include -

n Economist — in this role you would advise government, financial institutions, industrial companies and international organisations on the economic aspects of policy, investment, demand, resource planning and related topics. A Masters or Doctorate degree in economics is generally a prerequisite.

n Economic researcher — with equity firms, mutual funds and large transnational corporations.

n Economic journalist — with magazines such as The Economist and newspapers. Some economists also perform economic analysis for the media.

The Indian Economics Services and jobs with nationalised banks and the Reserve Bank of India are other excellent options open to those who want to join government services.

The Indian Economic Services exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit Grade IV officers for the Indian Economic Service (IES). To apply for the IES examination you require tohave a postgraduate degree in economics/applied economics, business economics/isometrics.

Graduates of economics in the age group of 18-28 years are also eligible to take the Bank Probationary Officers exam and the RBI exam which is conducted by the UPSC at an All-India level.

Law, particularly corporate law is another possible destination for economics graduates. The careful reasoning in economics is a good fit for law and legal parameters influence significant economic decisions for companies

With its wide reach and significant relevance economics can be a valuable subject to study. Apart from the specific subject knowledge, you will have acquired other valuable skills, including numerical and computing skills, analysing and selecting information, problem solving, evaluating competing explanations, thinking logically and communicating your ideas concisely. By choosing to study economics you demonstrate an interest in how the world works and the climate in which businesses operate. So if you have a clear mathematical mind and reasoning ability, you can’t go wrong with choosing economics as a subject for further study.

Career Hotline
Do IIMs prefer engineers?
Pervin Malhotra

Q.I like studying science as a subject but at the same time I am tempted by the fancy job packages offered to MBA graduates. I am doing BSc (non-med) first year and have planned to prepare for the CAT and would like to join one of the IIMs. But my friends tell me that IIMs prefer candidates with engineering background and so do companies at the time of recruiting. Is this true? — amit kumar

A .Lets get some facts straight:

n Admission committees at IIMs or good private B-schools do not have a bias for engineering students

While it is true, that an overwhelming majority of those selected to MBA and PGDM programmes at leading B-schools are engineers, this does not reflect a selection bias on part of the admission committees. In fact, IIMs and other leading B-schools actually want to increase the percentage of non-engineering students in their classes.

n As things currently stand, short-listing for the Group Discussion and Personal interview is done solely on the basis of your management entrance test score (CAT, XAT, CMAT) and marks in Class XII and graduation.

The fact of the matter is that engineers by virtue of their comfort with numbers do tend to do well on the mathematical and logical part of these entrance tests. Though, they also struggle with the reading comprehension.

n Come recruitment time, it is true that some companies do tend to prefer engineers. This is especially true when it comes to recruiting students in areas of operations and finance, as the numerical and analytical skills possessed by engineering students make them ideally suited.

Fact of the matter is that companies want to recruit the best talent that they think will deliver results for them. Several companies do not distinguish between engineers and non-engineers and instead look at academic performance before and during the MBA programme and also conduct their own assessments tailored to their needs.

So, if you have your heart set on a top-notch MBA put aside all these “excuses” and half-truths and get cracking on your preparation in earnest. Remember; the harder you work the luckier you get!

Scholarship Roundup
High aims

Applications are invited for the K. C. Mahindra Scholarships for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad for the year 2012. The Trust offers interest-free loan scholarships to Indian nationals for post-graduate studies abroad in various fields.

The maximum amount for this scholarship will be Rs 2 lakh per scholar, except for the three K.C. Mahindra Fellow Scholarships for which the maximum amount will be Rs 8 lakh per scholar.

Eligibility: Applicants must have:

n A first class degree or an equivalent diploma of the same standard from a recognised Indian university

n Secured admission or have applied for admission in reputable foreign universities for courses commencing from September, 2012 but not later than February, 2013

Candidates studying in the final year of the degree or diploma courses are also eligible to apply provided they produce their Final Year Certificate before June 30, 2012.

Application procedure: Forms can be collected Irom K.C. Mahindra Education Trust, Cecil Court, 3rd Floor, Near Regal Cinema, Mahakavi Bhushan Marg, Mumbai - 400 001, or downloaded from www.nanhikali.org/aboutus/grant_scholarships.aspx and submitted in the prescribed format.

Last date: Prescribed application forms duly filled in by the applicants together with necessary enclosures must reach the Trust Office before March 31, 2012.

The final interview of the candidates will take place in July. The interview date will be intimated to the selected candidates by the end of May, 2012.

Check Out: www.nanhikali.org /aboutus/grant_scholarships.aspx

New Zealand beckons

Applications are invited from Indian nationals residing in India for the Commonwealth Scholarship for higher studies, research leading to Ph.D /Masters/Post Graduate Diploma Study in New Zealand

Application Procedure: Candidates should apply on thick plain paper with recent passport-size photograph duly affixed, furnishing the details/particulars in the given format to the Section Officer (ES.4 Section), Scholarship Division, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Higher Education, West Block-I, Wing-6, 2nd Floor, R.K. Puram, New Delhi-110066 .

On line applications may be accepted provided hard copy of the application alongwith enclosures (attested copies of certificates, mark sheet etc.) reach the Ministry within 7 days after the last date.

Last Date: May 31, 2012.

Check Out: http://www.education.nic.in

Is fire management a good choice?

Q. I am a graduate keen on taking up a course in engineering. My father suggests that I should pursue something different like fire engineering, but I don’t know anything about the scope in this field. Could you please throw some light? — angad singh

A. Until recently, a degree in fire and safety management was something only by those who wanted to join the fire department or work in an oil refinery considered pursuing. But with private companies coming alive to the importance of health and safety standards, this is becoming a plum job for many youngsters and institutes offering courses in fire engineering are now generating more interest.

Harnessing science and technology, the study of fire engineering combines the knowledge of combustibility of materials as well as engineering design, operations and management.

Fire engineers try to determine the causes of fire and devise more efficient methods of fire prevention. They research and test the inflamability of various materials and devices, explore fire retardant materials and recommend safe methods of storing inflammable and other hazardous substances. Mathematical principles are used to assess fire risk and apply scientific principles to fire safety practices. They also design systems for automatic fire detection and suppression, fire alarms, smoke control devices and emergency lighting.

Besides state-level Fire Service departments, these safety specialists find openings in architecture and building design firms, insurance companies, project management, refineries, large industries, railways, airports, electricity boards, ONGC, GAIL, mines, oil rigs petrochemical complexes, local municipality, defence services and in large multi-storeyed building complexes, hotels etc and industries where staff needs to handle highly inflammable and hazardous hydrocarbons like natural gas, LPG, Propane etc. Infrastructure companies like L & T, Simplex and Punj Lloyd also recruit fire engineers. In private firms, the fire engineer’s role is synonymous with that of a safety inspector.

There is tremendous scope for growth because every sector needs fire engineers.

A rough assessment of the demand in industry and government pegs the annual requirement at over 12,000 trained fire and safety personnel. Currently, only 150 students graduate every year.

The demand has pushed up salaries; a fire engineer can hope to make as much as Rs 11 lakh pa. Entry-level packages are between Rs 4-7 lakh pa.

Good courses in interior designing

Q. I am studying in Class XII (Science) and am keenly interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in architecture in India. But I am a bit confused about its future prospects. I am also interested in interior designing. Please tell me about the courses available after Class XII. — Puneeta Sahi

Workshops and practical assignments are an important part of interior designing courses

A. A bachelor’s degree in India is as good as a bachelor’s degree anywhere else if you want to pursue higher studies. Let me also inform you that our IITs and several other engineering and medical colleges are rated amongst the best in the world. So if you’re in a field of study that is best suited to your personality and interests, then the future is as bright as you choose to make it.

Although aspects of interior design are taught in the bachelor’s level courses in architecture (B.Arch), it’s offered as a specialisation at the M.Arch level.

Of course we now have number of bachelor’s degree programmes in interior design as well.

The eligibility for most of the shorter duration diploma-level courses in interior design offered at polytechnics and schools of design is a pass in Class XII. It doesn’t matter what subjects you have taken, as long you are reasonably good at drawing and have a feel for colours and design.

But if you want to join the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology, Ahmedabad’s School of Interior Design, which offers one of the finest five-year courses in the subject integrated with the fundamentals of architecture, then you must have had maths as a subject in Class XI.

For details regarding the eligibility and selection for CEPT’s courses, log on to: www.cept.ac.in

National Institute of Design (NID)’s Faculty of Industrial Design (www.nid.edu)

Graduate Programme in Design with a specialisation in Furniture & Interior Design (4-year).

Selection: competitive admission test, followed by a workshop and interview for shortlisted candidates.

Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai. BFA (Craft - Interior Decoration) 4 years

There are many others like Pearl Academy, Delhi, Apeejay Institute of Design, Delhi, Rachna Sansad in Mumbai etc that offer full-fledged courses in interior design.

Opportunity for sci-tech research

A multimillion pound international research network has been launched at the University of Liverpool and is looking for scientists and engineers to fill 22 early-stage researcher posts.

The project: Prof Carsten Welsch, from the Department of Physics, has been awarded a £5 m EU grant to further research into the Optimisation of Particle Accelerators (oPAC). oPAC brings together 22 institutions from across the world, including CERN in Switzerland, the University of Seville and France's Soleil synchrotron light facility, alongside a large number of industry partners, to investigate particle beam dynamics, accelerator instrumentation and numerical simulation tools, to improve the performance of present and future accelerators.

The project is intrinsically linked with industry and will involve partners throughout the four-year process, to ensure the results delivered have practical uses. "If we optimise performance in a medical sphere it will benefit both patients and clinicians through improved treatment. Fundamental scientists doing research will be able to maximise their experimental output, which will also benefit industry. Some users like to have the smallest possible beam size for their work whereas others prefer broader beams. There are various degrees of optimisation possible. We will try to bring all these users in to collaborate more closely," added Prof Welsch.

What's in it for students: The link with industry will also form a crucial part of the selection process for the 22 early stage researchers, three of whom will be based at the university with the rest spread across Europe.

"We want the best scientists and engineers available. We will provide them with very good conditions, excellent facilities and an intensive training package, delivered by both their host institution and the network as a whole. We want to enable them to have a fantastic career afterwards so we really need to make sure they have many international links and get experience of working in different environments."

Deadline: March 9.

Check out: http://www.liv.ac.uk/opac/

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

career compass: operations management
Efficient operators
Dr C. S. Arora

The course stream on Operations Management is aimed at the needs of the young professional managers working in the field. As a management discipline, it develops a student’s knowledge and understanding of the practical areas of production and operations management, as well as his/her awareness of the human and financial issues found in modern organisations. It also addresses the internal and external factors which influence operational efficiency and examines the wider context of business strategy and competitive advantage.

Operations management is often used along with production management in literature on the subject. It is therefore, useful to understand the nature of operations management. Operations management is understood as the process whereby resources or inputs are converted into more useful products. Though it appears intuitively that, there is hardly any difference between the terms production management and operations management, there are, however, at least two points of distinction between the two.

Firstly, the term production management is more used for a system where tangible goods are produced; whereas, operations management term is more frequently used where various inputs are transformed into delivered services. Viewed from this perspective, operations management covers such services organisations as banks, airlines, utilities, pollution control agencies, retail bazaars, educational institutions, libraries, consultancy firms and government departments, in addition to of course, the manufacturing enterprises.

The second distinction relates to the evolution of the subject. Production management precedes operations management in the historical growth of the subject.

The two distinctions notwithstanding, the terms production management and operations management are used interchangeably.

Scope

The scope of production and operations management is indeed vast. Commencing with the selection of location of the facility, production management covers such activities as acquisition of land, constructing building, procuring and installing machinery, purchasing and storing raw material and converting them into saleable products.

Added to the above are other related topics such as quality management, maintenance management, production planning and control, methods improvement, work simplification and other related areas. Operations management education typically includes principles of general management, manufacturing and production systems, plant management, equipment maintenance management, production control, industrial labour relations and trades supervision, strategic manufacturing policy, systems analysis, productivity analysis and cost control, and materials planning.

Job profile

If you are a PGDM or MBA student, then after completing your elective subjects in operation management, you can join in entry-level positions as assistant operations manager, operations consultant, manager of business process improvement or project manager.

Operations management specialists typically begin their careers in areas such as quality management, production control, service delivery management and logistics. Such specialists have opportunities to work in cross-functional teams involved in process reengineering, strategy development, product design, and technology planning.

After joining the job, operation managers plan, direct or coordinate the operations of a company or an organisation. They decide how a company's facilities should be laid out, formulate policies, control inventory and distribution, and create employee schedules, among other duties. In some organisations, the duties of an operations manager may overlap with the duties of chief executive officer.

The broad stream of Operations Management jobs across diverse business organisation covers the following:

Distribution Management

Industrial Engineering

Production Management

Risk Management

Resource Management

Project Management

Logistics Management

Intelligence Operations

Performance Management

Supply Chain Management

Transportation Management

Business Process Reengineering

Inventory Control & Management

So, if you have a penchant for learning and working in any of above areas, coupled with your ambition to be the COO or CEO of large organizations, Operations Management electives can be considered by you in the second year of your PGDM/MBA programme. You have an assured future!

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

testing times: engineering entrance
Tips to Crack AIEEE
Harpreet Singh

AIEEE (All India Engineering Entrance Exam) is conducted by the CBSE for admissions to India’s premier national-level engineering institutes. It is among world’s largest exams held on a single day with more than 11 lakh candidates appearing for it.

In 2012 the AIEEE will be conducted in online as well offline mode for the second time. The offline exam (paper-pen based) will be held on April 29, 2012; whereas the Online exam (Computer based) students have the option to choose from any of the following dates: May 7, 12, 19 and 26 this year.

As the clock has started ticking for the final test, remember even a single mark can make a huge difference. So keep these points in mind:

It’s a game of concepts

AIEEE is different from Class XII Board exams. It’s a multiple-choice exam and tests speed and accuracy. Students are penalised with ¼ of total marks assigned to the question if the answer is wrong. Here your basic concepts and proper understanding of your subjects is tested thoroughly.

Test yourself

Solving previous years’ papers and 10-20 practice papers is one of the first things to do before you get done with your syllabus. Solving mock tests helps in improving skills on time management, temperament, speed and accuracy. Students can download mock tests from our website http://www.jre.edu.in

Stress management

All said and done, candidates must have control on as how to manage exam stress. Students should try to include nutritious food and breathing exercises/ meditation to their daily regime.

No calculators

AIEEE doesn’t allow you to use calculators, thus being able to do quick calculations can put you ahead in the game. It’s advisable to learn trigonometric and logarithmic formulae, especially the frequently used ones as these can save time in the final exam.

NCERT is the holy Bible

No matter what you are told at your coaching class, the truth is NCERT forms the base of all competitive exams be it IITJEE or AIEEE. There are trivial questions that can be formed from between the lines that you might miss while giving it a quick reading. Learn “exceptions” by heart particularly in chemistry, and make proper notes.

Master weaknesses

Identify your ‘weak’ chapters and pay extra attention to them in your preparation schedule. Who knows the examiner might love your weaknesses and you might end up having a large portion from the left out chapters.

Say ‘no’ to silly mistakes

Candidates generally lose 10-20 per cent marks because of 'silly mistakes' even though they know a subject really well. Only practice can improve efficiency. Silly mistakes can be brought down (additional 15-20 marks can improve the rank from 10,000 to 5000).

Remember that students who crack the AIEEE possess not only intelligence but also determination and well directed efforts; and finally, they apply good time management practices.

— The writer is President, JRE Group of Institutions

Course Cruising

Learning the ropes of agri-business online

Fee: Rs 75, 000
Admission deadline: The last date for applying to this programme is March 24, 2012.
Check out: www.xlri.ac.in/pgcabm

BSc in mass communication

Gurgaon based International School of Business & Media has announced admission to three-year course in Bachelors of Science in Mass Communication, Advertising and Journalism.

The Course: Bridging the gap between classroom learning and industry demands, the course is divided into six semester wherein after every two semesters students undergo an internship programme. Students will also work on live projects, prepare client portfolios and gain the right industry interface.

The course comprises of subjects such as Principles of Communication, Global Comparative Media, Information Technology, History and Industry of Mass Communication and Journalism, Communication and Soft Skills, Mass Communication: Concepts and Processes, Print Media and Photojournalism, Reporting and Editing—I TV Journalism and Programme Formats and TV Journalism and Programme Formats among others.

Over a period of three years the course helps the students develop specialised skills that are industry relevant and in tune with the global courses, thus making them industry ready. The degree for the programme is awarded by Punjab Technical University.

Duration: Three years
Eligibility: Plus II.
Last date for applying: Admissions currently on and will continue till June 2012 across centers in Pune, Kolkatta and till May for the Gurgaon campus.
Course fee: Approx 2.53 lac for 3 years
Check Out: www.isbm.edu.in

Banks tighten purse strings

Getting an education loan for management and engineering seats under management quota might not be an easy process henceforth. The Indian Banks Association (IBA) has excluded management quota from its revised model for educational loan schemes with effect from the next financial year. “In certain cases, employment potential is not justified with the fee structure for management seats.

Hence, any loan considered by banks for students taking admission under management quota would be outside the model scheme.

Banks may fix appropriate terms and conditions for such loans,” said an IBA guidance note. The IBA has asked banks to consider the employment potential before granting loans to students.

“The assessment of the loan will be based on employability and earning potential of the student upon completion of the course,” an IBA circular said.

Merit (ranks secured in entrance tests and merit-based selection) is now the sole criteria for educational loans. Educationists, however, are critical of this decision.

— SCD

smart strategy: coping with change
Managing A new boss
Ragini Gulati

With downsizing and restructuring becoming the buzzwords in organisations all over, change of boss is not uncommon these days. Many professionals find themselves reporting to a different person while being employed at the same company.

Dealing with a new boss when relationship with the former was good can be demanding, even stressful. In fact, the transition is not always easy, irrespective of the rapport with the old boss.

The arrival of a new leader is often accompanied with change in work culture, priorities and expectations. They may even review personal habits such as working hours, break time and private phone calls. However, instead of viewing the change as a frustrating inconvenience, it is best to accept it positively. Keep an open mind rather than stubbornly clinging on to how things used to be done. Forging a productive and rewarding relationship with the new boss can undoubtedly be a career-defining moment for any professional.

Get an edge

Do your homework by finding out as much as possible about the new boss before he/she actually takes over. Search the Internet for information they might have put on themselves or the organisation they are leaving. It will not only give some idea about their background but also of the differences in organisational culture. If he/she has been working in the same industry, talk to people who have worked with them. Speaking to former employees or colleagues can offer insight into the work style and temperament of the person. The more information you gather, the easier it will be to connect with the new boss and form a solid working relationship.

Expect adjustment period

Subsequent to accepting the boss as a different person begins the period of adjustment. Irrespective of the level of seniority, every person needs time to adjust to a new work environment. It would be unfair to write-off the new boss in the first few days as incapable or ineffective. Since he would need time to get acclimated don't expect him to know exactly how everything is going to go. Give the new boss a chance to settle down before trying to turn his attention to your aspirations. Be flexible to fit in with his needs and schedule, an effort that shall be definitely appreciated.

Set clear expectations

Get a clear picture of the boss’s expectations early on rather than putting it off. More than often the new boss will have significantly different expectations from the previous one. Projects that the former boss viewed as high priority may have suddenly lost their urgency. As a consequence sit down and make a list of what you expect from each other and the job. Expectations could be about working hours, mode of communication or keeping calendars. Take the initiative to ask for such a meeting if it is not forthcoming from the boss. A clear conversation will go a long way in reducing conflicts and avoiding discrepancies.

Volunteer for small tasks

Step forward to aid the boss with small tasks that will help him settle in the new role and work environment. Rather than waiting for directions or holding back thinking that it would mean sticking your nose into his business, volunteer. Alert him or her of your availability when they start putting their plan of action into place. Since volunteering for a big task could arouse their suspicion, choose jobs that nobody else wants. However, assist them on activities that will not take too much time so as not to ignore your own work. It will not only show that you are proactive but also give an opportunity to prove your reliability.

Rebuild professional image

With a new boss taking charge, it becomes irrelevant whether you got along with your previous boss or not. Recognise that past is the past and the current boss will judge you based on your ongoing relationship with him or her. As a consequence getting a new boss often means an opportunity to rebuild one’s professional image. Although past mistakes will not tarnish this new bond, trying to hide them may. Make a fresh start by building a work relationship based on honesty and trust.

Avoid comparisons

Although it is natural to compare the old boss with the new, refrain from doing so. Despite feeling bad about the change, especially if you liked your old boss, avoid pitting them against each other. Even comparisons that make the new boss look favoured should be avoided since it could still be seen as criticising the former. Make a mind shift by thinking of the boss as a new person with different priorities, tendencies and way of doing things. Instead of grumbling about the differences, learn from them and look for ways to bridge the gap. Greet the new boss with an open and non-judgmental attitude, giving him a fair chance to succeed. 

Hiring on a high

Despite the uncertainty prevailing in the overall economic scenario, the Indian job market exhibited positive signs at the beginning of 2012. The Naukri Job Speak index for Jan- 2012 at 1,121 is 4 per cent higher than December, 2011 index and 16 per cent more than the Jan, 2011 index. On a year-on-year comparison, barring ITES and Construction sectors, all the other key industry sectors have seen double digit percentage hikes in their hiring activity.

Hitesh Oberoi, CEO and MD, Info Edge India said, “With the beginning of the new year, the recruitment scenario seems to be moving in a positive direction. However, this year, firms will be more particular about recruiting the right talent and employees who can make meaningful contributions to the firm.”

Industry Sector Analysis:

An in-depth analysis of the indices shows that most of the top industry sectors have registered positive monthly growth in January when compared to December, 2011. ITES, Oil and Gas and Telecom sectors witnessed strong hiring trends with the index moving up by 19, 18 and 16 per cent, respectively in January over December, 2011. Hiring activity in the Construction and Pharma sectors has been stable when compared to last month, while IT and Banking sectors have seen 3 per cent upward movement in hiring activity in Jan-12 over Dec-11. — TNS

Tweets can get you fired

Employees who tweet or update their Facebook status saying “I had a bad day at work” could end up losing their jobs, a leading employment lawyer has claimed. According to Paula Whelan, an employment partner at Shakespeare’s law firm, if an employee writes anything vaguely negative about their employer, including saying something as neutral as ‘I had a bad day at work’, bosses are well within their legal rights to sack the staff member. “Employees think they are bullet-proof when they post anything on Facebook or Twitter. But if they bring their employer into disrepute, the boss of that firm is well within their legal right to sack them,” the Telegraph quoted Whelan as saying.

“By posting something even vaguely negative about your work on these social media sites, it’s breaking the relationship of trust and confidence between the employer and employee and the company reserves the right to sack the employee,”  she said.

According to Whelan and other lawyers, how bosses control the use of social media by their staff and utilise it to judge job candidates, is one of the biggest legal employment issues currently on the agenda.

Right now, companies are also well within their legal rights to sack a staff member over something they said referencing their job on their Facebook page, even if their privacy settings mean the world wide web cannot see their updates.

Last year David Rowat, a father-of-three who has cancer, was sacked by Argos after complaining about his job on Facebook. — ANI

news board: placement time
Right ‘Avsar’ for PU students

The central placement cell of Panjab University (PU) is going to organise a campus placement drive "Avsar" on March 13 and 14 for students from all streams.

As many as 650 companies have registered for recruitments at the drive, so far. The drive has been conceptualised in collaboration with the Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC). The PU website has updated information on the proceedings and development of the placement drive. It will also help students to prepare for interviews. A one-day interactive workshop will also be organised for students where HR heads of some leading organisations will guide them.

The varsity had organised a similar central drive last year also wherein 250 of the 1,400 students who had registered for placements were selected by different companies.

This year, nearly 845 students from 14 departments have been placed with a minimum annual pay package of Rs 2 lakh. Some of these departments include University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET), University Institute for Chemical Engineering and Technology (UICET), University Business School (UBS), Department of Economics, Chemistry and Law.

Dean Student Welfare (DSW) A.S Ahluwalia said, "The drive has been carefully divided into two days to a specific job type, according to specific clusters. The proposed locations for the drive are University Institute of Applied Management Sciences (UIAMS) and University Institute of Engineering & Technology (UIET)."

On March 13, the Cluster I comprising professional courses will be participating the drive, while on March 14, Cluster II and III comprising humanities and sciences, respectively, will take part in the drive.

— Kirti Dhall

Management Tip

How to identify your strengths

To get a job or a promotion, you need to know your strengths. If you can’t articulate them, you can’t expect your boss or potential employer to either.

Here’s a four-step process to identifying what makes you great:

List your strengths. Include skills and knowledge you’ve acquired through experience and education as well as softer intrinsic strengths, such as insightfulness or empathy.

Ask for input. Ask colleagues for honest feedback.

Revisit past feedback. Reread old performance reviews or think back on coaching from previous bosses.

Modify your list. Adjust your original list to reflect what you’ve learned. Make sure the strengths are specific so that they are credible and useful.

Adapted from: Five Steps To Assess Your Strengths by Bill Barnett

Happiness @ work
Gems of ancient wisdom
Look for simple solutions

In a workflow that is producing results, it is not advisable to make big changes if you are encountering problems in some parts. Try small and simple solutions first.

As Krisha Gotami’s child had died, she approached the Buddha to revive it. Buddha knew that death is inevitable, so he said, “Get me some mustard seeds from a household where nobody has ever died.” After searching long in vain, the truth dawned on Krisha.

One day, when freedom fighter Jayaprakash Narayan was in Marysville, USA, overseer Sher Khan invited him for dinner. As the food habits of the host and guest differed, Sher Khan said, “We will only eat vegetarian food till you are there.”

Despite being at the helm at the House of Tata for 50 years, JRD Tata stayed in a small room that doubled up as his study and bedroom. “I prefer a compact room where everything is accessible,” he said.

During Guru Nanak’s wedding with Sulakhni in 1485, his friend Mardana asked for a gift. “What gift can be more apt for you than an instrument to make music with? Have this rebeck,” the guru said. From that day, both friends sang the praises of the Almighty every evening.

At Varanasi, followers of Guru Tegh Bahadur wanted to go to bathe in the Ganga. The master simply said, “Dig a hole anywhere in this room and you’ll find the clear waters of the Ganga.” A hole was dug and the Ganga sprang out of it.

Vaanara king Sugriva had been caught by the mighty demon Kumbhakarna. Instead of trying anything foolish that could have resulted in his death, he bit the giant’s ear. As Kumbhakarna’s grip loosened over his captive, the monkey king escaped and joined his troops.

Thirteenth century saint Madhavacharya was unhappy with the practice of animal sacrifice. “There is no need to kill animals. Idols of flour could be used instead,” he declared. Soon, many Brahmins started following this non-violent way of worship.

When Chhatrapati Shivaji returned from Vishalgadh to Poona, he found that Shayista Khan, uncle of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, was occupying Lal Mahal — the place where Shivaji had spent his childhood. So Shivaji and his men dressed up as members of a marriage party, entered the palace and attacked Shayista Khan. The latter escaped but lost his three fingers to Shivaji’s sword.

When Rama and his monkey army wanted to go to Lanka, the sea-god simply told them, “Don’t tell me to give way against laws of nature. Build a bridge and I will support it.”

To make life interesting, God made seasons by simply tilting the Earth at 23½°.

— Sai R. Vaidyanathan

The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com

Fortnightly Quiz 407

1. Which country was recently taken off the list of nations with active endemic wild polio virus transmission?

2. From which year did the 12th Five Year Plan begin?

3. Name India’s third base to be commissioned in Antarctica in March.

4. Name the first woman Prime Minister of Australia.

5. Which are the three costliest cities of the world as per a “worldwide cost of living survey”?

6. At which place in Haryana did high-breed, high-priced Murrah buffaloes walk the ramp recently?

7. In which state of India is the world-famous Tirumala temple situated?

8. Which university has won the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy for the year 2010-2011?

9. Which player, who led Australia to two World Cup wins, retired from One-day international cricket recently?

10.Name the South African batsman who recently set the world record for the fastest century in T-20 cricket by scoring a ton off 45 balls?

— Tarun Sharma

Winners of quiz 406: The first prize by draw of lots goes to Muskan Garg, class V, Section Rose, St Xavier High School, Rampura Phul, district Bathinda (Punjab), Pin Code – 151003

Second: Gaurav Verma, Class IX, Model Public Senior Secondary School, Karsog, PO and tehsil Karsog, district Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, Pin Code - 175009

Third: Shivam Dhawan, class 10 G, DAV Public School, Lawrence Road, Amritsar, Pin Code – 143001

Answers to quiz 406: Kurukshetra; Whitney Houston; Preet Bharara; Sixty; INS Vikrant; Dilip Kumar; Rolls Royce; Brazil, Russia, India, China, South America; Lance Armstrong; England

Cash awards of Rs 400, 300 and 200 are given to the first, second and third prize winners, respectively. These are sent at the school address.

Note: Kindly mention the pincode of your place on the letter/postcard to facilitate the delivery of the prize money.

Answers can also be sent at quiz@tribunemail.com