Q: I am an English honours graduate and I have also completed a PG diploma in mass communication from IIMC, New Delhi. I have been working with a news channel as a reporter for the past four years. However, now I am getting bored with my job.

Recently, a friend of mine, who works for an English magazine, told me there was an opening in that organisation and asked me to apply. As I had never worked for the print media this sounded like an interesting offer. I decided to apply and thereafter, I was called for an interview.

Now all the formalities are over but the company has asked me to join with a paycut. I will be getting Rs 5,000 less than my present salary. While I am keen on getting the print media exposure, I am in a dilemma. Will this paycut affect my career? When I apply for another job later will they ask me about it and refuse to pay me the amount I ask for? Should I go ahead and take this job? Please advise.

Name Withheld

A: This is a tricky situation you have fallen into. If you are thoroughly bored with your current job and would like to get out as soon as possible, then you can accept a paycut and join your prospective employer.

But if you are not in too much of a hurry, then I would suggest that you wait and bargain. It is not a good sign to take a paycut and join an organisation unless there are compelling reasons to do so.

You are right in saying that this stigma will remain with you and you will be questioned about it in all your future job changes. However, you can approach your prospective employer and seek a clarification about the proposed paycut.

Often, to maintain internal parity, organisations offer a lower salary that gets adjusted with performance in the ensuing years. Best of luck.

Q: I am a 35-year-old housewife with two children aged 12 and seven. I am a graduate in English honours and possess diplomas in commercial art, interior designing, fine arts and am trained in stained glass painting, 3D stained glass, glass etching and frosting, etc. I used to work in an interior designing firm seven years ago but left the job when my son was born. I also found the environment not too conducive and the pay packet insufficient. Hence, I did not feel like rejoining. I would like to be engaged in the field of creative arts, preferably in teaching, but I don?t know how to go about it or what to do. I am confused. Please advise.

Raka Mittra, Calcutta

A: I think the best way to get engaged in your chosen field is to start coaching classes of your own. That way, you will have full control of your time and destiny. This is possible if you also have an entrepreneurial streak and have the necessary capital as well.

Otherwise, you can identify people or institutes where you could offer to work as a teacher. You can also contact the Academy of Fine Arts for such activities. I wish you all the best in your endeavours.

Q: I am an arts graduate (pass course) of 1991 and I have also completed a one-year postgraduate diploma in HRD from AIMA-CME, Delhi, through correspondence. I am now working with a leading financial institution in the Northeast on a contract basis. I wish to pursue an MBA from SDCL, Pune, next year with dual specialisation in marketing and finance. I have got five years? work experience in administration and PR. Is my decision to pursue this course a good one? If not, then what steps should I take to enhance my career? Please advise.

Pallavi Barthakur, Guwahati

A: The first disconnect is that you already have a diploma in HRD and I suppose you are working in a similar field right now, but you want to do marketing and finance as a specialisation all over again. This shows that your career priorities are not clear as yet and you are vacillating between options.

Why do you want to spend money and acquire a diploma instead of getting a full-time job in your chosen field and gain experience? I would say that if at all you want to pursue a career, you should enhance your knowledge in HR further, instead of pursuing a course in marketing and finance.

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