Q: I am a science graduate with five years? experience in the State Bank of India. During this period I have worked as a credit analyst and am currently working as a dealer in the non-SLR securities and rupee treasury. I am also pursuing the CFA course from ICFAI. I have been getting offers from various financial services companies. Should I consider these offers? Would it be prudent to shift before completing the CFA or is my work experience good enough to make the move?
Sharat Mathur,
Mumbai
A: Your work experience is good enough to move to any financial services corporation as a domain consultant. The IT Industry has a lot of demand for domain consultants. You don?t have to wait for completing CFA ? you can shift right now if you so desire. In fact, your growth prospects would be much better if you were to move out now. Best of luck.
Q: I am a BCom graduate working in a tax consultancy firm. If I opt for a correspondence course in financial management, will it help me to get a better job? Is there any course that will enable me to learn about tax matters? If I wish to continue in the field of accounts/finance, then what is the right option for me? Please advise.
Prakash Saha,
Durgapur
A: Since you have not mentioned your age I am presuming that you are in your late 20s. So if age is on your side then I would recommend that you opt for a full-time course. In this field, work experience is crucial and correspondence courses don?t carry much weight. But you can do a PG diploma in taxation which will help you.
If you have financial and other constraints and cannot study full-time then it makes sense to settle for a correspondence course for whatever it is worth.
Q: I am a 32-year-old B.E. civil engineer with more than 10 years? experience in construction projects. I wish to shift to the IT industry and want to do an ORACLE financial course as my next career option. Will this provide me with better career options?
Name Withheld
A: In the IT industry you require experience in implementing IT Oracle applications. The switchover will be very hard on you and very risky. The companies ask for training and applications for a minimum period of two years, so you will have to struggle for a couple of years to get a break in IT. Since age is really not on your side you have to consider all aspects before taking a plunge.
Q: I am a 28-year-old B.E. mechanical engineer and also hold a MBA in marketing through IMT Ghaziabad?s distance learning programme. At present, I am working in a reputed MNC as a marketing executive. I have four years? experience in industrial marketing. I am interested in making a career in SAP industry solutions. But reputed organisations prefer at least two years? exposure in SAP implementation. As I do not have any training or exposure in the field, how do I prepare myself to get a breakthrough? Will it be in accordance with my basic qualification and experience? Please advise.
Name Withheld
A: You are dead right about companies asking for two years? exposure in SAP implementation. I feel you can take a chance as your four years of domain experience in sales will help you in exploring fresh avenues. But the shift is still a gamble. If you do not get a suitable break you are in trouble. But I think the risk is worth taking since age is on your side.
Q: I am a mechanical engineer and presently employed in the automobile industry. For the last three years, I have been working in the software development and maintenance department. I am a Sun Certified Java programmer. I want to switch to the IT industry. I have completed one single project (front end) on Java 2. Can I get a break in the software industry?
Name Withheld
A: Since you are from the automobile industry you would be well acquainted with production planning and resource planning. So you can position yourself as a techno-commercial person when you look for a job in the software industry. Your best bet would be to market yourself as a business analyst or systems analyst with both domain expertise and technical expertise.
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