Q:I have been in pharma sales for the last six years and want to do a course in computer hardware. I am 29 years old. Will I find it difficult to get a job?
Kaushik Biswas
A:What’s wrong with your age? Are you too young for it? Seriously, in your case it may not be easy since you are eyeing a “techie domain”. You may have to supplement your degree with specialised courses from NIIT or other such institutes. If you are attracted by the glamour of the software profession, it would serve you well to understand that the pharma sector may help you chart a better career path than you think. The coming years augur well for those in the pharma profession and you will be best served by sticking to it.
Q:I am 35 years old and am working as accounts head with a private organisation. I have work experience of more than 10 years but I haven’t completed my graduation. Now I want to do a professional course in accounting or finance to update myself but the problem is that the pre-requisite for these courses is a bachelors degree. Can I still do these courses without completing my graduation?
Name withheld
A:Age is no longer a factor in pursuing your dreams. You can do any professional course in your field as programmes including CA, CS and ICWA offer foundation courses and then you can complete the regular course. The eligibility criterion is Plus Two.
The second option would be to complete your graduation from IGNOU. Then you can pursue courses meant for degree holders with work experience.
Q:I completed my MBA in marketing and finance last year. Since then, I have been working in a multi-speciality hospital in Guwahati as a business development manager.
I am interested in working in the FMCG sector, consumer durables or the securities market but my experience in the hospital industry is not helping me get jobs in those sectors. What should I do?
Rupam Dey
A:Why would you want to change? Your sector offers tremendous opportunity with the emergence of medical tourism and retail pharmacy chains. The previous job experience will help you to network with prospective clients.
You should also scan newspapers and register with job portals to find a suitable assignment. Try and find a healthcare organisation where you could utilise your all-round experience in marketing.
Q:I am an office staff at the Calcutta office of a reputed national paints company. My job profile involves working with MIS and the ERP-environment. I am also conversant with MS Office.
I am 40 years old and have 14 years of work experience. At present, I am trying for a change and have responded to a few advertisements but without much success. What should I do?
A. Dasgupta
A:You have not specified whether you want a change of organisation or your line of work. If you want a change of organisation, then try job portals and placement consultants. This process will take time but you will eventually find a job to your liking.
If you want to move to another domain, you should be prepared to get paid less. Your total experience in this organisation would have ensured that you would be on a good grade within the system. Your skill sets are quite average and it is unlikely that you will benefit from a change unless you upgrade your existing skills drastically.
Q:I am a law graduate and am working as an HR executive for a share broking house. I want to do an MBA in HR through correspondence. Is an MBA from ICFAI or other such institutes worthwhile?
Gaurav Nayar
A: A distance learning course can’t be compared with a full-time course. However, it is the only recourse for someone wanting to pursue a degree along with a full-time job. The biggest drawback is that it does not have the classroom component. If possible, take up a part-time course where you could attend classes on weekends. That would be more advantageous for your career.
Send your letters to HR Matters at The Telegraph, Jobs Desk, 6 Prafulla Sarkar Street, Calcutta 700001; or fax at 2225 3142; or send emails to jobs@abpmail.com. All letters should have your full name and postal
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