Q: I have done BA (hons) from the Indira Gandhi National Open University and a 15-month programme in hardware networking. Currently, I am working as an engineer, network services. I plan to do an MBA via correspondence. Which specialisation should I opt for?
Chandan Kumar Jha
A: I suggest you consider certificate courses such as CCNA and CCNP. Linux too has great market potential nowadays. Pursue this programme and get a Redhat certification. You may further your career by doing a part-time masters in computer application from any university. These certifications will ensure you have working knowledge of a network engineer. Upload your résumé on employment portals and finding a job to your liking will not be a problem.
Q: I am an HR professional and a career counsellor. I want to start an HR consultancy that will deal with HR problems, recruitment and career counselling for students. It will be a proprietorship firm. What legal procedures do I need to follow? From which government authority must I take permission to run the consultancy?
Arnab Ghosh
A: You will have to get in touch with a legal consultant and a CA to help you set up a proprietorship company.
Q: I am in the final year of BCom. I have done CCNA and MCITP and now want to do an MCA. I want to make a career in IT, but can neither leave my city now nor take admission in a private institute. In case I fail to get through to a government institute, what should be my course of action?
Sujan Saha
A: Your CCNA certification will ensure you have working knowledge of a network engineer. This will help you get a job as a network engineer. You may further specialise in a particular network area like network security. There are several certification courses available at Cisco, Microsoft and so on. However, check the credentials of the institute you choose for the training and certificate examination. These certificates will help you carve a career in the IT sector.
Q: I am 25 years old. I completed BCom (marketing hons) in 2006. I then worked in the telecom sector for two years and in real estate for two and a half. I am thinking of doing an MBA through distance learning. Will it be the right thing to do? Please advise.
Abhijit Das
A: An MBA will open new avenues for you. If possible, take up a part-time course where you could attend classes during the weekends. This helps, as you will interact with and learn from classmates from diverse backgrounds. You can choose a programme after doing some research on the placements obtained by the alumni.
Q: I am a 24-year-old BCA graduate. I completed CCNA global in January 2010. I have been working in a private firm for the last four months but am not satisfied. I want to do SAP ERP (BASIS). Will it be the right step?
Dipan Kumar Saha
A: You haven’t specified the reason why you do not like your job. Don’t change for the sake of changing. However, if you have made up your mind, send your résumé to databases like naukri.com and monsterindia. This process will take time but you will eventually find a job to your liking. The SAP market is growing in India. However, do some research before joining the course.
Q: I am a 46-year-old licentiate in civil engineering (a four-year course, which is now called diploma in civil engineering). I have more than 26 years’ experience in the construction of all types of power plants. I want to be a graduate civil engineer. Will it be helpful or should I opt for professional studies?
D.M. Kanti
A: You have experience in the technical line. It would be advisable to pursue an AMIE or a BE / BTech degree. Some engineering colleges admit diploma holders in engineering to the second year of BE / BTech (part-time programmes). I would advise you to do a part-time course, as it has a classroom component. This will increase your career options.
Q: I am 27 years old. I completed BCom in 2005. I am an area manager in an education company in Calcutta. I would like to have a degree in marketing, but don’t know what to choose — an MBA (part time) or a PGDBM?
Subhankar Das
A: There is no difference between a PGDBM and an MBA. The latter is awarded by institutes affliated to a university. Check the reputation of the college and placements provided by them to the alumni. Also, do a cost-benefit analysis and if you need to do a full-time job, go for a part-time MBA. However, try to find a part-time MBA programme with weekend classes.
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