HR MATTERS 23-09-2008

Q: I am working in an international business process outsourcing (BPO) company for the last one-and-a-half years. I have two-and-a-half years of work experience in the BPO sector. I was promoted to a middle management position in my company five months ago. But I have now been offered a position in the human resources department as an executive with a marginal increase in my salary. My job profile is that of a job consultant. The difference is that I have to work as an agent of a direct hiring partner at a reputed multinational company. Will this new position benefit me in the long run?

Are there any part-time courses in HR that I can pursue? If I want to go back to the BPO sector in future, will my previous experience be counted?

Pratyay Dasgupta

A: The two job profiles are different and you have to take a conscious decision about your career prospects. It will be difficult to go back to the BPO sector as most organisations may not accept the move.

There is a demand for people with human resources background in the IT / ITES and insurance sectors. You can take the plunge if you like the job profile. You don’t need to do any HR course. You will learn on the job, but it is helpful to have some basic traits like communication skill and the ability to convince people.

Q: I completed graduation in electronics and instrumentation engineering in 2005. I have two years’ work experience. I have worked for a year in the power sector and another in the pharmaceutical industry. I am not happy with my work and see no future in the pharmaceutical industry. Since I am not fluent in English, I face a lot of problems in office as well as during interviews. Is there any course which can improve my job prospects?

Subhasish Bhattacharya

A:I think you have identified your weakness and should work on that first, since you will face problems in other spheres of your life if you are not able to express yourself. You should first get yourself enrolled in a spoken English course. These courses are typically part-time and hence you can pursue them. You have spent too little time in your job to really understand its prospects.

Q:I am 31 years old and have been working at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kharagpur, as a computer instructor since July 2000 on a contractual basis. I had earlier worked at a computer training centre. I have altogether nine years of experience. I have completed BSc and DOEACC ‘O’ level. I am doing masters in computer applications from the Indira Gandhi National Open University. It will take me another three years to complete it. Will this course help me?

Sutapa Mandal

A: It is very late in the day for you to wake up to the contractual nature of your work. As you have already spent nine years in contractual jobs, why are you getting worried about it now? If you look for a permanent job, your nine years’ experience would not be counted at all. There is a demand for those who have passed MCA. So, you will get good job opportunities after completing the course.

Q: I am pursuing CFA from the Institute of Chartered Financial Analyst of India (ICFAI), Hyderabad. I am currently working with a major international accounting and consulting firm in the human resources (backend) department. What are the job prospects after completing CFA? I hardly see any requirement for CFA freshers in the information technology sector.

Krishna Nanda

A: Working in the human resources area and pursuing CFA is counterproductive as your experience in the human resources area will go to waste. CFA has good job prospects and organisations look for people with the requisite qualification.

A person who has completed CFA will get the opportunity to work in any sector, so you need not worry if you see no requirement in the information technology sector. All organisations have an accounts department and your qualification will get you a good job.

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