Q: I am 23 years old and I have completed my graduate diploma in marketing from MIS, Singapore. I have also completed a postgraduate diploma in foreign trade from IICT, Lucknow, a diploma in international business management, (correspondence) from AIIMAS, Chennai, a professional diploma in information technology (DNIIT) from NIIT and BCom from Lucknow University. After returning from Singapore, I started my career in December, 2003, as a senior client service co-ordinator for web artists. At present, I am working with an Internet service provider company but there is no opportunity for growth. I want to know which industries would be willing to recruit me. Should I target call centres? Please advise.
Sambaran Chatterjee, Uttar Pradesh
A: With age on your side I do not see why you should be in a hurry to switch jobs. You have not even completed a year in your present job! IT is a very happening sector and yes, call centres are also a good launching pad, but I am not sure how viable they are in the long run. Stay where you are. There will be enough opportunities in this field itself. All the best.
Q: I am a 32-year-old ICWA working in the internal audit department of a limited company for the last six years. I am trying hard to switch over to finance/ accounts/ costing but nothing has materialised so far. Then I decided to do a part-time MBA from IISWBM. I had cleared the MAT entrance test in May 2004 but could not appear for the GD and personal interview. Now IISWBM is asking me to join the PGDBMA programme starting from January 2005. Considering my age, qualification and experience, will PGDBMA give me weightage like an MBA degree or should I wait for the MBA starting from June 2005? What other courses are suitable for me? Please advise.
Jayanta Roy, Calcutta
A:Before you take any decision on your future career, you should give some thought to why you want to move in a different direction. ICWA was not going to do much for your career. Yet you waited for six long years before deciding to study again. Why?
This time around you must be clear about what interests you. If you want to do an MBA only to escape from the lack of challenges in your current job, it may not, in the long run, be a good enough reason for a shift. But if an MBA motivates you then you could look at it as well as examine a few other options. Since you have waited all this while you may as well go in for an MBA. A PGDBMA programme does not give you the same weightage.
There are other part-time courses that are well-recognised. You could explore the possibility of doing CFA from ICFAI. This institute offers other courses too that are well regarded. Just check it out.
Q: I am 25 years old and at present, I?m pursuing my MBA (correspondence) from IICT. I have completed my diploma in customer relation management. I have a BCom from Lucknow University and an advanced diploma in computers & e-commerce from NIIT. For the last two years, I held a DSA of IDBI Bank and managed the home loan sector. But unfortunately, I had to leave the job. Can I get the mileage of my previous experience? Will the MBA course give me some added benefit or should I look for other courses? If I want to diversify from the financial sector, which areas should I focus on?
Sandipon Chatterjee, Lucknow
A: Sorry, but I do not see any remarkable benefits accruing to you by completing an MBA through correspondence. Unless management degrees are from reputed institutes and in a full time course, they do not carry much importance in the eyes of employers. I think you have amassed enough diplomas so you should desist from doing any more courses. You should now spend your time in translating the knowledge you already have.
I do not see how you can get mileage from your previous experience unless you are willing to pursue the home loan sector or look for jobs in related fields. I am also mystified why you and many others like you acquire degrees and diplomas without a clue as to where you are going to use them. In the job bazaar, experience carries considerable weightage. So go for that.
Send your letters to HR Matters at
The Telegraph,
Jobs Desk,
6 Prafulla Sarkar Street,
Calcutta 700001;
or fax at 2258112;
or send emails to jobs@abpmail.com.
All letters should have your full name and postal address.
