The JobOkPlease Blog

Tips to a Boss on how to Demotivate an Employee and reduce his/her productivity

amit.panhale@gmail.com (Amit Panhale) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 06:39:00 +0000

Hire him/her but do not define his work scope/role/responsibilities
Allot him/her a project but fail to regularly monitor its progress
Put a lot of responsibilities on him/her but give him/her no power to make decisions
Remain absent from work for long periods of time to pursue your own interests and in the process ignore the organisation
Talk of big things but do nothing
Do not cultivate work culture or define work discipline
Talk of raise but never give it
Do not have regular unbiased appraisals

Average salary hike in 2008: 15%

noreply@blogger.com (Rashmi Bansal) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:34:00 +0000

The 12th annual salary survey by Hewitt Associates predicts a 15% salary hike for employees in India.

According to Hewitt, in 2007, salaries in India rose the fastest anywhere in the world, by 15.1%. China reported a more moderate rise of 8.6%. Salaries in India had risen 14.4% in 2006 and 14.1% in 2005.

Real estate, energy, retail and telecom will see much fatter hikes - thanks to the boom in these sectors and scarcity of talent.

Of course, those not content with the 15% hike will be looking to switch jobs, resulting in 30-50% hikes... But it's best to wait till March 31, get an enhanced payslip and then bargain for more with the new employer.

Yep, such is life!

Fresher pilots struggling for jobs

noreply@blogger.com (Rashmi Bansal) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:38:00 +0000

TOI reports: Nightmarish times are back for Indian pilots fresh out of flying schools. As many as 600 Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)-holders are currently jobless and engaged in a nerve-wracking competition to enter that coveted cockpit even as vacancies for the post of trainee pilots have become as rare as on-time flight departures.

On Monday morning, 400 pilots appeared for Kingfisher Airlines’s written tests conducted in a college in Kandivli (E). “Although the number of vacancies this time was not known, the airline had about 250 candidates for its written tests held in January to fill just four posts of ATR trainee pilots. The two pilots selected for A320 trainee pilot jobs were self-financed candidates, which means they were to spend about Rs 20 lakh each on their type-rating (training to fly a particular aircraft),’’ says an aspirant.

A couple of years ago, when the aviation was seen taking off, there was a lot of talk about 'shortage of pilots'. Two years later, it seems there are too many.

The moral of the story is you can't pick a career based on 'demand' for it!

Software slowdown?

noreply@blogger.com (Rashmi Bansal) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:49:00 +0000

ET reports: Tata Consultancy Services, India's largest software exporter, is effecting a small across-the-board cut in employee salaries based on the company's performance in the 3rd quarter, a move reflecting caution amid tough times for the outsourcing industry.

The company has shaved off a portion of the variable pay due for the current quarter, translating into a 1.5% cut in the annual paypacket.

Nothing drastic but it signals that the software industry is tightening its belts. Increments could get affected next year, and not just at TCS but across the industry.

For young graduates who joined in the boom period all this could come as a shock. And even those who are about to join should stay prepared.

A final year engineering student remarked that TCS has become very strict in confirming its trainees. Although TCS is still generously doling out appointment letters at engineering colleges, gthose who do not qualify in the exam held after the training period are asked to leave.

All in all, a reality check ahead!

Civil Engineers in demand

noreply@blogger.com (Rashmi Bansal) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 04:56:00 +0000

Civil is one of the least preferred branches in engineering. Few people today want to be involved in building roads, bridges, buildings - actual engineering work. The software industry with its big brands, cool campuses and mainly mental work is more attractive.

But as they say nature has its own corective mechanisms. So it is with the job market. Given the current infraatructure and construction boom civil engineers are in demand. Salaries paid to fresh civil engineers are inching up - matching and in some cases even exceeding IT offers. And real estate companies are willing to pay even better.

Mint reports: According to industry estimates, while salaries for fresh civil engineering graduates from reputed institutes can go up to Rs6 lakh a year in other industries, real estate firms do not mind paying between Rs12 lakh and Rs15 lakh a year for the same graduates. Vice-presidents in such companies earn Rs50-60 lakh a year. In comparison, senior managers in the automotive business earn between Rs18 lakh and Rs30 lakh a year.

Interestingly, even within the sector, there are surprises because it’s not always the top firms that pay the most. Mid-tier real estate developers, who are less established tend to offer higher salaries as it is tougher for these companies to attract experienced professionals who prefer top companies such as DLF.

Of course salaries should never be the reason for choosing a particular stream or profession. Because every industry has its cycles - its ups and downs.

The point however is, that no stream or profession is unlucrative. It may be at the time you graduate that the industry you have chosen is in a down cycle. You would have to spend some years being at a lower payscale than your peers elsewhere. But one fine day demand for your kind of experience rises and then you can command a huge premium.

Again, you can't plan this. It happens. You do your job the best you can, keep learning and growing and rewards come to you. In India we even have a term to describe this approach to life karmayog.

The question is, do you have the patience and faith in yourself to follow this path?

Dr Nivedita's HR solutions

noreply@blogger.com (Rashmi Bansal) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 06:42:00 +0000

My cousin was complaining bitterly about her boss. Woh bahut khadoos hai, chhutti nahin deta hai. And the worst bit is, he always calls for meetings after 6 pm.

Here's a 'solution' put forward by my 8 year old daughter:

"Aapke boss ki birthday to aati hogi na? Haan to aap log unko ek gift de dena: punching bag. Then he will punch that whenever he feels angry. And he won't shout at you".

Omigod - she actually hit the nail on the head. The guy is taking out apni life ki frustrations and problems on his subordinates. Give him another way to release those emotions and he'll be a-ok!

And this is clear to an 8 year old...

Of course how would one actually bell the cat - or plant that bag? Nivedita has step by step instructions: Aap log boss ke pehle pahunchte hain office mein? Haan to aap ceiling se ek hook laga do aur punching bag taang do. Gloves unki desk par rakh dena.

If only managing the boss was that simple... Actually, maybe it is and we've just never tried?

Dr Nivedita's HR nuggets will be featured here from time to time. Readers can send in their problems... and maybe, just maybe get a really fresh solution.

Making grads employment-ready

noreply@blogger.com (Rashmi Bansal) — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:30:00 +0000

ET reports: ICAI to train youth registered with employment exchanges

The Institute of Computer Accountants is assisting the West Bengal govt in providing training in accounts and finance to youth registered with employment exchanges.

The government will sponsor Rs 5000 or 50% of the course fee, whichever is lower. ICA expects to train 1 lakh youth over the next 14 months thru this scheme in 42 centres across WB.

I think this is a step in the right direction. Simply registering with an employment exchange is of no use if you are not employable! The government getting proactive in this matter is a great thing, that too in 'Marxist' West Bengal.

Of course I have no idea what the value of an ICA grad is in the industry. The institute's url is icajobguarantee.com which shows a high degree of confidence as far as placement goes. Of course it would be wrong to expect 'MBA type' placements. This is a vocational institute and does not make lofty promises. Job milega but not the chaand-taare variety.

However the Rs 5000 subsidy won't go too far as most of the courses cost Rs 20-40 k. A loan scheme would be a good idea.

Another point to note: ICA believes that along with proficiency in Accounts a student should also possess the communication skills & the personality in order to gain a good position in a reputed company.

Fair enough but employment exchange types may need some help on the personality front as well. Actually it is kind of a shock to learn so many lakhs still register in government employment exchanges in this day and age of internet job sites. Goes to show you there are many Indias out there still.

P.S. Anyone who'd been to ICA please do offer some feedback to offer on the course, placement and institute!

BPOs hire counsellors

noreply@blogger.com (Rashmi Bansal) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:44:00 +0000

DNA reports: As understanding of problems of BPO employees grows, more and more companies are either employing counsellors or hiring the services of professionals.

...The counsellors help in adapting to change, overcoming grief and bereavement and managing stress and provide solutions to marriage and family problems through printed material, orientation programmes, face-to-face and phone talks, online suggestions and referral services.

Now you may conclude on reading this that BPO employees are in a mess. Or you may take a more positive view - "Workers in many industries face these issues, these guys are doing something about it."

I would take a balanced view and say yes, BPO has its own peculiar problems. Nightshifts, for example play with your health. Add to that the stress of a young workforce with unrealistic expectations in their first/ second job.

“Studies reveal companies lose at least 60% of employees every week. The reasons are various such as stress, less pay, road rage and altercation at work. Employees lose their problem-solving ability,” says Kumud Rajendran, CEO, Personal Performance Consultants, which offers services to 15 companies in India.

Hiring counsellors is a sound business decision. If counselling can help to retain even 5% of the folks who would otherwise quit I say it's great value for money. And the employer is seen as 'someone who cares'.

Although it's the larger companies who see the value of this investment in employee welfare I am sure eventually smaller BPOs will follow. And so will other industries.

As for employees, they seem to be happy. You may have family, friends, partners, but often it takes an outsider and a professional to make you see your problem objectively. And nudge you towards a solution.

For example, one H Nagraj changed from voice-based service to non-voice-based for a lower salary after two years.

“I needed peace of mind. Taking hundreds of calls everyday would drain me. I even developed back pain. It was then that I was advised by a counsellor to change service. Now, I am happy as I have the energy and enthusiasm needed to pursue my interests of reading and writing,” he says.

Money vs quality of life. Blaming your boss vs lookin within. Managing your time vs being the popular one and bailing out others.

There are many ways to look at any problem and an empathetic counsellor just helps you open your eyes to them!

How much do you crave for the job?

noreply@blogger.com (Sidin) — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 06:34:00 +0000

Google, that internet behemoth that surprises ever so often with brilliant innovations, is currently the number one most desirable employer in the world. (Well in the US and in India. So I assume I can pull in the world safely.)

They get 3000 applications a day and with some reason. So how bad (large?) can people's desire to work at Google be?

Sebastian Klein is squatting on several google-ish URLs in Germany and even has resumes put up in 10 different languages so that the people at Mountain View will give him a look see.

What wonderful desperation I say!

More here.

Today's two minute job getting sure shot fundae - Part 4

noreply@blogger.com (Sidin) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 07:12:00 +0000

You know what is a sure way to ensure you never get too many good jobs in the future?

Disappearing after a job interview, good or bad, and never getting back to the employer.

Last week we had a couple of very eager applications from people wanting to work with JAM in various capacities. We liked both of them, well to a reasonable extent, and then told the pair to start working for us on an immediate basis.

They seemed pleased and went away. We've never heard from them again.

Never do that. If you don't want the offer always inform the person involved. Even if you begged to get the job in the first place. Don't leave employers in the lurch and vaporize away in a cloud of smoke.

And if you can't handle the inconvenient phone call then at least drop an email.

You never know who you will run into when you go for the next job change a few years down the line!

ALWAYS close correspondence after an interview. Eitherways. Don't burn bridges. It is a smaller world than you think.

Top bschool grads prefer foreign companies

noreply@blogger.com (Rashmi Bansal) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 11:25:00 +0000

Not that it comes as a big surprise but Business Standard reports:

With salaries nearly double than those of domestic firms, foreign companies such as McKinsey, Accenture, Nokia, Barclays Bank, Deutsche Bank and Google have taken over the list of leading recruiters of management students graduating from institutes like IIMs, XLRI and FMS Delhi.

But here's a surprise:

However, the talent management acquisition arm of India’s leading corporate house Tata Group TAS has managed to break into the dominance of foreign firms by notching up the third position in the list of the top ten most preferred recruiters this year... TAS has been ranked even ahead of global investment banking giant Goldman Sachs and FMCG major Procter and Gamble (P&G), according to AC Nielsen Campustrack Survey 2007.

TAS was once a much preferred option for elite bschool grads. After suffering a decline in popularity, TAS has once again gained stature in recent years.

Another interesting finding of the survey: IIM students’ average salary expectation is close to Rs 19 lakh, up 30 per from last year (!)

While they expect an average package of Rs 14.2 lakh from domestic companies, the figures double to about Rs 27.4 lakh when it comes to foreign firms.

No wonder so few Indian firms are in their radar...!

Will a distance learning MBA help your career?

noreply@blogger.com (Rashmi Bansal) — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 08:46:00 +0000

Pure distance learning is like trying to review a restaurant by merely looking at its menu. Despite best intention and sincere effort, you will lose out on the
actual experience.

Much of the learnings in an MBA come from student-teacher and peer to peer interaction. You get none of that when you simply order course material and pore over it alone.

Much of the value of an MBA comes from its selection process. While full time MBA admissions are highly competitive and grueling, and even good part time programs apply some selectivity, distance learning course dispatch their courseware to anyone who’ll fork out the cash for it.

The two most popular distance learning programs (apart from IGNOU, which most discount) are offered by Symbiosis Centre of Distance Learning (SCDL) and ICFAI. Students are quite happy with the quality of courseware from both institutes. They’re not happy with its lack of effect on their careers.

Delhi based Jaspreet Chandhok is pursuing a PGDBA (Marketing) from SCDL. A BCA from IP University, he joined BPO Convergys soon after his final sem exams. “Fortunately, I got chances to excel and kept learning lessons of the "Work /Job World", and hence am still sticking in the same organization, “ says Jaspreet. Hungry for a post-grad qualification, he joined SCDL (“considering the hype of Symbiosis”).

He now feels, however, that the course is of absolutely no use. “I did gain knowledge but much of it was pretty basic. One doesn't need to go though books and "online exams" to prove his skills in these areas.”

He’s seen no gains in his career linked to distance learning – and isn’t about it even in the near future. It’s much the same story with Harikrishnan J, an Infosys engineer who completed his “Online MBA” from SCDL 6 months ago.

“The courseware is very good, lucid and manageable for a working person. It has given me good understanding of business concepts”. But job prospects wise - no gains. “ None of my technical work (I work as a Software Engg @ Infosys since 2003) deals with management and hence it hasn't helped me in this regard. And since my company doesn't accept this kind of MBA this course doesn’t help me climb up the coporate ladder yet.”

Try shifting? You can get a higher paying technical job but not a functional role. “Most openings, when advertised, give a disclaimer that Part-Time / Distance MBAs are not considered”. Of course Harikrishnan believes many full time MBAs (leave out IIMs and ISB) are in a similar boat. “I know a guy here who did his MBA from Cardiff Business School UK and came back to Infosys . He is working as a software tester”.

The verdict: Keep a distance from distance learning, from the point of view of impact on earning. Of course, there’s no harm – if you really just want to learn.

written by Rashmi Bansal and first published in March 2007 in Businessworld's Mega Indian Bschool Guide.

Worst jobs for the future

noreply@blogger.com (Sidin) — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 09:43:00 +0000

Worried about what career to choose? Well then Fortune magazine has just the article for you.

Health care, education and financial services--if you're looking for work in the coming decades, these are the fields to get into.
What to avoid? The usual suspects.

An interesting read with a slideshow that talks about what jobs NOT to get into in the years ahead. Bad news for economists, programmers, radio announcers and such like.

And not so good for newsreporters and writers either. Gulp.

Read here -> The Worst Jobs For The 21st Century

ICICI aims at 'single digit attrition'

noreply@blogger.com (Rashmi Bansal) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 09:13:00 +0000

ICICI Bank CEO speaking to the TOI says the bank aims to touch 'single digit attrition' figures even as it plans to recruit 20-30,000 people every year. The current attrition rate stands at 15-18%.

One of the initiatives he elaborated on: ICICI actively participating in increasing the pool of people with the right skill sets. The bank is providing a 6 month training module for the curricula of NIIT, Manipal University and ICFAI. Of course, this 'talent pool' is not exclusive to ICICI - it is available to other recruiters as well.

The bank's strategy thus is two fold:
1) Try to retain more of those who join you
2) Keep training more young people to take the place of those who leave you

However attrition is a difficult animal. ICICI is not one of the top paymasters in the industry, although it is very well regarded for 'quality' of work and as a training ground.

Given the continuing boom in the job market single digit attrition will probably remain a dream. But yes, the fact that ready and well trained replacements are available will make this fact of life easier to deal with!

A related news report on the same page notes: India has 47% of the global outsourcing market and will grow to a value of $40 billion this year. However, attrition rates are 40-60%, depending on who you ask, coupled with 10-15% annual wage inflation hitting the sector".

Reminds me of the old folk tale: killing the golden goose. If costs and labour shortages continue, BPOs may relocate to their home countries - or other cheaper places. Na rahenge itne easily available jobs, na rahegi itna attrition.

Remember the days of mushkil se milti thi paanch hazaar ki naukri?

Mock Interviews

amit.panhale@gmail.com (Amit Panhale) — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 06:52:00 +0000

With acute shortage of skilled workforce, the recruiters today are ready to concede to most demands - reasonable or unreasonable - of their job-seeking candidates. And it is for this handicap of the Employers that the jobseekers are taking them for a ride.

In what was merely an aberration till sometime ago now seems to be fast catching up as a trend. After having almost confirmed their jobs, the new recruits just don’t turn up. On digging deeper one realizes that the interview calls attended by these jobseekers are a part their strategy to assess their shortcomings and to gauge the worth of their skills in the job-market; they may not necessarily be in want of that job. While this may be beneficial for the jobseeker, it completely undermines the efficacy of the hiring exercise undertaken by the Recruiter. After spending valuable resources and time on the hiring process the companies realize that they have to return empty hand, because very few of their selected candidates have actually taken up the offers made to them.

Choice spoils and that is exactly what the above trend is an indicator of. With multiple job offers and plethora of opportunities, jobseekers today are willing to wait that much longer because they realize that the next offer is only going to be better than the previous one.

Today's two minute job getting sure shot fundae - Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Sidin) — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 06:03:00 +0000

Just one minute before you go for that interview.

Sit down. We need to talk.

See there are a couple things you must know before you actually go for your first interview with any company.

1. Get your facts straight. Always, always spend some time on the company's website and do a little bit of googling on the company before you set out with your certificates and all. This can help you immensely especially if you are going for one of those open ended interviews where the job, location and department are all undecided.

2. Take it one step further. See if you can google out the name of the guy you will be interviewing with. Sometimes you get a wealth of information about people from the net. Does the interviewer have a blog? What is his background and prior employment history? Any interviews with the person that talks about the type of employees he likes?

In addition to helping you get the job these searches might help you answer and even more fundamental issue: Should you take the job at all??!!

What's in a name?

noreply@blogger.com (Rashmi Bansal) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 10:29:00 +0000

'Climb up the Coconut way' read the recruitment ad.
Alongside is a pic depicting man in suit climbing up a ladder hanging in the clouds.

You see Coconut Softwares Pvt Ltd is 'the fastest growing software products and services company', engaged in end to end implementation of ERP, SCM, CRM, SRM etc etc. I have no doubt they are doing v well because a chota mota company would not be putting a quarter page colour ad in Times of India Ascent.

However I couldn't help wonder: is the name 'Coconut' a liablity? The founders may have been inspired by foreign companies adopting tree-nams as company names. But 'Juniper' and 'Sycamore' are not your everyday trees. In fact most people probably aren't even aware of the tree connection.

Coconut on the other hand is well, coconut. I know they may have been inspired by 'Apple' but when you say 'Climb up the coconut way' the image that comes to mind is a wiry dhoti clad fella limbering up the tree trunk... to bring down a nariyal.

Now you can well imagine the folalowing conversation:
Aunty: Bete aap kahan kaam kr rahe hain?
Beta: Aunty, mein Coconut mein kaam kar raha hoon.
Aunty: HAIIN??!!

OK, slight exaggeration but I am sure every Coconut employee has had to explain what his company actually does to convince said auntyjis he/ she is in a respectable job. Which us an important motivator for people joining and sticking with the software industry in India.

A more 'IT' type name like 'Cocosys' or 'Cocosoft' would have made life easier!

P.S. Are coconuts served in the Coconut canteen, along with tea and coffee? Just wondering!

Today's two minute job getting sure shot fundae - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Sidin) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:44:00 +0000

So your CV is perfect. Not a wrong spelling, not a grammatical error in sight. And it has been perfectly tailored for the job you are applying for.

According to you everything looks ok right?

Wrong!

Nothing irks a recruiter like getting a CV or email from an applicant who uses a wacky/weird email address. What using a ridiculous email id does is kill your chances even before the recruiter has had a chance to read a single word about you. Few things communicates a certain lack of professionalism to a recruiter as mush as "You can mail me at ilovebottomspank@yahoo.com".

So next time before you begin a round of job hunting get a good respectable email id that exudes sobriety.

The 'Best Job' in the World - 2

amit.panhale@gmail.com (Amit Panhale) — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 16:58:00 +0000

Sick and tired of desperate men interrupting their peaceful sunbathing exertions, the Italian women are lining up on the warm sands of the 50-mile stretch of coastline linking Rimini to Riccione, which has now become a first of its kind 'only female' beach.

The owner - Fausto Ravaglio puts it lucidly - "We have given the women their own world.''

But here's the catch. The beach does have one man.

"The lifeguard must be a man, you clearly need a man to save women in the sea. It's a question of muscles." says Ravalgio.

Is the job still up for grabs? Where do you send the CVs? The informed, please update the ignorant.

Today's two minute job getting sure shot fundae - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Sidin) — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 07:39:00 +0000

Spell check your CV. It doesn’t matter if it is a single page or a double page or a magnum opus of a CV. A single spelling mistake, especially with something importnatnt will stick out like a sore thumb.

See?

So next time take a moment before you attach your CV to that email and shoot it out. Open it up one final time and do a quick spell check on it. Some tips:

1. Always make your CV in MS Word first. Activate spell check and grammar check. No, don't set that aside for later.
2. After there are no squiggly lines under any words, take a deep breath, or take a printout. Now go through every word of every line to make sure there is nothing off anywhere. MS Word can pick out words and dodgy grammar but not feet in mouth. Word will think perfectly well of something like "Strong Communication Kills." Oops!
3. Get someone to read it for you. Someone who preferably hasn't seen your CV before.
4. Then always make it a PDF document and email it off. This way even if there are some goofs that have slipped in it won't show up with pink squiggles on the employer's PC.

So there. Happy CV/Resume making and best of luck!

IT jobs pay, but not 'that much'

noreply@blogger.com (Rashmi Bansal) — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 09:25:00 +0000

A report in the Economic Times notes: IT sector is generally seen as among the best paymasters in India. Often, parents tell their kids that it is one of the faster ways to become a ‘lakhpati’. However, the reality is that only a minuscule number get into the magic circle with six figure monthly salaries.

Only 0.5% of the employees at TCS, Wipro and Infosys draw a salary of more than Rs 2 lakhs p.m. or Rs 24 lakhs per annum. Specifically, of 85, 582 employees at TCS 221 earn above Rs 2 lakhs p.m.

At Infosys of 72, 241 persons in FY07 531 (0.73%) belong to the 2 lakhs a month club. 32 Infoscions draw over Rs 50 lakhs (0.04% of the employee base).

Over and above salary high performers get ESOPs and bonuses which could be 40-50% in addition to salary.

Kya yeh kam hai?
The salary skews are actually not at all surprising. After all, these companies are very 'young'. They have bloated in size only recently.

In March 2005 TCS had a mere 36,000 employees. Around the same time Infosys had 49, 422.

All these companies have undertaken massive recruitment at entry level . The average age of the IT company employee is 26. Which means the average salary at an IT company - assuming people join at age 22 and get 12-15% increments a year - would be around Rs 5 lakhs.

The report estimates it will take 'more than a decade' to reach the 2 lakhs p.m. salary figure.

The use of those words is telling. Not 'only a decade' but more than a decade. As if doosri jagahon par people achieve 2 lakhs a month salaries in far less time.

Take even your average IIM MBA. Leave aside the guys who get placed abroad for dollar salaries, how many others can expect a 24 lakhs a month at age 26?

At IIM A - from campus placement - perhaps 2 or 3. These would be the studs who join private equity firms. And they would be around 28 years of age, most likely CAs or from an IIT.

The average IIM MBA would take 5-7 years to reach the 2 lakhs a month bracket. A bit earlier, if you're in banking, finance or with a major consulting company.

The bottomline is there is no quick and easy route to a 2 lakhs p.m. paycheck. Many different roads lead you there. It's also important that you enjoy the drive - and the scenery!

The 'best job' in the world?

noreply@blogger.com (Rashmi Bansal) — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 07:14:00 +0000

It's being advertised as a 'sexecutive' position and requires no fancy degrees or qualifications. Durex Australia is seeking real life testers for its condoms.

The ad goes:"With this ad on your CV, it really will be a chance to brag to your mates about the special skills you possess..."

Cool. But unfortunately, the job is 'unpaid'. The 200 selected testers will only receive a free pack of Durex products, plus a bonus prize of A$1000 for one lucky winner.

Still, it gives the term 'on the job' new meaning!

Are women more loyal to their companies?

noreply@blogger.com (Rashmi Bansal) — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 10:49:00 +0000

Reliance Retail will soon buy 40 cargo planes to ship its wares across India, reports TOI. However, pilots are in short supply these days. And, they aren't very loyal either.

Mukesh Ambani has a solution: hire only women. Already a dozen female pilots are on board. Mr Ambani believes that women are stickier employees, all other factors like salary and benefits being equal.

A survey carried out by the Delhi-based Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham), which polled 160 leading human resources (HR) heads in India Inc, found that the attrition rate is highest among employees in the 26-30 age group.

Employees with experience levels of two to four years are the most vulnerable to poaching by rivals. But women employees are five times more stable than men.

I wonder, however if this would hold true for younger women - age 21-26.

A Simmons study 570 professional women found that 55% of women under 34 aspired to top leadership, a higher percentage than the 45% of their older female colleagues.

In the long run women may be more loyal to a company because most of them scale down their ambitions to manage their commitment to family. Flying a cargo plane, for example, may be an attractive option due to more convenient timings and less taxing schedules. Even if it means comparatively less glamour and pay.

Will things change when today's young women reach their 30s? Honestly, I doubt it. A tiny fraction of women will be ambitious animals who will push to achieve the same 'success' as their male counterparts.

The majority will opt for a work-life balance, out of choice. Or circumstance!

Whose resume is this?

noreply@blogger.com (Rashmi Bansal) — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 08:32:00 +0000

Most employers get a lot of applications from jobseekers. And paper format is virtually extinct - most of you will email your resumes.

Now here is the problem. So many people label their resumes simply as resume.doc or cv.doc or even something strange like formal_resume.doc or final_resume.doc.

When the employer tries to save it in his machine there is usually a resume.doc already present. So he now has to replace that file or find a new location for the new one. And this as you can imagine is a hassly exercise.

The common sense advice I would therefore give is that you, as a jobseeker, label your resume with your full name. Eg anishasharma.doc. Better still add a descriptor to your name Eg anishasharma_designer.doc.

Just a small bit of advice - and one that costs you nothing more than a few keystrokes!

Late is not great

noreply@blogger.com (Rashmi Bansal) — Mon, 14 May 2007 08:20:00 +0000

In the recent film, 'The Pursuit of Happyness', Will Smith lands up for an interview with a brokerage firm in a ganjee, and paint splatters.

You see as he was painting his house he was picked up by the cops and sent to the slammer. For defaulting on a bunch of parking tickets. The next morning he is released at 845 am... and runs straight to the interview.

He got the job, no thanks to a quick repartee with the senior partner. Which went something like this:
Q: "What would you say if I offered a job to someone who came in without a shirt?"
A: "I would say he must have been wearing a really nice pair of pants".

Nice line - in a movie. But it wasn't a smart alec response which saved the day. The interviewer used his judgement of people and situations, built over the years, to conclude this guy had a genuine problem.

The trouble is, most of you who land up late for interviews - don't. You probably left home late, or 'just in time' and got caught in a jam somewhere.

Arriving late for an interview is a big blot - no matter how great your resume is. It conveys casualness of attitude, a lack of respect for the job you don't even have yet.

If something - anything - is really important to you, you make sure fate does not get in the way!

Like when you go to give an exam you carry 3 pens, 2 pencils, sharpener, eraser - whatever it takes. When you travel abroad, you make sure you have your passport,ticket, credit cards, foreign exchange, contact lens solution - whatever it is you can't live without.

Please treat a job interview the same way. Calculate how long it takes to reach and leave half an hour BEFORE that.

You can't change your qualifications, personality, or marks. But this - is completely in your hands. And small things do make a big difference.