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(This article is written by Santosh Achari (Chemical 2008). He is currently working with Infogile Technologies Pvt. Ltd, a company started by our alumnus. He can be reached at: santosh@santoshachari.com.
This article was originally appeared on his personal blog: http://blog.santoshachari.com/?p=8)
(Santosh Achari)
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Jobs in recession - as most believe are definitely not easy to find: For both senior professionals and freshers. At a lot of times the reason is quite simple: The companies want to cut cost - in all ways including cutting down salaries/ firing/ reducing hiring.
For people with experience, its difficult find a job because they can't find enough offers that fit with their current profile and pay structure... but for Freshers its totally different... Just because many won't know which profile they should be applying for, and which one might be best etc. etc.
My Guidelines for Freshers is quite simple: Try harder!!!... (Though you will have the points listed.) ... Just go ahead and go through the points below. They should definitely be of help:
1. Correct Resume and Proper Cover letters: Ideally one is supposed to make customized cover letters and resumes specific to the company and profile they are applying to. And this is the best time to be ideal with these!! Make sure that you have a proper resume, which tells the reader that you are fit for the job you are applying to rather than just a resume that lists everything that you've done so far in your college. And also a cover letter that gives a brief overview of the relevant work so far/ relevant qualities that you possess for the job. Believe me; these aren't difficult to write, once you start trying it out. Vault.com has pretty good sample cover letters and resumes for your case. Microsoft Word also has good set of Sample Resumes for download. Also, some small things like: naming your resume by your full name, sending a .pdf version of the resume and a cover letter that isn't too generalized for the company (which gives away that you've copy pasted everything)... if taken care off, might give an impression that is good enough for a HR to ask you to come for an interview/exam etc. a lot many times freshers don't even care about this. (Tip: Go through the "desired profile" pasted on the site. Use words from it in your cover letter)
2. Communication: There is nothing wrong in making a few calls to company asking for the status of your application or asking to update your contact information etc. It often helps esp. in the case of Start Ups / Small firms, where interest in a company is all that matters! Apply online on websites, send mails to HRs, and make calls to companies to know if they might be interested in you, on the next day or so. If you have alumni from your college in the company, this is the best time to get in touch them.
3. Searching Jobs!!: Though above two are important in converting the job offers at hand, knowing where to find jobs is where you could get ahead in the race. Believe me: a. There is nothing wrong in asking for help, and b. Contacts Matter! There are still companies that would love to hire talent, and smart kids if they find them affordable (Mostly Start ups).
* Also make sure you have your resume up on Job-Sites, Naukri.com, Monsterindia, Shine.com etc. Naukri.com is still the best job site that the world has to offer you. A lot of big companies hire through Naukri, and a lot of Job Consultancies search for Candidates through it. So make sure you have Naukri Profile. Shine did not work that well with me, but you can give it a try.
* Drop your resumes at Job Consultants in your cities... There are dozens of those in every city, and they are free to use. All you might want to do is to drop a hard copy of resume at their office. You might find a lot of BPO consultancies, but don't loose hope.
* Be aware of and apply for Govt. jobs that are listed on the FreshersWorld.com . Don't be a fool like me: who looked down upon 'Govt. Jobs' - you might have gotten rid of a lot headache/heartache and tension if you were in one of these.
* On Campus Jobs!!! Don't ever let go any of those. They are easiest and are the only way that would hire fools like me and you for good pays. Once missed, you don't have a easy way back.
* Also, add your email id to the job email lists of your college/ society/ locality etc. For example, for IT BHU specifically: itbhu_jobs@yahoogroups.com and for IITs in general: IIT-Global-Jobsearch@yahoogroups.com
* Time to get in touch with friends: Find your seniors, family, friends of Siblings etc. who might be good positions to offer you lead, if not help.
* Make sure you have your profiles on LinkedIn and Facebook professionally styled. Not all HRs go through the profile, but I wouldn't be surprised if people try to get more information about you when the job offers a good paycheck.
* Remember for you (i.e. if you are fresher): No job is bad. Finding a job could be everything.
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Some lessons you might learn after you start working:
1. No job is perfect, No Company is perfect. And sometimes, money isn't every thing. Though it is exciting at first to earn yourself, the money you make may not always keep you happy. For a few, often what you do is also what might keep you going. So trying a job that could reap long career benefits than one that pays well only initially, might be the smart thing to do.
2. Qualifications are good. Further education isn't a bad option. Try adding value to your resume by learning more of Skills/ Technologies / Courses. Remember there are a lot of talented youngsters who are ready to accept any job they get. You can look for more career resources at PagalGuy.com. (Be it MBA/ GRE/ Masters or any other course/ Diploma.)
3. Be aware of the facts that there are companies that would take undue advantage of candidates in Recession: Offering less package, asking for bonds, more commitments etc.
4. There are always better options available.
5. Job isn't everything!!!
6. Make most use of your time. Time is non renewable.
7. Backup Options are life savers: Try making good contacts, and save as much money as possible. Remember you are not born to Bill Gates/ Tatas / Birlas/ Premjee and no matter what you could do, you cannot be the next Miss
8. You would be missing your friends and college.
Good luck with your search.
P.s. Feel free to ask for suggestions and drop comments.
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(This article is written by Anup Sheshadri (Mining 2009). All views expressed are his own. The article was originally published on Sept. 12, 2009 on his blog http://www.leaderexperience.blogspot.com/
Author’s Note - This article is completely based on personal perceptions and not interpreted from any literature. I have co-related the modern 'leadership and management' with the blindly followed traditions in Hinduism - to put a halt to it and making people broad-minded in this modern rational world
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(Anup Sheshadri)
With the lessons from his experiences, man evolved into a self dependent and strong creature on Earth. He learnt how to generate fire, how to make his food taste good, art of building houses for shelter, art of mining & metallurgy, and agriculture. So with time, there was a rise of society. Man started generating his own resources. But being nascent to the society life, he lacked experience in managing the society. With lack of proper management, there were lots of disorders in the early society - stealing of resources by neighboring societies, improper waste disposal, diseases, lack of education being bestowed to juniors, etc. So the leaders, during the time, saw the need to bring in order to their societies. Thus giving rise to Vedic Society.
The leaders learnt, they needed security to their resources, transfer of knowledge bank from experienced elders to juniors, maintenance of cleanliness and hygiene to prevent diseases and to trade the resources they generate. Thus the leaders formed four different 'teams' (Varnas in Vedas - a Sanskrit term meaning 'color') for bringing in order in society.
*Brahmins - the team of educators, scholars and preachers
*Kshatriya - the military and political team
*Vaishya - the team of merchants, cattle-rearers and artisans
*Sudra - the farmers, craftsmen and sculptors
The Brahmins performed the duty of educating the mass, passing on the knowledge, literature and experience gained, and preparing the juniors for the new quests. Thus, Brahmins were given responsibility of preaching the contemporary theories, and beliefs in Science and Religion.
The Kshatriyas constituted the military and ruling order of the society - protecting the society from stealing of their resources, maintaining discipline and protecting their people from foreign attacks. For this, they were required to be physical strong. So they were given extensive physical training, and were taught various fighting skills and use of weapons.
Since the societies lacked some of the resources required for their living, the concept of trading the excess of their resources to get the required resources started. This trading was controlled by the Vaishyas. Apart from this, Vaishyas consisted of artists, who traded their talents too.
And the last: the Sudras. They performed the duty of maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in the society. This responsibility was mainly to prevent the diseases and maintain the hygienic environment in the society. Sudras were also required to maintain the aesthetic values of their society. Thus, they were involved in cleaning the streets & important buildings, and proper disposal of all waste generated from the public places. To add in beauty to their society, they were also given job of sculpturing, building monuments, crafting wooden furniture, etc.
In the beginning, the Sudras were free to join the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, or Vaishyas depending on their interest and skill. Similarly, Brahmins were free to join with Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Sudras. All the teams had equal importance in society building. But with time, Kshatriyas, with their fighting skills and mastery in using powerful weapons, felt they are the most powerful amongst the other teams. Brahmins recognized the power of their brain-work and strong knowledge. Hence started considering themselves most intelligent of all. So these two teams - one being physically strong and other being intellectually strong, started to consider themselves as the supremos in the society, and deemed the Vaishyas and Sudras as lower in team grades. Slowly, these 'low grade' teams came to be known as 'lower class' (Sudra - the lowest), while the Brahmins and Kshatriyas were categorized in 'upper class'. There was exploitation by physical & mental power, making Sudras to serve the upper class (including Vaishyas), as labors and servants. The transition from Sudras to Brahmins, or to any of the upper class, ceased. Subsequently, 'class' was considered as inheritance. Son of Sudra will be Sudra; Son of Brahmin will be Brahmin, and so on. Thus, new ill concepts of untouchable people, restricting the talents of Sudras, no-interclass marriage rules and many more, got framed. So the upper class people exploited the lower class people, especially Sudras.
This is how the good motive of effective society management turned into the ill-social traditions that we still follow. The leaders of then brought in fairly good management practice with the concept of 'division of karma (duty)' in four 'Varnas (colors)' for the welfare of society. But the modern man, with the thirst of power and supreme knowledge, perverted the very purpose of the team formations. This gave rise to inequality amongst the people of the same society itself.
In the modern world, the purpose of this noble 'division of duty' has been forgotten. We fight for reservations, rights, communal supremacy, etc. creating yet more differences in different class, castes, and religions. Thus generating different states of worldly perception - never to unite! We, the educated people of modern world, talk a lot about leadership and management philosophies. Then why to believe in class, castes, and religions in the world of 'leaders and managers'? In this world, we should forget all the castes, class, creed, religions and communities. We just need to remember the noble purpose behind such actions taken by the past leaders.
So let’s unite on the human grounds and make this world more peaceful and loving.
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About Author:
Anup Sheshadri is Mining 2009 graduate of IT-BHU,
Anup Sheshadri’s blogs:
http://www.corporatedossier.blogspot.com/
http://www.leaderexperience.blogspot.com/
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Govt. can’t decide on national institute tag, says law ministry
Parliament Alone Has the Power to Do So, HRD Told
Akshaya Mukul | TNN
New Delhi: The HRD ministry’s proposal that the central government be given the power to declare an educational institute as an institute of national importance has been rejected by the law ministry.
The issue came up since the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961, needed to be amended to bring eight new IITs under the ambit of the law. To obviate the need to make amendments in the Act whenever such a new institute is set up, the HRD ministry proposed that the central government be empowered to add a new institution and give it the status of an institute of national importance without amending the Act.
But the law ministry said only Parliament has the power to declare an institution of national importance and not the central government. As a result, the draft cabinet note is being amended as per the advice of the law ministry. The Council of IITs will take the final view on the amendments to the Institutes of Technology Act on September 15.
The eight new IITs that are proposed to be brought under the ambit of Institute of Technology Act have come up in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Currently all of them are registered societies. While the site for seven IITs has been finalized, that in Rajasthan continues to be caught in political wrangling. During BJP rule in Rajasthan, Kota was selected by the state government but the Centre had raised an objection. Now the state government is proposing Jodhpur, chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s area of dominance.
Institutes of national importance is a coveted list.
It comprises IITs, National Institutes of Technology, AIIMS, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Indian Institute of Science, Indian Statistical Institute, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education, Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Fashion Technology, and NIMHANS Bangalore. All of them have been set up through an Act of Parliament.
TURF WAR CONTINUES: Kapil Sibal, Veerappa Moily
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Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University
Varanasi 221005, UP