Company Secretary

Introduction

The recent upheavals in the corporate world have shaken the confidence of shareholders. There is a greater demand for displaying corporate credibility and transparency by organisations in managing their internal affairs. There is also a need to retain the confidence of various stakeholders. Since, the top management is too busy managing the general working of an organization this new challenge can only be shouldered by some highly qualified and competent professionals.

Here comes the role of a company secretary. Earlier, the traditional role of a company secretary was limited to providing support to the board of directors and managing administrative affairs of an organisation. However, the horizon of their roles and responsibilities has expanded exponentially. Apart from their traditional tasks, company secretaries now have to take care of corporate governance and even legal matters of a company.

As the position of a company secretary has steadily become critical to the smooth functioning of a corporate entity so has the demand for this job profile. In this role, you not only hold a high position in the management hierarchy but your role is highly accountable both within and outside your organisation.

In this context, this job profile provides both exciting career prospects coupled with innumerable challenging situations. All-in-all this position is in great demand in the job market and this trend is not going to slow down anywhere in the near future.

The training company secretaries receive sets them apart from other professionals within a company. These candidates have good exposure to a wide spectrum of subjects such as law, accountancy, administration, secretarial practice and many others. This automatically qualifies them for a vast range of positions within a company from the very early days of their career.

Step-by-Step

Overall, there are three qualifying stages for becoming a company secretary, namely, the foundation stage, the intermediate stage and the final stage. The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) offers this study course. You can join the foundation course after completing your 10+2 and then move on to the intermediate level of the course. Alternatively, you can complete you graduation, post-graduation or any other professional qualification to seek admission directly into the intermediate stage.

Foundation Course:

Candidates who have passed senior secondary (10+2) can apply for the foundation course. The duration of the foundation course is eight months. Students are required to pass the foundation examination within three years from the date of their admission.

Subjects:
• English and Business Communication
• Basic Economics and Business Environment
• Financial Accounting
• Elements of Business Laws and Management
• Information Systems and Quantitative Techniques

Intermediate Course:

Once you have cleared the foundation course and your age is not less than 17 years, then you can apply for the intermediate level. Graduates, post-graduates (excluding fine arts students) and those who have passed out from ICWAI or ICAI or any other recognised accountancy institution in India or abroad, can directly enrol into the intermediate course without going for the foundation course.

Subjects:
Group I
• General and Commercial Laws
• Company Accounts and Cost & Management Accounting
• Tax Laws
• Management Information Systems and Corporate Communication

Group II
• Company Law
• Company Secretarial Practice
• Economic, Labour and Industrial Laws
• Securities Laws and Regulation of Financial Markets
You can get an exemption for some individual papers on the basis of your pre-qualification.
Final Course:
The final stage of the company secretary course imparts training on a wide variety of specialised subjects.
Subjects:
Group I
• Advanced Company Law and Practice
• Secretarial Practice relating to Economic Laws and Drafting and Conveyance
• Secretarial Management and Systems Audit

Group II
• Financial, Treasury and Forex Management
• Corporate Restructuring-Law and Practice
• Banking and Insurance-Law and Practice

Group III
• WTO-International Trade, Joint Ventures and Foreign Collaborations
• Direct and Indirect Taxation-Law and Practice
• Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations

Training

Training is an important aspect of the company secretary course. You will have to undergo short term training programs during the intermediate level and after the final level examination of the company secretary course. These short term trainings improve your communication and management skills and also help in personality development.

Furthermore, you will have to acquire practical training after completing the intermediate or final level examination to obtain an Associate Membership of ICSI. This training is essential since it gives valuable insight into the working of the corporate sector and also provides practical exposure to industry standards. This training can be completed in companies sponsored by ICSI or under the guidance of a practicing company secretary.

Once you have successfully completed the final level course along with the practical training you are admitted into the institute as an Associate Company Secretary. From this point onwards, you can look for prospective job openings.

Start Early

Clearing your 10+2 is the basic criteria for making a move towards this particular career path. At this level, you can join the foundation level course. However, you can also get admission to the intermediate level of the company secretary course if you have earned your graduate degree or any other equivalent or higher academic qualification.

Is it the Right Career for Me?

If you have good judgmental quality, legal aptitude, interest in current affairs and good administrative ability then company secretary is an ideal career path for you. Other essential skills required for this job profile include good communication skills, a firm grounding in accountancy, secretarial practice and keen mind to learn new things.

What would it Cost Me?

The duration for the foundation course is eight months excluding the months of admission and examination. The fee for the foundation course is Rs 3,600. The intermediate course is nine months excluding the months of admission and examination. The fee for the intermediate course is Rs 7,000 for commerce graduates and Rs 7,700 for others. The final course can cost up to Rs 10,000.

Other than these, the trainings that you will have to undergo during the intermediate and the final level can cost you something around Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500.

Funding/Scholarship

Funding and scholarships are not extended for this course. However, you can take a student loan to pursue your company secretary studies.

Job Prospect

As a qualified company secretary, you can find good positions in the private sector and public sectors, banks and financial institutions. You can also look for openings in stock exchanges, the Department of Company Affairs, company law boards and various government departments. The larger the company and the wider its field activity, the better are the emoluments earned by the company secretary.

Company secretaries have the added advantage of setting up their own consultancy business after obtaining a certificate of practice. Companies with a paid-up share capital of Rs 10 lakh and more and less than Rs 2 crores are required to employ the services of practicing company secretaries for issuing corporate compliance certificates.

Company secretaries have immense knowledge of a wide variety of subjects. In this context, they can take up position of a lecturer or a visiting faculty in various academic establishments.

Pay Packet

A budding and meritorious company secretary can hope to start his career with a monthly remuneration of Rs 20, 000 to Rs 25, 000. However, for an ordinary candidate, a monthly salary of Rs 10, 000 is almost guaranteed. However, with time, experience and expertise in managing company affairs you can command hefty pay packets.

Demand and Supply

As per the Companies Act, 1956, every company that has a paid-up share capital of Rs 2 crores or above has to employ a full time company secretary. The ICSI has developed and regulated the profession of company secretaries in the country. Hence, there are ample career opportunities for company secretaries in various sectors across the nation.

According to ICSI the projected demand for company secretary professionals is set to touch 50,000 by 2015. Presently, there are 22,000 company secretaries in the country.

Market Watch

The demand for trained company secretaries is enormous. The primary factor in this regard is the growth of our country’s financial might. The policy of liberalisation has created favourable atmosphere within the country for setting up of new businesses.

Further, numerous foreign companies have set up their installations in the country. All this has translated into India becoming one of the fastest growing economies of the world. Also, there is a spurt in the corporate activities such as expansions, mergers, collaborations and joint ventures. All this means a never ending demand for highly trained company secretaries.

International Focus

There is no doubt whatsoever that company secretaries are in huge demand in India and abroad. However, the course is based on the Companies Act 1956, which has its heredity in the Indian legal and political system and does not have much relevance outside India.

Not to be disheartened, a qualified company secretary may nevertheless find employment opportunities similar to those available to business graduates in the USA, Australia UK or other European countries.

Positives/Negatives

+ives

• The market demand for this career is on the upswing.

• There is tremendous growth opportunity in this profession along with excellent remuneration.

• This is a coveted position and rapidly gaining popularity amongst youngsters who want to make it big in the corporate world.

-ives
• There is not much recognition for this course abroad.

• Since the roles and responsibilities associated with this position are highly accountable and visible, there is constant pressure to deliver results.

Different Roles, Different Names

The following is a brief description of the significant roles and responsibilities of a company secretary.

•  Assistance to the Board of Directors: Company secretaries not only provide secretarial assistance to the board but also provide them with expert advice in many respects.

•  Company Registrar: They are an important component of a company’s managerial hierarchy working in the capacity of the company registrar.

•  Legal Advisor: As a legal advisor, they have to provide assistance to the company in case of any legal matter. They also ensure that the company complies with the statutory and bureaucratic directives of company, security and corporate laws.

•  Corporate Policymaker: Company secretaries play an important role in putting together both short term and long term corporate policies of the company. They also advise the company board when existing corporate policies are brought up for review from time-to-time.

•  Chief Administrative Officer: In the capacity of the chief administrative officer, they have to monitor the general administrative activities of the company. They are responsible for the safekeeping of all legal and other confidential documents of the company.

•  Principal Secretary: They have to manage all aspects of corporate meetings be it board meetings, annual general meetings, interaction with important clients and vendors, meetings with government and private delegations. They may also have to take up the responsibility to manage corporate events and manage clients.

•  Corporate Planner: As additional responsibility, company secretaries also have to keep a discerning eye on the expansion opportunities of the company. Further, they have to take care of collaborations, joint-ventures, mergers, takeovers within the country and outside.

•  Important Link: Company secretaries act as a vital link between the board of directors and external entities such as shareholders, regulatory authorities and government bodies. They have to prepare detailed reports regarding company policies and disseminate them amongst internal as well as external stakeholders. On the other hand, they have to present the views of shareholders, regulatory bodies and government agencies to the board.

•  Miscellaneous Tasks: Another important role requires company secretaries to manage the company’s tax management. The assessment of tax, filing of tax has to be supervised by a company secretary. In some organizations, they have to take care of loans taken by the company, deal with corporate banks and actively participate in important investment decisions.

Top Companies

As per the Companies Act, 1956, every company with a paid-up share capital of Rs 2 crores or above has to appoint a full time company secretary. In this respect, the employment horizon of company secretaries is indeed vast and diversified.

Tips for Getting Hired

1. Deft administrative, managerial and communication skills are vital ingredients of success in a highly competitive corporate environment.

2. Company secretaries are good communicators. The skill to make others understand one’s thoughts and ideas in a simple and lucid manner anytime makes secretaries eligible for top posts in an organisation.

Infrastructure and Real Estate

Introduction

Infrastructure and real Estate is a sector that has the potential to change the face of the country and shape an outstanding career of an individual. Although full of challenges, the sector is highly rewarding. You can generate enormous wealth for yourself and have the satisfaction of doing something for the nation, both at the same time.
A career in infrastructure and real estate industry requires all the skills that are needed to float an independent business. In this context, you need to have several connections and contacts and must build strong relationships to get business. Purchasing of lands, plots, flats, houses and villas and then reselling the same requires strong selling skills as well.
In India, owing to global economic meltdown, the real estate industry touched an all-time low during the year 2009. As a result, several infrastructure and real estate consultants went jobless. However, the situation now is stable and construction work has again begun full-swing. The major earnings in both these industries come by selling the products such as flats, commercial spaces, and bridges.

Step-by-Step

Usually, students complete their twelfth standard and pursue a distance education if they wish to run a real estate business. To work on the technical side and then to get a job in the real estate and infrastructure industry, you may have to complete a degree in civil engineering or construction engineering from any engineering college across the country. Besides technical jobs, you could be an MBA in sales and marketing or International relations or hold a degree in business communication to get started with a construction company. The roles you may be offered would be that of sales manager, sales executives, construction executives, and so on depending on the company.
You would require knowledge in the following areas overall:
1.  Technical aspects of building and construction
2.  Latest news on market prices per square feet of home/land/plots in different areas
3.  Stocks and shares status of various companies
4.  Various marketing, selling, and pricing strategies to attract customers
5.  Large network of shareholders or buyers
If you are prepared with the above mentioned, you may succeed in creating a niche for yourself in the real estate industry.

Start Early

As stated above, if you wish to start a standalone real estate business, you may build contacts for buying raw materials, supervision and labourers and start a business at your risk. Banks may give you loans depending on the scale of business. Otherwise, you may need to complete a degree in civil engineering and then apply for jobs.

Is it the Right Career for Me?

Infrastructure and Real Estate is the right career for you if you have penchant and passion for making big money, inclination to 24/7 hard work, and the ability to guide and supervise a team of builders, consultants, labourers and site managers.
As a builder, the job involves purchasing cement, mortar, bricks and raw materials and then hiring labourers and architects. It also entails purchasing old properties and mortgaged or disputed lands and plots or houses and then legally converting them into sellable properties first. Next comes the selling part where you will need strong coordination skills to catch business. Howsoever difficult the job may seem in the beginning, it provides a wonderful opportunity to earn much more money than any other profession.
Especially in India, there are several popular websites such as Indiaproperty.com, 99acres.com and Indiahousing.com that allow people to buy and sell properties across the country. These websites act as mediators between buyers and sellers and make the job very easy. Advertisements in newspapers are also a source of developing business.

What would it Cost Me?

A civil engineering degree would cost you anywhere between Rs 60,000 to 1,00,000 per year depending on the private college you choose in your respective state. Else, if you appear for national entrance tests and succeed to get into any of the top colleges such as IITs or Delhi College of Engineering, the fees may differ.
As an alternative, you may pursue an MBA in sales and marketing and apply for business jobs in real estate agencies.

Funding/Scholarship

If you wish to borrow a loan from a bank, the suggested bank is State Bank of India, which offers a loan of up to Rs. 7.5 lacs. As it is a national bank, the loan and repayment methods are safe and secure.

Job Prospects

The Real Estate and Infrastructure industry offers jobs for positions such as real estate sales executives, property managers, estate managers, IT manager- Real estate, and Professors, to name a few.
While professional jobsites offer a plenty of technical opportunities, you may also become a part of the construction team if you are a civil engineer or an architect! However, the construction jobs are comparatively tedious when compared with other field sales jobs.
On the other hand, jobs in infrastructure would include civil engineers, infrastructure managers, store or warehouse managers and inventory executives.

Pay Packet

The pay packet for real estate sales executives may start from a minimum of Rs. 15,000 and go up to Rs. 50,000 based on the business you bring. If you have been hired on a commission basis for the realty or mortgage department in a bank or private financing companies, you will earn proportionate to the business relationships you build.
As a civil engineer, you may be placed as structures managers with top companies for a higher starting salary of Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 25,000.

Demand and Supply

The demand for civil engineers and infrastructure managers is comparatively low when compared with IT engineers or Electronics and Telecommunications engineers. However, when placed in these positions, the engineers get paid quite high and have ample scope to travel abroad to other countries such as Japan.

Infrastructure marketing and engineering also involves purchasing of latest technology machines for construction. Besides, the supply of engineers is usually higher when compared with the demand.

Market Watch

The Real Estate and Infrastructure market usually is on an upswing unless there are economic crises such as the global recession of 2009. Everyday, newspapers display over a 1,000 advertisements about the new constructions, IT Parks, commercial spaces and group societies. For instance, construction groups such as DLF, Raheja or the Hiranandani place their discounted prices per square feet for one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom apartments and individual villas in newspapers to attract customers.
Currently, these groups are focusing on the suburban areas of metros such as Chennai, Mumbai et al. and coming up with cheaper options for middle class families.
In this regard, jobs for engineers, architects, and construction managers are ample.

International Focus

Most of the important builders such as Raheja and Hiranandani use latest machines, processes and technologies to construct buildings and IT parks. For instance, if you consider the sky scrapers at Gurgaon, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai’s hi-tech cities, the buildings loom much above 20 floors and stand on solid steel pillars and latest technology construction techniques. These techniques have been borrowed from developed countries such as United States, Japan and Germany.
In short, it is quite possible to see cities as advanced as Chicago or New York within India.

Positives/Negatives

+ives:
•  The development and fast paced technological growth in this field offers a wide variety of job opportunities.
•  The earning opportunities for real estate professionals, whether builders, constructors, sales managers, or engineers, are huge. All that is needed is selling skills and relationship management skills.
-ives:
•  The industry has its ups and downs. For instance, during the recession of 2009, several real estate professionals were impoverished due to shortage of funds.
•  The job is risky, may require extensive travelling, investing an initial huge amount of money and so on. If one has stocks and shares, the risks further go up depending upon the rise and fall of market prices.

Different Roles, Different Names

Real Estate refers to building of home properties and official spaces.. On the other hand, Infrastructure business deals with building bridges, large scale IT parks et al. The type of employees both these businesses recruit usually have the same set of responsibilities but the scope of role varies in both. The sales manager in the real estate industry sells a home and gets business for the agency similar to what a sales manager in a bank does by selling loans or mutual funds and credit cards. Although the industry has established a separate niche, the opportunities are the same but much better paying when compared with other industries especially for engineers and sales officers at a larger scale.

Top Companies

The below mentioned are the top ten real estate companies of India:
1.  Ambuja Realty Group
2.  DLF Building
3.  Sun City Projects
4.  Merlin Groups
5.  Magic bricks
6.  Ghar4u
7.  NK Realtors
8.  99acres
9.  Mittal Builders
10. K Raheja Constructions

Tips for Getting Hired

When you attend interviews for a sales position or an engineering position in a real estate firm, keep the following points in mind;
1.  Keep your list of contacts and friends ready based on which you may claim to get business.
2.  Keep your technical knowledge on latest technologies and construction groups updated and flash it once in a while. This is necessary to ensure the employer that you are aware of the current prices and technologies coming up in the area.
3.  Speak good English and dress up decent enough as presentation is quite important for all sales professionals or engineering professionals alike.

Interior Designing

Introduction

Space for residential and commercial places is shrinking due to rapid urbanisation. This anomalous situation calls for professional help to make the living and working space more comfortable, beautiful and practical. Earlier, it was the task of an architect to do the entire exteriors along with the interiors of a house, office or any other functionally useful edifice. Now-a-days people have become more and more particular about the designs and the layout of the living or working area. This has led to an increasing requirement for professionals in interior designing.

As an interior designer, you will be trained to design exclusive furniture artefacts and fittings besides learning managerial skills. With the help of a course in interior designing, you will come out with a professional designing solution that is efficient, eye-catching and at the same time safe.

The basic job of an interior designer is to make optimal utilisation of available space. Further, you have to make the space more functional and in accordance with the taste and budget of the client. Besides visualising and conceptualising the designs for new structures, interior designers also plan the interiors of existing structures that are undergoing renovation or extension.

Step-by-Step

The popularity of interior designing as a discipline is not confined to urban cities but it has rapidly spread to small town and cities across the nation. This is largely because of the changing lifestyle of people and their want to customise their residence with the help of an expert who can understand their taste and preference.

Numerous reputed institutions all over India are offering study programs in interior designing. The basic qualification to get into most of these programs is a 10+2. Moreover, you will also have to get through an entrance examination that judges your drawing and design skills. It is advisable to prepare a portfolio of your creative work and display it at the time of admission to these study programs.

Architecture and design colleges generally offer study programs in interior designing. Most of these are diploma programs. You can also pursue an interior design course from a polytechnic or a private institution that provides specialisation in a particular area of interior designing.

Furthermore, entry into this profession is also possible through other areas of study such as graduation in architecture, fine arts, design, environment planning or a post-graduate program in a similar field.

Specialisation in a particular area of interior designing can be done depending on your choice. For example; you can excel in business design, residential design or landscape designing. You can further gain expertise for yourself in particular area of a building such as bedrooms, kitchens or baths.

There is enormous demand for qualified interior designers in India. So to be professionally qualified from a reputed institution is a must. With professional qualification comes the assurance of a good job.  And with adequate experience, you can start your own interior decoration business.

Start Early

The earliest you can start for a career in interior designing is 10+2. However, it is essential to have excellent drawing and designing skills to get into this job profile. Furthermore, if you have knowledge of decorative items, home improvement products and basics of architecture, then it becomes easier to follow this particular career path.

Is it the Right Career for Me?

The key ingredient to be a successful interior designer is client satisfaction. In this context, all you need is creative thinking, excellent communication skills, originality, good listening capability and a keen interest in transforming a simple place to a beautiful one by adding extra zing to it. If you think you have it in you, then this is the right career for you.

An understanding of fashion, cultural preferences and good management skills are also equally important aspects expected for a career in the interior designing business. A professional course helps you to develop and polish these traits.

What would it Cost Me?

You can get into this profession at different levels of your academic life be it a 10+2 or a post-graduate program. However, most of the students generally opt for short and long term diploma courses. All these courses can cost you around Rs 15,000 to Rs 50,000 roughly.

Funding/Scholarship

Different institutions offer scholarships to students from the weaker sections of the society, children of defence personnel and physically challenged candidates on the basis of merit.

Job Prospects

There is a scarcity of professional interior designers in our country. With more and more people willing to get their residence and working areas designed according to their taste, there has been a great demand for experienced interior designers.

Employment prospects are plentiful and in various fields. Setting up your own business is also a very lucrative option in this industry.

Pay Packet

Some features that affect the pay packet of an interior designer are regional differences, name, repute, experience and demand.

For beginners the salary can be around Rs 10,000. For experienced professionals the monthly pay cheque can vary from Rs 30, 000 to Rs 75,000.

After gaining some experience, you can start up your own business. Self-employment is very profitable as when you become an established interior designer you can ask for the moon.

Demand and Supply

There is an imbalance between the demand and supply of professionals in this field. The demand for experienced interior designers is on a high in spite of the recent global economic slowdown that hit almost all sectors of the world economy.

The increasing construction activity in urban areas and small towns has only added to the demand for these professionals. The demand for interior designers has surpassed the supply.

Market Watch

Market for interior designing in India is all set to absorb new and aspiring talent. Due to the rising significance of interior design, this profession has become one of the best ever emergent fields in India.

Job opportunities are immense in both private and public sector for a qualified interior designer. Large architectural firms, building contractors, hotels and resorts are constantly on a look out for eligible professionals in this field.

International Focus

International markets are opening up for interior designers now. And if you are highly creative, have a good communication skills and advance knowledge in this field then you can also look to work with international firms.

Positives/Negatives

+ives

• The profession of interior designing is such that you can carry on consultancy activities independently with minimum investment.
• For hardworking people, name, fame and money is assured in this profession.
• There is a great probability to meet celebrities and well known people in your line of work.

-ives

• Interior designing is a hectic and a very demanding profession.
• Many a times the working hours can become erratic and that too when deadlines are stiff.
• This profession involves both working at sites and in the office.
• You should be able to complete a task in a given time span with deadlines.
• Creativity is fine but you will have to do the needful for the client keeping their budget in mind.
• The initial years are really tough and you must not lose heart.
• You must not be disheartened by the fact that this profession has not yet received its due in the society.

Different Roles, Different Names

The different roles of interior designers are as follows:

• Teaching in a government or a private institute that offer courses in interior designing
• Being self-employed
• Employment in private or public sector firms

Top Companies

1. Work with top notch architects and architectural firms
2. Work with renowned builders
3. Hospitals and other medial facilities
4. Town and city planning bureaus
5. Hotels and health resorts
6. Design studios and exhibition organisers
7. Event management companies
8. Innumerable public and private sector establishments

Tips for Getting Hired

1. It is advisable that you should have completed an internship or some sort of apprenticeship under the tutelage of an interior designer or a firm.
2. You should acquire good knowledge of Auto CAD and other computer related programs which can help you give new dimensions to your career.
3. Strong business skills, personal networking, as well as flair and perseverance are likely to impress prospective employers.
4. Last, but not the least, it is essential to complete an interior designing course from a reputed institute.

KPO and BPO

Introduction

BPOs and KPOs have thrown open exciting job opportunities to youngsters in India. This is a field that has employed thousands of professionals and given them international working environment with great salary packages. BPO stands for Business Process Outsourcing and KPO expands to Knowledge Process Outsourcing.
These are companies that hire resources on their payroll and offer them work from their customers empanelled from different countries. To elaborate, a BPO is a company that hires people to offer services to its clients abroad. The work these resources do may vary from data entry, medical transcription, content writing, software programming to HR and Financial services.
While BPO is a common term used for all businesses, KPO focuses on Knowledge and information related activities and demands highly skilled personnel. Some examples of KPO include legal services, intellectual property and patent related services, engineering related services, web development, CAD/CAM applications, business research and analytics, legal research, clinical research, publishing and market research (market research KPO).

Step-by-Step

To get into a BPO, you need not be a very qualified or overtly experienced professional. You can directly start working after school or college and start earning. You must be willing to work in shifts. The challenge in a BPO job is that it requires you to be extremely fast and professional. If you have good communication skills, you may start with a customer services job. If you are technically qualified in Information technology, you may try appearing for interviews for technical support professionals.
The basic requirements in a KPO are much higher when compared with a BPO. For instance, the usual functions associated with a BPO are data entry, processing, department outsourcing, technical support and customer support. However, a KPO operates on the following: Research & Development, ; Financial Consultancy and Services; Advanced Web Applications;  Business and Technical Analysis; Learning Solutions;  Animation and Design; Business and Market Research; Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology; Medical Services;  Writing and Content Development; Legal Services; Intellectual Property (IP) Research; Data Analytics; Network Management; and Training and Consultancy.
Thus, to join a KPO, you need to have the relevant skill set and knowledge.

Start Early

As a student who has cleared school exams and on hunt for a part-time job, a job in BPO is the best option. You may join as a customer support executive, a technical support executive, or a process executive in the beginning at a decent salary that would compensate for your pocket money.
Joining a BPO is a bright option when in college as that would give you industry exposure and the courage to face the real world at a young age. For getting into a KPO, you will need to study further. You may try completing your Master’s degree by the time you apply for a job with a KPO.

Is it the Right Career for Me?

Choosing a career with a BPO or a KPO is the right choice for students who prefer challenges on the work front. Owing to long hours of work that you would be putting in, you should be ready to face a lot of work pressure. Similarly, as it is a job with odd timings you should be willing to let go of your routine. Growth in a BPO is much faster compared with other industries.

Job Prospects

The job prospects in a BPO/KPO are quite high as several countries such as the US and the UK prefer to outsource their jobs to countries such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and other Asian countries.
You may check jobsites over the internet and find jobs for process executives if you are a fresher. If you are an experienced professional from IT or another sector wanting to join the BPO/KPO industry, you may check out positions in the following divisions: Operations Management, Content Management, Research and Analytics, Legal Services, Training and Consultancy and Data Analytics.

Pay Packet

The salaries of BPO employees start from Rs 7,000 and Rs 20,000. The salary depends entirely on the complexity and shift requirements of the job offered. Nonetheless, the career growth is quite fast in this industry and within a few years’ time, it is possible to become a team lead or a group lead. All that counts is good performance.
However, if you are looking at a job option that allows you to travel abroad frequently, you should try for a job with a KPO after qualifying for it.

Demand and Supply

There is always healthy requirement of BPO employees. For instance, companies that hire data entry operators, shipment executives, web designers and graphic designers for US and UK publications would always require diploma or certificate holders in multimedia courses. Even if one does not hold a proper engineering degree in computer science, it is possible to get a job. Thus, the supply is usually at par with the demand.
On the other hand, you need to be highly qualified to get into a KPO. The demand is quite high but the supply is usually less as the numbers of qualified professionals are less.

Market Watch

The growth of BPO and KPO cannot be challenged in the coming 10 years at least. This is owing to the rampant globalization of businesses across the world. As a result of this, there are several ‘work from home’ options available.

International Focus

Several top-notch companies in the field of publications, IT, Knowledge management and financial and legal services continue to outsource work to Asian countries as the value of labour is less in these countries. This has opened up a wide array of opportunities for youngsters who shift to cities from rural areas. This has further helped youth to think from an economical perspective and economically support their families.
Even Asian countries such as Japan and Korea have outsourced their jobs to India.

Positives/Negatives

+ives:

• The opportunities are many. As a fresher, you have a wide array of options to choose from, in order to enter the BPO industry.
• The growth of the industry has seen a positive upsurge in many parts of Asian countries.
• The opportunities have provided bread and butter to several families that had been living in poverty for several years.

-ives:

• The work pressure is quite huge in BPO and KPO. The sleep cycles are disturbed for individuals and they often require medical guidance to handle stress.
• The timings are not very flexible; however the pay packages are low when compared with the work volumes. This leads employees to feel exploited several times.
• There are no proper laws for governing BPO and KPO yet. As a result, the dignity of labour is not very high. There is a constant risk of lay offs every now and then leading to instability in an individual’s career.

Different Roles, Different Names

The KPO is primarily a part of the BPO sector itself. However, due to the enhanced skill set and educational background needed for joining a KPO, it has been categorized separately. Overall, the tasks and job responsibilities in both these sectors vary in complexity, salaries and nature of the job.

Top Companies

According to NASSCOM, a well known regulatory body in India, the top 10 BPO so far is:

1.    Genpact
2.    WNS Global
3.    IBM Daksh
4.    Aditya Birla Minacs Worldwide
5.    TCS BPO
6.    Wipro BPO
7.    First Source
8.    Infosys BPO
9.    HCL BPO
10.    EXL Service Holding

Tips for Getting Hired

To get started with a job in an outsourcing company, you need to be aware of three basic principles:

1. Be willing to work any time of the day or night without any hesitation and be willing to work extra hours.
2. For the first few years, focus on growth into a team lead and then as an Operations Manager so that you may change your job if you receive better opportunities in future!
3. Accept a salary of about Rs. 9,000 to Rs. 12,000 in the beginning and then move on from there.
4. If you are well qualified with excellent communication skills, you may demand more. However, if you accept very low salaries, you may land up being exploited!

Jewellery Designing

Introduction

What happens when you put together the creative skills of a designer, the precision of a highly skilled artisan and knowledge of precious stones and metals? Can you guess the profession we are talking about?

Here is another hint. Earlier this profession was confined to only a select few but highly skilled artisans and outsiders were not allowed to enter this business. What’s more, the end product enthralled the royalty and the commoners alike. They served various purposes: making items of personal adornment, status symbols and indicators of the owner’s wealth and prosperity. You guessed it right. Yes, we are talking about jewellery designing.

Jewellery designing, manufacturing and trading has been an integral part of the human society since five thousand years and more. And our country is no exception. In fact, our country is world renowned for its jewellery and jewellery designs since ancient times.

Earlier a few select families ran the business of jewellery designing and jewellery making. Moreover, the technical knowledge associated with this trait was kept a closely guarded secret and passed on from generation to generation. However, all that has changed. The current boom experienced by this industry has commercialised this art and opened new boundaries for job seekers.

Jewellery today is more of a fashion statement or you can say a reflection of who you are. In this context, different personalities and different senses of style have revolutionised the traditional gold jewellery and modernised it to the taste of the new era.

Now-a-days jewellery designing as a career is flourishing like never before. This profession is not only rewarding but also available for anyone who has a creative bend of mind. People these days have become very image conscious and the want for jewellery is no more a symbol of financial security but a  trendy fashionable wear that can go well with different occasions.

Step-by-Step

Jewellery designing is a creative art that combines knowledge of conceptualising jewellery design and then manufacturing various jewellery products. Many institutes in India offer long-term, short-term and even distance learning programs in jewellery designing.

The study in this field teaches you basic skills like stone cutting, engraving and polishing and testing the quality of precious metals and gems. Special skills like electroplating, metal colouring, anodising, enamelling and stone setting are also taught to students of jewellery designing.

There are many jewellery designing courses available all over India. For joining a diploma course, you have to complete your graduation in any field and for short-term courses the minimum qualification can either be class 10 or a 10 + 2. It is advisable to pursue a program in jewellery design, BDes, from a renowned design school such as National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) or National Institute of Design (NID).

After completing your bachelor’s degree in design, BDes, from a recognised design school you should look for an internship with a renowned jewellery house in India or abroad. Alternatively, you can do a master’s course in designing also.

These courses will impart knowledge about different types of stones, design themes, presentations, jewellery costing and jewellery making. Some of the courses use computer aided programs for designing jewellery and accessories. On the technical front, you get to learn the art of working with precious metals, alloys and the mathematics that goes into the manufacturing of flawless jewellery items.

In this way, students get to learn both technical and aesthetic traits of jewellery designing. Once you complete your course, you are a qualified designer who can make custom-made and designer jewellery.
The successful completion of the course will open door for unlimited job opportunities for aspiring jewellery designers due to the recent boom in the gem and jewellery industry. Talented designers can even design and launch their own range of exclusive jewellery.

Start Early

Diploma programs in jewellery designing are available in some of the leading institutes in India. These courses are available after completing graduation in any stream. However, a good grounding in creative arts is a plus point.

Like many other creative fields, it is essential to have an inbuilt creative frame of mind to move towards a career in designing jewellery.

Is it the Right Career for Me?

If you are a person with a fair sense of design and creative imagination and have the skills to understand latest trends with sound technical knowledge, then this is a right career option for you. You can learn everything else while getting trained.

What would it Cost Me?

A one to two year study program can cost you anywhere around Rs 65,000 to Rs 1.80 lakh and short-term courses can cost you  between Rs 15,000 to Rs 65,000.

Funding/Scholarship

Scholarships and financial aid is not available for these courses.

Job Prospects

The boom in the gems and jewellery industry has brought innumerable employment opportunities for jewellery designers. After the successful completion of your course, you can easily find vacancies in this industry. You can also start your own freelance designing business or set up your own retail and trading unit.

Pay Packet

Hot job opportunities and lucrative salaries make it just the perfect time to consider jewellery designing as a career option. Pay packet of a jewellery designer can differ depending on the education and experience.

For a starter, you can expect salary to be around Rs 7000 to Rs 8000 per month. With experience, it can increase from Rs 18,000 to Rs 20,000 or more. Top-rated designers can easily fetch salaries in excess of Rs 1 lakh a month.

If you are working as a freelancer, then your earnings will completely depend upon your creativity and your skills in marketing your work. Here there is no limit for how much you can earn.

Demand and Supply

Jewellery designing is a growing sector of the Indian economy and it earns a lot of foreign exchange for our country. Moreover, in India, people have become more conscious about the jewellery they wear, it’s no more a mere investment but a style statement and this has lead to a great demand for creative hands who can design jewellery for different moods and occasions.

As a result, many institutions have come up for jewellery designing to supply high-quality professionals and to fulfil the unending demand for expert jewellery designers.

Market Watch

Jewellery designing in India can be described as one the fastest growing industrial segments. India is known as biggest consumer of gold as it consumes 20% of the world gold consumption with the revenue of $13 billion.

A new breed of jewellery designers has emerged of late due to the rising market demand for branded ornaments. Employment opportunities for the professionals are enormous in this field as the Indian gems and jewellery industry provides 1.3 million jobs to people across the country. And what’s more exciting is the fact the growth in this industry is expected to continue in the coming years.

International Focus

The global fashion industry welcomes professionally qualified jewellery designers from across the world. There is a perpetual requirement of creative minds that can create designer jewellery and other fashion accessories for fashion shows and for fashion retailing.

With a good experience, you can find a lucrative job in an international jewellery export house or a jewellery designing firm.

Positives/Negatives

+ives

• The market demand in India for jewellery designers is so high that it seems like an evergreen career path.
• Jewellery designing is a highly rewarding profession.

-ives

• Jobs vacancies for jewellery designers are usually not advertised therefore you will have to put in a great deal of effort to get a foothold in this industry.
• The initial cost of setting up your business is high.

Different Roles, Different Names

As a jewellery designer you can specialise in any particular aspect of jewellery designing. Following are different names given to varied specialisations and their different roles:

• Jewellery designer or artist: A professional whose primary responsibility is ideating new jewellery designs and then rendering or drawing those designs.
• Goldsmith: Expert in making any standard or traditional range of jewellery.
• Fashion jeweller: One who specialises in designing jewellery for the fashion Industry.
• Manufacturer: Runs either a small unit or a mass production house. Markets their own line of branded jewellery.
• Repair person: A professional who specialises in the art of mending various jewellery products or accessories.
• Lapidary: An expert in setting of precious and semi-precious stones in various jewellery products.

Top Companies

1. Renowned jewellery brands such as Tanishq, Swarovski, Nakshatra, Gili
2. Jewellery making and designing units
3. Jewellery shops and showrooms 
4. Top notch goldsmiths
5. Antique and art auction houses

Tips for Getting Hired

1. Since vacancies in this field are not advertised, it is practical for a designer to build a good network within the industry by attending trade fairs and exhibitions.
2. A strong portfolio is a vital factor in getting a job.
3. Outstanding creativity, artistic mind and experience with a topping of a good jewellery designing course can give you a head start in this industry.
4. It is good if you have done an internship in a designing studio or assisted a well known jewellery designer.

Fitness Instructor

Introduction

Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body; it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity. – John F. Kennedy
A strong mind resides in a healthy body. This saying had never been more significant. The fast pace of modern lifestyle has led to an unimaginable amount of physical and psychological stress on human body and mind. Consequently, demand for trained fitness instructors.has increased manifold.
Modern work environment has led to a sedentary life style with little scope for physical exercise. This has resulted in a large section of the society, especially in urban areas, falling prey to deadly maladies such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, hypertension, and so on.
No magic pill is available that will help you and me escape this unpleasant situation. The only way out is to keep ourselves fit by adopting a suitable fitness regime.

Fitness has emerged both as a lucrative business opportunity and a sustainable career option.  It is not just the celebrities and the rich who want to stay fit but the fitness bug has stung a large chunk of professional urbanites.
And what’s exciting is that modern day health clubs are not merely sweat shops where fitness enthusiasts pumped iron or bench pressed away their worries. Those were the days when ‘bodybuilding’ was in vogue. Now-a-days the concept of fitness has seen a revolutionary change.
Physical fitness is not just about staying healthy, it is also about looking good and leading an active life. The task of achieving a healthy body seems simple enough, yet it is not so. One has to follow a regular and a strict fitness regime to achieve this objective. At the same time, it is imperative to seek expert advice of a fitness instructor in this regard.
The role of a fitness instructor is a multifaceted one. The first and foremost responsibility is to guide trainees to get into shape. Other than gym routines, fitness trainers also have to provide guidance regarding posture, dietary intake, food supplements, latest fitness techniques, and so on. Furthermore, they have to cater to the special needs and requirements of their clients.
Overall, the career path of a fitness instructor is all the time saturated with excitement and verve.

Step-by-Step

It is not important to have a certification from a reputed institution in order to take up the job of a fitness trainer. However, it is better to be equipped with quality training to outdo your competitors.
Training options are varied. You can opt for a regular academic program in Physical Education from an institute such as the Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education and Sports Sciences (IGIPESS), New Delhi, Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education, Thiruvananthapuram and Gwalior, and various institutions set up by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) across the country. These institutions are solely dedicated for churning out quality sports and fitness professionals. Apart from these organisations, there are numerous other establishments that offer different level programs in Physical Education.
If you want to delve deeper into the realm of physical education and allied subjects, you have the choice to pursue a doctorate degree in this field.
You can also join a professional physical fitness training program such as the Reebok Fitness Instructor Certification program, the Nike Aerobics Course and similar courses offered by numerous private entities. BFY (Better Fitness for You), a private organisation offers a bouquet of certification courses dealing with different aspects of fitness.
Jobs openings are aplenty these days once you have completed your training in this field. Nevertheless, a good qualification is not the end of the road. Rather, you must continue to update and upgrade yourself all the time to keep abreast with the latest developments in the fitness industry. It is strongly advisable to constantly keep in touch with the latest research in this area, state-of-the-art training equipment, nutrition related studies, and so on.
Start off as a junior instructor or a trainee at a fitness club. Gradually pick up skills and contacts that will help you move to better avenues in the job market. A good option is to set up your own business. However, this requires meticulous planning, financial support and excellent management skills.

Start Early

It helps to start early in the realm of physical fitness. Try to inculcate the habit of sticking to a well-defined exercise program from the school days. Teenage is the right time to hit the gymnasium to get one’s body into perfect shape. Once you have zeroed on this particular career path, focus on the areas that would help you achieve your long term objectives in this regard.

Is it the Right Career for Me?

This is an ideal job for people who always want to be literally on their toes. This profile demands a career long rigorous dedication both from the body as well as from the psyche.
You must be prepared to sweat it out day after day relentlessly in the gymnasium to help others get into shape themselves. Moreover, you must have that zing in you that motivates people achieve their fitness goals. Furthermore, you should have an open mind to absorb new innovations in this field and to apply them for the betterment of your career prospects.

What would it Cost Me?

The cost of pursuing a bachelors or a Master’s program in physical education from a government run educational institution is economical and affordable.
As far as the cost of pursuing a training program from a private institution goes, it varies depending upon the course, its duration, and the specialisation opted for.

Funding/Scholarship

Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education, Thiruvananthapuram offers scholarships to deserving and meritorious students at bachelors and masters levels.

Job Prospects

There is no dearth of employment opportunities for qualified fitness instructors. In fact, the fitness industry is undergoing a phase of boom owing to the massive upsurge of lifestyle related diseases in urban centres. Another factor that is boosting this industry is the increased level of awareness amongst common man with regards to physical fitness and wellness.
There are lots of opportunities for fitness trainers these days. If you want a smug government job then you can head for various government run institutions and sports bodies. There are ample positions for trainers in schools, colleges and universities. Fitness instructors who have earned a postgraduate degree or any other higher qualification can also apply for teaching jobs in different colleges and educational bodies.
In the private sector, the range of employment openings range from five star hotels to innumerable health resorts, spas, sports and fitness clubs. Alternatively, you can start your own gymnasium or a health club or work exclusively as a personal fitness trainer for some celebrity. The opportunities are simply unending.

Pay Packet

The pay packet of a fitness trainer depends on a number of factors. At the entry level, a professional may not get too much. However, with experience and time a fitness instructor can on an average get a monthly salary in the range of Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000. This may considerably go up depending upon the reputation of the centre, the locality in which the fitness club is located, the clientele, number of students.
Fitness trainers associated with celebrities, ones who are successfully running their own fitness clubs or those associated with multinational fitness chains can easily rake in lakhs of rupees every month for their services.

Demand and Supply

There is great demand for this profile in the job market and this upward trend is expected to continue in the near future. Both government as well as privately owned establishments are doing their best to meet the growing demand.

Market Watch

The fitness industry is here to stay and grow in leaps and bounds in the future looking at the present job market scenario.

International Focus

The infrastructure of the fitness business in countries such as the U.S., Canada, Germany, the UK, France, South Africa, and Australia is far more developed and organised than what it is in India. Fitness instructors in India have limited scope of making it big in these countries as of now.
But the lack of big international opportunity is more than compensated by the potential in the domestic market.

Positives/Negatives

+ives
•  The best aspect of this profession is that you will always stay fit.  After all, it is your job to keep one and all in perfect shape.
•  You always get to meet and communicate with people from different walks of life and who knows how they may help you enhance your career or your fitness business.
•  You are a role model for people who are under your tutelage.
-ives
•  This is a service industry and you cannot afford to loose your temper when dealing with uncooperative or difficult people.
•  After a period of time, you might get complacent about your work and not take good care of your patrons as you did initially.
•  This job demands you to be on your toes all the time. Slackness means loss of clientele, erosion of hard earned reputation and business.

Different Roles, Different Names

The role of a fitness instructor can be classified as:
• Aerobics instructor – a fitness instructor specialising in aerobic exercises and routines
• Clinical exercise specialist – a trainer who works with patients and assists them to overcome and recover from injuries and physical ailments 
• Group fitness or gym instructor – a person who specialises in imparting the nuances of fitness routines to a group of people
•  Personal trainer – a fitness trainer who is exclusively associated with a particular client and looks after their fitness schedule, diet and training.

Top Companies

1.  Sports Authority of India
2.  Government institutions and organisations
3.  Top notch hotels and resorts
4.  National as well as multinational health and fitness clubs
5.  Sports clubs and educational institutions
6.  Cine stars, models, businessmen, sportsmen, and so on

Tips for Getting Hired

1.  A degree or a diploma from a reputed institution is desirable.
2.  Since this is a part of the service industry it is essential to hone your communication skills.
3.  Good etiquette helps to deal with a broad spectrum of situations and personalities.
4.  Knowledge of latest trends and research in the field of fitness is a must.

Financial Analyst

Introduction

The person who does financial analysis for external or internal clients is called financial analyst. Financial analysts help people decide how to invest their money. There are various other terms such as securities analyst, research analyst, equity analyst or investment analyst which are used for financial analyst. Besides financial analysis, a finance analyst performs duties such as writing reports as a part of brokerage which may contain fundamental analysis principles. Additionally, technical chart analysis and tactical evaluation of the market environment too are considered cardinal part of a financial analyst’s job.

Though slightly different, financial analysts' job is like one of financial planners. At times financial analysts work in close coordination with financial planner to reach out to some conclusion related to investment choices. The essential part is that financial analysts possess higher level of expertise over finance management and financial analysis. Offering investment suggestions to clients, evaluation of the economic outlook of different sectors and industries for organizations are some other duties bestowed on financial analysts.

Step-by-Step

In order to become a financial analyst a candidate must have done graduation with mathematics as one subject. Additionally, a degree in business administration, accounting, finance or statistics benefits a lot in getting a job in finance organisations. A strong hand in statistics, business, economics, administration and accounting enhances the growth potential within an organisation. The CFA program offered by ICFAI can be done either full time or part time depending upon the time and interest. There are various other routes for becoming a financial analyst e.g. doing B.com and M.Com, Chartered Accountant, Company Secretaryship, etc.

Start Early

Students who wish to make a career in financial analysis should start studying commerce and finance subjects from their school level as numerous schools offer business management and mercantile law during school level. Additionally, soon after doing 10+2, candidates can apply for CA course to become a financial analyst. An aptitude to numbers and finance helps candidates grow further in career as a financial analyst. Depending upon the inclination, one can try for better career as financial analyst called buy-side analyst whose job is to work for hedge funds, FOREX, fixed income analysis, investor relations management, etc.

Is it the Right Career for Me?

Financial analysis as a career option can be an excellent decision for those who are good at accounts and have inclination for finance side of any organisation. Owing to attractive growth prospects, financial analysis is a popular career choice where professional uses mathematical skills, logical skills, reasoning and deep understanding of finance to reach onto some conclusion. Strong communication and presentation skills are mandatory for a career in financial analysis as the professional is required to give presentations and convince the decision making members of the organisation about his conclusion or analysis.

What would it Cost Me?

An MBA degree for Financial Analyst may cost around Rs 2,00,000 from top notch institutes. However, a diploma in financial analysis can be earned paying for Rs 50,000. Though there are numerous institutes which claim to offer CFA course but only the Indian Association of Investment Professionals has authorised permission to offer CFA degree in India. IAIP is affiliated with CFA Institute and offers quality education to interested students. Fee structure keeps changing which is updated online whenever some changes take place.

Job Prospects

Financial analysts have ample job opportunities with insurance companies, banks, securities firms, pension and mutual funds, etc. As the fundamental skill of financial analysts is to assist customers in the investment process, they can even have their own office and operate independently and develop a sound customer base.
Additionally, they can do accounts and prepare financial statements, do auditing, or assess taxes. Cost accountancy is another segment where a financial analyst can excel. Some financial analysts are hired to do special company work or investigate and ascertain the financial position of business house for the purpose of issue of new shares, purchase or sale or financing of business, etc. Secretarial work in companies, account management and share valuation, etc are some other works for financial analysts.

Pay Packet

The determination of salary of financial analyst is done on the basis of skills and knowledge the professional possess. Any fresher financial analyst can earn any salary in the range of Rs 15,000- Rs40,000 per month. After five or more years of work experience there is four to five times growth in the salary package of financial analysts. Qualified CFA can earn attractive salaries in the USA or Canada. Indian financial analysts with right exposure and sound presentation skills get employment in multinational hedge fund organisations and financial bodies including investment banks.

Demand and Supply

The demand for financial analysts will likely outstrip average demand for all other occupations in next couple of years. This mismatch will only help aspirant financial analysts in getting hire remunerations. As an increase in investment activities can be marked in recent years, qualified financial analysts would be required to assist investment planning. Additionally, dearth of qualified professionals to do strategic financial analysis in India is expected to continue as colleges and financial management institutes are not able to meet internationally established standards for finance management. Except top 20 institutes in financial management there are not many quality institutes.

Market Watch

With expansion in the financial market in India there has been tremendous growth in financial jobs so that effective management can be done. The financial centres of  Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Kanpur, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, etc have plenty of jobs for financial analysts. Post-liberalisation, there has been immense growth in employment opportunities in IPOs, FDI, FII, etc which require expert knowledge of finance and in consequence the financial analysts.
The market for mutual funds is expanding and upcoming mutual fund companies require talented and trained financial analysts so that they can carve a niche in finance market. Moreover, investment banking is expected to expand and it would definitely require the services of qualified financial analysts so that funds can be generated and assessment for mergers and buyouts can be done in the sophisticated manner. There would be increased demand for financial analysts to do analysis of sales, costs, commodity prices, tax rates and expenses of financial firms.

International Focus

Depending upon the calibre and capabilities, international career for financial analysts is open. World famous finance companies such as CitiMartgage.Inc, Bank Of America, Wells Fargo Bank, National City Bank, PNC Bank, National Association, Technology Credit Union, etc hire candidates from various parts of the world. Additionally, extraordinary talented financial analysts can make career in stock exchange companies such as New York Stock Exchange, Tokyo Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, London Stock Exchange, Toronto Stock Exchange, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, etc.

Positives/Negatives

Financial analysis is one of the toughest jobs for the reason  that the professional is always on his toes. He is required to be well informed about various happenings in national and domestic finance market. Travelling is another crucial part of a financial analyst as for his analysis he requires to collect data and resources from various information centres. Therefore, extensive travelling can be a trouble at times. Growth prospects in career of financial analysts are subject to the growth of finance market and recessions affect hard.
Attractive growth for extraordinarily talented finance professionals attracts youngsters to become a financial analyst. There is no limit for professional growth in business analysis; particularly investment banking organisations offer stupendously high salaries to able candidates. Some top notch financial analysts can even make a career in media wherein they can put their views on the state of market, company shares, effects of policy changes, etc.

Different Roles, Different Names

Technological input is crucial part of financial analyst's job wherein he uses various software packages specifically made for financial services e.g. spreadsheets, ERP, etc. Depending upon the academic qualification, work experience and skills, the role is offered to finance graduates in a finance organisation.  Various roles or work profiles are as follows for finance professionals working as financial analyst:

• Junior Financial Analysts
• Financial Analyst
• Chartered Accountant trainee
• Assistant Consultant - Business Analyst
• Management Trainee - Finance
• Analyst-Back office
• Accounts Trainee
• Research Analyst - Option Strategist

Top Companies

Top organisations that hire financial analysts are:

• SBI Capital Markets Limited
• Bajaj Capital Limited
• DSP Merrill Lynch Limited
• Birla Global Finance Limited
• Housing Development Finance Corporation
• Karvy Group
• Centrum Finance Limited
• L& T Finance Limited
• PNB Gilts Limited
• CIL Securities Limited

Tips for Getting Hired

Candidates should be aware of the fact that financial analysis is career which can truly be considered tough as what matters all is the skills and wisdom. Starting as an intern with some finance organisation helps freshers get practical knowledge and right exposure. The candidate can learn how to use spreadsheets, databases, power point presentations, etc which in the end helps him get a job in finance company. Additionally, learning application software such as ERP can have additional benefit for candidates when searching for a job as most of the MNCs use such software for optimum output and prefer candidates who have practical knowledge of these.

As financial analysts require communicating and presenting a lot of information to clients and peers, they should inculcate excellent communication and presentation skills. Interpersonal skills matters a lot in the career of financial analyst as he interacts a lot with clients, customers, media, regulating authorities, etc.  Knowledge and updated information about current finance market definitely helps candidates boost their chances of getting selected at financial company as financial analyst.

Top Institutes

Besides doing BCom/MCom or CA and CFA students can do MBA in finance or finance analysis offered by various management institutes. Some management colleges offer diploma courses in financial management.Some of the renowned institutes offering courses in financial analysis are as follows:

• Narsee Monjee Institute of Management, Mumbai
• International Management Institute, New Delhi
• SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai
• Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneshwar
• ICFAI Business School, Pune
• ICFAI Business School, Mumbai
• ICFAI Business School, Bangalore
• ICFAI Business School, Ahmedabad
• ICFAI Business School, Chennai
• Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani

Nursing

Introduction

What can one say about nursing! It’s such a noble and virtuous occupation. Although an age old profession, nursing gained popularity after the work done by the legendary English nurse Florence Nightingale. This angel of mercy is also known the world over as the founder of modern nursing.

Nursing involves taking care of patients suffering from all sorts of physical and psychological maladies. Nurses constantly have to monitor the condition of these patients and administer prescribed medicines at regular intervals. They also assist medical specialists and help set up medical equipment in operation theatres and clinical laboratories. Furthermore, nurses provide assistance to people who are unable to lead a normal life due to one reason or another or are recovering from illness. Other than these general activities, nurses can acquire specialisation in a particular area such as midwifery, cardiac care, intensive care, orthopaedics, paediatrics and so on. Nurses also have to keep abreast with the latest technological developments in the field of medicine.

Nursing is not just taking care of the sick. Other opportunities for qualified nurses include teaching, administration and research jobs. An interesting aspect of this profession is that a vast majority of nurses are women. However, of late, men are also showing interest in the profession.

Step-by-Step

Aspiring nurses can get into this profession at different levels. You can get enrolled into the Auxiliary Nurse Midwife/ Health Worker (ANM) course. The duration of this diploma course is one-and-a-half-years and it can be joined after completing Class X. Then there is the General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) program. The GNM is a three-and-a-half-year diploma course. The eligibility criterion for this program is Class XII with Biology, Chemistry and Physics with an aggregate of 40% marks.

Apart from ANM and GNM, you can apply for BSc Nursing (Basic) in different colleges and nursing schools across the country your schooling. The eligibility criterion for this program is a 10+2 with 45% aggregate in Biology, Chemistry, English, and Physics and a minimum age of 17 years. For B.Sc. Nursing (Post Basic) program, candidates can either select a two year regular or a three year distance learning option. The basic qualification for the regular program is a 10+2 and GNM whereas for the distance learning program it is 10+2 + GNM along with two years of work experience. The post basic course is considered as an advanced qualification.

The Indian armed forces admit unmarried women in the age group of 17 to 24 years to the BSc Nursing program. Here again the basic qualification is a 10+2 with 45% aggregate in Biology, Chemistry, English and Physics. Further, candidates have to be medically fit and clear a written test. Selected candidates have to sign up a five year bond to serve the armed forces.

A GNM or BSc is good for obtaining a job of a nurse in any medical establishment. Each state has its own association that registers certified nurses. Once candidates obtain qualification they can get themselves registered with the Nurses Council of their respective state. This makes them eligible to obtain a job.

Other than picking up the basic nuances of nursing, nurses can go for a particular specialisation by choosing any Post Basic Speciality (one-year diploma) courses on offer.

Specialisations are as follows:
1.    Cardio Thoracic Nursing
2.    Critical Care Nursing
3.    Emergency and Disaster Nursing
4.    Neonatal Nursing
5.    Neuro Nursing
6.    Nursing Education and Administration
7.    Oncology Nursing
8.    Operation Room Nursing
9.    Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Nursing
10.    Practitioner in Midwifery
11.    Psychiatric Nursing

Students interested in pursuing higher studies can opt for MSc followed by MPhil and PhD.

Start Early

If you are interested in taking up nursing as your profession, then you can begin just after clearing Class X by applying for the ANM program. Else, you can make an entry into this realm after completing your schooling by way of applying for a GNM or a BSc program.

Is it the Right Career for Me?

Nursing is an ideal job for those who want to serve humanity. If you are compassionate, have an immense will power and spirit to serve the diseased and the weak and are willing to work long hours in stressful conditions then this is the right profession for you. Other traits required for this occupation include the ability to manage different situations and the willingness to adapt to new technology.

What would it Cost Me?

The cost of study in nursing schools varies from institution to institution. Government owned and aided nursing colleges provide education at a subsidised rate compared with private owned colleges. The fees for private and unaided nursing schools for a BSc course can vary from anything between Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,80,000 per annum. In the same manner the cost for the GNM course in a private institute can be in the range of Rs 45,000 to Rs 1,40,000 per year.

Funding/Scholarship

Different institutions award merit based scholarships to deserving students. The scholarship amount and the duration vary from one nursing institute to another.

Job Prospects

Nurses do not remain unemployed. They easily get jobs in private and government run hospitals, nursing homes, orphanages, old age homes, industries, sanatoriums and the armed forces. They can also seek employment in the Indian Red Cross Society, Indian Nursing Council, State Nursing Councils and various other nursing institutions. Even nurses who have completed the ANM course get to work as primary health workers and midwifes in primary health care centres that are spread throughout the length and breadth of the country.

Nurses can also take up administrative and teaching positions in medical colleges and nursing schools. Enterprising individuals can start their own nursing bureaus or even work on their own terms and conditions.

Apart, from these innumerable openings in the domestic sector, nurses who earn international nursing certifications and fulfil the prescribed immigration criteria generally move to greener pastures abroad.

Pay Packet

Nurses who are new to this profession often earn a monthly salary that is in the range of Rs 7,000 to Rs 17,000. Mid-level positions can fetch a pay packet anywhere between Rs 18,000 to Rs 37,000. Highly experienced nurses can even get a salary in the band of Rs 48,000 to Rs 72,000 per month. Nurses who get employment in foreign countries such as US, Canada, England and Gulf countries can easily earn even heftier monthly pay packets.

Demand and Supply

With the rapid growth in the population coupled with the requirement for better healthcare facilities, there is an unending demand for nurses in the country. However, the supply of nurses greatly falls short of meeting this ever growing demand.

According to a latest study there are approximately 10.3 lakh nurses registered with the Nursing Council. However, only 4 lakhs of these nurses are actively in service. A vast majority of them have left service due to retirement, marriage and immigration. In this context, there is a huge gap in demand and supply.

Market Watch

With increasing focus on health care, job prospects for nurses look brighter than ever before. More and more hospitals, nursing homes and medical establishments are being coming up. The government on its part is striving hard to give impetus to the nursing sector in the country. According to the latest development, the government has planned to set up more than 130 ANM and GNM schools each. Also, there is plan to strengthen the State Nursing Councils and Nursing Cells in various states. Furthermore, these plans include setting up of new Nursing Colleges across the country.

Government has also allowed special hospitals to start M.Sc. Nursing programs without these institutions having the prerequisite to set up corresponding graduate programs. The norms for admission to nursing schools have also been relaxed so that married women can now get admission to various nursing programs.

International Focus

There is great demand for highly skilled nurses abroad. In fact, India has emerged as the largest provider of nurses to foreign countries. The lure of big money and better living conditions abroad often attracts experienced nurses from India. A major reason for the scarcity of nurses in the domestic sector is their flight to foreign lands.

Positives/Negatives

+ives
•    This is a secure job profile
•    There is no paucity of opportunities within the country and abroad
•    You get the satisfaction of alleviating pain and suffering and seeing people get hale and hearty again

-ives
•    Nurses usually have to work in shifts and night duties are common
•    Stressful work condition can have an adverse effect on the psyche and health
•    The role played by these angels of mercy often goes unrewarded and unnoticed
•    It takes a lot of effort to stay in job after one gets married and starts a family

Different Roles, Different Names

The primary role of a nurse is to provide care and medical aid to the needy. However, according to functionality, these roles can be classified as follows:

• General nurses – Nurses working in hospitals, nursing homes and medical establishments. Their primary job is to take care of patients, assist doctors and perform administrative duties.
• Midwives – Nurses whose speciality is to take care of expecting mothers and provide assistance during childbirth.
• Health workers – Nurses who provide medical aid to people living in the rural areas.

Further classification occurs on the basis of their area of specialisation such as orthopaedic nursing, oncology nursing, cardio thoracic nursing, psychiatry nursing, critical care nursing and so on.

Top Companies

1. The Indian Red Cross Society
2. Indian Nursing Council and various State Nursing Councils
3. Various Nursing Schools and Associations
4. All types of hospitals and nursing homes
5. The armed forces
6. Educational institutions and industries
7. Special centres such as orphanages, old age homes.

Tips for Getting Hired

1. A degree or a diploma from a reputed nursing college is desirable

1. It pays in the long run to have obtained a specialization in a particular area of treatment

1. An important prerequisite for getting employed is to register oneself with a State Nursing Council

1. Since nurses have to constantly deal with the medical staff and patients it is advisable to have good communication skills.