Social networking matters!

Gautum Brahma recently wrote on the relevance of social networking and its importance in today’s modern world. He wrote of how “people join and operate networks to gain professional and social leverage.” Although he was quick to point out that “this can sometimes have negative impact on business organizations.”

In Human Capital’s August 2009 newsletter, Gautum said that “Networks…help individuals connect to like-minded people and obtain advice and employment. Increasingly online electronic networks are making their presence felt and allowing people to reach out for traditional networking support across the globe.”

He went on to add how “LinkedIn a popular online network for professionals is adding a million members every two weeks. Just a year back it was taking a month to add the same number! What is even more important, 40% of the members on LinkedIn are women. This group had been traditionally excluded from professional networks. As an example, Rotary Clubs allowed women members only in the late eighties.”

Thankfully, women have been given more importance in not only the social networking platforms, but in corporate life as well. Where earlier was unheard of to have a woman CEO, today’s world allows for it to not be a shocker when one happens to fill that role.

In time, things make change sufficiently so that both sexes have an equal playing field when it comes to old mentalities begin done away with.

Gautum pointed out that “online networks are seeing greater participation by entrepreneurs.” I can vouch for this point. Most of my friends are, in fact, entrepreneurs and they constantly remind me that social networking, and having a good well-rounded database of connections, is key to being successful when you’re starting up on your own.

An interesting point was noted in his article. He said that “the study of how online relationships get established and strengthened has become a big research area in itself.”

So yes, in today’s modern world, “connections matter to people in more ways than one”.

Major Metros are hiring again!

TJ InSite finds that recruitment in the major metros of the country is once again on the upswing

TJ InSite, the Research Wing of TimesJobs.com, India’s leading job portal, promoted by the Times Group, conducted a survey that captured the hiring sentiment amongst companies in India recently. The recruitment outlook amongst employers in the nerve centers of Delhi, Mumbai & Bangalore is once again on the upswing as employers plan to increase hiring in the next quarter, as reported by 42% of the employers in Delhi, 44% in Mumbai and 24% in Bangalore.

Commenting on this result, Mr. Vivek Madhukar, VP, TimesJobs.com said, “The positive hiring outlook of Employers in India is not unfounded, the Q-on-Q growth that India Inc. has witnessed both in terms of revenues & profits, and the continuation of government stability, policies & commitments, have brought a more optimistic business forecast for organisations.”

ITeS industry veteran Ms. Shailaja Puranik, Country Director & COO, Hays Business Solutions, remarked, “ Hiring has started across all levels in the last three months, across the ITeS & BPO industry, though at half the pre-September 2008 levels. However, the major change now is that the hiring is happening for the core groups of business and not for support functions. Hiring is taking place in new areas or where outliers have been weeded out. Salaries have remained at earlier levels.”

“Just in Time (JIT) hiring has begun in a small way,” said Mr. Ravishankar B, Senior Vice-President, Human Resources, HCL Technologies, as the company is scouting for niche skills in the experience range of three plus years. “Today there are definite signs of hiring. While specialized or JIT hiring is happening and people with niche skills and some experience are being sought, we are also entertaining walk-ins and have been calling for interviews. It is still too premature to comment whether this is a spike or a regular trend. I think we have to wait for two to three months to make such a comment.”

TimesJobs.com Research collated feedback from a wide range of corporate employers in Delhi Mumbai & Bangalore spanning sectors as diverse as IT, BPO & ITeS, Engineering, Logistics, Healthcare, Architecture, Hospitality, Travel & Tourism, Finance & Accounting and Sales & Marketing.

According to the study Delhi appears to be the most bullish with 81% of employers surveyed recruiting to Ramp Up for Growth over the next year. A majority of Mumbai corporates (57%) are also hiring to grow their businesses.

India’s Silicon Valley – Bangalore, seems to be returning to reality, after a knee-jerk mass-retrenchment execution undertaken in Q4 2009, 52% of the corporates surveyed are undertaking Replacement Hiring of HR reduced earlier, while the balance prepare to Ramp up for Growth over the next year.

In terms of Experience Levels, for the Senior Managerial Grade, which forms the top of the corporate pyramid 9% of Corporates in Delhi, and 6% of Corporates in Mumbai, are looking for qualified people. The demand from Bangalore for this grade, however, is negligible.

The demand for Managers, with 3 to 8 years of Experience in Delhi is at 22%, Mumbai at 36% and Bangalore recruiting 21% of their total recruitment demand from this grade.

The demand for Executives with 1 to 3 years of experience have requirements from Delhi arriving at 52%; Mumbai at 39%; and 55% in Bangalore of total demand. This is closely followed by Freshers with 0 to 1 years of experience, constituting 17% of the demand in Delhi, 19% in Mumbai and 24% in Bangalore.

Of the Corporate Respondents from the IT Industry, 7% in Delhi, 16% in Mumbai and 12% in Bangalore, were planning to increase hiring and headcount over the year.

What is hearting to note, is this trend on employment. The TJ InSite Survey has shown that the major drivers of recent growth and employment in India, namely, the Sales and Marketing, IT, ITeS & BPO, BFSI, Engineering sectors have not just initiated replacement hiring, but have started recruitments to Ramp up for Growth.

Vande Mataram – we are free!

“Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands

When the sword flesh out in the seventy million hands

And seventy million voices roar

Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?

With many strengths who art mighty and stored,

To thee I call Mother and Lord!”

“Mother, mother mine!

Mother sweet, I bow to thee,

Mother great and free!”

The seventy million has become many more, and India has only risen to be a stronger, greater, and more independent nation. Mother India – land of tradition, values, ethics, respect, rich vibrant colors, song, dance, culture, diversity, and experience. She has grown through the ages and changed with time, like an ocean flowing over the rocks, pebbles and sand on the sea shore.

From a time when women would scarcely be seen as equals, to a modern age where they are CEO’s, managers, trainers, corporate executives and more, we can see that India continues to change and grow, continues to be free and independent. Freedom.

We are free to choose our careers and paths. We are free. Free to worship as we please, free to go abroad, or to remain on our Motherland shores if we please. We are free.

On this day, we celebrate our 62nd year of freedom. We raise a toast to the great nation India is, has been, and will yet continue to be. We live in freedom! We celebrate that we walk in the land of the free.

Cheers to our Independence! Cheers to our celebrations for this happy day too!

Vande Mataram translation, courtesy of www.indianchild.com/

“Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands

When the sword flesh out in the seventy million hands

And seventy million voices roar

Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?

With many strengths who art mighty and stored,

To thee I call Mother and Lord!”

“Mother, mother mine!

Mother sweet, I bow to thee,

Mother great and free!”

The seventy million has become many more, and India has only risen to be a stronger, greater, and more independent nation. Mother India – land of tradition, values, ethics, respect, rich vibrant colors, song, dance, culture, diversity, and experience. She has grown through the ages and changed with time, like an ocean flowing over the rocks, pebbles and sand on the sea shore.

From a time when women would scarcely be seen as equals, to a modern age where they are CEO’s, managers, trainers, corporate executives and more, we can see that India continues to change and grow, continues to be free and independent. Freedom.

We are free to choose our careers and paths. We are free. Free to worship as we please, free to go abroad, or to remain on our Motherland shores if we please. We are free.

On this day, we celebrate our 62nd year of freedom. We raise a toast to the great nation India is, has been, and will yet continue to be. We live in freedom! We celebrate that we walk in the land of the free.

Cheers to our Independence! Cheers to our celebrations for this happy day too!

Vande Mataram translation, courtesy of www.indianchild.com/

Swine flu affects employees productivity

No puns intended, but swine flu has literally hogged the spotlight internationally. On the 2nd of May, 2009, Times of India reported 3 suspected cases. By the 7th of August, 2009, Economic Times reported a dramatic hike of 712 total victims having been infected with the deadly virus. Just days ago, BBC reported 6 deaths among the swine flu victims in India.

Newshopper.sulekha.com, reported “Since May 16, when the first case was reported in Hyderabad, more than 4,000 people have been tested for influenza A (H1N1) virus. Of these, 840 people have tested positive.”

They also had written of how a swine flu test kit will cost Rupees 5,000 for a regular test, and Rupees 10,000 once the victim is confirmed positive with the flu. Apparently it takes a minimum of six hours for the test to return with positive results.

But this no longer affects only personal lives. It affects companies and work output too. Some offices in heavily affected areas such as Pune, allowed their employees to work from home for as long as 10 working days so as to protect the employees, and in essence, their work output as well.

On these flu symptoms, Times of India wrote:

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Fast breathing or difficulty in breathing

* Bluish or gray skin colour

* Not drinking enough fluids

* Severe or persistent vomiting

* Not waking up or not interacting

* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath

* Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

* Sudden dizziness

* Confusion

* Severe or persistent vomiting

* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?

There is no vaccine available right now to protect against H1N1 (swine) flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

* Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

* If you get sick with influenza, you should stay at home and not go for work or school and limit contact with others to prevent them from getting infecting by you.

* Reduce the time spent in the crowded settings.

* Improve airflow in the living space by opening the windows and proper ventilation.

* Practice good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food, and keeping physically active.

This is advice to be heeded. What are you as a company doing to safeguard your employees against swine flu? What measures are you taking to ensure that in the long run, your work does not suffer? Write in and tell us and all our readers about it!

No puns intended, but swine flu has literally hogged the spotlight internationally. On the 2nd of May, 2009, Times of India reported 3 suspected cases. By the 7th of August, 2009, Economic Times reported a dramatic hike of 712 total victims having been infected with the deadly virus. Just days ago, BBC reported 6 deaths among the swine flu victims in India.

Newshopper.sulekha.com, reported “Since May 16, when the first case was reported in Hyderabad, more than 4,000 people have been tested for influenza A (H1N1) virus. Of these, 840 people have tested positive.”

They also had written of how a swine flu test kit will cost Rupees 5,000 for a regular test, and Rupees 10,000 once the victim is confirmed positive with the flu. Apparently it takes a minimum of six hours for the test to return with positive results.

But this no longer affects only personal lives. It affects companies and work output too. Some offices in heavily affected areas such as Pune, allowed their employees to work from home for as long as 10 working days so as to protect the employees, and in essence, their work output as well.

On these flu symptoms, Times of India wrote:

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Fast breathing or difficulty in breathing

* Bluish or gray skin colour

* Not drinking enough fluids

* Severe or persistent vomiting

* Not waking up or not interacting

* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath

* Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

* Sudden dizziness

* Confusion

* Severe or persistent vomiting

* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?

There is no vaccine available right now to protect against H1N1 (swine) flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

* Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

* If you get sick with influenza, you should stay at home and not go for work or school and limit contact with others to prevent them from getting infecting by you.

* Reduce the time spent in the crowded settings.

* Improve airflow in the living space by opening the windows and proper ventilation.

* Practice good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food, and keeping physically active.

This is advice to be heeded. What are you as a company doing to safeguard your employees against swine flu? What measures are you taking to ensure that in the long run, your work does not suffer? Write in and tell us and all our readers about it!

Gift original gifts this Raksha Bandhan

Hey guys and girls!

To the womenfolk:

Girlies, this Raksha Bandhan, gift your brother a band of loyalty and a successful career with TimesJobs Premium Career Services. Leave him no room to do anything but succeed!

To the menfolk:

This Raksha Bandhan, keep your promise to your sister by gifting her something she can use for life. Gift her TimesJobs Premium Career Services and help her to succeed. You did after all promise you’d look out for her for life, right?

To both genders: If you fall under this category, read on..

Fret not, though it’s a priceless gift, it is still easy on the pockets. If you hurry, you can get up to 30% discount on these services. Although, I’d suggest you hurry while the offer is still around.

Just a few of the benefits of these services are:

o Allow our superb experts to write up a CV for you or your sister

o A highlighting service for your (or your sister’s) CV

o Maximized – well specifically – double the interview calls you (or your sister) get

Still not sure if this is for you? Speak to our sales reps and let them clue you in on the other tempting career goodies TimesJobs has to offer.

You can also check out our goodies page on the TimesJobs website.

Stay fit at work

Ever felt sleepy at work and like you just can’t concentrate no matter how hard you try? Come on, admit it. It won’t be politically incorrect to say yes.

The fact of the matter is that, fat or slim, short or tall, black or white (or brown), long-haired or messy-haired, your brain cells need some good ‘ol fresh air.

Studies show that those who exercised daily were nearly 100% more alert and effective in their workplace. How’s that for good statistics!

So, if you’ve been wondering how to get that due appraisal to work in your favor, my advice to you would be to try at least a half hour of cardiac workouts a day! Not only will you feel different, your work will be so much more productive and those around you will notice the new you.

Truth be known, even a 15 minute workout in office, can give your heart a serious pump up, infuse your body with oxygen and freshen your brain cells. In some organisations, HR even put up a gym in the office so as to promote the exercise = productive work formula. It doesn’t have to be something that takes up tons of your busy schedule. Take the first 15 minutes of your lunch break to sneak in a quick workout, another 15 for a quick freshening up and a half hour for your food, or however it suits you best.

Before I sign out, I’d like to emphasize to you that you really don’t want to wait another day. If nothing else, shake the sheets full of dust on your treadmill at home, or hit the gym at your office for some ‘I-want-to-be-more-productive-at-work-time’ and see the change it’ll bring to your life.

Well, that’s all for now on that topic, I got some serious gymming to do!

How can you find your career strengths?

What do you enjoy doing? What makes you feel energetic? What do you do well? These are no ordinary questions.

Answers to the above questions can lead you to the most precious asset you have for building a successful career: Your strengths.

Why bother about strengths? When you use our strengths, you will enjoy your work and give your best performance. Opposite is also true. Failing to use your own strengths is a recipe for boredom and mediocre performance at work.

You may wonder if you have any strength in the first place. Indeed, when people see a great musician, painter, orator or sportsman perform, they recognize readily his/her strength. But they fail to ask themselves what their own strengths are and quietly assume they have none.

There are three main reasons why people fail to leverage on their own strengths. First, what you are good at comes easily to you. Therefore, you may take it for granted. For example, if your strength lies in, say, leading people, you may find this activity so easy that it may not appear as anything special to you.

Second, your strengths may be such that you may not be able to publicly express them, unlike in the case of a painter or musician. Therefore, no one, including you, recognizes them.

Third, since many people do not recognize their strengths, they fail to develop them. As a result, the strengths remain dormant, like an unpolished diamond.

Here’s how you can spot your own strengths if you don’t already know them:

Feelings
Pay attention to the activities that give you a feeling of joy or enjoyment. That’s a clue to your strengths.

Energy
Do you suddenly feel energized while doing certain activities? If yes, that’s another clue to your strengths.

Achievements
Look at all your past achievements and see if you can detect a pattern of specific activities. If you can, these particular activities are nothing but expressions of your strengths.

Excellence
Find out what you excel at consistently. That’s a definite clue to your strengths.

Compliments
Interestingly, people can identify others’ strengths (and weaknesses) quite easily. If you can notice others’ strengths, they too can notice yours. So, if someone compliments you for good work, pay attention. He may be pointing at your strengths unconsciously.

Compulsiveness
A person’s strengths are like a blown-up balloon under the water–they keep surfacing. Sub-consciously, you may feel a compulsion to express your strengths. For example, if your strength is writing, you may grab any opportunity to write.

Ask yourself: “What do I feel compelled to do?

Yearnings
Like a magnet, your yearnings pull you towards your strengths. So, if you catch yourself longing repeatedly to do something, say, teaching others, therein may lie your strength.

Rapid learning
If you are able to learn a particular skill rapidly, that again is a clue to your strength.

Losing track of time
Not being conscious of the time while you are doing something is one of the most reliable clues to your strengths.

Ask yourself: “What do I enjoy doing so much that it makes me lose track of time?”

Feedback analysis
This method was suggest by management guru Peter Drucker. It works as follows:

1. Whenever you take a key decision or action, write down what you expect to happen.
2. Later, perhaps after a few days, weeks or months, compare the actual results with your own expectations.

According to Drucker, if practiced consistently, the feedback analysis will reveal to you both your strengths and weaknesses.

With so many ways to uncover your strengths, it is time you unleashed them to enjoy your work, give superior performance and savor success in your career.

Interview Success

In the April 2000 issue of the Reader’s Digest magazine, Nick Corcodilos, a famous headhunter, recounts how Zagorski, a professional seeking a new job, wowed an interviewer at a big corporation and got the job.

Zagorski went for an interview at AT&T. At the outset, even before Zagorski could settle in his seat, the interviewer told him that he had only 20 minutes to spare. Instead of feeling belittled or nervous, Zagorski got up and walked up to the marker board. He then started writing down the challenges faced by the company.

Fifteen minutes later, he wrote down his estimate of what he would add to the bottom line. When he paused to take a look at the interviewer, he found him completely dazed. The next thing he heard was interviewer telling him that there was no need for any further interview. The interviewer called in his team, introduced Zagorski to everybody and they began a working meeting, which lasted for two hours.

Most people go to interviews hoping to be questioned and assessed by an interviewer. They go anxious and worried, wondering whether they would get the job. People like Zagorski approach an interview with a completely different mind-set. They go well-prepared to demonstrate how they would fit into employer’s needs and bring value to their business. They go as a value provider, not as a job seeker.

Would you also like to impress your would be employer just like Zagorski? If yes, the next time when you get an interview call, don’t lose any time and get down to preparing a powerful presentation. Here is a road map:

1. Know the employer
Go to the company’s Web site and learn about its products and services. What initiatives this company is taking? Who are its competitors, and what challenges this company is facing? Read the “news” section to pick up the latest happenings there.

2. Review the job
Next, zero in on the job that you are pursuing. What are the employer’s expectations in terms of responsibilities, actions and goals? Also note the job requirements–qualifications, experience and skills–employer is expecting the right candidate to satisfy.

3. Review yourself
Look at your resume and review the assets you have: your experience, education, achievements, skills, knowledge and strengths.

4. Prepare a presentation
Having done the homework, now it’s time to prepare a short PowerPoint presentation. The presentation should essentially comprise the following parts:

Part 1: About yourself
Prepare a short introduction of yours in terms of education, experience and achievements.

Part 2: Employer’s business
This part is about showing your understanding of company’s business: products, services, markets, competition, etc.

Part 3: Employer’s needs
In this part, list all of employer’s expectations–responsibilities, actions and goals—you will be expected to meet. Also talk about the challenges you will be facing in the job.

Part 4: How would you deliver?
This is the heart of your presentation where you would demonstrate how you would tackle the challenges and go on not just to meet employer’s expectations, but exceed them. To make it credible, share actual examples from your past experience and use quantitative information.

On the whole, keep your presentation limited to 10 slides and 15 minutes long.

5. Practise: The last and final step is to practise delivering the presentation. More you practise, more relaxed, confident and convincing you will be during the interview.

Zagorski wouldn’t have been able to make that job-winning presentation if he had not done thorough preparation. Now, it’s your turn to follow his way and enjoy success at interview.
Atul Mathur is the author of three ebooks: 5 Quick Steps to a New Job, The Best Career Move: Know Yourself and The Secret of Finding the Right Career Direction.

Experts share their opinions with TimesJobs on the new budget

We asked renowned people from the HR industry for their opinion on the Indian Budget of 2009, the impact of the budget on Recruitment and the Growth of various sectors, etc. This is what they had to say:

Arti Sharma, Head HR, India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd.

Budget 2009 was not able to give much to salaried professionals. The increase of slab by Rs.10000/- will give little impact to few professionals.
- FBT abolition is good for corporates but required more clarity. Incase this will be passed on to employee on normal slab rate this will be a big hit for employees and that too at this time of recession, when no change or reduced salary .FBT abolition at employer end should not be passed to employees
as tax burden.
- There is one good step in last so many years that surcharge is removed for more then 10lacs salaried professional.
- Commodity rates are increasing, salaries in this tough market situation either no increase or cut , the budget was not able to give any relief.
- All salaried professionals were expecting increasing under Home loan exemption but no change made all unhappy.
- This is good step that Govt.is taking care of farmers and want to focus more on their development ,but Govt need to understand
that most of their tax collection is coming from salaried professionals.
There is nothing for salaried professional.
Overall the budget -2009 was not able to give any relief to salaried professionals ,and a big disappointment for all.

Rajita Singh, Head – HR, Broadridge Financial Solutions (India) Pvt. Ltd.

It is great to see the focus on bringing back GDP to 9% and from an HR perspective this focus means greater employment opportunities for all thus increasing the standard of living. Also good to see no FBT and increase in the exemption limit. I would like all surcharges and cess to go as well. Happy with the spend on infrastructure as well.

On the Industry front, welcome the announcement of GST. The concerns I have are high fiscal deficit and no direction wrt to disinvestments.

Vinda Chitnis, Vice President – Human Resources & Administration, THIRDWARE SOLUTION Ltd

“I feel, Extension of Fiscal benefits like 10A/10B sections for Tech industry under the Software Technology Parks of India scheme will help stabilise and grow in present volitile situation.

Makarand Deshpande, Director – HR & Admin, Skoda Auto India Pvt Ltd

It is no major step to give boost to the corporate sector except abolition of FBT (Fringe Benefit Tax). Absolutely nothing is provided for the SME sector which is one of the large sector to provide employment opportunities.

For individual tax payers , major relief was expected this time but they are completely disappointed. Very small relief has been given compare to expectations. The corporate sector was also expecting some relief in the corporate taxes but nothing is given to them.

No proper thought is given to boost the employment opportunities and to counter the recessionary effect, no major step has been taken.

The budget ensures to give 12 million jobs each year and reduce poverty by half by 2014, but how this will be done which is big question. The expenditure has crossed Rs. 10 lakh cr for the first time and fiscal deficit is 6.8% of GDP which is again highest. How this expenditure and deficit will be managed is not clear.

The roadmap for GST(Goods and service tax) implementation was expected to have better clarity for this major reforms in indirect taxes administration, no such step is seen or declared in the budget.

Overall in my view budget is disappointing for corporate sector as well as for the individuals and that’s why there was a biggest budget day fall in the SENSEX.”

Sanjay Shanmugaum, Vice President – Human Resources, CBay Systems (I) Pvt. Ltd.

Pranab Mukherjee’s Budget has correctly identified India’s immediate challenge to be that of that sustaining the GDP growth at 9%. With that in mind, the Budget has proposed the requisite economic stimulus needed for this, with financial inclusiveness as the guiding factor.

For the Indian IT and outsourcing industry that is struggling to cope with slowing global demand and shrinking profit margins, the Budget has proposed some much needed initiatives to boost growth. The removal of FBT and the reforms in indirect taxes is seen as a major plus, allowing for stock based compensation to be more effective.

In a knowledge sector such as ours, this becomes even more pertinent, and helps us manage our talent needs better. That said, the decision to extend tax deduction on export profits under Sections 10A and 10B of the IT Act will help Indian companies retain competitive edge in a global scenario.

On the whole, the Budget focuses strongly on social and rural upliftment and the government’s increased expenditure on infrastructure, agriculture and urban development along with the slew of incentives for private investment in education, social security and energy security will provide an impetus to these sectors while strengthening India’s overall competitiveness and indirectly create employment opportunities.”

Arun Solomon, General Manager-Human Resources, MSPL Limited

“This budget appears to be focused on reducing the impact of recession. As employees and employers the very marginal tax exemption of Rs. 10,000 and dispensing with the surcharge will benefit practically many employees across the spectrum.

The increase in terms of the amount for the medical treatment of dependents with disability lightens the burden of those who have dependents.

Employees were expecting the conveyance allowance to be increased and similarly premium on medical insurance to be substantially increased. To disincentivise all the talent to be heading towards metros, some of us had hoped that there would have been some tax incentives for employees working in non-metro areas also enabling talent to gravitate.”

Stay tuned for our next batch of expert’s opinion on the way the Budget of 2009 will impact jobs and industries nationwide.

What’s your opinion on the Budget Plan for the year? Share it here with other blog readers like you.

How to’s and benefits of Job Fairs in recession

Job Fairs are especially effective in today’s current global scenario because they provide a cost-effective, and very convenient way to contact many recruiters in a surprisingly short amount of time. Another benefit is that they are all under one roof. Job fairs can be extremely beneficial provided you know how to make them work to your advantage.

When choosing to attend a job fair, it’s very important that now – more than ever with the job crunch – that you make yourself stand out as a candidate. Researching on various companies that are attending will show your interest and ‘tell’ them that you are proactive and right for the job.

Begin with getting a list of attending companies from the job fair organizers. Then, just choose out the companies that you are personally interested in working for and get to work on researching them.

Once you have completed your list, make sure you take note of the smaller details as well. Write it down. A short pencil is better then a long memory!

After your lister is done, make sure that your resume is up to par. If you want your job fair experience to be productive now that the market crash is here, you need to ensure that not only your research but that your resume shows you can stand out of the average. If it doesn’t, get it fixed.

Companies will not even bother to read through lengthy, badly worded resumes in the short amount of time they have with hundreds of potential employees. Your time is short, make it count.