E & C in MBA or Civil Services after B.Tech, microsoft certified systems engineer (MCSE) course, Career in Analytics, How to prepare for GMAT, Selecting an happening career, US ADMISSION : scholarships for the spring semester

E & C in  MBA or Civil Services after B.Tech, microsoft certified systems engineer (MCSE) course, Career in Analytics, How to prepare for GMAT, Selecting an happening career, US ADMISSION : scholarships for the spring semester


CAREER DILEMMA : MBA or Civil Services after B.Tech

I am a third year student of BTech engineering. I am confused about what course to choose — an MBA or Civil Services. What would be a better option?
   Shagorika Basu

The MBA route will lead to a career in the corporate sector, while IAS will lead to a career in the government impacting the lives of the public. The MBA route would help you to play a role in the success of private companies making a difference to the bottom line and reach of one company/organisation's business while the IAS will allow you to make a difference to the lives of a wider public. Life is good on both sides, but the decision of which is better would depend upon your perception and priorities in life. Selection for the IIMs as also in the IAS, would be very competitive.

BACKUP CHOICE : Selecting an happening career

After doing my BBA, I am now pursuing MBA from IP University. I have decided to take finance as my major subject but I am confused between taking marketing, information technology and international business as my minor subject. As a result, I am unable to decide the specific line in which I would like to make my career. If I opt for a career in research or logistics or stock broking, which subject would be more helpful? I will be grateful if you could help me in this matter.
   Debjyot Kaushik

In an indirect manner, all the three areas you have mentioned — marketing, IT or international business can be connected to finance. One way to select your choice of minor is to think of which area after finance you would choose (or are better suited for) as a 'backup' job/career. As you have already decided on finance as the area you will be majoring in, the choice of minor should then be based more on the subjects that you enjoy.

microsoft certified systems engineer (MCSE) course

 
Could you please tell me the minimum eligibility criterion for the microsoft certified systems engineer (MCSE) course? Please also suggest some institutes that provide the course and the future job prospects.
   Anmol Gehlot

You have not mentioned your current academic status, but you can do the MCSE/MCSD course along with your graduation although the general profile of those attempting the exam is people with three-four years of experience in the industry who are trying to improve their prospects. Moreover, you also have several choices. For instance, you could look at a certification in networking like MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) — globally recognised for LAN design, implementation, administration, trouble-shooting, creating web servers, etc. The Windows platform enjoys a customer-base running into millions.
   The full certification involves clearing seven papers. After you clear the first paper, you will get the MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) card. Clearing four papers will equip you with knowledge of LAN networking to start working in the technical support area. The passing mark is 80-90% per-exam. Along with that you can continue to prepare for the remaining papers or acquiring a CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Administrator) certification. While MCSE certification is fine for handling 500-1,000 client/seat establishments, broadband, internet and intranet environments are better served by Cisco-certified experts.
   So if you are looking for better value-addition, CCNA will give you expertise in ISP (Internet Software Protocol), ASP (Application Software Protocol), WAN (Wide Area Networking), etc. It will also teach you how to design, build, and maintain global computer networks from a single location. This involves clearing exams at four levels — 1) associate level 2) professional level 3) expert level 4) specialist level. Make sure you register for the course at a Microsoft Authorised Training Centre. The intake is typically restricted to 15-20 students per session. The passing mark is about 90%.

ANALYTICAL CAREER

Could you please tell me if a career in analytics is good for a BTech graduate? Would an MBA degree suit that profile well?
   Ritwik Ahuja

Knowledge Process Outsourcing or KPO has given a new dimension to the outsourcing industry in India. KPO differs from BPO in that they require specialised knowledge and skills and often require qualified professionals (lawyers, engineers, doctors, etc). KPO services also tend to be more qualitative and judgment based. In short, they are higher IQ jobs. Analytics is the process of analysing (raw)
data to unearth hidden patterns, understand trends, and draw meaningful conclusions to help in business modelling, decision-making, and forecasting. It uses computers, mathematics and statistics as its tools. Thus as an engineer you possess the requisite skills.

SEARCH FOR B-SCHOOL

Could you please tell me how to prepare for GMAT? From where can I get the US government ranking of American B-schools?
   Anonymous

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is designed to help business schools assess the qualifications and potential of applicants for advanced study in business and management. To begin, log on to www.mba.com and click on 'Take the GMAT' and scroll down to 'Tools to help you prepare' for GMAT test taking strategies. For a list of MBA schools, log on to www.educationusa. state.gov, click on 'Find a School' and go to MBA programmes in the left margin under 'Graduate.' The search options will generate a long list of B-schools. When you ask for the best management schools, you are basically considering rankings. The US government does not rank universities, hence there's no official source to begin with. However, some of the popular private rankings are those compiled by the US News & World Report or The Princeton Review or BusinessWeek.
   Make sure you understand the specific methodology and criteria on which the rankings are based (and be particularly wary of rankings that don't explain the criteria on which they are based). While this could be a good starting point, the 'best' B-school for you would be the one that best matches your profile and preferences. You need to prioritise your preferences and be realistic in terms of matching your background with the B-schools you plan to shortlist. Weigh the strength of the B-school in terms of quality, competitiveness, programme design, special features of the programmes offered. Then consider admissions requirements, cost effectiveness, internship opportunities, placement and lastly scholarship possibilities for foreign students.

US ADMISSION : scholarships for the spring semester

I am a final year student of BTech electrical engineering. I am planning to apply to universities in the US for admission to the spring semester next year. But my friends are saying that it's very difficult to get scholarships for the spring semester. Is it true? Should I apply for fall 2013 instead?
   Danish Trehan

As an international student it is better to apply for the fall semester admission, mainly for three reasons. Firstly, financial aid is relatively easier to get in the fall semester than in the spring semester. Secondly, though not perhaps as important, February is one of the coldest months in many parts of the US. It is therefore not a particularly good time to have your first stint with snow — especially if you're not a native of the Himalayas. And finally, more students are admitted in the fall semester than in the spring semester, so naturally your chances of getting in are greater. Timing your moves correctly while applying to a US varsity is a most crucial factor. So when should you start the application process? At least 18 months in advance of your intended date of enrolment. For example, if you wish to enrol in the Fall session: August/September 2013, you should ideally start the process around April 2012. Also, do browse the net for college rankings and other useful info. There are plenty of websites including www.usnews.com  and www.fulbright-india.org .

TRENDY CHOICE : pursue a career on the basis of current trends?

Is it advisable to pursue a career on the basis of current trends? For instance, if information technology is a 'happening' career, then should one go for it?
   Mihika Saha

While planning your career it is important to keep employment trends and scope for advancement in mind. Selecting a 'happening' career, which offers more openings, is ok from the short-term perspective of getting a job. Flowing with the tide is perfect when the 'happening' career also matches your priorities, skills, aptitude, abilities and interests. But, don't take on jobs for which your personality and abilities are not suited because your chances of success would be low. There are no good jobs or bad jobs, nor is there a 'future' in any job. Remember, the future lies in the person who holds the job. So at the end of the day, its better to choose something you like, lest be forced to like what you get.

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Scope in Investment Banking

No more mr banker?

 

B-SCHOOLS in India have started experiencing the aftershocks of the tumultuous crisis that hit two of the biggest investment banks in the world — Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch. There have been serious apprehensions about the decrease in the number of job offers during the time of placements at the various Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), as the financial service sector in general and investment banking in particular have been the top recruiters till now. But, the reverberations of the crisis are not just limited to the decrease in the number of job offers in IIMs. Students, faculty and professionals are predicting some new trends in the job market scenario specifically pertaining to B-schools. 

   “This is the first time international financial markets have undergone so much change after the financial services sector especially investment banks became top recruiters in IIMs. There is serious apprehension about the number of jobs offered by investment banks. We had seen the mood in fact during our final placements for the last batch, as there was decrease in the number of jobs offered by investment bankers,” said a second year student at IIMKozhikode. “Now people will opt for jobs in consultancy, private equity and venture capital marketing. Investment banking will only attract those who are genuinely interested in entering this sector as till now there have been students who came with the objective of fetching a job in investment banking without even knowing what it means,” he added. 

   Supporting his view that not many people will opt for investment banks, a senior investment banker from UK, said, “It is time when people would like to take off from bank jobs and many will be cautious while entering investment banking. But, we still have to wait and see the changes that will take place in terms of the courses offered in B-schools.” 

   According to Devashish Dhall, pursuing an MBA in banking and insurance from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, “The positive side of this crisis is that it will further boost students to go for specialised MBA and higher qualifications. However, competition will also be higher as more people will fight for a lesser number of jobs.” Further analysing the changes in the demand for B-school graduates, an IIMLucknow graduate and DGM in a power sector company said, “The immediate effects are visible now when many people working in Indian branches of investment banks have been asked to leave their jobs with just a few days notice. But, this will further have an effect on the demand for B-school graduates. Those who have lost their jobs but are experienced will fetch jobs in other companies and fresh graduates might have to bear the brunt as there will be lesser demand for them.” 

   Vanita Tripathi Misra, lecturer, department of commerce, Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University (DU) on her part feels that there should not be a state of unrest among students, as this crisis will not affect the Indian scenario in a big way. “India is moving towards bearish markets but they are not that volatile. Apart from the banks that were associated with investment banks, it won’t affect the financial service sector. But, one major trend that will emerge is students opting for other sectors that they were ignoring. My students have become a little cautious about a job in the financial service sector. They are ready to settle for a lesser salary in sectors that are stable like manufacturing.” 

   Apart from the change in attitude of students towards job, Tanuja Agarwal, associate professor, human resource management and organisation behaviour at the Faculty of Management Studies, DU, predicts a new role for HR. “The sudden job loss creates anxiety among people and the HR of an organisation will have to play a new role in managing this anxiety and uncertainty among their employees.”

 

 

 

   Sunil Sharma

      Moderator

Dil Se Desi Group

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The Counsellor -- 17

 

Technical scribe 

Are there are any institutions where one can pursue a formal qualification in technical writing? 

Gobind Ballabh

 

Few universities in India offer education in technical writing, and online courses can be very expensive. On the internet you can access mailing lists like TECHWR-L, TechComm, and TWIN that are akin to daily online seminars for Indian writers.There are few journals or books available for technical writers to hone their skills. It is not mandatory to have a technical background to enter this profession. Though there is better scope for science graduates many professionals from the field of journalism, English and even advertising move into in technical writing. 

   Most entrants tend to pick up the skills through on the job training. However, knowledge of DTP tools (Page Maker etc), development tools (RoboHelp) and web tools (HTML and XML coding is a definite advantage for an online environment. Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL), www.scdl.net , offers one-year certificate course in Instructional Des. Shortterm courses in technical writing are also offered by the University of Pune, Department of Journalism; University of Cochin; and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. 

   Society for Technical Communication, India Chapter organises training and networking activities in this field. They also have a regular newsletter "Indus" which carries articles on technical communication, particularly in the Indian context. For more details you can log on to: www.stc-india.org. Technical writers in India have joined hands to form TWIN (Technical Writers of India) - an association that provides a platform to share their experiences and exchange information.

 

 Details are available on www.twin-india.com  The Writers Block (TWB) #30 Service Road, Domlur Layout, Bangalore 560071,

 

 www.twb.in , offers following courses: 

• The TWB fundamental certification programme 

• The TWB associate certification programme 

• The TWB Online course in Technical Writing (Distance mode) Also check out the following: 

• Technical Writers of India, Mumbai 

• Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore 

• Technowrites Pvt Ltd, Pune 

• S A international, Ltd, Chennai 

• TASC Consulting Pvt Ltd, Mumbai 

• TechnoPoint, Bangalore 

Looking ahead 

I am crazy about sports and would love to run a sports management company. Please give me some tips. Do I need to get a degree in mass communication? 

   Meena Vashisht

 

No, an academic degree is not absolutely necessary, although some background in marketing, either through education or experience, should help. 

   Managing celebrities is a well-established concept abroad. In India, it is more in vogue with film stars, but now cricketers,tennis players and golfers are also becoming savvy about their image. People who are creative, confident, self-motivated and have an eye for detail are well suited to work as event managers or public relation managers for companies that organise sporting events. If you have a sports background, it would be useful. 

• Symbiosis Institute of Health Sciences, Pune, offers a postgraduate diploma in sports management 

• Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education & Sports Science, New Delhi offers a one-year postgraduate diploma in sports management 

• Indian Institute of Social Welfare & Business Management, www.iiswbm.edu, Kolkata offers a one-year postgraduate diploma course in sports management 

• Alagappa University, department of distance education, Karaikudi, www.alagappauniv.org, offers a postgraduate diploma course in sports management through distance learning 

Financial Engineering 

What is financial engineering? What are the careers that financial engineers can pursue? What are the courses available? 

Vaishno Prashad

 

Also known as financial mathematics, mathematical finance, and computational finance, financial engineering applies mathematical methods to resolve problems in finance. 

   It draws on tools from applied mathematics, computer science, statistics, and economic theory. Quantitative finance is a well-developed discipline that is gaining ground as global financial markets grow and become integrated. 

   Investment banks, commercial banks, hedge funds, insurance companies, corporate treasuries, and regulatory agencies employ financial engineers to tackle problems like development of new financial products, valuation of derivative securities, structuring portfolios, risk management and scenario simulation. 

   Quantitative analysis has brought innovation, efficiency and rigor to financial markets and to the investment process. And as the pace of financial innovation accelerates, the need for highly qualified people with specific training in financial engineering continues to grow in all market environments. 

   Financial engineers apply their skills in a broad selection of finance-related careers including the pricing and trading of securities, financial modelling, sales, risk management and portfolio management. The skill sets acquired in a good financial mathematics programme at the masters level prepare students for many interesting fields. Moreover as it is increasingly recognised in financial firms that computational and mathematical skills are critical to the success of all organisations, the market for students with financial mathematics degrees continues to broaden. 

   There are dozens of masters degree programs in financial mathematics and engineering around the world. The majority of these programs are in the US, but there are programs in Canada, UK and continental Europe, as well as nearer home, in Singapore and Hong Kong.

 

 

 

 

Sunil Sharma

   Moderator

Dil Se Desi Group

& www.dilsedesi.org

 

 

Career in Finance

 

Lucrative careers in the field of finance

THE gap between the demand and supply of high-end skills in the area of finance is not only an actually-felt gap, it is also growing over time. Indian School of Business & Finance (ISBF) based in Delhi, is making an attempt to create an attractive opportunity for graduates by providing them training for exciting and lucrative career in the field of investment banking and financial markets. On offer at ISBF is a one-year diploma for graduates in finance awarded by the University of London in association with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). 

   The University of London diploma in finance consists of four modules covering investment management,valuation and securities analysis, corporate finance and elements of econometrics. The course, designed by LSE, is taught by experienced faculty at ISBF. The academics who teach and assess students at the LSE campus and other colleges of the University of London not only develop the study material for these different modules in the course taught at ISBF but also set the examination papers and evaluate the scripts in London. As these courses are offered globally, the standards of the course are necessarily high and globally acceptable. 

   In order to ensure that students doing this diploma for graduates awarded by the University of London, have a strong foundation. ISBF is also offering a comprehensive curriculum in finance and awarding a one-year full time post graduate diploma inclusive of the University of London "graduate diploma". The course structure for the ISBF postgraduate diploma also includes economics for financial markets, quantitative methods for finance, introduction to financial accounting and international finance. This makes the course broadbased and comprehensive even for graduates with science & mathematics background apart from graduates with commerce and economics.The participants will have to apply their knowledge to real-life problems in the form of a project report prepared under the supervision and guidance of their academic and industry mentors. 

   The ISBF programme provides an edge over the traditional finance-related MBA (PGDBM) programmes of various B-schools, which largely concentrate on accounting and banking aspects,but lack the analytical rigour required in the area of financial research. 

   ISBF post graduate diploma holders will be highly sought after by international investments banks across a wide range of areas in corporate finance, equity research, fund management, and management consultancy. They would also have a unique opportunity to pursue a one-year MSc degree in Finance from LSE or any other leading university around the world. 

   Besides the diploma in finance, ISBF has an established Centre For Financial Planning. The centre offers a one-year full-time postgraduate diploma in wealth management incorporating a globally recognised certification. The current batch of postgraduate diploma in wealth management, have been successfully placed in respected financial sector organisations like HSBC Bank, HDFC Mutual Fund, Deutsche Bank, Kotak Bank, MF Global, JM Financial and many others in their wealth management/client advisory division. The director of ISBF Jitin Chadha says, "We have had an unprecedented response from the industry, our batch of 30 students were placed within a month, most of the students had two to three job offers from various banks and other financial institutions." 

   The bouquet of educational courses on Business and Finance offered at the ISBF also includes highly prestigious undergraduate courses in economics, banking & finance management as well as economics & management from the University of London in association with LSE.These courses have already carved out a niche for the discerning who look for courses full of content as well as utility in real life.These degrees are recognised now as equivalent to honours degrees of the University of Delhi. 

   To find out more about ISBF visit www.isbf.edu.in

 

 

 

Sunil Sharma

    Moderator

Dil Se Desi Group

 

Options in Finance & Banking

MONEY MATTERS

THE VARIOUS OPTIONS IN THE FIELD OF FINANCE AND BANKING IN INDIA TODAY

WITH a plethora of banks and financial institutions entering the Indian market to become a part of the 'Indian growth-story', it's time to laugh all the way to the bank for those employed in this sector. Jobs-aplenty, banks and financial institutions are outdoing the packages they offer, in a bid to woo the best candidates to their firm.

The need for a large amount of technical and administrative support has further increased the number of jobs available.Then there's the fact that India has become a global outsourcing hub. While outsourcing was earlier restricted to the IT industry,the financial industry is now catching on, with international financial institutions and banks setting up elaborate back-end support set-ups that offer services to branches across the world.

Banking is a field that provides a profile for every type of skill, whether it's selling, operational skills, managerial skills, IT skills, you name it and you will find a job profile within banking that fits the bill (or rather the skill!).

RETAIL BANKING

The faces you greet when you enter your local bank are of the customer service executives who are there to service and sell banking products such as deposits, accounts, mutual funds, loans etc. Interpersonal skills, a presentable personality, good communications skills and patience are the basic requirement of this profile. At senior levels within retail banking, an MBA might come in handy, but at entry-level and middle level positions, a graduation degree in any discipline would hold you in good stead.

PRIVATE BANKING

Also known as 'wealth management', this field was, until recently, part and parcel of retail banking. But in the last few years, with people's wealth multiplying due to the boom in the Indian stock market, this field is now a separate career. Private banking caters to individuals, funds or corporates which have investible surpluses in excess of a crore.With a large focus on getting investors to invest with a tilt towards the stock markets, this field ideally requires smart people with good sales skills equipped with an MBA. "It's a bit of everything - service and sales.You have to get the pulse of your client, assess out how risk-taking they are and sell investments to them accordingly.The biggest challenge is getting the first meeting with the client - that's where your interpersonal skills come into play," explains Siddharth S, an equity trader with a leading brokerage firm.

CORPORATE BANKING

Corporate banking usually has allrounder profiles where you are required to handle relationships and cater to all the banking needs of the client, in this case, mostly corporates. This would mean taking charge of the trade (import and export)- related requirements, funding needs etc. Good sales skills along with people management skills are a must as you often have to fire-fight situations and get work done through the various departments of the bank to satisfy your client.An MBA or a background in chartered accountancy would be a requirement to enter this field.

TREASURY (CAPITAL MARKETS)

This is one field not many people know much about. The treasury, as the term describes, manages the funds of the bank. It is involved in large transactions of corporates, it manages the balance sheet of the bank itself, it even has traders taking proprietary positions in everything ranging from commodities to currencies to stocks.Needless to say, this part of the bank is usually the one which yields very high revenue for the bank and hence is among the most sought after in terms of employment.In a nutshell, proficiency in mathematics, a risk-taking attitude or good sales skills would make you employable with the treasury of a bank. An MBA, specialising in finance from a reputable B-school would be a basic requirement.

MICROFINANCE

This is a fast developing field of banking, which until a few years ago was regarded as an 'initiative' in the corporate bank. Here the idea is to make micro-credit, micro-savings and microinsurance available to farmers and those employed in the rural areas. The Grameen Bank took it to another level, inspiring many banks in India to launch their own microfinance divisions. A social bent of mind, and an MBA,preferably specialising in finance, would be pre-requisites for this field.

INVESTMENT BANKING

This is among the more coveted jobs in banking. With roaring salaries and even better bonuses, this profile is usually open to those from toptier management institutions or those with a chartered accountancy background and of course, those who are not averse to long working hours. "Working hours are 'cruel' to say the least", quips Adwait Bartakke, an associate at a leading private bank in Mumbai.The primary role of an investment bank is to raise funds for corporations and organisations, which might be through the route of IPOs or mergers. This would mean valuations, advisory services and raising moneywhether through debt or equity.While the corporate finance role, within investment banking requires the bringing together of buyers and sellers of companies, the trading role requires taking proprietary positions in tradable asset classes.

RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS

There are several jobs in the research and analysis field when it comes toboth, financial and non-financial corporations.Says New Yorkbased research analyst, Nikhil Jain, "All firms need a team that does the financial planning and analysis of their annual incomes, expenses, forecasting, projection planning, quarter planning, annual reporting, asset planning etc. Specialisation in finance or accounting, coupled with good excel skills are basic requirements for this profile."

"A research analyst on the buy side, essentially means someone working for a hedge fund or a private equity team or, which would be much in demand not just to conduct macro analysis in terms of industry, economics and competition analysis, but also company analysis in terms of the company's prospects being scrutinised for buying it as an ultimate aim," elaborates Nikhil. A chartered accountant or a chartered financial accountant would find plenty of jobs in India for this profile.

AUDIT

This is a diverse field,offering multiple options to those with a background in economics, accounts, or better still with a degree in chartered accountancy. Audit is split into two fields: internal audit and external audit.Internal audit is a team which corporation must have to check if the people and processes are adhering to the procedures and processes that have been laid out. The idea behind an internal audit team is to ensure that all risks are within control.

External audit would be teams employed by big accounting and audit firms who send teams of their auditors to firms, who employ their services to audit their processes. "If you are an organisation that needs to publish financial statements publicly, it is a regulatory requirement to publish audited financial statements," says Sharad Chaudhary , who works with a top- four audit firm in India.

Sunil Sharma

Moderator

Dil Se Desi Group