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Don't focus on the money only, says HR guru Mayank Rautela.
Dear reader, are you just starting out in your career and want to know the right steps you need to take?
Not sure how to prepare for your first interview? Or your first online interview?
Struggling with office politics? Or with working from home?
Have a bad boss? Or a colleague who is undermining you?
Nobody seems to listen to you at meetings?
Have you hit a dead-end at work and see no way out?
Send in your concerns to our HR guru Mayank Rautela at getahead@rediff.co.in. (Subject: Mayank, can you help?).
Dear Mayank Sir
I will be taking up my first job soon.
I am in the process of giving interviews and some of them sound promising.
What are the things I should keep in mind before taking up a job?
How important is the money? Are there factors that are more important than money?
What are the things I should look out for in the offer letter?
Thank you,
Denzil Saldhana
Mumbai
Hi Denzil.
Your first job is like your first true love.
It will be your launch pad into the corporate world.
There are far more important factors than money.
The top few points that make a difference and will lay the foundation of your career are:
1. Reputation and standing of the company. Only an ethical and financially stable organisation can provide you a stable career.
2. People join companies but leave bosses, so do a detailed check about your manager through your sources and online platforms.
3. The quality of work that you do is important. Insist on a detailed job description so that you are aware of what you are getting into and if it compliments your profile and interests.
Dear Mayank Sir
My colleagues and I are facing a problem due to the lockdown.
My office has great seniors, but they are not naturally inclined towards technology.
And these lockdown times have increased dependence on technology.
This has led to a lot of stress and tension, with seniors getting upset with us without understanding that we are not to blame and the available technology does not deliver what they want.
As much as we try to explain to them, they are unable to understand and, in their minds, we come across as incompetent.
How do we resolve this?
Thank you.
Name withheld on request.
Hi.
I would have been able to advise you better if you had elaborated the nature of business that your company is into.
I would still feel the best way to communicate is phone calls or video calls. So communicate more and understand their expectations and politely make them realise the importance of technology.
I am sure they know technology is critical, but sometimes the lack of how it works can limit their understanding.
Clearly understand their expectations and also find out how other organisations in your industry are dealing with work from home.
Dear Mayank,
I am a BCom graduate with 25+ years of experience in accounts and finance.
My designation is manager, accounts and finance.
I have worked for reputed companies like Karvy Consultants, Ramky, VLCC Healthcare and others.
On March 20, 2020, a few days before the lockdown, I was asked to resign from my job and my salary was paid on the same day.
Since then, I have been applying for jobs continuously.
I am not adamant about my designation. I am trying for all jobs that relate to my experiences. I have been searching through newspapers, Naukri.com, Monster and various social media but it has been a case of ‘Apply and apply but no reply’.
Fortunately, both my kids are working from home in IT companies but being the senior responsible caretaker, I am sitting idle without a job in hand.
Can you advise/suggest and help me to solve this problem.
Regards
Nagaraju U E
Dear Nagaraju.
I appreciate your zeal and enthusiasm to continue to work even after a long career and the fact that your children are also working. Apart from what you have been doing, I would recommend these specific steps:
1. Reach out to your managers and colleagues who you have worked in the past as references are still the best way to get a job.
2. Since you have an accounting background, you can also consider working as a freelancer as there are many opportunities for part time gig workers.
3. Explore academics as a career option.
4. Giving back to the society is also very enriching, so do take up some charity or volunteer work.
Hi,
I am writing on behalf of my brother.
He completed his BE in civil engineering in 2009, but he wanted to be in the IT field.
He learnt data warehousing tools like Informatica and was employed for six months in the year 2011 but lost his job.
Since then, he did not get a chance to work.
He is 35 now. Can you advise what kind of career opportunities has he got?
Regards,
Krishna
Hi Krishna.
As your brother has not been working for a long time, these are the steps I suggest for him to restart his career:
1. Decide what career stream he wants to pursue… is it civil engineering, IT or some other field?
2. Then upgrade his skill levels in that field by taking up a formal course from a good institute.
3. He could also explore being an entrepreneur in a business of his interest.
4. To start his career he should consider part-time task based jobs rather than a full time role.
Hello Sir,
I am an account manager by profession.
I lost my job in September 2020 due to the lockdown and office politics.
In December, after lots of struggle, I found a job. I joined happily but the finance manager is harassing, taunting and misbehaving with me on a daily basis. He is not allowing me to meet the director directly.
Not finding any way out of this situation, I resigned from the job. They are refusing to clear my last dues for February 2021.
After that, I interviewed at lots of companies for the post of account manager and got selected in all the interviews. But they offered me a fresher’s salary of Rs 20,000.
I have work experience of 15 years and was drawing a salary of Rs 60,000.
I have become depressed as I have lots of expenses to fulfil on a monthly basis.
What should I do in this situation? How do I find the right job? Please advise.
Regards,
Sandeep Sharma
Dear Sandeep.
My response would be very similar to the advice I gave another reader. I would recommend these specific steps.
1. Reach out to your managers and colleagues who you have worked in the past as references are still the best way to get a job.
2. Since you are from finance, you can also consider working as a freelancer as there are many opportunities for part-time gig workers.
3. Explore academics as a career option.
4. Connect with third party outsourcing companies that do accounting work for other companies.
5. Enhance your network through online channels like LinkedIn.
Mayank Rautela is the chief human resources officer at Care Hospitals.
He is a management graduate from the Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies and holds a master's degree in labour laws from Pune University.
He has over two decades of experience in the field of general management, strategic human resources, global mergers and integrations and change management.
He has held various leadership positions across marquee companies, including the Piramal Group, the Tata Group and multinational healthcare organisations like CR Bard and Becton & Dickinson.
Send in your workplace concerns to Mayank Rautela at getahead@rediff.co.in. (Subject: Mayank, can you help?), along with your name, age, where you work (eg, Mumbai, Lucknow, Agartala) and job profile. Do let us know if you wish to keep your question anonymous.
Please Note: This is not a recruitment service. This column is an advisory.
