Career Today: Help Tarun!!!

CAREERS TODAY: COUNSELLING
Help Tarun!!!

I am a 35-year-old senior manager in the finance department of a pharma company. My immediate boss has recently been promoted as the head of one the company's subsidiaries. I have always had a great rapport with my boss; now he wants me to move with him to the subsidiary. But the subsidiary is not doing too well. I am not very keen on becoming part of the rolls of this smaller and less important subsidiary, but don't know how to say no to my boss. I am hesitant to discuss my dilemma with anyone else in the company. Do you think I should start looking for another job?

I suggest you speak to your boss or the head of the hr department first, and tell them how you feel. Find out whether you have the option of returning to the parent should the subsidiary continue to fare poorly. Also find out whether, the company will ensure that you do not lose vis-a-vis your perks in the finance department. The company's track record on this issue will be a good indicator. If there's ample scope to return, maybe your fears are exaggerated. The best option before you, in my belief, is for you to spend about two years in the subsidiary, and then ask for a transfer back. This way you will get to remain in the company, gain from a new kind of an experience, and return in a decent time frame should things go wrong (if you are lucky you may earn a better position in the subsidiary). Looking for another job is a drastic step, especially when the economy is facing a slowdown.

I am a 32-year-old cost accountant, with a decade's experience in planning and analysis. I have always been interested in working for a good consulting firm, particularly in the areas of business evaluation and strategic management. Will my present qualifications and experience help me land a job in a top-notch consultancy? Please advise.

To work for a consulting firm, you need to possess a full-time MBA from a reputed business school. If you are interested in financial consulting, I would advise you to study chartered accountancy. You are past 30, and this is definitely not an age to go around acquiring qualifications in new fields. At this stage, it's important to understand and prioritise your interests and goals. You may, of course, join a support function in a consulting firm, and move into a line function. But I must confess that this is a difficult proposition.

I am a 28-year-old consultant with a transnational management-consulting firm. I joined the firm with a lot of enthusiasm, but now find the working environment extremely discouraging. Ever since I joined a few months ago, there has been little work. In fact, I am yet to be assigned a project. I am usually made to do preparatory work for a senior consultant, who takes all the credit for the work I do. All this is extremely frustrating. What do you think I should do?

You are still young and hence, are assigned preparatory work. Considering the fact that you do not have much experience, it will take some time before you get to handle a project, let alone get the credit for it. Also, it is obvious that there isn't enough work going around. Utilise your time in working with senior people, even if your name does not get featured anywhere. That way you will gain some experience. You also need to discuss your problems with your boss. That may help to ease your frustrations. I advise you to be patient, but if things still don't work out the way you want them to, do consider the other options before you.

I am a 23-year-old management student at a prominent B-school. Placements haven't been encouraging for the past couple of years. Some firms have actually withdrawn the offers they made during placement week. I am very keen on a career in the infotech industry, but that's the sector where maximum withdrawal of offers has taken place. Should I opt for other sectors?

There's a definite downturn in the IT sector. You can opt for whatever you are interested in, but it may make your job-hunt more arduous. If you are exceptionally brilliant, chances are that the degree of difficulty won't be very high. But if that's not the case, you will have to decide whether you are really passionate about it or if it's just another option you are toying with. If it's the latter, you should weigh other options as well. If it is the former, ask yourself whether you are willing to take the chance.

Tarun Sheth, the senior consultant at the Mumbai-based recruitment and training consultancy firm, Shilputsi, addresses your career concerns every fortnight. Write to Help,Tarun!!! C/O Business Today, F-26, Connaught Place, New Delhi-1.

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