I am a 35-year-old Vice President (Marketing) in a large fast moving consumer goods company. I have recently been made a job offer by the CEO of a new retail venture. In addition to a substantial jump in compensation, the job offered also involves greater responsibility than my current job does. It will probably take me another three years to reach that level in my current job. However, I feel there are too many risks attached to working in a new venture and it does not offer long-term job security. Should I accept the job?

Embracing change is critical to growing professionally. New challenges along with different work environments can have a stimulating effect on your career growth. You must, however, weigh the benefits of making such a move against the attendant risks. First, make a realistic evaluation of the chances of the new venture's success. Second, decide whether the new role is in line with your long-term plans. Lastly, you must have a contingency plan in place in case the business does not succeed. You must be prepared, mentally and financially, to search for another job in a reasonably short span of time. As long as you are satisfied on these counts, I think you are young enough to undertake the experiment.

I am a 27-year-old advertising professional with five years' work experience. I recently switched over to a new agency, only to realise after joining that many of its practices are downright unprofessional. Disorganised reporting structures, hectic working hours, and extremely rude bosses have made my stint here a difficult one. I have tried looking for a suitable job elsewhere but with no success. Would changing over to the brand management function be a good option?

Sure, you could change over to a brand management role but in this uncertain economic environment, you are likely to face competition there as well. If you are dissatisfied, look for another job but don't make that your focus. Your focus should be on doing great work and learning. Take your new work environment as a challenge and try to make the most of it. Hectic work schedules, tight deadlines and stiff competition are characteristic of any advertising agency. At your age, you should not get intimidated by these factors. As long as you perform well, you should be fine.

I am a 40-year-old Chief Financial Officer in an automobile MNC. We have recently got a new Chief Executive. The earlier one used to depend heavily on my advice in financial matters but the new one, since he comes from a finance background himself, often overrules my suggestions. Since his arrival, I have felt completely sidelined. Should I discuss this with him, or just look for a new job?

The new CEO is probably keen to make a contribution and since finance is his area of strength, that's the area he is going to meddle in. You should try and get him on your side. Discuss all financial matters with him and ask him for his opinion. This will make him feel important as well as positively inclined towards you. Once you have built a relationship of trust with him, he will feel more comfortable delegating responsibility to you. Managing one's boss effectively is a part of everyone's job. Unfortunately, it's not easy. The secret is to highlight your strengths and instill a level of confidence in him from where he feels comfortable delegating work to you. Give this approach two months. If it still doesn't work, look for a new job.

I completed my undergraduate degree in business from Indian Institute of Labour Management, Delhi, nearly one-and-a-half years ago. Since then I have drifted from job to job. I have been unable to set a clear career focus for myself. I have now obtained admission to a masters' programme in accounting offered by an Australian university. My family, however, is not keen on my going overseas and wants me to join the family business. Would a foreign degree add value to my career or would it be a waste of time?

You first need to decide whether you are interested in building an independent professional career or whether you would eventually like to join your family business. If you choose the former and are excited by the prospect of working overseas, it makes sense to go abroad. If you are seeking a career in India, you would be better off considering higher education opportunities in India itself. A foreign degree is likely to cost you a lot and might not add substantially to your career prospects in India. A MBA from a good Indian B-school will be a good option for you in that case.

Answers to your career concerns are contributed by Tarun Sheth (Senior Consultant) and Shilpa Sheth (Managing Partner) of HR firm, Shilputsi Consultants. Write to Help,Tarun! c/o Business Today, Videocon Tower, Fifth Floor, E-1, Jhandewalan Extn., New Delhi-110055.

Recruiter's Diary
Do you want to change your present job but aren't sure if it's the right time to do so? Head-hunter Bipaschit Bose on the right moment for a change.

Bipaschit Bose, CEO, Prospect

How do you know it is time for you to change your job? More corporate executives tend to get the answer to this one wrong. This is also the one question on which the otherwise successful careers of professionals run aground. So what is it that compels top managers to look for a change after they have spent most of their working lives in one organisation?

The most commonly cited reason is the glass-ceiling. Executives rise to a particular level in their organisations, beyond which growth becomes either slow or uncertain. We recently placed an executive director of a large company as the country manager of a relatively smaller company. This shift did not make much sense on the face of it, especially since he had had an impressive track record. But his logic for the job change was this: The jump was necessary for him because it would take him another two years to reach the top position in his company, whereas he felt he could make the corner room much before that.

Some professionals, after gaining expertise in a particular industry, seek opportunities where they can employ that expertise on a larger scale. Prospect has done several cheif financial officer chief marketing officer placements where the new assignment has been identical in nature, except in a much larger company, industry or geography.

Factors such as organisational restructuring, loss of mentors or a change in the business focus also drive such shifts. Professionals hired for specific roles get accustomed to functioning in certain work environments, a drastic change in that may also result in loss of motivation.

Then, of course, there's the personal factor. Executives in their mid-forties and fifties often seek a change to take care of pending investments in their children's marriages and education, housing and retirement. Officials on expatriate assignments often wish to relocate to be closer to their children or ageing parents.