I am a 25-year-old mechanical engineer working with a consumer goods company for the past four years. I worked in the production department for the first two years before being promoted to the post of Senior Officer in the company's purchase department. I have also picked up skills in programming languages such as C, C++, VB and autocad. Although I specialise in imports, my current role largely involves clearance and banking. I would like to switch to an imports-related function in the same organisation. Will an additional qualification make it easier for me to switch? Or should I seek a job change instead?

Changing jobs will do you little good in the long run. You need to show greater patience. Your career seems to have progressed well so far in the company. If you are consistent in your performance, your employer is likely to expand your role in the procurement function to include imports as well. However, at this stage of your career, you should try to avoid getting bound up in specialised roles that could mar your chances of seeking new openings elsewhere. Instead, you need to concentrate on acquiring a wider range of skills that will stand you in good stead in the future, especially in areas such as logistics and production planning. An additional qualification will definitely help.

I am a mechanical engineer employed as Senior Manager (Marketing) in a public sector undertaking. During my 24-year stint in the organisation, I have acquired experience in a broad range of areas, including production planning and control, construction, procurement of telecom equipment and marketing. I am 48 years old and plan to work till I turn 60. I have been looking for a job in the private sector for the past six months but with little success. Do I need to study further?

To further a career in marketing, you could enrol in a one-year marketing diploma programme. However, given the level of competition involved, you should try looking for a job other than marketing. Remember that while opportunities abound in the telecom industry, your age might be a factor in limiting the offers you get. Your best chances of finding a job in the private sector are in the areas you have specialised in-construction, commissioning and service.

I am a 42-year-old commerce graduate from Bombay University and have an one-year diploma in business management. I've worked as an accountant in four companies for over 16 years. My last job was a five-year stint as Manager (Accounts) in a consulting firm. However, I have been without a job for the last one year. Since I am not a qualified chartered accountant, none of the reputed consultants will consider me for a senior position. I am doing a course in enterprise resource planning (ERP) and costing. Will this open new doors for me?

Though the effort to augment your qualifications is a step in the right direction, a long period of joblessness in the middle of your career is going to be extremely difficult to explain to recruiters. The first thing you need to do is to take up a job even if it does not meet your expectations. Landing an accounting job with a smaller company should not be difficult given your experience. Once you have a job, enrol in an ICWAI (Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India) course to enhance your prospects. You could also try obtaining an-ERP related qualification.

I am a science graduate and have worked for 10 years with a leading tyre company. I lost my job when the company decided to go in for downsizing five months back. I now plan to acquire an additional qualification by enrolling in a two-year full-time MBA programme. Is it too late-I am 32-to go in for post-graduate education now? Would such a break go against me in the long run? Will a masters in business administration help me enhance my career prospects?

Taking a two-year break from work could cut both ways for a person your age. A MBA from a premier B-school will certainly add to your qualifications and qualify you for senior management positions. It will also go a long way in broadening your understanding of the various aspects of running a business and help you discover an area of management that especially interests you. Then again, there is the risk of not being able to land a job commensurate with your qualifications when you return to the job market. On the whole, however, such a move could yield rich dividends in the long-run.

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.

Jargon-Bender: Hitting It Big The LSIP Way

When George Bush Sr. repeatedly warbled 'read-my-lips' to the American people, he wasn't really sticking to his pledge of not levying new taxes. Instead, if Bush had said 'read-my-LSIP', perhaps the former Prez could have effected change more profitably. LSIP, or Large Scale Interactive Process, is a management exercise that groups employees for brainstorming and then formulates action plans to address people-related issues that impact businesses. It is a necessary exercise to create a performance-driven and competitive workforce. Kathleen Dannemiller, President, Emeritus of Dannemiller Tyson Associates, a consulting firm in Ann Arbor, Michigan, uses this method to implement organisation-wide changes. This intervention, like many others, involves mix-and-match table groups of eight-to-ten people and usually lasts three days. LSIP first appeared in 1974 in the Annual Review of Psychology, but became a preferred organisational development tool only in the 90s. A relatively new concept in India Inc., LSIP is a popular hr tool with companies like Maruti Udyog Limited, Brittannia Industries, GE India, and Alstom India.

-Moinak Mitra