Five ways to deal with a poor appraisal

Bad appraisals, like bad hair days, happen to the best of us. Quitting is not a solution. Rather, take a good look at your performance and concentrate on the course ahead.

Look Within: The first step in dealing with a bad appraisal is to keep an honest mindset and introspect about your performance. "First ask yourself the question: 'What is wrong with me?'. Once you attack that, other things usually fall into place," says Dabur India HR head A Sudhakar.

Talk to the Boss: Speak to the boss about the performance review. "There is a good chance your boss may not have remembered critical activities and initiatives you have undertaken," says Meenakshi Roy, senior vice president, human resource, Reliance Broadcast Network.

Take it in your Stride: There is a good chance that your boss' critical evaluation is spot on. "Try never to take these critiques personally and quit. That may be your biggest mistake. Consider consulting another senior colleague or a mentor," says Roy.

Plan Ahead: "Be actively involved in setting your targets for the year ahead based on your strengths," says S Roy, a midlevel manager in an IT firm . Also, periodically review your performance with your boss. That way, there will be fewer unpleasant surprises.

Move on Gracefully: At times, reasons not connected with your performance affect the appraisal you deserve. "You can bring up the issue with your bosses. But if nothing comes of it, it's time to move on," says Sudhakar. But don't make an ugly exit. "You never know when it can come back to haunt you," he adds.

Source : Economic Times

No gloom here, job-seekers are having a field day

The India story remains robust, as far as human resources go.

The local recruitment and human resource (HR) services industry will post a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 20% in the next five years, says a report by the Executive Recruiters Association (ERA) in association with global consulting firm Ernst & Young (E&Y).

The sectoral size will race to the `55,700 crore milestone, given the rapid growth of the market from a highly fragmented and unorganised sector to a structured and organised industry.

The industry size currently stands at `22,800 crore, dominated by talent acquisition in the form of recruitment, temporary staffing and executive search. The best part is it has been growing at a CAGR of 21% for the last four years — from 2008 to 2011.

Vipul Varma, chairman, ERA, thinks that HR services and recruitment have come of age and may see a wave of consolidation with the entry of multi-national companies (MNCs) and emergence of new models like recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) and managed services.

“HR consultants are now increasingly being viewed as partners in an organisation’s growth strategy rather than just being vendors.
The search market is growing on the back of expansion and diversification plans by domestic and international companies across sectors. This apart, recruitment as a practice is evolving from an unstructured and fragmented ecosystem to players adopting new norms of productivity and efficiency,” said Verma, while marking out key industry growth drivers. ERA is a non-profit chamber of commerce representing Indian executive recruitment consulting firms.

The report also highlighted that more and more companies are pouring into the temporary staff model due to growing business complexity and talent challenges. This approach allows them to go for smaller bench strength to tackle mounting global economic uncertainties.

Amit Zutshi, partner, Ernst & Young Transaction Advisory Services practice, offers some useful insights. He is of the opinion that the Indian economic, social and cultural landscape is in an unprecedented state of flux.
“The need for solutions for complex problems of growth, innovation, and professionalisation is driving the opportunity for the HR solutions industry in a way that has never been seen before,” said Zutshi.

Coming to the professional staffing market in India, IT and engineering sectors, along with increased staffing, may play a decisive role, moving forward. Growth in key user industries such as retail, ITeS and telecom, and large companies shifting to the organised space are likely to add momentum to general staffing.

Reeling off some statistics, Bijou Kurien, president and chief executive, Lifestyle, Reliance Retail, said: “The $450 billion Indian retail sector employs 35 million people across traditional and modern retail. Retail is the second-largest employment generator after agriculture sector and modern trade will create 18 million new jobs by 2022. Approximately, 75% of these people will be required in the front end.”

Pradeep Dhar, CMD, Vitasta Consulting Pvt, feels temporary staffing is getting bigger especially with IT, ITeS and a few other services industries like hotels, food and catering businesses.

“The phenomenon is huge with information technology and IT enabled services as the requirements there are very huge, given the kind of attrition levels at these companies,”said Dhar.

Payroll outsourcing is also picking up big time with domestic and international companies operating in India as it’s considered a complex and non-core activity. The other notable aspect here is attrition. While players in the IT industry put it at 12-13%, the figure actually tends to go up to as high as 20%. Of the whole lot, RPO has been identified as an emerging concept in the Indian recruitment and HR services industry.

Source : DNAINDIA

Before taking new job, exit gracefully

In case you have recently got a job offer, make sure you collect your relieving letter before you join the company. Also, do not take your exit interview for granted, says a recent survey by TeamLease Services, a recruitment firm. The survey revealed that 92 per cent of the employees and managements across all industries take exit policies seriously. The survey also shows that while recruiting, over 90 per cent of the companies stress on a relieving letter.

The study, called ‘Impactful Exits’ surveyed around 800 people across eight cities — Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad.

“Employees are recognizing that the labour markets are small and ungraceful exits come back with compound interest later. Adherence to a professional and clean exit is increasingly being witnessed in the work force today. But we don’t anticipate relieving certificates becoming a deal breaker for new employers until the skill crisis eases,” said Surabhi Mathur Gandhi, senior vice-president, IT Sourcing, TeamLease Services.

The objective of the research was to understand the employees’ seriousness about the exit process and assessing the processes at various companies. The study aimed to evaluate the importance of having the exit policy in place and its impact. As far as the city-specific figures are concerned, 99 per cent of employees in Chennai and Bengaluru take the exit policy seriously. In Kolkata and Ahmedabad, the figure is 95 per cent, followed by Pune with 94 per cent. Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai stand at 92, 89 and 85 per cent respectively.

Apurva Sanaria, group director (HR & OD), IMRB International, said quit a firm for various reasons and exit interview plays a crucial role in understanding those reasons. “With job-hopping becoming a trend, it is important to retain good staff. At the same time, you get relevant inputs about an employee’s reason for leaving only during the exit interview.” Sanaria said at IMRB, as a company policy, a candidate cannot be given the appointment letter until he presents the relieving letter from his last firm.

TCS officials say the firm follows the exit procedure quite seriously. Bhushan Surve, assistant manager (HR), TCS, said, “Depending upon the reason stated by the employee, the HR can offer him/her options and retain the employee.”

The study also says that barring eight per cent of companies that conduct exit interviews online, most prefer a face-to-face interaction. In Pune, 71 per cent exit interviews are conducted manually, five per cent online and 24 per cent firms follow both. The survey points out that the top two reasons for a person leaving the company are growth opportunities and higher salaries.

Gautam Bhatara, who recently joined Reebok as area sales manager for Maharashtra and Goa after working for over three years at Tata Capital Ltd, has a different opinion about exit interviews and relieving letters. He feels that for many companies, exit interviews are a mere formality. “Not all companies are rigid about relieving letter. Some are willing to give a prospective employee extra time,” adds Bhatara, who made the switch as he wanted to shift from a finance-based company to a product-based one.

Source : INDIAN EXPRESS

Govt proposes job opportunities to prevent trafficking

The Ranchi district administration today proposed to explore job opportunities for the unemployed in the retail sector with an aim to prevent trafficking of innocent persons, who often fall in the trap of middlemen.

"We would like to use human resource by way of providing them employment. We can explore job (opportunities) in the retail sector," Deputy Commissioner K K Sone said during felicitation of 16 girls, who were trained as "house managers for hotels" after being rescued from the clutches traffickers.

Lauding efforts by Action against Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Children and Women (ASTEC) in the rescue of trafficked girls and rehabilitating them, Sone assured additional funds if the youth were trained in other skills.

Echoing Sone's proposal, Jharkhand police chief G S Rath said Chamber of Commerce and Industries could be requested if employment could be generated in the retail sector, and efforts should also be made to explore opportunities in the health sector.

Terming trafficking as a horrible crime, Rath stressed on prevention and prosecution of trafficking while protecting and rehabilitating of the rescued persons.

Stating that Ranchi district was included in the Integrated Action Plan, Sone assured additional funds, provided the youth were imparted in training that would help them find their livelihood.

Referring to some rescued girls being trained as security guards and got postings in Kasturba Gandhi Residential School, Sone said the security guards were asked to pursue studies simultaneously so that they could move ahead on the ladder of success.

"We have told the girls (security guards) to teach other girls on self-defence skills so that the children can defend themselves," he said.

The ASTEC's Convener, Sanjay Kumar Mishra, said, 253 rescued girls were recruited as security guards in schools and private companies in the last few years.

Source : INDIAN EXPRESS

Why women do better than men in job interviews

Women, although typically more stressed about interviewing, perform better than their male counterparts in job interviews because they handle stress better than guys, say researchers.

That is the finding of new research by three University of Western Ontario researchers who looked at how men and women handled the stresses of job interviews.

“We conducted two different studies,” Live Science quoted JustinFeeney, a doctoral student who participated on the research team, as tellingBusinessNewsDaily.

Feeney conducted the research with Julie McCarthy, a professor at theRotman School of Management, Richard Goffin, professor of industrial psychology, all of the University of Western Ontario.

“The first one examined the effects of job interview anxiety on job interview performance and we confirmed previous research that interview anxiety is a negative predictor of performance. Then what we looked at was whether gender influenced these findings. We found that even though women experienced more interview anxiety than men, it didn’t affect their performance as much as it did for men. We were curious of why that was,”Feeney stated.

That curiosity drove the researchers to look further into why there was a difference between men and women in interviews.To determine this, the researchers conducted simulated interviews in more than 400 students at the university to see the coping mechanisms those students employed.

“We tailored an instrument that measured coping styles of men and women in interviews and what we found was women adapted more proactively than did men,” Feeney said.

“They would do things like seek social support from loved ones, friends and colleagues about their anxiety and do practical things like practicing mock interviews with their friends. Men, on the other hand, reacted with more maladaptive coping strategies. They would pretend it was not happening, ignore it, watch TV and do things that relieved stress, but hindered performance later,” he explained.

While the findings of this research may be useful for interviewees, they also have significance for businesses looking to hire.Since businesses also have a lot to lose by hiring the wrong person, Feeney warns businesses not to simply look to the interview as the ultimate predictor of future success or failure.

“Research is showing that anxiety actually impairs the validity of the instrument. You will actually end up making poor hiring decisions as a result of anxiety,” noted Feeney.

“Based on the current research, I would suggest really practically focusing on how to improve their performance. Practice mock interviews and read books on interviews so you can increase your self-efficacy. Talk to friends and family about the interview and how to deal with the anxiety,” Feeneyconcluded.

Source : DNAINDIA

Boom time for R&D

With global companies shifting their R&D base to India to achieve greater cost-efficiency and domestic firms increasing their spending on these activities, experts feel hiring in the segment will increase by up to 20 per cent in 2012 vis-a-vis the current year.

“Total global spending on research and development (R&D) is anticipated to increase by 3.6 per cent. With this, the momentum in the hiring has gone up”, says Elixir Consulting Executive Director Kanika Vaswani.
“With India becoming a destination of choice due to its cost-competitiveness, hiring by multinational companies is at an all-time high. There is a talent war for engineers and technical professionals”, she said.

The country is an emerging destination for auto R&D, with companies like Renault-Nissan, Maruti Suzuki and Honda pressing ahead with plans to set up centres in 2011 and 2012. In addition, pharmaceuticals and auto R&D have been hiring steadily, while other segments like defence recently increased hiring, she said.

Talking about pay packages, she said in the R&D space, pharma and defence are the better-paying sectors.
Echoing the view, Executive Search Firm Symbiosis Management Consultants CEO Vinay Grover said R&D is witnessing large investment not only by MNCs, but domestic players as well.

"India, positioned as a land with plenty of talent pool at a low cost, has gained the attention of MNCs. In domestic companies, pharma and automobile have realised that in their ambition to globalise their operations, they have no recourse but to spend on R&D," he said.

Despite the lull in hiring in most sectors, R&D recruitment is on an upward trajectory and is expected to increase by 15-20 per cent in 2012, he added.

The positive trend in R&D hiring started picking up in 2010 and peaked in 2011 and is expected to continue through 2012, he said.

"The hiring is on at all levels - junior, middle and senior. There are a lot of positions available at the levels of technology manager and programme manager that can go to the level of director," he said, adding that IT and healthcare are among the highest paying sectors for R&D professionals. — PTI

Source : TRIBUNE INDIA

Write the right resume

Getting ready to prepare that all-important resume? Well, the Daily Writing Tips website has a few suggestions to make your task easier.

Know the purpose of your resume
Some people write a resume as if the purpose of the document was to land a job. As a result they end up with a really long and boring piece that makes them look like desperate job hunters. The objective of your resume is to land an interview, and the interview will land you the job (hopefully!).

Back up your qualities and strengths
Instead of creating a long (and boring) list with all your qualities (eg, disciplined, creative, problem solver), try to connect them with real life and work experiences. In other words, you need to back these qualities and strengths up, or else it will appear that you are just trying to inflate things.

Make sure to use the right keywords
Most companies (even smaller ones) are already using digital databases to search for candidates. This means that the HR department will run search queries based on specific keywords.

Guess what, if your resume doesn’t have the keywords related to the job you are applying for, you will be out even before the game starts. These keywords will usually be nouns. Check the job description and related job ads for a clue on what the employer might be looking for.

Use effective titles
Like it or not, employers will usually make a judgment about your resume in 5 seconds. Under this time frame the most important aspect will be the titles that you listed on the resume, so make sure they grab the attention.
Try to be as descriptive as possible, giving the employer a good idea about the nature of your past work experiences. For example, Bad title: Accounting, Good title: Management of A/R and A/P and Recordkeeping.

Proofread it twice
It would be difficult to emphasize the importance of proofreading your resume. One small typo and your chances of getting hired could slip. Proofreading it once is not enough, so do it twice, three times or as many as necessary.

Use bullet points
No employer will have the time (or patience) to read long paragraphs of text. Make sure, therefore, to use bullet points and short sentences to describe your experiences, educational background and professional objectives.

Where are you going?
Including professional goals can help you by giving employers an idea of where you are going, and how you want to arrive there. You don’t need to have a special section devoted to your professional objectives, but overall the resume must communicate it. The question of whether or not to highlight your career objectives on the resume is a polemic one among HR managers, so go with your feeling. If you decide to list them, make sure they are not generic.

Put the most important information first
This point is valid both to the overall order of your resume, as well as to the individual sections. Most of the times your previous work experience will be the most important part of the resume, so put it at the top. When describing your experiences or skills, list the most important ones first.

Attention to the typography
First of all make sure that your fonts are big enough. The smaller you should go is 11 points, but 12 is probably safer. Do not use capital letters all over the place, remember that your goal is to communicate a message as fast and as clearly as possible. Arial and Times are good choices
.
Do not include “no kidding” information
There are many people that like to include statements like “Available for interview” or “References available upon request.” If you are sending a resume to a company, it should be a given that you are available for an interview and that you will provide references if requested.
Just avoid items that will make the employer think “no kidding!”

Explain the benefits of your skills
Merely stating that you can do something will not catch the attention of the employer. If you manage to explain how it will benefit his company, and to connect it to tangible results, then you will greatly improve your chances.

Avoid negativity
Do not include information that might sound negative in the eyes of the employer. This is valid both to your resume and to interviews. You don’t need to include, for instance, things that you hated about your last company.

Achievements instead of responsibilities
Resumes that include a long list of “responsibilities included…” are plain boring, and not efficient in selling yourself. Instead, describeprofessional achievements.

Use numbers
If you are going to describe your past professional achievements, it would be a good idea to make them as solid as possible. Numbers are your friends here. Don’t merely mention that you increased the annual revenues of your division, say that you increased them by Rs.100,000, by 78%, and so on.

No pictures
Unless you are applying for a job where the physical traits are very important and unless the employer specifically requested it, you should avoid attachingpictures.

Source : DNA INDIA

Power & automobile sectors in positive mode

Power and automobile sectors are among the sectors that will be looking to consolidate their work force substantially in 2012. "The hiring trends in the power sector have immense job openings in both private and public sector as there is a huge demand-supply gap of talent in this sector", says Vinay Grover, CEO, Symbiosis Management consultants, an executive search firm. Besides the core technical/engineering skills, the power sector requires people in varied functions like investment analysis, risk, project finance as well as other commercial and support functions. For technical positions, a diploma/degree in engineering (mechanical, electrical or civil) is required. However, fresh engineers need to undergo specialised training to adapt to the technical requirements of the industry. The industry offers excellent remuneration and benefits, besides the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the country.

Automobile sector
The much-neglected automobile industry has finally paved its way to becoming a global powerhouse, with the hiring trends significantly improving in this sector. With manufacturing facilities progressing in the automobile sector, the recruitment trends too have changed significantly. Delhi, Pune and Chennai remain major manufacturing hubs that offer promising employment opportunities. Also the recently revealed half yearly report in the auto sector stated that 70 per cent of recruiters in this sector admit to facing a talent crunch when hiring employees and 54 per cent feel it is difficult to get talent with four to eight years of experience. Speaking on increments given this year, 47 per cent of the recruiters said the hike was in the range of 15 to 20 per cent.
"The competitiveness in the auto sector is due to changes in technological processes which create more job vacancies in various departments of this sector. This sector has a huge demand for skilled workers and the forecast reveals that there will be 5 million automotive jobs in the next five years", says Grover.

Source : TRIBUNE INDIA

Managing A new boss

With downsizing and restructuring becoming the buzzwords in organisations all over, change of boss is not uncommon these days. Many professionals find themselves reporting to a different person while being employed at the same company.

Dealing with a new boss when relationship with the former was good can be demanding, even stressful. In fact, the transition is not always easy, irrespective of the rapport with the old boss.

The arrival of a new leader is often accompanied with change in work culture, priorities and expectations. They may even review personal habits such as working hours, break time and private phone calls. However, instead of viewing the change as a frustrating inconvenience, it is best to accept it positively. Keep an open mind rather than stubbornly clinging on to how things used to be done. Forging a productive and rewarding relationship with the new boss can undoubtedly be a career-defining moment for any professional.

Get an edge
Do your homework by finding out as much as possible about the new boss before he/she actually takes over. Search the Internet for information they might have put on themselves or the organisation they are leaving. It will not only give some idea about their background but also of the differences in organisational culture. If he/she has been working in the same industry, talk to people who have worked with them. Speaking to former employees or colleagues can offer insight into the work style and temperament of the person. The more information you gather, the easier it will be to connect with the new boss and form a solid working relationship.

Expect adjustment period
Subsequent to accepting the boss as a different person begins the period of adjustment. Irrespective of the level of seniority, every person needs time to adjust to a new work environment. It would be unfair to write-off the new boss in the first few days as incapable or ineffective. Since he would need time to get acclimated don't expect him to know exactly how everything is going to go. Give the new boss a chance to settle down before trying to turn his attention to your aspirations. Be flexible to fit in with his needs and schedule, an effort that shall be definitely appreciated.

Set clear expectations
Get a clear picture of the boss’s expectations early on rather than putting it off. More than often the new boss will have significantly different expectations from the previous one. Projects that the former boss viewed as high priority may have suddenly lost their urgency. As a consequence sit down and make a list of what you expect from each other and the job. Expectations could be about working hours, mode of communication or keeping calendars. Take the initiative to ask for such a meeting if it is not forthcoming from the boss. A clear conversation will go a long way in reducing conflicts and avoiding discrepancies.

Volunteer for small tasks
Step forward to aid the boss with small tasks that will help him settle in the new role and work environment. Rather than waiting for directions or holding back thinking that it would mean sticking your nose into his business, volunteer. Alert him or her of your availability when they start putting their plan of action into place. Since volunteering for a big task could arouse their suspicion, choose jobs that nobody else wants. However, assist them on activities that will not take too much time so as not to ignore your own work. It will not only show that you are proactive but also give an opportunity to prove your reliability.

Rebuild professional image
With a new boss taking charge, it becomes irrelevant whether you got along with your previous boss or not. Recognise that past is the past and the current boss will judge you based on your ongoing relationship with him or her. As a consequence getting a new boss often means an opportunity to rebuild one’s professional image. Although past mistakes will not tarnish this new bond, trying to hide them may. Make a fresh start by building a work relationship based on honesty and trust.

Avoid comparisons
Although it is natural to compare the old boss with the new, refrain from doing so. Despite feeling bad about the change, especially if you liked your old boss, avoid pitting them against each other. Even comparisons that make the new boss look favoured should be avoided since it could still be seen as criticising the former. Make a mind shift by thinking of the boss as a new person with different priorities, tendencies and way of doing things. Instead of grumbling about the differences, learn from them and look for ways to bridge the gap. Greet the new boss with an open and non-judgmental attitude, giving him a fair chance to succeed.

Source : TRIBUNE INDIA

When to quit your job

Sick leave is not just an excuse: 
You reach home late every night, too mentally and physically exhausted to think. Food is just something you shovel in about twice a day, when your stomach starts sending loud warning signals. You get recurrent headaches from staring at your computer screen. You feel like hiring a personal masseuse just to soothe your aching muscles every night. If you check-marked all the above, your body is probably giving you the signs that your job is quite literally making you sick. Health should come first.

You’ve outgrown your job
Started out as a trainee, you have reached the maximum level you can at your job. You have gathered as much work experience and people skills as is possible. Now your experience is more than what your job requires. If you feel stagnant or have become complacent because the work is too easy or too low-level, but you have greater ambitions, it’s time to start looking for a position that will allow you to grow and develop.

You have a better offer
The peanuts you get as a salary has been driving you up the wall, and there seems to be no raise in sight. Meanwhile outside, people are eager to hire you and are willing to offer a salary hike and a designation hike too. If you find this difficult to refuse, then give it serious consideration.

You’ve stopped having fun
Work has begun to be a drag. Dragging yourself out of bed every morning and to work has become a daily battle. You don’t pay much attention to how you dress or whether your work is on time, because you have just lost interest. You can’t be motivated to push yourself any further and just make card-swiping appearances in office. It’s probably time to just leave.

Your workplace environment isn’t good
You suffer the subtle and not-so-subtle sexual innuendos and jokes from your boss or co-worker because you love your job, the pay and the position. When the situation gets really unbearable and you dread meeting and talking to the said colleagues, it’s time to give up. Living in a toxic environment will only hamper your growth and your self-esteem in the long run. Bullying or harassment of any kind should not be borne beyond a point.

Source : DNAINDIA

UNEMPLOYMENT OR UNDEREMPLOYMENT?

First of all is unemployment there as govt claims. Anywhere in India factories/companies/retails shops employees are wanted. Degree school or drop outs. Some job or other is readily available. Reason for so called unemployment? Many youngsters are not ready to work hard. They want high salaries but don't want to work hard. Earn money in the morning drink in the evening.

Thanks to the government for opening and allowing to open more and more bars and liquor shops. With more number of retail shops opening and industries expansion everyone needs employees. I request Indian express to take a survey in major cities and find out whether unemployment is really there.

Source : INDIAN EXPRESS

Indian employees to get 11.9% salary raise in 2012: Survey

Employees in India are likely to get this year a salary increase of 11.9%, putting the country on the top for tenth year in a row in terms of pay hikes within the Asia Pacific region, a survey showed today.

As per the survey conducted by global human resources consulting and outsourcing firm Aon Hewitt, the salary hikes for India in 2012 would decline marginally from 12.6% in 2011 due to a cautious approach by employers, but it would still figure among the highest in the world.

According to its annual India Salary Increase Survey released here today, the projected pay hikes in indicate a positive, yet cautious, outlook by the organisations amid an uncertain economic environment.

India would see the highest salary increase in the Asia Pacific region, followed by China and the Philippines, which are likely to see 9.5% and 6.9% salary hikes, respectively, in 2012.

India has topped the list in terms of salary hikes for tenth consecutive year within Asia Pacific region.
Among other Asia Pacific nations, Australia is likely to see a modest 4.6% hike, Hong Kong 5%, Japan 2.8%, Malaysia 6.2% and Singapore 4.8%.

"We are seeing encouraging signs in recent weeks on business sentiments," said Sandeep Chaudhary, Practice Leader, Compensation Consulting at Aon Hewitt.

"While organisations across industries are keeping a keen and watchful eye on this oscillating macro-economic environment, the number reiterates that organisations are taking a long-term view on talent," he added.

In India, the general/entry level staff are likely to get 11.8% salary hike, while junior manager level will see 12.3%, middle management 12% and senior management 11.1% increase this year.

The survey covered 550 organisations, representing 19 primary and 31 sub-sectors, and was conducted over a three-month period from November 2011 to January 2012.

In terms of sectors, pharmaceutical space is likely to witness a 13.3% salary hike for 2012, followed by engineering design/services projects at 13%.

Infrastructure with 12.9% and heavy engineering and FMCG sectors with 12.4% hike would continue to get higher salary increases than the country-average for the second year in a row.

The Information Technology (IT) and outsourcing sectors would see salary hikes of 11.9% and 11.8%, respectively, despite the continuing concerns over the impact of a weak global economy.

Telecom and Financial Institutions are projected to see lowest salary increases for 2012 at 11% and 10%, respectively, plagued by various regulatory hurdles, policy issues and the slowdown in the global economy.

Salaries for critical talent are projected to increase by 15.1% this year, which would be higher by over three percentage points than the overall average, as India Inc is concentrating efforts on identifying top talent and rewarding them accordingly, Aon Hewitt said.

Source : DNA INDIA

Highlight what matters in a resume

A resume is a document that summarises your skills, education and job experience in such a way, that everything of importance is mentioned for the employer to know you as a prospective employee. The bestresumewriting.com website points out that since this document is seen and analyzed before they call you for an interview, the resume has to be well written and be influential enough for you to be called in for an interview and, later, end up getting the job. These are some of their basic tips for freshers.

Organise and highlight you technical skill
If you are applying for a technical job, undoubtedly, it is your technical proficiency that is going to be the most prioritised by the employer as your job qualification. The resume is studied by experts at the time of your interview, however before that it has go through many hands, most of which may not posses expertise technical knowledge. In such cases, if your resume highlights the technology part by emphasizing the keywords, it gets more chances to be sorted by non-technical people, such as the clerks, who work with the buzzwords only! The immediate question is how to achieve this? By listed or tabular representation! A list or table groups all the related keywords together and catches the attention of the viewer.

Relevance and order of qualifications controls the viewer's perception 
Listing qualifications attracts viewer's attention. In addition, the list expects an order, with the highest qualification at the top and the lowest at the bottom. It follows from two general observations. The employer is interested in knowing your highest qualification at the first viewing. The next observation is a fact that acquiring a higher qualification is possible only after an immediate lower qualification.

Grade and quantify your work experience 
Grading the work experience can be done with respect to the assigned responsibilities/targets. Work performances exceeding the work targets can be surely graded as 'outstanding'. Moreover, mentioning statistical facts in the resume such as cost saved, reduction in duration and number of work cycles, other cost saving or efficiency raising tasks can add an extra ordinary edge to your current work experience.

Add dynamics to your resume by beginning each sentence with an action verb 
If you simply mention the job responsibilities that were assigned to you, it would look like a typical job description rather than your work experience. Your active participation into it would be felt only through the action verbs. However, you should use appropriate action verbs for tasks, or else it would be misinterpreted by the reader.

Sell your skills without hesitation
Applying for a job itself indicates that you are looking for financial compensation for you skills and qualifications. How would you be getting good compensation if you are not highlighting them? Advertise your strengths/abilities as much as possible. At times, you may find that a particular skill of yours is not directly linked to the job requirements. Even then, you can add it to your resume as an extra asset.

Resume descriptions - Keep it short and focused 
How experienced you are, is what determines the length of your resume. If you are only an entry level person or holding an experience less than five years, your resume should be fit in a single page only. People who are more experienced can extend the limit up to two or three pages. However, moving beyond that would be simply wasting paper, as hardly anyone would be able to keep their patience after the third page. The only way to achieve this is by summarizing the long paragraphs describing the complete project details or company details.

Exclude irrelevant data 
Your resume is a means for in-sighting to your professional personality. Hence, including skill competencies and past work practices are necessary. Apart from these, employer may need to know some of your personal details for their office work purposes, such as the contact address, phone number, email and the date of birth. Including other personal data such as likes/dislikes, etc, all proves to be 'unused data', as they are never used.

Seek assistance from an expert to review you resume 
It may not be a professional expert. Any of your friends who you think can justifiably review your strengths and weaknesses can assist you in removing discrepancies and improving the quality of your resume.

Avoid lingual mistakes by repetitive proof reading 
Once the resume is prepared, the next task is ensuring its seamlessness. Undoubtedly, we commit numerous structuring and spelling mistakes while writing. Most of these would be encountered by the software only; still we need to perform manual proofreading again and again before printing it.

Print it on a plain, white paper
Avoid all kinds of colourful, fancy printing tricks and go for simple laser printing. After all, it is the content in resume that matters the most to the person, who is dealing with hundreds of papers daily!

Source : DNA INDIA

Hiring on a high

Despite the uncertainty prevailing in the overall economic scenario, the Indian job market exhibited positive signs at the beginning of 2012. The Naukri Job Speak index for Jan- 2012 at 1,121 is 4 per cent higher than December, 2011 index and 16 per cent more than the Jan, 2011 index. On a year-on-year comparison, barring ITES and Construction sectors, all the other key industry sectors have seen double digit percentage hikes in their hiring activity.

Hitesh Oberoi, CEO and MD, Info Edge India said, “With the beginning of the new year, the recruitment scenario seems to be moving in a positive direction. However, this year, firms will be more particular about recruiting the right talent and employees who can make meaningful contributions to the firm.”
Industry Sector Analysis:

An in-depth analysis of the indices shows that most of the top industry sectors have registered positive monthly growth in January when compared to December, 2011. ITES, Oil and Gas and Telecom sectors witnessed strong hiring trends with the index moving up by 19, 18 and 16 per cent, respectively in January over December, 2011. Hiring activity in the Construction and Pharma sectors has been stable when compared to last month, while IT and Banking sectors have seen 3 per cent upward movement in hiring activity in Jan-12 over Dec-11. — TNS

Source : TRIBUNE INDIA

Internship could land you a job

Internship is a part of learning experience for students but companies nowadays are increasingly viewing it as a potential tool for recruiting full-time employees.

Firms are today experimenting with jobs that grow out of internships, which gives them ample time to evaluate prospective freshers and retain them at entry level.

President of Sri Balaji Society Group of Institutes, (Col) (Retd) ABalasubramanian, said, “It is a golden opportunity for both students and companies to make the most of the internship programme. The companies get two months to test a fresher on hard projects, giving them ample time to assess an intern, before they can appoint them as full-time employee.” He added that, at present, companies absorb not more than 5% of the interns.

Looking at internship as a would-be opportunity for students to secure a permanent job, Balasubramanian complained, “Today’s students consider internship as a holiday period and it has just become a formality.” He further informed that this year, the quality of campus placements have been very good, compared to last year.
“Due to slowdown in economy, IT companies are playing cautious. Institutes must tell students to look at internship as an employment opportunity,” he said.

Internship is definitely a recruiting tool said Umeed Kothavala, CEO and co-founder of city-based Extentia Information Technology.

“There is a huge scope to learn so much during the 10-15 week internship compared to a half-an-hour interview. Over 40 -50% among our employees started as interns through our internship programme, Connect. We get an opportunity to evaluate them.”

He further stated that it also gives an opportunity to interns to familiarise with the working environment of the company and cultivate the habit of hard work.

Extentia an organisation with an established internship programme, Connect, is also mentioned in Michael Griffin’s book, Business Internship. A renowned accounting professor, Griffin is an internship director at Charlton College of Business, University of Massachusetts, US. “Through our internship programme, we are looking for results. Once the individual is selected, we take care of all their needs and help them settle down quickly. During the internship, students are assigned a mentor and go through induction programme. Also,regular review and feedback sessions are held,” said Kothavala.

Even though companies have a mandate to approach campuses for placements, Jashan Joshi, talent acquisition head at Capegemini India, said, “We have the freedom and liberty to offer full-time employment to interns, depending on the market situation. We recruit 10% of those who are doing their internship with us.”
He added that students come as interns not out of choice, but because it is just part of their programme. Training and placement head at JaywantShikshan Prasarak Mandal (JSPM), Jayant Unawane, said, “Over 20% of our students who join various companies for their summer internship get offers to join as full-time employees. Only those get selected who work hard and deliver results.”

Source : DNAINDIA

Sunshine sectors

Post recession and the slowdown, what kind of a career should a student look for?

No job is secure. For some, recession just becomes an excuse for attrition in a company. If there is a recession, which by the way, happens cyclically, that means that a company will still hire people because people will retire, but not that many as they would need when there is a boom. In such a scenario, students must look for making a career in the areas that they are passionate about. There are some sectors that are resilient to the effect of recession and slowdown.

Could you name a few sectors that are resilient to the effects of recession and slowdown?

Education, infrastructure, defence, pharmaceuticals and healthcare are some of the recession proof sectors.

What is the need for specialisation in different areas?

There is a need for super specialists across the board. Students who do their specialisation/super specialisation get many opportunities and they are almost immediately absorbed into the workforce. Specialists in any area, not just doctors but even business are in great demand.

What is your advice to students who will be entering the industry?

Students who will be making a career need to understand that making a career is a long-term investment and so they must not look what the ’hot’ jobs because they will fade away. It is better to make a career and do something that one loves doing. Skills such as multi-tasking, proactiveness, willingness to get out of the comfort zone are prized qualities that the employer wants.

Source : My Education Times

Success in your career

To innovate and create opportunities for your career enhancement is also necessary
With regard to the selection of carrer, it is clarified that the careers included here may not be the last word on being the top ten ones. We have been primarily guided bt the criteria of popularity of the careers, views of career counselors.

Success in realizing your career dream to a large extent depends on own attitude which includes your sincerity and strong will to vigorously pursue your goal.

First of all, you need to have a clear understanding of what you want to be. It must be your determination to fulfil the requirements that are needed to enable you achieve your goal.

It means you have to acquire the required academic qualification followed by professional qualification and training in your particular field. Once you have these you will be able to compete.

Success also requires you to be self-disciplined, making optimum use of your time, being self-confident and having qualities of a professional.

To rise rapidly on the career graph, there is a need not only to keep yourself abreast with what goes on around you nad in the outside world today but also to have the ability to visualize the likely future developments.

Source : The Hindu

Govt pegs unemployment rate at 6.6%

Government said there was a large scale gain in job creation, leading to a fall in jobless rate.
Government today said unemployment rate in the country has declined from 8.3 per cent in 2004-05 to 6.6 per cent in 2009-10 despite global slowdown because of the success of the employment policies.
"...despite global slowdown, India not only maintained its employment standards but also succeeded in reducing unemployment from 8.3 per cent in 2004-05 to 6.6 per cent in 2009-10", Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said.

The decline, he said, was made possible due to "success of public employment policies and various stimulus measures initiated in response to the crisis and the recovery".

Addressing a conference on 'Innovation in Public Employment Programmes' here, attended by over 30 labour labour ministers from abroad, Kharge mentioned some innovative programmes like the flagship MNREGA scheme for employment generation.

He said the government has also drafted a national employment policy to create more productive, sustainable and decent employment opportunities while a new modular employable skill development initiative has been launched to train one million person in short-term modular programmes.

Kharge said the conference will not only help in sharing of knowledge among developing countries on employment programme but also lead to better appreciation of range of policy issues relevant to public worker programme.

In this context, he said collaboration between emerging economies through South-South cooperation will be an important feature of global economic development in the coming times.

Source : INDIAN EXPRESS

Are you underpaid?

Are you wondering if you are underpaid for your qualifications by the industry standards? Are you worried that your employers might be exploiting your talents and that your value could be much higher in another part of the country or the world?

Seeking answers to such recurring doubts could be just a click away now with payroll HR specialist website www.paycheck.in. The online research database website lets you look at pay rates for hundreds of different jobs in all walks of life - private sector, public sector and not-for-profit.

The website is managed by Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) professor Biju Varkkey as part of a research funded by research organisations in the EU. The website is managed by ITPF - IT Professionals Forum, IIM-A and the Indian Institute of Science. Negotiations with other partners in India are under way.

“Salary details are still treated as confidential and secret. Especially in new organised sectors like IT, salaries are not discussed and there is no effort to benchmark them. Although salary information is available, it is not easy or cheap to access. Paycheck’s focus is on answering this persistent question: ‘Am I paid what I should get’?” Prof Varkkey said, explaining the need and concept of the website.

The utility of this data is particularly high for professionals who wish to shift industries or cities and need to negotiate for the new job. Besides, HR consultants and corporates looking to hire in a new sector will also find the data valuable. “The ‘salary checker’ gives an insight into the earnings of working people at different levels in organisations across sectors and their satisfaction levels with the same.

The website hosts free salary checker service available to, and used by people in different occupations. It allows them to compare their salary with that of others doing a similar job. This information will be valuable to trade unions and employees in negotiating salary/pay and for promotion and recruitment,” Varkkey added.
What’s more, detailed reports on salary differentials across gender, ethnicity and age groups, across regions and nations, across occupations and industries, within multinational enterprises and for foreign versus local establishments in national economies are also available.

So where does this data come from? “Paycheck relies on people in all parts of the country, in all sorts of different jobs, to give us information about their employment conditions. Visitors answer a detailed questionnaire - qualitative as well as quantitative - about their salary packages. In return for letting us know about your pay, they get to find about thousands of other people’s pay. We think it’s a good deal,” Varkkey added.

The individual data is collated and segregated industry wise, managerial position wise and processed by a software to produce digested information. With EU funding, the network (wageindicator.org) now encompasses seven other European countries — the UK, Germany, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, and Italy — and has already launched in India, China, Russia, USA, Brazil South Africa, Argentina.

Source : DNA INDIA

An impressive résumé is a direct ticket to your job

No one can deny the importance of a well-written résumé. It is your first impression for the employer and if written well a direct ticket to the job. As the competition increases, the need to making a lasting impression is growing more than ever. Here are a few simple tips for you to put up the best resume so you can nail that job!
Keep it concise: Says education counsellor Sarla Patil, “The employer has a hundred résumé to sift through and will take no special effort to spend more time on yours. You can choose to come across as a boring or crisp and interesting depending on the way you frame your résumé. Keeping it to the point and concise is the trick.”

Mention relevant facts:
 Very often people mention their achievements in secondary school while applying for the third or fourth job. “What matters at this point is only your immediate past experience. Mentioning achievements from far back give an impression that you’re trying really hard to fill the space and have no other things to boast of. Make sure you only mention things that highlight activities that will make you a stronger candidate for that particular job,” adds Sarla

Update it regularly: 
While it is important to leave out trivial details, it is equally important to include every relevant one. “Make sure you update every single development that has happened since you first drafted your résumé. A new skill developed, a course undertaken, a summer job taken or a social cause or charity event that you contributed to should feature on your CV,” says Parul Vakharia who benefited from an internship at an advertising agency.

Attach a cover letter:
A cover letter to a résumé is like biscuits with tea. It gives an extra edge. “While a resume does all the talking, an attached cover letter always helps. The cover letter should show the employer that you’ve done research. Talk about the organisation and which particular aspect of it you really admire. It gives an impression of an informed applicant and know exactly what you’re aiming for,” says Deepika Jaju, an HR professional.

Source : Deccan Chronical

Five ways to hunt for a job during a slowdown

Know your Strengths 

"Don't try to be everything for everybody. The last thing employers want to hear is someone is good at everything", says Joy Nandi, client partner and practice lead at Korn/Ferry International. On occasion, though, being able to do many things at a time helps. "Since companies are trying to reduce costs, there will be some positions open where a person is required to do two or three people's jobs. A networking job is a typical example", says Sanjeev Srivastava, president, Emerging Business Group, CL Educate.

Hone your skills 

As a job seeker, a slowdown basically means your competition went up. Know how to beat it. "During a slowdown, companies will sharply cut their intake. But they will not stop hiring. Candidates should not only better their existing skills but also add more skills to their resume", says Sujitha Karnad, senior VP, HR, Tech Mahindra.

Focus on Specific Cos 

Even in a slowdown, some companies perform better than others. Focus on the better-performing ones. "Identify what about that company interests you - their product or service spread, their positioning, or something unique they are doing in the market," says Nandi.

Try Other Avenues 

Tough times call for tough measures.You may need to take a cut in salary, but you can do it in a smart way. "If you are going to take a cut make sure you don't lose out on deferred bonuses, employee stock options etc. Your take-home will take a hit but the wealth creation should not subside", says Srivastava.

Don't be Shy 

Humans are social animals and there is no substitute for networking, "Posting your profile on every job portal out there won't help. Based on your target companies, figure out who in those companies should get to know you. Find ways to network with them. Find their connections on LinkedIn and get an introduction. Meet over coffee. Interact during an industry networking event," says Nandi.

Source : Economic Times

Facing an interview panel

A job interview can be extremely stressful, especially during the initial phases of your career. The stress level, while fairly high, remains within manageable limits if there is a single interviewer in-charge of the interaction. But imagine facing a panel of five to six people at your first job interview itself? Sounds scary, doesn’t it?
Seasoned career veterans with multiple jobs and interviews under their belt describe this situation as the equivalent of going to meet a prospective bride’s parents for the very first time and walking straight into a major family function with relatives from all over in attendance. The slightest miscalculation, one wrong gesture or comment and you’re rejected at once. Collective judgement is passed against you before the process even gets off to a proper start.

According to wikiHow, interviewing with a group or a panel of interviewers can be difficult, because there are multiple people asking questions and evaluating you.

Here are a few tips on how to ace a group or panel job interview.

Know the facts about the company
Learn what you can about the company and the position for which you're interviewing. This will give you a good idea about who will be on the panel and will help you field questions from panel members with confidence. Your panel will likely include members of the company's human resources department as well as members of the department where you would be working, so understanding the structure of the company will make you more knowledgeable about your interviewers.

Provide resumes for everyone
Bring enough copies of your resume to provide one for each member of the interview panel. This will give each person interviewing you the opportunity to review your credentials. It will also help you appear prepared and organised.

Make proper eye contact
It's important to make the right eye contact at the right time during your panel interview. When answering questions from one panel member, look at that one member so it's clear that you're focusing on him. If you're elaborating on a point, making a longer statement or addressing a question from the group as a whole, make eye contact with each member of the panel to engage and include each of them.

Learn the names of your interviewers
Take note of each panel member's name when you meet them so you can address them personally during the group interview. Using their names will help you develop a rapport with each of them. This will also help you stay focused on members during the interview and let your interviewers know that you pay attention to detail.

Consider panel members when answering questions
Include specific examples pertaining to your personal experiences and the jobs of the panel members when you answer their questions. This will show the value of your skills and experience
to the perspective of each individual on the interview panel.

Stay calm
It's easy to get flustered when a member of an interview panel asks you a difficult question, but the most important thing to remember is that they want to hear what you have to say. Take a deep breath, focus on that single panel member, and answer the question as completely as you can. Staying calm and focusing on that specific question will prevent you from getting overwhelmed by the number of interviewers and it will demonstrate that you know how to function under pressure.

Thank each panel member
Shake hands with each interview panel member and thank them at the end of the interview. Send thank-you notes to each member to convey your appreciation for the interview. This will keep your interview and resume in each of their minds.

Source : DNA INDIA

Youth employment a 'high-priority agenda' of govt: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi said that youth employment is a high-priority agenda of his government but felt the infrastructure for the skill-development of young people is progressing slower.
"Youth employment is a high-priority agenda item for our government...We need to provide opportunities for gainful employment to the large number of young people who enter the work force every year," Singh said.
In his inaugural address at the 44th session of Indian Labour Conference, the Prime Minister emphasised the need for skill development of the young people.

"This can happen only if we equip our young people with skills that are required to meet the demands of our rapidly growing economy," he said.

Maintaining that the rapid growth of Indian economy since 2004 has clearly brought out shortcomings of the country's skill development processes, he said, "Today, availability of skills is possibly the single-most important constraint to rapid industrial growth."

Noting that the process of expanding skill development infrastructure is progressing slower in the country that he had hoped after the government launched Skill Development Mission, Singh urged the private sector to chip in with more vigour.

"The private sector would need to engage itself much more vigorously in these efforts if we are to overcome this massive challenge. Poor students must find it financially viable to learn a skill rather than take up a job prematurely. This requires that industry and government should work together to ensure that such students are adequately financed," he said.

Reiterating that his government stands committed to creating a regime of economic management which will usher in more job opportunities, Singh said, "But job opportunities can come only if the economy is expanding, and expanding fast enough."

Source : DNA INDIA

Create your own career

Today, information is easily accessible and open. In addition to the sheer bulk of available information, students today have to choose from revamped curricula, diverse courses, and top-ranked universities. Certain fields of study that were once considered de rigueur have been relegated to the background for they no longer guarantee great returns. The notion of a finding the perfect job allures many but chances of it being their calling in life is still 50-50. With people increasingly resorting to multiple vocations, what should students keep in mind when choosing a career path?  

What do students want

The answer may vary from student to student. With so many factors interplaying, it is a difficult call. Rashmi Raghav, an MA in criminology, decided to pursue her MSc in terrorism studies at the University of East London. She says, “An international degree is just what I needed to expand my understanding of criminology. It’s not even an option anymore. This will make me an expert in the area,” she says. On the other hand, Vishwajeet Rai, pursuing MA in philosophy, which, many would agree lacks market value, says, “There are courses for the market and there are courses for personal growth. Admittedly, a course in philosophy lacks value in the corporate, but is academically relevant. You can publish papers, become a professor and so on.” A career in such a niche area may seem an uphill struggle; so, when making a choice, it is important to prioritise.

Institution and industry interface 

There is a compelling need for assessment of a growing skills gap that is threatening people’s ability to achieve their career aspirations. While the industry may complain that students are not ‘job-ready,’ the industry also has to contribute to the pedagogy. Rajen Harshe, professor, department of political science, University of Hyderabad, feels that universities are an enterprise and shouldn’t be treated in isolation. He says, “Students should emphasise on building knowledge to get an edge, and should choose universities that are market sensitive. The credit system in universities entitles a student to choose from interdisciplinary subjects that help to hone multiple skill-sets.”

Mani Kumar Gade, CEO, Serene Group, a Hyderabad-based consortium of companies which leverage technology, says, “Expanded work-based learning opportunities, closer ties between post-secondary education, training and the workplace, and expanded youth apprenticeships are needed. The recent bout of economic recession, which seems to be recurring in cycles, affecting exchange rates and policy changes elsewhere, has a lesson. Education should give students the flexibility to absorb external economic shocks and then support a nation to bounce back when the opportunity arises.”

Students should check if their coursework has ample opportunities for practical study. P Narsimha Reddy, director, Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology, says, “The key differentiator when it comes to recruitment is competency quotient, which can be developed through application-oriented education and expert faculty. In countries like the US and UK, faculty members are PhD degree holders and a chunk of their earnings comes from research. India needs to follow suit.”

Infrastructure or pedagogy  

It is important to consider certain rules of thumb when choosing the right career. Vinod Pavarala, dean, SN School of Art & Communication, University of Hyderabad, says, “While opting for the not-so conventional areas of study, students have to ensure they enrol into one of the best institutions known for that subject. If necessary, visit personally to check out if that photograph showing a fancy IT lab really exists!”

However, some academicians opine that for quality improvement in education, institutions need to invest in better methods and processes, not resources and infrastructure alone. With more Indian students studying overseas each year, one also has to factor in the recession and the depreciating rupee.

SK Srivastava, principal, Hindu College, Delhi University, says, "The globalised world has a diversity of choices where careers have multiplied. Career options that did not exist earlier are now in vogue. Against this backdrop, students are able to think unconventionally; it is not necessary that they take up traditional career options like medicine or engineering. It is important they pursue what interests them.”

Shift to emerging sectors 

Jobs in core sectors are not growing and there is a perceptible shift towards emerging sectors. Tony Begley, academic head, London Metropolitan Business School, says, “It has never been more difficult to be an 18-year-old and choose a career. Be it in India, the US or UK, students are confused when making career choices. There is a high level of chaos. Wealth prospects are moving from the West to the East. It will take insight and effort on the part of students to make the right choice.”        

For M S Thimmappa, former VC, Bangalore University, it all boils down to basics. He says, “Think back to something that gave you happiness—whether it was listening to music or reading physics. Look for a course on those lines, regardless of whether there is uncertainty in the global market. Later, you could create a job around the choice you made; because creating your own job is also a part of education.”

At the end of the day, education should give students confidence in their own abilities and impart skills that employers seek and are valid for life, to enable them to make a valuable contribution.

Source : My Education Times

Google, Intel, Makemytrip among the 'Best Companies to Work'

Google India, Makemytrip, Marriott, Intel and American Express were adjudged as the 'Best Companies to Work' in India this year in a study conducted by Great Place to Work Institute.

As per the study, Google India, Intel Technology, Makemytrip, American Express India, Marriott Hotels are top five among the top 50 companies in India, Great Place To Work Institute India's CEO, Prasenjit Bhattacharya said here.

Great Place to Work Institute is a pioneer in studying and recognising best workplaces around the world. For over 25 years and in 45 countries, the Institute has been conducting studies to identify and understand the best workplaces.

Bhattacharya said that the overall expectation of employees remain the same as in 2010.
Companies are putting in place new initiatives to retain the talent like Makemytrip.com offering 70 per cent Esops to its workforce and American Express has special pregnancy care programme for female employees etc.

The top 50 best workplaces are concentrated in Mumbai, NCR and Bangalore, but also have representation from Chennai, Pune, Vizag, Ahmedabad and Ludhiana.

38 of the top 50 have more than 1000 employees, with 19 out of 50 having more than 5000 employees. Only 12 of the top 50 best workplaces saw increase in employees at more than 30 per cent in the previous year, and five actually reduced its workforce.

While 8 out of top 50 best workplaces have employee attrition of over 20 per cent, however, in all major industries, attrition for the top 50, on an average, is less by one-third to two-third of the industry average, Bhattacharya said.
Overall, one of the biggest improvements in workplace culture shown by the best workplaces over the years has been in the area of work- life balance, flexibility in being able to take time off when required, and creatively designing and implementing practices and policies which are perceived as special and unique benefits, by employees.

One of the most difficult areas where the best employers have fared much better than others is in fair pay and fair share of profits. Corporate India has loosened its purse strings in 2011 and in the Top 50 best workplaces this year, 4 per cent more respondents in our survey are agreeing with the statement that they receive a fair share of profits made by their company and 3 percent more agreeing that they are paid fairly for the work they do, Bhattacharya said.

Fair pay and fair share of profits had seen the biggest dip in our previous study at the beginning of 2010, he said.

Bhattacharya also pointed out that the company now plans to expand its operations in neighbouring SAARC countries and may have segment wise studies for corporate sector.

Source : Deccan Chronical