TCS to hire 30,000 next fiscal; give increments in April

IT major, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), said that its growth momentum in the last quarter of this fiscal would be better than the previous quarter and that the entire IT industry would see an improvement in the deal pipeline.

“The growth is definitely there and we should stick to what we have said earlier…the growth momentum in the last two quarters will continue this quarter also but we have to see whether it will be better than those during the boom days,” TCS Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director, S Mahalingam, told reporters on the sidelines of a CII-IFRS summit here.

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Yes Bank to recruit 1,000 staff by Dec; 500 to be specialists

New-generation private sector bank, Yes Bank, plans to recruit over 1,000 personnel, including 500 specialists, over the next nine-months to drive expansion in key segments, a top bank official said.

Currently, the bank has a total employee-strength of around 3,000. This is likely to go up to nearly 4,000 by December 2010,” he said.

Of the 1,000 personnel proposed to be added by this year-end, 500 would be of managerial level and the remaining would be in retail service and sales, he said.

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Internet piracy taking big toll on jobs

Over a million jobs and up to 240 billion euros in commerce could be lost in the European Union over the next five years as a result of illegal downloading, according to a new study into Internet piracy.

The study by Paris-based TERA Consultants for the International Chamber of Commerce focused on piracy in Europe’s music, film, television and software industries. Those industries generated 860 billion euros ($1.186 trillion) and employed 14.4 million people in 2008.

But in the same year, 10 billion euros and 186,000 jobs were lost to piracy, the study found. If that trend continues — and the rapid increase in illegal downloads and advancing piracy techniques suggest it will — then up to 1.2 million jobs and 240 billion euros worth of European commerce could be wiped out by 2015.

The bulk of illegal downloading targets music, television and video sites, with consumers using “peer-to-peer” formats to download songs and video clips onto their laptops and home computers from websites without paying a fee.

In that respect it has a disproportionate impact on the creative industries, with musicians, actors and artists standing to lose the most from unfettered downloading, experts say.

Article excerpts courtesy of Economic Times.

On March 17th, 2010, Mr. J. Jessy Christin, Vice President – Human Resources, Hinduja Global Solutions Limited, chatted live with candidates on TimesJobs.com. He spoke on the topic of career progression in an organization.

The High Tea chat session was yet another big success with candidates expressing their appreciation for the career answers they received through the HighTea Session. Some of the highlights in the chat conversation, and the noteworthy quotes were:

“Growth has to be one’s way of life. Always look for additional responsibilities in your current role. This will help you to land in a larger responsibility whenever an opportunity arises in your company. Once you move up the ladder, the required compensation & benefits for the role / responsibility will get attached to you, by default.”

“There are many ways of providing career progression for employees in an organization. For example, in Hinduja Global Solutions Ltd., we have an institutionalized a practice of advertising every vacancy at Team Leader & above through a simple and a transparent Internal Job Posting (IJP) mechanism thereby an interested employee can apply for a new role as per his / her interest. Once he / she gets slected, the person is transitioned into the new role. This happens throughout the year. Most of these IJP results could create promotion opportunities for those individuals who get selected.”

“Career progression has to be always one step at a time.”

“As a starting point, you need to evaluate your strengths and areas of your improvements. Once you have done that & you have a clear understanding of yourself, you need to evaluate the current job you’re into. Check if that’s in line with your long term career plan. If its not, look for a suitable position (either in the same company or elsewhere) and take it forward.”

To read the complete transcripts from the High Tea session with Mr. J. Jessy Christin, click here.

Time and again HR experts worldwide have pointed out the problems of falling in the stagnant job. Many have also claimed that this is nothing but the end of an active career life and has both internal and external causes. But this is not true. There are many ways of successfully getting out of a job or career that is not taking you anywhere. Given below are the top 10 of these:

1. Evaluate and benchmark

Every career, at all stages of its life cycle, requires introspection and evaluation against set goals. “Following a strict regimen of evaluating your career progress against individually-set goals is a must and should be done every quarter. It allows you not only to do course correction, but also helps you realize the deviation from the path. Typically one has this realization when one meets one’s classmates during the annual alumni reunion,” says Mr Bansal.

2. Be realistic

Though it is not recommended to make amends in the overall goals every now and then, it is advised that one be realistic in the approach. This can be in the context of the overall economic scenario, industry benchmarks and personal capabilities. One should not set expectations which can lead to unnecessary stress at the work place. This is more dangerous than the stagnant situation itself.

3. Upgrading skill sets

One needs to be aware of one’s potential and education.

“It is recommended that a professional look at constant upgrading one’s skill sets in line with the industry requirements and one’s own company. For example, if the Indian finance professionals are to be IFRS-compliant by 2011, then it becomes imperative that a finance professional undergo the requisite training. This shall keep one ahead and alive in the race,” says Mr Bansal, adding, “enroll in a continuing-education programme.”

4. Network

The paradigm shift in the way businesses are run today requires one to network. Various social and professional networking sites allow you to network and also help you look at newer opportunities, allowing you to change course.

5. Get mentored

If you think you are facing a problem in understanding what you need to do, seek professional help. “Today there are industry associations like Tie and others who help you seek mentoring support and can introduce you to a professional coach,” suggests Mr Bansal.

6. Take challenges

Accept a challenge more often in the present occupation. This could be by way of accepting additional job responsibilities or being nominated on an interdepartmental committee. This keeps you exposed to your inner capabilities and provides insights at other work areas.

7. Take a break

Ten or more years into a career? Take a break. It could be by way of attending a conference or being part of an offsite program like a MDP program. This brings a fresh lease of life in you and brings about an attitude change.

8. Apply for a job

This really works like a dipstick test.

“An interview/ informal meeting with a prospective employer keeps you aware of your market value. If you are potentially ‘recruitable’ even today, you are doing well or it will give very practical insights on your areas of improvement. A real test for sure,” says Mr Bansal.

9. Meet old colleagues

Sometimes we find others guide us unto a new path of discovery. Meeting old colleagues helps understand the path we could traverse. An old colleague setting up a venture or an old colleague with similar skills like self working in a different sphere helps identify opportunities and potential areas of exploitation.

10. Have self belief

It is important that one continues to believe in self. This is extremely crucial to the overall development and helps avoid the situation of ‘steaming’ out.

“Each one of us needs to get out of the stagnant job we are in. This way we shall always be on the top of the agenda which we clearly defined for ourselves. Because it’s never too late to look at what we strive to achieve,” says Mr Bansal.

Article courtesy of Economic Times.

Despite putting in a number of years at an organisation and holding on to your job when others quit, you have been passed over for promotion.

Should you ask for a bigger role and a raise? What’s the best way to go about it?

Most of us try to avoid asking for a promotion or raise. But it is worth mustering the courage, as the rewards are worth it.  But before you present your case, here are a few questions you ought to ask yourself:

Does your performance speak for itself?

If the answer is yes, you have a chance. Present all your achievements since you started working in the organisation. Showcase how these achievements are noteworthy and need recognition in the form of a promotion and raise.

The best time to ask for one is immediately after a recent major achievement, where you have displayed exemplary behaviour (cost cutting, clinching a major account, process improvement or improved productivity).

But remember that your past performance, ability to perform under pressure and meet tight deadlines also enhances your chances for a promotion.

Are you ready to take on additional responsibilities?

Promotion means additional responsibilities not only towards your job, but towards organisation building too.

The expectation levels will also increase the moment you move to the next level. What was exceptional performance in the last role would be considered average in the new role.

As you move ahead in your career, remember that there is no scope for complacency.

Is there a position that you can fill in?

Companies do not offer promotions merely to satisfy employees. There must be a vacancy available. Organisations do not create positions to fulfill your desires.

Even if they do so, within a couple of months you will realise that you are still stuck doing the same old routine tasks.

However, if you have been creating value additions, been efficient and well informed, there is a possibility of you being given an opportunity to do something different, where you create something from scratch, perhaps even a new department.

This is your true test of performance, potential and perseverance.

How to raise the topic?

Be very sure of what you want, why you want it and what makes you fit for the role. Do not show dissatisfaction at your current state of affairs.

Present a positive picture by mentioning that you wish to contribute more towards the organisation’s growth. Presentation with valid, relevant data would make your boss realise your potential.

Perceived potential for growth matters a lot. Keep statistics handy during the discussion; showcase your contribution and achievements.

Not getting the deserved raise?

You have worked hard and feel the raise you have got does not match your investment in the firm. Will the threat to quit, work? This is common in many organisations.

But, it’s unethical and has a very slim chance of working. Do not lose hope, keep performing and adding value, and always remember to showcase your achievements. Do not stop enhancing and upgrading your knowledge and skills. It will come in handy during the next discussion (or in a new job).

Remember; do not hound your boss with constant reminders. It would be a good idea to track your performance through objective performance management, setting goals and tracking achievements will give you the benefit. It is not said without reason, tough times never last, tough people do.

Article courtesy of Economic Times.

Do you wonder about career progression in an organization? This and more will be answered in our next TimesJobs High Tea Session. If you want to know more about how to achieve career progression in an organization, catch a High Tea Session with Mr. J. Jessy Christin, Vice President – Human Resources, Hinduja Global Solutions Limited.

He will be live on chat to answer your questions on March 17th, 2010, between 3:00 PM & 4: 00 PM.

The high tea sessions have been met with smashing success on the TimesJobs site. Both recruiters and candidates alike have been flocking to hear the news and views of guest speakers on the site.

You can also click here to see the transcripts of our previous High Tea sessions.