Topic Expertise :  Skill Development

Amit Bhatia CEO, Aspire Human Capital Management

  Amit Bhatia is a social entrepreneur in Education. He has over 20 years of management experience. Till 2007, he served as founding CEO of WNS Knowledge Services which he built to a 1200-strong operation. Prior to WNS, Bhatia served as the founding country manager for FreeMarkets Inc., leading its supply chain consulting business, offshore development centre sknd global knowledge management. Most notably, Bhatia conceived, founded and led the McKinsey Knowledge Centre in New Delhi, the consulting firm's global research centre, serving over 80 McKinsey offices worldwide. He has also held analytic and research positions at American Express and Brisk Equity Research.

Bhatia has a Bachelor's degree in Commerce from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University and Master's Degree in Commerce from Delhi School of Economics (with a Gold Medal). He is also a qualified Cost and Works accountant.Amit is a Trustee of The Aspen Institute India, an India Leadership Initiative Fellow of The Aspen Institute, Charter Member of TIE, and, on CII's National Committees for Education & Skills.

Anvar: I am looking for a job but I am a bit confused about my career. I have done Diploma in software engineering and I am also A+ certified and now I have experience in market research field so now I am looking for a good job which can give me money as well as a career.

Expert comments: You should definitely pursue a carrier in software engineering. Even if you do not get into the top firms, still try for tier 2 firms and then work your way up there or later on move to tier 1 firms. Also gain experience first, master what you do and money will automatically follow.


Faisal. Kutrekar: Currently I am working in Tata Consultancy Services. I have keen interest in Business Analysis. Will a Distance Learning MBA fulfill my requirement to get my career ahead in management trend?

Expert comments: You should aim at a part time MBA should time and resources permit. There are also specialized courses in  finance which you could opt for. However if your situation only permits a distance MBA, go in for a good institute. All these will definitely help your goal however in conjunction with hard & diligent work.


Pradumnya Diwanji: I am a 28-year-old professional, at present pursuing my PG in Media & Entertainment Management. A hospitality graduate, I have previous work experience of over 5 years, both overseas and in India in various roles within the service sector. I am interested in Movies & Sports Marketing as a career. Please advise on how should I sell or position myself during an interview at this point in my career, and how would I be able to parlay my previous experience in the current industry context.

Expert comments: Your current education and past experience perfectly align with the career you are interested in taking. Fundamentals of marketing are pretty much the same in entertainment, hospitality and sports, however one needs to be updated with the finesses of each of these lines. You should highlight your experience abroad and study specific requirements of your desired career in detail before going for the interview.


Ratish Menon: I did B Tech in EC and then I worked for 4 years in Sutherland global services ltd. and I'am currently doing (MBA in Information system + Master program in Telecom Management). My concerns are follows: 1.Which industry is good for me to have a better start for my career? 2. Do I have to go for any other skills apart from this degree that I have earned that would add value to my CV like six sigma or SAP or lean-six sigma etc.? Please advice.

Expert comments: You have studied enough and also have sufficient experience to move ahead in your career. Depending on which services of Sutherland you are engaged in you could definitely look to move up the corporate ladder. Also the qualification you are pursuing will open doors, both in IT & Telecom. Just focus on shaping your managerial capabilities and let courses like six sigma be taken care by the corporate you work in.
 

Expert comments: Firstly, this is great that you recognising a development need and not sweeping it under the carpet. Second, you need to urgently find a great communications training program, either internally or externally. If your company has a training department/calendar, volunteer yourself for a communications training. If not, look for a written/verbal communications training program (based on your need) in the open market. There are multiple finishing schools and training companies which offer such short-term trainings.
 

Mahesh Thakur:When is the best time to go for career counselling? I am in 10th std now and have not benefitted from the advice provided. Should I wait till 12th to firmly decide on something?

Expert comments: You should start garnering informal opinions immediately. However, once you are done with your Class X, please feel free to seek professional counselling advice as well as take a few career preference tests and make a more informed decision about the subjects you want to pursue and career you want to target. Multiple higher education streams and institutions will require that you plan and prepare for them early enough.

Megha Shah: What scope does the Humanities department hold in the professional field?

Expert comments:Humanities does hold an important place in the society- many careers/streams like Human Resources, Marketing, Psychology, Journalism, Education, Art/Design, etc. draw students and professionals liberally from Humanities. However, your decision to choose Humanities should be based on your genuine passion to pursue this and should not be a negative choice.

Niyati:I am an HR professional with an experience of 4 years and an MBA degree from a good college. Should I opt for higher education at this point? 

Expert comments: It totally depends on your future career aspirations. If you feel you want to pursue higher education (which would mean a pre-doctoral or a doctoral degree), it should be for an academic, research & development or analytics career. If you feel you want to pursue higher education for advancement in current role, you may also want to consider more professional courses or short executive courses in HR.

Jacob:I am in my last year of college and will be sitting for my placement soon. How can one learn etiquette and presentation?

Expert comments: Finishing schools are ideal training grounds both for etiquettes, graces and personal grooming as also for communication skills (including presentation). Please look for a recognised finishing school where you can acquire such skills. Also, most colleges and universities now provide personality development and soft skills training to final year students. Check with them if they have something planned for your batch anyway.

Priya Singh: Our department is planning out some training programmes for succession planning. Our experience tells us that juniors find it really hard to learn from such sessions, especially because it has no immediate implications. Can you suggest some measures to bind their interest and make these programmes more effective?

Expert Comments: The senior management has a bigger perspective on organisational growth and almost all managements want senior vacancies to be filled in from within the organisation. Thus, there is a need for succession programmes, which is perceived well by the ambitious few, who realise the long term-impact of such programmes. As the road keeps getting narrow on the way to the top, succession programmes in a way prune out the creditable candidates and thus not necessarily have to be appreciated by all.  

Ronak: I am a B Tech student in a reputed college and was considering going for an M Tech in the same. Though I could work in a core company, my first preference is to bag a good consultancy job. Should I pursue the M Tech or go for some other degree? Please advice.

Expert Comments: Pursuing a post graduation in technology makes you a domain expert. If this opportunity is being given to you by a reputed college and is line with the expertise you want to consult with, then, do give it a serious consideration. However, if the consultancy job you have in mind is not domain-specific, then going in for a management degree would be a good option. The same can be pursued even if you decide to work for a couple of years and then, go back to books.

Kedar: Do you see mid-level companies investing in their junior rung of employees where executive education is concerned?

Expert Comments: Companies will invest in specific trainings and not necessarily in lengthy executive education programmes. The onus of pursuing executive education is largely going to be with the executives.

Rupa: Does a diploma MBA course, as in PGDM course, have any weightage for working executives?

Expert Comments: Yes it does; in fact, education of any kind in the early or mid stages of one's career always pays off in the long run. However, one must carefully choose the education provider.

Payal: I have pursued an MBA in HR and marketing and have 5.7 years of experience as a HR generalist. Which course do you suggest will be the most beneficial for me?

Expert Comments: I would suggest you concentrate excelling in your job and get a mentor to guide you to success. You could pursue short-term courses of your interest thereafter.

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