Just Another Explorer: Career Start: Multiskilling Vs Specialization

Dear Friends

This is my fourth article in the series. Earlier three

· Interview-How to act as an equal with the Interviewer??

· Why I am MBA, not an Engineer??

· Is Professional Networking Important??

I am writing this article, to answer the questions I used to seek, and I find now, lot of starters seeking it from seniors.

I still remember when I completed my Mechanical Engineering and joined my first job in 2003. All my friends were placed in good companies in all the streams. And the usual style was:

· Initial Orientation i.e. meeting with top bosses and relevant people to give the feeling of grandeur and oneness

· Classroom Training i.e. Minimum skill set that every body in that company needs to have to start from the common platform

· Allotment of individual departments

And, I think that’s still the trend with most of the fresher nowadays.

So, as Mechanical Engineers, I and my friends landed up in departments like:

· Production

· Purchase

· Vendor Development

· Maintenance

· Quality

· R&D

And, most of us stuck to that department for quite a time i.e 2-3 years. Then came the job switch. Now, one has developed a particular skill set and the new company wants to hire the person. So, obviously the company will be hiring the person where the same skill set can be used or in other words the same department.

And so is defined your career.

Then after sometime most of us needed change of profile, and the easiest way was MBA i.e. good profile change, 1 or 2 years of holiday from work and on the business side.

But again, after MBA the same story is repeated i.e. Marketing, HR, Operations, Finance….. But slowly specializing in one department.

Now, let’s rewind it back to my first job.

After first 6 months of my production profile, I was in dilemma what to do? Should I go for new department or should I specialize in this department? And bigger question was should I stay in this job or change the company, as the job market was hot at that time?

So, one of my first bosses guided me that

· You choose the company where you can have multiskilling i.e. you see different areas of work.

It was tough call at that time, and I was not convinced as such. But, going by his word I followed this approach. So, I got my department changed from Production to Projects Department. This department used to decide which machines are to be acquired and if there is any major modification required in any prevalent process. Then after some time, I got my department changed from Projects to R&D. Simultaneously, got additional responsibilities in HR department in Training & Development domain.

During all this time, I was just wandering like a traveler, in each new department taking 2-3 months just to settle down, then learning a skill set, and again changing the department. So, in nutshell in my initial few years of job, I experienced lot of domains but didn’t specialize in any of them. It was tough, as I can see my friends getting command over their domains, which in turn helped them to command better salaries and control. At the same time, my parents were furious, about my approach. Their notion was simple, if you don’t specialize then what good can you do to any company?

Now, that was what I did. Why I did so?

· How much time an average Indian spends before getting started as a graduate in the first job? I think the average age would be around 21-23 years, out of which one invests 19-21 years during studies.

· Now, as a fresher, one starts in one department or domain and ends up doing the same thing for decades. Only difference is scale and place.

· So, one never actually gets much chance to understand where one can contribute better and where one can find more interest.

· So, my question is after spending 21-23 years why can’t we spend 2-3 years more to just understand, where our actual interest and potential lies? Can it be decided by just discussing or reading about it? I don’t think so. There is no substitute of experience. That was my take.

This approach, didn’t give me immediate results, but now reflecting back, I have better understanding of holistic business and especially Manufacturing Business, in comparison to had I been sticking to single domain. It also made me learn better during my MBA, then otherwise would have been.

So, my suggestion to lot of career starters is to experiment and find the actual interest and potential of yours

Via sharing this article, even if one fresher makes better career choice, my purpose is more than served.

Just Another Explorer

Prabal Aggarwal

PS: I got lot of queries, via forwarded mails that can one forward or use the earlier articles, I have written with the same motive.. The very idea, of this article is to share experience, so that the mistakes I did in my professional life, others shouldn’t do it. Even if one professional or student is benefited by this, my purpose is more than served. So, friends if you like it spread it. That’s the whole idea of sharing.

Friends, as an author of this article, I authorize anybody, can use this article for publishing on any media i.e. print, visual, audio, internet, forwarding emails, intranets, etc. Only request is that, the name of the author, body of the article shouldn’t be changed or altered. Secondly, would request to mention that this article was originally written & posted by Prabal Aggarwal, on Oct 29^th 2010 on www.managementinformatika.blogspot.com . You can start discussing with me and other readers, by commenting on the blog post. Also, if anybody using this content, feel like that monetary contribution should be made, you can donate on my behalf that sum of money to Project Why (http://www.projectwhy.org/), not for profit organization.

If you like this article, then subscribe to justanotherexplorer@googlegroups.com, by visiting http://groups.google.co.in/group/justanotherexplorer

Just Another Explorer: Interview-How to act as an equal with the Interviewer??

Dear Friends

This is my third article in the series. Earlier two were Why I am MBA, not an Engineer?? & Is Professional Networking Important??

The purpose of writing this article is to share my experience of changing trends in Interview Styles over the last decade in India and to share the techniques, where the candidate can act as an equal during the interview process, rather than a culprit during a Police Interrogation.

The idea is that even if one professional candidate can have a

· Better interview experience

· Better Negotiation

· Avoid common interview Pitfalls

via this experience sharing, my purpose of writing this article is more than served.

Is Pre Graduation or Pre PG Marks Relevant??

I still remember the campus interviews I appeared in 2003 during my Engineering & then during campus interviews of MBA during 2008

On the very first step I was surprised, that the companies had a cut off percentage for the candidates, in all the semesters, and during Xth and XIIth examinations. I used to wonder why, previous performances were given preference even though one had done an exceptional job in the interview process. More than that I was baffled that when the Engineering or Management Institutes had already admitted students with good aptitude, then why did the companies bother about the pre-engineering marks? Typically in India during their XIth and XIIth, engineering students focus more on cracking entrance examinations, than scoring good marks in CBSE XIIth board examination. The reason is quite simple, that apart from very few colleges like BITS Pilani, there is no weightage given to CBSE marks, during Engineering Selection. So, why do one need to focus on that? And, another aspect is that the demands of CBSE exams are quite different from IIT and AIEEE entrance examinations. So, the confusion and frustration was that why do the companies even bother about pre engineering marks??

And same is the case with PG like MBA. And a broader question, do these marks actually matter?? I don’t think so in most of the cases.

What does a company actually want??

Very often, in the job descriptions, we come across the term ‘Good Leadership and Management Skills’. But, if we introspect, these two are very different skill sets. Leadership tells you ‘What? & Why?’, while Management tells you ‘How?’. Let’s take an example of Mahatama Gandhi. If one has to answer, ‘Whether Mahatama Gandhi was a good leader or a good manager?’ I would say that he was a good leader, and some of his followers were good managers, which made the Indian Freedom Movement successful. By this I don’t mean, that Mahatama Gandhi didn’t have any management skills. Just that his leadership qualities were exceptional in comparison to his managerial ones. And, so is case with everybody. One has mix of Leadership & Management Skills, but both the things are independent and vary in degree. And hence companies should distinguish clearly, whether they are looking for a ‘Leader’ or ‘Manager’ or ‘Both’. The last catch is the toughest, but whenever it is there, it has made history. Similarly, the candidate needs to introspect, and assess, whether one is a better leader or a better manager or a good gel of both? And, accordingly choose one’s career path.

Loyalty Vs Hire & Fire

A very frequent question asked during interview is ‘How long will you stick to our company?’ Does this question have any relevance in today’s scenario? Companies don’t think while firing an employee. The recession hit corporate world, gave us many such examples recently. Then why should an employee think about the loyalty to the company. The typical answer company gets is ‘2 to 5 years’. But the very fact is till the time, company and employee are able to satisfy each other, the relationship continues.

Negotiation Pitfalls- CTC & Designation

CTC(Cost to the Company)- Every candidate is just interested in money he or she is getting in hand, after tax. But, very often candidate ends up negotiating ‘CTC’ rather than ‘In Hand’ salary. And company evades the clear break up till the last moment and in some cases during Campus interviews, don’t even reveal it. So, I think candidate should very clearly negotiate In Hand Salary after tax on an average

Designation - In conjunction with ‘CTC’ another googly is ‘designation’. But, most of the times today, designation is nothing more than a ‘terminology’. It doesn’t have any relation to the type of work or authority the candidate will be having. It’s natural, because with the ever expanding working population of India, companies don’t have any choice, but to please everybody atleast on ‘face value’. And, more often than not, employees feel frustrated once the reality sinks in after joining. So, my suggestion, is please don’t consider ‘Designation’ as a point to ‘Negotiate’, but the role and authorities, one can have

Seeing is Believing

Do you think that the onus of “Acceptance” only lies with the companies? Don’t you think that as a company, one can afford to make a mistake in choice of candidate, but as an individual, one can’t afford to make a mistake in the choice of the company?

If One has the experience or a job, there is no point of acting submissively or meekly or appearing very needy during the interview. It’s a simple DEMAND and SUPPLY issue. I want something, and I am ready to offer something in return. You want something, and you are ready to offer something in return. But, it would be on mutually agreed terms and conditions. I am no more a beggar, and you can’t make me feel like one.

Owing to explosion of Web 2.0 or Social Media, it’s not very tough for candidates to know about the company’s culture or practices. Still, ‘Seeing is Believing’. So, it should be essential to visit the operations of company before joining it. Whether it be Manufacturing, IT, Services… it always gives you the feel of the company. And, companies do entertain such requests nowadays, provided you insist and are unwavering in your stance. I did it with Fortune 500 companies.

Q&A-Can only Interviewers ask it??

Nowadays, very often at the end of the interview process, the companies give choice to candidate to ask any relevant question. But, most of the times candidates shy away. In today’s scenario, if it’s important for a company to make a right choice, it’s even more important as an individual to make a more informed choice. So, I would suggest asking as many relevant questions as possible during the interview itself. It gives the candidate clarity about the company and the role being offered.

Professionalism-Is it only expected out of a Candidate??

In a typical scenario company approaches the candidates, via consultants, and claim that opening is urgent with the Professionally Managed Company. The candidates prepare for the interview, take leaves to attend the interview, at times get harassed during the interview, and get an answer ‘That we will let you know about the result’. The candidate waits for a week then calls the consultant. Initially consultant entertains the candidates ‘That still the short listing process is on.’ ‘We will get back to you in 2-3 days.’ And, after few such calls, the consultants stop attending the calls of the candidate. ‘So, where is the claimed professionalism?’. ‘Where is the well planned, professionally managed company?’ ‘Where is the urgent opening requirement?’. All these things are expected only from candidate. And, I don’t understand that why the companies and consultants, most of the time, when they have made up their mind, don’t explain the real situation to the candidates i.e. ‘ You are not able to clear this round’ or ‘Such and such situation is prevalent, in the company, due to which things are getting delayed, or position is on hold.’ And if the candidates ask about the feedback ‘That what went wrong?’, again most of the times, answer is not there. So, my suggestion is that you can always give ‘Tit for Tat’. If the majority of candidates start following this approach, then the companies will automatically change to the conduct, which is actually professional

Now, I am just trying to say via this article, that things are changing even in third world or developing countries like India for the first time. There is a huge ‘demand’ ‘supply’ gap between the number of openings and the number of employable candidates, so no need to kow-tow in front of the companies, which are treating you as laborers. If company and opening is important to you, so are you to the company. And, company is not made by machineries, finances, brand image, political clout and systems. Its core is made of people and only people. So, if you think that you are getting what you want and in return you will be able to add value to the company, then go ahead, else be fearless and upfront in your conduct.

‘It’s just a buying and selling process! Nothing Less & Nothing More!’ (most of the time in today’s scenario)

Just Another Explorer

Prabal Aggarwal

PS: I got lot of queries, via forwarded mails that can one forward or use the earlier articles, I have written with the same motive.. The very idea, of this article is to share experience, so that the mistakes I did in my professional life, others shouldn’t do it. Even if one professional or student is benefited by this, my purpose is more than served. So, friends if you like it spread it. That’s the whole idea of sharing.

Friends, as an author of this article, I authorize anybody, can use this article for publishing on any media i.e. print, visual, audio, internet, forwarding emails, intranets, etc. Only request is that, the name of the author, body of the article shouldn’t be changed or altered. Secondly, would request to mention that this article was originally written & posted by Prabal Aggarwal, on Sep 10^th 2010 on www.managementinformatika.blogspot.com . You can start discussing with me and other readers, by commenting on the blog post. Also, if anybody using this content, feel like that monetary contribution should be made, you can donate on my behalf that sum of money to Project Why (http://www.projectwhy.org/), not for profit organization.

If you like this article, then subscribe to justanotherexplorer@googlegroups.com, by visiting http://groups.google.co.in/group/justanotherexplorer

Indian Job Search Engine

Dear Friends

I recently came across the site www.simplyhired.com. Its a job search engine, which extracts relevant jobs from all the job sites and display it. Its a global portal and primarily focuses on US jobs.

The Indian portal of the same group is www.simplyhired.co.in

It is also present in the www.linkedin.com job search feature, which is powered by simplyhired .

The wonderful thing about this tool I found is that you dont need to go to individual sites, but still can extract all the data from there.

Simply punch in the keywords and criterias like location, and all the jobs from all the Indian Job Portals and other geographies(if selected) will be displayed in single place

Happy job search :)

Just Another Explorer: Why I am MBA not an Engineer??

Dear Friends

I am writing this article, not as a boasting that I am a Management Grad, but as a sarcasm and regret, that why I am not an Engineer??

To tell you about myself, I did Engineering and then MBA.

So, as an average Indian student, in 1997, I was focused on the biggest fear or the D-Day, for each and every Indian student, has to slog, mug, burn midnight oil. Yes, that is the Board Examinations of 10^th. At this point of time, the only goal in front of my eyes, was to get good percentage, so that I can get admission in better schools (or colleges) for Senior Secondary Education.

So, as per destiny, I happened to score around 80% in 10^th Board Examination. Now, the D-Day was over, what next??

Do, we actually plan after D-Day?? I don’t.

Now, had to take a decision that whether to go into Medical , Non Medical, Commerce or Arts.

At that time, commerce and arts were looked down upon, as compared to Medical and Non Medical.

In my case, choice was easier. I can’t see blood. So, it was by default Non-Medical i.e. Physics Chemistry and Maths.

But, is it only because of this reason??

No!! It was something more. I was always fascinated by machines and technology and science behind it. And, now I was on my way to do what I wanted to do.

At this point of time, I wanted to be great scientist, inventor or discoverer. I think, I am not the only one, who thought that way.

So, next two years, were even more gruesome, preparing for Engineering Entrance Examination.

The Next D-Day, was already scheduled.

But, while studying these preparations for Engineering Entrance, I also enjoyed studying those subjects. To better say, exploring those subjects.

As, internet was not that prevalent or I must say, that was not in reach of an average Indian Student, so I resolved to libraries. I used to pick up books like ‘Unified Theory’, ‘Theory of Relativity’, ‘Para Science’, anything whose name was enticing. And, most of the time, I couldn’t make out much sense out of these books, as it was too early. But, still it helped me to keep the notion intact in my mind, or atleast maintained my hope, that I am gonna be what I desire to be. Will take some time, but will reach there.

So, after 2 years of hard work, I was able to crack the Engineering Entrance Exam, and was able to make it to a decent Institute, with the long history. Although, my cherished dream of being an IITian, was blown away, but still I was on my way.

So, everything started rosily. First time, out of your parents control. Complete freedom. In my case, as I studied mostly in boys institutes, so girls were the additional and I must say one of the most enticing factor.

Then, there I saw, such a big workshops, where we used to or I would rather say, forced to do exercises like Carpentry, Smithy, Fitting, Welding, Machining……….

But, then I was confused. Did, I did all the studies, and faced one of the toughest competitions in India, for doing this, to act as a carpenter or smithy guy?

Obviously not. My dream was to do inventions, to take science to next level. Work on uncompleted works of Great Scientists like Einstein………. But, was I alone in this thought process.

At this moment, I came to realize the difference between Science and Technology. Science is the study of the laws of nature that govern the universe. But, that is what I thought I would be doing in Engineering. Now, the term came to be understood as Technology. What is Technology?? Frankly, I was not able to answer this question for many years, I admit I have a dumb mind in that sphere.

But, technology is the application of science, not the science. That is the biggest eyewash, I had during my engineering 1^st year. But, I said ok , no probs, atleast as a Mechanical Engineer, I may be able to design the car, or aspired to design the best car. And, I think my friends in other streams like Electronics, Computers etc, had similar notions or fantasies in their field.

But, full first year, I was just drawing nuts and bolts. I couldn’t understand why???

And, then we were forced to do manual drafting or drawings. Again, I couldn’t understand, that when we have softwares on our computers, and it’s much easy on it, why I or anybody should do it by manual methods. Is it just the rotten heritage the Institutes are trying to carry forward? Or I was just not thinking straight??

So, confusion prevailed.

Now, the subjects came Chemistry, Applied Thermodynamics, Solid Mechanics,…………. And endless list. But, again I was not able to make head and tail out of it. I was not able to understand, why I am doing this cramming???

So, slowly the interest started drifting, the very idealistic mind of a fresh Engineering Students started to go for ‘Cut-Copy-Paste’. We had our ways. We used to call it ‘Glasso Toppo’. It was the technique, where you trace the diagrams and drawings, on your sheet, by the help of bulb, bucket and glass. And obviously tracing paper.

So, rat race again started.

But, I was loosing interest, as I was not comfortable cramming. Infact, I felt guilty cramming. And, couldn’t make any sense of the Prof, what he/she is teaching in the class, because it was purely theoretical in most of the cases.

So, what to do?? I stopped attending classes. My routine was that I used to read a novel, in the night. Sleep by 4:00 am in the morning, and then wake up at 12:00 noon for lunch. And, then of course, I couldn’t have missed labs and tutorials. So, I went to attend them.

But, slowly I realized, that after 5:00 pm, when the classes are over, then I become active. Talking to friends. Sitting on lover’s lane, or jealously staring at the couples sitting on the lover’s lane.

Then, I came in touch with lot of seniors, who were poaching us for their respective Clubs like Dramatics, Youth Welfare Club, College Magazines, …………..

And, we went with the flow. At times, I was selected in these clubs and at times I was rejected. But, it was part of the game.

In whole of this process, where is my Engineering???

I seriously don’t know. And after some time, I was not even bothered about it.

The norm was that it doesn’t matter, which branch or specialization are you from, big IT companies like Satyam, Infosys, TCS, Wipro…. Will come and pick us not in numbers, but in truckloads. So, career was set.

But, was it so??

So, continuing these extra curricular activities, I got involved in management stuff. And its obvious extension i.e. politics. And I enjoyed it. It gave me the feeling of power, feeling of belongingness, and a platform to improve my management skills. But, above all it gave me a feeling that I am creating something i.e. systems. I picked up the Club, which were having around 5 active members, and within the span of 1 year, I along with my friends made it 150 members.

So, now my college was secondary, and my extra curricular activities primary.

You, can say, that I started evolving as a Manager and devolving as an Engineer.

Then, as per our curriculum, we have to undergo 6 months industrial training in 6^th semester. I was selected with one of the best brand names, and went there with lot of expectations.

But, it was actually a shock. They wanted me as an engineer, not as a manager. They wanted me to install machines. They wanted me to increase the quality level to 6 sigma. They wanted me to develop gauges, and what not.

At this time, I was no more an engineer. So, I was back to square one. I slogged for 6 months. I did lot of work in many engineering fields of mechanical engineering like machining, welding, die casting……………..

Now, I was back at my college for my final year. And, again the same subjects cropped up with new Avtaar like Applied Thermodynamics, Metallurgy, Advanced Solid Mechanics, Theory of Machines,…..

But, I don’t know how, it became more interesting for me. I started enjoying the lectures. And at times, I was more knowledgeable then Profs, because they have studied it, but I have worked on it for 6 months. So, there was a again a drift.

In the final year, I went back to introspection, that why I lost my Engineering. The answer was very simple. Evey Prof, and subject and the course book, told me ‘How?’, but nobody told me ‘Why?’. In other words, nobody made me realize that why these subjects are important from application point of view. Or in other words, they never showed me big or holistic picture, they were just focused on micro elements. I am not sure, whether it comes under Maslow’s Pyramid or Theory X or Theory Y and other such theories of Organisational Behaviour and Psychology, but can one be driven without seeing the big picture? I am really sorry to say, I am not. So, when you don’t understand, ‘Why?’, then how can you feel like or actually master ‘How?’

But, the surgery was done. It was too late. I was now a Manager, not an Engineer.

Then again, I got my first job in an Automotive Industry. I worked mainly on technical areas like Machine Installations, creating systems like Just In Time, and then I was an engineer in the R&D, working on actual R&D, not the false R&D (which is just modifying the drawings and adjusting the designs).

It was the best profile, as a Mechanical Engineer, I could have got. But, Engineer in me was long dead.

And, now ask myself a question; why even in such a technical and creative environment of the Core Engineering, it couldn’t rekindle the dormant fire of Science & Technology in me.

The reason was again clear. In the technical area, one can grow, but not exponentially. There is a glass ceiling, that if you want to grow in the organization, then you should be Masters, and obviously in Management.

So, the choice was crystal clear, draw satisfaction out of Engineering job or make a giant leap both in terms of career and salaries, by doing MBA. So, I went for an MBA.

But, now I ask, if I actually had to do MBA at last, then why did I do Engineering?? Why I didn’t go for Commerce, which was easy, could have saved my one year (as B.Com is of 3 years and Engineering is of 4 years)?

It was too late. Past is the only event, which has probability value of 1. It can’t be changed. So, I lost so many valuable years, when I was at the peak of my youth, doing something, which I don’t want, and not doing something which I want.

So, has happened to ‘many many many’ Indian Students over these years. And, it’s still continuing.

But, recently after doing MBA, I came to realize that my batch mates, who haven’t done MBA, are drawing more packages than myself, even after doing MBA.

I think it was because the fad is getting over. We always, at least in India, give more powers, packages, fame, recognition……… to a guy who is ‘Managing’ the show. We don’t give all these things, to a guy who is actually ‘Giving Reason to Manage The Show’.

Just imagine, what will Management do, if there is no R&D, if there is no Quality Department, if Machines are not properly selected………..

In that case, I won’t call it a company per se, but a trader. It could be a big trader like Walmart.

So, with the fad getting faded, I think it makes more sense to pursue your actual interest, if it was science and technology, rather going for Management.

Sooner of Later, you will grow, where you have to manage. But, in that case, you have completed the journey to the top. And the journey was enjoyable and blissful, because you were doing which you actually wanted to do, in most of the journey.

So, coming back to the main topic. I blame, the whole eco system, which is superset of education system. And, to an extent, I was part of it. So, I am to be equally blamed.

So, at last I will say, that please understand ‘Why?’, and ‘How?’ will automatically come to you.

I am writing this article, so that the students or professionals, who still have time, shouldn’t repeat the same mistake, which I have made along with many others, and still making.

Via this article, even if one person is able to make a better career choice, my purpose of writing this article is more than served.

Well, at last, this was just my opinion or thought process, and I felt like sharing with you. But, the very idea is to stimulate or trigger the thought process, that ‘Am I doing, what I want to do? And why?’

Just Another Explorer

Prabal Aggarwal

PS: I got lot of queries, via forwarded mails that can one forward or use the earlier articles, I have written with the same motive.. The very idea, of this article is to share experience, so that the mistakes I did in my professional life, others shouldn’t do it. Even if one professional or student is benefited by this, my purpose is more than served. So, friends if you like it spread it. That’s the whole idea of sharing.

Friends, as an author of this article, I authorize anybody, can use this article for publishing on any media i.e. print, visual, audio, internet, forwarding emails, intranets, etc. Only request is that, the name of the author, body of the article shouldn’t be changed or altered. Secondly, would request to mention that this article was originally written & posted by Prabal Aggarwal, on Aug 6th 2010 on www.managementinformatika.blogspot.com. You can start discussing with me and other readers, by commenting on the blog post. Also, if anybody using this content, feel like that monetary contribution should be made, you can donate on my behalf that sum of money to Project Why (http://www.projectwhy.org/), not for profit organization.

If you like this article, then subscribe to justanotherexplorer@googlegroups.com, by visiting http://groups.google.co.in/group/justanotherexplorer

Interesting Applications: That can make Professional Live Easier

Dear Friends

Since, last few days, whenever I used to browse google on my mobile handset, there was a footer ' Google Search by Voice' . I kept on ignoring, this for couple of days. Then, finally I downloaded the app from http://www.google.com/mobile/voice/ and tried it. I was simply amazed. I never thought that voice can be substitute of text, because of tones, volume and dialect, which vary inevitably. But, it works. I won't say, that it works perfectly, but reasonably well to start with. And, morover Google has, given the option in settings to choose the type of dialect. In my case it was 'Indian English'. And, I am sure, that sooner or later Google will drill down to North Indian English, East.............., West......................, South..................... And then it will further drill down to Punjabi English, Haryanvi English.................. So, its a good start.

Secondly, application which I recently came across is Google Maps, whose app can be downloaded from here http://www.google.com/mobile/maps/ . Google has done a wonderful job, to create maps of all the major cities of India. Then there are features like, the level of traffic on the particular road (presently available only for Metro Cities). Another feature is, directions i.e. you define your starting point and ending point, and the transport mode. Google will give you different alternative routes for it. Above all, I liked the feature Latitude. This enables you to define your current latitude(location)- automatically (via wifi connections, mobile tower settings and Satellite) or manually or even invisible. The interesting thing about this feature is that you can invite your friends to connect and share their latitudes(location) with you. Now it will make easier to meet friends whenever we happen to be on a nearby locations. But, the flip side is that, I am sure that companies sooner or later, will make it compulsory for its employees to share their latitudes with their company database. I know its a debatable topic. And, I am sure, if it happens, then the subsequent action will be by Human Right Activists, against such enforcement by companies. Surely, it will interesting tussle, and finally(hopefully) free will prevail.

Anyway, I just wanted to share these two interesting applications, which has made my professional life easier.

regards

Prabal Aggarwal

Is Gmail or Google Account Safe???

Dear Friends

Just 2 days back I accessed my gmail. It was normal. After another half an hour I operated it, I was unable to access it. On trying I came to understand that not only Gmail but the whole google account got deleted i.e. orkut, google docs, blogger all gone in one go. I was unable to understand, when nobody else knew my password and I didnt delete it then how its possible.

I tried to approach various offices of Google India, but couldnt locate relevant guys there.

All this time, I was tense, all my contacts, all my data of 4 years including the whole data of my MBA, down the drain. It was indeed a major loss, for a netizen like me.

Now, next day I filled the lengthy google form, that I can't access my account. In half an hour my gmail and blogger was restored. Again, no intimation by google, that what went wrong, and is it safe in future or not.

Now after 3 days, still my orkut profile remains deleted. And I am unable to do much about it.

So, the point of me sharing this information is, that as most of us keep most of our data in the form of stored mails on gmail and other popular emails, is it really safe practice? So, please please dont use just one id, use multiple ids, if possible from different service providers like yahoo and hotmail. Secondly, regularly download your contacts in the form of CSV format. Thirdly, please keep all your important data in hard disk or computer, and keep on updating it on regular basis.

Because, if it can happen to me, it can happen to you also.

regards

--
Prabal Aggarwal

The New Era of Offensive Advertising in India

Dear Friends

I was seeing TV on last Friday, after so many days, and suddenly I saw the ad of Rin (HUL), in which it is openly negating Tide(P&G), its competitor brand. I was simply shocked. In fact shocked is an understatement, i was horrified. Never seen such an ad in my life.

The link to the ad is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M5rBXtK9iA

Is it new way of offensive advertising? How will it effect the future of advertising? I am unable to answer these questions.

Kindly give your opinions about the same.

Just Another Explorer: Is Professional Networking Important???

Dear Friends

I am writing this article, because I have recently observed my friends from premier B Schools like IIMS & ISB, and premier engineering colleges like IITs and very good career path in top positions of leading MNCs not able to get the opportunities, which they deserve. The point is that they don’t know how to search for this options. In other words, they don’t have good professional networking skills.

Now, professional networking or any type of networking can’t be taught, it is inborne skill. But, yes you can sensitize the one and help the one to discover the skill within.

I am not claiming, that I am expert in Professional Networking, but I have my own ways, which have proved to be effective. So, via this mail I would like to share my ways of professional networking. And would like to receive feedback from you guys, which will help me to further improve my skills. Anyone can connect with me via my email id aggawal.prabal@gmail.com or via my linkedin profile http://in.linkedin.com/in/prabalaggarwal.

Now the starting point of any networking is the will, the urge to network. It can’t be created, it has to be within oneself. I have seen my friends, sitting at home for an year, after being laid off during recession. They will continuously use the job portals like www.naukri.com and monsterindia.com, but to no avail. At these times, they try to meet people who are decision makers in good MNCs via their personal contacts, or via sites like www.linkedin.com. But, do you really think that somebody just met me at party or at linkedin, and next thing he does is talk about a job option from me. Will I help such a guy?? The answer in most cases is no. Till I don’t know that guy for a fair amount of time, I wont help him. So, the point is that network, can’t be and shouldn’t be built overnight. It needs continuous efforts and time.

Now, the medium for professional networking could be many. It could be attending professional seminars, it could be alumni or batchmates meets, it could be emails, it could be professional networking platforms like linkedin. And true networking, needs combination of all of them.

I will tell now my ways.

Few years ago, when I was doing my engineering, one of the professionals told me to keep visiting cards. I was totally shocked, how do u expect a graduate student to keep a visiting card. But he had his own point, that this may seem odd but its an investment. And when I joined MBA, this advice came very handy. Not many, students in my institute used to have visiting cards. I used to keep it, though it used to pinch my pocket. It helped me to keep in touch with lot of high fi professionals, I met during seminars organized by TIE and NEN. Then, sometimes it so happened, that during the vivas, I came across a professor, who was external faculty or unknown to me. I used to introduce myself, by exchanging a visiting cards with him. It may seem odd, but believe me I did it. And this used to take the viva on altogether at different platform (mostly I got better marksJ ). Now, since last ten years from my engineering days, I never used to throw a visiting card, I always used to store it. You never know, who could be of help to you, in future. So, this was the section covering importance of visiting cards, especially for students.

Now, there was a time, when I had my first official email id during my first job. And then best use of it (apart from official work), was forwarding interesting mails. I used to be in the race of sending most interesting mails to my friends, and vice versa. These mails could be good pictures, some masala news, some funny mails, some videos and what not. But, I observed, that most of colleagues when left the organization, they never used to send the mails , as they earlier used to. Second aspect was, that these things seemed good, while in start of career, but later on as the responsibilities grew, I used to grow irritated, by continuous flux of mails in my inbox. The reason was simple, that they were irrelevant mails to me, and they didn’t help me in any way at all. Gradually, it so happened that the friends who used to send these sort of stuff to me, I slowly started deleting their mails even without reading. I learnt from this behaviour. It so happened, that when I left my first job and subsequent second job, on my last day, I made a list of people, with whom I would like to be in touch in future. And the best and cheapest way, was emails. But what type of emails, how not to get marked as a spammer?? The idea clicked me, that one the email should be good one, which adds value to the receiver, and secondly, it should be infrequent. So, I made a list of email ids. This feature is easily available in all the frequently used mail services like yahoo. I made a lists or groups of email ids by tagging them with relevant nick names like company 1, company 2,…. Or mba friends, engg friends…. Then being an MBA grad, I had a wide repository of business articles. I used to send the best articles to my groups, in 2 to 3 months time. Not earlier than that. And it used to be continuous. This lead me to stay in touch with hundreds of ex colleagues even after 5 years of leaving the job. I still get mails, from these colleagues, that how come you haven’t sent an interesting email, since last few months. I keep on getting calls, from them, sometimes after 3-4 years. But it’s always a good surprise. So idea, is that you can use emails as a good source of touchbase with your ex colleagues or friends, without being marked as a spammer, on the contrary creating respect for your communication. But, still there may be many of the people, who doesn’t value it or still are not in touch with you. One can’t please everyone!!! Clapping happens, when both the hands participate, if one person is not interested in networking with you, you can’t force him to.


Then, the next way to do networking is participating in professional seminars or alumni meets. Now, I was ardent participant in all the free professional seminars organized by NEN and TIE. Apart from it, I used to participate in conferences, which were of my interest, and which my pocket allowed me to. The biggest challenge I faced, when I came back to Delhi, after completing my MBA in Mumbai. I lost touch with quite a few batchmates of my engineering, and now most of my MBA mates were in Mumbai. And it was the time, I was looking out for socializing and to expand network. Instead of waiting, for somebody to take initiative, I initiated Delhi Chapters of my engineering as wells as my MBA college in Delhi. This led to frequent meets of these chapters, where I was able to network not only with my batchmates, but with quite a seniors as well as quite a juniors. This actually expanded my network to a great extent. So, idea is don’t wait for anybody to take initiative. If you want to network, then create your own ways and take the initiatives. Another thing, I would like to emphasize here is that email is not a substitute for phone call and phone call is not a substitute of face to face meeting. Also, to make the communication effective and meets easy to organize, I created email groups of the participants and the possible participants. These sort of group services are easily available like yahoogroups.com and googlegroups.com. But, the problem was that I found that these groups were equally linked to the inboxes of all types of people. Some busy some free, some interested some not interested. And all the mails posted in them were not very relevant, which irritated quite a few members. This is an evil; I am not able to understand how to cope up with technically. At the same time, the groups I created with the view of networking, soon started having mails, where alumni started helping members to get jobs, to get more business. This was a real eye opener for me.


Then the latest tool, which is a boon to any networker are social and professional networking sites like orkut, facebook and linkedin. I like www.linkedin.com best for this purpose. It has helped me to connect with the people, about whom I used to read in the Economic Times or see on CNBC TV 18. It has totally punctured any boundaries imposed on professional networking. On the flip side, I had once the tendency to increase my network blindly i.e. my no. of connections should increase. But, later on I realized the difference between Active Network and Passive Network. If I am not interacting with the person I am connection of, then how it is better than repository of electronic visiting card? So, again the idea is to interact with the people you find synergy with. It can lot of topics for students regarding their studies, for professionals regarding their careers, for academicians regarding the research they are doing, for businessmen regarding their business. Infact, if you don’t have any purpose, than it will be very tough to network. In that case, at max you will be able to get back in touch with your old associates or friends. But, what about meeting new people. I don’t think it can be done without a purpose. So, have a purpose, and don’t be afraid of meeting and interacting with new people, that is the essence of networking.


Another aspect, I will like to emphasize here is that networking can’t be done by being selfish. If you seek to take help only, it will sooner or later diminish your networking capacity. Be willing to help others also, and that too in selfless way. This is the true essence of networking. Take interest in the people’s work, and try to think how you can add value to him or help him out via your network. Sooner, or later this will give you returns far more than you have expected.



Now, the purpose of writing this mail is not to boast about myself or my networking skills. I am also on learning path. But, to help my friends, ex colleagues and alma mater to take advantage of the skill, which is not taught in colleges i.e. Networking. Second purpose, of this mail is to start a dialogue regarding the importance of Professional Networking and the ways to do it. So, friends do reply to this mail to start the dialogue.

Regards

Just Another Explorer

Prabal Aggarwal

PS: I got lot of queries, via forwarded mails that can one forward or use this article. The very idea, of this article is to share experience, so that the mistakes I did in my professional life, others shouldn’t do it. Even if one professional or student is benefited by this, my purpose is more than served. So, friends if you like it spread it. That’s the whole idea of sharing.

Friends, as an author of this article, I authorize anybody, can use this article for publishing on any media i.e. print, visual, audio, internet, forwarding emails, intranets, etc.Only request is that, the name of the author, body of the article shouldn’t be changed or altered. Secondly, would request to mention that this article was originally written & posted by Prabal Aggarwal, on Jan 18 2010 on www.managementinformatika.blogspot.com. You, can start discussing with me and other readers, by commenting on the blog post. Also, if anybody using this content, feel like that monetary contribution should be made, you can donate on my behalf that sum of money to Project Why (http://www.projectwhy.org/), not for profit organization.

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