|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Q What is Cost to Company (CTC)? Is it true that the average starting salary quoted by varies B-schools (e.g Rs 5-6 lakh pa) is, in fact, CTC, and that the actual cash in hand is only 60-70 per cent of the salary quoted ? — Vikrant Singh A We’ve all heard of the hefty salary packages offered to MBA students like the Rs 1.04 crore bagged by an ISB graduate or the $193,000 pa offered to an IIM-B student which made headlines in just about every newspaper. However, most fresh B-school grads are too awestruck by the astronomical figures to actually strip their salaries down to the basic pay or take-home salary. As a fresh recruit what you really need to watch out for is the little red herring in the jackpot---the salary package quoted on campus which is computed on the basis of Cost To Company. In short, CTC is the expense the company will incur on you, the employee. The figure is pre-tax, pre-Provident Fund/ Gratuity, and pre-much else. For instance, the CTC of company accommodation / chummery (which adds up to a fat figure, especially in the big cities). It may even include your daily morning cuppa or even the dreaded office picnic that ruins your precious Sunday. CTC is where the companies get to play around with the figures as the cost of these variables can vary from place to place. First of all, closely examine the term ‘probable income’, which is not guaranteed by the company. This includes the HRA, soft loans or the bonus that you receive at the end of the year. Companies have a way of manipulating these figures so that a hefty amount gets added to your salary, which you may ultimately never see. Expenses incurred for future training also eat into a major chunk of your salary pie — sometimes as much as 50 per cent. As you enter the swanky new office building bang in the middle of a metro city you may think it’s worth it. But let me warn you: some companies even include a rent valuation component for the office space you occupy. And at the end of it all, you also have to pay your hefty taxes. The inflated CTC figures apply to foreign offers as well. The dollar conversion rate may be very tempting but make sure you calculate the
comparative cost of living before accepting the offer. So be warned: all that glitters is not cash in hand. Reach for the stars
Q I hold a PG degree in physics (astronomy and space physics) from Punjabi University. What is the scope? I am also interested in research. Please guide. — Manoj Kumar A So, you are one of those whose vocabulary consists of tongue twisters such as Hale-Bopp, Leonids and Swift-Tuttle while lesser mortals like us are happy if we can spell Haley without an ‘i’. Great! Although exploring the cosmos is like chasing a gripping detective thriller, it can also be pursued as a satisfying career as have several eminent scientists like Jayant Narlikar or Fred Hoyle. Theoretical astronomy essentially requires doctoral and post-doctoral study as the work involved is fairly research intensive. You will enjoy working with seniors on their projects and being part of a worldwide network of astronomers. A certified astronomer has the option of working in observatories or government laboratories. You can also teach in planetariums and universities. Employment opportunities exist in organisations such as TIFR (GoI’s National Centre for Nuclear Sc and Mathematics), National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, Pune and Ooty, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, U.P State Observatory at Nainital, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Bangalore, Astronomical Society of India, Udaipur Solar Observatory, CSIR, Harish Chandra Research Institute (HRI), Allahabad, etc. Some researchers also go on to work at leading observatories and institutes Robust prospects in healthcare
Q I am planning to do a course in healthcare from the US. I want to know about the job prospects of this course in India. — Sulekha Doley A Of the top 30 occupations currently, 50 per cent are health-related. While employment in the private hospital industry may grow slowly, health practitioners, nursing and personal care facilities are expected to grow faster than in most other industries. Additional sources of new jobs are opening up in the fields of rehabilitation, health and fitness, wellness, imaging technologies, home healthcare, nutrition, new diagnostic services and prevention. Globally healthcare is a $4.5 trillion industry, simply waiting to be tapped in India. This sector will account for seven per cent of the GDP within the next 10 years. While it is projected to employ nine million people in the next decade (more than the power, railways and telecom sectors put together), there is an explosion of employment opportunities in the health sector even now. Here is a breakdown of the various categories:
Health technologists: Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians, EEG and EKG Technologists, Nuclear Medicine Technologists, Radiological Technologists, Surgical Technologists. Health technicians: Dental Hygienists, Dental Laboratory Technicians, Dispensing Opticians, Ophthalmic Lab Technicians, Emergency Medical Technicians, Health Information Technicians. Dietetics, Pharmacy, Therapy: Dieticians and Nutritionists, Pharmacists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Recreation Therapists, Respiratory Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists. Nursing Careers: Licensed Nurses, Nursing Assistants and Psychiatric Assistants. Health Diagnosing Occupations & Assistants: Physicians, Dentists, Optometrists, Physician Assistants, Physicians, Veterinarians. Healthcare Administrators/ Hospital Managers. Fruitful future in agri retail
Q I am a final year student of B.Tech (agricultural engineering). I would like to know the career prospects of the agri retail sector. Please advise. — Deepak Choudhary A With the world’s highest per capita density of retail outlets (12 million), India is becoming a major destination for investors and FDIs in the retail sector. And now with the entry of Indian corporate houses into the farm retailing sector you can look forward to another round of hiring in the booming retail sector. Experts are of the opinion that organised agricultural and food retail may be a relatively new field in India -- currently employing 35,000 people, but it is set to generate employment opportunities for a whopping 2.50 lakh professionals by 2009. For example, in Punjab, Reliance is setting up a mega agri-project that is expected to generate over 30,000 new jobs. The company is setting up agri hubs, rural business hubs and satellite rural business hubs. If you have the basic management skills necessary for managing a rural enterprise or co-operative and have a working knowledge of functional areas such as marketing, managerial accounting, finance, rural behaviour, rural environment and production, rural research methodology, field studies of rural producers, human resources, integrated rural management, etc, you are looking at a golden opportunity within the industry. There is a great demand for professionals who understand the rural sector, especially the supply chain. With large organised departmental chains invading the metros and the growth of the consumer class, retail management has begun to occupy an important link in the marketing chain. No longer confined to small businessmen and mom-and-pop owner-operated stores, organised retailing is one of the fastest growing sectors in our country. Salaries in organised retail are quite competitive: While a graduate in agri-business management can take home a salary of close to Rs 4-8 lakh p.a the news is that with entry of bigwigs like Reliance etc, salaries are expected go up by 40 - 50 per cent by next year. Faced with an acute shortage of skilled professionals, poaching within the industry is rampant. Career path: Customer Care Executive to Floor Manager in a year or so; then Department Manager and finally, Store Manager. The writer is a noted career consultant Please send in your query, preferably on a postcard, along with your full name, complete address and academic qualifications to: Editor, Jobs and Careers, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030, or at careers@tribunemail.com
|
