Changing Jobs- To Be or Not To Be

I came across an interesting article on Job Hopping in The Economic Times. It talks about the pros and cons of changing jobs frequently. 

Sometime back I attended an HR conclave where one of the topics of discussion was job stability. One of the senior HR leaders from service industry said that they now look at minimum stability of one and a half years in one organization, while recruiting a candidate. The threshold used to be around three years only a couple of years back. And he predicted that in another couple of years working with an organization for one year may well become the benchmark for stability. The group was coherent on this and agreed that this was more in case of the Generation Z, which was more eager to learn and grow, and may be more impatient. 

While this may be the sentiment of the new young generation of professionals, but those who are at the decision making positions, still consider even a two year stint as being unstable. 

This can well be termed as the Generation Gap. But, the crux is that anyone will continue or change basis the learning and growth opportunities available. The human mind needs constant fodder. It seeks new challenges. If the present organization can provide the same, it is well and good, else the job hop.

Thank You Alma Mater

Last week I had an opportunity to go to my Alma Mater for Campus Recruitment for my present organization. It was a very proud moment for me. Not only did I stand brimming in front of the aspirants, presenting about the organization, I was equally happy showing my institute to my colleagues.

As an alumnus, I have visited the institute on numerous occasions, but going back to hire is always different. It was nostalgic as well, remembering the days when I was sitting on the other side of the dais. 

I always feel proud of all the institutes I have studied at and am eternally grateful to them. But for them, I would not be the person I am. Not wanting to sound too cliched, but I would like to use this opportunity and forum to express my gratitude to all my teachers and batch mates and seniors and juniors, for all the learnings. Thank You!

Crossing The Street- New Interview Tool

How many times have you wondered about the manner in which you cross the street? After reading this article written by Guy Kawasaki you surely will.

The article mentions that you can select candidates for a job, merely by watching them cross a busy street. There are five categories based on this logic.

As a HR professional, this is quite insightful. Recruiters spend a lot of time and resources to ensure that they get the 'right fit' for the position open. There are psychometric tools that are used, aptitude tests are given, body language is analysed... Any new tool in the market is up for grabs, just to find the right / best candidate. But more often than not, the recruiter has to take the blame for a non-performer when the buck starts getting passed. Wondering how many recruiters will adopt this new method also.

At least I am going to be a Wader now, if not already. You never know who is watching!

Knock-Knock! Its Winter

Dilli ki sardi is early. And not just early, its too early and hitting hard.
Its cold. Its raining. Its foggy. And its a working day!

Yesterday morning was quite a shocker, and today its colder. Woollens are not out yet. Didn't feel like getting up in the morning.

Thank God it is Friday today. At least over weekend I can enjoy the winter morning... I want moongfali

Phulkari Treasures

I went visiting Adesh's relatives in the interiors of Punjab during the second leg of the vacation. It was hard core Punjabi culture at its full. Since I was visiting them first time after our wedding, (though its seems a lifetime ago to me!), the ladies were all decked up to welcome me. And I, the supposedly new bride, was dressed in summer casuals. Thank God I was in right mind to dress in Salwar Kameez. Anyways, back to the relatives. They welcomed me with Phulkaris, my favorite. And I was already loving them. Generation old phulkaris adorned by these beautiful ladies.

Each Chachi had a different story to tell about her phulkari. How and when it was made? Who gifted it to her? What was the occasion? I was enthralled. How I love these tales, they did not even know.

Since it was peak summer, with no rains and long power cuts, the hand fans or pakhhis were out. These pakhhis were also embroidered with phulkari and had been in the household since ages. The ladies still make these hand fans on their own, and they even showed me a couple of these with work in progress. I could not help requesting them to make some for me as well. I was going crazy and Adesh was just laughing at me.

In the evening when we left I still had those beautiful treasures in my eyes.

Chutti Over

I am back and back after a long break. Break not just from the blogger's world but from the maddening metro life as well. I went on a vacation! It was chutti time. Adesh and I took a fortnight off and hit the road up to hills to escape the burning Delhi.

It was a vacation that we both thought was well deserved, though our respective employers may disagree. First one week was in Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh, in the towns of Sarahan and Sangla. The next week in the villages of Punjab.

Details of the entire vacation will be in the following posts. For now, its just great to be rejuvenated, but sad to be back in the rush.

Of Strikes, Traffic...and Stink

I was travelling to Kolkata early this week. I landed at around 8.00am, and took a taxi for South Kolkata, which usually takes 45min to an hour. Just as we crossed Science City, the driver slowed down and there was this huge stink. I had just started to wonder, when I realised that there were lorries after lorries loaded with garbage parked on either side of the road. The drivers were preparing for a chakka jam. Somehow we managed to cross the stretch at moderate pace, since it was still early morning by Kolkata standards. But, in my heart of hearts, I was dreading the return by the same route a couple of hours later. I had to be at a conference in Salt Lake.

And my worst fears came true, when we were stuck for almost 3 hours on that road, on our way back. I almost threw up because of the stink, and it was a very humid day.

But the question to which I fail to get an answer is, what purpose was solved by this blockade/ strike. My cab driver was also a Bengali, and he was equally angry. There was wastage of time, fuel, money. The aam janta surely was not sympathising with the strikers. Who likes the stink!!!
And I guess, this can happen only in Bengal.

Discovering the family heirlooms: Phulkari

I am writing this post on our way back from trip to Patiala, while Adesh is driving on NH1.
During my last visit, I had discovered some Phulkaris at home and I continued from where I had left last time.

Beeji often tells tales of how as a bunch of young girls, she, her sisters, cousins and friends, they used to sit together and embroider their Phulkaris. Phulkari, literally means, embroidery of flowers, and is usually done in geometric patterns. She recalled that they used to get a special fabric called tool, from the town of Bathinda as they could not get it anywhere else. She showed one of her creations on tool. This one is in red colour with embroidery in mustard thread. It also has her name embroidered. It says: “Dari buni Gurdial Kaur Harnam Kaur Chatan Kaur te Jasmer Kaur.” (This piece was embroidered by Gurdial Kaur, Harnam kaur, Chatan Kaur and Jasmer Kaur). The piece of art also had some stains and marks on it. Beeji explained that this is on the part which was used to cover the head, and the stains are of wet earthern pitchers, which were used to carry water in those times.



I got the piece dry cleaned, and wow, it has some original sheen still left on it. I am going to use this piece of family heirloom as a dupatta for myself.


PS: We just crossed Karnal. iPod playing ABBA song I had a dream...

Thought for the day

"When one is out of touch with oneself, one can not touch others."

- Ann Morrow Lindbergh

Election Campaigns: All Q and no A

Today morning, while driving to office, I heard the BJP election ad on FM. They had a long list of things which the ruling party has not delivered on, for example, the slowdown in economy, concerns on job security, rising prices and so on.

Generally, or so I think, all political parties tend to take the similar route during the election campaign. They would highlight and question what the incumbent has not done.

Agreed that these are all concerns and I am also concerned about these issues that effect me. But, what is the solution? And, I am not a staunch Congress supporter. But, what I do want to know is that what will BJP do about these issues if they are voted to power? Or, for that matter, what will any other party do about these issues if they become the governing party? Will they please stop questioning and start answering...

Tax saving woes

It is the time of the year when every one you know is on an investment spree. Reason being, it is time to submit proofs for tax saving investments. I have been signing these declarations for four years now, but still can not make head or tail out of it. Every year I resolve to invest on a regular basis all through the year, but some how the resolution fades away. And the panic button strikes in January.

Actually, I am never able to calculate how much tax will be deducted. Thankfully, this year the payroll guy in my organization is a little friendly and has told me exactly how much I need to invest. Alas, it too late! All the hard earned money went into holidaying, partying, watching movies, eating out... and for EMIs of the house that is still to be occupied!

Woes of a middle class + service class Indian citizen. Wondering why can't holidaying be tax free?

Happy New Year

"If you want to be happy, be."

- Leo Tolstoy

Its time to PARTY!!!

Its 30th of December of year 2008... and the hottest topic of discussion is, "Where are you going for the New Year Eve Party?" For all those like me who have not yet gone on year end vacation, its little difficult to choose from zillions of options available (not literally, of course). I went to a party on Saturday, 27th Dec and it was THE topic of every small talk.

Well, lets consider the options available.... going with friends or attend a do at any restaurant/ hotel. Even among friends, which groups of friends?

Hope to sort the dilemma over dinner with Adesh, else we will end up in front of the dear TV!

The 'Oye' Factor

I was watching Farhan Akhtar's new show 'Oye! Its Friday!' the other day and just could not stop myself from wondering about the catchy title. The recent Abhay Deol starrer Oye Lucky Lucky Oye can probably owe a bit of its success to the two 'Oyes' in the title. After the much popular song of the 80s 'Oye Oye' from film Tridev, its time to groove to the title track of Oye Lucky Lucky Oye. I like to call it the return of the "Oye Factor".

Run for India

There is a running group in Gurgaon, Running and Living. They organize runs on every first Sunday of the month. This month, on 7th Dec, they had the 5km run called 'Run for India', in the wake of unfortunate events in Mumbai. They had tied up with Red FM, Gatorade, Reebok. The Gurgaon Half Marathon of 21km was also on the same day.

It is always a fun to be part of such events and this time it was for a cause. It seemed that the entire Gurgaon has landed up there. There were school kids, old people, house wives, corporate honchos. People who had never run so much before were also giving it their best shot. There were placards with messages like, "I will not give bribes". In all, a very well organized event and definitely something to look forward to.

Manzil

I went to India Habitat Centre on Sunday with Adesh. It had been pretty long since we tasted Eatopia goodies and also wanted to check out a play by Vir Das, that was on. Unfortunately, we couldn't get the tickets for the play, but fortunately we witnessed the Annual Day of Manzil. We stumbled on it just by chance, actually more out of curiousity. While getting out of Eatopia we saw young guys and girls decorating the stage in the amphitheatre and it had a huge kite in the backdrop. That caught our attention. We waited for the event to start and eventually learnt about Manzil. Manzil is an informal school or learning centre, started by Ravi Gulati.

The function had children of all ages performing. And it was overwhelming to see the families of these children cheering them.

There was a short play, a band performance, solo songs and a performance by toddlers. There were 10 year old boys and girls dancing to the tunes of popular numbers, teenagers rocking the stage, and these can give reality dance show participants a run for their money!

By the time it ended, we were very much impressed, not just by the show put up, but also by the overall initiative of Ravi Gulati- Manzil.

Dealing with Doctors

In my present role with my organization, I interact a lot with the Doctors. All of them are Post Graduate specialists. I have always had deep regards for Doctors because I feel that their field of work involves rising above self and helping the mankind by curing diseases. But off late, this belief of mine has started weakening. Over the last one year there have been numerous instances which have caused.

I have experienced them to be extremely money minded. This is still acceptable because in today's world who isn't. But then they will still keep on glorifying themselves and their profession. Give me a break!!! Either you decide that you are God's gift to mankind or you run after money.

They do not have the basic etiquette. Calling someone at 10pm on a Saturday, just to check if you can go on leave 5 days later, is a torture. Most of them will call on Sunday afternoon to tell you that They have received Rs 500 less in their salary. Agreed that these things are important, but you were taught to read time on the watch in primary school. These can certainly wait one more day. Worst was one doctor who kept on arguing for increase in salary because he has done his MBBS, MD and studied hard to clear Pre-medical Test. I got so irritated that I had to tell him that look dude if you have slogged for PMT then I have studied equally hard, if not more, to clear Pre-engineering Test and MBA entrance exams. And, believe you me, I was not at all kind while explaining this to me.

Some where I feel that when these Doctors are studying, their exposure is only to the hospitals, where they are interacting with patients. But these days most of them chose to work in private sector medical set-ups and hospitals, and are not aware of the corporate culture. I strongly feel that even medical education should incorporate communication skills and basic management skills in their curriculum. At least e-mail etiquette are a must. Even if these Doctors have their own clinics, they need to have sense of managing things and Hospital Management programmes are the key.

Whether this happens with others or not, I am not sure. But for me this exposure has been an eye-opener. Still have a long way to go...

Quote of the day

"All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his."

- Oscar Wilde

Thought for the day

"Lead, follow, or get out of the way"

- Laurence J Peter

Happy Independence Day

Wishing you all a very Happy Independence Day.

Lets all use our freedom the right way. And every time whether its Republic Day or Independence Day, I just keep humming- "Bharat humko jaan se pyaara hai..."


Vande Mataram