Q: I am a 26-year-old BCom graduate. I completed my Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) course and will sit for the global exam soon. I have been in the hardware and networking field. I have worked on router/switches etc. but have little knowledge of servers. I want to build my career as a network engineer. Which course will be suitable for me ? 2003 Server or Linux? Will my BCom degree be a hindrance? I plan to pursue a part-time MCA. How should I develop my career?
Sandip Banerjee, Hooghly
A:Since you have completed your CCNA course, it would make sense for you to complete the global examination and prepare for the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification. Also, Linux has a lot of market potential. So, pursue this course and obtain the Redhat certification. Since you are keen on a part-time MCA, you can opt for Manipal University or IGNOU. These certifications will ensure you have working knowledge of a network engineer and hence BCom will not be a hindrance.
Q: I have been working as a primary school teacher for the past 28 months in Burdwan. In June 2004, I applied for the post of primary teacher in the Railways. I had left the experience column of the application form blank because at that time I could not obtain the no-objection-certificate (NOC) from my present employer. If I produce the NOC at the interview, will it be considered as suppression of fact? If yes, then should I face the interview as a fresh candidate?
Sreyoskar Saha, Durgapur
A:It is always best to share accurate facts in an interview. Sharing your work experience at the interview will definitely give you an advantage. It is best to produce the certificate if requested and take the interview as an experienced teacher.
Q: I am a 35-year-old diploma holder in industrial electronics engineering, presently working as a maintenance supervisor in an MNC. I have 10 years? experience in maintenance/ commissioning and services. I get a moderate package and am reasonably satisfied, as my requirements are not high. But I feel bad when other young graduate engineers get a higher post and more money. Please suggest a course that has good future prospects. I would love to do some short-term correspondence courses which can really add value to my experience. Should I go for a diploma in management (DIM) from IGNOU? Will it help me get a promotion? When combined with my experience, will DIM become equivalent to an MBA?
Pradeep Bhattacharjee, Bokaro
A: Taking correspondence courses in management will surely add value to your r?sum?. However, additional degrees or diplomas may not necessarily guarantee you promotions. The curriculum at IGNOU has two separate programmes: DIM and MBA. DIM has only seven courses compared to MBA which has 21 which obviously means that these two are not equivalent.
Q: I have been working in a renowned logistic company since April 2005. I got the job after completing my masters in personnel management and industrial relations from BHU. Now I want to opt for more degrees in HR. Please suggest a suitable diploma/degree course. I am based in Calcutta.
Subrata Sarkar, Calcutta
A:Assuming you would like to be based in Calcutta, there are full-time as well as part-time courses which you can take. The courses are available at IIM Calcutta. You can either opt for a regular or for an evening course and specialise in HR. IISWBM also allows specialisation in HR and you can obtain a degree from Calcutta University. Other than these two renowned institutes, there are other institutes like IMM, NIPM where you can consider full-time courses. However, if you are open to moving out of Calcutta then you can opt for institutes that have courses dedicated to HR.
You can also join the most renowned institute for HR in India: XLRI, Jamshedpur. Other good institutes are: Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai; Symbiosis, Pune; and Xavier Institute of Social Sciences, Ranchi. These offer full-time courses. You may browse www.indianmba.com for more information on institutes and courses offered in HR.
Send your letters to HR Matters at The Telegraph, Jobs Desk, 6 Prafulla Sarkar Street, Calcutta 700001; or fax at 2225 3142; or send emails to jobs@abpmail.com. All letters should have your full name and postal
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