Q: I am a 30-year old commerce graduate with accountancy honours. I have completed my PGDBM (finance) in 1998. Thereafter, I have worked in some organisations in Rourkela and Ranchi as an accountant on a very low salary. In 2003, I joined a reputed company in the area of marketing. But now I wish to change my job. Should I return to finance or should I pursue some professional courses which will help me to get good jobs with a decent pay structure?

I have only one-and-a-half years? experience in accounts. Should I go for some professional degree in the area of marketing like international trade, export import management? Please advise.

D. Saju Kumar,
Rourkela

A: You have not mentioned the details of your current stint in terms of product, company, role etc. However, based on your background, it would be advisable to look at using your skills in marketing and finance, by doing a ?financial advisor? role with either an insurance company or a bank.

That way you will be able to live in Ranchi or a larger city nearby and use your skills without any loss of work experience. It would be prudent to contact some reputed local insurance companies and find out about their programmes.

Q: I hold a MBA (finance) degree and I have three years? experience in the banking sector. My current designation is that of an assistant manager. What will be my career prospects if I undergo a SAP training? Which modules should I opt for?

Ranjitha Iyer

A: SAP is an ERP system used by all companies alike and has several modules (finance, manufacturing, HR). It is practically impossible for one person to master all modules. Also, SAP training is an expensive affair, so please think carefully before you take that road.

Banking is today one of the five hottest sectors in terms of jobs and salaries. My advice would be to try and see how best you can move within the existing system in terms of a lateral job shift prior to venturing on the SAP road. I wish you all the best in your endeavours.

Q: I have done my graduation in economics honours and then my postgraduate diploma in business management. I have over five years? experience in the field of sales and marketing and I have worked in various industries. Since 2002, I have been working in Dubai. I believe that the job scene in India is improving and there are opportunities available in diverse fields. Hence, I was considering the idea of returning to my country. Is that a prudent idea? How should I go about it?

Name Withheld

A: Yes, India is on the roll, and it is a good time to come back. Send your r?sum? to consultants who have a presence in the cities and in the areas that you want to work in and hopefully, they should be able to find a match.

Q: I am a 25-year-old MBA (marketing) with a commerce background. For the past seven months, I have been working in a software company in Calcutta where I have to look after the entire marketing and sales activities. However, my salary is less than Rs 5,500 and without benefits of any kind. I have registered myself with many placement consultancies and they are mostly offering me jobs in the insurance and finance (direct sales) sectors. But I am interested in electronics, FMCG, consumer durables, airlines, etc. But to date I have not got a call from any such industry. I have about two years? experience. I am getting frustrated. What should I do?

S.Saha,
Calcutta

A: Do not lose heart. Placement agencies? work is based on client assignments and therefore if there are no client openings in your areas of interest, it may take some time before you get a call. Also, from your profile it seems that you do not have much work experience. Therefore, in almost all cases you will have to start in a sales or marketing role.

So you need to take a call on whether you want to be fixated on the sector that you would like to work in, or excel at the function of sales or marketing which you can do in almost any sector.