Q:I hold an LLB degree from ILS, Pune. I have worked as a tax consultant for two years. I want to switch over to HR or administrative jobs. Do I need any additional qualifications?

Suparna Chatterjee

A: Given your qualification and work experience, you may not need any additional course for an administrative job. You can leverage your experience of being a tax consultant in the area of compensation and benefits management. Other HR skills in areas such as recruitment can be developed on the job. However, if you would like to move towards a more strategic role, a masters or a management degree in this area is desirable.

Q:I am 31 years old with a commerce degree. I am a railway employee, working as a technician in the mechanical department. Are there any short-term correspondence courses that are related to my line of work?

Bhaskar

A:There is a one-year diploma (correspondence) course in rail transport and management, recognised by the ministry of railways and beneficial for railway professionals. You can browse their website, http://www.irt-india.com, for more details.

Q:I am a 30-year-old English honours graduate. I have been working with the central excise department as an inspector for the last two years. I want to switch over to some other job in the government sector. What are the avenues I could explore? Should I opt for a law degree through correspondence or a diploma in public administration?

S. Kumar

A: Switching jobs within the government sector might not necessarily provide you faster career progression. Many of the jobs within this sector follow a similar career graph. However, first you need to decide which work area in the government sector would interest you. In case you decide on public administration, a diploma would be beneficial.

Q:I am a BCom graduate working in an insurance company as a back office executive for the last two years. I want to do better in the industry. Should I do a licensed course from the Insurance Institute of India? Or should I do a diploma or a management course through correspondence?

Mantoo Kumar Singh

A:The Indian insurance industry is in a high growth stage and consequently, there is a demand for qualified people. You have not mentioned the nature of work within the insurance sector that interests you. Your course would depend on that. For example, if you want to be an insurance agent, you will need to take the Agents examination. The Licentiate examination from the Insurance Institute of India will definitely be an asset. You might also like to consider shifting to the BPO segment of insurance back office. Your present experience in the back office would certainly be valued by prospective BPO employers. In this case, you need not go for any additional course.

Q:I have a diploma in mechanical engineering and have worked for the past one-and-a-half years in Tata Chemicals Ltd. During the first year, I worked in the mechanical maintenance department and then I worked in the engineering store. Recently, I got a job offer that I accepted from Mitsubishi Chemicals Ltd, Haldia, where I am working in the process department. My job relates to chemicals and most of the co-workers and other managers have a chemical engineering background. Will it be better for me to do a course in mechanical engineering? If yes, then from where can I do it?

Name withheld

A: Since you have been offered a job by Mitsubishi Chemicals and have been placed in the process department, it implies that the organisation does not make it mandatory to have a chemical engineering background for this job. Therefore, you don?t have to worry about your qualification. You would need to focus on developing skills and knowledge on the job. You can pursue a management course at a reputed institute, as this would give you an overall management perspective. The website, www.indianmba.com, contains information regarding courses, admission and institutes.