Q:I’ve got an MBA in finance and a BSc in IT (hons). I am working in an MNC in Sri Lanka. I am involved in SAP and have been given the opportunity by the firm via sponsorship for a SAP certification. However, my greatest skill is numerical analysis and I am thinking of studying for a CFA. I’m 25 years old. Should I pursue a career in SAP or opt for investment management or is there a combina tion of both available?

Nashad Najimudeen

A:Age is on your side and you can still experiment with your choice of careers. SAP or ERP is a very specialised skill and since you have got the opportunity to pursue the same via a sponsorship from your organisation, I believe that you should take up the opportunity.

Since you are strong in analytical skills, it can be used in any field in corporate life. An analytical and logical mind is in fact the foremost requirement in the ERP field.

If you are very interested in pursuing a CFA, you can do that while you are in your present job and can look for shifting careers when you have the right opportunity.

Q:I have done a masters in veterinary sciences (MVSc) and have three years’ experience as an assistant professor in a government agricultural university. I have heard about online teaching assignments from abroad. How do I go about the whole thing?

Indranil Samanta

A:There are various sites on the Internet, which invite applications for online teaching jobs in various disciplines and subject areas.

You would have to search the Internet with your specific requirements through a search engine. That will throw up options for you to choose. I am sure you will find something to your satisfaction.

Q:I am a commerce graduate with a background of working in rural marketing in both corporates as well as various development agencies. I want to go for a management degree. However, since I am working, I can only opt for either a correspondence course or an online course. So which is a better option — correspondence or online courses? Are the online courses recognised?

Abhishek

A:My advice to you would be to go for a regular MBA instead of opting for either a correspondence or an online course. This is because there is no recognition for these courses and neither is the corporate sector very enthusiastic about these diploma holders.

If you really want to build up a career in marketing, you should try to get enrolled in a premier institute or at least the other recognised institutes in the country. Your investment of these two years will take you further in your career than an online or a correspondence course can.