Q: I am 42 years old and have been working as a marketing manager in a Calcutta-based company for the last decade. I feel that I’m stagnating in my job. I want a profitable change in my career. I don’t have an MBA degree. How can I get a senior position?

A: The experience that you have gained over the years in the marketing domain is very valuable. The challenge is to leverage these skills. A management degree will help you to look for newer avenues. It will also give you a good theoretical grounding on general managerial aspects.

I would advise you to do a part-time MBA. Post your resume on job portals and look for a consultant who has experience in the marketing management domain. Finding a job to your liking with the help of experienced professionals should not be a problem.

Q: I completed an MBA (marketing and finance) from IIPM, New Delhi. I then joined a small organisation providing IT solutions in some haste, due to financial constraints. I have been working for a couple of months now but cannot enhance my skills here as there are no new projects to work on. I work as an IT consultant and also handle PR. I don’t have an IT background. Should I go for an IT management course or a PR course?

A: I can understand your predicament. However, all is not lost. As you have a management degree, you can certainly look for better jobs. I would advise you to post your resume on job portals and get in touch with a recruitment consultant. I don’t think there is any need for you to do a fresh course right now.

Q: I have been working as a sales engineer for the last six years in a private company, which provides water treatment solutions. I am 30 years old and have done mechanical draughtsmanship from ITI and mechanical diploma from Rajasthan Vidyapith. Should I go for a BTech or a BBA course? Are there any reputed institutes in or around Calcutta that offer part-time BBA courses?

A: As you have experience in the technical line, it is advisable for you to pursue a BE / BTech degree course. Some engineering colleges admit diploma holders in engineering to the second year of BE / BTech (part-time) programmes. As the classes are mainly held in the evenings you will be able to pursue a job alongside.

You can also enrol as a senior technician member of the Institute of Engineers, Calcutta. Becoming an associate of this institution is considered equivalent to a BE / BTech. There are other institutions like BITS Pillani and IGNOU that offer distance learning programmes. You can also go for a BBA course. However, you will then have to supplement it with an MBA.

Q: I am a 34-year-old arts graduate working in a private airlines company as a materials management executive. I have more than 12 years of experience in this domain. I have also completed a diploma course in stores management from the Indian Institute of Materials Management and a certificate course in stores purchase and inventory control management from the same institute apart from an advance diploma course in computer applications. I have also done a dangerous goods regulation course from the GPS Institute. I want to do an MBA in logistics / materials management through distance education. How do I go about it?

Aparesh Sarkar, Ichapore

A: A distance learning course can’t be compared with a full-time course. However, it is the only recourse for someone wishing to pursue a degree along with a full-time job. The biggest drawback is that it does not have the classroom component. If possible, take up a part-time course where you could attend classes on the weekends. This will help you to interact and learn from your classmates. You can choose a course after doing some research on the placements obtained by the alumni of the course that you intend to pursue.