I have decided to quit…

… my current job, that is.

Although I thought I will be able to break my earlier record of the longest stint in an organisation, I couldn’t. I have no regrets though. I’m now an owner of a company

Ohh! Bah! Meh!

Yes the post refers to the newly crowned American President, Barrack Obama. (The results were just out. Check Here) People are already gunning to be a part of the glory of the new king of the most powerful (?) economy of the world. Some one is composing music albums in Mexico and are dedicating it to him, some body has painted his portrait in Madrid, Spain. In fact a handful of Indian techies donated a share of their wallet in the difficult time and contributed about $4100 to his election fund. I wonder what could be the usefulness of that amount.

Anyway, what worries me is a quote from the new President. “I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody” Whoa! Excuse me Mr. President, you are going to lead the largest capital economy of the world. Can we infer you have sounded a warning bell against capitalism?

A lot has been said against Obama’s possible socialistic approach. He had already cleared his anti-outsourcing stance stating the American corporations have a social and corporate responsibilities towards the people of the states. Looking at the already volatile market, companies, mainly the financial firms, have lost humongous sum of money. The best strategy that comes to my little brain is to save costs and look for alternate markets with small but immediate short term gains and large long term profitability. But the democrats (even Bill Clinton) feel the other way. They are striving hard to protect the rights of American citizens and have given assurances to most for a better social security and jobs. Yet with the complete no-no agenda on moving jobs out of USA (socialist stance that Obama is portraying) the future, at least the near one looks bleak. Many of the Indian corporations, especially in IT have kept their fingers crossed on the legislative changes, if any that Obama will bring upon. Obama voted against shipping jobs outside of US. He instead argued that America will give tax breaks to the corporations that are willing to invest in USA thereby creating jobs. {In the current scenario All US corporations are required to pay a 35% tax on income, but US companies are allowed to defer paying taxes on income earned abroad as long as that money is being used by the company overseas and remains “unrepatriated income.” That can amount to an indefinite deferral, and does offer an incentive for US companies to do business abroad. for reference click here.}

Hmmm… so the question mark for the honest startup entrepreneurs with middling credentials wanting to take advantage of the famous-American-free-trade-policy is here to stay. Guessing the way Obama is going to function, I think these are going to be the reactions of most Asians… “Ohh!… Bah!… Meh!”

Selecting the right job

PS: This is going to be a long post.

I recently posted a question on the linkedin network not knowing that I would get such an over whelming response. I have come across many people who have a yes-no situation when it comes to accepting the right role. I thought probably the visitors of my blog might as well benefit from the suggestion I got. So here is my question:

How do you decide a job or a role is right or wrong for you?
Explanation: I’m a sales strategy and presales guy with some expertise in outsourcing services and IT. Frankly speaking I have rejected more job offers than companies who have rejected me and decided not to offer. But there have been too many such instances in the recent past. The main reason is my inability to decide and go for a job/role. While I know what I want to become in the long run, I’m not able to decide what should I be looking at in terms of a company or a role. I seek help to over come this dilemma from my connects.

Here are some of the responses:

Vijay Reddy, Executive HR at Infosys:- Clarify what you are.Then every thing follows.First set an expectation for you which makes you to choose your role.

Soundara Rajan Srinivasan, Director at a Fortune 50 MNC:- Here are some criteria you could use to decide whether a particular job role is suited to you or not:
1. Do you really a passion for the kind of work that you will be expected to perform in the role you are offered
2. Do you think the job or role is worth your time and values that you personally care for
3. Does the job meet your long term goals or will it help you meet your long term goals
Pretty simple is it not?

Subhashish Paul, Sr. Executive at MGL:- Hi Mayur,
1) To decide whether a job or a role is right or wrong you have to do the fundamental analysis for yourself – SWOT! I am sure by now you know what are your strengths and weaknesses so the nest step is to see where is it that you want to go with your career (i mean what is that you want to do). There is a difference between what you are currently doing and what you “wish” to be doing. Something like asking yourself what is your passion?! For example, my passion is marketing and pre sales. So the next time you are being offered a job role think about if the job role is in line with what you want to do for the next 3-5 years (You can’t just keep changing jobs. Its better you pick a job that you like so that you stick to it for sometime).

2) A job offers – role, pay, location and brand name. Now you have to set your priorities and work towards these four parameters! Seldom will you get all the four parameters in a offer. So set your priorities first and this will in turn help you to choose the job that you are looking for!

Hope the inputs helped.

Phil Lidster, a consultant in knowledge management:- Hello Mayur
I might be reading more into your question than I should. But are you seeing any new job role as simply a means to an end? – “…I know what I want to become in the long run, I’m not able to decide what should I be looking at in terms of a company or a role.”.

Clearly there is a lot to be said for having long term goals, but sometimes these can be restrictive. You might be capable of achieving a lot more than you imagine. If you take a job that will give you work that you enjoy, in a company that allows you to develop your talents, who knows where it might lead? Why not go for work that you truly enjoy and find fufilling?

Best of luck

Abi Stevens, Client Management Executive at People Smart Consultants:- Personally speaking a majority of professionals choose an assignment based on face value and not taking into account the relevant contributions that could be enacted out during the tenure of employment. But given the volatility of markets today, every call made on a potential employment swap could see one make or break one’s career path.

Frankly speaking, total dedication to one’s current role in order to build up a net worth would add value to take one’s candidature beyond white paper.

But then again if already into a seemingly bad call, it would only pay to wait and be opportunistic on a sound cut. My comment would be, to be absolutely sure of what you have done thus far and build up on your key abilities to harness your acquired expertise.

Natalie Reeve from Polkadotfrog Ltd:- You’re obviously in a very lucky position (i.e. not so desperate for cash that you’ll settle for any old job), so make the most of it as long as you can afford it! When the right job comes along you’ll know; it’ll offer you all the progression you need to become what you want to be, and your future boss will share the same ideas for your career path (even if it’s doing his/her job in 5-10 years time!).

It’s possible – hang in there, make sure you keep your eyes open and don’t miss it when that perfect opportunity becomes available!

Monica Begum, Journalist:- If you detect even the slightest degree of resistance, let that be a clear sign this ain’t the right path for you.

John S. Rajeski, International Business Development Executive:- Good day Mayur,
Check out ‘Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters’ and/or ‘What Color is Your Parachute’ – two excellent career development resources.
Regards,
John S. Rajeski

Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Marketing-Job-Hunters-Unconventional/dp/047…
http://www.amazon.com/What-Color-Your-Parachute-2009/dp/1580089305/ref=sr_1…
http://rajeski.com/

Josie Summa, Principal Consultant at Redmond Consulting:- It’s quite ironic that you are in sales, yet you have trouble “buying.” Your problem is not knowing what it is you want to buy.

Decide where you want to be in 5 or 10 years and then decide what skills you will need in your toolbox to fulfill that role. Once you do this, develop several quantifiable criteria for judging any new job opportunty. If the opportunity meets the criteria and “scores” well, then by accepting the job, you are one step closer to your long term goal (only you can decide the “go/no-go” score).

Good luck!

——–

I hope these inputs will be useful who have a dilemma in selecting the right job or a role.

Read the offer document carefully before accepting

Okay I must admit that I totally suck when it comes to negotiating salary. Twice before I have been tricked into a low salary and complex salary structure. As a normal job hungry guy, I would quote a CTC and I was almost always fooled. (PS: For the sake of my self esteem, I must tell you that till date 14 companies have offered me a job at various positions. I’m in my fourth job right now…anyway). I never knew that HR guys are smart enough to add Employers contribution of PF to the salary. Whoa! Good thinking, which actually ends up reducing my salary. There are many such things, and you actually end up earning almost 25-30% lesser salary than what you anticipate.

So since I have enough experience of handling (read tumbling into) such situations, let me give you some tips.

1. Read the document first. Check the components, there must be a basic salary, HR, Medical and other allowances such as telephone, vehicle, etc. Ask the HR which are all reimbursable and how do you do that (its normally by submitting bills).
2. Most of the companies allow you to decide the break up, so ask for this. In case you are confident of producing bills, ask them to keep your basic salary to the minimum for your post and increase the billable allowances (Mobile, HR, Vehicle etc.). Do the vice versa if you can’t produce bills.
3. Opt for food coupons. They are good.
4. Most of us are not aware that taking PF is not compulsory. You can opt out of it is you have other better investment instruments (ELSS funds, Fixed deposits, PPF, Interest on home+education loans etc.)
5. LTA is not compulsory too, but as most of us travel to a distant location at least once a year, leave it as it is.
6. Make sure you keep the variable component to minimum. Also ask a procedure for disbursement of such amount, cross check with some one you know in the company.
7. DO NOT fall prey to assured bonuses and service agreements (bond). I would say a firm no. By the way these bonds are one sided. They can only take you to the arbitrator. You can not be sued or jailed. No one can even force you to pay the money too.
8. Most important: If you think you are worth X, quote X+3 and negotiate hard so that you get at least X+1. Always look for 50% rise, so that even if it comes down by half, you have a good bet.

I have fallen prey to every thing above. So now a days I have started asking the net take home component of the salary. Sadly, people think I ask too much