Talking Point | Your questions on careers

I have changed my job twice in the last year in the retail sector. I now have another offer from a bank. Is it okay to avail any good opportunity that comes my way? Can frequent job-hopping have a negative impact?

The talent crunch in retail, banking and a few other sectors has put pressure on organizations to employ in large numbers. In this process they sometimes ignore the critical screening parameters, one of them being duration of stay in previous organizations. Some employees are encashing on this opportunity, benefitting disproportionate high on designations and compensations. Today, there is a perception that this section of employees are good at interview calls and making promises, but are on the verge of quitting by the time their performance is up for appraisal. The current demand-supply gap may not continue for long and as the pressure on recruitments decreases, employers are unlikely to hire people who have changed jobs too often. Hence, it appears that you need to concentrate on your present job and focus on results so that your performance can be reflected in your CV when you try for a befitting position a few years from now.

I am a postgraduate in management from National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) with three years’ work experience in a bank in Mumbai. I quit my job six months back with the intention of taking up a suitable job in Delhi. I have not been able to find a suitable job yet inspite of the fact that agribusiness sector is witnessing a boom.

As a thumb rule, you should not resign from a job unless another appointment letter is in your hand. Some times, employees who are otherwise chased by many organizations are unable to get a single offer once they remain jobless for a short period. Most prospective employers assume that such a situation arises only if your ex-employer has asked you to quit. In order to counter this situation, you may proactively mention the reason for quitting your last job and volunteer to offer references of your past employer. Secondly, you need to make a list of all prospective employers, find out the contact details of the chief of human resources and approach him/her in person to discuss your candidature. Lastly, you may like to accept almost any assignment that comes your way, irrespective of the designation and salary. Once into a job, you can always make an effort to move to a better one. A mix of patience, strategy and willingness to accept a comparatively low-paying job for sometime can certainly help you come out from a temporary difficult phase. Your good education and work experience should help you bounce back within a few weeks to a few months.

I completed my MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and worked for three years with a renowned agri-inputs company. I then accepted a lucrative offer in Nigeria but am highly unsatisfied here. I now have an offer from a large-sized Indian firm for a senior position. However, the salary offered is the same as that of my last job with the Indian company. What should I do?

Looking at the basics, to move up the career ladder, performance is a pre-requisite. Also, performance does not come by unless the assignment is of interest and one develops a passion for delivering results. Such a situation looks unlikely in your present job. You may consider yourself lucky for having got an offer from a good company and at a senior level. Once you are able to protect your seniority, salary corrections can always happen in later years. Considering your length of work experience and age, there is no need to stay on in an uncomfortable assignment.

The current option appears good enough without too many compromises. Hence, you may like to ignore the compensation part and undertake an assignment of your liking at your preferred location.

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