Learn to accept what you can't change

As intellectually evolved beings, we constantly analyse all events and endeavour to identify the underlying likely cause. This obsession for a

cause extends even to actions or events of a past birth.

It compels us to look into outer space and implicate the movement of celestial bodies like stars and planets to serve as plausible causes.

Science has, to a large extent, been able to explain physical phenomena. But finding a cause for every mundane facile event might be taking things a bit too far. When the cause of suffering is diagnosed to be a person, it leaves one with a sense of victimhood. And along with it come anguish, resentment and a deep desire for retribution. This process continues unabated and over time becomes a stockpile of hate.

The feeling of hate, initially restricted to the individual, tends to be highly contagious and one day it could acquire epidemic proportions. All violence, racial discord and inter-personal strife are just manifestations of this perceived 'victimisation' that is derived from our obsession to somehow fix the blame.

Can our intellect be diverted towards fixing the problem? Can we, at the apex of the evolutionary pyramid, be redeemed from the curse of this blame game? Can't we accept events as just a pattern emerging in the kaleidoscope of life, the pattern which has no bias or machinations towards any individual being? In reacting lies a sense of insecurity, a sense of threat perception and inevitably a sense of being a victim of conspiracy. This approach only leads to further suffering. Constant threat perception is the genesis of insecurity. Over a period this induces metabolic changes in the body leading to a host of ailments.

We have the choice of continuously resenting whatever comes our way or equanimously accepting the same. Liberation is when we intelligently accept people and circumstances as they come. A state of zero resentment. Rather than asking 'why' it would be more prudent to question ourselves 'how'. How do i fix the problem?

The conspiracy theorists are also egotists because they believe that they are the obsession of the conspirators. Every person is leading his own life and solving his own problems. No one really has the time to target another individual to the exclusion of other activities.

Harbouring bitterness makes the person an eternal sceptic. Regret and unconditional apologies from the perceived perpetrator are celluloid events far from reality. What can be set right is neither the circumstances nor the other person but our (mis)understanding.

Memory is recorded in the dominant temporal lobe, which also houses the limbic system. The limbic system is one of the oldest neurological constructs and is responsible for all interactive behaviour by the organism. It is intricately interwoven with survival and procreation.

The limbic system is responsible for emotional templates as well. So it is possible that every byte of data stored is coupled with an emotional pixel as well. It may have its origins in survival mechanisms. Every person or object is recorded with an element of pleasure or pain to help the organism in future interactions. But then evolution of the frontal lobes in humans makes for finer data processing. It provides for intelligent acceptance of the vagaries of persons and events beyond the binary code of either pleasure or pain.

Courtesy: Deepak Ranade

Writing a CV that stands out

When you apply to a job opening there would be dozen other candidates applying for the same post. So, how do you ensure your resume stands out from the pile? What is it that companies look for while short-listing candidates? Here is a lowdown.

An entry- level resume

Highlight your non-academic achievements too: At entry-level when you have no industry experience, underscore your other achievements. "Highlight projects that you have done, awards you have bagged and companies you have interned with," says Rajesh AR, VP, temp staffing unit, TeamLease Services.

Companies also give high rating if they see you are a team person and enjoy good inter-personal relationships. So, if you are part of student's associations or an NGO, stress on these points. Of course, academics is the first thing that recruiters see, but extra curricular excellence does count.

Talk only about business interest: Trash the habit of mentioning interests like singing, dancing, music, swimming, painting or astrology. That's a complete passe. "Talk only about your business interest," says Sunil Kalra, consultant to a leading HR firm. And be well prepared. If you say your interest lies in reading, "Then know the book inside, out, upside, down," emphasises Kalra.

Gain proficiency in a professional area: While studying, gain competency in an area that will hold you in good stead in your professional career. Learn basic computer skills. Having done that, move on to adding other skills like Coral Draw if you want to get into computer graphics or learn accounting software Tally if you see your future in accounting.

A mid-level executive's resume

Flexibility and responsibility: When you have gained 3-4 years of experience, review your CV. For a person with 2-4 year's of experience and more, the thrust shifts on industry knowledge and his adaptability in the organisation, among other qualities. "At this stage, cultural fit is given more importance, flexible approach matters and the learning starts playing an important role", says Rajesh AR. The organisation sees if you have been flexible in previous roles and whether you are prepared for a new responsibility.

Personal initiatives: The companies also see the personal initiatives that you have taken to add on to your skill and knowledge base. While it hints your progressive mindset, "It also subtly, positively speaks of your career consciousness", says Kalra. Candidates should highlight those events where their ideas have been implemented; their analytical skills have been applauded.

Other must-dos

Be specific: If you are applying for a position in sales and marketing vertical, a requirement which is across industries, should you tailor your CV every time? Not really. Just be specific and highlight the best fit experiences.

Remain updated: Be aware of the news and current affairs. "Read newspapers", advises Rajesh AR. Read business writers. Focus more on your field

Communication skills: Work on your verbal communication skills and writing skills. Prior to the interview, prepare a list of questions that a recruiter might ask, write down the answers and read it aloud to yourself. Keep your answers to the point. Use these pointers and rest assured you will get an interview call no sooner your CV reaches the recruiter.

Courtesy: Urmila Rao

www.rediff.com

CV writing: Words you should NEVER use

While using the right words can strengthen your CV, the wrong words can cost you the opportunity to bag your dream job. You should ensure that you use the most suitable words to present your candidature but also make sure you do not use wrong or negative words and phrases.

There are certain words which are seen frequently on CVs but actually only serve to irritate recruiters/ interviewers and at times may even cost you the interview call, as they paint a misleading picture of you. In our last article, we saw 10 power words for your CV. This article explains the type of words you should not use on your CV. While you may choose to use them if necessary, for most situations they would be better left out.

Responsible for
This is a very common set of words seen on CVs. While the candidates do not realize, these are a set of most irritating words selectors see on the CVs. Until you provide additional information to show them how did you help the organization with this responsibility, these words are meaningless.

For eg, it doesn't make any sense if you just say "Responsible for promoting the product in north region".

The selector would wonder: When? For how long? What was the outcome? and may finally dump your CV thinking that the candidate is not mature enough. However, if you write "Promoted the product XYZ in "alpha" districts of north India from 2004-2006 achieving a visibility of 75 per cent", it will definitely add value to your CV.

I failed
Never ever use the word "fail", "failed" in your CV. While there is nothing bad about failing in something you do. After all, it is only when one tries that one fails. However, mentioning it on your CV shows that you have nit been able to make your peace with it or recover from it. While you should not lie in your CV, it doe not mean that you need to bare your soul either. Discuss such issues only if asked.

I hate my boss
This is another thing which you can absolutely do without on your CV. Discuss only when asked and even then, do not rant and rave. There are chances that the person interviewing you might know your current/ ex-boss.

I've been laid off
Lay offs are hitting almost every sector and noone is really safe. It need not necessarily be your fault that you were laid off, it could just be the effect of the current market situation. So, you don't need to mention the fact that you have been laid off on your CV. If you are called for the interview, you can address the issue then.

I suffer from...
Do not write about your health problems on your CV. They might be minor but may end up costing you an interview call. If you have a break in your career owing to health problems, leave them to be discussed in the interview, if asked.

Family ties
Unless you are applying for a job where the employer has to bear the expenses of your family or the information is going to have an impact on your working conditions, this information is useless to the interviewer.

Political affiliations and inclinations
You may have a political affiliation or inclination but your CV or interview is not the place to talk about it.

Courtesy: Kshipra Singh

Lying at work can be good for your business!

Telling white lies can actually be good for business, says an expert.

Professor Stephen Teo, Associate Dean of Business at the University of Western Sydney, said that lying to boss or a client can actually strengthen the relationship and help businesses run more effectively.

"People practice white lies as a way to manage relationships," News.com.au quoted Professor Teo as saying.

"It''s okay and often it actually cultivates a better relationship."

"We all want to paint a nice picture and telling a white lie is how people do this," he added.

However stretching the truth can land you into more trouble.

"In terms of legal risk to a business or individuals, a white lie can potentially have serious implications if it's told in the right context," said Lesley Maclou a partner at Harmers Workplace Lawyers.

"A white lie could be the thing that is the catalyst for a deal falling over or termination of employment," she said.

She also advised people to be careful while bending the truth or leaving out important details because if you''re caught there can be serious consequences.

"Beware because something you may think is insignificant could have, in a particular context, significant implications," she added.

Here are some of the most common business lies:

Lies by contractors

1. I''m really excited about your project = I''m really excited about your money.

2. I''m flexible to meet anytime this week = I have no work on at the moment.

3. I''ve been working on that all morning = I''ll start on that this afternoon.

4. I''ve scheduled that in for tomorrow = @#$% I forgot about that, but I''ve just written it down.

5. Do you have a budget in mind? = Can I get away with charging even more than usual?

Lies by clients

1. Your invoice has been processed = I did print your invoice, but left it on the printer.

2. We want something really ''out there'' and quirky = We want something really conservative.

3. I''ll send you a full brief early this week = I''ll send you a wad of random documents next week.

4. Can you just throw something together? = Can you do a proper job but charge a lot less?

5. Can you give me a ballpark figure? = Exactly how much will it be? I''ll hold you to it later.

Courtesy: Uttam Ghosh

www.rediff.com

Do not turn on A/C immediately as soon as you enter the car!

Please open the windows after you enter your car and do not turn ON the air-conditioning immediately. According to a research done, the car dashboard, sofa, air freshener emits Benzene, a Cancer causing toxin (carcinogen- take note of the heated plastic smell in your car). In addition to causing cancer, it poisons your bones, causes anemia, and reduces white blood cells. Prolonged exposure will cause Leukemia, increasing the risk of cancer may also cause miscarriage.Acceptable Benzene level indoors is 50 mg per sq. ft. A car parked indoors with the windows closed will contain 400-800 mg of Benzene. If parked outdoors under the sun at a temperature above 60 degrees F, the Benzene level goes up to 2000-4000 mg, 40 times the acceptable level... & the people inside the car will inevitably inhale an an excess amount of the toxins. It is recommended that you open the windows and door to give time for the interior to air out before you enter. Benzene is a toxin that affects your kidney and liver, and is very difficult for your body to expel this toxic stuff.

Colour's magic decoded

Colours play a huge role in our daily lives. Not only do they can help us recover from diseases or psychological disorders, but they can also enhance our personality and even bring back lost long luck. So, if you also are looking out for a magic wand to mend your life, think the colour-way for a solution!

Here’s a lowdown on a few colours and their effect on your professional and personal life.

White
White is considered as the colour of peace. So painting your room in white always makes the occupant feel light and peaceful. Dr. Surjmal Shastri, Vastu expert saqys, “White is a healing colour with purifying vibrations and can be used to clear blocked energies”.
Colour Coded : Brides wear white as it symbolises innocence and purity. Wearing white clothing, decorating your home in white or just enjoying this colour in nature will help you find truth and honesty. Wearing white, when wanting to make a fresh start and embrace newness will help. If you are craving for a settled life and are on the hunt out for a simpler, less stressful phase of life include more of white into your life. White colour is not just associated with truth, but it also helps you to find the truth in people and situations.

Blue
The colour of the sky and the ocean, blue is one of the most popular colours. Considered to be very spiritual, blue colour contains clarity, cleansing, healing and protective qualities. It is a known fact that people are more productive inhabiting blue rooms, so painting your office cabin blue will help. Using this colour, whether wearing it, lighting candles of this colour or decorating an entire room with it draws wisdom, harmony and peace.
Colour Coded : Choosing blue in your wardrobe, decorating your home in this colour, or enjoying it in nature, will help feel calm and relieve stress in life. If you need to communicate all your thoughts, feelings and ideas with others then this colour will be helpful. It is perfect to wear something in this colour for job interviews.

Purple
Purple has always been associated with mysticism and magic. Purple has a strong energy that can open up the subconscious, allowing deep knowledge and psychic abilities to get enhanced. It is ideal for meditation as it allows focus without distraction. Being the innermost colour of the spectrum of light, it helps in balancing the mind and transforms obsessions and fears. It brings peace to an over active mind, acting like a sedative. It is a very powerful, psychic colour and stimulates intuition and imagination.
Colour Coded : To help you attune to your own psychic powers and psychic development, wear more of this colour. Wearing clothes in purple help make communication easier, apart from helping you meditate and enhance your intuition. If you have worries and doubts particularly in relation to your own psychic connections, then this colour can really help you.

Pink
For centuries pink has been the colour of universal love as it generates a feeling of gentle warmth and nurturing. Pink colour lessens feelings of anger and irritability with a sense of love and protection. Pink also helps you do away with the feelings of loneliness, unhappiness and vulnerability.
Colour Coded : Using pink for clothing and decorating your home will help you attract more love into your life. So wear something in pink if you want to attract a potential love partner. Or just wear it when you are in need of de-stressing and are seeking peace of mind. Using pink gemstones promotes love, self-worth, order and protection from violence or aggression.

Yellow
Yellow is associated with the expression of thoughts and the intellect. It can therefore aid the powers of memory, clear thinking and facilitates decision-making and good judgement. While it is considered an optimistic colour, people lose their temper more often in yellow rooms, and babies tend to cry more in yellow surroundings. It is the most difficult colour for the eye to take in, so it can be overpowering if overused.
Colour Coded : Wearing yellow, decorating your home in this colour, or just enjoying this colour within nature will help you adopt a cheery, uplifting and positive personality. For people who are feeling down or are undertaking a study of some kind, wearing this colour does wonders. Using it as an accent colour in an office or study helps sharpen your mind, improve memory and clear decision making. This colour is perfect for undertaking new areas of study and at the same time it also enhances inspirational and creative ideas.

Green
Currently the most popular decorating colour, green symbolises nature. It is the easiest colour on the eye and can improve vision. Green has a strong association with nature, fertility and life. You instinctively seek it out when under stress or experiencing emotional difficulties. Feelings of comfort, relaxation, calmness, and space are the traits of this colour.
Colour Coded : You should wear green and decorate your home in this colour to help bring balance back into your life. Also, it is easy to enjoy this colour in nature - it is all around you! This colour is thought to be incredibly lucky and you should wear this this colour when choosing lottery numbers etc. If you are looking for a job change, prospects of growth or freedom to pursue new ideas then include more of green into your life. Green is also considered to be colour of healthy relationships.

Orange
Orange is an excellent colour for creativity and is known as a ‘sociable’ colour. It stimulates the mind, renews interest in life, creativity and makes you grow fonder of socialising. The colour is a great motivator and allows you to accept and be open to exciting change.
Colour Coded : Using orange for clothing, decorating your home or just enjoying this colour within nature will help you bring excitement of newer things to your life. Because of its sociabile association, you should wear something in this colour when wanting to meet new people or wanting freedom to pursue new ideas.

Red
We always associate red with love. The most emotionally intense colour, red stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing. Red is a very strong motivational and energetic colour. It adds vibrant energy to the root chakra to strengthen the body and promotes will power and courage.
Colour Coded : Wear red to help motivate and energise you. Using red to decorate your home or wearing red clothing will bring passion and excitement in your life. If you are craving adventure and new exciting experiences then include more of the colour red into your life.

Brown
A solid and reliable hue, brown is the colour of earth and is both nurturing and comforting. It gives a sense of security and connectivity to nature and to animals. The colour brown is very healing and protective and can help balance the emotions.
Colour Coded : Wear this colour, decorate your home or just enjoy it within nature to help you become stable. It helps you keeps your feet on the ground and gives you strength and determination to get any job done. If you are craving security, dependability and reliability then include more of the colour in your life.

Black
Black is the colour of authority and power. It is popular in fashion because it makes people appear thinner. Black is not strictly a colour as it is the absence of all colour. It absorbs all aspects of light. Although this colour has some negative association it does in fact enhance any positive elements given by other colours.
Colour Coded : Using black for clothing or for an accent colour for home décor can convey an air of mystery, sophistication and elegance. If you are craving a need for change and transformation and for getting rid of the old and embracing the ne,w then use this colour. But this colour can have a negative impact on your relationship so don’t overdue its use.

Courtesy: Vaibhav Choudhary

www.timesofindia.com

Being lonely: As injurious as smoking!

“When you’re missing friends and family, blood pressure may soar and your immune system weakens,” say researchers at the Chicago University.

Studies have shown that people with a good network of friends tend to live longer than those without friends. They’re also less likely to fall victim to depression. However, loneliness is more common these days. We live longer, have fewer children and are more likely to move away from our home towns and often, we’re no longer part of close-knit communities.

Health effects
Raises blood pressure : The most lonely people had blood pressure readings 30 points higher than the most sociable, making them three times more likely to get heart disease or have a stroke, as compared to those with normal blood pressure.

Lowers immunity : High levels of the stress hormone cortisol is found to be more common in lonely people. It can suppress the ability to fight off infection.
Interferes with sleep: Loneliness interferes with sleep and poor sleep is linked to obesity and depression.

Encourages bad habits : The lonelier you are, the more likely you are to eat fatty, sugary foods and the less likely you are to exercise.

Faster progression of Alzheimer’s : It’s not known why loneliness affects Alzheimer’s, but it’s true that it could be the result of a lack of mental stimulation.


How you can get connected
Make the effort with family : Ask your family to stay in touch and try to plan regular meetings. If you have more spare time than them, accept that you may have to do more of the running around. Meanwhile, stay in touch with them through phone calls, texts and e-mails.

Get out of the house daily : Even if it’s just to go to the shop, make an effort to go out. Smile at people and make conversation with someone you see regularly. Smiling not only releases feel-good chemicals, but it also attracts people.

Learn a new skill : Learning something new keeps your brain active. Sometimes, it could open up a whole new world.

Exercise : Not only does regular exercise help prevent heart disease and chances of a stroke, it can also slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.

Join a group : If you choose something you’re really interested in — whether it’s walking, reading or music — you’ll instantly find that you’re with like-minded people.

Be a volunteer : People who do voluntary work for two hours a week have lower depression rates and better health than those who don’t.

Get a pet : Owning a pet helps lower blood pressure, boost immunity and ease depression. And walking a dog every day is a great way to get out and meet people.

Courtesy: www.timesofindia.com

4 Ways to be Successful

Follow your heart and do what you want to -- the money will follow. If you chase money, it will evade you. “Even if you are a sweeper, that's okay, as long as you're the king of sweepers."

Concentrate on your strengths, not weaknesses. Don't try to do things you can't. If something has genuinely been identified as your weakness, it will never be your strength, so don't waste time on it. People will work around it. Just forget your weaknesses and concentrate on strengthening your strengths. Especially by the age of 25-30, don't focus on correcting things; focus on bettering what you already have.

Be ethical, if not for moral reasons, as a strategy. People are generally ethical because they are God-fearing and think someone might catch them. Don't do that, because since it's so far away, you won't end up being ethical. Do it as a strategy. If you're ethical, the word will spread, and you'll get more and more work, business, love, respect, etc. And therefore you won't have to be unethical. You might get hurt the first few times, but then people will start giving you credit. So use it as a strategy. It's so simple and really works.

One mistake we Indians make is paying too much attention to facts and none to insights. We need to knock the facts to get more out of them -- human insights are what provide solutions to most problems. Stop depending on Google so much for everything! Some things can't be learnt from websites -- you need to use your own intelligence.

A few cool ways to beat the summer heat

It's 114 degrees Fahrenheit out there, and your skin seems to be sucking the heat in deeper into your body rather than helping you cool down. An occasional afternoon downpour brings more grief than relief, because it layers on humidity that is thick enough to slice through with a knife. Throw in a little pollution and each second becomes sheer hell when you are outdoors.

The recent heat wave that killed 24 people in India is probably indicative of an even hotter approaching summer, for brutal May, sizzling June and searing July and August are yet to make their presence felt.

Can certain foods help towards reversing some of this exchange of body heat? Yes, they most certainly can!

And why or how does this heat exchange happen? On sultry, humid days, muscles compete with the skin for blood circulation. When it's hot outside, more blood flows near the skin to help dissipate body heat and cool the body down, thereby keeping your temperature from rising to dangerous levels. But that can mean less blood reaches your muscles, hence the lethargy.

At the same time, as when your body becomes hotter, muscle enzymes speed up and burn glycogen more rapidly, depleting stores of the sugar that your muscles use for fuel. Hence it's imperative to drink plenty of fluids that help hydrate your muscles and skin adequately in order to maintain internal cooling down.

Is it a good idea to apply cool compresses to your forehead, thereby reducing the heat entering your brain?

Not necessarily. Neither is it a good idea to wet your head down entirely, especially for kids who have just finished playing a sport. You have to make the heat move outwards. Too much water on the skin's surface inhibits sweat evaporation that helps cool the body down.

To handle this heat onslaught and ensure your body is as cool as it can possibly be, we suggest a few measures that are easy to follow:

Eat light, small, frequent meals: Start the morning with a sweet, juicy fruit at breakfast. Ripe summer fruit -- peaches, plums, melons and pears -- are exactly what your skin craves for in the hot season. Citrus fruit are also very cooling. Eat them whole or extract their juice, store in the refrigerator and sip often throughout the day.
Include salads in your diet: Consuming leafy lettuce and summer greens, corn on the cob and cucumbers in salad are delicious ways to stay cool. These foods contain a significant amount of water and can actually thin the blood, which has a cooling effect. Onions too are great in the summer, because of their ability to beat the heat and provide relief from summer ailments. So scatter a few washed onion slices onto a sandwich or in your salad.
If you get burnt (sun stroke or heat stroke): Seek relief by sipping on green tea or take a spoon of onion juice. They are potent antioxidants that can neutralise cellular damage caused by the sun's rays.
To cool the body through sweating: Add small amounts of hot spices to food while cooking. Hot peppers, fresh ginger and black pepper are all great spices to make it really hot for you and then to cool you down.
Hydrate your body: Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day. Water is the best drink as it doesn't contain any sugars that can add up to unnecessary calories. For a change, a lemon and honey drink can also instantly replenish your body's lost fluids and work as an energiser. Drink fluids even if you are not thirsty -- once you are thirsty, it means you are already dehydrated.
Wear loose, full-sleeved cotton clothes: To protect the body from the sun and to aid evaporation of sweat. Use a hat to protect your head from the sun if you step out.
Stay indoors: Restrict outdoor activities to the cooler parts of the day -- early mornings before 10:30 am or late evenings after 5:30 pm.
If you're a non-vegetarian: You should limit red meat consumption in summer and opt for fish and oysters instead.
Avoid extremely chilled foods and drinks: Most of us normally pick these and they are actually known to interfere with digestion and sweating, thereby interfering with the body's natural cooling mechanisms. So, however tempting it may be to sit on your porch licking an ice cream cone or sipping a cool glass of tea, try a wedge of watermelon instead.

As the mercury rises, the last thing on one's mind is food, but if you eat smart, small light meals and accompany them with plenty of fluids you will be one cool cucumber. So go ahead and take these obvious precautions! Remember, the best place to start the cooling process is at your body's core.

Courtesy: www.rediff.com

How to start saving: 4 smart steps

Do you have money put away for a rainy day? How will you manage if there's a family emergency? What about a down payment for a home, or a fund for higher education, or retirement? Do you have loans to repay?

In this era of recession, deflation, and job-cuts, it is especially important for you to consider where your hard-earned money is going; financial security is the key in today's unpredictable world.

And the first step towards gaining that security is to have a Saving Plan.

Still not convinced? Then ask yourself why you need to save. The answer's really very simple: so that your money can start earning money, and work towards reducing the effort you put in everyday.

Start saving now. Here's how!

You might wonder how to begin saving if your income is already over-committed. Efficiency and discipline are the answers.

1. You need to first find out where your income is going. Maintain a diary for the month, noting down everything you spend on, to the last paisa.

You will be surprised at the amount of random purchases you make -- from coffee breaks to grocery bills. These are the best places to start trimming.

2. Then, make a budget. This isn't as difficult as you think. All a budget does is create a plan for spending, by stating expenses and goals.

Make sure to cover fixed and regular expenses such as mortgage or rent, utility payments, and car or loan/credit card payments. Then set limits on necessities like groceries and clothing, as well as nice-to-haves like entertainment and travel. It's also important at this stage to factor in a savings amount.

3. Now, your first priority is an emergency fund, if you don't already have one in place. And the easiest way to do this is to have the amount deducted from your salary every month and put into a fixed or recurring deposit.

Give yourself a pat on the back if you find yourself adding that little extra to your fund because you managed to save a little more this month. You might find it easier to stay within budget if you use cash or debit cards for the necessities and frills.

4. As your emergency fund accumulates, your next task is to find more money for savings and even investment. Begin by paying off your credit cards.

If you spend a little time examining your monthly statements, you will be amazed to see how much money you're losing just by way of interest!

Saving versus Investing

At this point, we need to address the differences between saving and investing.

Savings provide for emergencies and fund specific purchases in the near future (within two years). The primary goal is to store funds and keep them safe.

However, you invest to increase net worth and work toward long-term goals. Also realise that investing involves risk, where you could lose some of your original investment.

Only consider an investment plan when you have in place an emergency fund, insurance, control over credit use, and a retirement plan.

In the long run

Now, consider making a long-range savings and investment plan. When beginning to plan for investments, consider your goals, the amount of time you will be able to spend on nurturing these investments, how much you know about the funds, how much money you have to invest, whether you can tolerate risk, and handle loss.

Remember that your ultimate goal is a financially secure future for you and your family.

If you look back over all that we've discussed so far, you will realise that we've told you how to begin saving money, in small, manageable chunks. The final objective might be to set aside enough for you to retire so that you don't have to work another day, but your immediate goal is to start the process and become habituated, so that saving becomes a way of life, and a chance to improve how you live.

Courtesy: www.rediff.com

Fixed deposits: Are they for you?

With the stock markets in a downward spiral, it comes as no surprise that few want to invest in equity markets. This crash in the share prices, however, has proved to be a boon for banks, whose fixed deposits were ignored by the investors in favour of equities for higher returns.

These banks came out with various FDs, offering attractive rates. This has tempted many investors to opt for FDs. However, every investor in a fixed deposit must remember that FDs are also an investment option and as with any investment option, they too have their own pros and cons.

So be prepared to get the complete overview of this investment option before opting for it.

What is an FD?

An FD, or fixed deposit, is also a term deposit. It is similar to a savings account, except that your money is locked in for a certain period, also called 'term'. Hence the name term deposits.

However, while you cannot access your money, the bank rewards you by giving you a higher interest rate than it gives you on your savings account.

Is it the best investment option?

Remember, diversification is the name of the game when it comes to investment. Just putting your money in FD will not help you get the best overall returns.

You also need exposure to equities to get the growth in capital and beating inflation in the long run. Hence, it is advisable to invest into both equities and debt.

It will help you get higher returns from equities, while enjoying the capital safety offered by FD.

What are the advantages of an FD?

An FD has various benefits that make it an ideal investment option for those looking for capital safety.

Low risk: An FD is comparatively lot safer than equities, as your deposit up to Rs 1 lakh (Rs 100,000) is insured by Deposit Insurance Credit Guarantee Corporation. So, in case the bank fails, your money is still secured. This makes FD an ideal investment option for senior citizens.

Regular income: Unlike dividends given by the companies, the interest earned on an FD is fixed, as the rate of interest for the particular term is constant. Even if the rates increase or decrease subsequent to your opening an FD, your rate of interest will not be affected.

So you are guaranteed a regular income, making it an ideal investment option for those looking for regular income.

Availability of loan: Are you looking for a secured loan? Then you can avail of a loan by offering your FD as collateral. While your FD continues to earn interest, the rate of interest for the loan will be a few notches higher than that of the FD.

Hence this type of loan works out cheaper than any other type of loan, since the bank has the assurance of claiming your deposit if you fail to repay the loan.

Saves taxes: For those looking for an efficient tax saving investment option, FD is a good option. While ELSS (Equity-Linked Savings Scheme) has the shortest lock-in period of three years, your capital is not secured.

On the other hand, PPF (Public Provident Fund) offers capital security, it has a lock-in period of 15 years.

The tax-saving FD offers the best of both the world, as your money is locked for just five years, while your capital is safe.

Are there any drawbacks?

While an FD does have a lot of pros, it does have its share of cons. Here are some of them:

Erosion of worth of capital due to inflation: Inflation means a loss in the purchasing power of the money. When inflation goes up, the purchasing power of money goes down. As the interest rates on FDs are lower than the rate of inflation, the purchasing power of your deposited money does go down. As a result, you end up eroding the worth of your capital.

Tax liability: Except for the tax-saving FDs, the interest earned is taxed. So you end up incurring tax liability. You are particularly affected if you are a high income earner.

What should I do?

The best option for you is to invest as per your goals. If you have any short-term goals -- i.e. goals that have to be met within three years, like buying a car, or going on a holiday -- then the FD is your best bet.

On the other hand, for long-term goals like retirement planning or your child's education, go for equities.

Courtesy: www.rediff.com

Seven reasons why people fail in interviews

Success does not always come at the first attempt. This applies to interviews also. It takes some time for people to understand and perform well during the interview. But, often one can see candidates complaining that they got rejected despite having done well.

There are many reasons, why a person fails in an interview, but let us see some of the common ones.

1. Lack of preparation

Of all the reasons, this is the foremost one. It includes carrying improper CV, inappropriate dress code, completely unaware of interview questions and positive answers etc. By improper CV I mean, a CV which is not aligned well, or handwritten.

Walking into interview room in casual wear is also one of the key reasons for people to get rejected.

2. Casualness

Let us cross the bridge when it comes' does not apply to interviews. One needs to be geared up 100 per cent before the interview.

I have seen few candidates saying 'I will learn everything by experience. I am confident that by 'Law of average, if I attend 10 interviews, I will crack at least one'.

This attitude could prove lucky for few initially, but not for everyone at all times. The interview preparation should be given due respect it deserves.

3. Failing to understand the job role

This is a typical problem with a few of the candidates. They are completely unaware of what the job requires one to do.

If a person does not understand his/ her role properly, he cannot justify his suitability for the job.

If you are going through a consultant or got an interview call from the company directly, get the job description completely. In the event of responding to walk-in ads in newspaper, if you are not sure about the job description, spend some time on the Internet to know about your role.

4. Lack of skills

I am sure most of you would have read reports published by NASSCOM, HR experts & corporate professionals that more than 70 per cent of the candidates lack in employability skills.

A good qualification alone is not sufficient, but host of other skills such as good communications, interpersonal skills, analytical abilities, personality etc. are also vital.
Unfortunately most of the candidates realise this very late

5. No proper focus

During the interview, some candidates lose out, because they are not able to convince the employer about their interest in the position applied for. If you are applying for a job in marketing, stay focused on it.

Some candidates even put fields of interest as marketing, administration and accounts. Therefore, in the event of you being open to any career, prepare different types of CVs for different fields.

6. Lack of subject knowledge

Irrespective of you being a fresher or an experienced professional, revisit your subject before going for the interview.

There are many chances that you will be asked questions from your subject, more particularly, if you are applying for a career related to the course you studied.

7. Lack of confidence

When the candidate uses too many negative words such as, 'I am not sure', 'May be I can', etc., it does portray lack of confidence to the employer.

The negative gestures or negative body language plays spoilsport in your selection. Instead use words such as 'Surely', 'I can do it', 'It's challenging but I can do it' etc.

Courtesy: www.rediff.com

What employers expect from MBA grads

How often do you hear MBA graduates from premier business schools complaining about their employers? The most common comments are usually: not getting enough exposure, visibility, and opportunities to contribute towards the growth of organisation.

Employers offer hefty salaries to fresh MBA graduates and most new hires would take anywhere between 12-18 months of classroom or on-the-job training to be productive and contribute towards organisational objectives. Given the resources the companies invest in this process, they would naturally want each one of their employees to be successful in their roles.

So how can you ensure that your degree is put to good use and your pay package justified? Here are some of the things most employers expect from MBA graduates they hire:

Learn quickly
Most grads do not have enough understanding of the business or the industry they enter into. However, two years at business school offers enough exposure to be able to understand new business faster than most of their colleagues who did not get that opportunity. It is expected that new hires will pick up the right skills and knowledge required to be successful in their roles quickly.

Ability to scale and take greater responsibility
This is most important. Salaries generally do not depend upon current levels of productivity. Organisations offer higher salaries in the hope that most of these management students will grow and take up greater responsibility in the organisation. Every employer wants employees to scale faster, take responsibility and contribute towards the growth of organisation.

Ability to deal with uncertainty
Unlike in the classroom, we do not have enough information to be able to take the most optimal decision. Most decisions in business are taken with incomplete and questionable information. There is always uncertainty because of factors beyond the control of the employee and the organisation. Great employees can handle uncertainty and take decisions based on the limited information available.

People skills
Most business functions depend on others to be successful. For example, a salesperson might depend on the marketing, legal or engineering teams to be able to close a sale. Their effectiveness in business roles depends a lot on how they get work done from people who don't report to them. It is important that MBA graduates are able to work with others in the organisation to achieve common organisational goals.

Courtesy: Tarun Matta
http://www.iimjobs.com

10 power words for your CV

The basic purpose of these words is to demonstrate your hold of a particular situation and the actions you took to achieve a result or come out of a situation. One important thing to note here is that the immediate past tense of a verb is more powerful than the verb itself. Using a past tense also shows that you actually completed the work you started successfully. Adding some figures and facts along with these verbs would add more impact.

Let's see with an example how each word can be utilized to its full power:

1. Achieved

Good example: Achieved the target of implementing the software onsite for 200 users 15 days before the deadline.

Bad example: To implement the software onsite.

This sounds more like a responsibility. The interviewer is mainly interested in knowing about your output.

2. Built

Good Example: Built new premises to convert the study center into a residential college accommodating 200 students.

Bad example: Building a new premise for the residential college.

3. Developed

Good example: Developed guidelines for 50 users to understand and use the new process for client handling.

Bad example: Developing guidelines to use the new process for client handling.

The selector and the interviewer will be amused with questions like: What guidelines? When? For whom?. The good example here answers these queries and shows your output rather than your responsibility.

4. Eliminated

Good example: Eliminated the use of thick brown tape for sealing the packages to reduce the cost by over 15 per cent.

Bad example: To eliminate wasteful of resources.

The selector will again have the questions like 'what type of resources?', 'how did your action help?'

5. Forecast

Good example: Forecast a downturn in the FMCG business because of economic slowdown. Suggested measures to combat it and achieve the quarterly target.

Bad example: To analyze and forecast the market.

6. Introduced

Good example: Introduced a new process to handle queries from potential customers to increase the conversion rate by 60 per cent.

Bad example: Introducing a new process to handle client queries.

7. Modernized

Good example: Modernized a chain of 15 retail outlets across three states to meet the taste of urban youth.

Bad example: To modernize the look of retail chain outlets.

8. Organized

Good example: Organized reseller conferences in three cities while maintaining a close co-ordination with three internal departments and four vendors.

Bad example: Organizing events like exhibitions and retailer conferences.

9. Recommended

Good example: Recommended five new ways to ensure that the company is able to roll out the new version of its 'small car' before the launch of Nano.

Bad example: Recommending ways for the company to roll out its new 'small car'

10. Secured

Good example: Secured first position in the university while pursuing MBA course and helped the college stand at the top of the list.

Bad example: University topper during MBA.

How do I use these in my CV?

1. List your responsibilities and achievements.
2. Find the one word that best describes your role in that situation such as manage, co-ordinate, plan, advise etc.
3. Begin your sentence with the past tense of the verb you decide to use for every responsibility.
4. Add some figures and facts to your statement.

If you are stuck with finding a good word to describe your action in the CV, take a look at this list of some frequently used action words.

Achieved	Acquired	Attained	Analyzed	Assessed	Appraised
Completed	Composed	Created	Designed	Developed	Directed
Drafted	Established	Eliminated	Ensured	Forecast	Found
Introduced	Investigated	Implemented	Launched	Liaised	Managed
Marketed	Operated	Organized	Presented	Procured	Provided
Promoted	Recruited	Revised	Researched	Recognized	Resolved
Scheduled	Secured	Scored	Solved	Supervised	Terminated
Targeted	Trained	Taught	Teamed Up

Courtesy: www.rediff.com

How to handle a bad boss. 8 tips

It happened again. Maybe the boss broke his or her word, bad-mouthed you, or torpedoed your promotion. You're not surprised. Your boss already ignores your ideas, talks down to you, and expects you to be a mind-reader. And that doesn't even count the eavesdropping. What's worse, your boss won't talk about it with you, telling you to "move on." as if nothing ever happened. OK, you've been saddled with a bad boss.
Having to answer to a boss is a fact of working life. But what are your options when you're undermined by the person whose goodwill you need? Sure, you can lash out or call human resources. Unfortunately, companies are like Vegas casinos: The house always wins. Still, you have options. When the anger starts to boil, consider the following:
Don't act immediately
Initially, you'll want to fight back. You may fantasise about writing a blistering critique of your rotten boss. . . and e-mailing it to the CEO. And those thoughts aren't necessarily harmful. But thoughts don't have to lead to action. Sure, your boss may be small-minded, two-faced, spineless, and technically inept. But would a dramatic gesture be worth the lost salary? Is it worth a hole in your resume, the one you'll be explaining for years to come? This isn't the economy to choose pride over practicality.
Play the game
You were cheated or unfairly smeared. Welcome to the real world. But don't let it turn you sour or sloppy. And don't let your boss get to you, either. Nod and smile when he delivers another self-serving sermon. Maintain a can-do attitude, like you have your dream job. Respect and defer, even when trust is lost. You'll work with plenty of jerks over your career. You may as well start practicing now.
Prepare
Start collecting references and recommendation letters from clients, peers, industry pros, and local leaders. Keep a file of positive citations to your work too. Even more, focus on activities that position you to lead and produce measurable results. No one can take those experiences away from you. And they'll enhance your credibility when the next opportunity arises.
Forge alliances
Identify the job you eventually want. Get to know the players in that department. Grab lunch with them. Help them out during downtime to prove yourself. Build a relationship with a mentor or your boss's own boss, too. They can provide direction, intelligence, and even a reference. Beyond that, get involved in corporate initiatives, such as community outreach or strategic planning. Your boss has the power and network to blackball you. Stay visible and broaden your circle to counter that.
Don't jump to conclusions
Sometimes, there is more going on than meets the eye. The higher-ups may veto your boss's efforts. Conditions change or extenuating circumstances emerge. Your boss probably has a full plate - and you may not be his or her top priority. And your boss may simply be unaware of his or her behavior and its impact on you.
Bottom line: Management is often grueling and thankless. We all need someone to blame, but give your boss a little empathy. Don't mistake the person for the perception. They're usually far more complex than your caricature.
Keep your boss in the loop
Everyone likes to feel like an expert and give back. Your boss is no different. Maybe you need to reel your boss closer, rather than pushing him or her away. Ask what traits or skills you need to develop to reach the next level. Ask for specifics; look at establishing benchmarks to measure your growth. What's more, become a true partner with your boss.
You know your boss's flaws: Train yourself to ask the right questions, clarify, and work through the details. This is perfect training for what's really important in business: anticipation, flexibility, relationship-building, collaboration, and execution (not to mention making your boss look good).
Focus on the big picture
Your boss will betray your trust, then tell you to stay positive. Your boss will chastise you for your behavior, then act the same way. Sure, you can quit, but have you gained anything besides an ulcer? Instead, make the most of your time. Focus on gaining the right experience, building your interpersonal skills, and policing your attitude. They are your ticket out.
Absorb those daily humiliations, so you never become like your boss. Most important, don't write off the message because of the messenger. Your boss didn't reach this level by accident. Be open to criticisms and suggestions. You'll likely miss some valuable nuggets if you completely tune out your boss.
Wait
If your boss really is a jerk, chances are the clock is ticking on him or her. Charm, connections, and reputation only give bosses so much rope. They'll inevitably drop their guard and slip up with someone higher up - and it won't be pretty.
In the meantime, view your job as a means to an end and start laying the groundwork to get there. You have bigger things ahead of you.

Courtesy: www.rediff.com

25 TIPS FOR RELATIONSHIP SUCCESS

What’s the key to successful relationships? Here, BT reveals the simple things you need to know to deepen your partnership and make your relationship work

1. Without quality time, your relationship will not survive. Carve out at least half an hour a night, and at least one day a month when you the two of you spend time exclusively together.
2. You will both need security, comfort. A good relationship is built on compromise and a great deal of give and take on both sides.
3. Keep your dependence and independence in balance. Tell and show your partner how much you need him, but don’t cling, as that can make your partner feel trapped.
4. Encourage him to listen to you, by showing appreciation when he does. By the same token, show interest when he talks to you. Be aware that most men aren’t mentally programmed for conversation in the way women are. They need more silence and internal time.
5. Make him appreciate you. Don’t wait for a spontaneous compliment, but say something good about yourself and ask for his agreement.
6. Teach him, preferably early in your relationship, exactly how to give you a fail-safe orgasm because it’s unlikely he’ll find out alone. If you don’t yet know yourself, find out.
7. Learn to do the one thing that is most likely to restore good feeling in your relationship giving your partner a genuine, loving and approving smile.
8. Often those subtle quirks that first attracted you to your partner can, with time, turn around and become toecurlingly annoying habits. Learn to love
him, warts and all.

9. Hidden resentments poison a relationship; so if something bothers you, say it. Remember that while men are wary of emotional conversations, they love to find solutions. Express your problem and then ask him to help you find the answer.
10. Learn that punishing your partner won’t work. It may make you feel better to give him a hard time, but it will actually make him dig his heels in more. A better tactic is to reward the things you like and ignore what you don’t like.
11. Money is the number one cause of couple conflict. For a relationship to work, you need to address your finances and work out a budget.
12. If the domestic work is not divided fairly between you, it will cause friction in your relationship. Make a list of the domestic tasks, talk it through with your partner and mobilize the whole family, your partner included, to share the work.
13. If you have children, involve your partner as much as possible with the childcare even if you feel he’s not as good at it as you are. It’s important to present a united front to your children.
14. Sort out your sex life. The sex may ebb and flow over the years, but if sex starts going downhill, don’t just accept it. As soon as you notice a slide, question why and then work at bringing the passion back.
15. Don’t assume you won’t be tempted to have an affair as almost everyone is. You need to learn to resist. If you do stray, don’t feel it spells the end of your relationship. Most couples recover, particularly from a one-night-stand, and often find that unrooting the cause of the affair helps them to get even closer. So, you need to learn to resist. But don’t think that an affair is the end of everything.
16. Remember that boredom typically covers up anger. If you feel bored with him, ask yourself what you’re angry about.
17. Be aware that men generally feel overwhelmed by emotion more than women do. If he’s angry or tearful, half an hour’s ‘unfolding’ time to himself will help get his balance back and make him more able to interact positively with you.
18. Learn how to argue well. The trick is to never say anything that you wouldn’t want to hear said to you.

19. Research suggests you need five positive experiences to erase the memory of one negative experience. So give five kind words for each bitchy comment. Give five hugs for each cold shoulder.
20. Learn how to negotiate. Each of you states what you want, then both of you work together to find a way forward.
21. Accept the things that won’t change. Some characteristics about your partner are there for life and you have to face that.
22. Learn to forgive. If you know you will never forgive your partner over something important, then give him and yourself a break and start again, with someone else.
23. Realize that the two of you will shift and change over the years. So, even if you think you understand him, or believe you have agreements sorted, check regularly at least once a year to make sure that neither of you has changed your mind.
24. Know when to leave. If your life aims are incompatible, there are heavy drugs or violence around, or if there is consistently more pain than pleasure, then walk before the relationship destroys you.
25. Don’t think that going to counseling equals failure. It can turn a bad relationship around. It can turn an average relationship into a brilliant one.

Courtesy: Bombay Times