Here are the unedited excerpts:
enjoyguy asked, i am 39 years old i have done mca in distance education and have been working as an executive assistant for past 18 years; i have been given a change in profile and now i support the IT team as a project manager for one project...what are my chances of succeeding in the long run as project manager in the IT field...i have not worked / developed in any software
Ram: Technology expertise is not always required for Project Management. You can best use this opportunity to become a Project Manager focused on people management, operations, P & L etc.
subu asked, Technology vs Management - which job is attractive over long term?
Ram: Both the areas are equally attractive. It is the choice of the individual on which stream he / she wants to focus. From a innovation / thought leadership perspective, technology solutions will be key for future. Parallely, good management and business leadership skill will also be key.
latha asked, Can I recommend my son to join in IT Engineering. What is the future scope
Ram: Whilst looking at the scope of the future is key, it is also the choice and the interest of your son which will be important. Most branches of Engineering today have a bright future infrastructure, automobile and other industries are poised to grow even in a faster pace. Having said this IT is one stream, where probably more changes of technology etc., will be seen and this would give more opportunities too. If your son shows lot of passion on the IT side and if you think he will do well based on his current academics, then you should go ahead.
Prakash asked, Is this is a recession time in IT?
Ram: The Europe market is going through a recession and accordingly investments in IT is lower compared to the past. US market is yet to bounce back to its fullest and hence some investments in IT has also not picked up. Due to this there are some challenges in the IT industry.
Kannan asked, This is Kannan. I am working as a Product Manager and have total 7 years experience in ERP. I have completed MSc Software Engineering. Do you think there is enough scope for Product Management in India. Should I change my profile to Project Management or move into Support Manager profile. Many companies like Adobe only select MBA's from premier institutes for Product management roles. What should I do to convince them that though I don't have an MBA I have enough experience to work in that position. Do you think I should pursue MBA through distance education to bridge the gap?
Ram: Not sure how much an MBA degree from distance education will help here. Beyond a certain level of experience, qualification would not matter much. Companies will look for more value that you can bring to the table.
snehal asked, I.T career in I.T industry or Manufacturing industry????Which is Better?????????
Ram: IT career in the IT industry definitely has more scope for growth. Having said that, if you have specialized domain experience in IT, within the manufacturing industry and if that is in the niche areas, then from your individual perspective, it would be more opportunities for growth
srdd asked, I am working with with a non it company in IT division (.net platform) from 8 years but I don't have good growth in Compensation with it, but secured job. Now I got an another offer with an IT small size company with good Compensation. What you suggest can I change?
Ram: Hi. Firstly, you should try and speak to your current organisation on your compensation. Alternatively, if you are confident of your ability to grow you should explore changing.
Rajkumar asked, Hello sir, Currently I am working as project manager(IT Delivery - Applications) for the past 6 years, with no major career growth in terms of promotions. Recently I upgraded my qualification (to MBA) & looking forward to change for better in program management. I do have aroudn a decade plus experience in IT industry working directly with customers acros US, APAC regions. IS is right for me to make the move?
Ram: The key now is your exposure to working with clients across US and APAC regions. This is something you should capitalize on. If you are seeing more opportunities of this developing further in your current organisation, then you should not change.
udit asked, I have worked in service industry for 3 years and for last 4 years I have worked in manufacturing sector. Can I join IT back? If yes, at what position?
Ram: You can explore opportunities in IT in the manufacturing domain. From the role perspective, it depends on what you are doing currently. If you are a Technical person, then a Team lead role would be appropriate.
Swarna asked, Sir, Good Afternoon! After working as a developer for 2 years I had to quit due to personal reasons. How can I bounce back after 3 years of sabbatical? What can i do to cover up the great gap?
Ram: You could quickly brush up the new versions of the technology that you were working on and start looking of opportunities. Even if you get back at the same level that you left, you should not be worried.
subu asked, I have 12 years IT experience an I am working as BI Architect. Should I switch to management or stay in technology? I am paid well in the current position.
Ram: You should continue in technology
baba asked, What is the scope of technical people in IT companies? We see that people doing MBA getting more money than people who excels in coding etc.So is doing MBA really necessary or can we achive the same levels through technical knowledge also...
Ram: Technical people are compensated equally, if not higher. Doing an MBA will definitely add to your knowledge base and would be useful.
Sagar asked, Hello sir.I am studying computer engineering under mumbai university.I am currently in 2nd year.I plan to go ahead in programming and thus i am focussing on Java as for now.I plan to do MS after my BE.My questions are: 1) Should i go for MS after job experience or directly after BE?? 2) In what field should i pursue my MS?? 3) Do you think there is good scope for programmers in the future and that my decision to become a programmer is good??? Thank You.
Ram: Decision to become a Programmer is good. If you are able to directly get into MS after BE, then it would be ideal. More so, if you can pick any of the US universities.
vijay asked, Sir, I am doing B-Tech final year in IT (Information Technology). Sir, what is the scope for job in next year?
Ram: Job opportunities for freshers would always be there. If you get thru an opportunity through campus placement, that would be ideal.
rag asked, In this volatile world, Is it a good idea to stick with a single organisation for long periods(25+ years)even we you have 3-4 years of slow growth and less pay?
Ram: Yes. However, you should keep raising the bar for you to excel. This will give you the opportunity to grow faster, when the going is good.
tkk asked, Hi Ramaswamy , I have done my MBA from top 10 college in India , joined wipro , working in pre sales function for lat few months ..want to know my career path in IT industry henceforth..can you pls throw light ?
Ram: Pre-sales has good future. If you get a good mix of solutioning experience it would be very useful in client interactions.
baba asked, Hi Ram What all courses must one take to excel in IT sector? Are there any programmes for IT professionals which will make growth more accelerated?
Ram: Growth is directly proportional to your contribution, acquiring new skills within the job and excelling in what to you. Any additional program, qualification will only help you to get more knowledge, but that alone will not accelerate. It is all in what you "do"
VadivelShen asked, Dear Ram, I am working as technology lead and here I am confusing that shall take my carrier in Technology side like Architect, etc or to enter into Management side like Manage the project doing estimation and etc..which one is best?. Kindly suggest me..
Ram: Hi Vadivel. If you are currently a Technology Lead, growth in this area is ideal for you as long as you enjoy doing this.
kshitij asked, When seeking a job change what is the thumb rule for asking target compensation ? is it 1.5 x No. of years OR 2 x No. of years
Ram: Hi Kshitij. The compensation is determined by the internal parity and guidelines defined by the organisation. What you should look for is the role and the organisation culture, which will help you grow there. Compensation will follow.
rajeev asked, hello sir, i have two years of experience as a HR in IT industry, but my communication skills are very bad, how TO MOVE my career ,PLEASE SUGGEST ME ?
Ram: Hi Rajeev. Firstly, you will have to work on improving your communication skills. If you are in the growth path in your current organisation, it would be ideal to continue
Babu asked, The IT jobs were a rare profile a decade ago and the people were also looking at people who worked in IT with pride. But now its become common and a large number of people are in IT.Will a stage come if the IT goes out of India like there was Offshoring from US?
Ram: Hi Babu. You may refer to my answer posted for the question by sjobs. However, strong economic growth, rapid advancement in technology infra, increasingly competitive home grown Indian organisations, enhanced focus by the government and emergence of business models will continue driving the increased technology adoption in India. So, the pride continues...........
maverickraj asked, i am working with a insurance company into processes and want to make a move to business analyst profile in an IT company.Do they require technical skills or will my domain knowledge help me in getting into a BA profile in an IT company?
Ram: Hi Maverickraj. In the current situation, there is a need for very good domain skills in the Insurance areas. Your relevant domain knowledge will help you to explore opportunities in the BA role
Aniket asked, Hello , I(BE&MBA qualified) am working with L&T Infotech for the past 1.5 yrs in the area of Business Development Support/presales.Role involved is responding to RFP/RFI,more of coordination between Technical and sales team. Prior to that i was woking in IT Product Sales for 13 months . What is the scope of my current profile apart from Sales .Can i get international opportunities in this similar role? Please respond.
Ram: An option could also be to start focusing on solutioning. This is a key area where customers seek expertise.
rajeev asked, hello sir, i have two years of experience as a hr in it industry, but my communication skills are very bad, how plan my career
Ram: You should first focus on improving your communications skills. Start with a training course on this. Parallely work hard to gain more experience internally
kewl asked, Hi Ram ... what is the ideal percentage increment each year for an IT person in a MNC company.
Ram: Hi. This varies based on internal budgets and allocation. There are survey reports published by leading consulting firms, which gives details of the average increase for IT Industry in India. That could be a benchmark for you.
RANJAN asked, Hello sir , i have 14 years of experience in system administration and IT Infrastructure Management. But have been working with NON IT organisations. At present i am working with a leading national news paper and handling Its IT part of a branch. What is my chance to get a JOB in IT MNCs as most of the firms preferring candidates from the same type of firm they r belongs to
Ram: Chances are a bit lesser, since experienced candidates in this field are generally preferred. By this time you would have gained quite a bit of management experience and you should try managerial roles.
Rah311275 asked, Have 13 yrs of core delivery experience in IT services sector. How about my options to move to leadership roles? Would u recommend an MBA or pursue higher roles within organisation
Ram:Hi. Pursuing roles within the organisation is ideal. However, any learning in the form of education will only add to your knowledge base and skills.
Padam asked, Hi Sir, As i am having 10 years Development exp in Java/J2EE working in IBM since 7 years , please suggest how can i grow my carrier faster. Regards, Padam.
Ram: Hi Padam. You will have to first chose which ladder you want to focus. With 10 years development experience you could chose either Technology or Leadership ladder. Work on your strengths and decide. If you have a flair for people management, customer management etc, then the Project Manager route is ideal.
Lalit asked, Is MBA systems is useful to move up in the ladder?
Ram: Hi Lalit. Yes it would be useful. It adds value in the techno domain consulting space. Also with the management background, you will be able to analyse the systems from the client perspective
sajju asked, Hi..I have around 8 yrs of exp in IT - Intrested in abroad oppurtunities.. How to go abt it ?
Ram: Hi Sajju. Look for opportunities within your organisation, which will give you more job security in the fluctuating economic situation of other countries.
nikunj asked, I have experience of 1 year in web development, but i am not anymore interested in Development. I am also doing part time MBA. I dont want to work in development anymore. What profile should I select, so as to utilize both degrees B.E. & MBA???
Ram: Hi Nikunj. At the early stages of your career, it is very important for you to go through the full life cycle of Software development if you are interested in growing in the IT field. Your MBA will definitely come in handy in customer management, financial management etc. However, if you have gone through the full SDLC, then you will have a competitive advantage
nitinpanchmiya asked, Dear Rama, Due to health issues i have moved to indore in small IT firm. Do you think in longet context is it good decision , when TCS and infosys has announced to come to indore.
Ram: Hi Nitin. Firstly, it depends on your current health and personal situation. If your current orgnization is helping to grow that that you should your first choice to continue. Else, wait for the right opportunity to leverage your experience
kumar asked, I have 4 years experience in SAP based consultancy sytems. What is the scope for career advancement in this field
Ram: You should look at specialisation on one of the streams with more focus on Business consulting
Aparup asked, I am enrolled engineering student of 2006-2010 batch but I couldn't finish my degree in time as I was diagnosed with malignancy during my 3rd year in degree. I spent almost 2 years in treatment. I've done with all the engineering course work and now awaiting results which would come by May, 2012. So, it's been a years gap and most of the IT companies don't consider 2 years gap irrespective of any circumstances. How should I go about searching for a job in IT sector as most of them have rejected my application during initital screening. What other job oriented course I can opt for? I want to do MBA in the long run that's why I need to gain some work exp. Do you think I should tell employers at any stage about my medical condition? What rights in India do the young cancer survivors have if any employer is not willing to consider their job application. I am perfectly healthy now and have no health issues at all.
Ram: Hi Aparup. You should not lose hope and confidence. Opportunities will continue to come. I would recommend that you should be open to inform the prospective organisation. Also you should look for opportunties that may be small to start with and then pedal up to grow
adi asked, Hii Sir I have 9yrs of exp in Electrical designing bt there is no growth..I want to switch over in IT weather its in Testing or Networking... What will u suggest I had done certifications in both & I am PGDCA.. Thamks in advance..
Ram: Testing would be an easy entry into IT
shekhar asked, I have worked in Private MNC for 5 yrs. How about switching to govt IT firm.Please suggest
Ram: Hi Shekhar. It is a personal decision. However, if you are looking at a fast track growth, then I recommend that you continue in the Private MNC.
dharmesh asked, Dear Sir, last 10yers' i am working on very good Company of Godrej Group & last three yers i am working MNC company as a IT Administration (It infrastructure)so can you clarify whether i will continew or not i have no any certification certificat but expresince is lot of for it
Ram: Hi Dharmesh. Certification will be a value-add at any stage in the career. This will also give you an opportunity to gain some additional knowledge, when you start preparing for the certification process. In the current trend, certification is also an imporant factor to gauge the level of expertise of the individual. I recommend that you continue with the current orgnaization to add to your stability factor and pursue a few certification which will add lot of weightage to your current and future growth
Padam asked, Hi Sir, I am in IT sector since last 10 years. I am not getting much growth, I am doing very hard work on the tasks assigned and giving outputs still I am lagging. Please give suggestiong to imporve my carrier in IT Sector. Still I am a developer , working in IBM since 7 years. Regards, Padam.
Ram: Hi Padam. You should not feel de-motivated. You will have to work on a combination of self learning and utilize opportunities that are available in your organisation to grow. A first step towards this is for you to do is a SWOT analysis and figure out where you need to focus. You may also approach a mentor in your organisation to give you some direction and help you define your career path. Best wishes.
sjobs asked, There are news reports that Outsourcing might end in 8-10 years. SO what will happen to companies in India and the millions of IT jobs ?
Ram: Hi. The outsourcing trend is affected by the economic situations in the western world. Another reason for probable slow down could also be the fear of job loss in these countries. However, one key element to outsourcing is the knowledge base that resides in India. Environments like cloud computing, remote infrastructure, managed services etc., will drive the future of technology business. Also rapid adoption of IT services across emerging verticals such as education, healthcare and retail will also gain importance. Hence, in the future the key to outsourcing will be innovation, value addition and thought leadership. Many Indian IT organisations are already moving in this direction not just for their business need, but also to be competitive in the emerging market conditions.
muthu asked, i have working in a reputed MNC for 4.5 yrs as a software tester. can you clarify whether i will continue in the same MNC or go for new MNC which offer good package.
Ram: My recommendation would be for you to continue in your current organisation if you are in the growth path. If you have learning opportunities, moving up the ladder etc, it would be ideal to continue. Compensation should not be the yardstick for change. Compensation growth also happens as you grow up the ladder
shyam asked, i have an experience of more than 8 years in core field (manufacturing industry) what are my chances if i make a shift in it field
RamHi Shyam, There could be 2 options. One would be to leverage your domain expertise in manufacturing and explore opportunities in IT companies that need manufacturing capabilities. The other option is to use your expertise in leadership(customer management, people management etc) to explore getting into a Project Lead / Manager roles.
