Seeking Career Stability: Should I Focus on Training or CSR with My Experience?

Hi there, This is Ash. T from Ahmedabad. I am currently working with a very large and reputed Ltd company in its CSR Department as an Associate Faculty for English and Communication. I am also responsible for Academic Administration and General Marketing of Skill Development courses being offered to the community in Ahmedabad.

I am in a dilemma pertaining to adding value and stability to my career. This is because I am basically from the Service Industry. In my previous assignment, I worked with the Aditya Birla group in one of its telecom companies in Service, Delivery Training, and Quality functions. So, Communication, Customer Service, and Training are my forte in that way. Owing to cost-cutting in the telecom sector overall, I changed a couple of companies, wherein in one assignment, I was the head of the call center for a hospitality company.

In pursuit of stability and a meaningful career, I quit that job and started freelance consultation along with working as a visiting faculty for English and Communication (with an MBA college in Ahmedabad). I did so for 2 years until I got this break in March 2013 in the CSR Department.

Seeing the need to upgrade my credentials, I have cleared MA (English) 1st year and am pursuing its last year (from MGU). But as I said, I am eyeing stability and value addition to my career, I have decided to pick up either MSW or Diploma in Training and Development from ISTD. Please suggest the best course of action. What, according to you, should I be aiming for career-wise, i.e., (a) Training field or (b) CSR, given my corporate work experience of 15 years.

As a long-term vision, I also plan to go for a Ph.D., but I am not sure how it will help me in the corporate/private sector going forward. Because I am less optimistic to appear/clear Net/Slet tests.

Consider it given that I am aiming for a Rs. 70,000 salary level in the next 2 years.

Sincerely,

ASH. T

(Age: 38 years)

Ahmedabad

All I have analyzed from your question is whether you should opt for a career change or stay on the same career path. Well, honestly speaking, at your age, a career change is not advisable, especially when you have 15 years of experience in a field. Nevertheless, if you are eager and enthusiastic about trying something new, you can go ahead, but be prepared for difficulties.

There is no guarantee of a $70,000 salary range in either case. No course or degree guarantees high pay.

I wholeheartedly thank you for your guidance and feedback on my query. Further, just to refine my query, I would like to add that I have already initiated a "change of career" by joining the CSR Department. The only thing is that I am firmly determined not to go back to a corporate career and prefer to be in a semi-corporate function, division, or department like CSR, community training, etc.

Now, considering this, I need to evaluate whether a Diploma in Training and Development, a Ph.D. in English, or an MSW would boost my career (both in terms of salary and designation).

You can consider my query narrowed down to making a valid choice between a couple of career courses for skill upgrading and career consolidation. I request further insights, in case I am not burdening you too much.

Best Regards,
Ash. T
31-Oct-2013
Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Your posting is very interesting. It is commendable that you want to enhance your qualifications. The zeal that you have shown is something worth emulating by many who are beginning their careers. A Ph.D. in English may be superfluous as you have already demonstrated a good command of the English language. Had you been in the university/academics, I would have voted for it. Once you complete your MA, it should be even better. An MSW would be alright if it is distance learning. At your age, you are likely to have other commitments, so part-time/distance learning courses should be preferred. Have you considered SA 8000 as an option? Any ISTD course could be good depending on what exactly you want to do in the future. According to me, salary is determined by mutual need, talent, and the market.

Wish you good luck,

V. Raghunathan

You can have a combination of certificates and a degree. First, try to focus on your MA in English, and then you can go for a Diploma in Teaching and Development. A Ph.D. is a good option, but you are aiming for 2 years, and you need at least 2 years to complete your Ph.D. (till now, you have not even completed your MA). Therefore, the benefits of a Ph.D. will obviously be added to your resume after 2 years, not within 2 years. A Ph.D. degree is beneficial for you in the long run.

Regards

Considering a Career Transition to ISO Consultancy

In continuation of my query "Mid Career Guidance" and in response to Dineshji's feedback, I am considering the feasibility of transitioning to become an ISO consultant at this point. I have recently changed my career path, and further diversifying might lead to a delay in my progress, at least that's what I believe. Could you please provide more insight on this matter?

With best regards,
Ashish Thakar

I appreciate your zeal to gain more academic milestones. My personal experience is that no qualification acquired, however it may be weighed, goes to waste. I would encourage you to select a career path dearest to you and acquire the MA/PhD en route via distance learning. As others pointed out, you might not be well-placed to pursue full-time courses. There are many universities and institutions that offer even twin degrees. A Ph.D. in the same line as your PG could be received well rather than in a totally different discipline. Alternatively, there are many diplomas that can be completed in a year or so, and it would be prudent for you to select a course in which you are comfortable and easy to master, rather than struggling with a new branch. I feel you are already overdue to settle in the middle of your ultimate career path, having clocked 15 years of foundational experience. Having said that, I shouldn't sound discouraging. We have seen people switch jobs as frequently as possible to scale new heights in terms of CTC, position, and standing. You should have observed that in all these cases, they were successful in making an indelible and unassailable impression on their employers by virtue of knowledge, experience, confidence, and competency gained all along. As you are in the faculty without a Ph.D., you can't do much. I'm not sure if you are still eligible to compete for UGC placement, which is lucrative and has the potential to help you reach your target. Side by side, you should have research papers published to your credit or contributions in columns of reputed magazines and papers. I think a Ph.D. is the springboard. All the best.

I have enclosed an introductory presentation on SA8000. You may like to get further information and make a decision.

Regards,
V. Raghunathan

You can do lots of commendable work in CSR. Focus on the domain and grow your career in CSR. At one point in your life, you will have acquired enough knowledge. There is no end to knowledge acquisition. Keep doing that until our last day. This is the time to implement it to achieve great results out of the available knowledge.

I usually quote in my article: "Knowing is not Sufficient - Performing is. Only then Achieving is possible!"

Regards

Happy New Year, Mr. Saini, I am grateful to have your feedback. I view CSR just like any other corporate function, albeit semi-corporate in nature. My primary goal is to retain my Training Profile while integrating it with the CSR Domain. I am planning to pursue a Ph.D. after completing my MA (English) 2nd year, which will conclude in July 2013. One concern I have is: "How valid is a correspondence/distance learning Ph.D. degree?" and "How recognized is a Ph.D. in the corporate sector in general, and specifically in the CSR Department?"

Hope I am making myself clear; please guide further.

Best Regards,
Ashish Thakar
Associate Faculty (English & Communication)
Academic Administrator & Marketing Incharge
CSR Department
Arvind Limited, Ahmedabad.

I am grateful to receive this PowerPoint presentation from you. I have gone through it. I view CSR as just another corporate function, albeit semi-corporate in nature. My primary concern is to maintain my Training Profile while blending with the CSR domain.

Pursuing Further Education

I am planning to pursue a Ph.D. once I complete my MA (English) 2nd year, which is expected to be in July 2013. However, I have reservations about the validity of a correspondence/distance learning Ph.D. degree and its recognition in the corporate sector, particularly in the CSR Department.

I hope I have expressed myself clearly. Please provide further guidance.

Regards,
Ashish Thakar
Associate Faculty (English & Communication)
Academic Administrator & Marketing Incharge
CSR Department
Arvind Limited, Ahmedabad.