Archive for November, 2009
Posted on November 29, 2009 by Tahlent Team
Have you often looked at designs or illustrations in magazines or on websites and thought you could have done them better? It’s time to explore if you have a yen for graphic design.
Graphic design is actually a very broad discipline and includes typography, illustration, product design and web design among others. There is a demand for graphic designers in all streams of business – from advertising, web development, publishing, product design and retail to information technology.
Fundamentally, a graphic artist or designer has one clear-cut task: to communicate visually with clarity, creativity, aesthetics and insight. To become a graphic design, you need to have an aptitude for design, art or drawing. If you were good at art back in school, you have a good reason to test if your creative juices will flow with a little encouragement.
Graphic design is fun and challenging, but it is hard work. To get started, it helps to learn the fundamentals of graphic design from an institute or through self-study. If you want to be formally trained and take up a serious career in design, look up your local university or art school for courses in graphic design. If you want to do a part-time or after-work course, there are several institutes offering short-term or long-term courses that will help you learn the fundamentals within a short time. Many of these courses also let you work on dummy projects or even live projects once you are a little more experienced.
If you do not have the budget to invest in education, turn to the Web. A simple search will lead you to countless free tutorials that teach you everything from basic principles to full-fledged complex techniques for print, audio-visual and online media.
If you have access to a computer, you may want to consider investing in software to aid your learning. Most graphic design is done digitally these days, and software is available to make anything from line drawings and sketches to full-fledged movies and 3-D presentations. Depending on your budget, you may choose to purchase licensed software such as the Adobe suite (including the latest versions of PhotoShop and Illustrator) or simply turn to the Internet to download freeware and shareware.
Make sure you save copies of your work on CD. Even better, once you are ready you can create a profile on Tahlent and showcase your portfolio.
Once you learn the ropes, get on the Internet and seek out discussion forums where you can interact and collaborate with designers of all stripes. Within a short time, with enough dedication and persistence, you will be ready to enter the world of graphic design as a budding professional.
Resources:
1. Graphic Design 101
2. Free tutorials and instructional sites
3. Graphic design principles
4. Licensed graphic design software: PhotoShop and Illustrator from Adobe
5. Open-source design software resources: Free Art Software and SourceForge
6. Excellent open source and free alternatives to Photoshop
7. 10 Principles of effective web design
8. Web 2.0 design style guide
Note: Tahlent does not accept responsibility for the content of the third-party resources mentioned above.
Tags: Career advice, college courses, education, employment, forums, graphic design, graphic designer, online courses, photoshop, resources, Tahlent, Talent Network, tools, web design
Posted on November 27, 2009 by Tahlent Team
Working with creative people is challenging as it is rewarding. While it can be stimulating to be surrounded by talented people and ideas in the midst of a creative environment, learning how to manage creative teams or co-workers is an art. And it needs to be pursued with care and attention.
The term “creative people” immediately brings to mind artists and writers. However, this definition includes musicians, RJs, application architects, architects, graphic designers, advertising professionals, filmmakers, landscape artists, photographers, sound engineers, nutritionists, clothing designers, etc.
Often, creative people are known for being eccentric, working flexibly and not following a set routine. They may sometimes be asocial and withdrawn and at other times flamboyant and articulate. They are often frustrated by regimented working hours and work conditions. However, creative teams may sometimes be a part of a larger corporate outfit and the rules that apply to the rest of the firm apply to them too.
To manage a creative team effectively it is important to understand the way creative people work, and ensure that productivity does not get sacrificed in the process.
Lack of inspiration is often cited as a reason for turning in poor quality work. Remember that while you can do everything to keep your creative team’s energies charged up, it’s just another day at work. You can’t produce creativity on demand by turning on a faucet, so there has to be an established code of work that is fair, stimulating, and result-oriented.
- Communicate briefs clearly and provide context while doing so
- Ensure that your team-members are aligned to a goal
- Drive home the point that your emphasis is on the outcome of the work rather than the hours spent on creating it
- Watch out for burnout and prevent it before it happens. If people are working overtime, ensure that they take necessary time off to recover and recharge their batteries
- Innovation is necessary but deadlines are sacrosanct. Build a framework that allows for timely reviews and interventions prior to submission or presentation of a project
- Foster a culture of openness and collaboration within the team. Do not encourage cliques within a team.
- If two creative people in a team do not get along, drive home the point that the odds shall favor the team player
- Be public with praise and discreet with criticism. While rejecting ideas, be sensitive to the person who generated them. However, take care not to undermine your own authority. Be frank and diplomatic, but also forthright
- Create a culture of mentoring – allow team-members to contribute to each others’ growth and learning
- Within the boundaries of company policy, enable access to learning tools, resources and activities
- Always celebrate accomplishments and dissect failures together and as a team
Tags: advertising professionals, application architects, architects, clothing designers, collaboration, creative people, creative team, creativity, deadlines, filmmakers, graphic designers, Innovation, landscape artists, managing creative teams, mentoring, musicians, nutritionists, openness, photographers, productivity, RJs, sound engineers, Talent, teamwork
Posted on November 24, 2009 by Tahlent Team
Even if you are not into cricket, you must have heard about Sachin Tendulkar. At 36, he is the world’s top cricketing superstar. In a career spanning 20 years, the Little Master, as he is known to his fans, has scored 43 Test centuries and 45 one-day international centuries. He continues to demolish record after record every time he steps on the field. When he enters the stadium, fans roar their support and adulation for him. He’s a national hero, an internationally admired icon and a role model for the old-fashioned gentlemanliness that cricket was once known for.
What does it take to be like Tendulkar? And what does it take to stay in the game for 20 years, and still remain as focused and determined as you did when you played your first game? And to continue to be motivated to give your best? What does it take to be unfazed when you are basking in fame and the blinding glare of the limelight?
There’s a lesson in Tendulkar’s career for all of us. It’s not just about sticking in a job for 20 years but about making every opportunity count. This is not to say that Tendulkar has experienced no setbacks or that he has lived a charmed life. As human as can be, the Little Master has had his share of injuries and low seasons when his critics wrote his career an early obituary. He bounced back each time. And now, at an age when most players bid adieu to professional cricket, he continues to do what he does well – delight and entertain the Indian cricket fans.
He is talented and disciplined, but the secret of his success boils down to attitude. Nearly everyone who has watched Tendulkar concurs that the man is determination personified. He has kept himself fit and in top shape despite his age. He has sharpened his focus by meditating on his game. When he is on the cricket field, he is a picture of studied concentration.
Though he has earned the adulation of critics he has not alienated his team-mates. Admired by his opponents and respected by his peers, he is “one of the boys”, a strong team-player and not one to let his seniority stop him from taking orders from a much younger captain. He is a mentor to juniors in the side and, at the same time, a continuous student of the game who has something to learn from everyone.
Tendulkar has made himself a legend not only by piling up runs but by creating the potential for surprises – he pulls one out of the hat just when you have written him off. He has never rested on his laurels and has always produced that something special to silence his critics. And yet, he maintains that he is an ordinary man doing what he does best.
Whatever be the pressures of his workplace, Tendulkar has attested the need for work-life balance. After-hours, family time takes top priority. He has mentioned in a number of interviews that his wife has helped him maintain that balance.
In handling injury, criticism, failure or disappointment, Tendulkar has been gracious. In media appearances, he has never been called for unsporting remarks. Humility has always been a hallmark of his persona.
Discipline, integrity and sincerity, topped by honest hard work and a never-say-die attitude – that’s what keeps the world’s top cricketer ticking. In short, whatever the profession, the same principles apply.
And there’s a lesson in that for everyone who aspires to a stellar career.
Tags: Career, career productivity, cricket, dedication, determination, focus, indian, mentoring, Sachin Tendulkar, talented, teamwork
Posted on November 18, 2009 by Tahlent Team
Biofuel for aircrafts
Planes that fly exclusively on biofuel can’t be far away, if research propounded by the Policy Exchange convinces the European Union into taking a decision in their favor.
The UK think-tank has argued that the biofuel lobby should put aside demands for biofuel from cars and other terrestrial vehicles, as meeting them would require the raw material to produce the fuels to be grown over a cultivable area equivalent to the USA. Instead, Policy Exchange recommends that biofuels be used to fly aircraft, as this would help reduce the emission of greenhouse gases directly into the stratosphere.
Fuels prepared from algae, corn, sugarcane, rapeseed and jatropha – a berry-producing wild plant – have already been tested. Recently, Virgin Atlantic used a fuel mixture containing up to 20 percent biofuel on a test flight.
India already contributes immensely to global aviation industry in terms of technical support, avionics and wing design. This new aspect of the aviation business could open a vital thrust area for Indian industry, particularly in the area of chemicals.
While the farming of jatropha for bio-diesel production has already interested agriculturists, the process of refining and processing biofuels could offset the rise of the related chemicals industry. The increased demand for biofuel production would also necessitate the employment of qualified chemical engineers.
Even as the demand for biofuels grows, the possibilities are bright for career-seekers. For fresh science graduates and students of agricultural sciences, careers in chemical engineering and biofuel cropping must surely be something to think about.
Tags: aerospace technology, automotive, aviation, biofuels, career options, cars, chemical engineers, engineers, green energy, Industry, planes, research
Posted on November 16, 2009 by Tahlent Team
Location: Mumbai
Vacancy: Senior Executive – Air Freight Operations
Experience: 2 – 5 years
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Location: Mumbai
Vacancy: Sr Executive / Executive – Housekeeping – A Leading MNC Facility Management Company
Experience: 3 – 7 years
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Location: Hyderabad
Vacancy: General Manager / Sr. General Manager
Experience: 7 – 17 yrs
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Location: Pune
Vacancy: Manager – Electrical Maintenance
Experience: 10 – 15 Years
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Location: Bangalore
Vacancy: Software Engineer – HTML/Javascript
Experience: 3-8 years
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IMPORTANT NOTE: These listings are compiled from third-party sources. Tahlent does not accept responsibility for the validity, reliability or accuracy of the openings posted, or of the employers named here. Job-seekers are advised to be cautious and verify the information thoroughly before applying.
Tags: Bangalore, banking, biotech jobs, Delhi, healthcare, Hyderabad, India, Industry, IT, Jobs, Mumbai, pharma jobs, Pune
Posted on November 11, 2009 by Tahlent Team
Location: Hyderabad
Vacancy: Network Engineer / Administrator, Leading IT Services Company
Experience: 1 – 6 yrs
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Location: Hyderabad
Vacancy: Audit Manager, Leading Telecom and Manufacturing Company
Experience: 3 – 8 yrs
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Location: Mumbai
Vacancy: Portfolio Response Manager (Branch Banking Sales), Standard Chartered Bank
Experience: 2-4 years
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Location: Delhi/ NCR
Vacancy: Head – Accounts Department, GSS Partners
Experience: 8-10 years
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Location: Delhi/ NCR
Vacancy: SAP FICO Consultant (contract position), ACS Systech Integrators Pvt Ltd
Experience: 4-6 years
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Location: Bangalore
Vacancy: Copy Writer – Event management Company
Experience: 2-5 years
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Location: Chennai
Vacancy: Marketing Executive – software company
Experience: 1 – 2 years
More info
IMPORTANT NOTE: These listings are compiled from third-party sources. Tahlent does not accept responsibility for the validity, reliability or accuracy of the openings posted, or of the employers named here. Job-seekers are advised to be cautious and verify the information thoroughly before applying.
Tags: Bangalore, banking, biotech jobs, BPO jobs, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Gurgaon, healthcare, Hyderabad, India, Industry, IT, Jobs, marketing jobs, Mumbai, Noida, pharma jobs, sales jobs
Posted on November 9, 2009 by Tahlent Team
Q: What do these drugs have in common – Avastin, Humira, Rituxan, Enbrel, Lantus?
A: By 2014, they are pegged to be the largest-selling drugs in the market.
Avastin, an anti-cancer antibody from biotech giant Genentech (recently acquired by Roche), is at the top of the list. Humira is an anti-inflammatory antibody for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and Crohn’s disease from Abbott Labs. Rituxan, an antibody for cancer and arthritis, is owned by Genentech/ Roche. The anti-inflammatory antibody Enbrel sold by Amgen and Wyeth (now part of Pfizer) comes in fourth while Sanofi-Aventis’s diabetes drug Lantus is in fifth place.
All of these are biotech products marketed by mainline pharma companies. The shift towards biotech-derived products represents a significant therapeutic shift, according to Evaluate Pharma. Evaluate also forecasts that over 50 percent of the top 100 drugs in 2014 will be biotech medications, which marks a significant shift from 28 percent in 2008 and 11 percent in 2000. It explains why Big Pharma has been pursuing biotech relentlessly.
Those stepping into a career in Biologics have reason to smile while marketing grads need to put their thinking caps on and get a little perspective. Most cutting-edge drug discovery jobs are in biotech, while the cool drug marketing jobs are going to remain in the small-molecule pharma business.
Either way, opportunity knocks.
Tags: Abbott Labs, Amgen, Avastin, biologics, biotech, Careers, drug discovery, drug manufacturers, drugs, Enbrel, Evaluate pharma, Genentech, Humira, Industry, Jobs, Lantus, Pfizer, pharma, pharma companies, Rituxan, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, Wyeth
Posted on November 4, 2009 by Tahlent Team
In November 2008, Harish met the same fate as many software engineers. His employer, a technology giant based in Bangalore, handed him the pink slip.
For two weeks Harish stayed at home, unable to come to terms with his misfortune. He had no back-up plans and little in terms of savings. The outlook seemed bleak, as calls to job consultants didn’t get past the receptionist. To shore up for the uncertainty looming ahead, Harish sold his three-month-old Zen Estilo and moved to a smaller home. He sold his LCD TV and his iPhone on eBay.
One afternoon he picked up his digital SLR camera, which he had hardly used, and sat down to compose another ‘for sale’ classified ad. It was painful to write it, because Harish had been extremely attached to this camera.
And then, suddenly, an idea struck him.
Harish slapped his laptop shut, picked up his camera, hurriedly packed a rucksack and caught an overnight bus to Hampi. Arriving in Hampi in the morning, he checked into a cheap hotel and freshened up. After breakfast, he stepped out for a stroll through the town and towards the temples and monuments. It was an overcast day, and the light was perfect. He spent the day photographing the monuments and the breathtaking rocky landscapes as well as some market scenes. He took a night bus back to Bangalore the same evening.
He downloaded his photographs to his laptop the next morning and uploaded them to his Flickr account. For the next few days, he continued his job search and forgot all about his photos.
Three days later, he received a comment on one of his pictures. It was from the editor of a travel magazine who wanted to buy the picture for use on his magazine cover.
Harish was pleasantly surprised. Though he had received praise for his photographs earlier, he had never considered the possibility that anyone would have a commercial interest in them. His heart in his mouth, Harish wrote back to the editor, asking him what he would pay.
There was no reply. Harish thought he had offended the editor by asking to be paid for his amateurish photos. Two days later, the editor wrote back apologizing for the delay in responding. He expressed interest in buying three more photographs and offered Rs 3,000 apiece.
Harish couldn’t believe his luck – a trip to Hampi that cost him no more than a thousand rupees had fetched him Rs 12,000! On a friend’s advice, he enrolled for a photography workshop to polish his skills. It was a therapeutic way to spend six harrowing weeks that would have otherwise been spent in a fruitless chase after headhunters.
By the end of the course, Harish’s confidence had grown immeasurably. He set up a website and mustered the courage to offer his photographs to publishers. At first, eight out of ten turned him away, but he soldiered on. Within six months, he was selling about ten pictures a month for anything ranging from Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 apiece.
If he had not lost his job, Harish reflected, he would never have found his true calling!
Harish is not alone in being a “lucky victim” of the recession.
MySunnyBalcony, an innovative business engaged in designing and creating innovative garden themes in small enclosed spaces such as apartment balconies, was started by four Bangaloreans in the midst of the recession. They followed their hobby – gardening – with passion and zeal when the economy was looking down.
Similarly, many risk-takers have taken advantage of the recession to exit the boredom of corporate life and focus on their hobbies and interests, eventually turning them into successful careers. Not surprisingly, the recession has engendered unusual careers such as bartending, DJing, floristry, jewelry designing, sports coaching, teaching swimming or music, coffee/wine/tea tasting, freelance writing and web designing.
Smart, determined people see an opportunity in anything – even a recession. For them, crisis is just another avenue to chase their dreams. Making the shift takes guts, drive and an extra helping of self-belief but it is possible to make the most of your recession if you look within to find your calling. Your hobby can be your passport to an unusual, satisfying and rewarding career. When the economy springs back, you will find yourself happier and wealthier in more ways than one.
Do you have a similar success story to relate? Share it with us by posting it as a comment.
Tags: bartending, Careers, coffee tasting, designing, DJing, economy, entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, floristry, freelance writing, hobbies, Indian Professionals, music, recession, Talent, Talent Community, Talent Network, tea tasting, unusual careers, wine tasting
