The Hindu Business Line : A banker's dilemma

I have been working in a nationalised bank for the past two-and-a-half years, and am looking at enhancing my career prospects. My basic qualification is M.Sc. What about pursuing CA, ICWA, CS, or MBA?

Sanam Kishore

Taking into consideration your stint in the banking industry, you may do well pursuing a full-time MBA programme in a reasonably good institution. Prepare well for the entrance examination and take the plunge into the world of management. You may consider finance and banking as optional subjects in the MBA programme.

Upgrading ERP skills

I am an internal audit executive in a manufacturing company, working in an ERP (enterprise resource planning) environment. My background is commerce with CA Intermediate. . I am based in Coimbatore and would like to know the specific skill sets needed to update my ERP knowledge. I had been told that updating ERP skills can be done only in Chennai and there are no training centres in Coimbatore for those with functional background.

Raghu, Coimbatore

You have not mentioned in which ERP environment you are working. Based on current trends, there seems to be good demand for mySAP Financial Accounting and Controlling (FI/CO), which will fit your background. Training facilities for SAP are available in Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad in the South (refer http://www.sap.com/asia/services/education/schedule/schedule_IN.htm for specific details). Another option is to join an organisation which uses the SAP platform so that you can gain hands-on experience. From audit you may have to move to core accounting/costing function.

EC to CS?

I am a BE in Electronics and Communication (EC) and am interested in software. Which is the better option: Try for a job in some company or pursue studies abroad? Is it possible to do Masters in Computer Software Engineering in Indian universities with a BE in EC?

Mahendra, Bangalore

Considering your past academic performance, I feel you should take up a job in a software company. After three years of experience, you can try for an MBA programme with specialisation in systems. But if you are keen on higher studies now, you may consider taking the GATE examination in computer science conducted by IISc/IIT, which is the admission gateway for most PG programmes in India. This may require extensive preparation as you would be shifting your specialisation from EC to CS.

S. Kannan

Send in your queries to CareerCrossroads@gmail.com.

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S. Kannan