The counsellor: Complementing skills

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">Complement skills:<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">I will be completing my CA (PE II) this year. What computer course should I pursue to enhance my career prospects?</span><br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Ankit Kapoor</span><br /><br />Today success in the accounting field requires an understanding of broader areas such as e-commerce, business application development and information systems’ security as well.Besides analysing complex financial data and preparing detailed reports, you will be required to play a critical role in the technology initiatives of the company. You may even be required to guide the firm through financial systems conversion, upgrades and enterprise application and development.<br /><br />With the introduction of integrated systems, technical expertise must go hand-in-hand with business knowledge. The compulsory 250-hour computer training programme which you must have undertaken after clearing your PE 1 or PE 2, must have sufficiently equipped you with the basics.<br /><br />But as being techno-savvy goes beyond data collection and analysis, familiarising yourself with a current accounting or finance-related software such as Oracle Fi may be an asset. One of the most popular ERP products related to finance, available in the market today, the software is designed to computerise the accounting or finance-related functions in an organisation.<br /><br />Check the Oracle website (oracle.com/in) for the list of Oracle Authorised Training Centres.<br /><br />Top job:<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">I will be completing my B Tech shortly. The placement scene in my college is rather sad. Can you please tell me something about technical support and its scope in India?</span><br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Prashant Garewal</span><br /><br />Technical support, which plays a very crucial role in technology companies, has now metamorphosed into a veritable high-end job, particularly in the outsourced mode. Technical-support engineers are recognised and respected worldwide for their skills.<br /><br />The entire technical-support process is geared towards building a relationship while providing a solution. But solving the problem is only half the job; explaining the solution to the customer is the bigger challenge. The work is often compounded by time-critical service demands and the ever-expanding gamut of applications.<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal">Since the work involves interacting with customers, skills such as good interpersonal communications are much in demand. A flair for crisis management and negotiation is a valuable asset. And so is lateral and analytical thinking and a creative approach to problem solving.<br /><br />The skill-sets called for range from MS and Unix technologies to knowledge of different operating systems, Internet technologies and an in-depth knowledge of at least one database technology, ODBC technologies plus extensive and detailed product domain-specific knowledge and familiarity with related domains. Alternatively, MCSE/ MCSD/CCNA certifications figure in many advertisements as well. Of course, the technical-support organisation you join will put you through its own intensive-training programme.<br /><br />Globally, the technical industry is increasingly looking at outsourcing as a major part of its high-end support function. With its large pool of techno-savvy IT professionals, India has a unique advantage of cornering a major chunk of business in this BPO sector. As a fresh IT engineer, technical support will be a good starting point. Regardless of whether you work on a voice-based or web-based process, good communication in spoken and written skills are mandatory.<br /><br /><formid=367815></formid=367815></div> </div>