Reading Comprehension: Workplace Skills and Career Development

Most of the organizations these days, the author says, encourage managers to play the role of counsellors. Why do they do this?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question.

In today’s fast moving world, many young professionals are vulnerable to stress. Stress could emanate out of various situations such as lifestyle, health or relationship issues, lack of support system at home and competitive focus on acquiring material symbols of success and career advancement. Due to the tight timelines for delivery and increased focus on performance outcomes, many employees are unable to enjoy a proper work life. To add to this, the current economy has impacted many companies’ revenues and profits which, in effect, have put many jobs at risk resulting in the frequency of counselling support and guidance going up significantly. Both formal sessions, involving a trained counsellor and informal sessions, with immediate boss or group HR, are becoming routine for employees who are unable to cope with such high stress levels. Employees are often found to confide comfortably in counsellors as their approach to the problem is objective and discreet.

However, these days, most organizations encourage managers to play the role of counsellors and are expected to constantly engage in one-to-one conversations with their team members to understand them and help them during their difficult times. To ensure the mental and emotional health of its employees, Intelenet has adopted unique employee assistance programme, the service of a professional outfit specializing in offering varied services related to the field of human behaviour. This outfit offers services that help employees help themselves. This on-site counselling is a fully confidential service. Information that employees share with the counsellors from this outfit is used only for the sole purpose of helping them and is not shared with any other person without the expressed consent of the employee. Counsel is another initiative taken by Intelenet which provides employees the opportunity to come out of their nagging stress and enhance their lives. Employees can consult these professionally trained counsellors who modify their perception, behaviour, personality to bring a better understanding amongst colleagues at the work place. The unique way of I-Counsel service is that counsellors visit the operators’ floor process-by-process and explain to employees what counselling is and how it could benefit them in their day-to-day lives.

It would seem from the reading of the passage that employers are going all out to extend all possible help to employees. Why do employers do this?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question.

In today’s fast moving world, many young professionals are vulnerable to stress. Stress could emanate out of various situations such as lifestyle, health or relationship issues, lack of support system at home and competitive focus on acquiring material symbols of success and career advancement. Due to the tight timelines for delivery and increased focus on performance outcomes, many employees are unable to enjoy a proper work life. To add to this, the current economy has impacted many companies’ revenues and profits which, in effect, have put many jobs at risk resulting in the frequency of counselling support and guidance going up significantly. Both formal sessions, involving a trained counsellor and informal sessions, with immediate boss or group HR, are becoming routine for employees who are unable to cope with such high stress levels. Employees are often found to confide comfortably in counsellors as their approach to the problem is objective and discreet.

However, these days, most organizations encourage managers to play the role of counsellors and are expected to constantly engage in one-to-one conversations with their team members to understand them and help them during their difficult times. To ensure the mental and emotional health of its employees, Intelenet has adopted unique employee assistance programme, the service of a professional outfit specializing in offering varied services related to the field of human behaviour. This outfit offers services that help employees help themselves. This on-site counselling is a fully confidential service. Information that employees share with the counsellors from this outfit is used only for the sole purpose of helping them and is not shared with any other person without the expressed consent of the employee. Counsel is another initiative taken by Intelenet which provides employees the opportunity to come out of their nagging stress and enhance their lives. Employees can consult these professionally trained counsellors who modify their perception, behaviour, personality to bring a better understanding amongst colleagues at the work place. The unique way of I-Counsel service is that counsellors visit the operators’ floor process-by-process and explain to employees what counselling is and how it could benefit them in their day-to-day lives.

Time management, in the given context, is one of the formidable factors that come in the way of

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question.

In today’s fast moving world, many young professionals are vulnerable to stress. Stress could emanate out of various situations such as lifestyle, health or relationship issues, lack of support system at home and competitive focus on acquiring material symbols of success and career advancement. Due to the tight timelines for delivery and increased focus on performance outcomes, many employees are unable to enjoy a proper work life. To add to this, the current economy has impacted many companies’ revenues and profits which, in effect, have put many jobs at risk resulting in the frequency of counselling support and guidance going up significantly. Both formal sessions, involving a trained counsellor and informal sessions, with immediate boss or group HR, are becoming routine for employees who are unable to cope with such high stress levels. Employees are often found to confide comfortably in counsellors as their approach to the problem is objective and discreet.

However, these days, most organizations encourage managers to play the role of counsellors and are expected to constantly engage in one-to-one conversations with their team members to understand them and help them during their difficult times. To ensure the mental and emotional health of its employees, Intelenet has adopted unique employee assistance programme, the service of a professional outfit specializing in offering varied services related to the field of human behaviour. This outfit offers services that help employees help themselves. This on-site counselling is a fully confidential service. Information that employees share with the counsellors from this outfit is used only for the sole purpose of helping them and is not shared with any other person without the expressed consent of the employee. Counsel is another initiative taken by Intelenet which provides employees the opportunity to come out of their nagging stress and enhance their lives. Employees can consult these professionally trained counsellors who modify their perception, behaviour, personality to bring a better understanding amongst colleagues at the work place. The unique way of I-Counsel service is that counsellors visit the operators’ floor process-by-process and explain to employees what counselling is and how it could benefit them in their day-to-day lives.

According to the author, difficult times can be a boon both to employees and employers as they create opportunities for

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question.

While economic recession has led many firms to freeze hiring and cutting corners, it has also given an opportunity to employees to enhance their career prospects. Difficult times can certainly be utilized effectively for learning and developing knowledge base and skills.

In the current scenario, organizations are leaving no stone unturned in allowing their employees to enhance career prospects by acquiring additional qualifications. At a reputed Pharma company capability enhancement is a part of HR framework and strategy for the long term. The pharmaceutical major actively collaborates with the best institutes of science and management to build long term technical and leadership strengths. They have collaborated with a prominent IIM in leadership development efforts for their top talent. They have also recently tied up with some leading institutes to enable their employees to pursue their PhD while at work.

Unisys also has a career management programme in place to give its employees the opportunity to grow within the organization. Unisys University, for example, offers a selection of programmes, both instructors led as well as self paced trainings so that employees can make best possible use of this facility depending on whatever suited them the best. In addition to the internal courses, they also encourage employees to undertake additional qualifications that would enhance their career prospects.

Another leading financial services company encourages employees to acquire industry specific certifications in financial planning, certified financial analysis etc. For a broking company, industry certifications are mandatory for specific jobs. For example, cash market dealer certification is necessary for working as a cash market dealer and AMFI certification is mandatory for selling mutual funds.

The major challenge in pursuing an additional qualification along with a job is that the employee needs to manage his/her time well in order to accommodate both. One has to deliver on the job and also meet the demands of the course he/she is pursuing. The biggest challenge is self motivation to pursue further studies. Most youngsters remain content with whatever qualification they have. Cost of pursuing a course, which is on the expensive side, is also a factor. Though education loans are available, the interest rates are high. Absence from work, often on loss of pay, to prepare and appear for exams is another dissuading factor.

What, according to the passage, is the rationale in organizations allowing their employees to acquire additional qualifications?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question.

While economic recession has led many firms to freeze hiring and cutting corners, it has also given an opportunity to employees to enhance their career prospects. Difficult times can certainly be utilized effectively for learning and developing knowledge base and skills.

In the current scenario, organizations are leaving no stone unturned in allowing their employees to enhance career prospects by acquiring additional qualifications. At a reputed Pharma company capability enhancement is a part of HR framework and strategy for the long term. The pharmaceutical major actively collaborates with the best institutes of science and management to build long term technical and leadership strengths. They have collaborated with a prominent IIM in leadership development efforts for their top talent. They have also recently tied up with some leading institutes to enable their employees to pursue their PhD while at work.

Unisys also has a career management programme in place to give its employees the opportunity to grow within the organization. Unisys University, for example, offers a selection of programmes, both instructors led as well as self paced trainings so that employees can make best possible use of this facility depending on whatever suited them the best. In addition to the internal courses, they also encourage employees to undertake additional qualifications that would enhance their career prospects.

Another leading financial services company encourages employees to acquire industry specific certifications in financial planning, certified financial analysis etc. For a broking company, industry certifications are mandatory for specific jobs. For example, cash market dealer certification is necessary for working as a cash market dealer and AMFI certification is mandatory for selling mutual funds.

The major challenge in pursuing an additional qualification along with a job is that the employee needs to manage his/her time well in order to accommodate both. One has to deliver on the job and also meet the demands of the course he/she is pursuing. The biggest challenge is self motivation to pursue further studies. Most youngsters remain content with whatever qualification they have. Cost of pursuing a course, which is on the expensive side, is also a factor. Though education loans are available, the interest rates are high. Absence from work, often on loss of pay, to prepare and appear for exams is another dissuading factor.

What, according to the author, employees need to do in order to grow within an organization?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question.

While economic recession has led many firms to freeze hiring and cutting corners, it has also given an opportunity to employees to enhance their career prospects. Difficult times can certainly be utilized effectively for learning and developing knowledge base and skills.

In the current scenario, organizations are leaving no stone unturned in allowing their employees to enhance career prospects by acquiring additional qualifications. At a reputed Pharma company capability enhancement is a part of HR framework and strategy for the long term. The pharmaceutical major actively collaborates with the best institutes of science and management to build long term technical and leadership strengths. They have collaborated with a prominent IIM in leadership development efforts for their top talent. They have also recently tied up with some leading institutes to enable their employees to pursue their PhD while at work.

Unisys also has a career management programme in place to give its employees the opportunity to grow within the organization. Unisys University, for example, offers a selection of programmes, both instructors led as well as self paced trainings so that employees can make best possible use of this facility depending on whatever suited them the best. In addition to the internal courses, they also encourage employees to undertake additional qualifications that would enhance their career prospects.

Another leading financial services company encourages employees to acquire industry specific certifications in financial planning, certified financial analysis etc. For a broking company, industry certifications are mandatory for specific jobs. For example, cash market dealer certification is necessary for working as a cash market dealer and AMFI certification is mandatory for selling mutual funds.

The major challenge in pursuing an additional qualification along with a job is that the employee needs to manage his/her time well in order to accommodate both. One has to deliver on the job and also meet the demands of the course he/she is pursuing. The biggest challenge is self motivation to pursue further studies. Most youngsters remain content with whatever qualification they have. Cost of pursuing a course, which is on the expensive side, is also a factor. Though education loans are available, the interest rates are high. Absence from work, often on loss of pay, to prepare and appear for exams is another dissuading factor.