An Opinion in Random

ready to let go ... how do you handle stress ?

2005-08-01T22:49:00.000-07:00

I shall share the method which has worked best for me !!!
But lemme share with you some points which usually help me to wind down .....

First and foremost .. its tough but keep your professional and personal life seperate.. its very important coz the moment you carry your official burden home you are screwed .. home should be some place where you can wind down .... dont bring work home.. if you can do late hours in the office but the moment you leave office .. stop thinking about meetings deadlines, etc etc .... its tough but once you cultivate it life becomes much easier.... Remember you are the most important person in the world for yourself... everything comes next ....
You can sit down with Archies comics or something humorous... which makes you laugh..laughter is the best medicine ... you can also watch a humorous movie or cartoons.
Catch up with your friends ... you will not believe how relaxing it is if you can chill out with friends ... that will increase your social life ...
If you are new to a place .. chill out with a movie or two .. or take up an interesting book if reading is your hobby... single people tend to spend more time in the office coz there is nothing else to do according to them ... you could join a club ... some small gym or something ... Swimming helps me a lot to reduce stress.. its therapautic I agree but then you can cultivate a hobby .... trekking , hiking, traveling, photography... instead of just sitting and doing nothing about how stressful your life is.. where there is a will there is a way .. remember ??? :):) Hobbies are an important factor that release stress.. one of my friends who is a bachelor has invested in an aquarium in order to relieve stress ... :):) ....
If you have the time and patience join courses like REIKI and Tai-chi. They are great stress relievers....
Invest in a planner .. plan out your official activities
Catch up on your sleep ... whenever you can.. some people wake up late , some early, some like an afternoon naps.. whatever suits you...
Go for small trips ... it will always give you a different perspective... I make sure I travel at least three to four time in a year .. one a long vacation home and the rest I make it weekend trips... helps me a lot...If you are going on a trip choose a place where you dont have much to see.. but can relax a lot... no use having a hectic schedule when you travel ...the whole point of relaxing is lost ...
For ladies, shopping is a great stress reliever... believe it or not... :):)
For couples ... spending quality time together can be a great stress reliever... plan out surprises for your better half .. will keep you smiling .... go out for a good dinner... give both yourselves a break from routine cooking...
And last but not the least try and maintain a good working relationship with your colleagues.. helps a lot in work atmosphere... learn how to say NO and let go of things which are beyond your capabilities.. it never harms to admit that you were wrong or missed out on something ... to err is human !!
Okay what helped me lead a much better life was REIKI. I invested some time in this.. I got to know this from a friend of mine and well the result was amazing !!! You need to contact a good REIKI master in order to get initiated into this course. This is actually a process of healing and the concept lies in bringing out the positive energy in you and removing all the negative energies...

There are three levels in this course.. but for people who dont have time .. the first level is enough.. you have to invest just half an hour of your time everyday.. you can do REIKI at any time of the day.. The initiation takes only a day. So you gotta take leave for a day and then you get initiated into this process. This course would cost you 500/- for the first level.

Anyways this has helped me in a lot of ways .. life has become much more peaceful and well-planned ... you can try this if you want to ..

So hope these points will help you, my friends .... :)

Handling Depression...

2005-06-02T03:20:00.000-07:00

This review is particularly directed at the Indian audience. I am considering the fact that many a times we in India do not know that we are depressed and ignorance leads to many other complicated illnesses like Schizophrenia, Nervous breakdown, etc

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Reasons for depression
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In India, the problem which affects most of the youth and the adults is being scared of being an underacheiver either in the field of studies or in their working life. Competition is fierce and expectations are high.

Relationships play a great role in our society. A broken relationship may lead to the first stages of depression very easily. Be it family or friends, when one loses the support system, it is very easy to be lured to the other side. Indian society is built like a support system. Wherever we are, it is sometimes very difficult to survive on our own. We are always secure as long as there is a something to fall back upon, be it career, family, loved ones, friends etc.

The basic foundation in our mental psyche is laid from our family. This is true all over the world. When we have someone who will not judge us even when we are at out lowest, we can confidently say that we are capable of surviving the worst of odds in our life.

Unemployment is another reason. Presently the recession in the software industry might have pushed many a guys to the limit.

Failure - This may mean many things, sometimes it may mean failure to communicate, failure to sustain relationships, failure to reach your own expectations.

Loss of a loved one. This is the most painful situation of all and it is very difficult to cope but I guess there is a solution to everything.. even to this tough aspect of life.

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Symptoms of Depressions
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Certain symptoms which may tell you that your friend or loved one is suffering from depression are :

Having a listless attitude.
No motivation to do anything.
No appetite.
Loss of weight and dark circles under the eyes.
Always being pessimistic.
Always wanting to be alone and not wanting to meet any one socially.
Hating oneself and trying to harm oneself.
Feeling oversensitive, etc.
And last but not the least having a suicidal tendency.

But this is just the beginning. In due course of time, mental depression gives way to physical ailments like body aches, digestive problems, headaches, relying heavily on drugs and Alcohol, etc.

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So what can you do to help yourself and your friends?
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First YOU have to realize that you have to help yourself more than anyone. You have to want to come out of it .... Help will be available in many forms. You will see it only if you want to.

Temporary relocation This is the best solution yet I have found which has helped my friends, provided you do not drag your past along with you. You must try and find something new in a new place. A new thing to do, a new thing to look forward to. A new place will help you to shift concentration from yourself to the outside world where your innate human curiosity will make you lead life afresh..

Boost your self confidence by maybe doing a general makeover. Go shopping . Try and look good. Do something you like. Think positive. Try and make friends over the net. You will get many people who will be more than willing to talk to you and listen to you.

Relationships Well if you had a hard time with your relationships, its time you take stock and go for a new circle of friends by taking up vocational courses. Don’t brood on something, which is not on your hands. Try and put yourself above everyone else. It may sound selfish but when you can make yourself happy, you can make others happy. If you respect yourself others will automatically respect you. You should realize that you are the most important person in your life.

Keep busy Try and keep busy. I have already enlisted a few options above. Besides vocational courses, you can try joining fitness classes, learn dancing, do some social work, take up teaching small kids, search for a new job, keep a pet if you like animals ( animals are known for their undivided love for you which will definitely give you sense of belonging), etc. Being busy is another factor, which keeps all negative thoughts at bay.

Meditation Last but not the least, you can always try meditation to bring a balance in your mental frame. Many of your problems will be solved when you sit at peace and focus on the inner YOU.

But all these factors have to be complemented. You cannot just meditate, or just keep busy or just relocate. You need to bring all the activities mentioned above to form a schedule which will make you a better person.

For example : You could divide your time as in
Morning : Meditation / exercise / healthy breakfast
Day : work/ vocational course / social work / communicating with people or colleagues/ healthy lunch/
Evening : long walk in a park/ enjoying with family./ if single, renting a movie/ fitness class/cooking if interested/shopping/making creative stuff/calling friends or family if staying away from home/having a hearty dinner/ reading a good novel/ studying stars/ meditation / etc etc

You can help your friends by being supportive and showing them the avenues to different activities with which they can help themselves.

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Conclusion
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Remember if you want to be a happy human being nothing can stop you . Then again it depends on what makes you happy. Happiness is relative. It may be expensive or for free. You have to decide what you want and what you can afford. We have a lot going for us. We just need to realize it . Depression is normal but its not incurable.

Home remedies for Indigestion and Stomach problems

2005-05-16T04:34:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid I used to often visit my ancestral village and this place till today relies on home made remedies and the results are fast and quick. Sad to say that this practice is dying. People are relying more and more on allopathy, though Homeopathy and Ayurveda has stood its ground.

I was and still am amazed how the native villagers have a cure for everything. Unless its severe these herbs or remedies are just perfect for giving you relief.

In case of indigestion, the best remedy is having raw turmeric crushed and mixing the juice of it in a glass of cold milk. I found the taste not very much to my liking but it proved effective. It is good for stomach upsets, gas and loose motion. Turmeric has a high medicinal value as a herb.

If you are having gas problems, you could mix cold water, mustard oil and little Limestone( choona,what we have with bettlenut)in a small bowl. Mix it well with your hands and then apply all over your stomach in a circular motion till the mixture is well blended with the skin. This is very helpful in keeping your stomach cool and prevents stomach upsets. Dont put too much. Just two table spoons are enough.

This is very helpful for kids who tend to eat anything and everything. Just before bath or on weekends you could apply this on your kids stomach and you would not have to worry. They will grow up to be individuals with strong stomachs.

This is very good for kids and young ones. My mom used to apply this once a week or so and well I never had stomach problems. So I speak from experience. It gives you a very cool feeling. Ideally apply this 1 hour before bathing once a week.This also helps regularise the motions.

As we all know, lime is a very good antidote for diarrohea. Lime+Water+sugar+salt is a very good digestive and it helps in stomach upsets. Specially if you are losing lots of water. But lime might not suit everyone. It causes acidity is some so you gotta test it first. Avoid having lime juice on an empty stomach.

The next best thing is to have Dal(lentils) water. Thats very good for running stomach. Banana is also good for a running stomach.

In South India I have seen that curd is very good for digestion. There is actually a dish which is made of curd and rice and a little spice. It is a tasty dish and very filling. It acts a neutraliser for the rich food we Indians have. If you have to cook for a person with running stomach, you could cook a curry with raw banana or potatoes with jeera( cumin seeds). Raw Banana tightens your stomach. It tastes very good if you just fry the slices in little oil with salt and turmeric.

Ideally in the North east, people have the habit of applying mustard oil in the navel while taking bath. Dont ask me why but it somehow strengthens your immune system.

There is a certain fruit( unfortunately i dont know the name). This is called ’’Thekeda’’ in assamese and ’’Thoikod’’ in Bengali. This stuff is dried with salt. This is mixed with hot water. The juice of this dried fruit is very helpful for the stomach. I wish I could give you the english equivalent for this fruit.Sorry readers !! its not helpful,but I mentioned it, just in case.Its another important herbal remedy of the place from where I come.

There are lots of leaves and green vegetables that are very much useful for the stomach but unfortunately I dont know the names in English and I dont want to confuse my readers :). People in the villages survive on these vegetables and they lead a very healthy life too.

And last but not the least a pickle made of lime is also very helpful. This pickle is very common in Assam. Anyone can make it. You just have to mix whole round lemons with lots of salt and keep it in a ceramic bottle or a glass bottle. Keep it in the sun for about one or two months and this salt then penetrates the lemon and the lemon becomes brown and soft. This is excellent for the stomach. Its very tasty as a pickle and it is very good for digestion. This pickle takes time but the end result is what it matters.

So heres wishing you a very healthy stomach !!!

2005-05-07T03:48:00.000-07:00

Losing weight is something which is very dependent on your body and your mind. Personally speaking, I would avoid dieting unless I have a very good diet plan.

I would recommend my friends to visit the nutrition specialist or an equivalent if you want to start with a healthy diet.

Mind you, fasting is of no use. It will only lead to the release of acids which is harmful to your body. Crash dieting is also harmful. You should take up a diet which makes you eat and lose your weight. Yes its possible !!

Personally i have found that Swimming is the best exercise for me. It tones up my muscles as well as relaxes me after a long hard day.

some of the forms of exercise which I personally came across and tried are :

Yoga - Yoga is one of the best forms of exercises. Its a proved fact that Yoga keeps you both mentally and physically fit. It makes you mentally very strong and able to face any situation in life. Yoga needs lot of dedication and time. Its very good for people who are deeply stressed. This form of exercise will calm their nerves and destress them. Its a myth that stress can be busted by aerobics or any other major activity. Aerobics make your adrenalin flow and this makes you feel high and on the go. This is not a very good antidote for stress.

Another advantage of Yoga is that you can do this exercise at any age.

Catch hold of someone who teaches Yoga or buy a book on Yoga. It will help you to start with this form of exercise.

Aerobics/Calisthenics - Aerobics is a real good form of exercise but this is like learning dance.If you start aerobic, you better stick to it all throughout. Aerobics will do wonders for your body but if you dont keep it up or lets say if you stop you are going to be in a worse shape than you were when you started.

If you tend to get tired very soon and if you are leading a very hyperactive lifestyle this exercise is not for you.

Moreover aerobics cannot be practiced when you reach a certain age. The body cannot take all that jumping and stretching.

Another disadvantage of aerobics is that you cannot do it alone. Its rather boring !! its fun when a group is slogging and sweating with you. You are happy that everyone is going through the same grunts and groans along with you and all of you have a single goal.

I would not recommend only aerobics as a form of exercise. Aerobics mixed with Calisthenics is a ideal combination. Calisthenics is a cool way of keeping fit. Calisthenics exercises can be done at home too. And its pretty effective too.

So if you have problem running or breathing (Ashthma) dont go for this !!!

If you think you are upto the jumping and running and dont feel tired easily... and if you think that you can continue this for a long time ... this is the exercise for you.

I tried this for two months and then our instructor stopped for some reason. That made me real sluggish and craving for some activity. I tried doing it alone but was not at all motivated.

Walking/Jogging - This is one of the best form of exercise which is fun and relaxing at the same time. Its good if you have a partner to walk or jog with. Walking is best done in the early hours of the morning when the air you breathe is fresh and it gives you a lot of energy to get through the day.

Walking also helps destress you. Its not too hard an activity and neither is it too relaxing !!!

Swimming - Well this is the best form of exercise i found. I like the water and its real good for me. Its detresses me as well as makes it fun. This is an exercise which keeps your whole body fit and has the power to release all the negative energy in your body. Its a dedicated activity if you take this up as an exercise.

Workstations The only advice I can give here is that when you are using health workstations make sure you have the instructor with you. Pumping weights is fun but for people who want to lose weight, be careful... your fat might get converted into muscle and it will be no use using the machine. You are back to where you started.

There are lots of other activities like working around the house, Dancing, cycling which help you lose weight. But the key is to make the right choice .

Well last but not the least, dont eat anything heavy one hour before and immediately after exercise... all your hard work will go for a toss. Keep to a juice or something light. And its no use exercising for a short period of time and giving it up for sometime and then starting again. Consistency is very important. That is why your selection of exercise is very important.

Heres wishing you a great start to a good health.

Time Management and Me

2004-11-17T03:02:00.000-08:00

Time is something which all ( at least most of the people in the IT dept) dont have when we are slaving away to glory thinking of raises ..project deadlines, job satisfaction, personal deadline, etc , etc ... what is left at the end .. an exhausted you .. totally smoked out !!!

I would like to share a few tips which I thought was helpful to me ... first and foremost ... try

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PLANNING
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Buy a planner. Plan out your working schedule .. believe me it helps if you plan out !!! I abhorred planning once upon a time but I realised its benefits in the long run !!! When you plan your working schedule .... make sure you write down your holiday schedule too. That way you can keep your holidays apart from your working days and you can make sure you will finish your work on time. If you are not used to planning, it will take some time.. but you will be very happy with the change, I guarantee you.. :).Cross a day in red when you want to be free to just chill out ... or do anything you like ..

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MILESTONES
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Set personal milestones... helps if you meet them. :)Set out your priority tasks... and complete them one after the other according to priority... Dont take up something which is beyond your schedule.. its better to take up something which you can finish in a proper manner and in time rather than take up a lot of things and submit a shabby job. This will reflect on your career and your profession.

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LEARN TO SAY NO
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Two words which sometimes gets stuck in my throat.

If you think that you cannot complete something which is assigned to you, please refuse the task in a diplomatic manner. Admitting that you cannot do the assigned task will not make you a lesser individual.... on the other hand it will be appreciated rather than submitting a shabby job done. Moreover, give detailed reason for saying NO and if your boss still insists, leave the decision upto him on assigning priority to your pending tasks. Thats what I do and it clears up any misunderstanding between my boss and myselfwhen it comes to expectation level of work.

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DELEGATE
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Delegation has become the sacred ''Chant'' for people who are hard pressed for time. When you learn how to delegate you learn how to use your time effectively. Delegating to the right person also matters. Make sure the job is done properly.. that is your responsibility... If you are not in a position to delegate, make sure you have just enough work on your plate and you dont take more than you can handle. In the professional world its Quality which is respected first and then Quantity.

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EMAIL MANAGEMENT
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Manage your email effectively .. try maintaining a calendar .. its very helpful.. Personally I find Microsoft Outlook Calendar very effective .. One can set reminders and set tasks and appointments.. its better than sending email... you can publish your tasks and well your colleagues will know whether you are busy or free if they want to fix up anything or give a new job !!! You can also approach the other person for meetings, etc with the help of the calendar... depending on when the person is available... this cuts down your time talking to the concerned person and waiting for the other to fix a time to meet... this way when a meeting is requested, it is sent via mail and well the other person cannot ignore it...

Create a junk folder for jokes and chain mails which you can read when you want a break. :):)

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ESTIMATING
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Learning how to estimate your work also helps you to work productively. Find out how you work best, break down your work till the last second and then chart out a schedule. That will help you set your personal deadlines and present that to your boss when asked. Please dont forget to justify your requirement of whatever time you have estimated for yourself... its usually the tendency of the bosses to cut down your estimated time unless estimated properly...:)

Time is something which everyone is running after ....it is upto you to make the best use of your time....remember...

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MY THOUGHTS
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''All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy''

You got to play as hard as you work... that will increase your efficiency and productivity. So its of utmost importance that you always find some time for yourself and your hobbies.

Living in Bangalore

2004-10-07T01:27:00.000-07:00

Bangalore has been my second home after I left the beautiful mountains and till today after visiting most of the cities in India, I think this is the place for me. Though sometimes it gets to me... but this place is where I would come back to... after any place.. except for Shillong...

The objective of this review is to give an overview about the city from an outsider-who-has-become-an- insider’s point of view.

Why are we talking about this place so much ??

Because it is Silicon valley of India.
Because it is a small town with so much activity and one can travel from one end to the other end of the town without making a plan a week ahead.
Because its cosmopolitan and everyone goes ga ga about the climate.
Because Bangalore is happening, technologically and aesthetically.
Because you can chill out in this place without continuously running after money or career.
Because for some reason or other every one seems to be here..

Why would you come Bangalore ?

Bangalore is identified by the software industry. Bangalore has a very good infrastructure to aid the growth of the software industry and well thats how it is contributing to India having a stronghold in the global market. But there are many other areas one can focus on instead of software.

Firstly if you are looking for a career, specially in the Software industry, you can try your luck here. You will get into something, that I can assure you. Bangalore is propagating bio technology along with software and it boasts of a lab which is one of the seven labs existing in the whole wide world.There are many options you can try here.

For one interested in arts one can spend time in Nrityagram and enhance one’s creative abilities.

For one interested in Foreign languages you can pursue the studies in the corresponding institutions.

Software is no longer a must, it has become a choice now. A choice to work endlessly or manage your work in such a way that you can have fun too.

Benefits of this place

Well people here come to work and have a better lifestyle.

The cost of living is reasonable well not like Hyderabad... the prices have been going up after the incoming traffic of major industries and the rise of the Software business. You would not have to travel very far to reach office everyday. And if your office is located in a remote area you would have company nuses coming to pick you up and drop you.

Supermarkets and malls reduce the time to shop. Besides that you have markets which will supply you with fresh vegetables and fruits in abundance all the year round. Banglore also has vegetable shops like Hopcoms at every area... where you can buy vegetables for a cheaper price.

Banking is convenient with Citibank starting the telebanking and then the internet banking facility. There are a plethora of banks now.. HDFC and ICICI having grabbed a major share of the market... ATMs are many and quite accessible.

You can utilise your free time doing many things. It works out better if you have friends, of course.

You could go pubbing to different pubs ( thats what Bangalore is also known for).
You could catch recent movies if you are a movie buff.
You could go parasailing when the season is on.
You could go camping or trekking with friends or colleagues.
You could visit different restaurants to have a taste of the varied cuisines available in Bangalore. Like Shioks, Anghithee, Biryani Merchant, Mainland China, Hypnos, Bamboo Shoots, Little Italy, Herbs and Spices, etc.
You could go on short trips to Udipi, Hampi, Chickmangalur, Sravana Belagola, Mysore, Ooty,Kodaikanal, etc over the weekend.
You could go bowling in Megabowl, Alley 65, Amoeba, etc.
Shopping in fun in Bangalore. Peep into Lifestyle and you will find a lot to browse. For people who have mastered the art of bargaining, you could try Commercial street. Bangalore Central, Forum, Crossroads are few of the many complezes opened for your entertainment...
For book lovers, you can immerse yourself in new paperbacks in our libraries like Eloor Library in Infantry Road or get into an online library which will deliver books to you at your doorstep. Crossroads and Landmark are great for browsing books. Gangarams has been there for sometime. This is a major shop having something for everyone..when it comes to books, stationery and gift items, magazines, etc
You could hang out with friends in the coffee bars like Barista, Coffee Day, Java City. Java City boasts of a live Jazz band in the evenings... for Jazz lovers...
Last but not least you could go to awesome rocks shows which have been the latest craze about Bangalore recently. We have had Deep Purple, Scorpions, Roger Waters, etc... Bangalore also has been cultivating the art of organizing events like Habba which has been a good hit with the general crowd...

These are just a few of the many things you can do.

Bangalore is NOT a tourist spot. However you can chill out in this place without having the thought that you have missed visiting some places.

There are some places for which you could take some time out for. The Shiva Temple in Airport Road which boasts of a huge statue of Shiva. Its a beautiful sculpture and you should go to see this just to look at the structure.

If you are interested in architecture you can visit Vidhana Soudha. The best time to visit this place is on Sunday evening when the whole place is lit up with lights and it is a sight to see for yourself. It is supposed to be a replica of the Mysore palace.

The climate has been an advantage for Bangalore but it is not the same anymore. But you can still enjoy the fresh breeze and walk in the parks when you are free in the evenings.

If you are visiting this place for a week or so, check yourself into a good hotel like Hotel Ajantha or Hotel Brindavan in MG Road, or Hotel Adarsh Palace in Majestic.

Bangalore however is a great base to be in and travel all over South India and other parts of Karnataka. Trekking, taking your own car out, etc... you can go to a lot of places for a weekend and have a reasonable comfortably holidays communing with the Nature

Disadvantages and how to cope with them

Transportation is somewhat of a disadvantage for the newbie but hey dont lose heart, you just have to get used to the place.

Bus service is good if not excellent. If you know the bus routes it would be easier to get around.You can get the bus routes from the Bangalore guide book.

Autorickshaws are not a menace if you how to handle them. Tell the auto where you are going and establish the fact that you are paying by meter. You have to however pay one and a half more than the normal rate if you are commuting after 9:30. Do not make the mistake of jumping on the auto and telling him where to go without making sure of the rate which works fine in Mumbai... :)

If you are working late call a taxi over the phone. Bangalore has the concept of Radio Taxies and the numbers are available on the Yellow Pages. If you are stuck dial 23333333 or just 1947, you would get the number of any important organizations you want to communicate to.

Crime rate is quite high but only in some areas. So unless you are looking out for trouble, dont walk on the lonely alleys wearing short skirts or heavy jewellery. Keep to the main road as much as possible and always see that your house that you live in is secure.

Traffic is very high at peak hours like 9:00 to 10:00 and 6:00 to 7:30. It is slowly being organized with the work of flyovers underway to regulate the traffic... traffic is a nightmare where the flyovers are still being constructed... you could

get in the office a little early;
get out of office half an hour late to avoid the main
traffic;
get familiar with alternative routes;
take shortcuts if you know the roads well.

One ways make the routes longer but dont lose patience... you will have moving traffic if you can avoid the peak hours...

Choosing an acommodation could be frustrating as you might be duped by the agents so do a research on what area you can live in and search accordingly. Go through Ad Mag and Free Ads which have all types of classifieds possible printed.

Power cuts are a major problem and well hopefully if you are working in a company with generators you will not feel the pinch as its for only a few hours in some areas.

My thoughts

In Bangalore life is worth living as you can afford to strike a balance between your personal life and professional life and that a big advantage for me !!

PS: If you are visiting this place for the first time, do buy a guide book to this place from the railway station or any book shop . This will help you go about the city better.

Pros :: the crowd
Cons :: Maybe getting too crowded

Introduction to Yourself

2004-09-27T02:21:00.000-07:00

Writing an Impressive Cover Letter

Cover letters are a form of introduction. You should aim at making that an impressive one. Cover letters can be used to personalize your skills and put forth your objectives in detail.There are different types of covering letters for different types of introductions.

Formats

* You are Invited

This form of cover letter addresses the situation when you have been asked for a resume from the employer or you want to respond to an add in the newspaper or online job requirement. This format would emphasize your qualifications to the ones required. This is one of the most common formats which one is likely to use.

* I am not invited but can I contact you ?

This format is typically for hidden job openings which you are aware of through your networking resources. This would be a follow up of a phone call or a conversation with the employer. You would need to match your qualifications to the requirements of the employer. You need to market your skills in this letter and convince the employer that you would add value to the company with your skills.

* I have been referred

This format would hold good when you have been referred by someone in the company where you are applying. Many companies offer referral bonus to employees. So this would also be of some benefit to your friend who has referred you.

* My qualifications and experience match the job

This letter would be ideal when your qualifications match the job profile advertised. This format is also known as the ’’T’’ Letter format. You need chart out your qualification against the requirements in the form of a bulleted list. Some resources where you can find jobs matching your qualifications are advertisements, networking, conversation with the employer, etc.

What do I write ?

You can start with putting the date and the address of the employer on the left side of the paper.

Address your employer. ( Dear Mr/Ms ABC )

The first paragraph would include you reason for writing this letter. State the position for which you are applying. You can also state the source from where you got to know about the opening.

The second para would require you to market your skills. Put forward your skills and state why you are interested in this job opening and how recruiting you would benefit the employer.

The third para would state that your resume is included. State your availability and your contact information.ANd dont forget to thank the employer for their time.

You can sign off as

Sincerely,

(your signature in ink)

XYZ. ( your typed name)

Put your address and phone number on the bottom left corner of the paper.

Some useful Tips

Address your cover letter to a specific person by name and Title. If that is not possible, you can address it to the HR manager.
Use blue ink when you sign the letter. You could use black as an alternate colour but blue is always better to retain originality.
Do not make your letter very long. Keep it short and sweet but loaded with important information. Make your sentences professional and not personal. The information given must be to the point.
Last but not the least, choose a paper for the cover letter which complements your resume. Try and use the same paper type which you used for taking a printout or typing your resume.