[Marriage Tips] Ready for marriage?

Here are some tips to help you decide if you are ready for that walk down the aisle, with your special someone...

So, you’ve been playing the dating game for far too long and are completely tired out; what with the constant stiletto-sporting, living in make-up and over-socialising (whoever thought looking good could be such a pain?). You want to hang up those (killer) boots (which are no longer meant for walking, thanks to the wear and tear) and settle down to a life of domestic bliss. Conversely, you are perhaps the kind who has spent most of your life lost in books, and playing ‘broker’ to all your friend’s relationships. Your hair is always secured in a ponytail and the very thought of a guy approaching makes you die of nerves. But then, you’ve reached a point in life where you want companionship, and the only way you’ll have it is by getting married. Or, you could just be the girl who has found the man of her dreams, but is scared if he really is the one. Well, in whichever category you find yourself, there’s more to marriage than what meets the eye, and jumping into it in a fit of hormones will spell disaster. You might be ready to tie the knot if…

1. You feel more than a tad envious and sad when your best friend announces she’s getting married.
2. You actually start looking forward to coming back to the same face, night after night.
3. Sharing space doesn’t seem like such a bad thing after all.
4. You are finally able to trust a man, a 100 per cent.
5. You’d be willing to sacrifice your weekly ladies’ night, when your man needs you.
6. The thought of opening a joint account doesn’t horrify you so much.
7. You want your parents to approve of your partner, and in turn, you want him to adore your parents.
8. You’re up for the challenge of doing every thing double. Laundry, cooking, cleaning up….etc.
9. The wedding dress and diamond ring aren’t the most exciting prospects of getting married.
10. You're ready to throw your ego out of the window.
11. 'We' and 'us', have started sounding better than ‘I’ and ‘me’.
12. You have achieved financial stability.
13. You are aware of your partner’s quirks and feel sure you can live with them.
14. You are open to making small changes to your ‘big life plan’.
15. You can say the L word and mean it with all your heart and soul!

AS FOR THE GUYS:
If you can picture yourself walking down the aisle, without thoughts of running away (a la Chandler from FRIENDS) or breaking into a cold sweat, you’ve reached home base, brother!

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[Healthy nails Tips] Tips for maintaining healthy nails

Here are a few tips for the maintenance of healthy nails...

Follow these 10 tips:

1. Always remember to dry your hands properly after you’ve made them wet. Leaving your fingers or toes damp for a long time increases the chances of a fungal nail infection.
2. Applying some petroleum jelly every night is a good habit — this will remove dryness and also keep your nails moisturised and hydrated. Castor oil also works in the same way and protects your nails.
3. Include apples, cucumbers, onions, garlic, asparagus, grapes, nuts and whole grains in your diet to have strong nails.
4. Never cut your cuticles or calluses. The cuticle protects your nails from infection and the calluses will grow back harder, and give you discomfort.
5. Even if you don’t like applying nail polish, try and apply a clear coat occasionally — it will protect your nails.
6. Wearing rubber gloves while doing housework will protect nails against the harsh chemicals found in detergents.
7. If you wear closed shoes most of the time, chances are you’d also sweat a lot. Wear cotton socks to prevent fungal infections.
8. Have foods that are rich in zinc like hard boiled eggs and milk — they do wonders for your nails.
9. Avoid filing your nails just after a bath. This is when they’re at their weakest and also tend to break easily.
10. Buffing your nails regularly increases blood supply and makes them grow faster.

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[Oily Skin Tips] Tips for controlling your oily skin

How to keep a check on excess oil...

Follow these 7 tips:

1. The most important step in dealing with oily skin is keeping it clean. The cleansing, toning, moisturising routine is important but there’s no need to overwash your face. Instead, use a mild cleanser twice a day. Follow this up with an astringent to remove excess oil. Keeping make-up to the minimum and avoiding foundation also helps.
2. Those suffering from oily skin should avoid fried, spicy or fatty foods. Drinking more than a litre of water everyday is important to remove toxins. Also, snacking on healthy fruits like watermelon, muskmelon and green vegetables helps.
3. Don’t forget to use a toner. It cools the skin and helps reduce oil secretion.
4. Avoid soap, since it tends to strip the skin of all natural oils. While soap is known for drying the skin, it can cause more harm than good.
5. Don’t use hot water to wash your face. The combination of hot water and the chlorine found in tap water can damage the skin and cause chemical reactions. This can cause breakouts, especially if the skin is sensitive.
6. Use a light moisturiser. Those with oily skin are afraid of using creams as they think their skin will break out more. However, using a light, oil-free moisturiser is necessary. Use something light, like a serum or face lotion, to give your face the moisture it needs.
7. Exfoliate once or twice a week. Exfoliating helps remove the dead skin cells and encourages cell turnover, which brings new young skin to the surface faster. If you’re acneprone, be gentle on your skin.

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Five tips to manage notice period woes

IT organisations across the globe are recruiting on a war footing. The hunt for the best talent is at its peak and compensation packages are skyrocketing year on year to lure the top contenders. This has led to high attrition rates. No doubt, it is an employee’s market but there can be trouble in paradise if the exit from an organisation is not effectively planned and managed by an employee.

Typically, companies in India impose anywhere from one to three months notice period for employees who quit. Of late, many are reducing the three-month period to a more reasonable two. While there are overheads for the organisation in forcing an employee to stay for this duration after he has put in his papers, in general, companies mitigate the risks of a sudden knowledge loss due to attrition by utilising this time for planning transition and a smooth handover. Generally, the new organisation pressurises its recruits to come on board as early as possible to fulfil their requirements. In both cases, it is individuals who are caught in a Catch 22 situation and have to negotiate their way, either by serving the entire notice period or by paying the shortfall in notice from their own pockets. Without proper planning, this can be really stressful and financially damaging.

Clues to manage the situation:

1. Know your company policy: Much before you plan on quitting or even attending any interviews, be aware of your company's notice period policy. During interviews and negotiations, make it clear to the HR of the recruiting company what the current company's notice period is.

2. Plan your exit: Plan on leaving during a period when the project pressures are not high and no immediate deliverable is on the horizon. The chances of getting released will be relatively high. Be prepared on how you would want to take the discussion forward when your manager announces you will have to serve the notice period. Ensure that you maintain at least cordial and good working relations with your immediate manager for the next few days or weeks. He can make or mar things for you.

3. Try for a waiver: As far as possible, serve a month's notice and negotiate a waiver against your accumulated vacation. Thereby, neither do you have to pay any money nor does the new organisation, which you intend to join.

4. Confirm date with HR: It is a general practice for quitting employees to state "I would like to get relieved on dd/mm/yy date". And even if this last date has been mutually agreed between you and your manager, do verify with the HR so that you don't end up paying money towards shortfall of notice period according to some mysterious rules, which might be shown to you later. Make sure you get a confirmation by e-mail and let the HR do the calculation. From my own experience, there's always a difference between how you calculate 60 days and how they do, though it's the same calendar.

5.Negotiate with the new company: In cases where you are being pressurised to join immediately at the new organisation, discuss with the HR of your new company of how much you would have to pay your former employer if you were to join on the date requested. Most companies these days are ready to shell out money to get resources on board as soon as possible. If there is a positive response, get this confirmation in an e-mail. Make sure to provide the documents they will need for reimbursement of this amount, such as a photocopy of the DD attested by the HR of your old company or an FFS (Full and Final Settlement) sheet.

Finally, remember to part on good terms with everyone at the existing organisation. It’s a small world after all!

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Telemarketing tips

Telemarketing is a discipline that is fast gaining ground and is being seen as a powerful tool to leverage business. Telemarketing uses the telephone in direct sales. Today, people with busy lifestyles and those who might be hard-pressed for time have the option of conducting business over the telephone. Businesses with aggressive sales targets are becoming savvy, and using this to their advantage.

Telemarketing is seen as an effective means to reach a prospective customer. Types of telemarketing that come under the purview of direct marketing are-

• Inbound telemarketing: in which a customer gets in touch with the company that is selling the products and the services he wants.
• Outbound telemarketing: in which the company makes the first move and contacts potential customers to sell its products and services.

Whatever your job is, there may come a time when you have to use the telephone to communicate with customers. Here are a few tips to help you make effective calls.

1. Calls you initiate can be for prospecting, arranging appointments, or for direct selling. Before you place the call, ascertain your main purpose. You need to have a clear objective before you set out.
2. Your choice of words, and language play a major role. Saying the right words helps create a good first impression.
3. A good script can help you clinch a deal. Have a script in place with answers to some of the likely questions you could be asked. Your script can include important points or detailed answers.
4. Rehearse the opening lines and practice the sales call on someone you know. Fine-tune by basing it on the inputs from your guinea pig.
5. Be gracious and willing to answer any questions and doubts that the customer may have.
6. In case of a 'cold call', find out if the customer is interested in continuing the conversation before you launch out. If the person is busy, suggest a time when you can call up later.
7. Keep the conversation short. Get to the point quickly as attention spans over the telephone are short and people can be in a hurry to get back to work.
8. Determine how many calls you will make per day and have a target you can work towards.
9. Make as many calls as possible. Since everyone you call may not end up buying, the number of calls you make will determine your chances of success.
10. Ensure that your caller list includes prospects that qualify. Before you put someone on your list, ensure that the person fits your target customer profile.
11. Be persistent.
12. Be efficient in providing post sales customer care and service. Efficient follow-up is necessary.
13. Ensure that you deliver what you have promised. Mail important brochures, forms etc promptly.

Remember that through telemarketing you can reach more people than you could otherwise. So use the telephone to get connected and stay connected!

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Travel Tips - Safety Matters

A stolen phone and missing cash and valuables can ruin a perfect vacation. Here’s how to stay safe during holidays 

Bag it !

1. If carrying cash or travellers cheques, split them between bags. So, even if you lose one bag, there’s enough to keep you going in another.
2. String a couple of tinkling bells into your zipper. That way, you’ll know if someone is trying to touch your bag.
3. Don’t leave your cash in the outermost compartment of your bag. That makes you sitting duck for a smart thief.

Be smart

1. Place your cash in money belts. Not terribly obvious ones, but those that look like your regular belts, but come with a concealed zip.
2. Make photocopies of your passport, credit cards, tickets, and important documents.
3. If possible, carry the shopping bag given by a local store. Not only do you not look ‘foreign’, it’s less prone to being stolen.

Things to avoid

1. If you’re travelling to a foreign country, try your best to not look like an awe-struck tourist. That’s an open invite for a pick-pocketer.
2. Never loudly mention the hotel you’re staying in or your room number in public.

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