The Ten Commandments we may just have to put up with… Crystal Gazing into the year 2020,India.
1. Mobile media consumption will rule the roost and we will order the newspaper purely because we’re addicted to opening the door and bringing in the papers.
2. Our young adults will get their news only from social media sites and BBM updates, and yet they will be fully aware of what’s important to their lives.
3. All programming will be real time on television and more than just reality. Mundane tasks such as brushing teeth and getting ready to work will probably be a long-running reality show in the future.
4. News channels will show more entertainment than news, with the newsreaders changing costumes as the bulletin is on.
5. Online will be as portable as a browser on your wristwatch and hence updates will be real time, telling you who is up to what across the globe.
6. Your neighbourhood kirana store will give each customer regular updates on what he has, and doesn’t, on your portable touch devices so you order on the go… “Ek kilo toor dal… Damn! His system just froze…”
7. Office spaces will shrink and more people will be encouraged to work from their homes since bottom lines will be in strict check for all corporates. Real time  monitoring of your work would be integral. So dress up and sit to work!
8. Flexible compensations will rule the world so you earn only if you work.
9. Retirement allowances and golden handshakes will rise, urging people to stop work earlier. Hence, from 55 and 58, one could retire from a corporate at 48-50. Productive years is all that corporates will need.
10.Readingwill be replaced with passive listening on the move – be it this column or a nice book. You can, of course, decide whose voice you wish to use. It’s all a matter of the value-add fees, after all. 🙂
Take care of yourselves! We will be back next week…
Q: I quit my job last year to do a Master’s programme in media management. I now find that it is impossible to get a job back at the same salary that I was drawing. Will things improve? Please help?
Yes I understand. A break is always an issue, even though it’s for academic reasons. Things are improving and I am sure there will be many a firm who will recognize your potential and hire you. Just keep at it and it will happen for sure. The current market is a little sluggish especially at the mid and senior levels, but all indicators are strong in terms of hiring plans. In fact, hiring optimism is much higher inIndiafor the next quarter vis a vis other countries. All good wishes, and hope you land your next assignment super quick.
Q: Why is it that salaries in media are lower than those in other streams?
I wouldn’t agree with you entirely on this, since very often media salaries are on par and at times even higher, but it all depends on the experience and the media house you are with. Other industries’ entry-level salaries are higher but the growth rate is often slower compared to media. Hence it will probably take a while but salaries will be on par and more so now when media is bringing in a lot of talent from other industry segments, such as FMCG, Telecom etc.
Q: I am a regular reader of MxMIndia, and am an Indian who has just finished an undergraduate programme in communications. Is it a good time to return to India to work or is the slowdown big enough that I should cool my heels here with a Master’s and return after a year in happier times?
It all really depends on the entry point you are in search of, and the specific role in communications. Yes, hiring is happening but slower, though there is much optimism over the next six months. If there is no compulsion for immediate employment, it’s probably worthwhile for you to complete your PG and return. This would also enable you to have higher negotiating power at the point of entry in your new assignment.
Q: I am a hotel management graduate with an interest in getting into television. How do I apply for a job in the various food channels that have started?
I am not really sure if they do look at such qualifications since most of the shows are produced by various TV software firms, and then sold and aired on these channels. However, you could take a chance and send in your application to their HR teams for evaluation. Specialists etc may be more required at the production houses which put together the programming.