What kinds of positions have members of Strategic Links obtained when they entered the job market after arriving in India?   

Strategic Links’ members work in various interesting, challenging roles while living in India. Highly trained, experienced professionals from any country are valued by organizations based in India – both as employees and as consultants.  If a person has the necessary skills and expertise, many firms are willing to tailor an employment offer so that it will be appealing to the job seeker.  Some of the positions which organizations have shown interest in advertising with Strategic Links India include: International Development Consultant, Hospital Administrator, Senior Software Engineer, Voice-Over Recording Actor, Call Center Trainer, On-Air TV Broadcaster, Interior Design Consultant, Advertising Agency Copywriter, Real Estate Broker, Nurse-Educator, Retail Marketing Director, Strategic Planning Consultant, HR Director and Management Training Consultant.
 

There are so many talented Indians from all over the country looking for employment in India - aren’t Strategic Links’ members taking jobs away from Indian citizens?   

It is true that India possesses vast human resources with a wide array of talent.  As with any labor market, however, there are also some gaps in the national talent pool at any given time that Strategic Links’ members may fill.  What matters most from a company’s perspective is finding the most qualified person for any given job in the most economical way, regardless of citizenship.  Some companies are interested in tapping Strategic Links’ members for positions that they had otherwise reserved for international consultants.  If the required talent can be found in country, why spend the transportation, lodging and family support costs to bring yet another expatriate to India?  In these cases, employers are often willing to hire qualified globally mobile workers at competitive international wages instead of recruiting offshore. Members of Strategic Links India will tend to fill jobs that require specific international skills, education or experience rather than those for which there are available and qualified local candidates.
 

What salaries can Strategic Links’ members realistically expect to earn in India? 

Salaries in India are still generally far below international rates. In some fields, a “good” local salary may be only 25%-30% of what professionals would earn in the United States, Europe or Australia. That said, in an increasing number of industries the gap between Indian and international wages is significantly narrowing in many fields. In fact, India currently has a shortage of workers in several areas, and within the next decade real shortages are expected in others, including: IT/IT-enabled services, telecommunications, construction and real estate, retail services and finance, hospitality, life sciences/healthcare, energy, electronics and manufacturing. Even now, salaries are soaring in some of these areas. The lower cost of living in India is one factor that may enable members to accept a lower salary than they could earn in their home countries. For some job hunters, salary is just one of many employment benefits to consider. Others include the opportunity to work on challenging projects; the ability to serve on high level management teams; the chance to remain engaged professionally in an exciting environment; and association with international state-of-the-art initiatives.
 

Are work permits or visas required of every non-citizen working in India?  

Yes.  Once an individual has decided to accept a position, he or she needs to obtain a work visa or a “no objection letter” (applicable to spouses and family members of diplomats from countries that have bilateral employment agreements with India).  The process can be started only if one has a job offer and a letter of employment.
 

Does Strategic Links India help members obtain work visas? 

No.  However, its Guide to Employment in India outlines the official process.  In addition, Strategic Links India collects and shares anecdotal information from its members about their experiences in obtaining visas.  Organizations that employ individual members do so within the confines of Indian law.
 

What about Taxation?

All workers in India must pay income tax, the rates of which vary, depending upon salary level and whether the worker is an employee consultant. Basic tax requirements are outlined in Strategic Links’ Guide to Employment in India. Strategic Links India offers occasional workshops and seminars on this topic and maintains a recommended list of accountants and lawyers that individual members may consult for advice about specific taxation issues. Neither the Trustees of Strategic Links Trust nor the members of the Executive Team of Strategic Links India are qualified to give tax advice.
 

Why is Strategic Links India structured as a nonprofit membership association? 

The membership structure places the stakeholders as the focal point of the organization. Too many career support programs designed to assist spouses and partners of globally mobile workers fail to really understand the experience and career aspirations of these individuals.  Like any cooperative society, the success of Strategic Links India will be largely determined by how actively and creatively its members contribute their time and effort to work together. The nonprofit nature insures financial transparency and places the organization in the position to partner with a wide range of other groups.  Although not a commercial venture, the nonprofit membership association is a framework which insures that the organization is fiscally responsible and that resources are wisely used.
 

Who may join Strategic Links India?

Membership is open to mobile individuals with international skills and experiences who endorse the mission of the organization and who value the services provided by Strategic Links India. This includes individuals of any nationality who have international skills, education or experience and are in the Delhi metro job market. Members of all kinds are welcomed; single and partnered, persons of Indian origin and internationals alike. Organizations may also become members.
 

Why does Strategic Links India offer organizational memberships?

By joining as members, corporations, multinational agencies and non-government organizations receive specific benefits and demonstrate their support of Strategic Links India. They are critical to the financial viability of Strategic Links. As members, they can also help shape the services of Strategic Links India so that it remains a valuable asset for their organizations.

How does Strategic Links India relate to other organizations like social clubs, educational institutions, executive recruiting companies and other similar groups? 

Strategic Links India intends to be the employment resource for the members of many social, educational and charitable clubs in the Delhi metro area.  It is actively seeking partners and is prepared to tailor some services to the special needs of various clubs.  And, although it is neither a head-hunting firm nor a staffing agency, its members can benefit from association with both.