It is true that India possesses vast human resources with a wide array of talent.  As with any labour 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.
 

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.
 

There are many interesting and worthwhile volunteer roles in non-profit organisations that can help individuals enhance their experience if they are willing to make real time commitments and have skills in demand by non-profits. Strategic Links India lists volunteer jobs on Job Links and is in touch with coordinating agencies that place volunteers in some cities. See the City Programmes section of this website for more information.

English medium training and educational institutions exist all over India - from certification courses in yoga, massage and holistic medicine to undergraduate and graduate programmes in most academic disciplines to IT-related training schools. Strategic Links India is a good resource for those interested in advancing their careers by gaining an educational credential while living in India. See the City Programmes section for more information.
 

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.
 

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. Organisations that employ individual members do so within the confines of Indian law.
 

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.
 

The membership structure places the stakeholders as the focal point of the organisation. 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 non-profit nature insures financial transparency and places the organisation in the position to partner with a wide range of other groups.  Although not a commercial venture, the non-profit membership association is a framework that insures that the organisation is fiscally responsible and that resources are wisely used.
 

Membership is open to mobile individuals with international skills and experiences who endorse the mission and value the services provided by Strategic Links India. This includes individuals of any nationality who have international skills, education or experience. Members of all backgrounds are welcomed - single and partnered, persons of Indian origin and those with passports from any country in the world. Organisations may also become members.
 

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

Strategic Links India intends to be the career development resource for the members of many social, educational and charitable clubs in India. We partner with them to provide information to their members.