1

CAREER STUDY CENTRE

DIRECTORATE OF EMPLOYMENT & TRAININGBRKR BUILDING, HYDERABAD - 500 069

ANDHRA PRADESH

OVERSEAS MANPOWER COMPANY A. P. LTD.,(A Government of AP Undertaking)

AN ISO 9001-2008 CERTIFIED RECRUITMENT COMPANYRC No:4700/ap/Government undertaking/1000+/5/7421 dt.22.5.2006

ITI CAMPUS, MALLEPALLY- HYDERABAD- 500 057, INDIA.

Helpline: 155330, Ph : 040-23300686 Fax : 040-23396485www.omc.ap.gov.in

&

COMPENDIUM

ON CAREERS

2

CAREERS IN NEW MILLENNIUM

A major change has occurred in the last few years: many new careers have emerged as viablealternatives. No longer is the choice limited to the conventional jobs and careers. Now, theartistically inclined can take up careers in fashion and graphic design, while those withquantitative aptitude can think of MBA and MCA. The field of information technology hasrevolutionised jobs and opened careers which were simply not available before. This featurelooks at career choices for the new millennium and the personal qualities required to be ableto make one qualified for such jobs.

One of the direct and visible impact of the liberalisation that has taken place in the country isthat many new jobs and careers have opened up in the country. Some areas which werelooked down upon in the past have acquired respectability. Slowly, a work culture is gainingground in the country. What matters now is how good you are in you job and how effectivelyyou can get your work done.

There have been many factors responsible for this, and one of them has been the Internet.Today, we can work for any person and company across the globe. That has been one of themajor reasons of the growth of the software industry in Inida: customers in America could e-mail their requirements to Indian firms, which work out solutions as there is night in America.Next morning as the offices open in America, the software solution is e-mailed back fromInida. Other industries have also benefited from faster communications.

Today, international firms are getting books designed and typeset in India, designers are sendingtheir requirements to their Indian counterparts, software is being developed and exporters areable to respond to requirements faster to the needs of their clients. Today, any person can setup a site displaying goods and services offered by him. Getting into business has never beenso easy.

One of the consequence of the new work culture is that the quality and quantity of workdone gets priority. Seniority and fixed- time increments will exist only in government jobs. Itis certain that anyone with drive will do things according to one’s aptitude and that governmentjobs will be discounted by most people. In any case, government jobs will be left far behindin terms of remuneration and respectability in times to come.

Which are the growth areas for the future? Some trends are easy to predict, such as computersand information technology. Others are not so obvious, but lucrative any how. Among themae: biotechnology, entertainment, law, telecommunications, design, pure sciences andmanufacturing. If we take a long term view over, say, 25 years, it is quite likely that informationtechnology may lose importance. The world is already moving towards standardised, packagedand free software. This means that a boom because a problem like the y2K bug is unlikely tooccur again. However, software professionals who keep themselves updated with the emergingtechnologies related to the Internet, will continue to be in demand. We take a look at eightgrowth areas and how you can get in them.

3

1. BIOTECHNOLOGY

Though not as glamorous as computers and fashion, it does not require too much effort to see

that great fortunes are waiting to be made in biotechnology. The world is poised to break into

genetic medicine as also growing human organs in animals. Human cloning may be the next

step. Many strides have already taken place in this field. With the practice of patenting of life-

forms catching up, the patent holders who can commercially exploit their discoveries stand

to gain considerably.

Where to study:

1. Biotechnology Entrance Examination: Held in May / June every year. Look out for

advertisement in April. Address: Assistant Registrar [CEEB], Jawaharlal Nehru University,

New Delhi- 110 067.

2. Department of Biotechnology, Block 2, 7 th floor, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-

110 003.

3. India Council of Agricultural Research, Education Division, Krishi Anusandhan Bhawan,

New Delhi- 110 012 : Courses in agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, forestry and other

sciences. Eligibility: Class 12 with minimum 60 % marks. Entrance test is held in May

every year. Look out for the advertisement in March / April.

4. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore: Post graduate courses.

5. National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi- 110 067.

6. Institute of Himalayan Bioresource, technology, Palampur-176061[Himachal Pradesh].

2. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYInformation technology [IT] is presently on the upsurge and the growth is expected to continue

for some more years. The future lies in Internet related technologies and services, and e-

commerce. The training required for IT careers will become more specialised and those

doing courses at neighbourhood institutes will find themselves out of the race. To reach the

heights, do a course from a good institute like IITs. This is important, because there is a

shortage of trained people in emerging technologies. What the private institutes seem to be

doing is to turn out semi-literates who know something, but are certainly not qualified for the

high paying jobs that one hears about.

Where to study:

1. Indian Institutes of technology [IITs].

2. Regional Engineering Colleges.

3. Indian Institute of Management [IIM]:PG Diploma in Computer Applications.

4. Academies promoted by multinationals [IBM, Microsoft].

5. Private Institutes [NIIT, Aptech, Tulec, SSI, etc.,].

4

3. MANAGEMENT

Though the press has been full of stories about saturation of MBAs, make no mistake that managementis the growth area in years to come. The country has just passed through a recessionary phase andthings are looking up now, Further liberalisation will see more companies entering the country. Foreach, management professionals will be required. In fact, the MBA seems to be a safe bet for thefuture, since one can branch out to IT and communications later on. In many companies MBAs arepreferred for diverse functions, since they impart a business orientation to operations.

Where to study:

Some well-known and reputed management schools are given below. The list is not comprehensive, asthere are about 500 such institutes in the country.1.Indian Institutes of Management, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore and Calicut.2. Xavier Labour Relations Institute, Jamshedpur.3. Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi.4. Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai.5. Management Development Institute, Gurgaon.6. S.P.Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai.7. Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai.8. Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad.9. University of Punjab, UBS, Chandigarh.10. Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar.

4. DESIGN

The creative minded never had it so good and their value in the future will only increase, since aestheticshave become an integral part of modern life. Graphic designers, product designers and fashion designerswill be much in demand, but the bottom line will again be how good you are. Multimedia has added anew dimension to both industrial and graphic design. Increasingly, companies and individual consumersare demanding aesthetic products, ranging from furniture and telephones. Designer clothes have capturedthe imagination of the elites. Jewellery and accessory design are new options that have opened up.

Where to study:

1. National Institute of Design, Paldi, Ahmedabad- 380 007.2. National Institute of Fashion Technology, NIFT Campus, Hauz Khas, Near Gulmohur park, NewDelhi- 110 016 .3. Private fashion design institutes.4. Polytechnics and other institutes.

5

5. PURE SCIENCES

Scientists are generally considered to be poorer cousins of those who work in business organisations.With the patents regime, this has changed. Today, scientists can patent their discoveries and receivelakhs of rupees thereafter as royalty. Whether it is genetics and biotechnology or new developments ininformation technology, great fortunes are waiting to be made. Thus, researchers and those working inpure sciences will find that the future is bright indeed. It is regrettable that science is not taught properlyin our colleges and young people are opting out of sciences because of lack of opportunities. Butfrontiers have advanced in almost all fields and patents are waiting to be tapped.

Where to study:

1. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.2. Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Pune.3. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.4. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.5. State universities.

6. MANUFACTURING

This is another area which is ignored. The fact, however, is that people will continue to demand productsfor their consumption. The challenge before technologists is to produce high quality goods but at affordableprices. Whether it is automobiles or a bar of soap, those who can achieve this combination of qualityand low cost, will be much valued in multinationals will be willing to pay high salaries for individualswho are trained in this fine art.

Where to study:

1. Indian Institutes of technology.2. Institutes of Management, with production as major subject.

7. ENTERTAINMENT

The plethora of television channels has opened a huge opportunity for those interested in the glamorousentertainment. Industry. Already, young people have made careers both in front and at the back of thecamera. As more channels open up, these opportunities are expected to grow in the future. Part - time orfull time jobs are available for DJs, actors, directors and producers. Technical operators like cameramen,lighting, dress designers are related careers.

Where to study:

1. Film and Television Institute of India [FTII], Pune.2. Private institutes in New Delhi and Mumbai catering to television and filsm.3. Personality development workshops[ for news readers, etc.,].

6

8. COMMUNICATIONS

Every business requires to put forward its own point of view. This makes space for communicationsprofessionals: journalists, advertising persons and public relations [PR] specialists. There are severalfactors at play which point to the increasing demand for communications professionals. First is theexpansion of newspapers and magazines; second, the need for all organisations to maintain attractivewed-pages on the Internet; and third, the need of companies to communicate with clients and suppliers.

Where to study:

1. Mudra Institute of Communications [MICA], Ahmedabad.2. Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, Okhla, New Delhi.3. Indian Institute of Mass Communication, JNU Campus, New Delhi.4. Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi.5. State universities offering courses in Mass Communication and Journalism.6. Polytechnics and private institutes.

THE MILLENNIUM BECKONS

These are some of the careers which are expected to grow in the future. The list is not complete, as manyunexpected avenues may well open up in the future. But it is clear that the millennium beckons all ofus with much more avenues of growth than were formerly available. Depending on one’s aptitude, onecan choose a profession to one’s liking. Gone are the days when only three or four avenues wereavailable and a young person had to take up one or the other. In the coming times, there will be greatermobility, meaning that people will not be limited by geographical limitations and that there will be agreater freedom to move between different and unrelated careers.

The secret of success, will, however, be how good one is. As always, mediocrity will find few takers.Thus, the career seeker of the future will have the attitude of a winner. He will have to be a mixbetween a team player and an entrepreneur, since risk taking will be valued in the future. But there willbe dangers as well, since there will always be a danger of losing one’s job. For, if one wants to be paidwell, one must also accept risks.

Finally, a work culture is coming to India. A culture that rewards merit and creativity. Welcome to themillennium!

7

QUALITIES WHICH ARE GOING TO BE VALUED IN THE

NEW MILLENNIUM

Degrees will continue to be counted in the coming future, so the importance of getting a formal educationcannot be over-emphasised. However, apart from education, certain qualities will always be valuedmore in a person. they are:

DRIVE:

People who can accomplish things on their own will be valued more than others.What you should do : Stop relying on others. Get up and start moving. Do not expect that things will bedone for you.

ATTITUDE:

Risk taking ability, an inquisitive nature and a willingness to learn are prime qualities.What you should do; Develop a creative mind. Stop complaining about the conditions in India and tryto break out from the average mould. Stop making compromises in your work.

KNOWLEDGE :

People who understand technology will be valued:What you should do; Prepare to be a lifelong learner.Always be updated on the latest developments. Do not hesitate to use the latest tools for business.

SPEED :

People who achieve targets without compromising quality are going to be in demand.What you should do: Stop making excuses. Get on with the job and face difficulties. Have loads ofenergy.

COMMUNICATION:

In times to come, your ability to communicate globally will be ever more valuable. You must learnto be a global player.

What you should do: Spend time with traditional skills like reading and writing.Develop clarity in your dealings.

ABILITY TO GET ON WITH OTHERS :

Technology will advance, but the work still has to be done by humans.The qualities of being a leader and of taking responsibility will continue to be valued.

What you should do : Learn about human behaviour. Imbibe leadership qualities and learn to lead,not follow.

BE GOOD IN YOUR WORK :

Finally, only work is going to take you places. Not seniority or any other considerations.

What you should do : Prepare to work hard in your chosen field and achieve excellence.

8

THE CIVIL SERVICES

The All-India Services are truly the cream of the Civil Services. Status, power, prestige, authority- theyhave it all. In spite of liberalisation and the multinational era, nothing can beat the prestige of theIAS, the giamour of the IFS and the power of the IPS.

The Indian Civil services is one of the legacies of the British that has endured with time, albeitgradually indianising itself. This intricate order of hierarchical accountability and controls was establishedafter the 1857 uprising, when the reins of power went out of the hands of East India Company to theCrown. The role of the Civil Services has undergone major reforms since independence, operating asit does now, within the parameters of a democratic welfare state with more emphasis on developmentwork and maintenance of law and order.

The All India Services, comprising the IAS, Indian Forest Service plus the Indian Foreign Service,which is a central service and the IPS, are the cream of the services. Powerful, glamorous and themost coveted of the lot these services attract some of the best brains in the country. It is this non-political entity- the bureaucracy that gives permanency to policy-making and its implementation andalso serves as an advisory body to the ministers. This highly centralised and hierarchical body is incharge of almost all aspects of administration in the country.

The All India Services follow a cadre system wherein the officers are allotted various states [cadres]during their probationary period, to which they remain affiliated throughout their career.

The Indian Administrative Service [IAS]: Constituted formally in the year 1947, the IAS has extendedthe role of its precursor, the Indian Civil Service[ICS]. Handling essentially administrative affairs, IASofficers man the key posts in the districts as well as at the central or state secretariats. At the centrallevel, this involves policy framing and implementation. At the district level, it mostly sees todevelopment works besides administrative affairs and the divisional level it looks after law and order,general administration and development work.

While work at the secretariat involves a lot of paper work, preparation of reports and answers asked inthe Parliament, discussions etc., a field job is a different story altogether. Field assignments are thosewhere one is required to implement the government policies. It involves greater interaction withpeople, touring, supervising and coordinating the work of governmental and non governmental agenciesand receiving ministers, senior officers etc.

9

Superintendents of Police [SPS], District Magistrates [DMs], etc. are Field Officers in the central governmentwhile Deputy Superintendents of Police [DSP], Block Development Officers [BDOs], Assistant Engineersetc. are the state government employees working in the field posts. In the IAS cadre, the post of DM orDC - District Collector, also called Deputy Commissioner in some states is one of the importantfieldassignments covering a vast area of work.

As a DM, one is in charge of law and order, attending and convening of meetings and conferences,receiving VIPs, inspections supervising relief operations, organising government campaigns and anyother miscellaneous work that may come up. Supervising the allotment and proper utilisation of fundsby field staff is another important job.

The Indian Foreign Service [IFS]:

The IFS is responsible for the administration and activities of Indian missions abroad, and for theframing and implementation of the government’s foreign policy. It deals with the country’s externalaffairs, including trade diplomacy and cultural relations. IFS officers are attached to the Ministry ofExternal Affairs and may be posted either in India or abroad. The two-year probation period involvestraining at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration [Mussoorie], followed by a stint in Delhi.Probationers have to specialise in a certain section of the ministry, like the Commonwealth, USA, FarEast etc. This includes learning the language or languages of the region.

The initial posting is as Third Secretary in an Indian High Commission abroad, usually for two years,usually followed by a posting in the country. Travel is an integral part of the job and a country allowanceis provided according to the country one happens to be posted in.

The Indian Police Service [IPS]:

This service has the difficult and unenviable task of maintaining public safety and security. A job thatnot only demands mental alertness and physical fitness but puts all of one’s abilities to the harshest oftests while dealing with the ever increasing crime graph. The role of the IPS has changed over the years.Now, it is not solely concerned with the maintenance of law and order in the traditional sense. Its ambitnow includes listening to public grievances regarding neglect or delay of police action, formulatingstrategies for various programmes associated with public welfare, and taking preventive steps to ensurethat elements disrupting social peace are dealt with seiftly and ruthlessly.

To fulfil these functions, the service has been divided into many functional departments: Crime Branch,Criminal investigation Department or CID, Research and Analysis Wing [RAW] and Traffic Bureau. Anumber of central policing agencies are also headed by the IPS including the intelligence Bureau, theCentral Bureau of Investigation [CBI], Cabinet Secretariat Security, Border Security Force [BSF] and theCentral Reserve Police Force [CRPF].

Entry: Entry into the three All India Services [ as well as the Central Services ] is through the combined

competitive examination held for the civil services. The examination is divided into two sections [i] thePreliminary examination and the [ii] the Main. The Preliminary examination is the first step for selectionto the services. On the third Saturday of December usually, the UPSC publishes a supplement in theEmployment News on the Civil Service exams. The supplement also contains an application form forthe Prelims. The examination is conducted in 40 centres all over the country on the second Sunday ofJune.

10

The Prelims is a written test comprising two objective, multiple- choice type papers. Paper 1 is an

optional subject of 300 marks and paper 2 is of general studies of 150 marks. There are 23 optionalsubjects to choose from in the first paper. General Studies covers six topics- Indian History, Constitutionof India, Geography, Economics, science and Current Affairs.

The Mains, also a written test, are held around November/December each year. The exam carries

2,000 marks, to be followed by an interview [for the successful candidates] of 300 marks. The writtenexam consists of seven papers and two language papers - one in English and the other in an optionalIndian Language. Marks gained in these papers are not computed in the total score, but passing in bothis compulsory for qualification. The other papers are: one compulsory Essay paper, two papers inGeneral Studies and two papers each of the two optional subjects one opts for. All the papers are ofsubjective type.

The Interview or Personality Test: This is the final stage in the selection process, the battle royale

that can swing the outcome either way. The interview score plays a decislve role in the selction processand also in the service, which is finally allotted to you. Roughly 750- 800 candidates make it past thefinal selection out of the hundreds of thousands who apply.

TIPS FOR PREPARATION

Hundreds of thousands candidates appear for the Preliminary examination every year, out of which about10,000 get selected for the Mains. Further, only about 1,500 get called for the interview, out of whichonly 700 make it past the post. In this fiercely competitive scenario, what does it take to be a winner?

First and foremost is the decision: There are any number of candidates appearing for the Civil

Services examination just for a jerk. Are you one of them? Or are you the one truly determined tosucceed, come what may ? If you are taking the Prelims as a testing ground, remember that you have gotonly four chances. Also, remember that most of the successful candidates are those who get throughthe Prelims in the first two chances. So, if you are determined to make it, get cracking right from theword go.

Hard work counts more than intelligence: This has often been remarked of the Civil Services.

Very many intelligent candidates do not make it simply because they have not worked hard enough. Onthe other hard, quite a few average candidates have made it because they have not worked hard enough.On the other hand, quite a few average candidates have made it because they have really slogged it out.Ask any successful candidate and he/she will tell you that success does not come easy in Civil Services.15-16 hours a day of study is quite common for them, especially for the Mains.

Organisation is the key: Sometimes, all the hard work that you put in goes waste, simply because

you have not planned you study properly. Sifting and filtration is a process that is very useful here.Otherwise, you may end up learning much of what is not really required. Careful selection and plannedstudy go a long way in ensuring that critical edge, so ital for an examination of this type.

11

Time is the essence: Time is always in short supply for all the CS exams. Nevertheless, if your study

is judiciously timed, there should not be a problem. A lot of candidates make the mistake of dividingtheir time equally for all the subjects. Remember that all the papers are not of equal marks. Give moretime to your optional subject then the General Studies paper in the Prelims. In the Mains, GS andOptionals carry equal marks [600 each for two papes]. For the language papers, considerably less effortis required as they are only of a qualifying nature.

Choose the Optionals wisely : Just because erveryone is taking up History, Sociology or Psychology

is no reason for you to do so. Of course, there is a general feeling that some subjects are more scoringthan others are. If you are confident, you can do well in them, take them up. It is however, best to takeup those subjects with which you are most familiar and comfortable as that reduces the time spent onlearning totally new things. Ideally, take up your M.A., subject as one optional and the other optionalcould be one of the subjects you had in graduation.

Don’t be out of touch with the world outside: While it is an admirable quality to be totally

involved in your study, it is unwise to give up completely on the outside world. Discussions with friendsnow and then can definitely add to your knowledge. Reading newspapers and magazines can update youon current affairs and latest happenings in every field. It is also a good idea to take a long walk every dayto recollect your thoughts and ideas. Besides, it is a welcome break from the monotony of sitting longhours in one place.

A short break after Prelims is essential: After the Prelims, it is necessary to take a break - say

about a week or ten days to refresh your self. But a very long break could be detrimental, as that willreduce the time for the study of Main exams. Do not wait for the Prelims results to come out before youstudy for the Mains if you get through the Prelims, you would have a headstart for the Mains, but in caseyou don’t, you could consider it as preparation for the next year.

Join a good study group: It could be a coaching institute or an informal study group. Be careful

while selecting an institute- your money should not go waste. A select group of friends- all preparing forthe exams- can exchange useful ideas through informal discussions. Being in a sort of team is alwaysbetter than being a loner. It helps in faster dissemination of information.

After the Mains, conduct mock interviews: This is where friends would be most helpful.

Often, a single person cannot imagine what kind of questions will be asked at the interview. Morepeople mean more ideas and more questions. That will give you enough food for thought to plan out allyour answer meaningfully, and be well prepared for the interview.

Never ever be depressed: In the long hours of study and preparation, there will be times when you

could be depressed and lonely. More so when you start doubting whether you will succeed or not. Thatis the time when you may question the whole system and wonder whether all the hard work is reallyworth it. At such times, listen to soft music, go and meet griends, play a vigorous game once a while ormaybe just go for a long walk or drive. You may soon get out of that depressing mood. Even if you failto get through any of the exams, remember that life is much more than Civil Services. There are plentyof other options, equally challenging and exciting, if not more. As to your hard work put in, that willnever go waste. The amount of knowledge you gather can be used in any other field to your advantage.

So, get set and gear up. If you are determined to succeed, greater chances are that you will. If you haveput in your best, the rest should be left to God and Fortune.

12

EDUCATION ABROAD

Unlike a few decades ago, today, men and women from all academic, social and economic backgrounds aresuccessfully realizing dreams of studying abroad. The emergence of a powerful middle class with highspending power has also brought overseas education within the reach of many more people.

Contrary to popular misconception, International education is affordable. A student needs to have properinformation and apply to the right program and university keeping in view both his requirements and theeligibility criteria of the universities. Strategic planning would remarkably reduce the student’s budgetaryrequirements to meet the expenses of the first semester only. Statistics reveal that more than 85% of Indianstudents continue the later part of the studies without parental support, as plenty of part time, on and offcampus jobs are available. A number of Financial aid and Scholarship programs are also available to thedeserving International students.

Every year more than 50,000 students leave India to pursue overseas education and the number are growingevery year. Amongst them over close to 80% prefer to go to the USA. But the international student recruitmentscenario is rapidly changing and now several other countries where education and stay is more affordablemake good alternatives.

The United Kingdom is aggressively trying to dislodge the USA as the currently most favoured internationalstudy distination. The comparatively higher cost of education in UK has been one of the major reasons forstudents to prefer the USA. But a new legislation is to be introduced shortly which will permit students towork for two years in the area related to their study as the relevant work experience. This would mean thatstudents would be able to earn in two years more than hat they have spent on getting their degree.

Similar initiatives have already been undertaken in Australia and visa laws have been modified to permitstudents to work for a year to gain work experience and possibly, even employment before their visa expires.

Educational standards of Germany are rated as among the very best in the world especially in the fields ofEngineering, Science and Technology. Germany has also thrown open its doors for international students andeducation in Germany is totally free, though admissions are highly competitive.

In today’s world everything is seen in a global perspective. No wonder then, overseas universities are todayactively seeking an international component on their campuses. In fact the existence of a high rate ofinternational student composition has become a way to market the university and attract native students.Today Asia and Africa represent the biggest opportunity for Universities to recruit international studentsfrom. The current international student scenario undoubtedly reflects a healthy trend favouring not just therich or the brilliant ones but also the average student.

The growing environment of liberalization and globalization of economies all over the world has broughtforward career opportunities like never before. Today every industry has to operate with competency matchingglobal standards. For this global education becomes a vital tool. The Government of India is growing increasinglyaware of this fact and has recently taken further initiatives to ease the conditions for grant of laons foroverseas education. In a recent press release it has announced that all Indian banks are now authorized toissue loans upto Rs.10 Lakhs to cover tution fee, hostel fee, cost of books, equipment and one way fare to theplace of study.

The benefits that an individual gains with global education and the concurrent international exposure arealso tremendous. A student who truly enriches himself with the experience of international study will gaincutting edge skills that ensure very bright career opportunities ahead. Statistics reveal that those with advancedinternational degrees have enhanced lifetime earnings upto 40% and more.

Global education is beyond doubt significant both with regards to the individual as well as national gains.After all the buzzword in almost every sphere of life, be it education, industry, trade, careers, lifestyle, orfashion is ‘international’!

13

EDUCATION IN AMERICA

ETS- TESTS:

ETS - Educational Testing Services, a subsidiary of the college Board, is an organization instituted by agroup of US Universities. The ETS conducts TOEFL, GRE, GMAT & SAT tests that are essential to secureadmissions into graduate and undergraduate programs at colleges in the USA. Every year more than onelakh students from India take the ETS tests.

As academic standards and testing methods greatly vary from country to country, American institutionsregard ETS tests as the common scale for both native and international students. ETS tests measureverbal, quantitative, analytical and problem solving skills acquired over a long period of time. As ETSscores are generally taken as indicators of academic success, great stress is laid on them in grantingadmissions. Leading universities in UK , Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and other countriesalso recognize the ETS tests.

ETS goes digital!

In October 1998 the GRE and GMAT have been made Computer Adaptive Tests in India. BeginningAugust 2000 TOEFL is also going to be a Computer Based Test. Coaching India is the first institution inthe country to offer coaching for compute adaptive tests, with indigenous software, developed by thegroup IT company, Visu Cybertech.

The Computer Adaptive Tests- CAT’s are quite different from the Paper Based Tests. The CAT’s use themost sophisticated score evaluating system whereby the test itself adapts to the skill level beingdemonstrated by the individual test taker, and also as per the test design. The test starts off with questionsof average difficulty. If the test taker answers correctly then the following set of questions will be of thesame or higher level of difficulty. Conversely, if the test taker answers incorrectly then the questions tofollow will be of the same or lower level of difficulty. Sylvan technology Centers administer thecomputer-based tests across the country.

TOEFL:

The Test of English as a Foreign Language - TOEFL is a mandatory test for all those seeking admissioninto undergraduate or graduate studies in the USA whose native language is not English. This is a test ofbasic proficiency in English as used in North America. The maximum score for TOEFL is 677. TWE -The Test of Written English is also available along with TOEFL on specific test dates and is assessed ona scale of 1-6 .

The computer-based TOEFL will have four sections: Listening, Structure, Reading and Writing with newor improved question types. Test takers will now listen to dialogues, talks and group discussions throughpersonal headphones and see context-setting visuals on the computer screen. Several full length simulationtests using original ETS materials are conducted 15 days before the official TOEFL test date of everymonth.

14

GRE:

The Graduate Record Examination- GRE is a prerequisite for admission into Masters programs inEngineering, Science and for programs in disciplines other than Management, Law or Medicine. Verbal,Quantitative and Analytical skills are tested to determine the test takers ability to avoid pitfalls in logicalthinking. The Verbal section of the GRE also tests the ability to use words in problem solving. Themaximum score for GRE is 2400 .

GREWA - GRE

Writing Assessment Test is an optional test available with GRE and individually, both as a computer andpaper based test. It is assessed on a scale of 1-6.

GMAT:

The Graduate Management Aptitude Test - GMAT, now only given as a computer based test, is theeligibility test for students seeking admissions into Masters programs in Management and MIS. Skillsevaluated on the GMAT are Verbal, Math and Analytical. The maximum score for GMAT is 800.

SAT:

The Scholastic Aptitude Test - SAT is an eligibility test for students seeking admission into undergraduateprograms leading to the Bachelors degree. SAT measures the English and Math skills of the test takers.The test therefore consists of Verbal and Quantitative sections. The maximum score for SAT is 1600.

THE NEED FOR PROGESSIONAL COACHING:

Coaching for ETS tests becomes essential as the level of scores determine not just the chances of securingadmissions into good colleges but also the make a student eligible for scholarships, assistantships,tuition waivers etc. Besides these tests are highly standardized and ETS thinking and testing pattern isunfamiliar to most test takers, calling for coaching for even the very bright students. Definitely not thelast of considerations is that good ETS scores become very essential to secure a student visa.

15

STUDYING IN THE UK

As the global village gives expression, more an more people look out for greener pastures. The generalimpression is that U.S.A is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

International opportunities are aplenty. For some inexplicable reasons all rush to JFK. We decided tolook at alternatives. We saw the United Kingdom as a distinct possibility.

We checked for the benefit of our readers and noticed that Britain has in the past been a popular spot onthe Education agenda of Indians remember Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru and the like ! Britain offersa broad spectrum of subjects to choose from. From architecture to zoology. It is all there. Go for it.

Course normally last three years, but in some cases may be longer. British universities place emphasis ona student’s capacity to undertake independent study. Logically, many final year courses of degrees includea research project or dissertation which forms an integral part of the degree.

Applicants must satisfy both general and course requirements. General requirements usually consist ofthe following:

* A specified number of subject passes at both GCE “A” Levels and GCSE at grade C minimum.

* equivalent British qualifications [e.g. BTEC/SCOTVEG; AS levels etc.]

* equivalent overseas qualifications, such as the Indian CBSE and ICSE etc.

Course requirement details can be obtained from prospectuses of institutions which are available at theEducation Counselling Service located in the British Council offices or British Libraries.

Students who may not have the entry qualifications for an undergraduate course may wish to apply for afoundation course in the first instance. These range from four months to a year.

A good journey can depend upon an informed choiceThe checklist of criteria given below can help you make a more informed decision:

* appropriate subject* type of degree* subject options* availability of postgraduate courses in the same field* size of the institute, facilities offered and student support* availability of co-curricular activities [ eg. sports, dramatics, etc.,]

16

* location in Britain* Presence of relatives and friends in Britain* accommodationThe academic year in Britain runs from late September / early October to June, usually with a month offat Christmas and Easter.

Applications are made through a computerised national system known as the Universities and collegesAdmissions Service [UCAS]. Students must complete a single UCAS from which allows them a choiceof six universities and courses so that they don’t have to make costly and time- consuming multipleapplications. UCAS forms are available at all British Council offices in India for self- funded students.For many courses, overseas students are required to sit the International English Language Test [ IELTS ]which is regularly administered by the British Council.

UCAS forms should ideally be submitted before 15 December of the preceding year. Students can startapplying even if they have not received their final results.

However, even after 15 December, applications can still be processed in the normal way until 30 June.After that, applications will be handled through the “clearing” process. it is important to note that forOxford and and Cambridge, students must apply before 15 October of the year preceding their year ofproposed entry.

Costs are a major consideration for the student going abroad. The fees structure is as follows.Arts subjects: 6,210 PoundsScience Subjects: 8,130 PoundsMedicine: 15,660 PoundsLiving Costs: 5,000 Pounds.

In analysing the cost of under-graduate studies overseas, do note that in the UK, students are entitled tocomprehensive free health treatment under the National Health Service when the course lasts longer thansix months. Students should ensure that they have sufficient funds to cover the cost of their stay, althoughit is normally possible to obtain permission to work upto 21 hours per week. Many British undergraduatecourses also give value for money because they are shorter and more intensive than similar coursesoffered elsewhere, thus reducing living expenses and time spent away from home.

In a British Council survey, more than half the students polled said that they were choosing Britain forits high standards of education. The next most popular reason was that British qualifications are widelyrecognised and prestigious. Many past and current world leaders in India today have pursued their highereducation in Britain.

Over the years, Britain has developed an age old tradition of welcoming Indian students and makingthem feel at home.

Add to all this the fact that in England, you can watch a lot more of the gentlemen’s game, one couldwell choose the nearer resort to the far away west.

-000-

17

CAREERS IN FOREIGN TRADE

TRADING FOR A LIVING

Foreign trade is one of the key elements in the country’s development efforts. Post World War, India hasgradually made enormous strides in the field of international trade. Though initially there were major setbacks, the early 80’s saw a rapid rise in Indian exports and ever since they have been rising at one and ahalf times the pace of growth in world exports. The focus of India’s economic policy has been themaintenance of high levels of exports and regulation imports. India’s trade with other countries hasexpanded and diversified in recent years.

THE WORK: Professionals in export and import industry have various job opportunities. Production,

invoicing, packing, transport and shipping, marketing and documentation are some of the various tasksthat are involved. Professionals in this field can work in buying houses, export units, the internationalbusiness division of various multinational companies.

EXPORT MANAGERS: The Export Manager is in charge of the export section of a company. The job

entails handling various aspects of exports with different agencies apart from being responsible formatters related to exports, incentives, bottlenecks and credits.

EXECUTIVES: Executives deal with the buyers / agents in local and international markets. A fair

amount of knowledge of procedures and related documentation on compensatory support will be anadvantage. Documentation Assistant deals with the export promotion councils and shipping agents. It isimperative that candidates who wish to be in this field be conversant with export documentation work.

PURCHASE OFFICER: Purchasing raw material and selecting exportable merchandise for

manufacturing a product is the work of a purchase officer. Purchase managers also need to possessadequate knowledge of local and outside markets in order to be aware of the latest trends.

BUSINESS ASSOCIATES: Channelising agencies like The State Trading Corporation enrol exporters astheir business associates. The latter are in contractual agreement to supply goods. In order to minimiseexpenses and overcome problems of language, and government rules and regulations, companies appointsales agents on the basis of commission. These agents help exporters constantly assess the market situationand provide consultancy services. They impart advice on appropriate methods and strategies for sellingtheir products in the concerned territories.

MANUFACTURERS: To make an item saleable in the market a manufacturer needs to arrange finances,establish production units and employ workers. Manufacturers produce items that are at par withinternational standards that are later sold to exporters and business agents. Some manufacturers prefer tosell their products directly to various countries with others export products to fulfil the minimum exportrequirement in order to import certain goods and raw materials that they might require.

18

INSPECTORS: Their job entails checking the samples of the raw material and the quality of the finishedproduct to ensure that they match the international standards. Those who import products also requirethe services of an inspector. They need to ensure that the goods that are to be imported are of a standardquality.

ELIGIBILITY: Candidates who wish to apply should have a master’s degree in any stream with anaggregate of a minimum of 60 percent. There are various institutions that offer training to providestudents a better insight into the areas of foreign trade. There are full time courses as well as diplomacourses offered in this field. The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade [IIFT] in New Delhi offers a two-yearfull time course with a curriculum related to management of international business operations.

The selection to the institution is done through an examination that is conducted at various centres inIndia. The examination aims at testing the candidate’s knowledge of English, general awareness, analysisof a businesssituation and mathematical ability. IIFT also offers a three-month certificate course onshipping and documentation for foreign trade managers.

The Main objective of the course is to impart systematic knowledge in trade-related aspects of internationalaspects.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES : Excellent communication skills, a keen aptitude for business, knowledge offoreign languages, persuasive ability and confidence are some of the attributes required to be successfulin this filed.

JOB PROSPECTS: A career in Foreign Trade is extremely lucrative and offers tremendous scope for widetravel. Opportunities in merchandising companies, export units and the international business divisionsof various MNCs are open to candidates of foreign trade. Trained professionals can venture to open theirown export houses after gaining adequate work experience. The public sector offers jobs in the Statetrading Corporation [STC] and the Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation [MMTC].

****

19

CAREERS IN JOURNALISM - CONTENT DEVELOPERS

CONTENT [ED] OPPORTUNITIES

Being a wordsmith and keeping the cash registers ringing may sound incongruous to many who thinkwriting is not too fetching an option to eke out a living from. Seen as a pleasurliving from. Seen as apleasurable pastime that could bring in the occasional ‘extra buck’, writing offered fame while fortunewas often elusive.

The scene has changed. With the huge number of web sites existing in cyberspace, the need for contentthat can contribute to the ‘stickiness’ of site has made content creation a lucrative business. Whenquality content is the bottom-line, business establishments look at allying with the best talent to keepcustomers happy. The whole gamut of content creation broadly encompasses aggregating content, analysingand gleaning the required information and presenting it in a manner that is both comprehensible andpalatable to the target audience. It could be a synergy of activities in online or offline media.

A look at human resource in the business of content creation.

CONTENT ANALYSTS: Their job is to source material required by content writers. They have

access to content databases, Internet resources, statistical data, and information. Content analysts definethe topic and scope of an article and provide the content writer with whatever material he may requireduring the course of writing an article. They need to be clued in about the subject they are dealing inwith an eye for detail to undertake keen and careful browsing. Computer awareness coupled with theadept use of search engines and Internet browsing techniques is mandatory.

CONTENT WRITERS: They form the bulk of the content creation work force. The job involves

writing original content and rewriting content, making good use of their language capabilities in orderto impact the readers through their offerings. Since onscreen reading patterns are different and distinctfrom offline material, content writers should be masters of the art of writing for the web. Preferably adegree in English, with experience and expertise in the functional area is necessary.

PROOFREADERS: They check for errors in the content that is generated by the writers. This includes

spelling mistakes, typographical errors, and punctuation. They also check to see if the continuity andflow the subject is maintained throughout the article. Proof readers can also rearrange blocks of text tomake the content more readable and easy on the eye. They check for inappropriate line breaks, work-breaks and formatting of text in terms of font size and style, and mark the changes that need to beimplemented by the writer.

20

SUB-EDITORS: Their job is screen an article and make the required suggestions and changes related

to sentence construction and appropriate use of words-a better word in place of merely a ‘good’ onecontributes to making the content more effective. Sub editors also condense long winding sentences andremove unwanted material in order to make an article succinct and give impressive headlines and catchytitles to the articles. Sub-editors also doble as writers and may also rewrite or spruce up content writtenby others whenever necessary. A journalistic background with flawless English language skills andexperience in the field is required for the post.

EDITOR: Editors check to see if all the content is in accordance with the editorial policy, Typically, all

content needs to be routed through the editor and the final choice to accept or reject an article rests withhim. Apart from attesting articles, editors check for authenticity of data and the correctness of factualinformation. Editors decide on the direction and theme of a content project/ writing as signment, and allpersons in the hierarchy are responsible to him either directly or indirectly.

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: For those with a creative bent of mind, a career in design can be most

fulfilling. The job of a graphic designer is to provide powerful visuals and illustrations that convey themessage of the article. They are required to have hands on experience in tools like Corel Draw, Photoshop,Dreamweaver, and HTML tools as well as publishing software like PageMaker. Painators arrange the textand images in pages with the required formatting using web page editors or DTP software. Graphicdesigners are also assisted by concept visualisers and caricaturists.

World-class content providers include CareerCommunity.com ltd, Isyndicate.com, Hoover’s, andSuccess Works.

Since the Internet has closed in on distances, many content providers service clients from across theglobe providing content to a number of web-sites and publications, and have earned a name forthemselves in the Industry.

With the help of knowledge management systems, content providers serve clients efficiently and alsoprovide an atmosphere where a ‘person of letters’ can feel at home and be around like-mindedcompany.

The need for more such companies is immense, and ‘quality content’ is the watchword. can Indiancontent providers live.

****

21

TIPS IN PERSONAL RELATIONS

PUTTING A NAME TO A FACE SAGESPEAK

S.RADHAKRISHNAN, Indira Gandhi, and many other luminaries the past shared a knack that contributedgreatly to their success.

In politics, management, and public speaking, this gift has provided vitally important and in NormanVincent Peale’s parlance, is the single most powerful way to influence people. Although all these peoplewere very intelligent and astute, this single common trait is something almost all of us can acquire,develop and hone only if we take the trouble of paying more attention than we have so far. So what isthis “magic” trait, knack or gift that I refer to?

They always remembered names, and could invariably put a face to that name!

A CASE IN EXAMPLE: I was required to deliver a lecture on the socio-historical aspect of 15 th centurysociety India, with special emphasis on socio-economic reforms being instituted at the time. To makematters worse, none of the students were historians, nor were they even remotely interested in the historyof the period.

However they had to know about the subject, and though they dreaded the idea of spending half a daylistening to a stranger like myself, they had resigned themselves to the torture.

With my greying beard and the pompous introduction that was made of me by the lead participant of myembarrassing erudition, nothing boded well for the conduct of the seminar. I started by disclaimingresponsibility for the staggering introduction and requested the participants to introduce themselves.

They did so, and, thankfully provided details of themselves that were pertinent and memorable. I tooknotes, and sketched a hurried map of the seating arrangements.

When I started the lecture, I asked, by name, one of the participants to provide an answer to a simplequestion. He was delighted that I remembered his name and responded with enthusiasm. In the samevein I found occasion to call on most of the participants by mame. The result?

Total participation and proactivity! Those I did not speak to directly, I named in conversation, whilelooking at them. All the participants later told me how much they had enjoyed themselves and howmuch they had learnt! They had come in because they had to, they stayed because they felt that they werecontributing to the lecture, they felt needed and they responded.

Participants felt that the class was “personalised”, although most of the material was from books availablein their own library helped along with slides that had obviously been used several times before.

In today’s world of networking there are more people we meet who can and will have some part to playin our lives, both professional and personal. Today is the day of relationship management. We need todevelop relationships with suppliers, clients and customers.

22

Organisations are getting bigger too and many of us find that we do not know the names of more than20% of the people who work with us. This is because of the common trend of companies merging witheach other or acquiring new divisions. The cast is changing everyday and we must keep up so that thehomely and easy rapport we built up in the past does not come cropper.

Being referred to by name and personally asked for a response is a need felt by many though for the mostpart, nobody admits to the need. In the impersonal society they we are bulding, this need is hardly everbeing met.

Referring to a person by name implies recognition and acknowledgement of their usefulness. Relationshipsare comented and an invisible bond is made.

People feel as if they mean something to you and will make themwork all the more harder and better.They begin to take some pride in their work as the hitherto ‘distant’ superior is acknowledging it. Levelsof satisfaction will improve and attrition will be considerably reduced.

Why then are the majority of us so bad with matching faces to names? If we understand this, we canconsciously make an effort to improve.

THE PROBLEMS:

* Some names are difficult to pronounce so we don’t bother.* We often just grab their card, whip ours out, hand it to them in a hurry and bury their card in our

pockets.[When we find the card some days later, we cannot put a face to match it!]* Once introduced, we somehow never use the name in conversation with them.* If we do store the card in a rolodex or a card case, retrieval becomes a problem.

TO COMBAT THESE MALAISES THE FOLLOWING POINTS COULD BE ATTEMPTED:

* Pay close attention when you’re being introduced. Avoid thinking of yourself and concentrate onthe other person.

* Say the name aloud and make sure you have the pronunciation correct.* If the name is unfamiliar or foreign, ask the person to spell it.* Contrive to use the name in your conversation with the person.* Back home, write down the names of people you’ve met and any information that will be helpful

in recognition on the back of each card.* Note names in an address book, in your planner, on a spreadsheet on the computer, or in a contact

management software that lets you look people up by keyword. The very action of writing themdown often helps convert the name/face factor from short to longtermmemory.

* Next time you go to an event where you are likely to meet people you have met before, use yourdatabase to refresh your memory about them.

There is really nothing else that needs as little effort that has such a positive impact in developing a warmrelationship and getting people to know you for a warm and genuine person, than remembering theirnames when you meet them.

It adds to their pleasure when you make mention of some personal detail that they may have shared withyou at a previous meeting.

****

23

CAREERS IN GEMMOLOGY

THE NEW STONE AGE

FASCINATION for adornment of self is as old as the history of mankind. Jewellery design for centurieshas been the domain of artisans who gained and passed on the expertise to their progeny. The Indiangem and jewellery industry accounts for nearly 43 percent of the world’s total exports and is the secondmajor foreign exchange earner for the country. Master craftsmen with their own distinctive and traditionaldesigns and patterns have raptured not just the domestic market but have gained appreciation andacceptance the world over. The profession has become highly skilled and mechanised though unskilledlabour still forms a large part of the work force.

Gemmology is the science dealing with the study of gemstones. Gemmologists identify the gemstones,sort them and grade them. They also advise jewellers and jewellery designers on the stones’ properties,the suitability of particular gemstones with different metals and in setting etc. Their work is mostlyscientific and technical and requires great skill. Jewellery designers on the other hand create new designsfor specific clients and markets. A jeweller uses art and technology to make, repair or set jewellery usingrecious metals and stones such as gold and diamonds.

MAJOR TASKS: Manufacturing, design and marketing [to an extent] are the three areas where the

bulk of activity is concentrated.

MANUFACTURE: Jewellery manufacture involves identification, testing, grinding and polishing of

stones before they are sorted and engraved. Samples are made and moulded in rubber moulds and thecavities are filled with wax. Embedding and dewaxing follows and then the molten metal is poured intoblast furnaces, after which the final product is created. Most of the leading export houses are mechanisedand produce high quality work. However, production for the domestic market is still dependent onskilled manpower. De Beers is one such international company that employs large- scale local labour fordiamond cutting and polishing.

DESIGN: Good designs have great marketing prospects; hence the scene for designers is very bright.

Designers are often attached to various jewellery export houses. Desin houses like Estelle, Tanishq, havebecome household names in the country while international brands like Bomza, De Beers, Begruet,Versace and Cartier need no introduction. Jewellery design encompasses designing of all accessoriesthat complete the fashion image.

MARKETING: Marketing in this field essentially in volves the selling and advertising of previous,

semi precious and costume jewellery for domestic and international market.

OF STONES & CHISELS: Various institutions in the country offer courses in gemmology and jewellery

design. The main objective of these courses is to impart the latest technological knowhow in gemcutting, sorting[ of stones] grading and valuation and identification of gemstones. Most of these coursesare at the graduate level. These short-term courses usually of 3-6 months [some last one year] durationprovide upto-date knowledge of scientific developments to help students become skilled artisans. Thebasic qualification for these courses is a Secondary school examination. Workers employed in jewellerymanufacturing plants have traditionally developed their skills through apprenticeships and informal on-the-job-training. As computer aided design [CAD/CAM] is increasingly being used in this field, trainingin these areas can be extremely useful.

24

The gemmological Institute of India, at Mumbai offers a number of courses in gems and jewellery. Thereis a three and a half month course in gemmology [resident programme ] as well as a one-year home studyprogramme. A designing course offered here though has a limited number of seats and is for threemonths again. There are other short-term courses, from two weeks to a month’s duration in jewellerycasting, pearl identification and bead stringing, a course in diamond grading, identificatgion and valuation.Besides, the National Institute of Fashion technology [Delhi] conducts a 3-year intensive diplomaprogramme in accessory design that includes jewellery designing.

THE CUTTING EDGE: A totally employment oriented industry; this is a field where there are

openings for different categories of jobs. Jewellery firms employ both artisans and designers. Designerswith a background in gemmology can expect good placements with export houses or jewellery designingfirms or they can also freelance for both Indian and international markets. One could start a designingbusiness and work independently or one could consider joining a jewellery and accessory designingcompany. One can specialise too, in accessory designing and design belts, ties, purses, bags and costumejewellery. Fashion gurus like wendell Rodricks have started jewellery designing in a big way.

The specialists in this field work in various different areas.

GEMMOLOGISTS: Identify and test the weight, form, size of the precious and semi-precious stones.

Treatments to modify colour or appearance of the stones are also undertaken by these specialists.

GEM GRINDERS: Precious stones are ground into required shapes with sophisticated tools and

machines available. The stones have to be constantly checked while grinding. Even the minutest ofmistakes can render precious stones worthless.

GEM POLISHERS: Polishing wheels are operated either manually or mechanically and the stones are

polished as per specifications.

GEM SORTERS & SETTERS: A gem sorter examines, selects and removes gems from rough stones

and cuts them to required sizes. Setters set the jewels according to designs given.

ENGRAVERS: An eye for the creative, a refined taste and an aptitude for fine work are essential for

this job. The work involves engraving designs or letters on jewellery, using fine chisels and hand tools.Designs are usually engraved or embossed by using dyes. As for research in the field, researchers growsimple crystals from water and synthetic gemstones from complex chemical substances.

SKILLS: The precise and delicate nature of jewellery work requires finger and hand dexterity, good

handeye coordination and great concentration.

Artistic ability and fashion consciousness are a plus point. Individual initiative and drive will go a longway in helping to carve a niche in this highly competitive and fast rising industry.

****

25

CAREERS IN INSURANCE SECTORA FORTUITOUS CLAIM TO A BETTER FORTUNE

The insurance sector is one of the numerous Indian industries joining the privatisation bandwagon. Byinviting multinationals and individuals to invest in the country’s potential to create and generate wealth,the Indian government has finally given the insurance sector a run for its money. The recent insuranceRegulatory and Development Authority bill passed by the parliament has set the ball rolling and 23major global players have laid their wares out in India.

There will be more specialist openings in the sector and keen competition will ensure a healthy contestamongst insurance providers to offer qualitative service. Insurance companies like Sunlife, Standard Life,Munich Re-insurance, New York Life, Lloyds, Aegon Insurance, Reliance [General and life insurance],Tata [in collaboration with American Insurance Group], sundaram Finance, Daewoo, SBI, HDFC andPrudential ICICI have already procured licences to provide Indians with a better choice in insuring theirfuture. This will generate more employment with lucrative compensation packages.

HAPPY TIDINGS AHEAD! Privatisation of the insurance sector promises exciting employmentopportunities for specialists.

The Actuary handles financial problems related to insurance investments, financial planning andmanagement. It is an important functional area in insurance and the work requires the individual toextensively employ skills in mathematics and statistics. Graduates in mathematics and statistics can trytheir hand at a course in actuarial practice. Actuary is a paying option fetching approximately 8 lakhs perannum.

Professional Underwriters assess the risk factor in businesses and are involved in risk management.Multinationals and international insurance companies prefer to employ people with a background inscience and medicine. Underwriters can earn up to 6 lakhs per annum.

Marketing insurance policies is not always an easy job. Graduates and postgraduates in finance andmarketing will find profitable openings in the field. This will also herald a season of change for insuranceagents who specialise as financial consultants proffering advice to the insured on the gamut of insurancesolutions available.

Software professionals will find insurance an interesting avenue wherein comprehensive networking anddatabase creation, maintenance, updating and developing in-house packages will be required.

The need for investment professionals will also be felt to generate profitable returns on lucrative investmentsand professionals with a degree in finance are preferred.

Life insurance Corporation and General Insurance Corporation are nationalised insurances agencies inthe process of entering the private insurance market. The existing hierarchy of operations in the nationalisedinsurance houses spans a range of administrative and field personnel, selection into which is through awritten test followed by an interview.

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS: Administrative and assistant administrative officers[group I]comprise the senior management cadre. The assistant administrative officer can specialise either inadministration, accounts, or development. An experienced assistant administrative officer usually graduatesto the post of an administrative officer.Administrative officers are liable to frequent transfers and can be posted anywhere in the country. Graduatesbetween the ages of 21-28 can apply for the posts.

26

DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS: Recruited by the Divisional Office, Development Officers [Group

II] recruit and train agents to procure business, and service existing policies. Insurance agents can alsorise to the post of development officers with experience. Graduates between the ages of 21 and 26 areeligible to apply for the post of a development officer. The trainee is put through a period of apprenticeshiplasting a year during which he is acclimatised to the various aspects of practical functioning.

The third category of the administrative department includes machine operators stenographers, clerks,telephone operators etc. They follow a recruitment pattern similar to that of the group II officers. Thosebetween the ages of 18 to 25 are eligible to apply.

INSURANCE AGENTS: Insurance agents act as a liaison between the company and the policyholder.

A certificate of proficiency is issued to trained insurance agents who can then begin work in real earnest.An insurance agent should be an excellent communicator and must possess a repository of knowledgeabout insurance policies to market existing policies to individuals, families, businesses, and corporates.They help policyholders choose appropriate policies suitable to their need and assist in the settlement ofclaims.

INSURANCE SURVEYORS: They assess genuine loss, and as investigators and assessors reporting

to the insurer, surveyors help indemnify loss of the policyholder. They are independent professionalslicensed by the Controller of Insurance under the Ministry of Finance and are hired by insurance agencies.Licences are issued to technically qualified people, engineering graduates, chartered accountants, andmedical professionals, diploma holders or Associates in Insurance of the Chartered Insurance Institute ofLondon or Federation of Insurance INstitutes of India. Their work can be hectic and involves constanttravel.

MAKING A BEGINNING: The National Insurance Academy at Pune, Insurance Institute of India,

and the Amity School of Insurance and Actuarial Science offer courses in insurance.

The Actuarial Society of India, Mumbai conducts an intensive course in actuarial practice. Probableunderwriters can consider the course on offer at the Institute of Risk Management.

To qualify as an insurance surveyor, you need to be a licentiate possessing the following qualifications,Fellowship or Associateship of the Institute of Insurance Surveyors and Adjustors [IISA], Mumbai, adegree or diploma in Architecture from a recognised University or Institute, Fellowship or Associateshipof the Institute of Chartered accountants or Cost and Works Accountants, a degree or diploma from arecognised Institute of Engineering, and a degree or diploma in Naval Architecture.

Professionals in the insurance sector will find the going great, as alternative and paying opportunitiesarise with global participation.

The emergent trend is towards lateral growth rather than simple hierarchical succession in mostorganisations. Specialised education has set qualified professionals on a flight to freedom, to exploreunchartered territories and mark a successful beginning.

****

27

CAREERS IN COSMETOLOGY

IF BEAUTY BE BUSINESS ...

Beauty has been an obsession with the human race from times immemorial. Beauty treatments rangefrom the immortal Cleopatra’s hourlong bath in ass’s milk to the hot springs of Rome to grandmother’shome-made beauty routines. All guaranteed to make your skin softer and glowing, your hair yourcrowning glory and you the envy of every woman...

THE NIPS AND TUCKS.: When a certain popular movie star wanted to correct her rather bulbous

nose, a cosmetologist came to the rescue. Those wrinkles, laugh lines, bags under the eyes, and doublechins and pigmentation can be made to disappear by a professional, but of course for a price. Face-liftsand liposuction are becoming a regular feature of the upwardly mobile men and women in their “middleage”.

ELIGIBILITY: The beauty business requires no special qualifications except interest and inclination

for the field. The academic programme [in beauty schools] varies with the institutions with the syllabusincluding anatomy, physiology, diet and saloon organisation and practical work like giving facials,make-up, massages, hairdressing etc.

Cosmetology includes skin, hair, face and body care and treatment and covers diet and exercise as well.Cosmetologists are professional beauticians who have been scientifically trained to guide people in theirbeauty routines. In India many professionals usually do their MBBS and then at the MD level go on tospecialise in skin care. They further enhance their expertise by doing certificate courses from variousaccredited beauty colleges in the U.S. and Europe, a few even super specialise exclusively in esthetics[skin care] or hair care, artificial implants, liposuction, and laser surgery. Many even go on to specialisein reconstructive surgery and skin grafting wherein they treat burn victims.

Beauty schools range from the home grown Pivot Point run by Blossom Kochar, Shehnaz Hussain’sWomen’s World International, Habib’s Hair Academy to the internationally acclaimed Elizabeth Ardenand Nina Ricci.

To study abroad a basic high school graduation is necessary and the apprentice must also clock in acertain amount of hours before she can become a professional. The whole course is structured professionally,akin to a full-fledged graduation program. Beauty technicians, as they are known, are allowed to practiceonly after obtaining a license, which can be revoked in case of malpractice.

In India there are no accrediting authorities, which certify courses, so the individual has to be verycareful and check the antecedents of the organisation offering the course. It is imperative to check thecredentials of the owner of the beauty school, the competency of the staff and the success rate of theprevious batch of students. The duration of the certificate courses can last from mere weeks to months.

28

JOB SCOPE: After completing the course the student joins as an apprentice in any beauty salon and

works her way up to heading that particular division. A hairdresser for example, starts out as a junior inthe salon where she acts as the liaison between the customer and the head hairdresser and odes the actualstyling. Hairdressing also includes treatment of hair and scalp, hair weaving, cutting etc.

A veteran professional in the field can also become a consultant in a number of salons and charge persession or even by the hour. Also involves sales and promotion of beauty products through demonstrationsand talks. There is also tremendous opportunity for entrepreneurship in this field where establishedcosmetologists go on to set up their own salons.

Cosmetologists are also employed by cosmetic companies where they are involved in the various stagesof on conceptualisation, formulation, production and testing of the various cosmetic concoctions. fitnessand exercise is the latest beauty fad that covers everything from health clubs, yoga, aerobics, and kickboxing

to workout gyms.

THE DARKER SIDE : A person has to be very tough to survive in this business. Beauty is a very

personal thing and many a time angry customers can not only damage you professionally but also breakone’s spirit. This is a profession where you cannot afford even the slightest margin for error. In order tosucceed in this field one has to be a people person with excellent communication skills and possess thepatience of a saint, t o deal with the most fastidious of customers and make them go back with a smileon their face.

A professional must carefully consider the personal life of the client, their behavioural patterns, eatinghabits, lifestyle along with the diagnosis before prescribing any kind of treatment.

Many a plain Jane has been transformed into stunning show stoppers by the magic wielded bycosmetologists. That perfect nose, the pearly teeth, the flawless skin, can indeed belong to a face thatlaunch a thousands products and are the cause of much jealousy and heartburn in others. All thanks tothe miraculous art of cosmetology!

****

29

CAREERS IN ANIMATION- CARTOONISTS

AVID ABOUT ANIMATION

Digital reincarnation, true to life representation of timeless clasics, and incredible digital effects- the artof Animation has come a long way from its arduous beginnings ninety years ago.

Despite the advances in technology and technique, it still takes thousands of drawings to make a singleanimated film. There’s little credit to you, despite hours of intense, gruelling effort that goes into makingthe finished product.

Although artistic talent forms an indispensable part of animation, the industry is desperately in need ofprofessionals with the right blend of talent and technical know-how, and they don’t mind paying topdollars to get highffliers. With international animation houses tapping into the Indian talent vein, thiswill be yet another challenging profession for innumerable artistic Indian minds.Behind the screen

Animation is putting together a series of drawings, in such a way that when viewed in a rapidly movingsequence, it can produce and simulate the effect of a movement. Albeit illusionary, the effects areseamlessly integrated so that the make-believe looks as real and life-like as possible.

Hand drawn images have now been replaced with computerised drawings or “frames” [a pixellatedrepresentation of animated characters]. 24 frames make up a second of 35 mm of animated film footage.

LOONY TOONS: Animation forms an essential part of cartooning. Specialisation in a specific

genre in animation is necessary to work at any studio. It all starts when the Director works out thestoryline or plot. The actual work begins when the scriptwriters draft a rough script for the cartoon. Thisis followed by a session of brainstorming, when improvements and changes are made to the dialogueand script before arriving at a final draft. This is a time consuming process as every line needs to readwell.

VOICE MAKEOVERS: The next step is to dub the voices onto the script. Unlike films where the

voice is made to synchronise with the picture, in cartoons the voiceover takes place before any imageshave been created. Voice-over actors are employed to record the voice of the characters. Sound editorsthen work on the track to incorporate the best of the recording to bring out the voicetrack.

CREATIVE DOES IT! Storyboarding comes next, and Storyboard artists come to work to present the

storyboard pitch. Panels of drawings depicting the important scenes, and rough sketches of poses fromkey scenes are tacked to the wall and reviewed. This becomes a blow-by blow, visual account of whatthe animated movie will be like.

Art directors create and supervise detailed storyboards, illustration layouts, artwork, and the peopleworking on them. Mastery over graphics and animation software is essential for him to lead a team ofvisual development artists. Supervising animators are responsible to undertake the development of onecharacter and are assisted by a team of assorted animators who take care of the nitty-gritties. Animatorswork in collaboration with Texture artists, Background/Layout artists, modellers [Modelling converts reallife objects into animated representations. The object is optically scanned transformed into a 3D digitalform, which it can be manipulated].

30

The Cartoonist decide on how each scene should be, and what the characters will look like. the bulk ofthe work involves drawing the pictures by hand, colouring them partially and scanning them into adigital form to be edited and coloured using a computer. It takes about 12000 pictures at the rate of 16frames per second for every 22 minute cartoon, with a hundred people working on it for one year.

Clean-up artists make changes, improve and polish the pictures, include the filler frames and make the‘in-between’ drawings. Trainees pitch in to help and in the process learn the ropes.

Original or pre-recorded sounds or are then plugged in to give the sound effects. Music and songs arespecially composed, produced and recorded to go with the theme.

OTHER SHADES TO ANIMATION: Animation plays a key role in Advertisements and Games.

Knowledge of programming in Java, Unix, C, C++, and Open GL is essential.

YOU NEED: A degree in Fine Arts with an exceptional talent in drawing and cartooning is essential.

In addition knowledge of software like 3D Studio Max, Adobe Photoshop, Dream Weave, Flash, Maya,Macromedia Director, Soft Image, Wavefront, Alias etc is required.

WHERE TO GO: Indian Institute of technology, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kharagpur, National

Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore are renowned Institutes whichoffer courses in Visual Communication. In the U.S., the California Institute of Arts; Art Centre Collegeof Design, Passadena; Minneapolis College of Art & Design; Ohio State University Columbus; PrattInstitute Brooklyn, New Yorkl School of visual Arts New York; Texas A&M College are some of thereputed colleges, that offer degrees in art and animation.

WHO’S WHO: Overseas employers are otsourcing animation work, as it is labour intesive and countrieslike India and Korea where labour costs are low, are cashing in on the opportunity. Pentamedia, Pentafour,and Crest are the major developers in the Indian animation market.

Pentamedia also provides training in animation software.

****

31

CAREERS IN ARCHEOLOGY

UNEARTHING THE SECRETS OF THE PAST

Anarcheologist is the best husband any woman can have; the older she gets, the more interested he is inher! Agatha Christle IF the words Aztec, Mayan, MachuPichu, Quintana Roo and Chinchen Ltza makeyour eyes sparkle with excitement and curiosity and tickle your grey cells, then perhaps you shouldconsider a career in the field of archeology. The past holds surreptitious clues that can determine thepresent, even hint at the future and to relentlessly pursue these hidden mysteries, you have to be one-of-a-kind professional.

GRAVE DIGGERS! One has to be obsessively committed to dig, shovel, and chip and brush away

years of dirt, dust, grime and erosion to put together the jigsaw puzzle of our past. Not to mention, whiledoing this, you have to survive extremities of weather, scarcity of basic necessities and work far fromhome for extended period of time.

The work is not just confined to the outdoors; the exact reconstruction of the samples, attention to theminutest of details while keeping in mind the big picture, is also a major part of the work profile.

CORNER STONE: Entry into the field requires a background in ancient history and culture and a

specialisation in archeology will create tremendous opportunities to excel. Various universities offergraduate and post-graduate courses in the field. An MA/ MS degree without a detailed thesis work issufficient to direct a field crew, get government positions in the archeology department, work in theprivate sector, teach in community college and also get employed in museums.

In order to be certified by the Register of Professional Archeologists, which is an international certificationbody that issues membership to competent professionals in the field, one must be an MA or MS degreeholder, having completed original thesis work, with a year of field and laboratory experience thrown in.for the academically inclined a Ph.D. is essential to teach at college or university level or to hold amuseum curator’s designation. Most foreign governments will issue excavation permits only toarcheologists who hold a doctorate degree. Some graduate programs offer streamlined tracts for studentswith a B.A. in archeology, so that they can directly work towards a Ph.D. while others require a post-graduate degree.

The Archeological Survey of India also offers a two-year post-graduate diploma in archelogy with extensivehands-on experience.

WORK SITE: Professional archeologists work for universities, colleges, museums, the federal and

state governments, private companies and as consultants. They teach, conduct field investigations, analyseartifacts and sites and publish the results of their research.

32

Many students of archeology try to get the maximum amount of work experience by working on manydigs, excavations and try their hand in various fields like: Artifact illustrator - who prepares detailed pen,ink and computer images of the artifacts that are found, Faunal Specialist - is one who analyses animalbone and other biological objects discovered at the archeological site. They identify the specie and thepossible cause of its death, Field technician- conducts simple surveys and excavations, prepares mapsunder the supervision of a principal investigator, Floral Specialist- analyses plant remains collected fromthe site and determines the species, GPS Technician- utilises software to produce maps and digitize datafrom geographic information services.

After gaining a foothold in the field one can establish himself as an Archivist, Anthropologist, Art

conservator, Biographer, Ethnologist, Genealogist, Paleontologist, Social science analyst or a Curator.

Employment opportunities are provided by museums and educational and research institutes. Institutessuch as, The Indian Council of Historical Research, the National Archives of India, INTACH and othersprovide research and training opportunities.

One of the major employers in this field is the Archeological Survey of India. Selection to jobs with ASIor other government departments is generally made by UPSC and the State Public Service Commissions.

MAIN ACTIVITIES OF ASI:

* Maintenance, conservation and preservation of centrally protected monuments and sites.* Conducting archeological explorations and excavations.* Preservation of monuments and antieuarian remains through various chemical processes.* Conducting architectural survey of munuments.* Developing epigraphical research.* Setting up of and reorganisation of site museums .* Providing training in the field of archeology.

The hierarchy of the archeologists within the ASI is as follows: A professional starts out as an assistantarcheologist, going on to become assistant superintendent archeologist, deputy superintendent andsuperintendenting archeologist. At this stage one goes on to supervise specific projects undertaken atvarious sites. At the top the posts are: director, joint director, additional director general and directorgeneral.

Success is guaranteed in the field of archeology only if one is completely committed, possesses a fanaticallove for the field and is not preoccupled with counting pennles at the end of the month.

****

33

CAREERS IN CERAMIC INDUSTRY

QUE SERA ‘CERA’!

From clay pipes for smokers, dinnerware,crokery, to tooth fillings and space shuttles, the ceramic industryhas journeyed a long way. Ceramic is a versatile medium that is a harmonious blend of utility, designand artistic espression. Even in fine terracotta, history has been recorded on clay tablets. The Chinesebegan using ceramics 3000 years while in India, its orgins can be traced back to 2500 BC.

Ceramic materials are now used in the production on consumer goods like porcelain, earthenware,tiles, sparkplugs, drain pipes, sanitary ware and the like.

Ceramic artefacts and earthenware have been an indelible part of life right from the New Stone age.Apart from beautiful pottery and earthenware, many rituals and myths have led to extensive use of clayto make figurines of gods and deities. Ceramics also find sophisticated applications like protective tilesfor space shuttles, bricks, in the cement and refractory industries, in electrical insulators, cutting toolsand bearings used in industrial products, magnetic materials and computer memory packages in theelectronics sector; high temperature tile insulation and composite meterials in space technology,ceramicspark plugs used in aerospace industry, and fuel rods in generative necleonics.

FUNCTIONAL SPECIALISTS IN THE FIELD OF CERAMICS

Ceramic Technologists : Ceramic technologists are specialists in the persuit of developing newer

processing techniques to transform ordinary non-metallic and inoragnic materials into utilitarian andattractive ceramic products. They range from glassware, cement and bricks to coatings for spacevehicles, components for microelectronics’ and nuclear fuel , even pollution control devices.

They study the application, behaviour and use of ceramics, and find good opportunities in research,productdevelopment and production engineering. It is a challenging job as the ceramic technologist is often putto test to come up with new and innovative ideas, and applications to complex problems, that crop upin the wake of every new development. White ware, structural materials and protective and refractorycoatin for metals, glass products, abrasives and fuel elements for nuclear energy are some of the areas ospecialisation that they can choose.

Opportunities for well-qualified ceramic technologists exist in nuclear technology, in the field ofelectronics, telecommunication, medicine, and the refractory and cement industries. Conditions of workcan be demanding and can vary with each project.

Ceramic Engineers : Ceramic engineers enjoy an intersting and challenging job profile, They are

involved in research, design and development of new materials and products. They are involved inresearch, design and development of new materials like high strength silicons, zirconias and carbides.They usually specialise in the production and design of praticular products like bulbs, fibre optics,electronic equipment, tiles, plumbing, fixtures, cement, insulators, structural and electronic ceramics,drain and sewer pipes, even tableware,pottery and jewellery.

34

Beginning as junior or assistant technologists, ceramic engineers can advance to posts of supervisingengineers, chief engineer and plant manager. Ceramic engineers find suitable employment in cement,glass, eletrical components, enamel refractories, defence establishments, and ceramic industries. Theycan also get into the stream of management and research in ceramic industries. Academics are anotheroption worth conisdering.

Ceramic artists : They are artisans with a defferent and unique medium of expression. Ceramic artists

work with ceramic materials and produce creative artefacts in porcelain, clay, tiles etc. From painting toproducing interesting design items is their forte. Their work is then displyed in galleries and exhibitcentres. Working solely as an artist can ba a capricious deal and artists are often prey to the ficklefortunes of fate. Ceramic artists can freelance and also work with ceramic factories and designers.

Education : A background i physics, mathematics and social sciences along with a degree in ceramics

engineering, design and anaysis is the preferred qualification to work in the ceramics industry. technologistswith postgraduate or doctoral degrees in material science, technology and business administration canseek administrative posts.

Students with physics, chemistry and mathematics at the intermediate level can opt for a graduate degreein ceramic engineering. The Indian Institute of Ceramic, Calcutta offers a correspondence course inceramics while the Indians Institute of Technology offers a five-year M.Tech degree programme. TheRegional Engineering College at Rourkela offers a graduate engineering degree i ceramics. Anna Universityand the Allagappa College of Technology conduct a graduate course in ceramic technology. The Collegeof Ceramic Technology conducts a four-year Bachelor of Science course in ceramic technology.

Soft skills : Good communication skills are an added asset for ceramic technologists, as they have to

build rapport and interact with artisans, technicians, managers, production workers and customers. Theymust also be good team players, possess an innovative streak and yet juxtapose it with an analytical bent of mind. The ceramic techonogist should be able to assess a problem an solve it as well. Initiative andgood memory go a long way in enhancing the technologist’s expertise in the field.

With rapid technological adevances, there is hardly an area where ceramics is not in use. Used even inmiedical technology, especially orthopaedic surgery, ceramic components are an essential part of TotalHip Prosthesis replacing he weightier metal replacements. Structural and electronic ceramics findapplication in architectural activety and the development of ceramic engines that could replace diesel,turbo and gasoline powered engines due to their enhanced efficiency, lightness and greater heatresistantcapability. Such inventions certainly hold rich promise for the future.

****

35

CAREERS IN EVENT MANAGEMENT

MAY I HELP YOU ...

If you happen to be some one who possesses excellent organisational skills, can attend to ten things at atime, maage near disasters at the drop of a hat, do not mind being the backbone of a show rather thanbeing in the spotlight, then Event Management is a viable career option for you.

MASTER PLANNER: Very often companies and organisations approach event management

organisations with a rough idea of the kind of event they want to conduct. It depends on the ingenuity ofthe event manager to build a concept around the event and make sure that it is a commercial success. Anevent manager has to design first the basic frame work, after which he needs to prepare the marketingplans. He has to look for sponsors, work on the logistics, locate the site, contact vendors, hire performers,print/mail invitation cards, create menus, look after the stage/lighting, arrange for transport for differentpeople, and on the D-Day, coordinates, plans and finalises every aspect of the event. Event managersusually start work months before the event.

One has to start from scratch like deciding the venue for the event, listing all the areas to be covered andmaking plans for exigencies. At all stages, he will need to interact with the client for specific approvals.for this, an event manager needs all the skills of a public relations officer. This is so because not all ideascan be shaped into reality. A good event manager would have to point out such instances gently andsuggest practical alternatives.

During an ongoing event, there is no such thing called working hours. Every waking moment is spent onthe job or when away from it, planning the job. There can be many kinds of events that need efficientmanaging, right from charity shows, concerts, product launches, conferences, promotions, press conferencesto movie release functions, jubilee celegrations, inaugurations, thanksgiving, felicitations, and farewellsto television based events, fashion shows, weddings, parties etc.,

It is the job of the event manager to keep the purpose of the event in mind and make sure that all theother factors coincide with this primary motive.

POTS OF MONEY: Freelancers today earn anywhere between Rs.30,000 and above per event. It

depends though on the kind of events you handle. If you prefer to deal with managing weddings andparties the remuneration may easily go up to Rs. 50,000 or even more. event co-ordinators with a gooddeal of experience could earn even a six figure income.

Although the trend of hiring event managers has caught on, spcialised institutions to train people in suchskilled areas are yet to emerge in India. Event managers learn on the job, by putting their crisis managementskills to use. However, a course in mass communications or a short-term course in public relations willbe useful to gain a foothold. Those aspiring to make a career out of event management need exceptionalorganisational abilities, good people skills and an out going personality.

SKILL SETS: Analytical and critical thinking and problem solving are abilities that are a must in this

field. You should be able to acknowledge a problem, solve it then and there, and always think of howthe situation could be avoided in future.

36

Client/ customer service orientation is the ability to be client focused and committed to meeting theneeds of the customer. An event manager has to be client focused, he must recognise the client’s needs,must be able to put them at ease while interacting with them, build trust and respect with customers andclients.

Good negotiation skills - These skills are extremely necessary while employing the services of

contractors and workers. To get the maximum work done within the given budget and to establish andmaintain a long term working relationship with them is a skill in itself.

Pressure and deadlines - An event manager should be able to hanle pressures and deadlines with

ease. In spite of meticulous planning and arrangement, a small miscalculation can wreak havoc andupset the entire schedule. At such times, you should be able to remain calm and cool and step in witheffective crisis management alternatives without compromising quality or efficiency.

Teamwork, facilitation and cooperation - Needless to say, one of the most important things is

the ability to work in a team. You should not only know how to lead a team but also work with everyoneand get the project complete. You should be able to build efficient teams of people and facilitate theireffectiveness. It is important to remember that, there is no place for I in a team.

Planning, co-ordination and organisation are other skills that involve the ability to effectively coordinateand organise oneself and others and information and resources at a personal and organisational level.

Networking skills - An event manager needs to build up his own network of professionals. The more

of contacts he has, the more successful he will be. This is a field where work is available through wordof mouth publicity. So one should have the capability to build contacts and maintain good workingrelationships with all professionals.

Event management is fast emerging as a very lucrative field. Right from the big corporate houses to smallorganisations are seeking professionals not only to plan and conduct an event successfully but also tomake sure that it is one of its kind, with the who’s who of society staging their presence, attractingmaximum media coverage and attaining commercial value.

****

37

JAVA AND THE ‘BEANS’TALK

The Internet is here to stay. Java is still the ‘write once, run anywhere platform’ which scores over thelanguages in more ways than one. Originally called Oak and developed by Sun Microsystems, this objectoriented language is portable, bug-free and has become synonymous with the Internet. Java bears strikingsimilarities to C++, but it is more evolved and efficient. It reduces development time and cost, whileoffering security and scalability.

Java programs also known as Applets are available on a web page. They are small, secure and appearembedded in the page. Applets can be downloaded and executed locally on your system.

JAVA UNLEASHED: The most important aspect of Java that endears it to the Net is the flexibility of

cross-platform execution of code. This is made possible through its Interpreter- The Java Virtual Machine[JVM]. Java programs are first compiled into byte code format, after which they are executable on anyplatform through the JVM which loads, verifies, links and interprets java byte code on the fly. The JVMis a layer above the operating system. Java programs deal only with the JVM and not the operatingsystem, and the JVM in turn converts it into a form that the operating system can understand. This iswhat makes Java programs platform [operating system] independent.

Java also optimises serverclient interaction, thereby reducing the load on the server considerably. Otherthan server-side computing, Java is also used to create e-commerce and enterprise applications. It isnow positioned to enter the wireless, Bluetooth and non-PC world in a way that will make it indispensableto the industry. Wireless Java has already been pioneered by Digital Mobility that is touted to havelaunched the world’s first wireless Java service.

ACCESSORIES-JAVA BEANS: Java Beans are reusable Java components, which can be plugged

into any application that understands the Java Beans format. Java beans follow Java Beans API. sincethey are prewritten and can be plugged in, it saves the programmers a lot of time and effort whileprogramming.

JAVA SCRIPT: Developed by Netscape and Sun Microsystems, it is a language that allows interactivity

on a web page, and allows content to change dynamically.

True to its namesake Java, it has a lot of things in common, but it still remains an independent scriptinglanguage.

JAVA SERVLETS: Java servlets are used to enhance the functionality of web servers and increase

interactivity. They help build applications that are web based. Java servlets are written using Java. Theyare server independent, platform independent and reusable. Servlets are similar to applets in many waysexcept that they run on the server invisibly and hence called ‘faceless’.

38

CAREER PLANNING - FOR BETTER

STUDIES & JOBS

To Day is different from yesterday. This is evidnt in every aspect of life. Career Planning is certainly noexception.

The career planning process has two distinct phases: career planning in terms of educational

qualification and career strategies in the job market.

Aptitude is what matters most: There is no scuh thing as a good or bad career. In fact it is

impossible to grade or rank careers, except according to demand. The ultimate question is- What are youmost suited for ?

Sachin Tendulkar’s skill is in cricket. Bill Gates’ in computers and information technology. What isyours ?

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED: Do not make the common mistake of allowing existing societal

norms or parental pressure influence your career decision. The current job market does not comprisemerely of IT specialists and doctors as is popularly believed. There are successful web page designers,models, teachers and online journalists. Currently, 60 to 70 per cent of career aspirants want to be ininformation Technology.

KNOW WHAT YOU WANT: It is vital that you understand yourself and find out what it is you

want from life and from a career. Your career decides your financial independence, standard of living andmental state. Understand that there is more to life than just money. Dr.Abdul kalam could have chosento settle in the U.S. There is no doubt he would have earned more money than what he does now.However, as an immigrant scientist in a foreign country, would he have enjoyed the kind of fame he doesin India now ? These are questions to consider. So examine yourself, find out your desires and wants andthen decide on a career.

FOCUSSED EDUCATION: In today’s education scenario, a generic degree is being replaced with

a more focussed course. A B.Com. with specialisation in travel accounting, is, for instance, more preferredthan just a B.Com. In the engineering sphere, there were only 5-8 disciplines in the past: today there aremore than 30 disciplines, including such innovative ones as fire engineering, mechatronics, ceramictechnology and naval architecture. Therefore, plan your education according to your final career plan. Ifyou want to join a multinational bank, for instance, it is better to do M.B.M. [Master in BankingManagement] rather than an M.B.A. with a specialisation in finance.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: Apart from a clear career focus, one also needs to acquire

additional qualifications. Part-time and correspondence courses, internships, summer projects in therelevant stream add to a candidate’s assets. Computer knowledge is certainly one of the more importantqualifications. But it must supplement your career objective and not contradict it. For instance, a studentpursuing microbiology degree does not benefit from Java, C++ and Linux. On the other hand, a B.Com.student gains by learning to use an accounting package.

39

CHOICE OF INSTITUTE: Increasingly, you are known by the institute that you come from. Hence,

the choice of the institute has a big role to play in your career. Years ago, the choice of institute was justa function of choosing from its reputation.

STAY IN TUNE WITH THE CHANGES: The only thing constant in today’s career marketplace

is change. Hence, the ability to stay in tune with the changes matters a great deal in the race for careersurvival. I know of many advertising professionals who are finding it extremely difficult to survive in theindustry because they are not equipped to cope with the electronic media. Irrespective of the field youchoose, it is crucial to keep yourself updated with the latest.

HARD WORK PAYS: The rewards for hard work have certainly risen. A number of young executives

in today’s job market take home a monthly remuneration in excess of Rs.50,000! Organisations arelooking for talent and are prepared to pay well for the same.

OPTIONS ARE PLENTY: The options for talented and qualified people are plenty. Apart from high

paying full-time jobs, there are also several part-time and freelance options. Telecommuting is alsobecoming popular in today’s work culture. This is certainly serving as a boon for women who arestruggling to find a balance between professional development and home life.

PROFESSIONAL HELP: I must mention that the quality and quantity of help available in career

planning have significantly increased in the last decade. “The Internet is an information storehouse andit offers a wide choice for career seekers. Information on jobs, courses, institutes and organisations are allavailable in many career sites,” explains Shirley Premsingh, manager of careerindia.com[ a site that offerscareer-related information].

Apart from online help, there are also plenty of other sources where career related information is available.“More and more students are now looking at diverse and unconventional careers. They are not longer justlooking at engineering and medicine as the important career options. This change has actually called fora lot of research on career related information. The career cell starts in services right from the stage ofidentifying the students, aptitude and extends upto choosing an institute. Aptitude tests along with therequired analysis, detailed information of 200 diverse career streams and an access to the detabases ofinstitutes offering these courses are all given free to the student at the Reynolds Career Cell. A studentwho needs any career related information can contact careercell@Reynolds-India.com or call [044]6289355.

Careerindia.com Ltd. Chennai is another institution that offers professional help for students and careerseekers.

MAKE A WISE CHOICE: Career decisions are extremely critical and cannot be decided upon in a

day. So, give it careful thought, beware of common errors and understand there is professional help andplenty of information available. Use them all and make a wise choice. Planning a career is like drawinga picture wihtout using an eraser. May yours be a masterpiece.

-000-