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| CAREER GUIDE |
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Medical
transcription field has unlimited potential Enter the glittering world of jewellery |
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Medical
transcription field has unlimited potential
Despite
the general perception among the youth that
employment opportunities in the field of medical transcription have
dried up, the industry is growing at an annual growth rate of over 75
per cent, says a recent report of NASCOM. A number of companies in
Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi and Chandigarh have come up to serve
clients in the US, Australia and European countries. Mr Pratap
Aggarwal, Managing Director, IDS Ltd, a company employing over 1,000
persons here, says, "There is no shortage of employment in this
sector for those who are ready to work hard. Though unlike call
centres, beginners, have to spend some time to learn work on the job,
yet the returns are much higher, once they learn the skills." Mr
B.M. Chittaranjan, Group Head, IDS Ltd, admits that in the late 90s,
when medical transcription jobs first came to India, some of the
companies created of hype that any person, even with a matriculation
qualification, could enter and earn a handsome salary. It resulted in
the mushrooming of training institutes and small-time companies, which
consequently created a bad name for the industry. Most of these
companies have closed down.
Nature of job What is the basic
work of the industry? Doctors at the other end of the world dictate
the diagnosis and prescription reports on the server, which are
transferred through the network in a text format. The job of a medical
transcript writer is to edit these reports and make them meaningful,
so that these can be used by doctors the very next morning. Besides,
medical transcription companies are also getting work for medical
billing, accounting, data entry from hospitals and medical insurers.
Scope for employment
How to enter the field Any
person with a good command of English, especially written, and the
ability to work in shifts at odd hours can hope to enter the field.
Indeed, they have to undergo an extensive-on-the job training for
five-odd months, before becoming a professional medical transcript
writer. The salary at the entry level varies from Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000
per month. Within three years, one can expect to get around Rs
12,000 per month. Says Mr Chittaranjan, "I have friends in the
industry, who despite being undergraduates, are now handling teams of
up to 500 persons and are earning up to Rs 15 lakh per annum. This is
a growing market with unlimited potential."
Work environmentMs Maya Mohanan, who is working in the field for the past five years, claims, "Initially, you have to spend time to learn medical terms, accent of doctors and to develop skills to work under tight deadlines. But once you are used to it, you begin to enjoy the thrill of working with international hospitals. Employers offer a congenial atmosphere and attractive pay packages." Future
prospects
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Enter the glittering world of jewellery Designing
jewellery is an exciting way of giving vent to creative energy. The
recent years have seen a spurt in demand for custom made as well as
designer jewellery. According to reports India is the largest consumer
of gold and its consumption amounts to about one-third of the world
production. It is an ever-growing industry. Because of this jewellery
design as a career is steadily grabbing international attention and the
trend is catching up in India also. This field offers an exciting career
option to the design minded youngsters. "In the past few years
India has produced several award-winning jewellery and accessory
designers’’, says Gurpreet, faculty member at the JD Institute
Fashion Technology at Chandigarh. Meera Choudhary, a student of JD
Institute, says ‘‘jewellery designing is not just a craftsmanship
but a form of art and a designer should be able to convert ordinary to
extraordinary.’’ ‘‘Jewellery always excites a woman and there
is a thrill in designing it. India is a treasure trove of designs and
this is what makes this field more exciting’’, says Harleen, another
student of JD Institute. Jewellery or accessory designers are have to
have an eye for detail, keen observation, fashion awareness and
precision. This type of designing requires working with materials which
are expensive and precious. Thus a meticulous and precise approach is
required "As with most creative fields, the work is tedious but
the rise is steep’’, says Atul Mehta, Director, JD Institute,
Chandigarh. The budding designers benefit from working with an
established designer, or jewellery house, and learning the ropes. At
this stage, the pay not very high, ranging from Rs 3500 to Rs 5000.
But once established the designer can command his/her own price,
depending on the exclusivity of the design, and the clientele. Lucrative
offers also come through the Gold Council of India, says
Gurpreet. Different areas in this field in which one can specialise
are: Jewellery Designing: This involves creation and presentation of
techniques of jewellery designing for international and local trade
markets. Diamond Grading: Gives a complete insight to the world of
diamonds, in relation to the four important C’s of Diamond i.e Cut,
Colour, Clarity, and Carat. Gemmology: Deals in the recognition and
differentiation of Gemstones with regard to the natural, synthetic and
imitation stones in the market. Evaluation of Jewellery: Evaluating the
worth of articles. Most courses can be taken after class XII (any
stream). The selection procedure in some of the institutes involves
written test and group discussion. The courses, mainly diploma, vary in
duration. Three-year accessory design course at National Institute of
Fashion Technology, New Delhi focuses on designing of precious and
costume jewellery and other accessories. The JD Institute of Fashion
Technology, Chandigarh, offers six month diploma in jewellery designing.
The course is also available in the other centres of the institute. In
Punjab the institute has centres in Ludhiana and Amritsar. Jewellery
Design and Technology Institute (JDTI), Noida, offers four long term
courses and twelve specialised short term courses. Aastha Institute,
Pune also offers correspondence courses in this field Other
institutes offering courses: Srimati Nathibai Damodar Training (SNDT)
Women’s University, Mumbai. Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion
Council, Rajasthan Bhavan, Jaipur Jewellery Export Promotion Council,
Mumbai.
Gemmology Gemmology Institute of India, Mumbai
Gemstones Artisans Training school, Jhalana Mahal, Jaipur (Courses are
in grading and cutting of gems and diamonds.) Indian Gemological
Institute, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi (Courses are in cutting and
polishing of diamonds and coloured stones.) Indian Diamond Institute,
Surat (Courses in Jewellery Design and machine cast jewellery
manufacturing, diamonds sorting/grading/bruting/ polishing/sawing and in
computer aided jewellery designing). |
Biochemistry offers many openings Q I am interested
in pursuing a career in biochemistry. What are the prospects in this
field?Parag Agarwal, Jalandhar A
Biochemistry occupies a central place in life sciences as it seeks to
explain the chemical processes of living organisms. It has its roots in
chemistry, mainly organic and physical, and also focuses on the chemical
mechanisms of genetic information storage and transmission, and the
chemistry of cells, blood, biological systems and products, and life
processes such as respiration, digestion and reproduction. Fast
developing into an extremely important subject, it is considered the
science of the future. Biochemistry forms the basis of a great deal of
research, and its study can make for a successful career. Biochemists
are involved in the study of structure and function of enzymes,
proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and their metabolic processes, molecular
basis of the action of genes etc Its applications are of vital
significance to the fields of medicine, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals,
veterinary, agricultural and dairy sciences. Biochemical engineering
harnesses the knowledge of living organisms and systems to create safe
and efficient processes. Mainly concerned with biological changes, it is
an essential input in the production of pharmaceuticals, foodstuff and
waste treatment. There is an increasing demand for biochemists involved
in biochemical genetic research not only in India but also abroad,
especially for those with a specialisation in cell biology, genetics,
biochemical methods and research. Openings for biochemists exist in
research and development and scientific departments in industry, public
sector laboratories, universities and hospitals. While MPhil or PhD is
necessary for working as a scientist, you could work as a research
assistant straight after MSc in research-oriented organisations like the
CSIR or the ICMR. Defence labs also recruit scientists. You can also
choose to teach at the college or university level. For this, you have
to qualify the CSIR NET or the state-level SLET on completing your MSc.
Biochemists are also employed in the sales and marketing departments of
pharmaceutical and related industries. The Civil Services is another
option. Computer course Q I am
interested in doing something creative in the field of computers. What
course will enable me to take up such creative work? Is there good money
in that?
A If by ‘creative’
work you mean creating graphics and animation on computer, you can do a
course in computer animation and multimedia, a term for integrating
sound, visuals and text using sophisticated designing software. And with
these skills, you can get well-paid jobs in advertising agencies,
publishing houses, television and film production studios, web and
mobile computing, engineering design or even freelance work if you
invest in the necessary equipment. Flair for designing and sketching and
preferably a background in art will put you on a much surer footing.
Even non-linear editing for television and producing CDs, etc, which is
essentially computer-centric, requires a combination of
"creativity" and being technical savvy. On the other hand,
programming at higher levels can also be a highly "creative"
option. For this you will require a good course in software programming
(BE/BTech/MCA/MSc) along with solid grounding in computer languages.
Developing gaming software is another hot field internationally.
Armed forces Q I have joined NCC. As I’m keen on joining the armed
forces, could you please tell me if there is any relaxation in
eligibility criteria and selection procedure for NCC cadets?
Pritam
Pandeya A The NCC is emerging as a major source of
recruitment of officers for the armed forces. In fact, 25 per cent of
cadets currently training to be officers at the Officers’ Training
Academy, the IMA and the NDA are from the NCC. And the figure is even
higher for women cadets. NCC cadets are preferred for recruitment to
the armed forces because they have a distinct advantage over the general
candidates. However, to gain that distinctive edge, the NCC cadet should
be a certificate-holder. There are three types of certificates NCC
cadets can secure: ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’. You will be eligible
for the ‘A’ certificate after you have spent 1-2 years in the Junior
Division (school-level) and attended one training camp. For the ‘B’
certificate, you should have attended at least 75 per cent classes in
the Senior Division (in college) and one training camp. The most
coveted is the ‘C’ certificate. To be eligible for this exam, you
should be a ‘B’ certificate-holder, in your third year at college
and should have attended at least one outdoor camp and one national
integration camp or Republic Day parade or any other outdoor activity
organised by the Directorate of the NCC. The tests are held in
March-April every year. A ‘C’ certificate-holder has many advantages
when it comes to the selection process in the armed forces. Army:
Thirty-two vacancies in every regular course of the Indian Military
Academy (IMA) are reserved for NCC ‘C’ certificate-holders who have
passed the CDSE and have been declared successful by the Services
Selection Board. They have a distinct advantage during training. A
separate merit list is prepared for NCC cadets with ’C’
certificate. The NCC Special Entry Scheme offers Short Service
Commission of 5 years (non-technical) in the Indian Army to graduates
(50% agg) with ‘C’ certificate. You will be deputed for training at
the OTA, Chennai. Eligibility: Unmarried male graduates (19-25 years)
who have served for at least two years in the Senior Division of the
Army Wing of the NCC with a ‘B’ grade in the ‘C’ certificate
exam. Selection: SSB tests, interview and medical test. Selected
candidates undergo training for a period of nine months at the Officers
Training Academy, Chennai. Navy: The Indian Navy offers
Permanent Commission in the Executive Branch to graduates with NCC ‘C’
certificate. Eligibility: Unmarried male graduates (. BE/BSc (Phys
& Maths) with Naval Wing Senior Division NCC ‘C’
certificate. Selection: SSB interview/test and medical examination.
Approximately six selected candidates undergo the naval orientation
course at the Naval Academy, Goa, followed by professional training at
Naval Academy units/ships/establishments. Air Force: The Indian
Air Force Offers Permanent Commission in the Flying Branch to science
graduates with NCC ‘C’ certificate. Eligibility: Unmarried
male graduates (BSc with physics and/or maths) and a ‘C’ certificate
of the NCC air wing. Selection: SSB interview. Make sure you apply
within 24 months of leaving the NCC. Upon selection you will be sent for
22 weeks of pre-flight training followed by 52 weeks of flight
training. The notifications appear in leading national dailies from
time to time. — Pervin Malhotra, Director, CARING Please send in your query, preferably on a postcard, along with your name, complete address and academic qualifications to: Editor, Query Hotline, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160020, or at careerguide@tribuneindia.com
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