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Mind on matter
Science students disappointed over not getting into a college course of their choice would do well to consider a career in physics, writes
Usha Albuquerque
Did you know that you can make 1,00,000 slices of toast with the energy from a bolt of lightning? A study of physics can help you understand this and many more amazing facts. Physics is at the heart of everything and is a highly rewarding discipline of study. It explores questions like: How did the universe begin? How will it end? What is a black hole? Is time travel possible? If you have an enquiring mind, always asking why things happen, then physics will help you find the answers. It forms the basis of most modern technologies and holds the future to global well-being. Many science students disappointed over not getting into a college course of their choice would do well to consider a career in physics, which offers challenging and productive options. Physics is the basis of all sciences and, therefore, a compulsory subject in the science stream. Engineering and technology are built on the fundamentals of physics, which covers many specialised fields—from engineering, architecture, cinematography, acoustics, astronomy, and astrophysics to medicine, agriculture, geophysics, meteorology, and other allied sciences. Moreover, physics can be applied to many industrial and engineering problems as the subject helps to develop in you skills such as logical thinking, computing and problem solving, which are useful for any field of work, or organisation. A degree in physics can start you on a career in research and the building of knowledge in any particular area of the subject. Most students of physics work in research and development, engineering, and information technology fields. Some physicists work on problems at the frontiers of knowledge, in fields such as nuclear physics, astro physics, molecular physics and so on. The main areas of research in physics include astronomy and astrophysics, condensed matter physics and material science, high-energy physics, nuclear and atomic physics and theoretical physics. Others work in fields which involve the application of physics to industrial and engineering problems. Some careers that require a strong background in physics include astronomy, meteorology, bio-engineering, bio-physics, ceramic engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, electronics and telecommunications, cosmology, aeronautical engineering, forensic science, geology, hydrology, oceanography, mathematical sciences, space sciences and many others. Most colleges and universities offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and doctoral courses in physics. Postgraduate and doctoral programmes in physics are also offered by all IITs, the IISc, TIFR and JNU. Admission to these programmes is either through JEE (www.winentrance.com/ engineering_entrance_exam/Iit_jee), the Joint Admission Test to M.Sc (JAM www.winentrance.com/ mca_entrance_exam/iit_jam) or on the basis of NET/GATE (www.winentrance.com/ engineering_entrance_exam/gate) combined with institute-level tests/interviews. Several National Institutes of Technology also offer masters in physics/applied physics. There are also many research institutes conducting programmes in science, including physics: The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, India’s premier institution for advanced research in the fundamental sciences, the Institute of Physics (IOP) Bhubaneshwar, the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, the Harish Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad, for conducting research in mathematics and theoretical physics, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore, the Raman Research Institute, Bangalore, for research programmes in the areas of astronomy and astrophysics, and many others. Moreover, to encourage the study of science after plus two, the National Institute of Science Education & Research (NISER) has been recently set up at Bhubaneshwar, affiliated to the Homi Bhabha National Institute
(HBNI), which offers a five-year integrated M.Sc. programme in basic sciences (physics, chemistry,
maths, biology). Students admitted to NISER will get a stipend of Rs 3000 pm along with a suitable book grant. Admission is through the National Entrance Screening Test. The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) has also been set up under the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Thiruvananthapuram, for the study of integrated masters in applied science, and postgraduate, doctoral and postdoctoral programmes in space science. If you are interested in the study of physics, you would do well to get into research and acedemics, in any of its several fields. But physics can also be the basis for any kind of career, whether it is management, industrial finance related or communications. You can do a postgraduate degree or diploma in any of these areas for excellent career propsects. Employers are happy to take on business management students with a background in physics, as they will have good analytical skills. The two leading qualities of a physicist are curiosity and an analytical mind. So, if you love to find out how things work and are good with logic and argumentation, then you would do well in physics. You also need to be pretty strong in maths, as maths is the language of physics, and is used for physical description and analysis. But the work also often requires long hours in isolation, building devices or making calculations (often on the computer). But if you are an explorer, one who likes to see parts of nature that few others have seen, naturally like to take things apart, and spend time over details, these are good indicators for a career in physics. The writer is a noted career expert
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Tutored Truth
With a dramatic increase in the demand for professionals in almost all spheres and good quality education becoming an avenue to success, private coaching institutes have mushroomed across the country in recent years, becoming an industry worth thousands of crores.
A whole new coaching industry has grown along with the formal education system — tutorials and coaching classes, distance education and online learning programmes, education consultancies for various courses and study programmes, skills' training centres and career counselling services. Massive investments are supporting this demand that ranges from the pre-primary to the research level. There are many institutions and coaching centres that prepare students for taking SAT, GRE and other examinations for studying abroad. Even big corporate houses have entered the field to meet the rising aspirations of youngsters, reports from across the country show. Industry experts say coaching institutions imparting only engineering education to make way for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in leading metropolis’ collectively earn an annual turnover of Rs 10,000 crore per annum from nearly six lakh aspirants that appear for these exams. "India has over 12 million students enrolled for higher education and the faculty for them is numbering less than 3.5 lakh, which is just not adequate," says Sajjan Jindal, president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). Competition has become severe and even the best of students feel they need some professional help, not just in their studies but in charting out their career plans as well. Parents are prepared to pay whatever is necessary as they realise that it is an investment in their children's future. Several coaching centres cater purely to the demand for the highly-competitive entrance exams for medical, engineering and management courses. There are specialised coaching classes for the civil services and defence services exams too. Hundreds of institutions and coaching centres in cities across the country prepare students for taking SAT,the GRE and other examinations for studying abroad. Tutorials and coaching classes for school students preparing for the board exams have seen the maximum growth in recent times. Coaching classes are popular because they are cheaper and more affordable than private tuitions. Mumbai-based private tutor Subodh Achval says coaching classes for science are always in great demand. "There is a package available for Classes XI and XII along with CET. The fee charged by the coaching classes varies from Rs 70,000 to Rs 1.25 lakh per student." The trend of group tuition is also becoming popular. In fact, some classes and group tutors have a tie-up with colleges, as a result of which these recommend only particular institutes, Achval says. Rupali Ekbote in Mumbai sends her four-year-old daughter for private tuitions which, she says, have become necessary as competition starts from the KG level. In Assam, the father of a Class X student said private coachings help young aspirants acquire the cutting edge in competitive exams which will help them get seats in professional courses. P. Krishna, father of a 17-year-old in Patna, says he prefers an engineering course for his daughter as the course gets over in four years, unlike medical, where she will have to wait for seven years for better prospects and delay her marriage. In Bihar, the range of coaching classes is quite extensive — from Class IX onwards, for IITs and other competitive examinations like the UPSC and Bihar Services Commission. Down South, Kerala has 14 medical colleges that churn out trained nurses for hospitals within and outside the country. Two months ago, the Association of Skill Development Training Providers came up in Kolkata. "We provide training in 32 trades like information technology, export import, finance and accounting, fashion technology, food processing, hospitality, catering and retail," says Association treasurer Bidyut Majumdar. Another important area of demand is communication skills. Tamil Nadu produces 1.25 lakh engineering graduates and over 2,000 medical graduates every year. It has 23 private universities and the capitation fee ranges between Rs 2 lakh-5 lakh. The current going rate for medical college is Rs 25 lakh for a MBBS seat and Rs 40 lakh for PG course.
— PTI
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Career Hotline
Q. I am a 20- year-old middle class girl with a good voice and want to become a singer like Sunidhi Chauhan or Shreya Ghoshal. Please tell me how I should go about it. I want to know about singing competitions and their selection process.
— Medha Rastogi A.
To begin with, audition for competitions like Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar, Antakshari, etc on TV and other local/national music contests and grab every opportunity to perform on stage and at public functions. Also, get in touch with good sound recording studios in your city. Record brief pieces of your repertoire on CD to showcase your range and talent. Armed with this professional ‘introduction,’ you can now approach recording companies and music composers or even bands and pop groups to give you a break. But remember success doesn't come easy to every aspiring musician. And nothing helps a budding singer more than regular daily riyaaz (practice). Of course, training with the right ‘guru’ makes all the difference. I presume you are well-versed in classical music. It’s an absolute must to develop range and depth in your voice - even if you are interested in Indipop. Join a good music school to acquire some polish. A.R. Rahman's recently launched KM Music Conservatory in Chennai also offers courses for beginners and professionals. Be disciplined: avoid overly greasy, spiced food and go easy on the ice cream to keep your voice in peak form. And last of all, wait for the right break: don’t be rash about your debut number. Working with a good composer will make all the difference. And if you are easy on the eyes and can perform like some of the contestants we see on the various shows, you can move from the recording room to centrestage. Playback singers in Bollywood like Kailash Kher, Himesh Reshammiya, Vasundhara Das have moved from backstage to the front of the camera with a song on their lips.
Field work
Q. I have done B.Sc agriculture. I want to know if I can do agriculture business management through distance learning. — Deewan Pental
A.
Yes, you can. Here are some options you can check out: IGNOU (with GO-FAU): M.Sc Agri Economics and Business. Details: www.ignou.ac.in, www.ifpri.org Ch Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University, D/o Postgraduate Studies, Hisar, Course: PG Dip in Agri Marketing and Management (1 yr) International Instt of Agroinformatics & Agromanagement, Suraj Kund Road, Meerut (UP), Course: PG Dip in Agromanagement /Agroinformatics (1 yr) Pondicherry University, Directorate of Distance Education, Pondicherry. Course: PG Dip in Agri Marketing (1 yr). Yashwantrao Chawan Maharashtra Open Univ, Nashik (Mah) (www.ycmou.ernet.in) Course: PG Dip in Agri Business Mgt (1-3 yrs).
Sea your future
Q. I am doing my B.Sc with PCS (statistics). I want to know the possibilities in the Indian Navy for girls. — Kokila Vij A.
Women graduates are directly recruited only in the Short Service Commission, which has now been extended to 14 years (Permanent Commission is not yet granted to women). You can join any of the following branches of the Indian Navy: Executive Branch Educational Qualifications: For Logistics Cadre: BA (Eco) (II Div) / BCom (II Div) / BE/ BTech (Mechanical / Marine Engg/ Electrical/ Electronic/ Telecommunication/ Instrumentation & Control/ Computer Science / IT)/ BSc (Maths Physics) (II Div)/ Graduate with degree/diploma in Material/ Financial Management For Logistics (Catering): Degree in Hotel Mgmt or equiv (55 pc) Education Branch Educational Qualifications: Master's Degree with 55 pc marks: Physics (with Maths in B Sc) or Maths (with Physics in B Sc) or Chemistry (with Physics & Maths in B Sc or Computer Application/Computer Science (with either Physics or Maths at Graduation level) or Humanities (English/ Economics/ History / Political Sc) or An Engineering Degree in Mechanical /Electrical / Computer Science/Technology. Law Cadre Educational Qualifications: A degree in law qualifying for enrolment as an advocate with minimum 55 pc marks. Air Traffic Control Cadre Educational Qualifications: BSc/MSc Degree (Maths & Physics) with minimum 55 pc marks. SSC Naval Architect There is no entrance test. For further information, log on to the Indian Navy’s official website: www.nausena-bharti.mil.in Also, watch out for detailed advertisements published in Employment News and other leading national dailies.
The writer is a noted career consultant
Please send in your query, preferably on a postcard, along with your full name, complete address and academic qualifications to: Editor, Jobs and Careers, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030, or at
careers@tribunemail. com
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Boss Baiting
Playing the perfect crony to your boss is a key to growing rapidly in the organisation, though this is often seen as a crass form of career advancement. Cronies, consequently, find themselves ostracised by co-workers. Ultimately, it is the quality of output that matters, not the quantity of time spent in office or with the boss. How long one is in the office is no longer important. But the employee’s input to the organisation and his output of work are what matter. While employers continue to hate clock-watchers and work shirkers, they are doing everything they can, sometimes politely, sometimes not so politely, to discourage employees from hanging around beyond working hours. Many companies now turn off airconditioners in the evenings so that the workers go home. Some IT companies actually tell their staff not to push themselves too far as to affect their health and family relations. But when an employee needs to stay on in office in an emergency, the company takes care of things, like good food and taxi fare. Companies not only insist that employees go home early but also that they take regular vacations. According to experts, you should love your job but never fall in love with your company. When dealing with a boss who’s ignorant or less educated than you, always be careful to never look smarter or better informed than him. If he ever gets the feeling that you are smarter, he will immediately type out a termination or transfer letter. There is no definite strategy to handle a difficult boss. If you do well, he will fire you, if you do badly, he will still fire you. In fact, over 50 per cent of his work involves just firing people. Most of the bosses (38-50 age group) are career conscious and they do not care much for the institutions. They think themselves smarter than anyone in the organisation. Such bosses are hard to handle. They depend on those persons who give them information about various employees and they often take decisions based on such news. Sometimes the top boss does not use his own judgment to evaluate the juniors who are working away from the head office. As was the case with a manager in a public sector bank who, despite his good work in the field, was transferred to a place far from his home town mainly on the basis of hearsay. But, sometimes, a boss can be at the receiving end of policies he himself pursued. Take the case of a deputy general manager, who used to consider his juniors and even assistant general managers as his slaves, throwing files at some of them. He got a taste of his own medicine only when he himself was transferred to an insignificant position from an active operations post. So, it’s okay to play boss, but not to be bossy.
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A job to steel
A large number of Assocham members, who are in the energy and steel sector, are reporting shortages of experienced and skilled professionals, Assocham president Sajjan Jindal says and adds that these sectors are also commissioning addition in capacities which would create additional employment. Jindal himself is the Managing Director of country's third largest steel maker JSW Steel. "Opportunities have increased for most of energy and steel professionals. The major companies are experiencing an unprecedented attrition rate which is also significantly contributing in increasing the cost," Jindal says. The work on four ultra mega power projects, with the estimated capacities of 16,000 mw, is likely to commence from the second half of this year and naturally calls for skilled professionals, the study says. The power sector would require between 3,000 and 4,000 people as fitters, specialised welders and operational staff as the sector is likely to commence its capacity expansion operations from next year onwards, it adds. In the steel sector, almost each company has drawn up a capacity expansion plan and is finding it extremely difficult to engage professionals as they are in utter shortage, Jindal adds.
— PTI
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Lawful return
"Recently, we have hired some lawyers from LPO in our firm," says Titus & Co Managing Partner Diljeet Titus and adds that LPOs are gradually becoming a good platform owing to their good quality of work, which is giving them an opportunity to find well-trained people in international law. Titus & Co, one of the leading corporate law firms, provides a wide range of legal services to clients in the US, Europe and Asia, including 42 Fortune 500 corporations. Another law firm, Fox Mandal and Little & Co, which runs its own LPO in association with the Hinduja Group, is also witnessing a similar trend. But here, the company is stepping up efforts to keep the talent under the same umbrella. "If we find a lawyer extremely good in our LPO and is up to our expectation, then we invite him to join our firm," says partner Fox Mandal and Little & Co's Som Mandal. As the Indian legal market is expanding and getting international clients, which includes some Fortune 500 firms, companies are also keen on hiring lawyers from LPOs as some of them are working for them indirectly. Earlier, experts were raising doubts over the survival of LPO firms due to resistance from the western world over the sharing of work confidentiality. However, having been proven wrong now, the LPOs are not only surviving but thriving as well.
— PTI
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Indians high on demand in Saudi medical, IT sectors
There is a tremendous scope for Indian professionals, especially in the medical and IT sectors of Saudi Arabia, which hopes to meet its requirements by importing workforce, an official has said.
"We are looking towards India to meet our requirements for nurses, technicians, pharmacists, physicians and specialists, especially for our neonatal, intensive care, oncology, physiotherapy and other departments," Sami Mohammed Badawood, director-general of health in Jeddah, says. He was addressing the annual meeting of Indo-Saudi Medical Forum in Jeddah recently, which also marked a farewell reception for Indian Consul General Ausaf Sayeed. As many as 600 Saudis were enrolled for medical education in India last year and this figure could go up to 6,000 in the coming years, Sayeed was quoted as saying in the Arab news. He also called for equalisation of Indian degrees in this part of the world reminding that India's booming economy, which currently offered lucrative job offers, might prevent its people from moving out of the country if they were not treated on par with others in terms of salaries and positions overseas.
— PTI
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Jobs grounded
Seven employees of GoAir were asked to put in papers in the past few days after being described as excess, officials said in New Delhi. A GoAir spokesperson said the company was part of the aviation industry which was currently facing "turbulent weather" primarily on account of rising fuel prices. "At GoAir, we are taking certain course correction measures that are intended to keep our commitment with the market and consumers at large," the spokesperson said. Besides pruning of manpower, he said in the short term, these corrective measures include restructuring and rationalisation of the route network, cost reduction in all areas of the company and "optimum utilisation of assets including manpower and aircraft". He said steps were also being taken to further improve on-time performance. GoAir chief Jeh Wadia has said steps to downsize the company were being taken, including pulling out of services from some routes. In a bid to meet rising costs, most of the airlines have also resorted to clubbing or eliminating frequencies on several routes, including the major ones between Delhi, Mumbai Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Bangalore. Major airlines have slashed capacity generally by 10 per cent, with industry experts saying the reduction should ideally be about 20 to 30 per cent to meet the heavy cost burden.
— PTI
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Bits & Bytes
Aptech Computer Education’s job fest open, that was both to insiders and outside aspirants, met with great success in New Delhi recently, attracting a total of 3200 students.
Participating organisations which included noted companies in the IT/ITES segment, such as Wipro BPO, v-Angelz Technologies Pvt. Ltd, Synergy Software Ltd., Abacus Softech Limited, Akiko Callnet, INR Technology Pvt. Ltd, Tectonics Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Hanu Software, Planman Technologies, Logical Digit, Fast Trax, GITS India Solutions Pvt Ltd., Infovision et al, according to a Press release. They shortlisted 710 aspirants for the job openings.
Orientation course for budding managers held
The International School of Business and Media (ISB&M), Noida, concluded its 4th orientation programme for the postgraduate students recently. In this programme, corporate honchos narrated their views and real-life business situations for new students of the postgraduate programme in business management; supply chain and operations management and media management, according to a Press release. During the six-day orientation programme, renowned speakers from the industry and academia like Reliance Life Insurance, Haier India, ICICI bank, Minda group, J&J, Shoppers Stop, Reebok, ABN AMRO Bank, ZEE News, and Dish TV etc, interacted with the budding managers.
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Merely saying “yes” to the boss and heartily laughing at all his/her jokes may be an easy way to earn you brownie points. But the genuine skill lies in identifying your type of boss and responding in a specific fashion.
Riding on planned capacity additions, steel and energy sectors are likely to create 40,000 jobs in the next few years even as these segments are
facing a shortage of experienced and skilled manpower to an extent of 40 per cent, an Assocham report from New Delhi has said.
In a reversal of trend, young lawyers, who earlier queued up to join the Legal Process Outsourcing (LPOs) outfits in search of fatter pay packets, are returning to domestic firms. The change has come as a boon to the Indian law firms which have been facing a shortage of talented legal professionals who can take over the increasing load of litigation and non-litigation work, according to a latest report from New Delhi.
Soaring fuel costs and falling passenger load factors due to high airfares have led several airlines to resort to drastic cost-cutting measures, with no-frills carrier GoAir sacking at least seven employees in the last few days.