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Play with words
Combating TechnoStress
OECD region jobless rate climbs
FOOD for THOUGHT
‘Gandhian engineering vital for 21st century’
Candle-making units work against time
Motherhood preferred to full-time work
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Play with words
There is something magical about words — they can make us laugh, move us to tears, evoke anger, hatred and compassion. Words can transport us to places we may never physically visit, and introduce us to people we may never meet. They can spark ideas and movements, stir revolts, and motivate armies — the power of the pen as they say is mightier than the sword.
Yet becoming a writer is not an option for most young people today — except possibly when they think about Chetan Bhagat — an engineer-cum-management graduate who was a nobody until he discovered the magic of words. It is stories like Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat, the Harry Potter series or The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma that has been able to awaken a new interest among young people in reading and the printed word, although most students do not go beyond such token books. Nevertheless many do not see this as a route to a worthwhile career. In today's technologically driven near paperless society, writing appears to have taken a back seat, although there is no doubt that there are still millions of books being printed, the numbers increasing each year, as well as thousands of printed magazines, newspapers, newsletters, and other publications bought and sold each day. And more are always being introduced to the public. And while creative writing covers all areas of, non-journalistic and non-technical writing, it can be the stepping stone to many communication career possibilities. One can become a journalist, a short story writer, a novelist, a playwright, a copywriter, a scriptwriter; you could also unearth opportunities to write advertising or catalogue copy for a business or a corporation — the possibilities are endless. With the recent boom in the print media and mass communication, there are increasing opportunities for all kinds of writers, whether it be hard core reporting and news, investigative journalism, feature writing, travel stories, corporate communications and public relations, as well as copywriters, fiction writers and many more.
What is creative writing
Creative writing is all writing where the purpose is to express thoughts, feelings and emotions rather than to simply convey information. A creative writer is one who writes with originality of thought and expression and includes the skills and methodologies needed to write original works of poetry, prose, scripts and stories for a variety of purposes, especially as an occupation or profession. A good writer has to be a communicator, as writing is as much about the documentation of facts as it is about about expression. Words are the vehicles which carry the central idea that a creative writer wants to convey. Words are the writers’ tools and it is the craftsmanship with words and the ability to use them to convey ideas whether in the field of literature, journalism or advertising that makes the difference between creative writing and general communications. There are many genres of creative writing from fiction and non fiction writing, play writing, poetry writing, art and film criticism, scriptwriting and screen writing to business communication, technical writing, content writing and news reporting. You can choose to write in a particular genre and specialise in it. The demands and requisites of each style of writing is often different as also the techniques to get ideas across and convey the thoughts and feelings in the writer's mind. For example, fiction writing requires a fundamental understanding of plot, structure, character, dialogue and description, while journalistic writing focuses on the documentation of facts and requires a different set of techniques of writing and reporting for the electronic media or for print.
Getting In
Creativity is an in-born talent but it needs to be chiseled and channeled so that you can express yourself with lucidity. Most creative writing courses teach you the basics of ideating, or enabling creative ideas, and various techniques of expression, usage of language and styles of writing. Creative writing helps students sharpen their creativity through exercises and examples and students have to read and write extensively. They also read and analyse the work of established writers and are taught to focus on the construction of sentences in prose and types of verse in poetry. Good programmes in creative writing also guide you towards thinking out of the box, so that what you write is interesting and fun to read. Most creative writing programmes emphasise contact with practicing writers and employ teachers who themselves are recognised as successful writers, so one gets a feedback of one's own work and becomes aware as to whether creative writing is fit as a career. But more than any course, what you need most to become a creative writer is to write, write, write... you only get better with practice! After completing a creative writing course, you can work as a content writer, news editor, scriptwriter, freelance journalist or a faculty member in creative workshops conducted by various literary bodies. You can also write for a publishing house, film company or television show production. You can also take up writing in any of the genres, whether it be fiction or non-fiction, play writing, poetry or scriptwriting. A writer who is creatively geared can write different types of fiction, memoirs, poetry, novel, non-fiction, science-fiction, lyrics, play, script, travelogue and romance. You can also write features, interviews, criticism and reviews for newspapers, magazines and journals. But you have to keep in mind that this field is marked by intense competition. So you may have to write several synopses, prepare drafts, read and re-read the drafts and edit your manuscripts many times before you can present your idea to a publishing house. You may also face countless rejections before a publishing house accepts the work and finalises a royalty for the author. It's a huge comfort to know that many of the great writers in the world had to face a similar fate! Many writers work as freelancers offering their work for several different purposes. In recent years, many have come to depend on the Internet where there are hundreds of job sites devoted to writers or journalists where you could pick up assignments according to your type and style of writing. However, be cautious, and check out a prospective client, or send a sample of your work or even get a small, upfront fee before signing away your creativity. Many new writers, eager to sell their stories, poems, concepts, or plays, fall victim to writing scams whereby unscrupulous "editors" or "publishers" steal their works, infringing upon copyrights. Another upcoming option for creative writers is be a web content provider. Websites today require material to be interesting, fun and informative/educational, and are often looking for creative inputs. You can start setting up a personal website, which is an excellent marketing tool, or build your reputation by offering to provide fresh content for websites of your friends, family or business contacts. And if you have a story inside of you and are wondering how and where to start, you could join a publishing house and work at the place where books begin their launch. You can work as an editorial assistant/ copy editor who checks facts, references, spelling and may even be required to rewrite portions of the manuscript as well as proof-read. This is where you will be able to maintain contacts with an author, help him/her put a book together from start to finish. And who knows, your own book may be the next one you work on! Remember there are many jobs out there just waiting for you to find them. Use your natural creativity and you'll no doubt begin to discover exactly what you need to do. So if you have the flair and the panache for writing, plenty of imagination and the innate ability to paint word pictures, are able to conceive themes, ideate subjects, and have the passion and patience to convince the world around of your work, you have a world of opportunities in working with words. So take pen to paper and conjure up a new career for yourself in the world of words.
Courses in creative writing
IGNOU - Diploma in Creative Writing in English (DCE) Xavier Institute of Communication, St Xavier's College, Mumbai 400 001 University of Delhi, New Delhi -110007 www.du.ac.in Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi - 11000. www.bvbdelhi.org British Council of India, New Delhi - 110001 (The writer is a
Tips for creative writers
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Read as much as you can — both classics as well as contemporary writers. l
Join your school or college editorial board, or magazine club and write articles, poems or essays, and have them evaluated by your
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Accept criticism of your work and try to make necessary revisions. l
Study the biographies of various literary genres - it will keep you from feeling frustrated. l
Keep to a schedule for completing writing
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Career Hotline
— Lalit Pandey A. The CSIR NET is held in all major Science subjects, viz., Chemical Sciences; Earth Atmospheric Ocean & Planetary Sciences; Life Sciences; Mathematical Sciences and Physical Sciences is conducted jointly with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi. Many of our brightest students head for management instead of research labs lured by lucrative corporate jobs. Result? A dwindling number of PhDs in the country (despite the ever-increasing undergrad enrollments. And, the waning interest in research translates into the acute faculty crunch faced by most universities today. The consequences can be serious – we will remain a non-inventive society with slower prospects of growth. Such a small number of patent applications filed each year! While the age limit for JRF (NET) is 28 years (relaxed up to 5 years for SC/ST/OBC, Physically handicapped/Visually handicapped and female applicants), there is no upper age limit For LS (NET) Close to 2000 fellowships are offered each year. And incidentally, the JRF is now a decent Rs 14,000 (plus contingency funding). Those applying for LS (NET) can also avail of the JRF by enrolling for research projects that take in research fellows. So, do give it a shot! You can apply online on www.csirhrdg.res.in .
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Formal study in numismatics
— Jeet Bedi A. An avid coin collector (numismatist) studies old coins, tokens, paper money and other related objects such as seals and medals, etc. Through detailed study of these objects, the numismatist provides vital insights and helps reconstruct the past. The Institute of Archaeology, Delhi, under the the Archaeological Survey of India, is one of the few institutions that offers a 2-year Postgraduate Diploma in Archaeology with a specialisation in Numismatics. You need a Master’s degree in Ancient or Medieval Indian History or MA/MSc with Archaeology/Anthropology (55% agg) to be eligible for this course. Admission is on the basis of a written test and interview. You may also check out the PG Diploma in Museology/ Archaeology offered by Calcutta University and several others. Banaras Hindu University offers a full-time Advanced Diploma in Archaeology & Numismatics after a Bachelor’s degree. University of Pune offers a 1-year Certificate course in Numismatics after HSC
(www.unipune.ernet.in)
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Courses in criminal psychology
— Vinita Dang A. Yes there are a handful of univs that offer PG programmes in Criminology: Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology & Forensic Science, Delhi (www.nicfs.nic.in), Dr Harisingh Gour Vishwadvidyalaya, Sagar (www.sagaruniversity.ac.in) Manonmaniam Sundaranar University , Tirunelveli (www.msuniversitytvl.net/Regular.asp ), University of Madras (www.unom.ac.in), University of Mysore (www.uni-mysore.ac.in). Check out the admission procedure etc from their websites. As a Criminal psychologist you will apply your understanding of psychology to criminal and legal issues including assessment and treatment of offenders in prisons, juvenile centres and correctional homes. Forensic psychologists too have a similar function.
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Synthesis of fashion designing with music
Q. I am interested in becoming a fashion designer and a musician. Can I pursue both careers simultaneously? Please advise.
— Ketki Dewan That said, as a multi-dimensional human being, you don’t have to confine your interests or limit them to your bread-and-butter profession. By all means dabble in whatever catches your fancy. Who knows given sufficient talent and interest, your hobby may well develop into a rewarding full-fledged career in the future!
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Overcoming maths phobia in CAT
Q. Like everyone else I am also in the race for CAT this year. Even after three months of revision, I have not been able to overcome my math phobia. What should I do?
— Harshita Bhanot Having said that, math phobia is a very real and fairly common phenomenon. The only way to tackle this fear is to relearn your math from the ground up. Understanding various methods and practicing their application will help cure you of this phobia. Once you’ve understood the fundas and practised the basics, math will become mechanical; and will therefore, be both speedy and accurate. Remember: the exam does not attempt to test you on solving a third degree differential equation. It does, however, expect you to know how to calculate distance and speed. And you will overcome this bugbear for sure — provided you begin at the beginning and pace yourself for the race. If necessary, have a good tutor teach you the basics at your pace and at level of understanding — and don’t be embarrassed to ask for help in tackling obvious problems. Keep at it till you’ve understand the method. The level of math is not very high (essentially of class 10 level with a few topics other than calculus like progression, permutation-combination (algebra), probability (Stats) and Set Theory (Venn Diagrams) of +2 level). If you had enough time, you would probably manage to crack most of the questions. However, time being critical factor in this exam, along with the negative marking, you need to master speed. And that only comes with knowing the basics and constant practice. Taking regular mock tests helps. Obviously, if you are beginning from scratch and not just brushing up on what you already know, so you need to give yourself a little longer than what MBA aspirants usually allot to preparation. But don’t worry, you will eventually find your own pace and catch up with all the hares out there.
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Combating TechnoStress
Technology provides us with a range of options that can enrich and enhance our lives. It is there in our home, cars, movie theaters, grocery stores, jobs, literally every place in our lives, whether we purchase it or not.
Every innovation - from cell phones to e-mail, from faxes to websites - demands new skills, speedier reaction times, creativity on call 24 hours a day. Some of the ramifications of rapid influx of technology in our world are blatant, while others are quite subtle. Techno stress is technology induced pressure.No one can escape it. Even the technologically savvy feel TechnoStress.
l Do you feel that no matter how much you do, there is still so much more to accomplish? l
Do you feel isolated when you find family members are in their own "Techno-Cocoons," each hooked up to a different techno-gadget. l
Do you spend more time doing sedentary work, often sitting alone at the computer? l
Do you find yourself multitasking more, juggling multiple things at once? l
Do you feel like your personal and work boundaries have become blurred? l
Do you feel anxious if you haven't checked your voice mail or e-mail within the last 12 hours? l
Do you have a hard time determining when you are finished researching a topic on the Internet? l
Do you feel what some have called "information overload" or "information fatigue"? If left unattended, technostress can lead to memory loss, diminished concentration, impatience, irritability, difficulty relaxing or falling asleep-even headaches, stomach discomfort, backaches, and more serious health problems.
Striking balance Combating technostress means finding ways to achieve a healthy balance of using technology without becoming consumed by it: Awareness of self is the first step. Ponder the positive and negative ways in which technology is impacting your life, family and work life. Where does technology control you? How can you utilize the good side of technology without being consumed by technostress? Rethink your lifestyle and work habits. Listen to your body. Remember that sleep and rest are necessities, not luxuries to fit in between work times. Pay attention when your patience unravels or your body shows signs of running down. Take a technology time-out - Exercise. Sitting in front of your computer all day means that you aren't getting the proper exercise. Get up, walk around the office, stretch, do breathing exercises, or meditate. At the very least, take a short vision break from your computer. A quick time-out can help you feel more refreshed and better able to tackle the next technological task. Choose knowledgebly. Recognise that there is more technology than you will ever want or be able to use. With technology, like magazine subscriptions, you get to select what you want and only use what works for you. It's okay to leave the rest alone. Limit your need to multitask. Learn to focus your attention on one task at a time. Instead of answering your e-mail while talking on the phone with a client, only check your e-mail or only check your voice mail. Rekindle. Do you find yourself completely absorbed with work? Rekindle hobbies or take up new ones. It will give you a different perspective on your time pressures at work and help you feel better refreshed when you return to the office. Set and maintain boundaries. Make clear distinctions between work times and "answering times". Switch off communication devices when you are in meetings. Cancel your subscriptions to newsletters or Internet messages that distract you and steal time from more significant work. Take e-vacations. When you decide to take a vacation, make sure it is a real vacation. Learning to feel completely relaxed without access to technology may be a little daunting at first, but in the long run it will prove worth it. Trimmimg technostress from our life will us perform better at work, spend more quality time with our families, and experience the wonder of technology.
The writer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, PEC University of Technology.
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OECD region jobless rate climbs
Paris/New Delhi: Reflecting a strained labour market even as signs of economic recovery are rising, the unemployment rate in the OECD region rose to 8.6 per cent in August.
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) — a grouping of nations mainly rich ones —has seen the jobless rate rise marginally in August from the previous month. "The unemployment rate for the OECD area was 8.6 per cent in August 2009, 0.1 percentage point higher than the previous month and 2.3 percentage points higher than a year earlier," the OECD said in a statement. Even as the global economy is on the revival path, the employment scenario continues to look grim as many companies are still cutting jobs to bring down costs. Euro zone — the 16 nations that share the common currency euro — Japan and the US are also part of the OECD. The Euro zone's jobless rate shot up to a 10-year high of 9.6 per cent in August while that of the US spiralled to a 26-year-high of 9.8 per cent in September. However, in the case of Japan, the labour market strains seem to be easing, as that country's unemployment rate fell marginally to 5.5 per cent in August. In signs that economic recovery is round the corner, the American GDP shrank less than expected at 0.7 in the June quarter, while Japan, Germany and France have exited recession.
— PTI
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'Informal jobs account for 93 per cent of India's workforce'
New Delhi: A whopping 93 per cent of India's working population is employed in the informal sector that leaves them with no social security and makes them susceptible to wide poverty traps, says a report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). This is also the largest percentage of working population for any country in private, unregistered enterprises, said the UN agency, based on 2004 data for India. The report was in collaboration with the World Trade Organisation (WTO). "Trade contributed to growth and development worldwide. But this has not automatically translated in an improvement in the quality of employment," said WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy, commenting on the findings of the report. "Trade opening needs proper domestic policies to create good jobs. This is all the more evident with the current crisis that has reduced trade and thrown thousands of people into informal jobs," added Lamy. Informal employment involves private, unregistered enterprises which are not subject to national law or regulation, offer no social protection and involve self-employed individuals, or members of the same household. The report also seeks to draw attention to the dangers of not having access to a social security net, which is mostly the case for people with informal jobs. "Informality, trade and growth are intimately linked. The informal economy is a symptom of a country's low resilience to shocks and the vulnerability of its labour market," said the report. "Insurance against shocks is, therefore, less well developed, leaving households with little to fall back on in times of crisis," said the report, while pointing out that informality in most countries is associated with low levels of education. The levels of informality, the report said, vary substantially across countries, ranging from as low as 30 percent in some Latin American countries to more than 80 percent in certain sub-Saharan African and South Asian countries. — IANS
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Assessing talent for job aspirants, employers
The biggest challenge faced by the students of professional courses after they complete their studies is suitable placement.
Companies, industrial houses and other employers find it tough to get suitable candidates to fit into their scheme of things. While the well-known employers are flooded with resumes of applicants aspiring for jobs with them, the relatively lesser known ones face scarcity of applicants. Lately, a concept has emerged to bridge the gap by assessing the professional skills of the job aspirants and apprising the prospective employers of the same. Thus, the young and inexperienced professionals precisely know where they stand and in what areas they need improvement. Simultaneously, the hiring firms come to know about the exact skill set of the job seekers. “On the face of it, the idea seems very simple, but conducting highly standardised, multi-disciplinary tests requires a great deal of preparation, persistent efforts and skill upgradation,” says Varun Agarwal, an IIT graduate and director of Gurgaon-based assessment agency Aspiring Minds, a pioneer in the field. The firm conducts an employability test named AMCAT (Aspiring Minds Computer Adaptive Test), which has already been taken by nearly 35,000 professionals from 12 states across the country. Aggarwal claims that around 40 companies, including Microsoft Research, Godrej Agrovet, ICICI Prudential and Mphasis EDS are associated with AMCAT. He maintains that in the test, they go in for a full spectrum of skill-sets, including language, aptitude, skill and personality assessment. “Aspiring Minds provides a methodology to search candidates matching a given job profile at the press of a key by using innovative filters on multi-dimensional skill analysis of a large pool of candidates,” asserts Varun, adding that computer-adaptive test provides a statistically-valid multi-dimensional skill assessment to judge the employment suitability of a large number of candidates. Varun’s efforts and guidance led CURE, an NGO for preventing ragging in the country get recognition from the Union Ministry of Human Resources. Aspiring Minds co-founder Himanshu Aggarwal, who is also an IIT graduate, disclosed that after conducting assessment tests at nearly 250 campuses in the country, they had recently conducted the test at IMT, Dubai, as well.
— TNS
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‘Gandhian engineering vital for 21st century’
Warangal (Andhra Pradesh): Speaking at the global alumni meet of the National Institute of Technology-Warangal recently, he said it was time to go for innovation which would benefit people more. Mashelkar said: “Gandhian engineering is simply getting more from less. This means the design and development of products and services with more performance, from less material, less cost, less time, less environmental pollution and for benefit to not just a privileged few but for more and more people on this planet.” “In fact, for all 4 billion people whose income levels are less than $2 a day.” He said corporates had so far worked hard to get more productivity from less resources. “But now they must embrace Gandhian engineering for more and more people.” He also sited the Tatas’ low-budget car Nano as an example of Gandhian engineering. Nano is the most inexpensive car ($2,000) in the world with exceptional fuel efficiency and emission standards. This means “more from less” - but its affordable price also means “for more and more people”. NIT Warangal, founded in 1959, is celebrating its golden jubilee year.
— IANS
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Dearth of skilled workforce hits job market
New York: In what could be signs of prolonged trouble for employees and businesses even after the economic recovery, the lack of better educated and trained workforce in the US is intensifying the unemployment problem, says a study.
The study by an independent commission, The Springboard Project, said the US is at risk of losing its “competitive edge” and its workers’ economic potential by not addressing business’ growing demand for a better educated and better trained workforce. “American workers’ unmet need for further education and training is exacerbating today’s unemployment problem and portending long-term trouble for workers and businesses – even after the economy recovers,” the report stated. The project an independent commission started by Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers, is creating innovative approaches to help US workers to develop the skills they need to remain competitive in the global marketplace. Indicating increased need for a better skilled workforce as much as 65 per cent of employers surveyed said they would require an associate’s degree or higher for most positions. The survey found a glaring need for workers with higher levels of skills and credentials, which was in sharp contrast with employers’ modest efforts to provide training. The survey revealed half of employers currently have such a serious gap between their needs and employees’ skills that it affects their productivity. Though they see a need for highly skilled workers, nearly half (48 per cent) of employers do not provide or require ongoing education or skills training for their employees, primarily because of cost, it added. On the other hand, workers also understand the value of training, but are being confronted by obstacles to making it a reality. About 62 per cent of workers said a convincing reason to pursue training is that the future economy would be extremely demanding and if their skills are not up to date, someone would pass them by, The Springboard Project survey said. However, a large proportion of workers are not pursuing training and education because of practical obstacles. Workers cite cost, convenience and lack of reliable information on trainings which would lead to a job or higher salaries as the top three factors preventing them from enhancing their skills and improving their education. “The survey findings underscore the fact that we can and must do a better job of training and developing talent in the US,” the Springboard Project Chairman William D Green said. “With these findings, we can better understand challenges facing our workforce and developing and implementing solutions to overcome them is critical to ensuring US’ future,” Green added.
— PTI
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Candle-making units work against time
As the festival of lights Diwali is round the corner, the candle-making factories are speeding up work to meet the demand in
Siliguri. The workers have to do overtime to churn out extra candles and earn more money.
North Bengal accounts for over 170 odd candle factories, which provide direct employment to over 3,000 workers and a living to their 20,000 dependents. “There is a great demand for candles. For the past three months, there is a huge sale. We are not able to meet the demand,” said Radheshaym Agarwal, a candle supplier. Huge demand for candles translates into more money. However, even though there is a huge demand for candles, this is much less than last year. “The sale of candles is alright for Diwali. However, since Chinese electric bulbs and decorative candles, which are being imported in India, there is far less demand for small and plain candles during this Diwali as compared with last year,” said Biswanath Agarwal, another candle supplier. The colourful Chinese lights are attractive and available in the shape of traditional earthen lamps and candles. Moreover, they are convenient to use, said Sanjay Saha, a trader of Chinese lights. “Traditional earthen lamps have to be refilled with oil and candles have to be re-lighted when they put out. But Chinese electric lights don’t have any such problems. Once you switch it on, it continues lighting. Therefore it’s in a great demand,” Saha said. Even though there have been reports of a very short life of Chinese lights, people in India are preferring them as they are much cheaper than available Indian lights.
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Motherhood preferred to full-time work
Melbourne: A growing number of modern women find more satisfaction in motherhood than in full-time work, a British think-tank has reported.
According to Cristina Odone, who wrote the book “The Perfect Wife” and is an outspoken critic of some feminist attitudes, today’s women are raising voices against pressures that have made them take jobs they don’t really want to do. “We need to break the stranglehold that the small coterie of women, who work full time and buy into the macho way of life, enjoy on our public life,” Odone said. “They have for years misrepresented real women who reject the masculine value system for one that rates caring above a career and inter-dependence above independence.” “Real women do not want to commit full-time to a job. The future belongs to the real woman, who points to a lifestyle embracing feminine values,” she added. Supporting her viewpoint, a recent poll in Britain showed fewer than one in eight mothers want to work full time, reports The Courier Mail. The shocking study also found that one in every 100 mothers in two-parent working families with young children think it is right to have a full-time job. According to the poll’s results, many females just want to be stay-at-home mothers with their husbands taking on the role of bread-winner.
— ANI
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Happiness @ work
Mahatma Gandhi was an original thinker. Look at the means he chose for his battle against the British — peace, fasts, the charkha and the Salt Satyagraha.
And, he was successful in unleashing the force of the Indian masses on the British. Different, but successful. Where did the half-naked Indian fakir derive his inspiration? “When disappointments stare me in the face, I turn to the Bhagwad Gita and find a verse to comfort me and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow,” said Gandhi. Gandhi’s ideal Lord Krishna too dared to be different. He smiled when others wept. On the 14th day of the Mahabharata war, Krishna was the only one to smile in the Pandava camp when Karna’s ‘shakti’ killed Bhima’s son Gathotkacha. Now, Arjuna is completely safe, Krishna thought. He, who understood the duality of life, knew that in Gathotkacha’s death, lay the life of Arjuna.
— Sai R. Vaidyanathan This column appears weekly. The writer can be contacted at
svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
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There is something magical about words — they can make us laugh, move us to tears, evoke anger, hatred and compassion. Words can transport us to places we may never physically visit, and introduce us to people we may never meet. They can spark ideas and movements, stir revolts, and motivate armies — the power of the pen as they say is mightier than the sword.
This column appears weekly. The writer is a noted career expert and director, Career Guidance India (CARING). Please send in your queries with your full name, complete address and academic qualifications to: The Editor, Jobs and Careers, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030, or at careers
@tribunemail.com 
Sitting in front of your computer all day means that you aren't getting the proper exercise. Get up, walk around the office, stretch, do breathing exercises or meditate. At the very least, take a short vision break from your computer. 
Q. I did my MSc (botany) several years ago and helped my father run his shop. As I am interested in teaching, I’m wondering whether I should try for lectureship by taking the NET. Is there an age limit? I am 28. Or like everyone else should I do an MBA?
Q. I am an avid coin collector. I am interested in learning more about the subject through formal study. What are the qualifications required?
Q. I will be completing my Bachelor’s in psychology this year. After the spate of terrorism attacks, I have developed a keen interest in understanding the criminal mind. Could you tell me if there are any specific courses in criminal psychology in India?
A. Although both careers demand a high degree of creativity and aesthetics, fashion designing and music are entirely different fields. Ultimately, you’ll have to choose between them as there’s little synergy between the two. Each has its own intricacies and ‘grammar’ which calls for a high degree of patience, practice and dedication to achieve any measurable level of success. However, if you still wish to have your cake and eat it too, you can opt for a career in Fashion Designing and settle for Music as a hobby on the side, or vice versa. Believe me, unless you are exceptionally talented, you may find it impossible to do equal justice and devote adequate time and energy to both simultaneously. 
A. Mathematical ability is a mechanical and logical process. It’s mechanical because once you understand the method of solving a particular kind of problem, you’re sure to get it right always -- unless you slip up in the calculation part, which is even more mechanical.