Fishing for success
Kanchan Vasdev

Fisheries sector has emerged as an industry, with rapid commercial growth, in the past two decades. It holds great potential in improving food security, generating employment, raising the socio-economic status and nutritional levels of people, besides earning foreign exchange for the country.

Today, India is the third largest producer of fish in the world with an annual production of 6.90 mt and ranks second in inland production (3.70 mt).

The contribution of aquaculture sector to inland fish production is about 80 per cent with annual growth rate of over 8 per cent. India accounts for 2.4 per cent share in global fish market with annual export earnings of over Rs 8,000 crore. The fisheries sector is contributing 1.4 per cent to national GDP in general and 4.6 per cent to agricultural GDP in particular. Rich aquatic resources of the country already provide livelihood to about 14.5 million persons in this sector, directly or indirectly.

Although fish production has increased at a higher rate as compared to foodgrain, milk and egg production but consumption of fish (with 56 per cent fish-eating population) in India still remains below 10 kg per capita per annum, which is much lower than countries like China (25.8 kg) and the rest of Asia (14.3 kg). The domestic requirement of fish in the country is estimated to be 12 mt by 2020 as against the present production of 6.90 mt. Out of the total area available for aquaculture, only 30 per cent of freshwater and 10 per cent of brackish water area is being utilised at present. Hence, there is still tremendous scope for utilising these resources to achieve the target and generate more employment opportunities in the fisheries sector in the coming years.

Growth in Punjab

Punjab has recorded tremendous growth in the fisheries sector in the last three decades. Fish production has increased from 2,800 tonnes in 1980-81 to 86,697 tonnes in 2006-07. Being a landlocked state, around 70 per cent of total fish production comes from aquaculture (60,567 tonnes) and 30 per cent from capture sector (26,130 tonnes). At present, nearly 10,023-hectare area is under fish culture (6,695 ha village ponds and 3,328 ha private ponds) and aquaculture productivity of the state is 6.04 t/ha/yr, which is more than double the national productivity of 2.60 t/ha/yr. Punjab has a vast network of natural water resources, including 17,453 km of rivers, canals and drains, 23,000 ha of reservoirs/ lakes/wetlands and 7,046 ha of village ponds. These water resources have immense potential for fishery development in the state.

Scope

Professionally qualified human resource is very important for the proper growth and development of any sector. Similarly, for the proper development of aquaculture, there is need for scientists, development officers, planners, administrators, supervisors, technicians and entrepreneurs. In countries like USA, the jobs of Marine-Fisheries Interviewer, Environmental Project Manager, Information Technology Specialist and Eco-toxicologist or Aquatic Ecologist are available for fisheries graduates and postgraduates.

Eligibility

Both undergraduate as well as post-graduate courses can be pursued in fisheries sciences. Candidates wishing to pursue a B.Sc (Fisheries) or B.F.Sc course must have passed the Plus II examination with Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

For pursuing the M.F.Sc course one has to have a B.Sc degree in fisheries or a B.Sc in Zoology. Admission to this course is usually through an all-India agriculture postgraduate combined entrance test conducted by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research. A few institutes also offer postgraduate diploma programmes in inland fisheries administration and management. Requirements for this course are a B.Sc degree in Zoology or B.F.Sc along with two years of experience.

A three-year Ph.D programme is also being conducted by several institutes, the minimum requirement for which is 60 per cent marks in the master’s degree in the subject concerned.

In India 17 Colleges of Fisheries and one deemed University of Fisheries offer UG and PG degree programmes to produce properly qualified and trained manpower for the development of the fisheries sector as well as to address the need-based research and transfer of technology programmes of universities and state fisheries departments.

The Road Ahead

Fisheries professionals stand bright chances of employment in state fisheries departments (28), fisheries colleges (17), Deemed University (1), research institutes (34), government organisations (9), fish farmers development agencies (468), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (567), state fisheries corporations (7), nationalised banks, international organisations (FAO, NACA), fish-based industries, marketing, trade etc. The policies and programmes of Government of India are envisaging higher growth rate in fisheries sector during the 11th five-year plan, which will lead to improve fish production, processing and preparation of value added products.

The fisheries sector is therefore, going to open new avenues for employment.

Preliminary surveys indicate that there is an immediate requirement of fisheries graduates and post graduates for administrative, teaching, research, extension and management fields in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

There is also urgent need of baseline workers with background of fisheries for effective management of fish farms and hatcheries. Further there is also good demand of fisheries professionals in USA, Canada and Asian, European, African and Gulf countries.

Institute watch College of Fisheries, GADVASU, Ludhiana — B.FSc and M.FSc. Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner— M.Sc (Fisheries) G.B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pant Nagar (Uttaranchal) — BFSc Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai — M.FSc (Fisheries Resources Management, Aquaculture) and M.FSc (Mariculture at Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute). Ph.D (Fisheries Resource Management, Inland Aquaculture, Mariculture, Fish Processing, Fisheries Economics, Fisheries Extension, Fisheries Statistics) Gujarat Agricultural University, Surat — B.FSc Kerala Agricultural University —B.FSc, M.FSc (Aquaculture) Konkan Krishi Vishwavidyala —B.FSc, M.FSc (by research in Marine Fisheries, Marine Biology, Fresh Water Fisheries Orissa Agricultural University —M.Sc (Fisheries) Rajendra Agricultural University, Samastipur (Bihar) — B.FSc University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore — B.FSc, M.FSc (Industrial Fishery Technology, Fish Production and Management) Ph.D (Fish Biology, Aquaculture, Fishery Hydrology).

MNCs on a hiring spree in Tier-II cities

In a major relief to employment seekers, blue chip companies, which for the most part of 2009 had put on hold all recruitments in the wake of economic crisis, have started hiring again and changed their direction to Tier II cities now, if the placements secured by students of major professional institutions like the Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Chandigarh, University Business School (UBS), Panjab University, Chandigarh, and Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, are any indication.

According to a survey by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), there has been a decline in job creation in the major cities like Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai, whereas an encouraging growth was observed in the Tier-II cities like Surat, Ahmedabad and Chandigarh.

The increase in the percentage of the placement share of Tier-II cities rose to 19 this year clearly revealing the increasing interest of the hirers towards the smaller cities. The Tier-II cities have also surpassed the metros in terms of growth in the creation of white-collar jobs (Assocham report). Employment opportunities in the private sector firms have also grown by close to 30 per cent in the second-rung cities during the first seven months of the current fiscal, while in top metros it improved by about six per cent, which shows the availability of better prospects for students in locations closer to their homes.

Dr. K K Garg, the Training and Placement Officer, PEC, said the MNCs are shifting to Tier II cities as the students from bigger colleges are less stable compared to students from colleges in Tier II cities. Due to high aspiration level and search for better avenues, it has been observed that IIT students keep shifting jobs. A number of students have secured placements already though the final figures would be revealed in January only.

Sanjay Kaushik, Placement Officer, UBS, said more and more MNCs have realised that talent is not restricted to Tier I cities only. Students from Tier II cities are getting salaries at par with those from metros. Change in the trend this year is that MNCs are looking for role specific employees. UBS and many colleges in Tier II cities have various subject specific courses, which the MNCs like. Till now 47 students i.e more than 40 per cent students have been placed but due to recession, many companies want to come in January. Garg said that earlier all placements were over by September but now the companies have extended recruitment till January which is a healthy sign.

A press note released by Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, stated that the varsity had witnessed a three-fold jump in placements with 1,115 placements in the blue chip companies across all academic programmes in 2008-2009 as compared to 358 a year-ago. “For this session also 581 students have already been selected and we are expecting many more placements,” said H.R. Singla, Director General of LPU. The number of MBA graduates who secured placements in 2008-2009 has jumped to 529 as compared to 147 last year, a robust growth of 200 per cent.

Graduates from Electrical Communications Engineering, too, were in good demand with the university recording 59 placements in 2008-2009; this year also the trend has been quite similar with 11 students from the field already securing placements.

“The economic scenario is improving as is revealed by economic growth rate and the hiring spree by the corporate sector. Last year was a tough time for the industry and thus students had to bear the brunt of recession and had to compromise with national and regional level companies. But this year successful completion of the final placements, in such a tough economic climate, bears a testimony to the faith reposed by the corporate world in the students passing out from smaller cities,” said Ashok Mittal, Chancellor of LPU.

Big names like Infosys, Bharti Airtel, Bharti Retail, Sharekhan, Nokia Siemens, Smart Chip-Online, Indian Army, Dell, Heromindmine, Keane, Spice, TATA, HCL, Eli Lilly, Omega Maritime Management Services Pvt. Ltd, Wipro, Wills Style Group, NIIT, Bharti Maxtel, Yo China, among others, have also started fulfilling their employee needs through the smaller cities. Recruiters from finance and banking sectors have outnumbered recruiters from IT, engineering or marketing companies. Statistics of on-campus placements at LPU in the last three years reveal that the number of companies that visited the university had more than doubled to 134 in 2008-2009 compared to 71 a year ago. The off-campus placements have also grown from 11 to 30 in the same period. Of the companies that visited LPU this year, more than 50 per cent were first timers. Equally encouraging is the repeat visits by most of the companies, which is a testimony to the fact that the students have proved their mettle in the job market.

Many avenues have opened for the students with not only the corporate but the government sector, too, coming forward for recruitment. The Indian Army recruited 31 students on-campus, including 17 from the computer science field, five from IT and 11 from Electronic and Communication Engineering departments of LPU.

On the salary front, the university stated that most of the graduates have been placed with roles and remuneration matching the individuals’ aspirations. The highest pay packet offered was around Rs 24 lakh by Omega Maritime Management Services Pvt. Ltd that selected engineers and officers for maritime industry. — TNS

NEW YEAR
10 Commandments for job-seekers

Job-seekers often encounter three major roadblocks to success: poor marketing, poor networking, and poor mindset.

Now, an expert has offered 10 New Year’s Resolutions aimed at overcoming those obstacles. Andy Chan, vice-president for career development at Wake Forest University, said that adopting these 10 resolutions could help refresh and rejuvenate the job search, and get the New Year off to the best start possible.

Roadblock 1 - Poor marketing

“Many people don’t realise that the way they are marketing themselves just isn’t working, and they never get any feedback. The best way to get feedback is to ask for it from people who do a lot of hiring,” said Chan.

1. I will ask friends or acquaintances who manage and hire people to evaluate my cover letter and resume and give me real feedback — even if it hurts to hear it.

2. I will ask these same friends to conduct a practice interview with me and give me “tough love” feedback.

3. When I find an attractive job on the Web, I will apply immediately (with a tailored cover letter and resume) and search for friends and colleagues who could act as referrals to help me network into the organisation.

Roadblock 2 - Poor networking

“We make the assumption that if we apply on the Web, it will get us in the door. But the truth is, if your experience doesn’t line up perfectly with the job, the likelihood of getting seen is low. That’s why networking is important. People hire people; they don’t hire paper,” Chan said.

4. I will be thoughtful about when to send my resume, and I will not send my resume to everyone I know.

5. I will be specific about the type of work and organisations, including names of target organisations that I find most interesting.

6. I will network 80 per cent of the time and use the Web 20 per cent of the time.

Roadblock 3 - Poor mindset

“A lot of people are looking at jobs through a narrow lens. But as the old Rolling Stones song says, ‘you can’t always get what you want’. You may need to focus first on what you need and get the ideal job later,” Chan said.

7. I will be open to exploring many options because an interesting opportunity may exist beyond what I can see on the surface.

8. I will re-examine what my real financial needs are so that I can be more open to opportunities that may pay me less than what I want.

9. I will evaluate opportunities by recognizing that this job can be a stepping-stone to another job (inside or outside the company) — especially as the market improves.

10. Although I might want to quit and do a job search full-time, I am more attractive to employers when I am employed. — ANI

2010 — Year of hopes

India has once again emerged as the most optimistic nation in terms of hiring plans for the next three months and the recruitment pace is expected to return to the pre-recession level in the New Year, global staffing services firm Manpower says. "There is no more 'cautious optimism' among employers anymore, it has given way to 'definite optimism'. Besides, the pace of hiring will be back to the 2007 level in the next year," Manpower India Managing Director Naresh Malhan said.

According to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, India has a net employment outlook — a measure of recruiting plans — of 39 per cent for the first quarter of 2010, the highest among 35 countries surveyed. India has been reporting the strongest hiring plans globally since the third quarter of 2008.

India’s outlook has improved by 11 percentage points on a quarter-on-quarter basis and by 18 per cent year-on-year. A sectoral analysis shows that hiring outlook has risen across all sectors. Job seekers in the services, public administration, education, mining and construction, finance, insurance, real estate, and the wholesale and retail trade sector, could look forward to the most favourable hiring environment in early 2010, the survey said.

“The good news is that employer hiring expectations across all industry sectors are improving in the first quarter of 2010, and job seekers in key industry sectors can look forward to the most favourable hiring environment in over a year,” Malhan said. — PTI

office Mantra
Are you being bullied?
Workplace bullying is a common phenomenon that hits productivity. Neha Kapoor gives tips on how to stand up for yourself in office

How many of us have gone through or are still going through the torment of everyday workplace bullying? Having failed in our attempts of putting an end to it, we have stopped fighting against it, accepting it as a part of the harsh realities of life and find solace in the famous saying, “What cannot be cured, must be endured”

But what is also a matter of grave concern is that, is this torture, which seems to have neither a cure nor an end, adversely affecting our productivity at work? Is it adding to our level of stress and inhibiting our performance?

Workplace bullying leads to increased job stress, decreased job commitment and higher levels of anxiety. Research reveals that about 45 per cent of individuals targeted by bullies at work suffer from cardiovascular problems, impairment of immune system, debilitating anxiety and even post-traumatic stress disorder.

According to Chandigarh-based psychologist, Poonam Shree, “Several cases of workplace bullying are reported and our attempt is to enable the victims to effect changes in their own personality systems, their own public dealings and inter-personal behaviour so that they respond in a healthy way to such disturbing stimuli.”

“At times people simply report being extremely disgusted with work and are oblivious of being subjected to bulling at work. It is only on deeper probing that facts begin to surface which reveal that they have been victimised by a bully at work”, she adds.

What is workplace bullying?

According to workplace bullying expert, Valerie Cade, “workplace bullying is repeated, deliberate, disrespectful behavior by one or more people towards another for their own gratification, which in turn harms the target.””

Often held to be a psychological malady, bullying is an obsessive-compulsive behaviour, which stems from a deep sense of insecurity, inferiority and inadequacy. Snubbing and spurning others helps such people to overcome negative feelings, and so bullies are always on the lookout for an easy prey.

A bully can be anybody — your boss, your superior or even your colleague.

A person who is bullied often finds himself/herself belittled, criticised, humiliated, and ridiculed without any provocation or apparent reason. He/she may also be the target of offensive language, snide personal remarks or unwanted physical behaviour.

At times the target may find that the goals and deadlines set for him/her are quite unrealistic and unachievable, not realising that it is just another tactic adopted by a bully to subjugate him/her.

Regularly threatening employees with the sack, finding faults with them and taking credit for their efforts is also a form of bullying.

“My boss would frequently threaten me with dire consequences despite the fact that I worked with utmost honesty and dedication. I would be scolded at the slightest provocation but never praised for the feats I accomplished. This created a lot of mental pressure that reflected in my performance. It was then that I realised that I was being treated unjustly, that I was a victim of workplace bullying. Therefore I decided to quit the job”, says Shreya, a marketing executive.

Traits that make you vulnerable

Lack of self-confidence: Lack of self-confidence exhibited by the way you talk, walk and carry yourself, makes you an easy target for a bully. Your inability to present your ideas, your point-of-view with confidence, in other words a lack of assertiveness, adds to your vulnerability.

Excessive self-doubt: Lack of faith in yourself evident by your tendency to doubt your actions and decisions, reassures a bully of your timidity and weakness.

Strong value system: Individuals with a strong sense of integrity, honesty, humility and values also tend to be preyed upon by bullies because the presence of such persons reminds bullies of the hollowness and inadequacy of their own character.

High performance: It is often said, “If you are successful, you will win some true enemies and some false friends”. Bullies are the true enemies that workplace success brings along. Since bullies are constantly battling with their own feelings of inferiority and inadequacy, they are highly jealous of high performing, successful employees. If you are one of those blue-eyed employees, receiving praise and recognition for your work, chances are that a bully is looking for opportunities to snub you, especially if you are an unsuspecting, honest and dedicated employee. However, that does not mean that you stop being good at work. It only means that you become more alert and smarter.

Lack of social skills: Your tendency of not mixing up with the people at work convinces a bully that his misdemeanour will not be reported to anybody around and that his reputation will remain unscarred. This encourages him to choose you as the obvious target.

New entrant: A new entrant, especially if he or she happens to be younger than the other employees, is usually the target of workplace bullies.

Beat bullying Analyse yourself: Self-analysis will give you a better idea of who you are, what your strengths and weaknesses or overall habit patterns are, which make you vulnerable to being bullied at office. Get rid of habits and actions that highlight your naivety and gullibility. For instance, thorough self-analysis might reveal that 90 per cent of the time you get scolded for the failings of other people and that almost always you are unable to put across your point in a convincing manner, a complete lack of assertiveness. Therefore, your immediate attempt should be to get rid of this self-annihilating tendency by beginning to assert yourself. Correct your body language: Often unknowingly, we give out a host of cues and signals through our body language alone. In fact 90 per cent of the communication that takes place is non-verbal in nature. Therefore it becomes imperative to observe our body language, in order to prevent it from giving unwarranted signals. Hold your head high while talking, bent head signals low self-esteem and shyness Maintain eye contact, a lack of it suggests nervousness, guilt and self-doubt Do not appear fidgety, it signals that you are under stress and lack faith in yourself Assert yourself: Be bold yet polite, while expressing your point-of-view. Speak up for yourself when you are right. Also try to sound rational and not emotional while putting across your perspective. This reassures the management that your problem is genuine in nature and that they are not dealing with an immature bundle of nerves. Report the matter: Although not all seniors are understanding and supportive enough to encourage you to talk, it always helps to discuss the misdemeanour of an employee, especially if it gets out of hand. In case the top management is not altogether devoid of empathy, strict action against the bully might be taken at once. Socialise: Mixing up with people may not come naturally to you but at times your survival at work depends upon it. Befriend people around. This way you will also get an insight into the kind of problems that they are faced with. Work place gossip often reveals a lot about the organisation and people working in it. For instance, socialising with others might reveal how they battled with or overcame a similar problem in the past. It may also help gain an insight into the attitude of the management in dealing with such issues. Avoid confrontation: A bully is always on the lookout for a confrontation, so avoid falling into this entrapment. A reaction from you is just what acts as an encouragement or reward for a bully, reassuring him of his success. Under all circumstances, stay unperturbed. Stay calm: If nothing works out and you are not yet considering the option of quitting the job, just stay calm and relaxed. Try to ignore the bully. Avoidance usually serves as a disincentive for the bully.

comment corner
A positive move
The Australian Government’s decision to increase the basic rate of student living costs from January 1, will encourage only serious students to seek visa, says Naresh Gulati

From January 1, 2010, the Australian government will increase the basic rate of living costs under the Migration Regulations that will require international students to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to pay for their living costs. Under the new Migration Regulations, international students will have to show AU $18,000 (Rs 7,50,890) per year as evidence of funds to contribute to the cost of living as against the previous living costs of AU $12,000 (Rs 5,00,680) per year. The new rate annual for the student’s partner is now AU $6,300 (Rs 2,62,857), for the first child it is AU $3,600 (Rs 1,50,202) and AU $2,700 (Rs 1,12,649) for every other child.

Under the Australian Migration Regulations, it is mandatory for international students to show evidence of funds to contribute to the cost of living and studying in Australia. The earlier AU $12,000 per year living cost requirement was introduced in 2001 more as an immigration integrity measure. However, it was felt that the figure did not adequately prepare international students for the realities of moving to Australia for higher education. The Australian Government contends that the increase accurately reflects the real costs of living in Australia and adequately prepares international students to plan their living costs without having to face any monetary impediments.

The higher living costs requirement means that the students have to demonstrate to the Australian Immigration Department that they are able to meet their cost of living in Australia without having to rely upon the money earned from working 20 hours per week, as the international students are allowed.

The new regulation is a welcome sign as it will discourages the students with insufficient funds from seeking a visa primarily with an eye on Permanent Residency. In the recent past, it was found that some of the Indian students have gained entry into Australian universities by using fraudulent documents to bolster their PR chances. It has been found that the students without proper financial background end up working more than the permitted 20 hours per week. Thus, violating the conditions imposed in their student visa. Such students are subject to visa cancellations under the Australia Migration Regulations.

While international students are able to supplement their income with money earned through part-time work in Australia, the “living costs” requirement helps to support the success of students in their studies by ensuring that they do not rely on such work to meet all their expenses. The new regulations coupled with the recent changes in Australia’s skilled migration programme will discourage non-serious students from seeking Australian student visas.

(The writer is CEO Oceanic Consultants Pvt Ltd)

What you need to know Do people applying for a student visa before January 1, 2010, need to meet the new living costs amounts? Or do students making a new visa application have to meet the new regulations? Only students who apply for a visa on or after January 1, 2010, need to meet the new regulations. What if the student doesn’t have the requisite funds of AU $18,000 as per the new living cost regulations? If a student or their financial sponsor cannot demonstrate the required savings history they may be able to top-up their available funds via another source such as an education loan from an acceptable financial institution. The students have to bear in mind that non-cash assets such as property and shares are not acceptable sources of income. However, non-cash assets may be liquidated or used as collateral on a loan, if they are provided by an acceptable source. Whether students will be able to continue to work part-time in Australia to supplement the cost of living in Australia? Students can continue to work up to 20 hours a week while their course is in session and can work unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Students cannot work before the commencement of their course. It is important that students understand these financial requirements are only the minimum amount required for a student visa. International students can supplement their income through part-time work in Australia but the primary purpose of a student visa is to study and students should not rely on part-time work to meet their expenses.

New recruitment process

The Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A) has decided to give recruiters more time to study, evaluate and interview students before handing them appointment letters. The change in the appointment process was mooted by the institute to give students and their potential recruiters an option to choose the best talent so that both parties gain more in the long run.

”The move essentially aims at a better match-making process, ensuring a better fit between the students and the firms,” said Saral Mukherjee, faculty chairman at IIM-A.

The decision was a sequel to the first of its kind recruiter conclave held at Mumbai last week, the IIM-A placement committee invited recruiter feedback on the new process.

The system called the “cohort-based” placements process will go live from the coming placement season beginning the second week of February 2010. According to Vivek Jain, a student member of the placement committee, the process would be conducted over continuous weekends. The cohort-based process is a longer placement process but with significant advantages.

Underlining the salient features of the cohort-based system as opposed to the day-based system that has been followed in the past, he said that this change is envisioned to provide a better platform for interaction between recruiters and students than the erstwhile day process.

The day process led to great pressure on firms to make offers early and on students to accept the offers on the spot. ”Given the ever-increasing batch size, we have deliberated over the ideal placement process for long. Though this may not be the ideal system, it is definitely a move towards one. We believe the process will ensure that decisions are not made hastily on either side.” — IANS

Happiness@work
Gems of ancient wisdom
Know thyself

Many among us wrongly think that what they are doing is great while what others do is bullshit.

Then, they grumble about not being appreciated for their ‘great’ work. It is vital to have a correct assessment of oneself and one’s team to avoid disappointment and bad blood in office. To clearly fathom the potential in his newfound friend Rama, Sugriva simply asked for a demonstration. Rama shot an arrow that pierced seven tree trunks. Satisfied that his friend’s arrows could pierce Vaali’s adamantine frame, Sugriva challenged his brother for a duel.

During exile, Bhima and Arjuna constantly exhorted Yudhisthira to attack Duryodhana. But the eldest Pandava knew that their skills were no match for the acumen of Bhishma, Drona and others. To make them realise the truth about their potential, Arjuna was humbled by a tribal warrior (Shiva in disguise) and Bhima by a small monkey (Hanuman in disguise).

Afterwards, Arjuna went to Indra to get celestial weapons and Bhima sought wrestling tips from his mighty brother Hanuman.

Make sure you are not the one who has thrust greatness upon himself.

— Sai R. Vaidyanathan

The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com

Career Hotline
Pervin Malhotra

Scope for graduates in Hindi

Q. I am a final year student of BA (Hindi). My friends say there is hardly any scope for Hindi students. I am very disheartened because my English is not very good.

— Ujwal Raut

A. Forgive your friends, for they know not what they speak! In fact, Hindi is becoming a popular subject at the college level, even in prestigious campuses like Delhi University. You could either teach in a school (after doing your B.Ed) or join the print or electronic media as a journalist, web content creator, compere, announcer, newsreader, anchor person or scriptwriter or a travel guide.

The proliferation of the media — 100+ TV channels and soon 300+ FM stations — has spawned the need for youngsters who can communicate with style, ease and competence in Hindi (preferably bilingual).

If you have a way with words, you could also become a copywriter in an advertising agency, technical writer, public relations executive or join the tourism industry (Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Viswavidyalaya, Wardha (a Central University) offers a PG Diploma in Cultural Tourism Management. Details: www.hindivishwa.org.

An additional course in PR, journalism, advertising or mass communication would give you the necessary professional edge.

Familiarity with another language can open up avenues in translation amongst others. Several universities offer one-year diploma courses in translation for graduates.

Hindi translators are recruited by various government departments, including the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs.

Institutions like the National Book Trust, the Bharatiya Gyanpeeth, the Sahitya Akademi, the Sangeet-Natya Akademi, the Central Hindi Directorate, the National School of Drama and the Bureau of Translation also support talented and upcoming translators.

They are also required in foreign embassies, banks, print and electronic media, theatre, film industry, advertising and PR and travel agencies, MNCs, etc.

The typical eligibility required is a Master’s degree in Hindi/English with English/Hindi as a compulsory subject and as an elective subject at the bachelor’s level or a bachelor’s degree with Hindi and English as main subjects.

There is also a large requirement for people who can do DTP work in Hindi. Knowledge of computers and good typing skills would be very helpful in this area. Domestic call centres, particularly in the North, also require people with good spoken Hindi.

Hindi being our national language, there are several jobs at the clerical level and for typists and stenographers in banks and government offices.

You can also opt for teaching at the higher level there are a lot of universities and colleges perpetually short of faculty.

And if that’s not enough, there is a need for Hindi language teachers even in the US!

Be confident for GD

Q. What exactly is group discussion? My English is not very good. Is good command over English compulsory? How should I prepare myself for GD and interview?

— Mohan Vaidya

A. As the name suggests, a Group Discussion (GD) is a discussion on a given topic by a group of participants. It’s very essential to have a good command over the English language both for clearing the written exam as well as the GD and interview for admission to management courses – particularly the good ones.

Unless you have a decent command over the language, you won’t be able to put your views across — particularly at such short notice. You will get barely 10 minutes to prepare for the topic for discussion. And you don’t know what direction the discussion will take. You don’t need to know literary English but at least enough to put your views across clearly and cogently.

English being the Lingua Franca of the corporate sector, you must possess excellent written as well as oral communication skills to succeed.

But nothing is impossible. If you work on building your vocabulary and improving your language skills in dead earnest right away, you’ll be amazed how quickly you pick up the essentials.

Join a coaching class which can give you practice in participating in mock GDs and interviews to gain practice and overcome your hesitation of speaking in public. Alternatively, form a group of your own and discuss a variety of topics within a stipulated time frame, so that when the actual time comes, you are not taken by surprise. Keep yourself updated about current events economy etc. For the interview, brush up on the subjects that you have learnt during your graduation or if you are working, read more about the latest happenings in your field.

English is not our mother tongue, so it’s quite natural if it doesn’t come to us easily. But if you make it a regular habit to attentively read books and papers, watch and listen to radio and TV programmes, and avail of every opportunity to converse in English, there’s no way you won’t succeed. It’s only a language after all!

All said and done, GDs and interviews are just tools to test your personality. Be clear about your goals, be frank and be yourself. The rest will take care of itself.

Options for science students

Q. I am a science student of Class XI. What are the career options open to me after Plus II in science?

— Premila Bhatnagar

A. After completing your Plus II with science, you can choose to pursue just about any field. Options related to the sciences, include engineering, architecture, technology, civil aviation, merchant navy, computers, medicine, pharmacy, biotechnology and related courses, agriculture, pure sciences, environment science/technology, meteorology and many others.

Moreover, you are also free to pursue just about any other profession open to the humanities and commerce students —a mind-boggling choice of nearly 2000-plus career options is there.

Make it a point to read up and talk to people about various possibilities and options that interest you. If you do this consistently, you’ll be amazed how much you pick up. And the more informed you are, the better equipped you will be to rule out several of the inappropriate options and flag the “possible” ones. After you’ve found out some more about what is involved in pursuing each of these, you will be able to further pare down the list.

What you really need to do at this stage is to try and narrow down your choice(s) to one or two broad options and then concentrate on planning a career around it. Take a reliable aptitude/personality test to help you identify the fields that are most suited to you. I have an excellent one, which you could take if you wish. Just send a blank email to” iopener@careerguidanceindia.com and I’ll mail you the details).

I want to join GSI

Q. I am doing my masters in geology and would like to join the Geological Survey of India. Can you please tell me something about the entrance procedure?

— Anchal

A. Entrance to the Geological Survey of India is through an examination followed by a personality test. The subjects for the exam are General English, Geology Paper I, Geology Paper II, Geology Paper III and Hydrogeology.

As a postgraduate in geology you are eligible for this examination if you are below 30 years of age. Those selected are kept on probation for two years.

Incidentally, GSI, which is currently running on half its strength, is finding it difficult to locate new metal and mineral deposits due to lack of trained manpower. As a result, GSI plans to step up its recruitment for the next couple of years.

Though exploration has invited private investment, it remains limited to high-value minerals such as iron ore and bauxite. GSI’s, thrust on the other hand, rests on exploring over 50 low-value minerals such as tin and tungsten.

Aggressive exploration of natural resources by private players has led to poaching of geologists, geophysicists and other specialists at higher salaries.

You can contact: The Secretary Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, New Delhi 110011 for further details.

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

Fortnightly Quiz-352

1. What is India’s highest-ever total in a one-day international cricket match?

2. Which country recently started operating the world’s fastest train at an average speed of 350 km per hour?

3. Which three public sector undertakings (PSUs) were recently accorded the “maharatna” status by the Government of India?

4. Who has taken over as the national president of the BJP?

5. Which two countries are linked by the longest undersea subway (train link) in the world?

6. In which year were thousands of people killed by tsunami tidal waves in many southeast Asian countries, including India?

7. By what name is Ladakh’s New Year festival known?

8. Which mela in Punjab remembers the martyrdom of the younger “sahibzadas” of Guru Gobind Singh?

9. With which field was Vincent Van Gogh associated?

10. Name the seven-time Formula One champion.

— Tarun Sharma

Winners of quiz 351: The first prize by draw of lots goes to Rahul Soni, class IV-A, Double Victory School, Beas, Pin Code – 143201, (district Amritsar)

Second: Bhavsimran Singh Malhi, class 8-D, St Joseph’s Convent Secondary School, Civil Lines, Bathinda, Pin Code - 151001

Third: Aditya, class VIII-A, DAV Public School, Naraingarh (Haryana), Pin Code - 134203

Answers to quiz 351: 1956; India; Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR); Bajaj; 1984; Copenhagen; Gibraltar; 284 by Virender Sehwag; 726/9; 260/6

Cash awards of Rs 400, 300 and 200 are given to the first, second and third prize winners, respectively. These are sent at the school address.

Note: Kindly mention the pincode of your place to facilitate the delivery of the prize money.

Answers can also be sent at quiz@tribunemail.com

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