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| JOBS & CAREERS |
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Vision for future
Career Hotline
Special chance
New wave entrepreneurs
Course chat
Getting hired
Happiness @ work
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Vision for future
Robotics is a dynamic field involving design, functional use and maintenance of robots. These machines are being used in several capacities, including manufacturing, transportation, surgery, weaponry, safety, research and mass production of consumer goods. Robots have replaced humans in several repetitive tasks like paint jobs, welding, assembly, under water and space exploration. These are also being used in dangerous tasks like transporting ammunition, operating in radioactive environments etc.
So it is an ever expanding sector all set to grow rapidly in the years to come.
Multiple career opportunities are available in robotics. Entry into the robotics industry requires knowledge in computer programming or design. As robots are used in so many ways, a professional’s duties in this field can vary greatly depending upon the function and application of robots. Engineers design artificial limbs while others develop automated manufacturing systems for food packaging plants. However, all robotics engineers are responsible for designing, creating, testing and troubleshooting problems with their robots. This involves extensive research in mechanical and robot technology and the use of assorted design, software as well as electrical vs mechanical equipment. The nature of work thus includes :
Basic experience in robotics certainly helps, especially if one has been associated with robotics societies in school and college, as these provide first hand experience of the field. Students interested in this field should gather as much information as possible. Forums, internet, professors, friends, senior students etc. can all serve as excellent resources. Eligibility criteria
A student without a technical degree can also pursue robotics. Those with graduation in physics, chemistry, or diploma in electronics etc. can also enter this field. A post graduate degree in the subject concerned gives an added advantage in the job market. Hence if you fulfil any of these criteria and have great determination to explore the world of robotics, the stage is all yours. Career options There are a number of career options for those who have a love for technology, and capability and interest to solve tricky puzzles. Professor Uday Vaishya, Director of A-Set research institute, Delhi, is of the view that opportunities in India in this field are emerging and the focus is on educational robotics. “There are hardly any companies designing and building industrial quality robots in the country”, he adds. Pay package
Robotics is a lucrative option as pay packages are hefty. The beginners can get a stipend of Rs 10,000 to 15,000 and after a few months one can earn anywhere between Rs 30,000 and Rs 2 lakh per month.
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Ship building engineering courses
Pervin Malhotra
— Dipankar Gupta A. If shipbuilding interests you, and if the idea of working with submarines, ROVs (Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles), naval frigates and aircraft carriers fascinates you, then you should be looking at the following BE/BTech courses in Naval Architecture/Ship Building: College of Engineering (Andhra University), Waltair, Visakhapatnam (AP). Eligibility: State residents; Plus II (PCM) or Diploma in Engg/Architecture. Selection: Entrance Test (EAMCET). Cochin University of Science & Technology, D/o Ship Technology, Kochi (www.cusat.ac.in) Eligibility: Plus II (PCM) First Div. Selection: Entrance Test/Interview. IIT-Madras, Chennai (TN). Eligibility: Plus II (PCM). Selection: JEE. (BTech (Naval Archi & Ocean Engg); Dual Degree Prog: BTech & MTech in Naval Arch & Ocean Engg); Naval Architecture Engg with M.Tech. in Applied Mechanics in any of the listed specialisations. IIT-Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302 (www.iitkgp.ac.in. Course: BTech (Ocean Engg & Naval Arch), Dual Degree Ocean Engg & Naval Archi). Eligibility: Plus II (PCM). Selection: JEE. International Maritime Academy (IMA), Chennai (www.ima-maritime.com) Course: B.Tech - Naval Arch & Ocean Engg (4 Year) Eligibility: Plus II (PCM) 50% Institute of Shipbuilding Technology, Goa (www.isbt.ac.in) You can also opt for the Indian Navy – Cadet Entry Scheme through which, seleted candidates are inducted as Cadets for four-year B Tech course in Electronics & Communication and Mechanical Engineering at the prestigious Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala. During the course, you will be allotted Engineering or Electrical branch, upon completion of which you will receive a BTech degree of the Jawahar Lal Nehru University (JNU). After the first term, if you are lucky, you will be nominated for a BTech in Naval Architecture & Ship Building (4-year) from Cochin University of Science & Technology (CUSAT), if you clear CUSAT’s Common Admission Test. Thereafter, you will be deputed for a six-month course in warship design at Visakhapatnam, followed by an 18-month PG Diploma in Naval Architecture at IIT Delhi. The entire cost of training, including books and reading material, is borne by the Indian Navy. Cadets are also provided with free clothing and mess facilities.
Courses in special education
— Garima Ahluwalia A. You know, nearly a quarter of the world’s disabled live in India. Unfortunately, lack of education and awareness has become the biggest obstacle in enabling the disabled to lead a normal life. There are a staggering 35 million children with disabilities between 6-14 years, while there is a huge shortfall of special educators. Their number stands at just a little over 20,000. Special educators mainly work with children with disabilities like speech or language impairment, mental retardation, learning difficulties (autism, dyslexia, ADS, slow learners, Asperger’s Syndrome), visual or hearing impairment. They help these students develop emotionally, train them to be comfortable in social situations, and be aware of socially acceptable behaviour. Empathy, communication and co-operation are essential traits. After understanding their special needs, a special educator needs to be highly innovative to devise appropriate learning strategies and motivate the child to be as optimally functional and well adjusted as possible. A course in Special Education equips you to work with such children studying either in special schools or in general schools in an integrated setting. But be prepared, while it is immensely satisfying and gives you an opportunity to make a difference, it calls for a great deal of patience, commitment and hard work. In one word, you need to be indefatigable. In fact there is an acute need (and shortage of special educators in our education system, more so with the Right to Education coming into force. A variety of options ranging from one-year Diploma and BEd (spl) courses to three and four year bachelor’s degree courses are available. Since you have already done your graduation, you could opt for any of the one-year BEd (Special Ed) programmes offered by a number of universities. The Rehabilitation Council of India is a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, located at 23-A, Shivaji Marg, New Delhi 110015. Incidentally, it is mandatory for every special educator to be registered with RCI. Do log onto their website for details of courses etc:
www.rehabcouncil.org.
Build up on BOTANY
— Sakshi Verma A. BSc in Botany will provide you the basic knowledge on which you can build upon. Companies in agribusiness, biotech, herbal and Ayurvedic formulations/cosmetics — all these require people with an understanding of plants, but they would seek masters degree or research degree with specialisations. At the master’s level you can opt for environmental botany, biotechnology (plant biotech, tissue culture, biogenetics or agri-biotech, bio-fuels, nanotechnology, DNA computing), genetics, microbiology, oceanography, marine biology, fishery science, biochemistry, environmental science, molecular biology, physiology, toxicology, bioinformatics or related fields of agricultural sciences etc Depending on your area of specialisation, you could look at the following options: Research Associate in a university, government body, health authority or industry. Research Scientist in agricultural or botanical labs and biotechnology firms after completing a PhD Analyst and Investigator in food and beverage processing factories, dyes and drugs, and pharmaceutical industries to maintain quality and consistency of the products. Medical and Laboratory Technician in hospitals, laboratories, and institutions involved in conducting research and training Medical Sales Representative for promoting sales of pharmaceutical products to general practitioners, retail pharmacists, chemical processing, hospitals, clinics and doctors Conservationist to conduct biological surveys and make recommendations for the management and safeguarding of rare and endangered plants, animals and their habitats. Teacher in schools (after BEd) or at the college level (after qualifying the CSIR NET). If you are not interested in research, you can opt for the UPSC Exams particularly Indian Forest Service. However, from the career point of view, postgraduate, and better still PhD studies will offer better prospects — particularly for those interested in research and development fields.
The Integrated path
Q. I am in Class XII (science). Please give me some information about integrated MSc courses which can be done straight after school. — Arvind Saxena A. Other than the IITs which offer integrated MSc (as well as MTech) programmes in subjects like Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Physics, Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry, Applied Geology, Exploration Geophysics, Maths and Scientific Computing, and IT, several other universities e.g. the Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research, (Pune, Kolkata, Mohali, Bhopal & Thiruvanthapuram), patterned after the IIS, Bangalore, offer such programmes. As for undergraduate courses, admission to all integrated Master’s programmes is on the basis of the respective entrance exams (JEE, AIEEE or state-level entrance tests). Pursuing an integrated course is a good idea only when you are absolutely sure of your choice of subjects right at the outset (Class XII). In which case, it saves you a year or so. Also, unlike the usual BTech/BE or BSc course after which you have to take an entrance exam like GATE etc, for admission to MSc programmes in the IITs for instance, you directly move into the postgraduate level of the integrated programme. For the IISERs Elig: Class XII (Science(PCM &/B ), Selection: Merit in Class XII Boards, IIT JEE 2010 / KVPY (Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana), KVPY tests your comprehension and analytical abilities. The objective-type test assesses your mathematical and reasoning skills. Details: www.iisc.ernet.in/kvpy Students who have secured marks above the specified cut-off can also opt for Direct Admission on the basis of Aptitude Assessment which is a written MCQ test on Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology based on CBSE Class XII syllabus. Incidentally, all IISER students receive either KVPY/INSPIRE Scholarship of Rs 5,000 per month.
Music mantra
Q. I have been learning music privately from my guruji for the past eight years. Now that my kids are grown up, I would like to take up the job of a music teacher in a nearby school. What are the requirements? — Anvita Kaushik A.
To be appointed a full-time teacher in a school, you require a degree in music from a recognised university OR for direct recruits, Higher Secondary with any of the following:
The following Degrees/Diplo mas awarded by the Praccheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh are also treated as an equivalent qualification for the post of Music Teacher:
Of course you could take music classes for kids or anyone interested in learning, informally at home, if you don’t have the formal qualification. Although your music teacher, particularly if he comes from a traditional gharana or music school can help you prepare for these exams. Since you are already accomplished in the practical aspects, you just need to brush up on the theory part.
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
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Special chance Driving force
“I was looking for sincere and dedicated staff, and that’s why I took all girls who were physically challenged. These girls not only have tenacity, but are also eager to learn,” says Neelu Kothari who runs a tiffin service, by the name of At Your Door Step in Patiala. “The news that the food is prepared by handicapped girls has become my USP and has increased my sales tremendously”, says a beaming Neelu. “I always welcome partially disabled workers in my enterprise. Once they get a congenial and unbiased work atmosphere, these workers blossom into diligent workers who are the real assets of my organisation”, says Vikas Garg of Mandi-Gobindgarh-based Punjab Hammers. “Apart from this, it is also my corporate social responsibility”. “We also employ physically challenged people in Inspection and Quality control section. As this is a desk job, these workers not only get job satisfaction, but also get an equal chance for promotions”, says Hukumchand HR Manager with India Sphinx in Baddi. More and more corporates like Costa Coffee and KFC in Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi, courier companies and spa and reflexology centres, too, are coming forward to employ the differently abled workers people as they consider it a part of their corporate social responsibility. The private sector seem to be slowly becoming aware of the positive role that it can play in providing a suitable platform to the differently abled persons.
Changing lives
Just giving jobs is not the end of the story here, as the companies also have to adopt some measures to make the workplace more sensitized towards the special needs of these special workers. “When a new trainee comes at my parlour, it takes about 15 days for her to open up and she gets fully trained in their training set up in about 1-1.5 years after learning the art of lip reading and sign language”, says Salochna. “When we select these candidates, then they are given on-job training, and after that permanent employability. When the time for appraisals is there we judge them at par with their other colleagues and we have observed that they acquit themselves fairly creditably”, says Hukumchand. It has been observed that these people have greater concentration power, tremendous capacity to work as per work ethics. “I hire physically challenged people because they keep the attrition level low. I have observed that in the long run they are more loyal to the company vis a vis others”, says Vikas, while adding “I have got fantastic results by employing them. Since the job for which we hire them requires interface with the customers, and because of the long tenures that they develop fantastic repo with the clients, which in return jack up our revenues exponentially”. Salochna says, “Most of the girls after finishing their training either get employment in other parlours or start their own parlours where they earn around Rs 10,000 per month very easily.” Though with almost 70 million people with disability in the country, it
will require a much bigger effort to provide suitable employment to them. The three per cent reservation in the
government sector is not sufficient to provide financial independence to all of them, so the ball is in the court of the private sector to play a greater role in offering employment opportunities to this
“special” work force.
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New wave entrepreneurs
A new generation of homegrown entrepreneurs has come into existence as a result of economic downturn, with one in every six people surveyed in the country describing themselves as ‘self-employed’ now, a survey has said. According to workforce solutions provider Kelly Services’ survey of 1,34,000 people globally, including over 4,000 in India, the economic slowdown has led to the creation of a new wave of self-employed individuals. In India, around 18 per cent of the respondents are currently self-employed. Of this (18 per cent), 26 per cent fall in the category of baby boomers (age between 48-65 years), 20 per cent Gen Y (18-29 years) and 14 per cent are Gen X (30-47 years). Of those not currently working independently, six per cent are “extremely attracted”, and 33 per cent ‘somewhat attracted’ in doing so, the
survey revealed. “Many of those who lost their jobs as a result of global economic crisis are reinventing themselves as independent contractors, freelancers and consultants. Today, people are taking charge of their own careers and view self-employment as a way of achieving personal and professional success,” Kelly Services Managing Director Kamal Karanth said. “The idea of being a freelancer is exciting professionals and they believe that they are skillful enough to move away from traditional employment relationship and pick self- employment...The survey report shows, in India, there are people who prefer being freelancers and are promoting others too,” Karanth added. The appeal of self-employment coincides with a trend towards outsourcing of non-core functions, which has seen many organisations reduce their permanent workforce, creating new opportunities for these freelancers, the report stated. In terms of generational perspective, there is a pattern of younger workers being more enthusiastic than their older counterparts about embarking on a more flexible and entrepreneurial work arrangement. Those sectors with greatest concentration of self - employed workers were utilities, government, engineering and manufacturing. The Kelly ‘Global Workforce Index’ is an annual survey revealing opinions about work and the workplace from a generational viewpoint.
— PTI
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Patent and IP
NEW DELHI: The Global Institute of Intellectual Property (GIIP), an institute in the field of Patent & Intellectual Property Services, has announced admissions open for its diploma and certificate courses. These courses are available at the GIIP centres in Delhi and Bangalore and are designed specifically for graduates, post-graduates and PhDs in technical and legal domains who wish to build a career in the booming Intellectual Property (IP) industry. The nine-month full time PG Diploma Course is meant for technical professionals aspiring for a lucrative career in Patent and IP Related services. This course includes three months of corporate internship. On the other hand, the three-month full time PG Certification Course caters primarily to legal and management professionals and offers up-to-date education in US, European and Indian IP laws. The admissions for these courses close on June 15. Forms are available on GIIP website (www.giipinfo.com) and students can also write to admissions@giipinfo.com. Each application is carefully evaluated by the GIIP Selection Committee for assessing eligibility of the applicant. To cater to the needs of working professionals and corporate executives, GIIP offers an Executive Post Graduate Programme in Patent Protection, Enforcement and Management. It is primarily meant for graduates with work experience, post graduates and PhD holders. On the same lines GIIP, in collaboration with National Law University (Delhi), is also offering a 1-year Part Time Post Graduate Diploma in IP and Patent Law meant for the technical and legal students.
Info Management
Chandigarh: Admission to courses in information management at N-CARE (NIAM Centre for Analytics & Research Excellence), India’s Educational Institution specialising in industry integrated programme in Information Management, Research and Analytics, is on. The institute has campuses in Faridabad and
Bangalore.
This institute is focused on addressing the ever growing industry needs for skilled manpower in the field of information management, research and analytics across all major sectors such as technology, telecom, Finance, Pharma, KPO/ ITES, Government, FMCG etc.
Courses for which students can apply include MBA (Masters in Business Administration) in Information Management — Two years full time; BBA (Bachelor’s in Business Administration in Information Management — Three year full time. Applications for the courses will be accepted until June 30. The admission procedure includes an entrance examination specially designed to map the analytical and reasoning skill of an individual followed by GD and one-on-one interviews. The courses offered at the institute are MBA in Information Management (2-year full time) & BBA in Information Management (3 years full time). Both the courses are affiliated to the West Coast University USA & IGNOU Students interested in applying for the courses can find more details at www.niamcare.com & Toll free 1800-103-7678. All the applicants will have to undergo a common entrance test followed by interviews and group discussions.
— TNS
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Getting hired The interviewers look for not only the requisite qualifications and expertise, but also for some useful skills in a candidate. They prefer candidates who are better qualified, and possess usable job-related skills. The job-related experience, preferably in a reputed company, is given an added weightage. The interviewers look for a positive attitude in a candidate. They judge the sense of commitment of a candidate, so the candidates who prove their commitment to go that extra mile, are put on the selection list. Bluffing and dodging the interviewers doesn’t pay as the recruiters explore how much productive and constructive a candidate would prove to be for the company. In case, they find the worth of the candidate beyond doubt, they put him/her among the list of selected candidates. Whether the nature of the candidate is an adjustable one, is another important criteria. Why should a company select a candidate who would mar the congenial atmosphere in the workplace? After all, cooperation, coordination, and peace of mind among workers is a must for the health of a company. A dynamic personality is preferred to a poor one. A candidate needs to be smart not only in physical appearance, but emotionally and mentally too. He/she should answer all questions in a cool calculated manner, exuding confidence. So speak neither fast nor slow. Enthusiasm is
naturally preferred. Interviewers prefer a candidate who is neither shy nor self-conscious. They can judge a candidate on this within the first two minutes of the interview. What they look for is the natural ability in a candidate. The one who becomes self-conscious every time a fresh question is shot, is rejected because of his wavering attitude. Interviewers look for up to date knowledge in a candidate. Interviewers, if really satisfied, even go to the extent of recommending special; advance increments for such talented candidates. Interviewers don’t prefer candidates who talk irrelevant, but the one who means business like the owl in the poem of Edward H. Richard: “A wise old owl sat on an oak/ The more he saw the less he spoke/ The less he spoke the more he heard/ Why not be like that wise old bird?”
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Happiness @ work
For change, get out of comfort zone
Through sacrifice comes happiness, said Krishna to Arjuna (Gita 4.31). While on the peace mission before the Mahabharata war, Krishna reiterated it to the Kuru elders, “For the greater good of all, each must sacrifice a little of his own. Arrest Duryodhana, make peace with the Pandavas and save the Kshtriyas from destruction.”
Volunteers and donations for the Indian National Army poured in after Subhas Chandra Bose declared, “Give me blood and I will give you freedom.”
To seek help in stalling forcible conversions of Kashmiri Brahmins to Islam, Pandit Kirpa Ram met ninth Sikh master Guru Tegh Bahadur at Anandpur. “They can only be saved if a great soul offers himself for martyrdom,” the guru explained to his son and successor Guru Gobind Rai. “Then who is greater than you,” remarked the 13-year-old who later founded the Khalsa Panth. “There was wailing in the world, but rejoicing in heaven,” Guru Gobind Singh wrote about Guru Tegh Bahadur’s
martyrdom.
The fear that Julius Caesar would accept the crown and hence destroy democracy made Brutus decide to murder his dear friend.
To bring India out of the clutches of starvation, Vinoba Bhave started his Bhoodan Movement asking big landlords to donate part of their land to landless farmers. The Green Revolution followed showering its bounty on Indian fields. “As long as my country is enslaved, death is the only bride whom I will embrace,” Bhagat Singh told Sukhdev when his father mailed him a marriage proposal. For the Congress’ sake, Gandhiji told Vallabhbhai Patel to step aside so that Jawaharlal Nehru could become party president. He did so with no hesitation in 1929, 1937 and 1946. No pain, no gain!
— Sai R. Vaidyanathan
The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
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Robotics holds the promise of an exciting career for those with a scientific and innovative bent of mind, writes
Fazle Ghufran
Robotics holds the promise of an exciting career for those with a scientific and innovative bent of mind, writes
Fazle Ghufran 
Those with PCM in Plus II can opt for this field. To opt for professional studies one needs to have a B.Tech. (either in mechanical or electrical engineering). Robotics is a mix of all branches of engineering, like mechanical, electronics etc. 
Q. Could you please help me out with the names of colleges that offer ship building engineering in India?
Q. I am a graduate housewife keen on working in the field of Special Education (my son is visually challenged). Could you please tell me about the institutions offering courses in this field?
Q. I am in Class XII. I would like to take biology or botany in BSc. Please tell me something about the scope of these subjects from the career point of view.
Our relationship with society is symbiotic. It works on a reciprocal basis. What we get from society, we need to give back to it. What better way to give it back, than to do something for physically challenged and differently abled people. “There has been a systematic neglect of the disabled in India”, says Javed Abidi, Chairman of the National Centre for promotion of Disabled People (NCPEDP). Their employability is a cause of concern. Do we really think masala-grinding, envelope-pasting and candle making can make a disabled person self-sufficient? According to Abidi, “Government figures also put the number of disabled people who are employed at less than 1 per cent”. That leaves much to be desired and done. But certain philanthropists have taken upon themselves the onerous task of training and giving employment to the disabled people. Their desire for doing this can be circumstantial, need based or purely an act of philanthropy, let’s find it out.
“I wanted to make my daughter, who is hearing impaired, self-sufficient so I learnt the A,B,C of beauty profession all by myself and then trained my daughter in it”, say Salochna, proprietor of Salochna’s Beauty World, who is running a beauty parlour-cum-training school for deaf and dumb girls in Chandigarh for the past 30 years (see pic). Now her daughter is married and has two grown up sons and has her own parlour in Baroda. 
A wide variety of new careers and jobs are on offer these days with the advancement in science and technology. Along with this change the requirements of job providers have also undergone a change. Thus it is important to know the pulse of the interviewers if you want to see your name in the list of successful candidates. 
At the workplace, many of us keep hankering for a change for the better. But nothing changes because all of us have found our comfort zones and are unwilling to come out of these. 