A science of many hues
Students of political science have a vast range of careers to choose from, writes Usha Albuquerque

Did you enjoy watching the movie Rajneeti, and feel you can change the political system? Are you looking for a career in law or in the civil services? If so, you would do well to take up the study of political science.

Political science is the study of the Constitution of a country and its different political aspects. It is a social science that involves the study of governmental systems and general principles that govern the world of politics. It is an excellent humanities subject best suited for students interested in learning how groups of people govern themselves, how policies are made, and how we can improve our government policies at the local, state, national, and international levels.

Political science covers fields of study such as political theory, public policy, international relations, political philosophy, political economy, history, public administration and a host of related fields. Political scientists use both humanistic and scientific perspectives and tools and a variety of methodological approaches to examine the process, systems, and political dynamics of all countries and regions of the world. 

Multi-career choice

The study of political science prepares you to pursue many different careers. Besides fields of work directly related to the subject such as politics, public administration, international relations and so on, a study of political science helps develop not only reasoning and analytical skills, but also communication skills, both oral and written. In addition the new syllabus pursued in most of the top universities also hones skills in data analysis and computer usage.

It is not surprising therefore that students of political science can pursue careers in a range of different areas from law and management to government services, journalism and international relations.

After taking up political science as an elective subject in school or college, a student can get into the following careers:

Civil Services — This is possibly the most popular choice of many political science students. The study of political science enables you to understand governance and how it functions, as well as a detailed knowledge of public administration, political theory and philosophy that can help you in a career in government. Moreover, political science is also known to be a scoring subject in the Civil Services examinations.

Law — It is a popular choice of political science graduates. While political science is not required for admission to law school, those who do take it up find the course extremely useful in their legal careers, which can range from private practice to civil, constitutional or corporate law.

Management — With a social science education, and skills in analysis and communication acquired while doing political science, many graduates move into areas of business management in a variety of fields, including marketing, personnel, advertising, public relations, international business, banking and finance after a post-graduate degree or diploma in business management.

International Relations — There are a large number of international organizations which need individuals for management, research, and interaction with other public and private entities. With a background in law, public administration, and communications, political science graduates are best suited for such a career. The United Nations, international businesses, and various international relief and aid groups look for people who understand the problems of our increasing economic and political interdependence with the rest of the world. While political science is an excellent preparation for this field, you may also want to develop some substantive expertise in a particular area, such as environment protection, education, development studies, labour laws, communication and so on. If you are interested in working for an international organization, it is advisable to learn a foreign language also – often a prerequisite for such assignments. Some voluntary work or internship with a social work organization or NGO can also go a long way in enabling you to enter an international organization.

Journalism — Political science graduates can also look at joining the media as political correspondent/analyst/ researcher. Newspapers, as well as television channels require individuals capable of understanding and communicating the significance of political events. With the increased emphasis on investigative and political journalism there are many opportunities for those who understand politics, and can research problems or events, and write clear coherent stories. Here too some work experience or internship with a local newspaper, or TV channel will provide opportunities for exposure to this field.

Getting In

You can take up political science in college for graduation after Plus II with any subject stream. Practically all universities offer a bachelor’s and master’s degree in political science. Post-graduate and doctoral courses like M.Phil and Ph.D. courses are also offered by many universities with specializations in many related fields.

Political science course covers subjects like forms of democracy, concept of nationhood, powers and functions of the executive and judiciary, the evolution of the Indian Constitution, political thought and theories, foreign policy, contemporary issues in international relations, public administration and public policy formulation, as also subjects like economics and sociology.

Political science graduates acquire skills in writing, communications, and analysis that are critical to fields of social sciences where students learn to think independently, and understand concerns of others. A study of political science will also help you develop other valuable skills, including analysing and selecting information, problem solving, thinking logically and communicating ideas concisely.

For those looking for a political career, political science training provides valuable preparation for participating in university and district level organisations, electoral politics, movements on behalf of specific policies, as well as in politics itself.

Prudent evaluation

Q. What exactly is the credit based evaluation system? How do we students benefit from it?

— Anila Ghosh

A. Most technical institutions in the country have moved to a credit-based evaluation system. The credit-based system is generally preferred as it is a modular system and allows students greater flexibility in their choices of courses within the programme of study. It also gives you the flexibility of completing the course at your own pace. So you can take a tougher course when you can handle it, rather than be forced to do so at a particular time specified in the programme.

Evaluation in the system is based on grades and cumulative grade point average (CGPA) which is the average of your grades for all completed semesters.

The accumulation of credits allows for both upward as well as lateral mobility. The most important advantage of the system is that you are assessed throughout the year and not merely on the basis of a single exam at the end of the academic session.

As the credit-based system is internationally accepted, it is beneficial for students who wish to go abroad for further studies. They can get credits for their degrees when they apply to universities abroad.

Vocational stream

Q. I failed my matriculation exam some years back. For some time, I have been running a small shop for repairing radio and TV sets, at which I am really good. Is there some way to pass an exam or get a recognised certificate for my skills, which I may be able to use if my family migrates to a different city? I am currently a resident of Jind.

— Milkat Saini

A. Sure, you can pass an exam, get a certificate and before that, learn some more about Radio and TV repairing, provided you can show that you have been in this business for at least two years. The one-year certificate programme for Radio and TV Technicians offered by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has Class X pass as the minimum admission requirement, which you don’t have, or Class VIII pass with two years of experience in radio and TV repair, which you most likely do.

NIOS has about 1138 accredited vocational centres (AVCs) that serve as facilitation centres-cum-examination centres and training centres, providing training — practical and theoretical.

As luck would have it, there’s one in Jind itself: CR Kisan Industrial Training Centre, Patiala Chowk.

And if you suffer from exam phobia, relax. Only 15 per cent of the score in this course is based on theory, the rest is based on practical and internal assessment, where — if what you claim is right — you should come out with flying colours.

By the way, why don’t you add to your repertoire of skills and thereby improve your career prospects, by taking some additional vocational course later from NIOS, for example, in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning or Electrical Technician or any other from their wide list of offerings.

For details, refer to their website www.nios.ac.in

Fascination for ships

Q. I am a student of Class XII and I have this great fascination for ships. Are there any courses that could give me a career in ship building?

— Alok Gosain

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:

Cochin University of Science and Technology, D/o Ship Technology, Kochi (www.cusat.ac.in)

Eligibility: Plus II (PCM) First Div.

Selection: Entrance Test/Interview.

IIT-Madras, Chennai (TN).

Courses: BTech (Naval Archi & Ocean Engg, Dual Degree Prog: BTech and MTech in Naval Arch and Ocean Engg);

Naval Architecture Engg with M.Tech. in Applied Mechanics in any of the listed Selection: JEE. specialisations.

IIT-Kharagpur, Kharagpur (www.iitkgp.ac.in ).

Course: BTech (Ocean Engg & Naval Arch), Dual Degree Ocean Engg & Naval Archi).

Selection to the programmes at the IITs is through the JEE.

International Maritime Academy (IMA), Chennai (www.ima-maritime.com)

Course: B.Tech - Naval Arch & Ocean Engg (4 Year)

Eligibility: Plus II (PCM) 50%

College of Engineering (Andhra Univ), Waltair, Visakhapatnam (AP).

Institute of Shipbuilding Technology, Goa (www.isbt.ac.in)

You can also opt for the Indian Navy – Cadet Entry Scheme through which, selected candidates are inducted as Cadets for four-year B Tech course in Electronics and Communication and Mechanical Engineering at the prestigious Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala. During the course, cadets are allotted Engineering or Electrical branch, upon completion of which they will receive a B Tech degree of JNU.

After the first term, if you are lucky, you will be nominated for B Tech in Naval Architecture and Ship Building (4-year) from Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), if you clear the CUSAT’s Common Admission Test.

A beautiful choice

Q. I am in Class XII. I am very keen to pursue a career in beauty care instead of doing the routine graduation. Please tell me if there are enough opportunities in this field? I need to convince my parents.

— Lara Sharma

A. Beauty offers several career avenues with lucrative opportunities for growth and specialisation.

A minimum school leaving education is enough to enter vocational training in beauty.

Some major career  opportunities include:

l Entrepreneurship — starting one’s own beauty clinic, managing beauty salons, health clubs and spas

l Beauty therapists in salons and day spas

l Masseurs, beauty consultant / advisor

l Makeup Artiste, Hairstylist, Hair Colourist

l Product consultants in cosmetic companies

l Teachers in Beauty schools

The fashion industry, advertising, TV and Films also require expert makeup artistes and hair stylists.

You can specialise in different kinds of makeup (bridal makeup, makeup for TV, film, theatre, still photography, ramp modelling etc)

You can also freelance after advance training in the respective field.

You should be creative and have a keen eye for colours and how to relate them to individual features, skin tones

Use different techniques like shadowing, highlighting, concealing into play.

After a professional diploma, you can pursue advance training in the selected field: makeup, hairstyling, massage, nail art, spa treatment, traditional ayurvedic treatments, aromatherapy, laser or electrolysis.

With experience and qualification from reputed beauty schools you can expect higher remuneration.

Make-up artistes and hairstylists for ad campaigns, modelling and shooting schedules charge hefty fees per assignment, depending on their exp and reputation.

Managers of salons and product consultants in cosmetic companies can earn salaries comparable to those in the corporate world.

While a regular Bachelor’s degree is not mandatory, it may be useful to pursue one through correspondence at least. Should you wish to pursue a course at the PG level, this will come in handy.

Open field

Q. I did my Class XII from NIOS in 2007 due to a sports injury which did not permit me to continue my studies through regular attendance. Am I eligible to pursue my graduation from Delhi University by correspondence because I have a very low aggregate score and a gap of so many years? Can I apply for DU’s correspondence courses through the sports or extra-curricular activities quota?

— Vimal Baxi

A. As long as you have the necessary marks (40% for BA and B Com programme. 45% for BA (Hon) Political Sc and 50% for BA (Hon) English), you  shouldn’t have any problem getting admission to Delhi University’s School of Open Learning.

To apply through the sports quota, you must be a position-holder with performance certificates at the zonal, state, national, or international level.

The same rules apply for applying through the extra-curricular quota. But you should have a relevant certificate for the last four years in the field in which you have excelled like dance, drama, music, debates etc.

The application deadline is September 30, 2010 (October 29, with Rs 200 late fees), so you still have time.

Road to a dynamic sector
Charandeep Singh

Post liberalisation and with the advent of globalisation, Indian economy is on a roll. If we go by the prognosis of Goldman Sachs, India would be one of the most dominant world economies by 2050. The expected buoyancy in the Indian economy has been propelled further by huge expansion of service sector. Service sector accounts for 62.5 per cent of our GDP. 

With the opening up service sector new vistas have come to fore. Prominent amongst them are Insurance, Retail and Tourism and Travel. In the past decade there has been a huge spurt in their on-field activity. As these three sectors are manpower centric, on one have they have reduced unemployment on the other, these sectors have created a demand for niche specific resource persons. As such there is an unending demand in the market for resource persons who have specialisation in handling core issues relating to insurance, retail and travel. To plug in this gap of demand and supply, various autonomous institutes and even state-run universities are offering specialised certificate courses in insurance, retail and travel. After having these certificate courses in their kitty, the value of the resource person in job market increases, as also his options of being flexible in other job avenues. Let us discuss these in detail.

Insurance

India is the fifth largest life insurance market in the emerging insurance economies globally, growing at 15-20 per cent annually. Insurance premiums account for 4.8 per cent of our GDP. The World Insurance Report of 2009 describes the penetration of life insurance in India as ‘still woefully low’. The average number of policies held by per Indian consumer is just 1.33 as against 5.2 policies per consumer in mature markets. As we can see from the numbers, the potential for expansion of the market is huge especially with rising per capita income and a growing middle class. As there is a dearth of specialised resource persons in Insurance various courses are now being offered by the Insurance Institute of India (III) as well as other institutes.

Courses by III: Certificate course in enhancing your insurance qualification. It is a three-pronged certificate course. First step is to obtain qualification of being Licentiate, Second is to clear the examination and become an Associate, and third is of the highest degree is to obtain the certificate of Fellowship.

Eligibility: Graduation

Scope for employment: Fellowship is the basic qualification required by many insurance companies, to become a part of their training faculty. One gets inducted as a training resource in any insurance organisation. Starting salary is about Rs. 30,000.

Course on increasing your Insurance Salesmanship. This course is designed by III to increase fine-tune the selling skills of insurance resource person. It is not specialisation, but it can be an add-on course.

Courses by Ritu Nanda Insurance School (RNIS)

l IRDA-approved Life Insurance Agent’s Pre- licensing Course — 50 hours.

l Life Insurance Agent’s License Renewal Course — 25 Hours.

l IRDA-approved General Insurance Agent’s Pre-licensing Course — 50 hours.

General Insurance Agent’s License Renewal Course — 25 hours.

Eligibility —Class XII

Scope: After doing these courses one is eligible for selling insurance product as an Insurance consultant or as an advisor.

Courses by Actuarial Society of India:

MSc. in Actuarial Science.

Course duration: Two years.

Eligibility: BSc.

Scope: Actuarial science is a highly specialised branch, on the very basis of which policies are formulated, by a logical mathematical and statistical approach. If you complete the course one becomes an actuary and job is highly paid with starting salary close to Rs 6 lakh per annum.

Keeping in mind the scope of expansion in Insurance, GNDU is offering an advance diploma in insurance and risk management.

Delhi University has even started B.A. with insurance as one of the subjects with Kurukshetra University is also offering some certificate courses in Insurance.

Then there is Taurus Insurance Institute in Chandigarh giving advance qualifications in insurance.

Retail sector

It is common in corporate parlance that boom in retail is yet to come. Retail is still in a nascent stage in India. With the spurt of shopping malls and departmental stores, huge employment opportunities are opening up in India. By the year 2016, people are expecting that in India the retail industry will be worth US$ 175- 200 billion. This has led many academic institutions in India to offer Retail Management Course.

Retail Management is a professional programme which prepares graduates to enter in the field of retailing. There is a huge demand for retail management professionals for processing all merchandise shipments, achieving store sales and profitability, communication with the clients to gain their satisfaction and administration of stores. Shantanu Mukherjee, manager corporate communication ‘Reliance Fresh’ says, “Retail is all about distribution of the product from the manufacturer to the consumers through short and convenient channels”.

Course Curriculum: The curriculum on retail management includes subjects like marketing information, finance management, accounting in retail, electronic retailing merchandise management, marketing and business communication. Students also learn about sales promotion with public relation, inventory management, customer relationship, business ethics, retail brand management, business communication, management and organisational behaviour.

Courses offered: Punjab University is offering a MBA with specialisation in Retail Management.

Eligibility: Graduation

Starting salary could be around Rs 35000.

National Institute of Fashion Design is offering specialised courses. Then there is Indian Institute of Retail, which is fast churning out retail professionals and then there is Indian Retail School to cater to the need of industry.

Basic qualification required in all these Institutes is Class XII and starting salary of the pass-outs is around Rs 12,000-15,000. But mostly pass-outs from these bodies start up their own entrepreneurial ventures.

Scope: Companies like Reliance India, Pantaloons, RPG Group, Titan, Raymond’s, Westside, Barista, Bata, Cafe Coffee Day, Pizza Hut, and Dominos etc. are some of the big companies who have opened their retail chains in India. This has created huge employment opportunities for trained retail management professionals.

Jobs of department managers, assistant store managers, buyer trainee, merchandising assistant, customer service representative, and management trainees are available in the retail sector.

Travel and Tourism

Increased tourism in India has created jobs in a variety of related sectors. The numbers tell the story: almost 20 million people are now working in the India’s tourism industry. The new growth sector is medical tourism. It is growing at an average of about 30 per cent. Eco tourism is also catching up fast in North India. Catering to the growing need of the industry, very many institutes are offering courses which help in churning out chiseled professionals for fitment in the travel industry.

Institutes offering courses in travel and tourism:

GNDU Amritsar’s faculty of Economics and Business is offering a certificate course in travel and tourism to its students. It is a post graduate course.

PG Diploma in travel and tourism is offered by Sukhmani Group of Institutions and the ITFT group in Chandigarh. The programme offers strong conceptual foundation to those wanting to build a career in the field of travel and tourism.

Lovely Professional University is offering various courses in MBA tourism and hospitality.

University Business School Chandigarh is offering a specialised PG course in Travel and Tourism.

One can also opt for Bachelor in tourism studies through IGNOU. A number of institutes have mushroomed up in Delhi, which offer specialised course material and training for travel and tourism purposes.

Delhi University and Kurukshetra University are also offering advanced certificate courses in Travel and Tourism.

Scope: The pass-outs can find a suitable fitment in various travel agencies as well as the Tourism Department of the Government .Students also find fitment in Time Sharing companies as well they can work as free lancing holiday consultants. Working as tour operators and finding a suitable job in transport company is another avenue, whereby job fitment is there. Banks require people to assist tourists and travelers on foreign exchange. Usually MBA professionals are preferred for this job.

Starting salary of any of these jobs is usually anywhere between Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000.

Another special avenue can be a job in those organisations which promote “Medical Tourism” or “Ecotourism”.

The finishing touch
Basant Kumar Mohanty

Aiming to increase the employability of students from management and engineering institutions, government will now provide free skill-based training to those facing difficulties in communication and professional approach.

HRD Ministry is set to revamp the scheme of “Finishing School” under which it will provide financial incentives to about 10,500 engineering and management institutions in the country to provide skill-based training to such students.

“Nearly 2.5 lakh to three lakh students will be benefited by the scheme every year. They will be imparted coaching to improve their communication skills. They will get exposure to current practices in industry,” AICTE Vice Chairman S.S Mantha said in New Delhi.

Mantha said the revamped scheme is being planned to be implemented from the coming session. He said nearly one million students pursue engineering and management degrees in the 10,500 institutions. Around 2.5 lakh to three lakh students lack different skills like communication abilities.

The revamped scheme is being prepared by a committee comprising experts from AICTE, FICCI, CII and NASSCOM.

The training will be imparted to the students during the last two semester of their courses. Each institute will have to identify the students who are poor in the basic skills. The institutes will organise special classes during summer vacation for these students.

“The institutes will invite experts from industry and other institutions to impart such skills. The students can also get exposure on current industry practices during their internships,” Mantha said.

The scheme is being revamped after a study by NASSCOM found that 25 per cent of engineering graduates in the country are employable. The rest of the students lack in several skills and fail to get jobs.

However, most of the 25 per cent students are found lacking in communicative skills. Many of them even are not well conversant with the subject they pursue.

The committee, preparing the revamped scheme, will finalise the modalities of the scheme by July end, Mantha said.— PTI

office mantra
Bust the stress mess
I.M. Soni

William JamEs, the father of modern applied psychology, says those who are too much preoccupied with the ‘result’ of their actions often blunder or mess up. He suggests the mantra of “Unclamp your intellectual machinery and let it run free”.

Who is stressed?

You become awkward at work when you strain too much , and think too much about what others say or think. Let the thing do itself, not what others think. You will do the right thing. Hone the art of letting go. This is necessary today more than ever; you need it in work, and for going up the job ladder.

Let go

When you let go you lose jitters. The stress and strain disappears. Your performance improves. Be aware of your ‘hurrism’.

You owe it to yourself. However, diverse and alarming the symptoms, there is a solution: bring the nerves back to normal from their over-stretched condition.

The body is recuperative, but to continue day after day in a state above the mark, brings edginess. The sooner you realise this, the better it will be. You cannot play fast and loose with your own system as it imposes penalties. The system that is stretched to the straining point over a long period becomes unable to perform its normal work. It cries for normalcy.

Remember that your nerves are a piece of elastic. If it is kept at full stretch, it becomes limp or snaps. You get a nagging feeling of being mentally tired which producing restlessness and inability to concentrate.

Steer clear of

The worst symptom is the feeling of irritability and resentment. These two foul your system as well as efficiency and hinder promotion. A poor personality is dustbined in any organisation.

Shun the dysphorics in your office. They spread gloom and morbidity. Similarly, keep the garrulous at bay. They rub you the wrong way, which may spoil your mood and work for the day.

Company matters

Keep the company of the ‘busy’ colleague. It is said: If you want to get a thing done, give it to the busy man!

By rubbing shoulders with such a colleague, you enhance your own efficiency.

You must accept the fact: be master of your nerves instead of letting nerves master you. Even if you fail, try again and pick up to what is bug.

You cannot be beaten unless you concede that you are.

High-stress jobs do come with unwanted, ‘perks’ like tension. Tension is caused by a disturbed rhythm. Get your rhythm back. Breathe deep. Breathe long. Continue with this regulatory exercise till the shallow breathing gets normal. When you breathe without being conscious of it, you get your poise back.

Give a good look to your work schedule. Arrange it. A chalked out programme saves you from ‘hurrism’. It is a planned assault on edginess. If you can make a plan and stick to it, you make each task easy as it comes along. You care well occupied without a sense of hurry.

You have seen executives furiously puffing at fags, downing dozens of tea or coffee cups, scurrying as if the organisation is sinking. These are the ones who are running but are going nowhere! Cultivate a pleasant relationship with your seniors, especially the boss. It acts as a lubricant, and takes away the friction which day-to-day functioning generates at workplace.

When fine fingers pluck at your nerves, do not pluck your hair, pluck out the irritants.

Take interest in your work. It is one big factor in job satisfaction. There must be joy in work of its own sake, for the fulfillment of personality. A fulfilled personality is an asset in any organisation.

Hunt for leaders from campus

Applications are invited from students in colleges across the country, preferably in their pre final year of education, to be a part of the Campus Ambassador programme envisaged by the Freshersworld.com, a job portal for freshers.

The Campus Ambassador programme aims to be one of the biggest student related mass outreach programmes. The Campus Ambassadors will serve as intercessors between the college and the job portal, apart from interacting with the Placement Coordinators for 
placement. Recruiters looking to hire fresh talent will find it easy to hire through this network and reach out to more students.

In its third phase this year the programme has a target of selecting around 1,000 Campus Ambassadors from all over the country. According to Manu Srikumar, the Marketing Manager of Freshersworld.com, who overlooks the campaign, the job portal is planning to have ambassadors in every single college of the country in the next three years.

The last date for submitting the applications is August 15, 2010. Freshersworld.com CEO, Joby Joseph believes that students in colleges are still very ill-equipped to carry out career search, including creating resumes and preparing for tests. The Campus Ambassadors will interact with Freshersworld.com and ensure that all the students are well educated in this regard. For this reason, the Campus Ambassador will be trained to use resources that the portal will provide. They will in turn help other students. – TNS

Study Abroad Ireland
The Irish dream
R.M.S. Atwal

Ireland is one of the countries that promise an ‘easy corridor’ to students for the neighbouring United Kingdom, the US and Canada. This has been made possible by Ireland’s study structure where a foreign student can do part of his studies in the island nation and the rest in any of the countries of his choice.

“Buoyed by a desire to take the benefit of a foreign degree, many students from Punjab and Haryana are currently opting for world-class Irish universities and colleges where they can spend a year or so and then move on to their ultimate study destination in the UK, US or Canada,” says Amit Kakkar, the Managing Director of Healthyway Immigration Consultant, a government-approved consultant in Chandigarh.

But for students from the region who are keen on studying in Ireland the slow clearance of visa files by the Irish Embassy in New Delhi is a major dampener and a demotivating factor. But as per Kakkar, “despite the time factor, Irish student visa is worth a wait considering its long-term benefits.”

While clearing up the doubts about the Irish experience Lavina Collins, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Irish Embassy, says that Ireland has one of the best education systems in the world (according to the independent IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2009 it ranks 8th in the world). According to her the quality of the Irish education system has been a major contributing factor in the rapid rate of economic growth of the country. The country is recognised as an international location for high quality scientific research, too.

Excerpts from an interview:

How easy or difficult it is to get a student visa for Ireland?

The requirements for application for a student visa for Ireland are set out in detail on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS), www.inis.gov.ie

Each application is examined and determined on an individual basis. We are continually updating and tightening our visa regulations to protect the student who genuinely wants to study and enjoy the experience that studying in Ireland has to offer. An Irish student visa is issued for a specific period of study in Ireland on the completion of their studies in Ireland, students can, of course, apply for a student visa to the UK or the US authorities, to further their studies, if they so wish.

How safe is Ireland for Indian students?

Ireland has a reputation for being a safe and welcoming country to live and is ranked 12th in the 2009 Global Peace Index. ‘Lonely Planet’ has voted it as the friendliest country in the world (2008 & 2010). Irish people are among the most enriching reasons to study in Ireland.

What about job opportunities for overseas students?

Indian students who have opted to do their higher studies in Ireland have invariably found their stay very academically rewarding and, on a personal level, a most congenial, interesting and worthwhile experience. Students from abroad are entitled to work part-time while in Ireland. On completion of their higher studies, students from India may stay on in Ireland for six months to allow them time, should they so wish, to seek employment and apply for a Work Permit.

Can students go to Ireland without clearing the IELTS?

The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service set minimum entry requirements for English. Most colleges and universities set higher standards for admission to a course. We recommend IELTS, but also accept TOEFL, Cambridge and ETAPP test results.

How do you see Ireland as a study destination five years down the line?

Ireland will continue to be a centre of excellence for education and over the next few years we hope to see more Indians experiencing and enjoying what Ireland has to offer. There will be a far greater number of educational exchanges between Indian and Irish Universities and a greatly enhanced level of cooperation in the areas of science and technology.

Solid references

Smart resume and impressive interview needs to be combined with strong references as reference check can be the real deal maker or breaker for job aspirants, says a latest study.

On an average, 21 per cent of job seekers are taken out of consideration by managers after a check of professional references, according to a survey conducted by the staffing service firm OfficeTeam in the US.

The report said that 36 per cent of the employers who get in touch with the references are most interested in description of candidates’ past job duties and experience of potential employees. While an additional 31 per cent find out about job seekers’ strengths and weaknesses.

Out of the rest, 11 per cent of hiring personnel try to seek confirmation of a job title and dates of employment from job seeker, 8 per cent of them want to ask about description of workplace accomplishments. And the other 7 per cent want to get a sense of the applicant’s preferred work culture.

“When hiring managers narrow the field to a few potential candidates, the reference check often becomes the deciding factor,” said OfficeTeam Executive Director Robert Hosking.

“To distinguish themselves from the competition, job seekers should assemble a solid list of contacts who can persuasively communicate their qualifications and professional attributes,” he added.

Besides, the report offers some tips for creating a reference list that works in favour of people looking for a job. — PTI

Happiness work
Keep personal away from professional
Gems of ancient wisdom

Mixing personal and professional issues can bring grief to others involved as the cause is always greater than any individual.

“How can I kill my kinsmen in battle,” asked Arjuna. Krishna, in the 700 verses of the Bhagvadgita, explained in detail that it wasn’t a personal war, but a battle between Good and Evil, dharma and adharma.

When his brother Kacha rebelled, Emperor Samudragupta of the Gupta Empire in the fourth century hesitated in picking up the battle-axe. His court official Harishena said, “You are first a king, then a brother.” On seeing the huge Gupta army, Kacha fled away from the battlefield.

Lal Bahadur Shastri’s son Hari’s illness had taken a turn for the worse, but the jail warden would not let Shastri stay at home without a written promise that he would not take part in any political activity during his release. The freedom struggle cannot be compromised for anything personal, thought Lal Bahadur Shastri and accompanied the warden to jail.

How can you let your sons go and meet certain death, Guru Gobind Singh’s followers asked him when Princes Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh rode out to fight the Mughals outside Chamkaur fort in December 1705. “All of you are my own sons,” declared the guru.

“Which one of your brothers do you want alive,” Yama asked Yudhisthira at the enchanted pool where Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva lay dead. “Nakula,” said the eldest Pandava without hesitation, “Thus, I, a son of Kunti, and Nakula, a son of Madri, my step-mother, will be alive.” 

On the other hand, Karna took the Mahabharata war as a personal tussle between himself and Arjuna. He spared Bhima, Sahadeva, Nakula, Yudhisthira’s lives on the 13th, 14th, 16th and 17th day of battle, respectively, as a promise to Kunti and ultimately suffered the consequences. Don’t let your personal bias cloud your judgment.— Sai R. VaidyanathanThe writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com