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Happy workers sleep better
NEWS BOARD
WOMEN @ WORK
Happiness @ work
Career
Hotline
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Eve’s options
Not surprising then that today India has the world's largest number of professionally qualified women — more female doctors, surgeons, scientists and professors than the US. The surging economy has created a host of new jobs, new fields of work which are prompting young women to make choices, take up new challenges and be willing to cut loose from the conservative mindset. The new order is slowly nudging a traditional society to accept these new freedoms for women — engineers and fashion designers, DJs and choreographers living and earning independently, deferring marriage for a year or two, maybe more, while they make money and live lives that their mothers could not have dreamt of. The motivating factors are not only economic, but independence, challenge, status, influencing others, increase in purchasing power and so on. Although their ranks are minuscule at the top rungs of the corporate India, it is common to see women in jobs that either did not exist a generation ago, or in jobs that would have rarely been filled by women. They can be seen working as gas station attendants, taxi drivers as well as magazine editors and software programmers. At one time the only jobs suitable for girls were teaching, nursing, and possibly some creative fields like interior decoration. Today girls want to be astronauts, civil engineers, investment bankers and corporate lawyers. There is also a perceptible change in parents' perceptions. They want daughters to be educated and financially independent even before marriage — not only to be able to get better matches, but also to enable them to have an individual identity. Even matrimonial columns are reflecting this change as more grooms are now looking for working wives. Here are some top career choices for the modern Indian woman:
Banking
With the increasing growth of the financial sector, banking has emerged as a high profile career with good job prospects , especially for women. This is one sector that has seen many women in top positions in nationalised and private banks. Banks have also diversified their activities into varied areas in the personal banking sector to include housing finance, leasing and hire purchasing. Private banks are extending services to include wealth management and equity trading apart from a range of credit facilities. Eligibility: Graduation (preferably commerce and economics) for nationalised banks. Entry is through the Bank Probationary Officers exam conducted by the UPSC. MBA, Chartered Accountancy, Master's in finance/economics for entry into private and foreign banks.
HR Managers
People are the most valuable resource in an organisation. Most organisations, therefore, have full-fledged departments to help promote and nuture a vibrant environment where people enjoy working and are committed to achieving business excellence. Recognising women's strong social and communication skills, more and more women are encouraged to join the HR area of corporate management, where it is important to place the right man/woman at the right place through recruitment, promotion or transfer, and ensure that he is able to perform effectively for his own benefit and that of the organisation. Eligibility: MBA route with a specialisation in personnel or HR management, or a Master's degree in human resource development, organisational behaviour and other specialised experience in personnel related activities.
Computer professional
The beauty of this field is that you don't necessarily need a degree or an engineering qualification to work in the IT industry. Today diploma and certificate courses are developing job skills focused on employment. A basic level course in computers, or an "O" level course at a DOEACC institute will teach you the basics of computer operations along with some programmes. With some further training you could also move into programming jobs, where you would be responsible for writing and testing programmes and assisting users during the implementation phase. Depending on the competencies you are able to develop, you could take up jobs such as that of Systems analyst, Systems programmers, analyst programmers, database management, networking, coders and so on. Eligibility: The minimum requirement for entry is a logical bent of mind and a willingness to learn continuously.
Animation & Multimedia
In this computer age, the mouse, rather than the brush, is creating a range of colourful careers that didn't exist earlier. Integrating video, audio, text and graphic components in an interactive format multimedia technology's applications are wide-ranging. Today artists don't just work with easels, palettes and brushes, they sit in front of computer monitors spinning out animated characters and imaginary settings for films, television, advertising, corporate communications and gaming too. India is emerging as a big base for outsourcing animation and digital special effects work for studios such as Disney Pictures, Spielberg's DreamWorks and Cartoon Network. Eligibility: Natural artistic talent, strong imagination and basic computer skills. Moreover, a course in web design, content writing or web development is useful
Catering
With the number of new eateries coming up practically every week, catering as a career has truly arrived. From pubs to fast food joints, and from a variety of Thai, Mexican and Korean food restaurants to specialised catering for weddings and fancy events, food has hit the national consciousness like never before. If you have a knack for cooking, baking or chocolate making, here is a career you can work on from the comfort of your home. Many young women have set up their own small-scale catering businesses, providing local firms with home cooked mid-day snacks. Moreover, fast food joints are now being given out on franchise basis and restaurants offering different cuisines are in great demand. You can also specialise in different kinds of foods — cakes, desserts, snacks, chocolates, or specialised cuisine. And while it helps to have done a course in catering, it is not necessary, if you have an instinct for food, and for what will sell. Eligibility - A diploma / degree in catering or culinary art, cookery craft, or bakery and confectionary
Corporate Communications
In today's world where perceptions are so important, corporate communications ensures that the lines of communication between an organisation and its consumers stay open and profitable. And as image consciousness holds the key to success, the scope and influence of corporate communications is constantly widening. As the term implies, those getting into this field need to have confidence and excellent communication skills. Most companies also look for certain personal attributes in the candidate. These would include an attractive personality, a liking for people, innovative thinking, initiative, and a sense of salesmanship can also take you places. Eligibility: a course in mass communication or communications management can provide the knowledge and skills to get into this field.
Psychologists /
Counsellors
Another job almost tailormade for women is that of the psychologist or counselor. Women are observant, patient and have more empathy and sensitivity towards others - qualities that make them pre-eminently suitable for the job of psychologists or counsellors. Today's complex living conditions - violence, natural calamities, financial uncertainties, the generation gap, economic disparities and so on, have played havoc with modern man's social and emotional well being. Psychologists study the physical, cognitive, emotional, or social aspects of human behavior so as to find answers that may help people deal with personal, social and behavioural problems without medication. Psychologists can work in schools, hospitals, corporate organisations, NGO, prisons, private clinics and so on. Eligibility: M.A. or M.Sc. Degree in psychology with specialisation in the area of work There are a thousand more careers, traditional and non-traditional that women can choose, but the best jobs for women ultimately depends upon their individual needs. For some, high pay is the ultimate differentiator while for others; it may be the flexibility to set their own hours, work from home, or the existence of on-site daycare. Whatever may be the circumstances, it is important that educated women understand that they have a say in the choice they make The most powerful secret weapon for a woman today is her education. Every young girl must get as much education and training as she can in the field that excites her. Pick up the skills you need as you go along, particularly, a language and the computer and internet. Today's opportunities are so diverse that every woman can make a career for herself in the colours she chooses, and paint for herself a canvas of her own success.
The writer is a career expert
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SAVING GRACE
Everything was going so well. Your solid handshake was met with a warm smile from the hiring manager. The interview started off with some small talk that segued into some skillfully answered questions. You can already visualise what your desk is going to look like. Then, as suddenly as a lightening strike, the interview takes a turn for the worse. Whether it’s a question you weren’t prepared for or a not-so-well-received answer, it's easy to tell when an interview goes off course. And it's quite possibly the most nerve-wracking, upsetting, desperate experience that a job seeker can suffer. Like Charles Sullenberger approaching the Hudson River, one can make the best of a bad situation, no matter how dire. However, saving a bad interview takes quick thinking and persistence. Are you up to the challenge?
Drawing a Blank
You studied the company’s website and memorised the answer to every common interview question you could find. Then the unimaginable happens: you’re faced with a question you weren’t expecting. You can’t figure out what to say and the impending silence feels so awkward, you might as well be wearing nothing but your birthday suit. How do you fix this? Solution: Focus on something you were prepared for. While you don’t want to get in the habit of doing this, sometimes it pays to give a non-answer, especially when the alternative is a seemingly unending chasm of silence. Hey, politicians do this all the time. If the interviewer threw you for a loop with a question on how you handled a conflict with a co-worker, change the subject to something semi-related that you did prepare for, like your collaborative skills on a challenging project where you excelled.
Devil's Advocate
No matter what, you and the person on the other side of the interview table aren’t going to agree on everything. Hopefully you won’t find much resistance to any of the answers you give during your interview, but you should prepare for a situation where the two of you won’t see eye-to-eye. After all, some interviewers argue with candidates just to test how they will react under scrutiny. Still, a disagreement can be very unnerving, making you wonder if you just lost your chance at landing the job.
Solution: Find common ground
You don't want to position yourself as someone who'll change their opinion based on who they're trying to impress, but you do want the interviewer to feel comfortable. Don't get defensive or combative — try to smooth over disagreements with statements like, “I can understand that point of view,” or “You know, I never thought about it that way”. Then, even if you didn't give the perfect answer. You'll look flexible. That's a better idea than changing your answer entirely, as that will lead the interviewer to think you're just saying what they want to hear.
No Chemistry
You want the job. You spent days preparing for the interview. So why does it seem like your interview has all the excitement and energy of a bunch of turtles running a marathon? No matter what you say or do, the interviewer is yawning, looking at his watch, and pretty much doing anything besides showing you the attention you deserve. Since you can't exactly suggest that they take five minutes to drink a cup of highly caffeinated coffee, how do you make sure you don't put this person who has your future career in his hands to sleep? Solution: Involve the interviewer You might be the one getting interviewed, but everyone likes to talk about themselves. If you sense a lull in the questioning, ask your own open-ended questions. See what the employer is looking for in an employee. Ask what they like about working for the company (and if they have a hard time answering this question, you might want to take that into consideration).
Sweaty Palms
To be nervous before and during an interview makes you human. However, to suffer the jitters to such an extent that you are shaking, stuttering and sweating profusely will sound the alarm to employers that you aren’t a stable enough person to work with every day. After all, if you're freaking out so much that you can't give reasoned responses, you won't give a very good first impression. Solution: Practice, practice The way to avoid rattling the table with your nerves is to prepare. Preparation can take many forms, depending on what works for you. For some, visualisation is enough. Others need to practice reciting answers in front of a mirror or friend. The key for most people is to practice the same answers several times — if you only do it once, you might forget it when the spotlight's shining on you. Practicing the same answer five times (or more) will trigger your brain's memory. So even if you get flustered during the interview, you'll find yourself reciting
the intelligent responses you'd planned on giving.
Too Little, Too Late
The hour’s almost up, and you have this lingering feeling that you haven't done enough. Some of your answers were flat, or maybe you weren't able to hit some of the talking points you'd prepared. However, the interviewer's time is undoubtedly valuable; if they're clearly wrapping things up, you can't exactly beg for more time. How do you turn a mediocre interview into a good one when time is running out? Solution: Post-interview damage control Focus on what you can do afterwards. Thank you notes are required these days, but you should know that by now! You don't need to keep it simple though, especially if you want to make a couple of points you didn't get to during the actual interview. Don't write a novel, but feel free to touch on additional skills and reiterate your interest in the position. In the case of a good follow up letter, sometimes the last impression can mean more than the first one. Just getting an interview call should boost your confidence. Something about you, your resume, cover letter, or references got you this far. No interview goes perfectly, but as long as you keep your wits about you and prepare for the worst, you have a good chance of staying in the
race. The writer is Project Assistant, IIT, Ropar
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FIRST PERSON
Anuradha Salhotra is name partner of one of India's premier intellectual property law firms, Lall Lahiri & Salhotra and is one of the founders of the Institute of Intellectual Property Research and Practice. Anuradha has over 28 years of experience in trademark and copyright prosecution, litigation, maintenance and protection.
When she started her career very few women were practicing in the field of Intellectual Property rights. She paved the road to success with grit, hard work and diligence. As a pioneer in her field she played an important role in making her firm one of the most reputed and well-regarded firms in the area of Intellectual Property in India. Her firm now has around 45 well-trained professionals and a support staff of over 60 people. She shares her experiences as a woman professional on the occasion of International Women's Day.
Excerpts: Being the first woman entrepreneur in the Intellectual Property industry in India, how has your experience been? The work pressures are demanding and being a woman, it has been quite a challenge to deliver your best at all times. The ride so far has been long, bumpy, ever enduring but worthwhile. What changes have you witnessed in the attitude towards women during the past 28 years that you have been in the industry? There is more acceptability now than there was earlier and there are far more women in this field today than there were 28 years ago. When I started on my own, the general mindset was very anti-women. The women who wanted to work independently were not taken seriously. Fortunately, the perception towards women has changed with time. There is more acceptability towards women with many more becoming a part of our industry and proving their mettle everyday. Do sacrifices and success go hand in hand for women? Has the scenario changed in the past 28 years? Yes, sacrifices and success do go hand in hand for women. While rendering their professional duties to the best of their abilities, they are expected to be good home makers as well. Every successful woman has sacrificed somewhere in some manner or the other to reach where she is. Not at the risk of sounding feminist, it is easier for men to be successful without having to sacrifice so much. Even today, it is hard for the society to accept a successful woman. What challenges you had to face as a woman in the initial years of your career? The biggest challenge was of managing home and office together. My daughter and the firm were both born in 1983 within a month of each other. To respond to the ever so demanding clients with the best advice at competitive rates at the initial stages of the firm at a time when the Intellectual Property field in India was dominated by men and to attend to the chores of the household simultaneously, was quite a challenge in itself. Appearing in small District Courts like Bayana in Rajasthan was a challenge in terms of travel, stay as well as court appearances. Everyone in the court and outside would just stare at me as if I was from an outer planet or something. What is the scope for women venturing in the field of intellectual property? The scope of women venturing in this field is enormous. It is one field of law where you can successfully regulate timings and reach home at a proper hour. Professional aspirations can be achieved and blended well with household duties. The challenges in the field of Intellectual Property are tough. However, these can be met with in-depth knowledge of the subject, judicious time management, sheer hardwork and meticulous planning. The strength of women in this field is much more than that of men. What advice/suggestionswould you offer to aspiring women entrepreneurs? Believe in yourself and your careers as you believe in yourself and your family.
As told to Geetu Vaid
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Food for thought
Less than expected pay as well as lack of growth opportunities at work place are driving many employees in India to look out for new jobs, says a survey.
According to global technology and consultancy giant Accenture, about 37 per cent of employees surveyed by it are looking for job
opportunities outside the company. The employees attributed the reason for seeking new jobs to lack of satisfaction due to issues like being underpaid, lack of opportunity for career advancement and feeling trapped. The study was conducted in November 2010 and surveyed 100 business executives from medium to large organisations in India. About 50 per cent of the respondents said lack of growth opportunity was the primary reason for dissatisfaction with the current job, followed by less salary (39 per cent). Further, 32 per cent of the respondents said that ‘climbing up the corporate ladder’ was the most important factor in their career right now and that barriers in their career advancement were due to lack of management support. They said that in the long-run, developing knowledge or skill would be one of the top career priority for them. Interestingly, 55 per cent of employees surveyed said they needed to move to a new organisation to reach their desired levels. Besides in the last 12 months, 35 per cent respondents took the step of changing the industries or roles whereas 38 per cent did not make any change to their careers. About 57 per cent of the people surveyed said that they had negotiated for a pay raise. About 42 per cent said they had received a raise of which 28 per cent stated that the pay hike was less than their expectation.
— PTI
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Happy workers sleep better
A new study has found that job satisfaction affects
the quality of your sleep - 33 per cent of the most dissatisfied employees report poor sleep quality compared to only 18 per cent of the most satisfied. The study also revealed that employed and self-employed enjoy much better sleep than those out of work. Those who are unemployed are over 40 per cent more likely to report difficulty staying asleep than those in employment. Analysis of the early data from Understanding Society based on 14,000 UK households found that overall the best sleep was reported by people with higher levels of education and by married people. The type of work a person does also impacts on sleep, with those in routine occupations reporting worse sleep than those in professional occupations. Sara Arber at the University of Surrey who analysed the findings said: “Given the links between sleep, social and economic circumstances and poor health found in this and other surveys, health promotion campaigns should be open to the possibility that the increased incidence of sleep problems among the disadvantaged in society may be one factor leading to their poorer health.” The findings have been published on the http://research.understandingsociety.org.uk/findings/early-findings.
— ANI
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NEWS BOARD
IT major Infosys is expecting attrition in the BPO sector to get moderated with a lot of companies now starting to do high-end work and providing career opportunities for employees within the firm. “I would assume attrition in the BPO industry should start getting pretty much moderated as a lot of BPO companies have started doing high end work and are providing career opportunities of a different kind,” Infosys BPO Managing Director and CEO D. Swaminathan said. “In the BPO industry, because of the intensity of work which is steadily moving up, I should think over the several next quarters it (attrition) should get moderated as we move forward, but much would also depend on how other industries worked and demand and supply there as well as how the economy does in the coming days,” he said.
NTPC hiring plans
The country’s largest power producer NTPC will hire 10,000 engineers in the next 10 years as part of massive expansion plans. “We need to hire 1,000 engineers every year for the next ten years to meet manpower requirements in view of our plans to expand generation capacity,” NTPC Director, Human Resources S.P Singh told
PTI. At present, the power giant has about 25,000 employees, out of which half of the workforce are engineers.
— PTI
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WOMEN @ WORK
Flexi working hours, childcare facilities at the office, working from home and understanding husbands — women professionals are moving up the corporate ranks and managing home as well with aplomb, thanks to changing human resource policies and supportive spouses. “To a large extent HR policy in India has undergone a lot of change which now benefits a woman employee and which in turn helps a woman give her best,” said Sonam, HR head, Sawansukha Group. Ameera Shah, executive director and CEO of Metropolis Healthcare Ltd, feels it’s a tough act for working women to balance home and work. “Spouses should understand that it is a juggling act for women and that they have to be supportive. Working women face a lot of domestic hiccups and often have to make a tough decision where they have to work or stay at home. HR policies in their favour would help go a long way and they don’t have to quit their job especially post-delivery,” Shah told IANS. According to a report of US NGO Department for Professional Employees (DPE), the number of working women has risen from 5.1 million in 1900 to 18.4 million in 1950 and to 66.2 million in 2009. The number of women in the labour force is projected to be more than 78 million by 2018. Usually a working woman has to take maximum responsibility of her family and home and in such a scenario Pooja Kaura, GM-HR, Blue Lotus Communications, feels, “Flexible working hours, option to work from home, and a friendly leave policy” help them juggle roles. She feels just like the West, Indian companies are also adopting work-from-home and flexible working hour policies to provide an ideal working atmosphere for women. “HR fraternity at large has grown to be very sensitive to the fact that a majority of the work force consists of women. A woman has to balance multiple arenas like home, work and growing children’s needs. More and more companies are fast adapting their policies to suit the requirement of women and help provide options like ‘work from home’, ‘flexi hours’ ‘maternity break, etc.,” said Kaura. Shah added: “I think as long as the deliverables are clear and the women are performing, flexibility should be allowed.” Preeti Binoy, general manager corporate communications at the Yash Birla Group, feels women are cutting across all classes. “Women really are more than just homemakers. Today the working young women appear to be as ambitious as men when it comes to eagerness to climb the career ladder, and 26 per cent women contribute even more to family income than their husbands.” Nicky Sawansukha, head, Sawansukha Insititute of Gemology, lauds women’s multi-tasking ability, saying, “Since ages, women have been great multi-taskers and it is this in-built efficiency in them which helps them to manage work and home with such great perfection.” Spouse support gives women psychological strength, Sawansukha said, adding that at her organisation they have “personal interaction with our employees”. Murugavel Janakiraman, founder and CEO of Bharatmatrimony.com, says that the mindset is surely changing towards working women. “Most of the people (who post their resumes) want a working wife. At present about 80 per cent people want to marry working women.” At his 13-year-old organisation there are “several women at powerful positions. They balance both work and home very well,” Janakiraman told IANS, adding that his organisation provides benefits to pregnant women by allowing them to have a three-month flexi-hour working facility in addition to maternity leave. Daniel Jebasingh, CHRO, Consim Info Ltd, agrees that HR policies are becoming more friendly in Indian companies. To have a better equation between personal and professional life, Sanyogita Pendharka, PKM Practice Head, DesignTech Systems, suggests that women should avoid taking work back home. “Being a working professional for more than 13 years I have always managed to keep my personal and professional life separate. I never take my work home.”
— IANS
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Happiness @ work
Talk to higher ups
Teenaged Nachiketa didn’t feel scared of asking Yama, the god of death, questions about life and death. Savitri didn’t tremble as she walked behind Yama to his abode. She got her husband’s life as a result of her courage. After being hounded from town to town, having lost all four sons and his parents, Guru Gobind Singh wrote the Zafar Nama to Aurangzeb. The letter left such an impact on the Mughal Emperor that he removed all restrictions on the Sikh master. At last, after years of fighting, Rana Pratap decided to bow before Akbar’s might. Prithviraj, a Rajput poet in Akbar’s court and a secret admirer of the Rana, wrote to him: You alone can preserve Rajput honour. Don’t give up. Inspired, the Rana took over the charge of Bhil warriors and led them to many victories. Angry at not being given passage, Rama threatened to dry up the sea. Varuna gently appeared before him and said, “I can’t violate the laws of nature as the creatures in me will die if I do so. Build a bridge and I will support it.” Even while Krishna said that he was the universe, Arjuna said, “Show me your universal form and your four-armed manifestation.” Krishna said, “These forms not even the gods get to see. I am revealing these to you as you are a dear friend.” On seeing Bharat arrive with the entire population of Kosala, Guha, the hunter-king said, “We are ready for battle if you have any hostile intentions against Rama.” Bharat assured him that he had come to take Rama back to Ayodhya. After killing Hiranyakashyap, Narasimha, Vishnu’s lion-man incarnation, was full of anger. Even the gods shook at the thought of approaching him. They sent Prahalad, who was a little boy then, to cool the Lord down. Prahalad sang Narasimha’s praises till his anger subsided. Doesn’t a mother give feed only when the child cries for it?
— Sai R. Vaidyanathan
The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
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Perfect Mathematics
Q. I am doing B.Sc (maths) and am in the final year. After completing this I want to do M.Sc in
maths. Please tell me about the better universities and institutes which offer this course and the entrance procedure. — Hema
Avasthi Some of the better institutes offering M.Sc (mathematics)
are: Chennai Mathematical Institute (www.cmi.ac.in). It conducts its own entrance test. Institute of Mathematical Sciences
(www.imsc.res.in) popularly known as Matscience, IMS is a premier research institute primarily funded by the Department of Atomic Energy,
GoI. The maths faculty has carried out research in the fields of Number Theory, Operator Algebra, and Differential Equations. Researchers have also worked on several problems of Mathematical
Physics. Harish Chandra Research Institute (www.hri.res.in) conducts an integrated
M.Sc.-Ph.D. programme in mathematics. Admission is through the screening test conducted by the National Board for Higher Mathematics
(NBHM). Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (www.tifr.res.in) You could also consider the M.Sc
(maths) course offered at the IITs and NITs and other good engineering colleges such as BITS
Pilani. Admission to M.Sc courses at the IITs is through the IIT-JAM (Joint Admission test to
MSc). In addition, you may also consider the leading central and state universities with well-established mathematics department for pursuing your
MSc. The entrance test will vary from institute to institute, so please check the respective websites to find out exact details. However, the entrance tests will cover the main topics covered in your B.Sc curriculum such as Sequences, series and differential calculus; Integral and vector calculus; Differential equations; Algebra (linear and real).
Research options in physics
— Aslam Ahmed A.
The fields are truly diverse ranging from fiber optics communication, microwaves, IC technology, lasers, digital electronics, experimental electronics,
optoelectronics, power electronics, medical electronics, nano electronics… I can go on and on… However, since you have already done your
M.Sc, I think your professors will be better able to guide you about the cutting-edge areas in physics so that you can choose one related to your interests etc. Also doing your MPhil will give you greater insights into the different areas you could look at. Do scan the websites of the IITs and the Indian Institute of Science for areas in which research facilities are offered. Moreover, the Association of Indian Universities
(www.aiuweb.org) regularly publishes a list of thesis submitted by research students every month (Just click on the "Research" link). Scanning through the list will give you a fair idea of what research is being undertaken in your field.
Credit analysts' work profile
— Mandira
Baxi A. Credit analysts rate the credit worthiness of a company. They are hired by banks as well as financial services providers. They manage the relationship between frontline managers servicing the public to ensure that they receive quality service and quick response to requests for credit. Credit analysts undertake risk assessment analysis of various types of lending proposals. They make a decision based on a number of factors such as the purpose of the loan, viability, track record, credit-worthiness of the customer and the collateral provided. They provide quality service to internal customers by developing and improving the quality of credit submissions, financial analysis, advising and recommending changes to policy and procedures and offering a consultancy service on credit issues and quality. A credit analyst must possess strong quantitative skills coupled with a sound background in finance.
Medico-legal path
Q. I have done my MD and am practicing in a government hospital. I wish to explore courses in medico-legal systems other than
L.LB. Are there any such options in India, preferably short-term? — Dr S.P
Lohani A. Yes there are. Do explore the following:
Never too late
— Tushar Dhar A. It's never too late to resume your studies. Yes NIOS would be a good option - because of the sheer flexibility it gives you. And sure you can do your BTech or any other bachelor's level course subsequently. Alternatively, after Class X, you can also opt for a Diploma (three-year) in any branch of engineering from a good recognised polytechnic. After that, you can either seek employment or get lateral entry into the second year of any BTech programme. So you have plenty of options open to you. As for other graduate courses, there is no end to them really. When the time comes for you to make a choice, get in touch with me and I will send you a copy of the I-Opener Career explorer that will match your interests, aptitude and personality with over 3000 career options! As for other readers of this column who would like to take this exercise, just send a blank e-mail to: testcaring@gmail.com, with your name in the subject line to receive the test by email.
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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FIRST PERSON
"Anything you can do, I can do better" are the words often heard as millions of women make their mark in fields once considered the preserve of men only. There is hardly an industry today where you wouldn't find women and the women:men ratio is also improving in all sectors in India. 
The defence services provide an excellent career profile for young women. Not only is this a well paying government job with many benefits, it also earns one more respect and status than any other job in government or the private sector. Unmarried women can join the services after graduation as short service commissioned officers in the Army Service Corps, the Ordinance Corps, Education branch, and in the engineering, signals, intelligence and law cadres, if they have the requisite educational qualifications. The Navy, which was the first armed service to open its doors to women, accepts them in the law, logistics and air traffic control cadres. The Air Force offers entry to women in flying transport planes and helicopters, and in ground duty branches such as Air Traffic, Meteorological, Education, Accounts and Administrative branches. There are also other openings for women in the Medical and Dental Corps, the Nursing corps and the Defence Research and Development Organisation. 
While the adage to have neither friendship nor enmity with cops and lawyers may keep one away from trouble, shying away from higher authorities for too long may affect one’s growth. While staying very close to the King or fire may prove disastrous, keeping too far away doesn’t produce any great result either, says the Chanakyaneeti.
A. M.Sc courses in mathematics are offered at an astonishingly large number of universities, both in regular and distance mode. Entrance procedures also vary with some conducting an entrance test, others going by marks scored at the undergraduate level.
Q. I have completed my M.Sc physics (specialisation in electronics). Now I want to do PhD. Please tell me about the possible areas of research.
Q. Could you please explain what exactly a credit analyst does and what qualifications are required?
Q. My problem is that I had done my high school from Kanpur in 2007. After that I was not able to continue with my studies due to some family problems which included my mother's death. Now I am finally out of all problems and mentally ready to continue with my studies. Please advise whether I should opt for NIOS or fill in a private form for intermediate examinations. If there is any other way then please suggest me. Will I be able to easily take admission in B.Tech or any other course after doing intermediate from such above mentioned ways?