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Czars of Celebration
Career Hotline
Guest column
CAREER COMPASS
TESTING TIMES
NEWS BOARD
Trapped in Glass Ceiling
Happiness @ work
Work stress busts sweet dreams
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Czars of Celebration
Event management and wedding planning are the ideal career choices for those who revel in celebration and have an eye for detail, writes The market for event management in India is expected to witness a growth of 25 per cent per annum and is likely to exceed the Rs 30-billion mark by 2015. While the industry itself is growing by leaps and bounds, the availability of trained manpower remains a huge challenge. Live entertainment shows, corporate events, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions), and large-scale weddings have led to several work profiles and job opportunities in this field. Event managers are also in great demand due to the rise in corporate and personal events that require professionals to manage them. The growing need of skilled professionals in managing the increasing number of events in the corporate and media sectors is driving the event management industry at present.
‘Knoty’
Trend
Rise in disposable income and time constraints have also contributed to the growth of this career option in our country. A wedding planner becomes imperative to streamlining the entire process and for paying attention to the minutest detail. An Indian wedding definitely needs a lot of time and effort towards planning and implementation.
Work profile
Event management and wedding planning could be the perfect fit for individuals who are ready to take on challenges and are passionate about executing every last aspect of an amazing celebration, or wanting to be the point person for large trade shows and conferences. Having an eye for detail and the ability to work with a diverse field of people in a variety of places are important skills required in this
field. All around the world, employers seek skilled, knowledgeable professionals to coordinate lavish events and conferences. Using your background in business, marketing, food and beverage management, and technology, you can be the one to make it all happen in exciting, ever-changing field of events. Most institutes offer certification/diploma courses in event management which are open for all those interested. This may include working professionals, students, homemakers etc. However, niche courses like Advance Masters in Wedding Planning and Designing which encompass little known aspects such as designing, conceptualisation, safety, risk management, event insurance, etc are also being offered now. A select number of institutes are focusing on developing modules that are based on the foundations of live experience and knowledge so that the students are groomed to take on the challenges of the real world from day one. Imparting quality and experiential event education is the mantra today so that the students perfect the art of delivering services in events and the related sector.
Courses
The course duration varies from six months to two years depending on the institute and the intensity of the course. Some courses also cover entrepreneurship development option to individuals wanting to start on their own. Individuals with a creative zeal and passion to take up challenges can look forward to careers in event management and wedding planning. They should have completed higher secondary education as a minimum eligibility criterion and must meet the English language requirements. Right talent and passion matters more than anything else in this field.
Opportunities
There are a plethora of employment opportunities with hotels, corporates, retail giants and top event management companies. The passion quotient and personal context is what would set apart an aspirant towards a dream career in event management and wedding planning. Above all, there are countless opportunities for entrepreneurship in this segment with little seed capital requirement. Whether an individual aspires to work among social, corporate, or non-profit entities, a course in event management places one on the right track to land a job or to start on one's
own. — The writer is Founder, Rachnoutsav Events Academy,
Hyderabad
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Sound choice
Pervin Malhotra Q. I've done B.Tech (computer sc) from HPU and am interested in the field of music. Can you tell me about some of the professional courses in sound engineering and institutes that are reputed in this field? Is there any scope for a profession in this field? — Sahil Thakur, Solan A. To become a studio sound engineer you need to combine the knowledge physics (sound travels in a wave) and recording technology with an ear for sound and a healthy appreciation of music. Sound engineers make high quality recordings of music, speech and sound effects in recording studios and "on location". They use complex electronic equipment to record sound for: commercial music recordings, radio, TV, film and commercials, corporate videos, websites, computer, video and mobile games. Formal training is essential - not only to know the theory, but also to get invaluable practical experience with the studio and recording equipment. Once you complete your course, you could work full-time for a recording studio, or be self-employed and work on short-term freelance contracts. Most of the major studios are based in and around Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad etc. There are smaller studios throughout the country, where most of the work may involve recording 'demos' for local bands, creating commercials for local radio stations and copying CDs. Jobs aren't often advertised, so you'll need to be persistent and show initiative to get a foothold in the recording industry. People often start off by working for free to make contacts and 'get their foot in the door'. With experience, you could specialise in areas like mastering, or turn producer after building up a reputation with a number of clients. Of course, if you have the mullah, you could also set up your own recording studio. Some of institutes that offer courses in Sound Engineering and Recording:
Courses: 1) Diploma in Audiography (Film & TV), 3-yr 2) Certificate in Audiography & TV Engg, 1-yr Eligibility: Bachelor's degree in any discipline (with Physics as a subject at 10+2 level).
Course: Certificate in Audio-Visual Production
(www.saeindia.net)
Course: Certificate Course in Sound Recording & Reproduction. Duration: 4 months.
Course: Sound Recording & Design (2-year)
Course: Diploma in Audiology (3 years, FT). Eligibility: Bachelor's Degree with Physics.
Course: Video Editing & Sound Recording.
www.zimainstitute.com) Courses: 1) Diploma in Sound (1-yr) 2) Certificate in Sound (6-mth) 3) Adv Certificate in Sound (6-mth) I want to be a TV presenter
Q. I am a student of mass communication in Delhi. I want to be a television anchor (not news presenter but doing lifestyle shows). Can you advise me on how I should fulfill my dream? — Reema Arora A.
In the days when Doordarshan was the only channel on television, being a TV presenter meant reading out pre-scripted news from a monitor or teleprompter. With the satellite television boom, the definition and job description changed to also providing movie news and gossip, teaching India how to make the perfect biryani and quiche to hosting musical antaaksharis and dance dhamakas. Today TV presenters are nothing short of "info-tainers". An increasingly well-heeled, internationally-travelled, wined and dined audience wants to be taken on an arm-chair tour of the world - exotic sights to see, foods to eat, cultures to experience. Reality show fans want a blow-by-blow account with a little extra masala, while even the hitherto male-dominated bastion of sports has not been spared. Your physical attributes will be the key factor. Super-model looks are not required, however, being camera-friendly is a must. Personality comes in a close second. Excellent communication skills (written and spoken) are a must as is a keen, open and well-informed mind. A well-modulated voice, screen presence, the ability to appear calm and confident even in a crisis -which could be anything from a wrong cue to forgotten lines or even a persistent fly that decides to soft-land on your nose just when you are introducing the guest of the show - is what distinguishes a good presenter / anchor / host. A good university education preferably with a postgraduate degree/diploma in TV/Radio Journalism and some basic computer skills will get you started. Though, this is not a strict requirement. It also helps to be alert, cautious and intelligent at all times. The ability to ad-lib and script your own announcements is another essential for this job. Be prepared: you'll have to go through countless auditions, dummy runs and work bloody hard to get a foothold. It may be a good idea to start out as a casual anchor/presenter on one of the channels or even as a Radio Jockey before landing a plum job. Also try your hand at anchoring live shows to gain confidence.
MFC a good option
— Shivani Sharma A.
In today's globalised world there continues to be a strong demand for finance professionals who have an in-depth knowledge of finance - mutual funds, derivatives and equities, real estate, investment analysis, insurance management, treasury management, risk management, portfolio management, and project appraisal, to name a few. Those with the requisite knowledge can look to work in a fairly wide spectrum of areas comprising financial institutions, including those involved corporate and international finance, investment analysis and portfolio management, money and capital markets including stock exchanges, depository services and stock broking, financial services like merchant banking, leasing, credit rating, venture capital and private equity firms, banking and financial institutions, insurance companies, real estate, asset management companies (mutual fund houses), and financial consultancy and advisory services. Delhi University's Masters in Finance and Control (MFC) is a full-time two-year course comprising courses in finance and accounting and a super-specialisation in the last semester to equip students with skills in financial planning, decision-making and control while familiarising them with the financial and regulatory environment. The curriculum includes courses in investor psychology, investment philosophy, mathematics of financial markets and technology valuation. Read more at www.mfc.edu. Think of the MFC course as being at par with an MBA with a specialisation in finance. It is indeed a good option for someone who wishes to focus on finance from day one. Graduates from any discipline can apply. For admissions in 2012, Delhi University has decided to use the CAT for short-listing candidates followed by a Group Discussion and Personal Interview. Keep your eye for the admission notification that comes out in October. The icing on the cake - the Return on Investment (ROI) of this course would perhaps eclipse even those of the IIMs. The annual fee is a very affordable Rs 12,811 for the year 2012-13. Nonetheless, you would also be well-advised to apply to other reputed B-schools where you could choose finance as your major or specialisation. Either ways, you are set-up for a profitable career in the world of finance! 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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World-class quality at our doorstep
Ashok Mittal, Chancellor, Lovely Professional University
What is a world-class university
A world-class university is the one which functions with the capability and aspiration of generating a critical mass of thinkers, doers and innovators from diverse disciplines, capable of bringing a substantial change in the way the world exists. The concept of "education" has less to do with knowledge accumulation, as is generally perceived, and more with knowledge enhancement that can bear practical gains for mankind as a whole. So, a world-class university acts as a germination ground for such intellect.
What makes it
Innovation, out-of-box thinking and a progressive approach are the cornerstones of a world-class university. Like in the case of LPU we have tried to reverse the trend of "toeing in the line" when it comes to what is being taught. Tragically, in multitude of cases, the drafting of syllabi is done on conventional lines, with scant regard for what really needs to be taught - something that is suited to the real time requirements in the job market. Secondly, we have experimented with the way things are taught. Thirdly, we have focused on "making teachers the learners". Apart from this keeping pace with technological advancement and incorporating latest technology in day-to-day functioning of an institution and different entrepreneurial initiatives are the steps that can make a higher education institution world class. Tie ups with internationally renowned universities help in getting first hand knowledge of the best practices adopted internationally, which can be moulded as per the Indian requirements to bring the best out of our students. Fostering a dynamic environment that facilitates interaction and dialogue also plays an important role in making a university world class. For example in order to augment the learning resources and to promote interdisciplinary research, LPU has consolidated different departments into four faculties which are further subdivided into schools to generate the spirit of competition. Some of the other initiatives in this direction include: making the learning environment at par with that in international institutions by having smart classrooms, IT enabled campus, well stocked libraries and ample scope for co-curricular activities.
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Arty fare
Zubin Malhotra
We present below summary snapshots of four career options which combine artistic interests with a grounding in reality. While all of these require the artistic flair for working with forms and design, and an ability for self-expression, these career options also typically involve practical, hands-on activities and problem-solving. The options included are in diverse fields but what is common to them is that they all require professional or postgraduate study, and often involve a few years of on-the-job training for proficiency. 1) JEWELLERY DESIGNER Jewel in the crown
To become a jewellery designer, you require a course in jewellery design offered by a good private institute or an accessory design course from NIFT, etc. Reckon on about 2-3 years of professional education and training after Class 12. Key knowledge areas: design, sales and marketing to understand consumer behaviour, sketching, and an awareness of production and processing techniques. Professional life: Many jewellery designers are self-employed and consult or freelance; some are employed by big jewellers and jewellery exporters. 2)
SET DESIGNER (films, television)
Doting on design
Though many set designers may be "born" with an innate gift, the best bet today is for you to undertake a professional 3/4-year course in interior design now available at several institutes in the country. Knowledge of design, fine arts and building and construction are the ingredients that make a fine set designer. The real excitement for set designers lies in the huge Indian film industry, to get in where you need to knock at many doors and be prepared to wait for the right break. The enormous growth of the television industry has also created openings for set designers though these are not, typically, large or elaborate sets. 3)
Architect
Building dreams
This is a more traditional, better-known profession. An architect's core job comprises researching, planning, designing, and executing building by applying knowledge of design, construction procedures, building laws and building materials: An architect first determines the client's functional and space requirements and then prepares an architectural plan of design, also specifying materials, colour, fittings, estimated costs, and construction time. Once the client approves the blueprint and costs, the architect prepares scale drawings and contract documents for the building engineers and contractors. He also typically obtains bids and awards the construction contract on behalf of the client and also conducts periodic on-site supervision of work during construction to monitor compliance with plans. Getting to be an architect requires at a minimum a 5-year professional BArch course after Plus II; the course is open to students of any stream as long as they have mathematics as a subject in Plus II. The course itself is tough and demanding much like engineering courses. There are a number of well-established and respected architecture colleges to choose from. Key knowledge areas: design, building and construction materials and techniques, administration and management. The key skills that characterise an accomplished architect include mathematics, coordination, idea generation and implementing of plans. Professional life: Many architects continue to practice on their own or in small groups though the concept of large architect firms is likely to catch on in the future. 4)
Creative writing
Romancing the word
He writes original prose material for publication; selects subject matter based on personal interest or receives specific assignment from publishers (books, magazines, Internet, television, radio); conducts research and makes notes to retain ideas, develop factual information, and obtains authentic detail; develops factors, such as theme, plot, order, characterisation, and story line; writes draft of manuscript; reviews, revises, and corrects it and submits material for publication or broadcast. He may specialise in one or more styles or types of writing, such as descriptive or critical interpretations or analyses, essays, magazine articles, short stories, novels, and biographies. Getting to be a writer requires a high degree of accomplishment in a language so probably a master's degree would stand you in good stead. Mass communication and creative writing courses are also now available which seek to buttress your knowledge of the language with the skills and craft of creative writing. Apart from writing skills, reading comprehension, idea generation and information research are important abilities for a creative writer, as is a broad, overview of the various media and how they work.
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TESTING TIMES
Understanding and mastery of concepts and in depth study are the key factors in clearing IIT-JEE test as questions in this test cannot be solved by tricks or rote memory. Even a basic understanding the concepts of physics, chemistry and mathematics is not sufficient. The questions require a student to use the knowledge gained and the concepts understood and weave it in a way that a problem's solution becomes visible. This can be attained only by building analytical thinking. This is the most important faculty in a student that needs to be groomed, trained and enhanced. Different students take different time to be able to do this so while for some four-year time frame (class IX onwards) is ideal, for others two-year (after class X) is god enough. But in both cases the students are required to keep up their motivation level and interest to be thoroughly prepared for the test.
Focus areas for preparation Focus should be on learning concepts and doing the
questions on one's own. Most questions in IIT-JEE are numerical oriented. So a student needs to focus on questions that he/she cannot otherwise do. Doing what
you can will not enhance thinking skills.
References Preferably study materials of reputed institutes should be referred to as it is completely IIT-JEE focused. Books would be too exhaustive and
would go out of scope and moreover one book alone won't help. Practice is the key to success here. Keep practicing question papers one week before the exams. No new topic should be taken up in the last days as it will be counterproductive rather than
beneficial.
Tips to attempt paper Attempt questions in three rounds. In the first round you answer those questions that you think you know the answer to immediately or can find out in less than a minute. While doing this mark the questions which you think you can doubt they would require more time. Leave the ones which know you can't answer. Stat with your best subject and cover all the three subjects in round1. In round 2 do those that you have marked in round 1 for all the three subjects. Now sit back and roughly evaluate yourself. If you are scoring around200+ (assuming the paper is out of 480) then in the 3rd round try those that you don't know by making guesses. But only guess when you have good hunch on an answer or you can eliminate at least 2 options. If you are scoring 250+ make your guesses a little more conservative as your selection issuer but your rank needs to be enhanced. But is your score is below 200 then you need to guess more. This is because as it is with this score the selection chance is less. Coping with
mental pressure Pressure is not always negative as it helps to keep one alert. But pressure can be handled. The best is to give tests with utmost seriousness when you are practicing in you institute or at home. The more seriously you take them, the more ready you will be to deal with pressure at the time of the actual test.
Stay positive It is advisable to stay focused and maintain a positive attitude. Fretting over the exam will not help; moreover, it will waste your time. It is very important to develop speed. Do not overstress yourself, it is important to sleep five to six hours every night, especially three-four days before the exam to stay physically and mentally fit. Short naps also help to regain freshness. Students should avoid over-sleeping during the day. It is important to focus on weak areas and improve upon your concepts. Your mantra should be the quality of time and not the
quantity.
— The writer is Director FIITJEE
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IGNOU to focus on more foreign tie-ups
The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), one of the world's largest universities, will be focusing on more foreign tie-ups in order to provide more quality education to students, Vice Chancellor M. Aslam said. “IGNOU should get more international presence, so we will have more foreign tie-ups as we want to provide more quality education to large number of students. We are also trying to bring in faculty exchange programme,” said Aslam. IGNOU is operating in 43 countries across the world through 82 partner institutions. The Universities of Berkley and Maryland in the United States have shown interest in faculty exchange programme with IGNOU, he said. “Apart from this IGNOU will soon come out with a food safety lab. Already we have a certificate and diploma programme for food safety, we will soon start a master programme,” he said, talking to IANS shortly after receiving award for best teaching practices at the India Today Aspire Education Summit 2012. IGNOU, which started with two courses and 4,000 students in 1985, has evolved into one of the world’s largest varsities by offering about 450 programmes. It now has over three million students on its rolls. AMU signs MoU with Iran
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has signed an
agreement for exchange programme with Iranian universities and institutions. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed recently by the Centre of Advance Study in History of AMU with the New Delhi-based Iran Culture House. Iran's Cultural Counsellor Karim Najafi signed the MoU in the presence of Tariq Ahmed, chairman and coordinator, and Syed Ali Nadeem Rezavi, deputy coordinator, Centre of Advanced Study in History.
Galgotias varsity ties up with Infosys
Galgotias University has signed an MOU with Infosys Ltd for campus connect programme. The purposes of MOU is enriching the technical education process and jointly work for enhancing the quality of education imparted to students of all the engineering disciplines in the field of Information Technology. The purpose of the MOU is to enrich technical education in new subject areas, learning-teaching process and jointly work for enhancing the quality of education. It will include faculty enablement, students training, project support, support for library, industrial visit and faculty sabbatical.
— Agencies
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Trapped in Glass Ceiling
The answer lies in the deep-seated Indian mentality. Somewhere down the journey in their careers, women get lost midway, some giving up their careers after marriage or child birth and in some cases, both. There is another reason for the severe paucity of women in the hot seats of organisations. Research shows that only a mere 4.5% of women directors sit on the boards of Indian companies, while male directors constitute the rest 95.5%. It is not that women do not deserve to be in decision-making positions of the companies that do India proud on the international platform. Instead, it is the invisible glass ceiling present at workplaces that keeps women from getting to the top. They are often bypassed and overlooked when a top position is being considered. Women often have to handle the egos and expectations of male colleagues, and only a handful of women have managed to break the glass ceiling that keeps them from reaching the upper echelons of management. True, that India Inc. threw its weight behind the Women's Bill, which promises to give the fairer sex a bigger role in the political arena when it becomes law, but it is time to pause and think whether some amount of reservation is also needed to achieve the same gender balance in its boardrooms as well. There are two factors that may help to contribute in achieving an equality of sexes in the boardrooms. One is to put in place a policy that encapsulates the spirit of gender equality amongst professionals, and the other is to gradually propel a cultural shift within an organisation. Merely putting a policy in place might not help in changing the deep rooted mentality of people. Some women, who have been able to break through the glass ceiling and have made it to the top are of the opinion that the work culture needs to be changed first, which involves a bottom-up approach; the mentality needs to be changed at the grass roots, which will drive diversity, and then a policy can be put in place to implement it. At the same time, it has been proven that changes in policies first can bring about refreshing changes in a country's work culture and introduce gender diversity in private institutions. Norway serves as an unprecedented example of the same. In 2003, the government introduced a policy that required 40 per cent of the boards of all publicly listed companies to be filled by women, as opposed to the prevailing rate of 7 per cent. Maybe it's time that India took a chapter out of Norway's policy and proceeds to introduce something similar. There isn't a dearth of competent women out there who can take board seats, and once shareholders are forced to look beyond the 'old boys' club', they will find enough women to fill them. Reservation might not be the best way out, but the ball has to start rolling at some point. Sometimes extra efforts are needed to encourage and empower women, and quotas can serve as transitional means to overcome initial blockages. — The writer is Director and
Managing Partner Planman
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Exercise calms hostile bosses
If your boss is giving you a hard time, lying, making fun of you in public and humiliating you, he or she is likely to benefit from some exercise. A new study by James Burton from Northern Illinois University shows that stressed supervisors, struggling with pressures, vent their frustrations on their employees less when they get regular, moderate exercise. Burton and his team are the first to examine how exercise can buffer the relationship between supervisor stress and employee perceptions of hostile behaviour, the Journal of Business and Psychology reports. A total of 98 MBA students from two universities in the Midwestern US and their 98 supervisors completed questionnaires, according to a Northern Illinois statement. They rated their perceptions of how abusive their current supervisor was, for example “my supervisor tells me my thoughts or feelings are stupid” or “my supervisor puts me down in front of others.” Supervisors answered questions about how often they exercised and about their workplace stress, for example “working my current job leaves me little time for other activities” or “I have too much work and too little time to do it in.” The researchers found that, as expected, when supervisors were stressed, their subordinates felt more victimised. However, analyses also showed that when supervisors experienced stress, but engaged in exercise, their subordinates reported lower levels of abusive supervision. Interestingly, only moderate levels of exercise were necessary to minimise abusive supervision, such as one to two days of exercise per week, and the type of exercise seemed to make little difference. The authors conclude: “It appears that the simple act of exercising minimises the negative effects of supervisor workplace stress on subordinates.” — IANS
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Flip side of expectation
Armed with data from the UK’s Workplace Employment Relations Survey 2004 survey, the researchers used statistical methods to look at in the effects of two distinct management models: enriched job design and high involvement management (HIM). Statistical analysis of data from 14,127 employees and 1,177 workplaces shows that HIM is directly and positively related to labour productivity, financial performance, and quality, but not to absenteeism. The researchers also found a direct relationship between HIM and job satisfaction and anxiety – but surprisingly, it was a negative: HIM may be a source of dissatisfaction with the job and of anxiety. In fact, the negative effect of HIM on job satisfaction depresses its overall positive effects on organisational performance. The enriched job design approach to management also had a positive relationship with labour productivity, financial performance and quality but this was positively related to job satisfaction, though not workplace anxiety. Moreover, the job satisfaction explains how the enriched job design affects performance. The enriched job design approach offers employees discretion, variety and high levels of responsibility; while the HIM model encourages wider organisational involvement such as team working, idea-capturing schemes or functional flexibility (the ability to take on aspects of others’ roles). Enriched job design concentrates on the employee’s core job, while HIM is about organisational involvement, which entails workers participating in decision-making beyond the narrow confines of the job. HIM originated in the 1990s, and a lot of research has followed on how this approach improves performance. According to the authors, HIM entails a qualitative change in demands, not a simple quantitative change in effort levels. It may be that management’s approach toward encouraging employees to be proactive and flexible creates anxieties and dissatisfaction. Increased expectations associated with involvement may actually make employees more stressed. In enriched job design, individuals have greater responsibility and autonomy, possibly offering more choices and pleasurable experiences that contrast with feelings evoked by a pressured environment. “Treating enriched job design and HIM as discrete has certainly been vindicated by our findings, as has taking a multi-dimensional approach to well-being,” Wood said. “The study offers further grounds for encouraging policy makers and managers to put job quality high on their agenda,” Wood added. Workplace data were collected by face-to-face interview with a manager in each workplace, and through a survey of employees. The study has been published in the journal Human Relations.
— ANI
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Happiness @ work
In protest, he decided not to accept his salary. In 1887, he got married to Abala, but he continued his protest. Finally, three years later, the common pay scale was introduced. When Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar became Principal of Sanskrit College, Calcutta, he decided to enforce discipline among the teachers. But there was an old teacher who didn’t want to mend his ways. The next morning, he arrived late as usual, but Vidyasagar quietly looked at him. The same thing was repeated the next day. Unable to bear Vidyasagar’s silence, the old teacher corrected himself. Later, Vidyasagar, who was invited to give a lecture in a village, went by train. At the station, he saw a young man searching for a coolie to carry his luggage. Vidyasagar did the needful without revealing his identity and taking any money. The young man had come to the village to hear Vidyasagar speak. When he realised his mistake, he fell at Vidyasagar’s feet. It had been four years that the Mahad municipality had thrown open the water tank, but no ‘low-borns’ had taken any water from it till then. On March 19, 1927, Babasaheb Ambedkar led his men to the tank and drank water from it. Following his example, thousands of his followers drank water and made history on that day. King Gushtasp of Balkh in Persia was lucky to have Zarathushtra as his adviser, but jealous courtiers didn’t like competition. They framed the prophet for sorcery for which the king sent him to jail. But within a week, the king’s favourite horse Asp-i-Siyah fell so ill that nobody could cure it. Zarathushtra was called for and the prophet asked the king, his son and wife to accept the lordship of Ahura Mazda. Also, the guilty courtiers were banished. When all this was done, Asp-i-Siyah immediately stood on its feet. Prince Vardhaman of Kundagram in Bihar wanted to start on the search for truth. But his parents — King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala — were aghast. So he deferred his plans till their death. At 28, when his parents had died, he sought leave from his elder brother Nandivardhana. “I will be left alone,” big brother said. “Then, I’ll wait for two years,” promised Vardhaman. After that period, the young prince renounced his all and soon became Jina Mahavira. Don’t forget that slow and steady wins the race. — Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at
svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
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Work stress busts sweet dreams
One in 3 employees can't escape work-related stress even while dreaming
Work-related issues are the number one topic featuring in dreams of most employees, with colleagues creeping into shut-eye time more than celebrities, a new study has found. According to the survey of 2,000 persons conducted by One Poll for Premier Inn hotels, one in three dream about work when they are stressed in their job and a quarter stated that they dream about a colleague if there was a conflict with them earlier that day. More than 20 per cent polled admitted that they regularly dream about their boss, while another 20 per cent dreamed more if they were under pressure or stressed. The poll found that the average person dreams most nights, with only 12 per cent saying they never dream. "This poll shows that whether we are asleep or awake a problem with a colleague or stress at work can really affect us," the Daily Mail quoted Davina MacKail, dreams expert as saying. "More than half of the nation stated that their dreams don't make sense so I have worked with Premier Inn to compile a Dream Dictionary to help dreamers to understand why they dream what they do and what those dreams mean," MacKail added.
— ANI
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Event management and wedding planning are the ideal career choices for those who revel in celebration and have an eye for detail,
Sound choice
The phenomenal growth of the event management industry coupled with the transition of this sunrise sector from a highly unorganised one to an organised, niche and competitive sector is expected to see a manifold increase in demand for professionals equipped to take on different work profiles in this
industry. 
The latest trend being witnessed in this sector is the demand for wedding planners. The wedding planning industry thrives largely on the Indian notion of characterising marriage as a singular high-point in one's life. Everyone wants to make one's wedding unique, and thus the demand for wedding planners is increasing tremendously owing to the professionalism and touch of precision that make the entire process smooth. 
Q. I'm in my final year of graduation in B.Com (e-commerce hons). But I'm confused and a bit worried about my future. I have scored an aggregate of 76 per cent in the last two years. I want to go for job after my graduation and simultaneously prepare for the CAT as I want to get admission in DU in MFC or for MSc in Finance. But my parents think I'm taking a wrong decision. Please help me out. Is MFC worth doing or am I going to risk my future by taking such a decision?
Indian students are hailed across the world for their acumen, academic strength and inventiveness. It is because of the inherent strengths of the pre-college educational structure of India, that the country has acquired the sobriquet of "Potential Knowledge Capital of the World". But one should not miss the word "potential" in this - which underlines the significant role that quality higher education in the country needs to play. But in the globalised world scenario it is the lack of world-class universities that has made India face a substantial brain drain, which eats into the possibilities of generating and retaining a vast army of quality human resource in the country that can shape a resurgent India.
Artistic people are thought to be moody, dreamy, lost in their own world, impractical, etc. etc. In short, anything but realistic. As with other cliches, this is true only in parts for most people combine within themselves many, often quite contrasting, traits and interests.
Designs jewellery, utilising knowledge of properties of metal, gems, fabrication techniques, principles of design, and artistic talent. The work involves sketching and measuring, selecting designs from pattern books, altering or creating original designs according to customer specifications. Drawing detail sketches and prescribing fabricating techniques, fabricating products from original design or working models and recommending stones to be inset are all part of the designer's job.
A set designer designs film or television production sets, signs, props, or scenic effects, and prepares scale drawings for use in their construction, modification, or alteration. He coordinates with the production's art director and reviews illustrations to determine set requirements and design ideas based on which rough draft and scale working drawings of the set take shape. The end-result: a setting of the 1920s is recreated to shoot the life and martyrdom of Bhagat Singh in the environs of 21st century Mumbai!
Ever wondered why India Inc. is surging ahead riding on the brains of only the best men and so few women in the country? The corner offices and the top managerial levels are all filled with deserving men, but where are the women, whom we see at organisations handling important portfolios?
Don’t ruin your happiness by always jumping the gun. Sometimes, it pays to wait. In 1885, Jagadis Chandra Bose, as his father had run up huge debts, became a professor at Presidency College, Calcutta. But he was shocked to find that Indian teachers were paid two-thirds the salary paid to their European counterparts.