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Career Hotline
Scholarship round-up
Cool Counsel
Career compass: interior design
Course Cruising
Selling dream vacations
Making money online
Success succinct: how to reach your goal
Taking dogs to work can help lower employee stress, says a study
Happiness @ work
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Environmental Engineering
Increasing awareness about environment concerns has opened multiple career aveneues in different fields. Students wanting to get into engineering courses but also having a burning desire to take up environment-related problems can now take the environment engineering route.
Environmental engineering has immense scope in India for professionals who are qualified in chemical, biological, thermal, radioactive or even mechanical engineering as environmental engineering is a diverse field that requires workforce from diverse backgrounds. Professionals from process engineering, environmental chemistry, water and sewage treatment, waste reduction management, pollution prevention, etc are also in demand in this field. With more and more organisations embracing environment friendly processes the future prospects for students opting for this field are very bright. However, as this is a relatively new branch that focuses on various implications of environment pollution, lack of information among candidates prevents them from taking it up. Most of the engineering students still prefer go for traditional engineering disciplines and do not wish to explore the vast potential of this field. Career contours Environmental engineers study, evaluate and design solutions to environmental problems. Some areas of the environment they're involved with include water and air pollution control, recycling, waste disposal, global warming, acid rain and ozone Common job duties of an environmental engineer include interacting with clients, surveying sites, taking measurements, analysing data and performing quality-control checks. Environment engineering includes energy management technologies, environmental engineering technologies, environmental health engineering etc. Getting in Environmental engineering as a discipline is available at undergraduate, post-graduate as well as research levels. Students with physics, chemistry and mathematics in Plus II can opt for BTech in environmental engineering. M.Tech. in Energy and Environment Management is another attractive option which can be exercised after doing BE or BTech in environmental or civil engineering. On the other hand, environmental engineering technologists typically must have at least a two-year associate's degree. They are not qualified to register as professional engineers. However, it is common to find technologists with four-year bachelor's degrees in environmental engineering technology because of the increased employment prospects the additional education affords. Environmental engineering technologists generally undergo more hands-on training in their classes, which focus on practical design, production and the application of engineering principles. Work profile Professionals in this field work in many areas related to environment, such as air and water pollution control, recycling, public health, environmental health engineering and even wildlife protection. They work to protect people and the environment while solving environmental problems. Environmental engineers can be involved in local and global issues, and they can work towards goals like protecting the ozone layer and minimising global warming. Undergraduate students in environmental engineering programmes can expect to take courses like environmental microbiology, chemistry, water treatment, environmental ethics and environmental engineering design. Graduates are typically qualified for opportunities in government and private organisations. They can find employment in performing research or conducting field work. Job titles could include: Safety design administrator; Field scientist; Air quality specialist; Director of waste management; Water resource engineer; Agricultural engineer etc. Opportunities Job prospects for professionals with qualification in environmental engineering are bright in research centres, NGOs and various governmental departments working towards green development. Candidates with MTech have opportunities to work for government assessment committees which study and analyse the environmental risks involved in certain projects. The report of such a committee is then submitted to the authorities concerned for further observation. Scholars with PhD in environmental engineering can opt for teaching jobs in colleges and universities. International firms and supra-national bodies like UNO require candidates with qualification and exposure in environment technology for various projects. Jobs in such projects are not only high paying in terms of salaries, but are also attractive in terms of facilities and amenities offered. USA offers attractive salary packages for environmental engineers where median salary for an environmental engineer is $ 80,000. Remuneration Environmental engineers have umpteen employment opportunities with central and state pollution control boards which work towards maintaining clean environment and sustainable growth. Engineers working with State Pollution Control Board can get salaries ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000. Candidates with M. Tech in environment engineering can command salary in the range of Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000 per month. Carrying out research in environmental engineering is also a high paying assignment as a professional can earn between Rs 50,000 and Rs 75,000 per month. — The writer is Chairman, Echelon Institute of Technology, Faridabad Institute watch B.Tech. / B.E. in Environmental Engineering can be pursued from:
n Delhi College of Engineering, New Delhi n
Sharda Group of Institutions, Greater Noida n
Gujarat University, L.D. College of Engineering, Ahmedabad n
Visveswariah Technological University, AIT, Chikmagalur n
P.E.S. College of Engineering, Mandya ME and M.Tech are offered in: n
Thapar Instt of Engg & Technology, Patiala n
IIT, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur and Madras n
Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi n Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya , Indore (MP) n
UP Technical University (Institute of Engineering & Technology), Lucknow n
Visveswariah Technological University, AIT, Chikmagalur
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Career Hotline
Career opportunities are truly wide and varied for someone who has a talent and passion for mathematics. Moreover, the skills you develop while studying for a math degree — such as the ability to think logically as well as in abstraction — will prove to be a great asset in any profession. No wonder it’s called the queen of sciences. Mathematics finds valuable multifaceted applications in all walks of life, including banking, business and law. Some of the careers where a mathematical background is particularly valued are: actuarial science (insurance), taxation, business management, finance, computer science, operations research, market research (specifically quantitative), and media planning. The banking and financial services sector is major growth area where the work centres on portfolio management, financial control methods and forecasting, equity research, financial planning etc. For all these, MBA (Finance), MFC, CA, CFA will hold you in good stead. For RBI jobs check out www.rbi.org.in Many financial services companies, research labs of multinational companies etc are aggressively hiring Indian mathematicians and the best part is that the pay package is better than that offered to IT professionals. Business Analytics is another hot area which you can get into if you do an MBA (Fin).
Is BCA equivalent to B Tech?
2. Is my total qualification equivalent to BE / BTech (IT/ Computer). A. While a three-year BCA is certainly not equivalent to a four-year BE/BTech, there's now an increasing trend to hire BSc (IT) graduates from good colleges for starting level jobs in programming in top companies like Infosys, TCS HCL etc because they come cheaper than engineering graduates and require to be trained by the company in either case. As for the sum total of your qualifications being equivalent to a BE/BTech, the answer is yes for all practical purposes. As far as employment is concerned companies will test you on your basic knowledge.
My son wants to be a chef
A. If your son shows an interest in becoming a chef, that's great. I suggest you put him in a good hotel management programme after Class XII. There are several good options available in the country. Besides these, there are excellent programmes run by leading hotel chains like the STEP programme offered by Oberoi's or the Welcom Legionaire Programme of ITC. Students get to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Travel and Tourism/ Hospitality along with practical on-the-job training for three years. Moreover, students don't have to pay any fee; they are paid a decent stipend instead. As far as subjects to opt for in Class XI are concerned, it is immaterial what he opts for. Just bear in mind that the level of difficulty goes up steeply after Class X, so he should be able to cope with that. Regardless of what he chooses, keeping maths as a subject would be recommended, provided he’s comfortable with it.
Good colleges for BSc. microbiology
A.BSc. Microbiology is offered at a large number of universities all over the country. Some of these include: n
Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla 171005 n
Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014 n
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004 n
Guru Nanak Dev Univ, Amritsar 143005 n
Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar n
Univesity of Delhi, Delhi 110007 n
Ch. Sarwan Kr Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur 176062 n
Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut 250005 n
Deendayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur 273009 n
Dr BR Ambedkar University, Agra 282004 n
GB Pant Univ of Agricultute & Tech, Pantnagar 263145 (Utt) n
Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Hardwar 249404 (Utt) n
UP Rajarshi Tandon Open University, Allahabad 211001 Microbiology holds a great deal of promise for the next millennium. Regarded as a "tough" option by students, it requires long hours of sustained and hard study. The syllabus covers subjects like biostatistics and bio-mathematics in the first year, and goes on to include microbial genetics and biotechnology in the final year. However, if you are interested in doing research, a master's degree in microbiology, biotechnology or biochemistry is mandatory. While opportunities for research — particularly in the areas of cloning and gene therapy are better abroad, the demand for researchers and technologists in our domestic pharmaceutical and packaged food industry have also increased manifold in recent times.
Which is the best bet for MTech?
Q. I have done BTech (ECE). Now I want to pursue MTech. Simultaneously, I want to prepare for PSUs. Which stream will be best for me in MTech: ECE or nanotechnology considering that I don't want to do PhD in that discipline.
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In which sector do more job opportunities exist in India? I have heard that the scope of nanotechnology is more outside India. n
Which stream will be better for lectureship? — Jaskaran Singh A. If you wish to pursue an MTech while preparing for PSU jobs, I guess MTech in electronics or communication would be a better bet — particularly since you don't wish to go for further studies i.e. PhD which subjects like nanotech would merit. As far as lectureship is concerned, either would be acceptable.
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Scholarship round-up
The postgraduate training in Gerontology by distance learning will allow students to acquire specialist knowledge in Gerontology and key research skills through study from a distance. Students will be supported in accessing online learning material and resources related to a wide range of issues, including demographic and economic issues concerning ageing, theoretical and critical perspectives in Gerontology, and national and international policy and practice in adult and elder care services. Scholarship includes: The scholarships cover the cost of tuition fees (£6,500 per year) for the programme, teaching and learning materials, and travel to, accommodation and subsistence for the week-long MSc Gerontology (Distance Learning) Residential Course at the University of Southampton in Spring 2013. Eligibility: A minimum of an Upper-second-class (2:1) bachelor's, Honors or equivalent degree in the social sciences or a field relevant to Gerontology and Ageing. Application procedure: Application form should be submitted on the University of Southampton's online application system. Deadline: May 30, 2012. Check out: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/ageing/postgraduate/scholarships.page
Ibsen scholarships
Ibsen Scholarships initiated by the Norwegian government and will be handed out for the fifth time in 2012. These scholarships award innovative projects in the field of drama and performing arts and projects that act as incentives for critical discourse in regards to existential and society-related subject matters concerning Henrik Ibsen and his plays. The Ibsen Scholarships are awarded annually and the applications are subject to scrutiny by an appointed jury. Ibsen Awards has till now handed out 15 scholarships to projects in 11 different countries. The winners of The Ibsen Scholarships 2012 will be presented at Skien International Ibsen Conference on September 10-11 in Skien, Norway. Amount: Scholarship funds amount to 1,000,000 NOK (approximately $170.000) will be awarded projects worldwide. Who can apply: Individuals, organisations or institutions within the artistic and cultural community. Deadline: April 30, 2012. Check out: www.ibsenawards.com Contact: Hilde Guri Bohlin E-mail: post@ibsenawards.com
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Cool Counsel
A. Deadlines can, no doubt, be very stressful and especially when these are a part of your work routine on a daily basis. So what you are feeling is a very common syndrome among professionals in many different professions. Not being able to perform as per the deadline often leads to a feeling of being not in control and this leads to frustration and makes a person lose temper. But always remember that you have to keep your nerves calm in all circumstances. Though meditation and deep breathing can have their effect, I would suggest you to find out where the root of your problem lies. Deadlines become awful if you are unorganised and have not factored in the last minute hitches that can make you lose precious minutes leading to delays that can dent your reputation as a competent worker. So plan ahead and be thoroughly organised. Apart from this learn the golden rule of delegating work rather than trying to do everything on your own. This way you will find it easier to remain in control. Wasting one’s energy by venting anger leads to no solution. On the other hand if you find that the deadline is unreasonable, it is always better to have a direct communication with the boss, and to convince him that the said deadline is unreasonable. No reasonable boss ever likes to put his subordinate into an awkward situation.
Impressive resume
Q. I have just finished my post graduate diploma in computer applications, and am applying for job in different organisations. I have prepared a simple resume enlisting my qualifications and expectations. But I feel that it is unimpressive. Is it important to have a detailed and professionally drafted resume to get selected in a job interview? — Rita Rani
A.Resume, no doubt, plays a major role in getting selected for a job. ‘Curriculum Vitae’ which is the Latin for ‘the course of life’ actually establishes one’s value and worth in a convincing manner revealing one’s good qualities and skills. Many candidates don’t get an interview call as their resume is not effective and impressive. What your resume should actually show must be relevant and not simply a way to impress. You must prepare your resume in an easy-to-follow method. Be absolutely truthful and furnish accurate details. It should not only tell about your qualification but also about your experience, skills which can be of use in the job as well as outside the job. The language should be simple and facts should be presented in a systematic way so that it is easily comprehensible. Using high-flown but ambiguous and obscure language just to make an impression may land you in trouble. The authority concerned easily comes to know where you actually stand. So the best way to impress is by being crystal clear, simple, yet authentic.
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Career compass: interior design
The work Interior designers either work with firms engaged in interior design or architecture or on their own. You can put your talent and expertise to use for designing homes, commercial complexes as also the interiors of offices, hotels, farm houses, show-rooms, studios, schools, automobiles and even ships and airplanes. You could even specialise in designing sets for film, theatre and television or concentrate on exhibition displays and designing special events like product launches, mega-entertainment programmes etc. Interior designing is not just about colour schemes and paintings on the wall. It also involves re-organising existing spaces to suit specific requirements. At times, drastic re-modelling of the existing arrangement, or shifting of walls, re-routing of electrical wiring and cabling and conduits, plumbing and ventilation may also be called for. Interior decoration, on the other hand, involves designing the colour scheme and furniture, selecting decorative artefacts e.g. paintings, wall-hangings, sculpture, plants, lights, furniture and furnishings using appropriate materials to create an elegant, comfortable and yet functional ambience. Each interior, however, poses its own challenge. For instance, the interior of an aircraft must look tastefully elegant while optimising on every inch of space. It must be able to withstand heavy usage and the occasional rolls and bumps when the aircraft hits an air pocket. On the other hand, a hospital room must have a cheerful and restful ambience without compromising on functionality. All surfaces must be easy to clean and disinfect. Whether you are planning a hotel lobby or re-decorating a penthouse, interior designing involves a step-by-step problem solving process. You have to first closely understand the client's requirement and lifestyle, factoring in the usage or "traffic" as it's called in architectural parlance, before you go on to studying the location and site conditions. Most importantly, you need to keep the budget in mind to ensure that you don't overshoot the expenses. Good taste and aesthetics does not mean that you end up buying only the most expensive products available in the market. Many designers also choose to work on their own. However, before striking out solo it would be a good idea to work with an established firm or designer (the more successful the better, because the more varied will be your exposure). You may be paid peanuts and made to slog like crazy but there's no better way to master the nitty-gritty of this trade. Where to study Except for a few architecture schools that offer a specialisation in Interior design at the BArch level, most of the courses in this field are diplomas offered at polytechnics and other design schools. Elements of Interior design are also taught in all BArch courses. What it takes While formal training is necessary, what will count even more than your degree or diploma is your creativity (either you have it or you don't. Nobody can teach you creativity) and ability to execute and give shape to a project. A scientific approach to problem solving, a creative, organised and analytical mind, a fine sense of aesthetics, colour and design, the intelligence to understand your client's requirements and tastes, and the ability to maintain team spirit is what it takes. To that add the other "musts" - the ability to visualise (in 3-D) and sketch - both of which will be honed to perfection by professional training. Apart from in depth knowledge of the three basic principles of interior design-colour, scale and proportion, a working knowledge of Feng Shui and Vaastu Shastra would be an asset. Increasingly, clients want their homes and offices to conform to the principles of these ancient sciences to attract luck and good fortune. Above all, your people-skills must be of a very high order. You could be interacting with all kinds of people - from a small time contractor or labourer to the owner of a five-star hotel or a film star. You must have the knack of tactfully extracting efficiency out of people, and patiently repeating instructions for the billionth time without losing your cool. Opportunities Growing design consciousness coupled with the building and construction boom — both in the housing and commercial sector will open up many opportunities for qualified interior designers. The other favourable factor is that most interior or renovation jobs cost as much as would a new construction. So there's good money in this field for independent designers as well as those executing turnkey projects. If you are planning to take up this career because it's "different" or simply because it doesn't require long-term academic study, forget it! The money is good only if you are good. Also don't expect clients to make a beeline at your door simply because you've done an interior designing course. Related careers are those of architect, event planner, floral designer, industrial designer, landscape architect, visual merchandiser and set designer. Remuneration The apprenticeship you land and the initial remuneration you are offered will depend as much on the reputation of the institution from where you have qualified as on your own talent and ability to deliver the goods. Starting salaries may be very modest to begin with (Rs 8,000 to 12,000). But don't be dismayed. Welcome the opportunity to learn on-the-job. This is where you really get to hone your skills and see how the theory you learnt in class translates into practical execution on the site. You'll also learn how to handle recalcitrant labour and craftsmen of all hues. Later, as you gain experience and acquire a reputation, the sky is the limit to what you can earn. Depending on whether you take on turnkey projects — handling the entire contract from designing to fabrication, in which case you will charge a commission (7-20%) on the total cost (the larger the project, smaller the percentage, and vice versa). You could, on the other hand, choose to work purely as a consultant charging between Rs. 2,500 to 4,000 per drawing and a separate supervision fee. If designing sets, films and public events will pay better than theatre, for the simple reason that the latter have much larger budgets. Exhibition work can also be very paying, especially if you are handling the fabrication.
Institute watch National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad Sir JJ School of Arts, Mumbai Srishti School of Art, Design & Technology, Bangalore Apeejay Institute of Design, New Delhi Exterior-Interiors, (At Bangalore, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune & Kochi Centres) National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD) (BSc in collaboration with Annamalai Univ), Chandigarh Spectrum Institute of Design, New Delhi Raffles Millennium International (Indicative Listing)
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Course Cruising
The programme also provides opportunities for in-depth or intensive practical training to enhance technological skills of the learners to independently develop or manage a computerised library and information centre. Objectives: The objectives of the programme are to make the learners n
Imbibe knowledge and skills associated with fundamentals of computer technology; n
Understand the basic requirements of library automation and services provided by an automated library; n
Get themselves acquainted with the components of an information system; n
Acquire knowledge and skills on networking and Internet technology in general and library and information networks in particular; n
Develop Internet skills with special reference to the information resources available in different forms and subjects; n
Acquire web-based content development skills; n
Be aware of the legal issues associated with electronic information. n
Be able to design and development a programme by enhancing skills on programming based on specific language such as Java or Visual Basic or C++; and n
Undertake a practical based project work in order to specialize in one of the thrust areas from which the learners will be able to gain technological expertise and apply the same in the area of library automation and networking. Eligibility: Bachelor's Degree in Library and Information Science Age: No bar Duration: Minimum duration of this programme is one year and the maximum duration is four years. Check out: IGNOU website Cloud computing The future of IT is in cloud and cloud computing will generate over 2 million jobs in India by 2015, according to Microsoft commissioned study conducted by IDC. To assist the IT Industry which is facing skilled talent crunch, Indian Institute of Job Training (IIJT) has launched a new course on cloud computing - IT Infrastructure Management Specialist Course (ITIM). The course: ITIM is the management of essential operation components, such as policies, processes, equipment, data, human resources, and external contacts, for overall effectiveness. The course duration is 416 hours spread over 10 months. Eligibility: Candidates with Plus II along with A+ and Network+ are eligible. It is an added advantage if any of the following criteria is met: MCITP (Microsoft Certified IT Professional), RHCSA (Red Hat Certified System Administrator), RHCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer) or worked as Service Engineer for one year. Check out: www.iijt.net.
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Selling dream vacations
Not only is tourism a growth engine for the economy, but also has the capacity to provide large-scale employment, direct and indirect, ranging from the specialised to unskilled workers. One foreign tourist arrival benefits five citizens economically. Besides, a million rupees spent on tourism create more jobs than any other sector. So far, despite its extraordinary potential, India has received only a thin slice of the cake — way behind China, or even countries like Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. It is common knowledge that we fail to meet standards in basic infrastructure such as roads, railways and telecommunications. Many foreigners are scared of India because of poor quality of drinking water, diseases and other facilities. Then, there are the travel advisories due to instability and law and order problems. Having said that we also know that India has been an increasingly important travel destination for people from all over the world. Even highly discriminating foreigners travel to India only to return for a second and third trip. The credit goes to thousands of private tour operators who despite the odds, have packaged India attractively and sold dream vacations. By simply getting off the beaten track and selling a creative concept in the right manner, these tour operators have managed to do what the government with all its strength could not. Work profile As the name indicates, a tour operator arranges special interest tours. Basically, this involves putting together a holiday package and may include buying air and/or rail tickets. You would arrange hotel accommodation, transfers to and from the airport, rail or bus terminal, tour guides, escorts, meals, shopping, cultural shows, sight seeing and entertainment. In other words, everything that constitutes a hassle-free and memorable vacation for your clients. A tour operator may also be a travel agent but smaller operators usually specialise. Simple as a tour operator's work may sound, there are many aspects to arranging tours and success depends on excellent marketing skills and some degree of creativity. For many years, tourist destinations to India were limited to the 'Golden Triangle' of Agra, Jaipur and Khajuraho, the beaches of Goa and Kashmir's lakes. Gradually, tour operators woke up to other potential tourist destinations. There are more potential destinations in India than can be exploited in the next 100 years. Therefore, the only limitation to a tour operator's field is his/her imagination and willingness to explore. Even the exposed or well-known destinations offer tremendous potential for new tourists and it is up to the kind of services offered that would get business. Planning pays For a start, a tour operator must plan itineraries with great care, taking into account the latest travel trends, personal preferences and budget allowances. It is important to select a market segment instead of trying to cater to all needs. The choice of market segments itself is vast. You have domestic and foreign tourists, backpackers and first class travelers. You may choose to specialise in trade or professional delegations from a particular country due to a language advantage or prefer the vast chunks of business you get from senior citizens travelling in groups. Then there are schools and colleges that regularly arrange educational and/or fun trips for their students and corporate houses that provide incentive vacation packages to their staff. Getting in To begin with, you may want to start in a small way and become a 'Handling Agent' on behalf of another tour operator. This would mean handling inbound or outgoing tourists from your town/city/locality. Work experience with an established operator is the best way to start out. Despite the fact that you will earn very little initially, consider the job as a paid schooling experience. Once you have learnt your way around and picked up the tricks of the trade, you will be ready to start off on your own. It is important to remember that as a tour operator, you will be dealing directly with your customers and the services you offer them will reflect directly on you. Your degrees and diplomas may have prepared you for basic technicalities but you need to educate and update yourself on a continuous basis to keep up with the dynamics of change around you. Unlike a corporate sales person you are not selling a simple commodity with specific properties to fulfill clearly defined needs. What you are selling is a sense of enjoyment, adventure, romance and thrill. You are also selling an image of India, possibly the only image that your customers will return with, no matter what their earlier knowledge or exposure to India may have been.
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Making money online
Have you been feeling that earning money online could be your thing, but don’t know how to go
about it? Have you been sitting on the fence letting apprehensions like Internet fraud grow on you? Would you love to market your skills online in the global marketplace? Or are you looking for a fun way to earn some extra dough in your spare time? If your answer to any of the above questions is "yes", then numerous microjob sites giving you an opportunity to do "gigs" at fixed prices could be just what you've been looking for. What is it all about? Simply put, there are websites where people share things they are willing to do for a fixed price tag that could range from $2 to $50 or even more. People list gigs ranging from writing articles, designing website headers, setting up a website and writing a resume to making someone laugh, drawing a caricature or giving expert advice. How does it work? You create a gig for a small service you are willing to offer; you share the gig with the world. Every time your gig is ordered and after you successfully complete an order, depending on the website's terms and conditions and after they deduct their cut from the amount the buyer has paid, you could withdraw your earnings through an online payment processor like Paypal (You could sign up for a free Paypal account at Paypal.com). What gigs can you offer? Your gig could be in line with your professional expertise or hobby. Or anything else that is worthwhile. Check out other people's gigs for ideas. You might like to come up with gigs that give you a good return on your time and/or money investment. And do bear in mind that your gig could be your gateway to a long haul, to getting your gig featured prominently on the website. Make sure you complete your gig within the timeline you've set. Add to it a dash of quality work, and you could soon be having a steady stream of positive feedback for your work which shows up in the testimonials accompanying your gig. In fact, many sellers make it a point to go the extra mile to attend to their customers' additional requests and avoid negative feedback. After all, avoiding the negatives is as important as getting the positives. Promoting your gig Let's face it — The micro jobs websites make for a huge marketplace. To make it worth your while, you've got to make your gig stand out. Which "tags" or keywords to use while creating your gig? For a cue, you could have a look at the existing popular gigs in your niche. When you create your gig, you could add to the gig's description a link pointing to your personal blog. The blog could, in turn, be having your work samples. And you could take advantage of social networking websites, video-sharing websites like YouTube and online forums pertaining to your niche (Clueless? Think google) which allow you to put in a link you wish to promote, in your signature, to get the word out about your gig. Building on it Once you've set the ball rolling, sky's the limit. Even if the gig doesn't draw a good response, build on the lessons you learn along the way and you'll find yourself going from strength to strength. Who knows, you might hit upon a goldmine of ideas for gigs, or a big project from a client impressed with your service. What is a gig? A gig is a job, especially a temporary one. On microjob sites, gigs are small tasks that people can do for a fee. These tasks could relate to writing, social networking, search engine optimisation or even programming. Gigs on microjob sites straddle a range of non-specialised jobs like data entry work.
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Success succinct: how to reach your goal
'Some' is a vague term a hazy feeling that drives your life. Nothing is worse than this. You are dissatisfied with your present job, yet you do not know where exactly you want to be. Common sense suggests that the best way of getting what you want from life is to place the order; to stand up and declare what is that you desire. Nothing could be farther from truth. I'm convinced that if the mythical djinn ever did pop out of the Aladdin's lamp and say what is it that you want, most people would stammer, stutter and be in a terrible conflict as to what to ask for. Not knowing precisely what you want is not okay. If you cannot name what you want with conviction, and it applies to your career the most, you will never be able to step up and claim it. Digging the reasons Not knowing which career option to go for can be attributed to a number of reasons. First reason is that ever since your childhood no one has really asked what you wanted in life. Your parents decided what time you will eat, drink and sleep; the school decided what you study and when through its bell timings. Never were you conditioned to decide what you wanted in life. Today, if you take more than five minutes in ordering your menu by looking at it, believe me you will have the same hiccup choosing you career, too. Therefore, learn to go into the specificity of life. Consider this: if you have ever been in the same room with a baby who is obviously hurting and crying, you know how frustrating that feeling can be. You want to help the baby and give it what it wants but you don't know what he wants and needs. Your career choice is the same - unless you spell out what you want in life, no one can help you get it. So, before it gets too late spell it out and start working towards achieving it. Time — a scarce resource Once you have decided whether you want to be a lawyer or a chartered accountant or a neuro surgeon, do not wait for the world to shake you out of your slumber. Opportunities for getting what you want are limited, they have a shelf life and will expire if not seized and acted upon. Your thinking needs to stay focussed and yet be flexible. Look for any side tracks that might lead you to your goal. Not deviating from your goal, now is the time to start working backwards and drafta road map for yourself. As a first step in this direction try to answer these questions - what does success means to me? If I achieve my goal of becoming a neurosurgeon, will I be successful? Besides, what are the costs involved? Introspect Look at yourself and examine where you stand today? What do you need to get there? Here, too, be specific and spell it out don't say, "All I want is to be happy". It sounds like a commonsense answer, but as a career goal, it is destined for failure. Your dog also wants to be happy? Does it mean you want the same thing? Your dog and you define your happiness differently. Be bold yet realistic. Don't hesitate to admit that you want some special experiences and special things. The most you will get is what you ask for. Don't aim too low because if you do, you will spend your entire life attempting to pull yourself out of that career. If you want to be a lawyer and your mind says you will settle down just being a notary that's what you will end up being. But at the same time, be realistic. Take stock of your own strengths and weaknesses. You may want to become the Chief Justice of India. You can become one, but then you probably needed to have taken preparatory steps much earlier. So as you prepare to name what you want, be bold enough to reach for what will truly fill you up, without being unrealistic. Act The hamartia or the tragic flaw in most of us is that we may be able to name what we want in our lives, yet there remains a gnawing gap between the name and the claim as we fail to ACT. No matter how good your intentions are, life will reward you if you look for ways and means to achieve that goal and break the inertia. Life only rewards action and nothing else. The first step towards that should be study the cases of all those who have been successful in the career you have chosen for yourself. Two things that really matter are — institution and institutionalisation. By institution I mean the college or the university that would help you move towards your goal. Institutionalisation, however, is more significant; it implies - make whatever you learn a part of you. It should not be a matter of passing a test or getting a grade, but it should become a part of you. Explore beyond the realm of university exams. That would make you inch towards your goal. Be your own life manager Once you start acting you would feel that you are your life's own manager. No one understands your life more than you do. Strike a balance between your head and the heart and you would be able to claim what you had once coveted. — The writer is a career consultant
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Taking dogs to work can help lower employee stress, says a study
For the study, the VCU researchers compared employees who bring their dogs to work, employees who do not bring their dogs to work and employees without pets in the areas of stress, job satisfaction, organisational commitment and support. "Although preliminary, this study provides the first quantitative study of the effects of employees' pet dogs in the workplace setting on employee stress, job satisfaction, support and commitment," Randolph T. Barker, principal investigator of the study, said. "Dogs in the workplace can make a positive difference. "The differences in perceived stress between days the dog was present and absent were significant. The employees as a whole had higher job satisfaction than industry norms," he said. The study took place at Replacements, Ltd., a service-manufacturing-retail company located in Greensboro, N.C., which employs approximately 550 persons. Approximately 20 to 30 dogs are on the company premises each day. It took place over a period of one work week in the company setting, during which time participants completed surveys and collected saliva samples. Pagers were assigned to prompt employees to complete surveys during the day. The researchers did not observe a difference between the three employee groups on stress hormone levels, which was measured via a saliva sample, in the morning, but during the course of the work day, self-reported stress declined for employees with their dogs present and increased for non-pet owners and dog owners who did not bring their dogs to work. The team noted that stress significantly rose during the day when owners left their dogs at home compared to days they brought them to work. According to Barker, the team observed unique dog-related communication in the workplace that may contribute to employee performance and satisfaction. For example, he said, although not part of the study, that employees without a dog were observed requesting to take a co-worker's dog out on a break. These were brief, positive exchanges as the dogs were taken and returned and also resulted in an employee break involving exercise. Barker said other findings revealed mostly positive comments from employees such as "pets in the workplace can be a great bonus for employee morale …," "having dogs here is great stress relief" and "dogs are positive; dogs increase coworker cooperation." "The effect of pets in reducing the impact of stress and enhancing communication found in other settings may extend to the workplace. "Pet presence may serve as a low-cost, wellness intervention readily available to many organisations and may enhance organisational satisfaction and perceptions of support. Of course, it is important to have policies in place to ensure only friendly, clean and well-behaved pets are present in the workplace," he said. The study has been published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management. — ANI
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Happiness @ work
One day, Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das decided to renounce all luxuries — including the hookah. When the servant arrived with the ready-to-smoke hookah that day, he dismissed him from service. “What’s my fault?” the servant asked. “None. Hence, I will give you enough money for the rest of your life,” said Das. Seeing Bal Gangadhar Tilak lose 21 pounds in Bombay Jail, a Muslim warder offered him some betel nut against prison rules. Tilak refused. Then, the warder brought him some coconut and jaggery. Tilak said no as he didn’t want to see the warder get into trouble. But the warder’s persistence paid off when Tilak yielded to the offer of almonds and sugar candy. Due to sage Durvasa’s curse, King Dushyant had forgotten about his wife Shakuntala whom he had married in the forest. One day, his soldiers brought before him a fisherman who had the king’s ring in his possession. “I found it inside a fish,” the fisherman said. As soon as the king touched the ring, the curse was broken. The king gave the fisherman a bag of gold coins for his service. The ring had slipped out of Shakuntala’s finger as she was crossing the river and was swallowed by the fish. In contrast, Rash Behari Bose, who was just a clerk in the British India army, was thrown out as he was a Bengali. Enraged, he joined the chemistry department of the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun, smuggled chemicals and learnt how to make bombs and use firearms. He later went on to found the Indian National Army at the Bangkok Conference in 1942. When Col Macaulay, the British Resident, hiked the levy on the state of Travancore to Rs 8 lakh and even started meddling in the state’s domestic affairs, freedom fighter Velu Thampi, the Diwan of Travancore, decided to take the Brits head on. After some initial defeats, the British gained the upper hand. As the Maharaja would have been held responsible for the revolt, Velu gave in writing to the Maharaja that Velu alone was responsible for the mutiny. When the British finally surrounded the temple he was hiding in, Velu killed himself so that he could remain ‘ever free’. Only a jeweller knows the value of a gem. Boss, are you one? — Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at
svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com |
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Environmental Engineering
A. How lucky you are! For most numerically-challenged, math-phobic mortals, a number-crunching math wiz (like you) seems to belong to a different galaxy altogether.
Q. I am BCA, PGDCA, MSc (IT). Please tell me:
Q. My son will be appearing for CBSE Class X exam this year. He wants to go in food management, food technology, hotel management etc. Actually he wants to become a chef. Please suggest what will be a better option for him. We live in a small city in Sangrur district in Punjab. Should he opt for Plus II or is there any other option? If he goes for Plus II then should he take up physics, chemistry, maths or physics, chemistry, biology combination in Plus I? — Rajnish Kumar
Q. I am a student of Class XII (medical). I have no plans to take up MBBS as I am not interested in that field. I am very clear about taking up microbiology. But I am facing a problem in finding good colleges in India. Please suggest some suitable colleges. Also, please tell me about the job prospects of this field. — Paras Verma
UK-based University of Southampton's Centre for Research on Ageing, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission, is offering 10 scholarships for students of the MSc Gerontology (Distance Learning) programme for the year 2012-13. The programme aims to train students in ageing over the lifecourse through the University's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) where all learning resources are available and accessible at all times by students.
Q. My job involves very strict deadlines and this gets on my nerves sometimes. I feel very stressed trying to perform perfectly and lose my cool. Though I like my job, this is sending the wtong signals to my bosses as the general impression is that I am not competent. How can I avoid getting stressed due to deadline pressure? — Navneet Chahal
Changing lifestyles, rising incomes and skyrocketing property prices have created a demand for good interior designers and decorators. Growing eco-consciousness has spawned alternative, non-polluting technologies, natural dyes, biodegradable materials, solar energy, etc. With such a mind-boggling variety of materials, finishes and fabrics to choose from and hi-tech computer simulations that allow you to experiment with alternative colour schemes, furniture placements and space distribution, an interior designer's job has no doubt become far more exciting, and also more exacting.
Computers, networking and information technology have brought tremendous changes in the world of books and libraries and professionals in this field looking for updating their qualifications to keep in step with these changes can check out IGNOU's Post Graduate Diploma in Library Automation and Networking (PGDLAN). The course aims at developing the professional competencies of the library and information professionals in an automated and networked environment.
The travel and tourism sector in India is thriving —growing at healthy double-digit growth rates — and outpacing several popular tourist destinations across the world and Asia.
Are you looking for ways to supplement your current income?
You may have come across people who say. "I wanted to become a lawyer, today I am a doctor" or someone saying "my father wanted me to be a neuro-surgeon" or still another group of people saying "I wish I could be in some other job".
Dogs in the workplace may buffer the impact of stress during the workday for their owners and make the job more satisfying for those with whom they come into contact, a new study has revealed. According to a Virginia Commonwealth University study, stress is a major contributor to employee absenteeism, morale and burnout and results in significant loss of productivity and resources.
A good turn deserves another. Handle polite, capable and willing workers with care.
Kanhaiya, a follower of Guru Gobind Singh, was caught by Sikh soldiers when he was giving water to wounded Mughal soldiers. He was produced before the master. In defence, Kanhaiya said, “You told us to serve all those in need.” Instead of admonishing him, the guru remarked, “Well done, you have truly understood the word of the Gurus.”
