choices for those who love to travel
Hop on a journey to success
The adventurous and the travel-minded have a lot of career avenues to explore. Of course, one has to be very good in one’s job and have lots of stamina to excel in careers that demand extensive travel
Gauri Chhabra

Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns driven time and again off course,

Thus opens Homer's Odyssey, foreshadowing the hallowed heights of the journey of a man who loves to travel and explore. Today, aeons later, as time stretches itself, the journey continues and becomes a passion, a way of life.

Many things make traveling attractive: the thrill of experiencing a new place, learning about different cultures, tasting international cuisine, creating unforgettable memories, strengthening language skills and building international friendships. There are many who find a 9 to 5 routine tedious and are scared of a desk job. If traveling is your passion, there's good news! You don’t have to wait until you retire to see the world. No matter what your academic background is, there are a lot of ways in which you can incorporate the excitement of travel in your worklife.

The travel and tourism industry has a whole lot of choice of careers for those who love to travel. After getting a relevant degree in the field of their choice students can work as travel agents, tourist guides, tour operators or holiday consultants and enjoy the taste of different cultures and destinations while performing their duties. Those in the hospitality industry also get plenty of opportunities to move from one place to another as several top hotel chains keep on shuffling their staff on regular intervals.

Here we bring you some other fields that also offer the thrill of adventure and travel along with lucrative pay packages to make a job more of a pleasure than a drudgery.

Air/ship crew

Airlines require people for ground as well as flight duties. On the ground, the duties are in offices, at the airline desks in airports and for checking and managing flights. A course in travel and tourism or a qualification on hotel management helps to get in this field. Airlines also require air hostesses and stewards for flights. The jobs are glamorous and offer the chance to travel to exciting destinations. Free tickets for the family offered by some airlines are an added bonus.

To become an air hostess, you should be unmarried, below 25, a graduate or have training in hotel management and catering. A pleasing personality, physical fitness and lots of stamina are essential. Your height should be between 154 and 170 cm, normal eyesight and familiarity of a foreign language are amongst the primary pre requisites for this job. There are a number of institutes offering air hostess training courses. Indian Airlines has its own institute in Hyderabad to train cabin crew. Airlines advertise for vacancies in the newspaper and impart their own training. Apart from a test to check your general awareness and proficiency in language, there may be a flight observation test to see if the applicant gets air sick. However, the career of air hostesses is only 10 years or so. Salaries range from Rs 6,000 for domestic to Rs 40,000 in international airlines. If you want to become an air hostess, make sure you participate in co-scholastic activities and develop a good personality.

Crew member jobs in the shipping industry also run a large gamut, from positions loading cargo onto freight vessels to working on cruise ships and even in the merchant navy. The merchant navy is a seafaring fleet that transports exports and imports during peacetime operation and works as an auxiliary military force in times of war. If interested in getting into the merchant navy, you can go in for an extensive training at institutes like Marine Engineering and Research Institutes in Kolkata and Mumbai, Lal Bahadur Shastri College of Advanced Maritime Studies and Research, Mumbai. Students can go in for three-year degree course in nautical engineering or a four-year degree course in Marine engineering. There is also a one year course for those with BTech (mechanical) and a three-month course for deck cadets after Plus II. Ship crew member jobs allow individuals to travel to locations such as Latin America, Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, the South China Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. These jobs are physically strenuous and require long hours and staying away from family for long periods.

Banks

Foreign banks and dealers in foreign exchange require people to assist their clients in their travel requirements. The idea is to provide all services under one roof. Usually, MBAs from premier institutes are preferred for these positions. The bank helps in hotel bookings, ticketing and all travel-related services. Indian banks have been laggards in providing such services but foreign banks pay very well. The jobs expected from the person may sometimes be more than travel-related, as a personal touch is added to make the customer feel at home. With foreign companies coming in India in a big way, the demand for such services is bound to increase.

The language route

With business going global and more people traveling than ever before, the need for a common language to facilitate open and effective communication has become necessary. The knowledge of a foreign language like French, Spanish or German along with proficiency in English can be the perfect base for a career in teaching languages in different countries or to work as a translator with embassies or MNCs. This profession is perfect for the budding traveler who likes to know a new culture up close.

Marketing and Sales

Salespeople do a significant amount of traveling (that's why there are tax deductions for food, lodging, and airfare). Large companies that have a global presence offer excellent travel opportunities for those passionate about sales.

In order to succeed as an international salesperson, you must have excellent communication skills, be self-motivated, and have the ability to approach complete strangers with confidence and professionalism. You must also know how to adapt to local customs and have a knack for developing relationships with people of different cultural backgrounds.

While these attributes can excuse the lack of a university degree, it can be beneficial to obtain one in order to move into a managerial role.

Accountancy

The accounting profession is sometimes viewed as drab, repetitive, and the last place to inquire about if looking for a travel-oriented career.

Surprisingly, there's a fair amount of traveling, with in the country as well as abroad, involved for accountants - especially for those who work for large public accounting firms. Senior auditors enjoy dynamic and ever-changing work environments that offer challenge, a great salary, a rotating roster of interesting clients, and the ability to travel to a variety of destinations. Who says that accounting is boring? You may not always get to see the most exotic locations, but auditors often spend a few weeks or more at each stop, making it one of the few careers where you have time to explore the new places.

The necessary steps to landing an accounting career include obtaining a university degree and working towards a professional designation, such as the prestigious and sought-after CA

Journalism

Journalism can open the door to an immensely satisfying travel-oriented career filled with challenge, diversity, excitement, and adventure. Talented and self-motivated journalists often scour the globe, doing research on a plethora of intriguing stories, conducting interviews with a wide assortment of people, taking photographs that grace the front page of a major newspaper, and, if lucky, personally reporting on once in-a-lifetime events that make history.

To become a successful foreign journalist, major in journalism or communications in college. The proper experience is also vital; start by working for local broadcasting stations and magazines, writing for your school newspaper, and doing an internship with a news organisation. Field journalists of all types are required to travel extensively for their jobs. Reporters who cover current events often move from conflict zones to war-torn nations in pursuit of the latest breaking news. Television journalists and camera crew members employed by national or international news agencies are similarly required to travel in search of stories. Reporters with expertise in certain areas or foreign language skills travel through regions or nations looking for stories of interest. Travel writers, contributors to publications such as the National Geographic and crew members of travel shows move about the world creating content for print and television.

For the travel buff with knowledge of Indian culture and destinations, a career in travel and tourism offers exciting opportunities indeed.

— The writer is a Ludhiana-based career consultant

Travel Nurse

These days, good nurses are in high demand and short supply. This can work to your advantage if you're trained and capable. You could always get a job at your local hospital, but then you'd be dealing with the same responsibilities and working with the same people every day. As a travel nurse you could travel around the country going from one hospital to another and care for people in many different cities. Nurses taking care of labour and delivery are in great demand besides operating room and emergency room nurses.

As a travel nurse, you'll work for a company that will provide you with accommodation (often a furnished home), a travel stipend to help you get from one hospital to another and a very competitive salary that is usually higher than what permanent nurses earn.

Chefs

If culinary skills and travel encompasses your version of a dream job, look no further and become a chef. It's common for talented chefs to move around and work for or launch a variety of restaurants in different countries. Those who are able to secure positions in popular, well-established restaurants can command a six-figure income. If cooking is your calling, you should attend a technical institution that offers a culinary programme. The most successful chefs are well-disciplined, creative, decisive, and can handle verbal assaults that echo quixotic characters like Don Quixote.

smart strategy: the art of public speaking
Add punch to your presentation

In a corporate setting, presentations are not the only instance when one is required to engage in public speaking. As a boss, employee and a fellow colleague, one is expected to give a pep talk, apprise the new entrants of the company policy or even sometimes make toasts and farewell speeches at official, social events. Your company may have the best products or services and on a personal level you may be the 'Employee of the Year', with an outstanding record, but if you don't or can't communicate well with your target audience, you're limiting your own effectiveness. To build brands, it is necessary to communicate directly to the audience. It also enhances the standing of the speaker among peers and seniors alike. Here are some more reasons why public speaking is an important skill in the current business world.

First impression is most likely to be the last one: Speech is the best tool to make a lasting first impression. Effective and optimum use of vocabulary augments one's image as a leader who knows his mind, which is reflected in a clear speech. In a boardroom meeting there are bleak chances of success of a person who is tongue-tied or the one whose speech is garbled.

An opportune moment

For a meeting to happen, and to collect employees, customers, shareholders or the general public together costs a bomb and is also time-consuming. When you are on the stage, all eyes are on you to enlighten, exhort, convince or woo the audience. Therefore, one has to make the most of the time given for a presentation to apprise the audience about one's mission or product. A good delivery can do wonders to the presentation rather than the usually banal PowerPoint display.

Lead from the front

If the captain of the ship, the CEO delivers a bad speech, then the audience is quick to conclude that the leadership of the organisation is lacklustre and, therefore, it has no or little future. When stakes are high, a bad speech can be suicidal. One might not come across as an assertive, self-assured leader capable of giving an effective speech or exhortation.

No substitute for good speech

Public speech doesn't necessarily require a stage, podium or dais. It can also be at an informal meet or a resolution meeting with a handful of people in the office. Words said by a COO in public can hurt as well as heal. Conflicts can be resolved and past forgotten. Therefore, it is important to choose words carefully.

Motivation

A great public speech can re-energise employees, inspire and give impetus to members of the organisation to better their performance. Analyse and assess employee appraisals and placate the ones on whom this annual activity has not been too kind. On the other hand, the exact opposite of this will happen if the speech is verbose and badly worded.

— The writer is an English language and life skills trainer

Power points

Keep the following points in mind to spice to your speech

• Research and know your product well: The best form of preparation is when you are confident about the product and have thorough knowledge about it. This will enable you to tackle any queries on the same at the end of your presentation.
• Check your support equipment beforehand: Be calm and relaxed but be at the venue half an hour earlier than the exact time so that you can check the support equipment and also run a few slides to see that everything is functioning smoothly.
• Dress suitably: At a formal event such as a product launch, a customer meet or a marketing convention, dress in crisp, well ironed clothes and pay special attention to your shoes. These should be clean and shinning.
• Audience connect: Know the needs of your audience and match your content to their needs. Develop a rapport with them, encouraging queries and making an eye contact.
• Practice your speech at home: Run through your cue cards, slides at home to avoid lengthy pauses and glitches. Arrange your content in a logical sequence. Mentally rehearse the sequence of your piece just before the presentation.
• Be flexible: Adjust and adapt your content at the spur of the moment, if required. Do not neglect a question from the audience even if it is not at the expected hour or the assigned time.
• Delivery tactics: Do not read from notes or cards as it gives the impression of under preparation and also of the lack of confidence. Avoid repetitions and verbosity and speak with conviction. Vary your tone according to the meaning and the need for laying emphasis. Speak loudly, clearly but slowly, showing appropriate emotion related to the topic. If you make a mistake, correct it and continue. Try to anticipate questions from the audience.
• Content: Involve the audience; add humour whenever appropriate and possible but avoid personal remarks or off colour jokes.
• n Non-verbal communication: Stand, move about and walk where appropriate. Do not stare; appear vague or worse still, tired and bored. Be excited and convey the same through positive body language.
• Post speech dynamics: Adhere to the time slot assigned to you. Allow yourself and the audience time to reflect and think. Circulate a feedback form and assess your own performance by glancing through the audience reaction. Make the necessary changes in your style and delivery to ensure a steady flow of orders in the future.

field of focus: aeronautical engineering
Nuts and bolts of a high-flying career

Aeronautical engineering is a branch of engineering that is primarily concerned with the design, construction, and science of aircraft and spacecraft. This branch refers to an applied discipline of engineering dealing with the design, manufacture, functioning and maintenance of airborne vehicles like aircrafts, helicopters, spacecrafts and missiles. It involves the study of physical science and mathematics to perform research, development, testing, launching and the manufacture of various air-borne vehicles.

The core areas of specialisation for a team of aeronautical engineers include aerodynamics, thermodynamics, celestial mechanics, control systems, propulsion and electronics. These different fields of study are put together to form the basis of aeronautical engineering. Each member in a team of aeronautical engineers specialises in his/her own branch of science and thus contributes individually to the development and manufacture of an air-borne vehicle.

Why should you take up this branch?

There is tremendous scope in this field. There are plenty of possibilities and jobs available in the aerospace and aviation industry for aeronautical engineers and there is great room for personal growth and development. Talking about the increasing popularity of this field among engineering aspirants, Manmohan Garg, Chairman, Gurukul Vidyapeeth Institute of Engineering & Technology, which is the only private engineering college in the northern region to offer a AICTE-approved BTech course in aeronautical engineering says, "the demand for aerospace engineers is likely to remain high due to a boom in world travel, aviation and aircraft industries. Many government, defence and space agencies are also on the look out for aeronautical engineers to develop futuristic flying vehicles and systems".

Skills required

Apart from academic excellence and high grades in physics, mathematics and chemistry in Class XII and a good rank in the entrance exam, there are several other skills that are essential to excel in this field. The students wanting to enter this field should have an eye for detail and be very good in problem solving and planning. He should have excellent manual, technical as well as mechanical aptitude and very sharp reflexes. They should have mathematical precision, understanding of design principles and computer applications also. Physical fitness has to be of top grade and candidates should have perfect colour vision and should be able to work for long hours under extreme pressure.

Jobscape

Aeronautical engineers work in one of the most technologically advanced branches of engineering. The main thrust in this area is on design and development of aircraft to space and satellite research. Jobs are available with the national, international, public and private airline services as well as with aircraft-manufacturing and aerospace-maintenance units.

A BTech in aeronautical engineering makes one eligible for jobs in various airlines like Air India, Helicopter Corporation of India and flying clubs. Government-owned air service and aircraft manufactures like Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) with its factories at Bangalore, Nashik, Koraput, Kanpur, Defence Research and Development Laboratories (DRDO), National Aeronautical Lab (NAL), Aeronautical Development Establishment, Civil Aviation Department also have openings for aeronautical engineers. Apart from these defence forces and the Indian space Research Organization (ISRO) are two other major employers in our country. Those having diplomas in aeronautical engineering can work as technicians for supervision, maintenance and installation of machinery for aircraft.

The freshers are usually taken in as trainees or junior engineers and climb up the career ladder to become assistant aircraft engineers or assistant technology officers in the next 3 to 5 years.

Remuneration

Pay package depends on the company that one works for and also on individual experience and skill. The average start-up pay in this field ranges from Rs 3-5 lakh per annum. A highly skilled and experienced aeronautical engineer may even be offered a package of Rs 80,000-1.25 lakh per month. Generally, salary and perks are better in the private sector. The approximate starting salaries in the government/public sectors, such as HAL and NAL, are Rs 3.6 lakh to Rs 4.8 lakh annually. Those working in research organisations, like ISRO and DRDO, can get anywhere between Rs 35,000 and Rs 45,000 per month. Engineering graduates with management degrees are absorbed at starting salaries of Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 per month plus perks.

— With inputs from Jasdeep Singh, Head, Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Gurukul Vidyapeeth Institute of Engineering & Technology, Banur

Institute Watch

Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) at Mumbai, Kharagpur, Chennai, and Kanpur

Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh

Gurukul Vidyapeeth Institute of Engineering & Technology, Banur

Indian Institute of Aeronautical Engineering (IIAE), Dehradun

Institute of Aviation Technology, Bahadurgarh - Haryana

School of Aviation Science and Technology, New Delhi

Madras Institute of Technology, Chennai

Hindustan Institute of Engineering Technology, Chennai

Nehru College of Aeronautics & Applied Science, Coimbatore

Hindustan Electronics Academy, Bangalore

Indian Institute of Aeronautics, Patna

VSM Institute of Aerospace Engineering & Technology, Bangalore

testing times: getting into the nda
How to be well armed

The armed forces promise a career that is highly respected and adventurous. It involves a lot of grit, courage and spirit of camaraderie. For the thousands of youngsters dreaming to don the uniform and get into the armed forces, clearing the competitive exams is the first step in realising their dreams. On 1 January 1949, the Armed Forces Academy which has its military wing, now called the Indian Military Academy and the Joint Services Wing were commissioned. The National Defence Academy has continued to be the premier joint training institution and centre for excellence in the world for producing junior leaders. Joining NDA would mean a career as officer in Indian Army, Indian Air Force or Indian Navy. Here’s what one can expect in different stages of the selction process:

Eligibility criteria

NDA exam is conducted for Class XII students within the age group of 16 ½ to 19 years after Plus II for Permanent (PC) by the Union Public Services Commission (UPSC). Selection for NDA is done at three stages. First, you need to appear for written exam followed by SSB interview and finally the medical examination. Then merit is made and according to vacancies topmost candidates are offered admission and those on the waiting list are called later on to fill the desired vacancies. Vacancies vary every year according to recruitment and succession plans of the three services. For entry to Air Force and Navy only science (PCM) stream candidates are eligible. For NDA (Army) candidates from all streams are eligible to take NDA written exam.

How to apply

Applications can be submitted both online and offline. Forms are available in selected post offices across the country. As soon as the application forms are received and processed, the candidates are sent an admit card.

Passport to success

NDA is a test of a person’s grit and fortitude. So for all those preparing for the entrance exam, the mantra is to start early. Do not wait to cross the bridge when it comes. The tests are objective type with negative marking. Mathematics and English are the two most important subjects. The key to success is the speed in finding the right answer. The time for each question is very short (approx 1 min). Quick problem-solving capability must be developed, particularly in maths where calculations are involved.

Clarity and understanding of basic concepts in physics, chemistry and mathematics (PCM) is more important than the ability to solve complex questions. Total number of questions is 270 of 900 marks. 120 questions of 2.5 marks pertain to maths and 50 and 100 questions of four marks each are of English and GK, respectively.

Questions in the English language section pertain to synonyms, antonyms, reading comprehension, jumble words, sentence sequence, spotting the errors. In GK section, questions are asked from science, history, geography, currents events and sports.

Preparing for SSB

After the written exam comes the next step - the SSB interview. This focuses on judging the OLQs (officer-like qualities) in a candidate. The different tests include tests of reasoning ability; expression (written and oral); ability to lead and influence others with logical arguments; initiative; self-confidence; social adjustments; courage; stamina and cheerfulness.

Your actions must aim at solving the problem and contribute positively to achieving a goal.

A cooperative nature, with good sense of responsibility towards any given task is desired in different tasks. Respect towards seniors and elders and self-discipline are essential.

Psychological tests reveal a candidate’s mental strength and power of expression as one has to convey thoughts and ideas within a very short time. Good knowledge of language, particularly English, helps in this section.

GTO tasks are more about group activities such as group discussion and outdoor tasks. An average physical fitness agility and practical intelligence help in outdoor tasks.

The general awareness of a candidate is tested by the interviewer. So it is essential to keep yourself updated about the events of national/international importance and you should be able to express your opinion clearly and logically.

The physical endurance and mental alertness of a candidate is tested in different stages such as screening, psychological tests, indoor and outdoor tasks and GD etc.

Screening consists of verbal and non-verbal testing with group discussion over a picture. Psychological testing consists of picture perception, sentence making and SRT.

Indoor tasks include group discussions, military planning and extempore. Outdoor tasks are half group task, command task, individual task and final group task. Finally is the conference wherein a team of all psychologists, GTO’s and interviewers judge you as one entity and decide on whether you make the grade or not.

Fitness on top

The medical fitness is the toughest part of the whole process and candidates should be fully aware of the physical standards and the desired fitness levels to avoid getting disappointed at the last minute. The medicals are conducted at military or command hospital and are generally for four days after your selection in the interview.

— Gauri Chhabra

Should you go for coaching?

The importance of coaching institutes is paradoxical. They prepare the aspirants psychologically and physically for the exam by teaching shortcut techniques for written exams and by familiarising the candidates with test patterns and what assessing officers are looking for. The candidates learn how to give appropriate, better and positive responses in the SSB interview. But on the other hand, such coaching also rips off your originality by making you fit into certain templates. Therefore, you need to strike the right balance between confidence building and originality as the road ahead in this career is very tough and until and unless you are truly mentally and physically ready to take challenges on a long term basis, you should not go ahead.

Make sense of college rankings and surveys
Zubin Malhotra

Why should one use rankings? It's a controversial question, with a simple answer. To help you make one of the most important decisions of your life. Your investment in a college degree — a critical crossroad in your life — could profoundly affect your career opportunities, financial well-being, and quality of life. Choosing the right college is the first step in getting that degree.

With a bewildering array of institutes, colleges and over 550 universities in India, selecting the right institution can be extremely confusing. In the absence of reliable and consistent data that helps students to compare one college with another and find the differences that matter, one would need to do massive legwork on one's own.

All said and done, the college you study in does matter. So take your time and choose carefully. Many people choose a college only once in their lifetime (engineering or design students for instance), so there’s not much opportunity to learn from your past mistakes. Instead, you need first-rate information right from the start. Rankings make it easier for you to sift through data from over hundreds of colleges and universities as selection is made on basis of assessment and verification on various parameters (including primary and secondary data). Also, anyone can reel off the names of the top-10 but what if you can’t make it to the very best? Which ones should you consider then? This is where a good ranking can be of great help.

But having said that,

Do use the rankings as one of the tools to shortlist colleges.

Don’t rely solely on rankings to choose a college.

Don’t wait until the last minute.

Do think long and hard about the right place for you.

Do also keep in mind your academic and professional goals, financial resources, scholastic record, and special needs while choosing a college. You can gather information in a number of ways — by talking to your parents and counselors; from browsing through college prospectuses and websites; and from campus visits.

How should you use ranking tables?

Rankings provide an excellent starting point for comparing colleges because they offer an opportunity to judge the relative quality of the institutions according to widely accepted indicators of excellence. But many other factors that can’t be measured should also figure in your decision. These include the fee structure, course offerings, campus life, and geographic location.

Use the rankings wisely. Study the data that accompanies the actual rankings. The tables are a source of highly useful information about colleges that is otherwise hard to obtain and which will help you narrow down your search to a small number of possible choices that would be a good fit. Consider value for money. You wouldn’t go out and buy a mobile phone or a laptop without making sure it was the best you could afford given your budget. The same rule should apply for choosing a college, especially when it could cost you a hefty packet for tuition alone, not to mention other expenses.

While scanning the lists to find colleges that feel right, you may find some names you had not considered or had not even heard of. There are hundreds of fine colleges and universities. Ultimately the challenge is to narrow the list to a few that you’d really like to attend, and more importantly, to customise your search in ways that make the most sense for you.

With different surveys throwing up different rankings, how do you decide which one to follow?

Over the past few years, we’ve seen a number of ranking surveys — each following different criteria and grading norms. At times, the same agencies change their criteria in subsequent exercises. This lack of consistency has led to a lot of confusion among students. Often the movement of institutions up and down the ranking ladder is only due to a shift in the ranking methodology rather than any actual shift in the quality of the college concerned.

It is essential that all ranking initiatives follow common standard parameters (for instance in the case of B-schools, some go by average salaries, yet others by median salaries; some rely on perceptions while others go by numbers). They also tend to reflect the quality and perceptions of various stakeholders (industry, students, faculty) and the institution’s R&D or its contribution towards creating new knowledge and management thought or its level of industry interface.

Also in situations where not all the leading institutions respond or participate in the ranking exercise, the result throws up a skewed list — with lesser ones floating to the top of the list. Which is why, you will suddenly hear a hitherto-not-in-the ranking institute going to town over its new-found position in the ranking.

On the other hand, the sustained success of certain colleges over the years and across rankings — despite the fact that all colleges follow the same syllabus and guidelines — can be attributed to their ability to attract the best students and faculty, the steady quality of infrastructure and the method of delivery. On the whole, rankings keep institutions on their toes and compete fiercely with each other — which is a good thing.

— The writer is Career Coach, Career Guidance India (www.careerguidanceindia.com)

Happiness @ work
Gems of ancient wisdom
Chip in instead of cribbing

It is easy to look at the half-empty part of the glass and yawp about it. But this is what fools do. The wise find many small ways to contribute their might to make the situation better. The condition of widows in British India was deplorable. As Rabindranath Tagore was a staunch supporter of widow remarriage, he got his son Rathindranath married to a young widow Pratima Devi.

Seeing that their guru, Tyagaraja, the 18th century saint-composer, would compose masterpieces impromptu, his disciples divided themselves into four teams. Each team would hurriedly note down and memorise one pre-assigned part of the master’s composition.

They would then gather, complete the poem, memorise it fully and recite it in front of Tyagaraja. Thus, with their enthusiasm and organised approach they managed to save the genius’ body of work for posterity. Disgusted with the pitiable condition of the masses, Samarth Ramdas decided to give up his mortal frame. But a pronouncement from the heavens inspired him to take up weapons and fight to make things better. So he gave up the defeatist approach and became a warrior who later became the guiding force of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Similarly, young Dayananda decided to jump off a cliff when he saw the masses in the grip of superstitions. Luckily, better sense prevailed and he decided to work and change the mindset of people. He later went on to establish the Arya Samaj in Bombay in 1875.

Seeing that the domestic airlines scene was a mess, the government decided to merge all into a single carrier with JRD Tata as its chairman. As JRD’s Air India International was doing well, he was hesitant. He consulted his colleagues and on December 10, 1952, JRD agreed to the proposal as “the nation needed it.”

Instead of giving up her body on the death of her husband or grieving over the passing away of her father-in-law and son, Ahilyabai Holkar assumed charge of the Kingdom of Holkars and turned Malwa into a prosperous kingdom.

The Srivaishnavas wanted saint Ramanuja to settle down with them in Srirangam, but the people of Kanchi were not willing to let him go. So Ranga Perumal, a great musician, promised to help the Srivaishnavas. At Kanchi, he gave a memorable performance. When the chief priest ‘promised to pay him’ whatever Ranga desired, he asked the priest to let Ramanuja go with him to Srirangam.

Remember, even thehe adage isn’t ‘Cry, cry and you’ll succeed’, but ‘Try, try…’. So don’t crib but be the change that you want.

— Sai R. Vaidyanathan

The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com

course cruising

Water warriors

Manav Rachna University is offering MSc in Water Treatment and Technology course to develop young professionals with deeper insight, strengthened hand-on skills, advanced knowledge and greater confidence in the field of wastewater treatment and technology.

The knowledge and understanding of water technology has advanced extensively in the current scenario. For young scientists and engineers entering the water technology profession, the new developments and techniques can be overwhelming, particularly in developing countries where access is not readily available to advanced level courses in water technology.

Duration: 2 years

Eligibility: Minimum 50% marks in B.Sc with any subject related to life sciences or Chemistry

Selection procedure: Entrance test (June 24)

Deadline: June 22, 2012

Check out: http://mriu.edu.in/index.php/fet-programmes-offered/ m-sc-water-treatment-technology/

Media courses

Admission is on for for master's courses in o mass communication, advertising, TV production, direction and broadcasr journalism, PR and marketing offered by the MassCoMedia media school in Noida.

Eligibility: Aspiring candidate must have a bachelor's degree in any discipline from an accredited Indian/foreign university.

Deadline: June 15, 2012.

Check out: www.masscomedia.com

scholarship roundup

International fellowship for women

Those eligible can apply for the UNESCO-L'OREAL Fellowships Programme for Young Women from all over the world in research developments in the field of life sciences at France and abroad. The fellowship scheme focuses on UNESCO's premise that people are the world's greatest resource and that innovation and excellence, especially among the young women community, deserve to be supported and encouraged through the concerted efforts of the international community.

Study subject(s): Life sciences

Course level: Research

Scholarship provider:

UNESCO

Scholarship can be taken at: France and abroad

Eligibility:

• The National Commission must endorse all applications.
• Candidates must be no more than 35 years old.
• Preference will be given to candidates already possessing at the time of application a Ph.D. degree (or equivalent) in the field of the life sciences. However, candidatures from students pursuing studies/research leading to a Ph.D. degree (or equivalent) will also be entertained.
• Only candidates with the necessary qualifications, who demonstrate outstanding intellectual promise and personal qualities, will be considered under this programme.
• Candidates must be proficient in reading and writing the language of instruction in the proposed country of study.

Career Hotline
Pervin Malhotra email your queries to careers@tribunemail.com ...

Fight despair

Q. I've done reasonably well in my Class XII exams barring one subject in which I've fared very poorly. I really messed up the paper and have failed in this one subject. Now I am totally devastated. I can't eat or sleep. Is there any procedure to save my year? Please, please counsel me.

— S.K

A. OK, here's the deal: you stop feeling sorry for yourself, and I'll show you the way out. And stop blaming yourself… these things happen. Remember, no situation, including this one, is ever a dead-end or defeat, unless you accept it in your mind.

Any student who fails to clear the CBSE board exams (Secondary/Senior School Certificate) has three chances, to clear the compartment exam.

What's more, the CBSE board issues a consolidated mark sheet, which does not show whether the marks have been acquired through the main or the compartment exam.

Earlier, the compartment was indicated on the initial marksheet, while a separate marksheet was issued for the compartment subject/s, which often proved to be a stigma creating problems of acceptability in many places.

So even if you have fared somewhat poorly, don't lose heart, for all is not lost. Moreover, universities do have a provision for candidates with compartment in one subject only. Do check their websites for details. For instance, you can get a provisional admission in DU colleges, School of Open Learning, Non-formal Education Cell as well as in the Non-Collegiate Women's Education Board, provided you've obtained the necessary aggregate by adding the minimum pass marks of the subject in which you've been placed under compartment to the marks obtained in the remaining three subjects.

This is, of course, subject to the condition that you pass the compartmental exam by December.

Where can I specialise in econometrics?

Q. Please tell me something about the prospects of specialising in econometrics. Where can it be pursued at the master's level?

— Jaspreet Taneja

A. Econometrics is a branch of economics that applies statistical methods to the empirical study of economic theories and relationships. A combination of mathematical economics, statistics, economic statistics and economic theory - Econometrics - tests and quantifies economic theories and solutions to economic problems. It combines economic theory with statistics to analyse economic issues.

Eligibility: To qualify for a master's in econometrics, you should have completed your BA in economics, BSc in mathematics, BSc (Statistics), BCom, BBA, BA or MBA from a recognised university.

Many econometrists work in the research departments for economic policy e.g. Central planning bureaus or governmental institutions or in the financial sector (pension funds, investment banks, insurance companies). Market research (market development, fund management, risk analysis) also has scope. They are also hired by multinationals, in the computer industry or as consultants.

Econometrics is included in the Master's in Economics degree syllabi of many universities besides the following:

• Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore
• University of Madras, Chennai
• University of Delhi, Faculty of Social Sciences, Delhi
• Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur;
• Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati
• Pondicherry University, Pondicherry
• Gujarat University, D/o Economics, University School of Social Sciences, Ahmedabad
• Christ College, Bangalore
• Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR), Mumbai

Postgraduate diploma courses in econometrics are also offered at Annamalai University, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.

How can I get into biotech?

Q. I am a student of Class XII with biology. I want to do some research related work in the field of biotechnology. But I am confused whether to pursue B.Sc or B.Tech in biotechnology. What if I don't get into B.Tech Biotech? Should I do my B.Sc in microbiology / biochemistry and then M.Sc in biotechnology? Please guide me.

— Mansi Upreti

A. Biotechnology is an integrated subject which utilises knowledge from several disciplines, including biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, recombinant DNA technology, maths, physics, chemistry and engineering etc. You can choose from several options like BSc, BE/BTech and Integrated MSc/MTech courses in biotech after Plus II. However, you can do your MSc biotech even after doing your bachelor's in any of the life sciences (biology, biochemistry, microbiology, zoology), pharmacy, medicine, veterinary science and agriculture etc.

If you're keen on research, then you can enrol for PhD and even post-doctoral research.

How can MSW help me get into teaching?

Q. I have completed Master's in Social Work degree and have a certificate in disaster management. I am at present pursuing a diploma in nutrition and health education, please suggest some better options, what else I can do to get a good and permanent teaching job in the same field?

— Nausher Singh

A. With your qualifications, you can look at openings in any of the leading NGOs operating in the Disaster Management or Child Development sector, besides government and UN agencies operating in this field.

For teaching at the university level, you need to clear the UGC NET or your State-level Eligibility Test. But until that happens, you can contact relevant institutions in your vicinity where you can start teaching as a visiting faculty.

Best courses in gaming

Q. I am going to complete my Class XII in science stream this year. I am very keen on making a career in gaming and programming. Which courses or degree should I opt for?

— Piyush Mogre

A. While there are a few undergraduate courses in gaming, I think doing a BTech in Computer Science/IT will give you a firmer footing. After that, you can opt for a postgraduate course like IIT-Mumbai's Industrial Centre's PG course in Animation & Game Design which is open to engineering and architecture graduates.

Of course, there are several other private institutes that also offer specialised courses in game design and development.