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field in focus: medical devices sector Cool Counsel testing
times: clat-13 work station Pay hikes to remain moderate this year Happiness @ work scholarship roundup course cruising Career Hotline
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job-oriented courses More and more youngsters are beginning to realise that vocational training can help them learn the skills required to get a job without putting in three or four years to get a formal degree. In recent years, diploma and certificate providing institutes are imparting job skills focused on employment. Most offer courses that are often comparable to those being offered by universities, but by working more closely with industry and commerce, they identify the knowledge, skills and experience demanded by employers and tailor professional programmes that are practical, technologically up-to-date and relevant to work needs of the employers. The courses available today can suit almost any student, as they range from certificate courses of short duration — two weeks to one year, as also diploma programmes of one or two-year duration. Such courses can lead to hundreds of different careers, from business, computing, tourism or hospitality to fashion technology, mass communication, travel and tourism, to gems and jewellery designing, footwear technology, paramedical and many others. Here check out some such careers that you can take up straight after school:
Customer Care
Customer care is how a business looks after its customers. This includes everything from the moment a customer makes contact — at point of sale, or during the provision of a service and after sales care. Good customer service can be face-to-face, over the telephone, written or via new technology using e-mail and the Internet. Customers today are not only interested in the product they are being offered but in all the additional elements of service that they receive. A happy customer is more likely to become a loyal customer, willing to recommend your business to friends and family. Customer care, therefore, has become the prime consideration for every business as sales and profitability depends on keeping customers happy. Where to work: Customer care professionals are important in almost all enterprises — as receptionists, sales staff and employees in customer-dealing roles, and in call centres customer care is a core element of the job description and training, and a core criterion in recruitment, also in banks, airlines and travel companies, marketing and in other areas of business too. The largest number of jobs for those entering customer care services are in the IT-enabled services with Call Centres and BPOs that continue to recruit young people in huge numbers. Large ITES companies like GE, Convergys, Daksh and many others covering business areas such as banking, financial services and insurance, are actually facing an increasing shortfall due to the lack of trained people with the necessary skills. Training: Anyone with the right attitude, good communication skills and general service orientation can work in customer care. Those who wish to develop their skills in this field can take up certificate and diploma courses after school or graduation. Most courses cover the basics of customer care: principles and practices of customer care, identifying customers, and building long-term relationships with customers. There is also practical training with the focus on listening, verbal communication, negotiating skills, interviewing techniques, telephone skills and personality enhancement. Such programmes can also help you gain confidence in dealing with different types of people whether face-to-face or on the telephone. Institutes providing training for the hospitality industry, travel and aviation industry, for call centres and BPOs also offer programmes on customer care services.
Bakery & Confectionery
Where to work: Bakers work in bakeries, and restaurants, or may be attached to hotels and resorts and other food and catering outlets. They can also set up their own bakeries and confectionery stores. With the increasing number of bakeries, restaurants, and stores, and the demand for new products, exotic ingredients and a range of exciting food items, the demand for professional bakers is expected to rise proportionally. Training: You can get into this field after a diploma course in bakery and confectionery. All institutions offering courses in Hotel Management offer specialised six months to one year courses in Bakery and Confectionary which are geared towards direct entry into the industry. Food craft institutes also offer such courses, the minimum eligibility requirement is, to have passed the high school (Class X) examination. Selection to all courses is on the basis of merit in a qualifying exam. There are several polytechnics and private vocational institutions that also teach cooking and baking.
Accountancy
Where to work: Accountants work in all areas of business and government. Many work in firms of chartered accountants or are employed by banks, manufacturing companies, government departments and insurance companies. Work in private practice is centered on audit: visiting clients as part of an audit team and reviewing their business operations and financial records to establish the validity of the company’s accounts. With some years of experience you can also qualify as a chartered accountant, cost accountant or other certification. Training: You can become an accountant with a degree or diploma in accountancy or commerce after Plus II. Additional knowledge in accounting software like Tally or ERP can be an added advantage and expands opportunities for freshers in the industry.
Para-medical services
Paramedics can include X-ray technologists, medical laboratory technicians, dental mechanics, emergency medical technicians, pharmacists, micro biologists, optometrists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, radiographers, and prosthetic & orthotic engineers. Where to work: Medical laboratory technologists work in pathology or microbiology laboratories where they conduct tests on human blood, tissue, urine, stool etc. to aid the correct diagnosis of a disease. Radiographers take X-ray photographs to assist in diagnosing diseases. They also operate ultrasound and other hi-tech equipment, and treat patients by using radio isotopes Optometrists are trained to conduct eye tests for examining vision, and to prescribe glasses and contact lenses. They also fabricate lenses, and operate machines for polishing and adjusting sizes and power of lenses. Specialists such as these have ample job opportunities in the government as well as the private sector, working in hospitals, clinics and laboratories. Training: Entry into any of the paramedical professions requires strict formal education in the concerned area of work. Undergraduate diploma and degree courses are now available at a large number of medical colleges and private institutions for students who have cleared the Plus II examination, with physics, chemistry and biology/mathematics. Most institutions have an entrance test, on the basis of which candidates are selected. There is also a one-year certificate course, and a two -year diploma in laboratory technology for those who have cleared the Class X examination. Professional training in Radiography varies from 18 months to two years. Certificate and diploma courses of 1-2 years are also available for Ophthalmic technology for students who have cleared Plus II with physics, mathematics and biology.
Graphic designing
Graphic designers work on two dimensional designs which include print, drawings and illustrations, as well as three dimensional design which could be video or animation. You could be doing layout and production designs for newspapers, magazines, corporate reports, journals and other publications. You would also develop promotional displays, marketing and packaging brochures for various products and services and unique design logos for businesses. In addition, you can also produce material for interactive media, Internet web pages and multimedia projects. Where to work: Employment opportunities for Graphic Designers have witnessed a tremendous increase in the past decade because of rapid advances in computers and in the creative media such as electronic media, packaging, film and animation, advertising agencies, marketing firms, design studios and educational institutes. Graphic Designers and animators can work for television networks, software development companies and multimedia centres. They can even opt for a career with advertising agencies, publishing houses and design studios, and with printers and typesetters, exhibitions and displays, as well as publishers, manufacturers and department stores. A large number of graphic designers also set up their own design studio and work independently. Training: You need a diploma or degree in Graphic Design / Multimedia / Commercial Art to qualify as a Graphic Designer. These courses are available at several colleges, universities as well, as polytechnics and private design schools. You can apply for the diploma / degree courses in Design after Plus II in any subject, if you have an interest in the subject and general creative abilities. Graphic designers should be familiar with computer graphics and the various design software available. Admission to most courses is through a written-cum- drawing test. With these and many more options available to students with a basic school education, you can start earning as early as you wish. Based on your abilities and interests select a career of your choice and pick up the necessary skills. Some basic skills such as office computing, calculating, writing and communicating skills and computer programming can be useful irrespective of which options you may choose and you can be well on your way to a successful career. — The writer is Director, Careers Smart Pvt Ltd., New Delhi
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field in focus: medical devices sector Scope
India's medical device market is currently the fourth largest market in Asia with 700 medical device makers, and ranks among the world's top 20, according to data from the India Semiconductor Association. While India continues to largely depend on imports of high-end medical devices from established MNCs, local manufacturing of products is also gaining pace. This industry in India has woken up to the need for specialised talent. Firms from across segments are now looking at job openings in a sector that was never seen as separate from the general healthcare segment earlier. For exploring prospects in selling medical devices, a background in life sciences / engineering would be desirable. A lot of innovation is taking place and new products to bring relief / cure for chronic diseases are being worked upon. To sell the products, companies require professionals with flair to promote value based on discovering the needs of the customer. There are different requirements at different levels. The engagement will necessarily be with key stakeholders in research centers, clinical laboratories, specialist doctors and hospitals. The market is expanding and moving into Tier II and III cities. Medical devices companies tend to have very flat organisation structures. The designations, therefore, may not be fanciful as in other industries. The key aspect to consider is the quality of work and it is very fulfilling. At the end of the day, you can smile and get the satisfaction you saved a life or made a difference to the lifestyle of a person who has a chronic disease. What the sales people are doing is consulting with the specialists in the hospitals and partnering with them to improve clinical outcomes. The different roles are sales, marketing, product management, market development, clinical, supply chain, HR, finance, PR and communication, regulatory, legal, distributor management, sales force effectiveness and education. R&D and manufacturing for devices may not be big in India currently but the potential exists and this could open opportunities for people with backgrounds in Project Management, electrical and chemical engineering etc.
Getting in
To be successful in the medical devices industry one will require a working knowledge of the anatomy and a good knowledge of the therapy and products. This is not a rocket science and a person who has the passion can pick this up easily. For a student of life sciences / engineering / biomedical engineering this may not be tough. To aspire a role in product management / market development / marketing, an MBA degree will be essential. There is a strong interface with customers and, therefore, honing the communication skills will give an edge for the superior delivery of the message related to therapy and product. As far as the functional areas like finance, supply chain , HR , legal etc are concerned in addition to the functional expertise, skills in business partnership are very vital for success. The Department of Science and The Ministry of Health and Family welfare have introduced several courses keeping in mind the needs of the biomedical sector. One such course is MTech in clinical engineering at IIT Madras in collaboration with Christian Medical College and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Thiruvananthapuram. Apart from BTech Biomedical programmes in some private and semi-private institutes, IIT-Bombay, Kharagpur and Madras have some viable programmes in this stream. The Bachelor of Science (B.S) in Physician Assistant offered by BITS Pilani is another program which prepares the person for a career in the Medical devices industry.
Skill set
Much of your skill set will depend on what kind of job you are interested in. If you are working in research and development, you may need programme management skills and strong engineering skills. If you are at a manager level with a team of people you will need to be good at execution, have good communication skills, the ability to inspire and lead a team. You should be able to think creatively and apply your engineering concepts if you are a product developer. If you work in the area of sales, you will need strong consulting, communication and "people skills". You should be willing to travel and meet a variety of customers and work out solutions that bring economic value to the customer. Work in sales implies you know the product very well and have the consulting and communication skills to get your message across in a clear and simple manner to your customer.
Career progression
Most people enter the field of medical device marketing at the Product Manager level. As the product manager gains more experience, they may be promoted to Senior Product Manager. From senior product manager, the next step in many organizations is Marketing Manager, or sometimes Director of Marketing. At this level, medical device marketers may be earning well above six figures, managing a team of product managers and overseeing an entire line of
products. — With inputs from Titus Arnold, Director Human Resources India Medtronic
Private Limited
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smart strategy: coping with job loss Nevertheless, negative emotions are not conducive to moving ahead. Take control of the situation by reinventing yourself and focusing on career goals. Reach out to family and friends for their support to get through the challenging phase. Most importantly take good care of yourself and maintain a positive attitude.
Admit the real picture
Being laid off is a stressful life-changing experience, irrespective of the reason behind it. Feelings of anger and sadness may last for weeks or sometimes even months. While there is a loss of income, the blow to one’s self-esteem is even more difficult to handle. If caught in such a situation it is best to stay calm and resist the urge to take any impulsive decision which you may regret later on. Give yourself time to grieve the loss but avoid dwelling on the unfairness of the situation. Another option is to keep a journal and write down how you feel. Accepting reality and warding off negative thoughts are the quickest ways to move forward.
Involve family and friends
One of the biggest mistakes most professionals make is to hide the loss of job from family and friends. They fail to realise that unemployment affects not only them but everyone around as well. It can have a disastrous financial impact even in a double-income household. Moreover, immediate family is the closest support system that one can have to cope with the situation. Spend time with each member and explain what happened at the workplace. Keep the lines of communication open by sharing your plans for job search. Also give them a chance to talk openly since they may have concerns about the future. Additionally ask friends to look out for opportunities that would be suitable for your profile.
Join a support group
While family and friends are encouraging, they may not completely understand what you are going through. On the contrary individuals who have undergone similar predicament can be extremely helpful. They are definitely better equipped to empathise with your concerns than most well-meaning friends or relatives. Join a support group for professional as well as personal foothold. Take advantage of the platform by letting off steam and sharing your frustrations. Alternatively, lend a shoulder to fellow members and hear them out. Also exchange ideas about tapping the market and possible employment leads. Additionally, attend workshops on personality development, resume-writing etc. Being around other job seekers will keep you motivated and on track during your job search.
Take stock of finances
An immediate concern that looms subsequent to getting a pink slip is the financial instability. Prepare a budget to identify monthly expenses that can be reduced or eliminated. Involve the entire family so that everyone’s requirement can be taken into account. Consider foregoing unnecessary purchases and reduce entertainment expenditure to minimum. Also prioritise the bills by paying essential ones like electricity, rent etc before. Another way to cut expenses is to negotiate with creditors for adjusting interest rate. Moreover, make it a habit to make all payments by cash to avoid piling up incoming bills.
Stay connected
Withdrawing into a shell due to embarrassment and shame is a natural reaction on getting sacked. Although a temporary comfort, it is not a long-term solution for coping with the job loss. Make an effort to surround yourself with supportive and positive people to keep your spirits high. Since most openings these days are filled through word-of-mouth, networking has become more important than ever. Reach out to ex-colleagues and let them know that you are looking for a job. Talk to acquaintances for making any introductions or connections that could help you. Staying connected will not only boost confidence but also make you feel in control of the situation.
Be positive
Although easier said than done, adopting a positive attitude can make a huge difference to get past unemployment. Due to slowdown finding work may take longer than anticipated. As a consequence it is important to stay upbeat for bouncing back as quickly as possible. Holding on to negative thoughts will only make the whole process even tougher. Focus on things that can be controlled instead of mulling over why the termination happened. Make a list of all your strengths, including skills, personality traits and accomplishments. Accordingly set realistic job goals and formulate a concrete action plan. Furthermore constantly remind yourself that it is a temporary setback which too shall pass.
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Cool Counsel In psychology, vicarious experiences enable an employee to observe other colleagues perform well. In the process of observing them one makes judgements about one’s capabilities. Even a third-rate employee observing the one who outperforms inculcates the feeling to excel and rise. This is called the ‘model effect’. Once strong efficacy is developed in an employee all he needs to do to stay ahead is to maintain it. To go on benefiting from this effect employees need to go on making efforts consistently and persistently. The ‘co-actor effect’ is the most beneficial effect if applied at a workplace with care and diligence. The senior officer must see to it that the colleagues who are like minded are assigned seats and tables in the same area. If those with different nature and not in tune with each other are placed in the same space then the consequences can only be negative. In the co-actor effect the colleagues learn and feel encouraged by seeing others only if they have a cordial relation. The manager at the helm of affairs at workplace must see to it that every employee gets an environment which is conducive to the growth of his talents, skills and modes of efficiency. The officer’s or the supervisor's simple visit to every employee, and a few words of praise would not only benefit an employee's mental health but would also add to the overall growth and productivity of the organisation. Such is the value of ‘audience effect’ in a workplace scenario. The ‘love-lorn effect’ at workplace does not necessarily mean the effect that the presence of a person of the opposite sex has on one's performance. It is the effect that one feels in the presence of a colleague or colleagues whom one adores and respects deeply. The basic factor behind this effect is that one wishes to get the praise and appreciation from such a revered colleague. Praise and appreciation is basically a human craving. It is not only desirable but necessary as well. The kings of yore would have such minsters with them who would praise them time and again. The psychology of effects at a workplace can be of tremendous use provided it is applied carefully and effectively. However, if it is used ignorantly, then may fail to bear any fruit.
— The writer is a psychologist and a career expert
Different Effects
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testing times: clat-13 English
GK/Current affairs
The questions are about the events from the past 12 months and static GK. If you go through a few of the previous years’ papers, you will realise that there are specific areas such as awards and achievements, recent events in the field of law etc that are more likely to appear in the paper. Identify them and prepare accordingly.
Mathematics
A good look at the previous years’papers will give you an idea about the important topics. Practice them from a simple book so that you are ready with the fundamentals. Leave the rest to your common sense.
Logical reasoning
Legal aptitude
Having said that, the following additional things need to be kept in mind as well:
— The writer is Assistant Course Director, T.I.M.E
The test
The Common Legal Aptitude Test (CLAT) is the national admission test for entry into the LLB (5-year programme) and LLM programmes of the 14 participating National Law Universities across the country. NLUs like NLU Delhi, Indraprastha University etc. conduct their own entrance exams. The allocation of seats is done on the basis of merit-cum-preference which is filled at the time of applying for the exam.
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work station The solution to this dilemma lies in management guru Peter Drucker's quote “ ethics is ethics, whatever situation you choose to apply it to. As Harvey Mackay, another management sage, puts it, “Would you do this if your mother was watching?” Business ethics plays a central role in the workplace, but is usually brushed under the carpet (or workstation). Most of us are quite clear when it comes to defining good or bad when it comes to our personal lives. The grey area comes in when we apply ethical reasoning to our professional lives. But this need not be the case. As Drucker and Mackay so aptly illustrate, the more you conduct your professional career as you do your personal life, the less conflicted you will be. Of course, that presupposes that your personal life runs along some moderately ethical lines! Before we move ahead, let’s quickly look at three words that we usually end up confusing with each other — ethics, morality and values. One simple clarification comes from an online school-education site: Morality is an individual’s understanding of good and evil; Values are ideas which an individual believes in; and Ethics is a system of moral ideals which results from the relationship between an individual and society. But why be ethical? Is there an inherent, logical reason to be so? Apparently there is. As you can see, ethics is a system of good and evil which is built on a dialogue between society and the individual. Ethical behaviour by definition is beneficial to the individual as well as society. So, anything which is beneficial to both the individual and society is definitely desirable. And the word individual here includes the ‘individual company’, as business entities have their own identity and ethical culture. The benefits of ethical behaviour are obvious at the workplace — creating a positive, conflict-free atmosphere, fostering communication, promoting open discussion and teamwork, raising employee morale and ensuring compliance with regulations and laws. It follows that at the workplace, both the organisation and the employee have to be proactive in ensuring an ethical work environment. However, in the end it’s the individual who has to decide what is ethical and what is not. Sometimes we can get a little too serious and be over-judgmental about ourselves and others. Life, afterall, is more grey than all black and white. And it’s upon these grey areas that Thomas Jefferson shed some light — “In matters of style, swim with the current. In matters of principle, stand like a rock.”
— The writer is an organisational identity and personnel development consultant
Some Do’s that need to be taken care of
Employees
The Organisation
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Pay hikes to remain moderate this year
Professionals are forecasting moderate pay raises during the annual appraisal cycle this year, with 46 per cent of respondents expecting increments to range between 6 and 15 per cent, according to a snap poll conducted by job search portal for senior
executives HeadHonchos.com. While nearly one-fifth or 19 per cent of the respondents who participated in the poll expect salary increments of over 15 per cent this year, a significant 36 per cent believe that they will not receive increments at all or that salary increases will be less than 5 per cent in their organisations. Commenting on the poll results, Uday Sodhi, CEO, HeadHonchos.com said, "Appraisals are a highly anticipated event amongst professionals. The focus for most employers continues to be on performance-linked reward and recognition systems, often through compensation packages that have a high variable component." This is in keeping with trends in recent years that have seen increments in the 11-13 per cent band, as well as the growing importance of variable pay and performance-linked bonuses. While high performers continue to be valued, organisations have balanced the need to incentivise employees with growing pragmatism. The rightsizing of expectations by management professionals clearly reflects a sense of realism as they adapt to the post-2008 years.
— TNS
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Happiness@work When broker Shivnarain Birla, grandfather of Ghanshyam Das Birla who founded the House of Birlas, went back to his home in Pilani from Bombay, he got a public well built. One day, Aryamba, mother of Adi Shankaracharya, fainted on her way to the river. Seeing that she was too weak to walk all the way to the river, Shankaracharya and his friends brought the river nearer by putting up a sand ‘bund’. During summer vacations, freedom fighter Surjya Sen would return to his Naopara village, near Chittagong, to take informal classes. Despite the heat, the classroom was always full of children eager to listen to masterda’s cool lessons. Chinese scholar Hiuen Tsang was on his way to India in search of knowledge. When he had exhausted all his food and water, he found himself in the middle of a desert. He fell on his knees and prayed. Suddenly, a cool breeze came along and guided him to an oasis. In 1936, Swami Chinmayananda saw a barren red mountain in South India. He was told that it was the Arunachala Hill, the centre of the Earth according to the Puranas. At that time, Ramana Maharshi resided in a hut there. Chinmayananda walked to the hut and was glad to get out of the hot June sun. When the seer saw him, Chinmayananda felt “as if my whole life had gone up in a wave.” After their day’s work in the hot sun, ‘untouchable’ labourer women would find relief when Ramana Maharshi would pour water on their backs. One day when little Nanak had taken the cattle out to graze, the sun’s heat made him feel sleepy. Realising that he was sleeping in the sun, a cobra spread out its hood to shade his face. Muslim landlord Rai Bular saw this and realised that Nanak was not an ordinary boy but a saint. When saint Ekanath saw a barefoot child standing on the hot sand and crying, he picked him up. As the child lived in a ‘lower-caste’ locality, the Brahmins there demanded that Ekanath should purify himself. But on the way to the Godavari river for the holy dip, Ekanath and the Brahmins saw a leper. The leper said, “If you give me the merit that you have earned by rescuing the child, Lord Shiva will cure me.” Ekanath sprinkled water on the leper and he was healed. Seeing this, the Brahmins realised their lack of understanding of the Truth. The hot sun made Vaishno Devi thirsty. So she hit an arrow on the ground as a result of which emerged the Ban Ganga spring in Jammu. Don’t let the sun have all the
fun! — Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
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MBA in Germany
European School of Management and Technology (ESMT), Germany, is offering merit-based scholarships to Asian students applicants to the full-time MBA programme commencing in January 2014. Eligibility: Candidates with permanent residence in a South or East Asian / Australasian country. Number of scholarships: Two Details: 15,000 Euros. Selection criteria: Scholarships will be allocated on the basis of intellectual excellence of the candidates, evidence of personal and professional achievement and evidence of strong leadership potential as well as superior interpersonal skills. How to apply: Online. Deadline: July 1, 2013 (for Round 2), October 1, 2013 (for Round 3) and Final Deadlines are November 1, 2013 (for non-EU residents) and November 15, 2013 (for EU residents) Check out: ww.esmt.org/eng/mba-emba/financing-and-scholarships/
Nanyang undergraduate Scholarships
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore operates an extensive scholarship programme for international undergraduate students for courses offerd by the university. These scholarships are fully funded and cover up to the normal programme duration.
The scholarships are awarded to the students who maintain a record of good academic
performance and show satisfactory performance to the university. Eligibility:
Duration: Nanyang Scholarship covers up to the normal programme duration on the condition that the scholar maintains a record of good academic performance and conduct satisfactory to the university. Details: Subsidised tuition fees (after tuition grant) will be fully covered
Selection criteria: Scholarships are awarded based
on competition amongst shortlisted candidates. Scholars are required to maintain a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.5 over 5.0. Academic performance will be reviewed every semester. How to apply: Online Deadline: The same application period for admissions applies. Applicants are required to submit application for admission before submitting the application for scholarship. Check out: www.lkcmedicine.ntu.edu.sg
Master’s course at LSE
London School of Economics (LSE) is offering 50 scholarships to students from India enroled in a master’s programme at the school starting in 2013. Eligibility: Candidates must be holding an offer of place on a master’s programme at the school by April 30, 2013. Assessment for an award will be made on the basis of financial need of the candidates. Details: Scholarships will range in value from £3,000 to £32,000 depending on financial need of the candidates. Deadline: April 30, 2013. Check out:
www2.lse.ac.uk
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M. Tech in Geographic Information Systems
NIIT University, Neemrana, invites application for two-year MTech programme in Geographic Information System (GIS). The course: The technology-based and research-driven GIS programme is offered with
support from Esri Inc. California, the world leader in GIS, and Esri India. Eligibility: The applicant should have secured
How to apply: Online or by post Deadline: June 30, 2013 Check out: www.niituniversity.in
Mass com diplomas
The Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi, invites applications for PG diploma programmes for the academic year: 2013-2014. The programmes in advertising, marketing, corporate communication, PR, event management are of one-year duration. Eligibility: Graduate. Those awaiting final year results can also apply. How to apply: The prospectus and application form can be downloaded from www.apeejay.edu/aimc/admissions
Management course for working executives
Fore School of Management, Delhi, is inviting applications for the Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) for working executives Eligibility: Minimum of two years of work experience after graduation in any discipline from a recognised institute or university. How to apply: The prospectus and applications can be obtained online from the institute website. Duration: 3 Years Selection criteria: The admissions are done on the basis academics records, experience, written tests and personal interview. Deadline: June 15, 2013 Check out: www.fsm.ac.in
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Career Hotline
Is it the right time to go abroad?
A. This recession has impacted economies world over. If you’re looking at an undergrad course, it will take you 3-4 years and most likely the dark clouds of recession would have lifted by then. I am somewhat wary of pursuing short-term courses. Overseas students can now take up permanent jobs on the completion of studies in Australia (most likely in NZ as well). No need to return home to apply for fresh visas. Do check out the occupations in demand in these countries. Assess your chances of finding jobs under their respective points system.
Scope in pharma industry
A. With over thousands of pharmaceutical manufucturing units, the pharmaceutical industry has emerged as one of the biggest employers in the country. You can focus on the wider field of pharmaceutical management, marketing, wholesale and drug store management, finance, operations, quality assurance, R&D management, drug laws or IPR — depending on which one you find interesting. Even mainstream retail chains like Pantaloon and 24/7 are zeroing in on pharma retail in their outlets. Hence an MBA (Pharma) would be an ideal choice.
Explore options in the service sector
A. Any of the other service sector companies that have a customer-interface could be fair game like: hotels (in the front office or as hostess in their specialty restaurants and coffee shops), travel agencies, spas, exhibition and conference Event organisers, public relations and event management companies, luxury product showrooms and lifestyle marketing companies would be yet others.
Is switching careers a wise step?
Q. I have been working in an IT company after completing my BTech. For some reasons I’m not happy and feel like changing my job and moving to advertising. But I’m not sure whether it’s a good idea to do so at this point. Please advise. —
Yash Oberoi
Whatever be the reason/s, make sure you have a thorough understanding of the industry and what it takes, before you decide to take the final decision to switch over. The grass always looks greener on the other side. But remember, not everything is a bed of roses. Along with the plusses, even your new career option may come with certain disadvantages. And gone are the times where companies (advertising included) offered job security. That’s a thing of the past. So do weigh all the consequences of your decision carefully. You might even want to get some advice from a career counsellor or someone from the field you are looking at moving into. Sure, changing careers is a risky job but once you’ve made the decision, do give it your best shot to make the most of it.
Difficulty in adjusting in a new job
Q. I am 25 years old and have just started on a new job. I get very nervous when I have to interact with
people at work. Therefore, I avoid situations where I have to take responsibility and face seniors at the
workplace. What should I do? — T.P. Prakash
A. Any new situation requires time to adjust and can also make you nervous and diffident, which may cause you to withdraw into your shell. However, this is why it’s all the more essential to try and make an effort to interact with people (your colleagues). The more you become familiar with the people around you, the more comfortable you will be in their company and the jitters and nervousness that you’re presently experiencing will also disappear.
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Enjoy baking a cake, and love the smell of freshly baked bread? Bakery and confectionery is an area of work specialising in the preparation of bakery and confectionery products. A baker makes various kinds of breads, rolls, croissants, buns, pastries, cakes and savories. This is a fine-tuned expertise with due importance placed on the fundamental pastry and bread-baking techniques, in addition to all-purpose baking, desserts, cake decoration, and pastry arts. Bakers need to know how to weigh out and measure ingredients; mix, divide and mould dough, set the dough to rise, bake different bread and confectionery products and how to decorate, and create exciting new products to cater to the taste-buds of everyone — young children, connoisseurs, and all those with a sweet tooth. 
Accountancy is one field where there is hardly any dearth of jobs. Every organisation, large or small, whatever the business, good or bad, requires accountants. All transactions need to be reported, budgets made and analysed and financial reports generated. Accountants operate accounts, supervise and control income and expenditure, deal with wages and salaries, send out invoices, and also ensure that the records of these transactions are kept so that the information can at any time be extracted from them.
Paramedical experts play a very important role in helping the doctor make an accurate diagnosis for treatment, and in cure and overall care of patients. With the increase in medical facilities, polyclinics, diagnostic centres, labs, hospitals and clinics, there is a glaring need for paramedical experts, technicians, nurses and pharmacists. 
The Maggi noodles packet, the glossy fashion magazine, the news programme you watch on television, the banners and hoardings — all these diverse products of everyday life have one thing in common — they all have some elements of graphic design. Graphic designers analyse, plan and make creative visual solutions for communication. They help to express the message in the most effective way, in the form of print, film or electronic medium. 
The medical devices and equipment industry, valued at $ 2.5 billion contributes 6 per cent to India's $ 40 billion healthcare sector. It is growing at the rate of 15 per cent per year. A rise in the number of hospitals and the increased requirement for healthcare facilities creates a need for sophisticated devices and equipment which, in turn, requires people with technical skill sets.
The medical technology segment has tremendous potential. The government is recognising this potential and initiatives have been taken to promote the sector. In the Union Budget 2012-2013, customs duty has been reduced from 16 to 8 per cent for medical and veterinary furniture. The sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.4 per cent ($ 4,957.8 million) by 2016. 
Pink slips are not that uncommon in the current economic scenario. But unfortunately, one can never be too prepared for a sudden termination. Getting the pink slip is a nightmare for any professional irrespective of the designation or seniority. In addition to the loss of income, it has a devastating impact on an individual’s self-esteem and confidence. Feelings of anger, frustration and despair are common as well as understandable in such an event. 
Being rational beings humans create psychological pathways which either push them to excel or to go down at a workplace. The employees who often fail to perform and excel are actually not basically weak and unproductive. In reality they become the victims of their own negative thinking caused by different psychological effects like co-actor effect, audience effect etc. Each time they fail to do their best, they take that chance happening as their innate weakness. But a deeper and detailed analysis will reveal that either or some of the above-mentioned effects have been dragging them down. Such a pattern often exists in the mind of students too. Their poor performance is basically the result of their lack of effort to demonstrate their higher self-efficacy. Once they get out of that rut, and once their conditioned response is removed, they start to excel. Once such a student reaches the top, the audience effect puts into gear the rest of the procedure enabling him/her to go on excelling time and gain.
With just over 10 days to go for CLAT-13, a few pointers on how to plan your prep are what each candidate is looking for. These are particularly useful for a student who is just about starting his prep and needs some smart ideas to maximise the value-on-effort. Let us focus on specific inputs that will help you optimise your preparation and score well:
You overhear your co-worker discussing a point that he is going to raise during the upcoming department meeting. And you think “that’s a good one, why don’t I impress the boss and raise that issue myself before he does?” Who’s to know? Have you crossed an ethical line here, or are you merely being smart and furthering your career (and making things better for your family and yourself)? 
As the mercury rises, it is vital that you prevent the heat from affecting your work.
Q. Please let me know if it is the right time for somebody who wants to go abroad and work there to apply for education abroad? I am specifically looking at Australia or New Zealand for education and work. Has recession affected these countries too? —
Anisha Goel
Q. I will be completing my BPharma this year. Since I don’t want to go into research, could you suggest some further course that will allow me to remain in the industry, preferably at a professional level higher than that of a medical sales representative? —
Gaurav Sayal
Q. I had joined an air hostess academy sometime back. But because of the downturn in the aviation sector there are very few job opportunities available right now. Which other sectors can I target and how? —
Bhavya Joshi
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There are reasons, and reasons why people switch jobs — better opportunities, better pay package, better work environment, boredom, lack of challenge… the list is endless. So what is it that’s prompting you take this leap?