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Different strokes of success
Career Hotline
Scholarship roundup
career compass: front office personnel
Smart strategy: lessons from the sports field
Work towards life-work balance
Cool counsel: statement of purpose
Happiness @
work
Campus notes
Fortnightly quiz 457
News
board
Course cruising
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Different strokes of success
If you are getting ready to graduate from high school and are not sure whether you are ready for college or can’t afford it, then draw inspiration from the examples of these youngsters who gave a headstart to their careers by skipping college
“Which college? What stream? Which subject?” — these are the questions that haunt students and their parents alike after Class XII. With a lot of stress being given to college education, there are, in fact, very few who even think of getting into a vocational course or a job until and unless there are financial constraints or adverse circumstances that force them to take up a job. But being financially independent and getting first hand experience of a job and a career is not a bad bargain and many youths are opting for this to get a headstart in life. Instead of wandering in confusion in college they have fast forward their lives on clear career paths besides keeping studies also on a parallel path. Do they have an edge because of the choices that they’ve made, or do we smell a wistfulness about missing out on the college life? Let’s ask them.
Challenging the status quo Khushboo Sawhney had many ‘firsts’ at school — first in dance, first in solving maths problems etc etc. She is perhaps one of the very first few in her family who chose to deviate from the normal ‘school-to-college progression’ and think ahead — a career before she chose college. Belonging to an affluent family in Jalandhar, she did not have any compulsion to start earning straight after school like some other students of her age. She is currently working as Client Servicing Manager in one of the leading advertisement agencies in Ludhiana and is also pursuing B.A (third year) from GNDU through Distance Learning mode.
The motivation
“Well, I would say, I decided to follow my heart. There were no compulsions of circumstances whatsoever. After my Plus II (Humanities) when all my friends were gearing up to enter college, I chose to follow the fast forward track — took up a course of Air Hostess from Frankfinn Institute for 18 months. However, on completing this, I still felt that my heart’s calling lay elsewhere. So, I took up a job at an advertisement agency as Client Servicing Manager.
How it made a difference
My decision has made a positive difference in my life. I have more practical experience than my peers and have been more financially independent. My confidence level is higher since I have been interacting with clients and convincing them about our products from an early age. Now, when I am pursuing my education side by side, there is always a reference to the context, something to refer to while reading the
concepts of my text books. I have been able to bridge the gnawing gap between learning and earning.
Lessons learnt
Follow your heart and make your avocation your vocation. Then you will be able to excel at everything you do. While making a career choice it is not only the oft-treaded paths like medical, non-medical and commerce that would take you places. In today’s dynamic world, there are many offbeat vocational courses that you can take up that will help you carve a niche for yourself in the field of your choice. Think differently and dare to dream. Once you dream and think of laying a solid foundation, nothing that can stop you from making your dream come true.
Dare to dream For Sonia Shukla life started early and poured its experience on her. She stepped out of school to take up a job with a bank. Soon she realised that she was very good at speaking and convincing people. So, she applied for the post of a counselor in a leading Immigration Consultancy and got this job. Now, she is also pursuing her graduation along with her job.
The motivation
I was too young to think then. After my exams, when all my friends were looking for colleges and admissions, I was looking for a job. I was so young at that time (not even 18 years) that people were reluctant to hire me. So, it just happened. Time and tide forced me to take up a job instead of getting into a college.
How it made a difference
Well, what was a compulsion then seems to be a blessing in disguise now. Today, when I compare myself with my peers, I feel I have more experience of life than them. The communication skills they seek to hone by joining trainings and classes, I have imbibed those over the course of time.
Lessons learnt
All I can say is — ‘Believe in yourself’. I believe in the saying by Anupam Kher “The best thing about you is YOU”. When you feel things are not going in your favour, remember, there is a divine design in it. It is not the degrees that give you knowledge, but the experience of life that makes you wiser. Life is not preparing yourself for a series of tests but for the test of LIFE. So, start interacting with people who have experienced life in its totality.
Practical goals Gurpreet Singh embarked upon his journey soon after his Class XII (Humanities) exam from Ramgarhia Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana. Right after his exams he got himself enrolled in 14-month Diploma in Computer Hardware and Networking from JETKING, Chandigarh, which he completed in eight months. He also took up a job as IT support technician in Educom, the leading smart class providers in North India. After completing his BSc IT through Distance Education from PTU, he is pursing MCA at present.
The motivation
Theoretical studies never interested me. I always wanted to do something practical. During my school days also when I had information practices as a subject in my Class XII, I used to do everything my teacher taught me as 'hands on' at home. I also had a small studio set up in my room where I had assembled my own PC and laptop and set the modem. I also spent my time in software and hardware related trouble shooting of work stations and laptops. My parents were very worried about me. But I was crystal clear in my mind. I would take up a career that would help me use my practical exposure to things. Therefore, I took up a diploma in Computer Hardware and Networking from JetKing Chandigarh.
How it made a difference
Today, after five years, I feel more confident as when my peers were gaining knowledge, I have gained both knowledge and experience.
Lessons learnt
Follow your dream and start early. Join a professional development group according to the job or industry you see yourself in a few years from now. These groups can connect you to established professionals in your area of interest. This is a great way to make mentoring connections and to form relationships that are likely to be helpful in the
future. The old-fashioned idea of spending your time at college exploring intellectual pursuits and putting off entry into the real world of work is no longer relevant. If you haven’t started networking, putting together a LinkedIn profile and taking up small jobs after your XII, you should start doing it now. Don’t put it
off. The longer you wait, the worse off you will be.
Make an early start For Shimpi, life has not been easy. Forced by family circumstances, she quit her regular studies after Plus II and took up a job as a front desk help in an insurance company. She took up a course in tally software and learnt accounts in the same company. While doing an administrative job where she was responsible for hiring, training and petty cash management she pursued her graduation and is presently pursuing MBA from IGNOU with a specialization in HR. Today, she is an HR executive in a leading IT firm.
The motivation
While I was appearing for my Plus II exams, I could feel that the natural transgression from the classroom was marriage. Somehow, I felt that I needed to change this course that had been in our lives for generations now. It was not easy. I decided to take up a job and become financially independent and stand on my own feet so as to say.
How it made a difference
I have been doing two things at the same time. Job and studies. While it left me bereft of time and the usual college giggles that girls have the privilege to, I have learnt to play catch up with time. Today even at my job, I manage my time well and I owe it to my handling parallel options simultaneously.
Lessons learnt
Use the most of your time by using social networking effectively. It springs from my habit to use even leisure time to my advantage. My message is ‘take action as early as high school, if you are going to map out a promising
track to getting a job straight out of college’. Use your holidays after Class XII exam to the fullest. Try to think of your dream company or your dream job. Then try looking for an apprenticeship in the same sector. This will give you an opportunity to have a ‘hands on’ experience of life at work. I would recommend doing an advanced search on LinkedIn for the company and field where you want to work. For instance, if you want to work in marketing and MTV is your dream employer, enter those two search terms and see who comes up. Or if you’re interested in human resources and you fantasise about working at Microsoft, search on those words. Send emails to the people you find and ask if they will meet with you. Many adults perceive such an approach as impressive, and you only need one person to say yes. If you get one mentor, it can change everything for you. So, as you brace for the Class XII examinations, remember, just as it is important for you to score well, it is also equally imperative to ask yourself what is your heart’s calling. Once you know what it is, follow it, even if it means treading the road less traveled. — The writer is a Ludhiana-based career consultant
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Career Hotline
Is MBA a good choice for science students?
Q.
I am a student of BSc (mathematics) final year. I want to pursue MBA after this. But I have heard people saying that students from science background usually face problems while pursuing MBA because they don’t have enough knowledge of commerce subjects. Would opting for an MBA be right for me or not? Please suggest which branch I should take. Also please suggest some good colleges for MBA in
Gurgaon. — Priyanka udai A.
I don’t think an MBA poses any problem for science or engineering students for that matter. Besides, if you were to look at the typical class composition of any of the top-rung B-schools like the IIMs, you’ll find that a majority of students come from tech or science backgrounds. And these are the students who haven’t done a spot of accounting or business studies at the undergraduate or school level. Sure, you may have to work a little harder on getting a grip on these subjects, but it’s certainly doable. So if you really want to go for an MBA, do give it a serious shot. Make sure you get a good score on the MBA entrance exams (CAT/XAT/CMAT etc). Being a maths graduate, the quant part will, in fact , be a breeze for you (the non-science types dread it)! And, if you can get some relevant work-experience after your graduation, nothing like it!
Job options after BTech mechanical
A. Far from it. Mechanical engineering happens to be one of the broadest engineering disciplines, extending across several interdependent specialities. Upon completion of your course, you’ll have the option of working in production, operations, maintenance, or technical sales. Later or alternatively, you can move into administration and management. A bulk of mechanical engineering jobs are in manufacturing — mostly in machinery, automobile industry, electrical equipment, instrumentation, cement, marine, steel
plants, industrial design and fabricated metal goods industries. By virtue of being trained as a jack of all trades, a mechanical engineer’s skills find application in just about every field of technology, including space research, oil exploration and refining as well as in the technical wings of the Indian armed forces. They also design tools needed by other engineers for their work. As far as prospects are concerned, you needn’t worry. The number of jobs is fairly large — next only to those in IT and electronics. And with the industrial sector looking to plug the demand and supply gap for skilled professionals, the employment potential for talented mechanical engineers is both in the private as well as public sector is decent to say the least. It would help to acquire additional knowledge of CAD / CAM using current AutoCAD/CAM software for high-end design software.
Should I go for CPL training after Plus II?
A.
Going for a CPL is a fine option per-se. The only hitch about pursuing it straight after school is that there’s no certainty of getting a job as soon as you’ve qualified for the licence. This has happened with thousands of CPL holders in the past. So in such an eventuality, it helps to have a bachelor’s degree to be able to get some alternative employment or enroll for higher education in the meanwhile. Moreover, you can always go for pilot training even after your graduation. All it takes is six months to a year. Of course, the other option is to join the Indian Air Force as a pilot through the NDA straight after school. Instead of your having to pay a hefty training fee, you will be paid a very decent stipend while still on training. What’s more, you will also study alongside and be awarded a bachelor’s degree upon completion of the course.
Advice for master’s course
Q. I am doing BEd (with English and computers as teaching subjects) after BCA. Please suggest in which branch I should do my master’s degree. And should I do it by regular or correspondence mode? — darpan A.
Well, you can choose between an MCA which will take you three years and MSc (IT/Comp Sc) which is a two-year course. I suggest you get yourself a teaching job in school and pursue your master’s through distance mode alongside to save time.
Email your queries to careers@tribunemail.com...
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Scholarship roundup
Applications are invited for the J. N. Tata Endowment Loan Scholarships for the
academic year 2014-2015. These scholarships are awarded to Indian students for postgraduate studies abroad in all disciplines.
Eligibility:
Only Indian nationals are eligible for the scholarship.
Details: The Tata trust offers two types of scholarships: Scholarship programme which is jointly funded by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and J.R.D. Tata Trust and loan scholarships which are awarded by J.N. Tata Endowment only. The loan amount (ranging between~60,000 and ~4,00,000) awarded to each scholar is determined by the norms laid down for the purpose and does not cover the full cost of studies. All applicants do not necessarily qualify for the maximum amount. Selected scholars may also qualify for a gift scholarship from the Jamsetji Tata Trust and a Travel Grant from the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, based on the sole discretion of the Trustees of the concerned Trusts. A gift scholarship can amount to a maximum of ~3,80,000. How to apply: Loan Scholarships:
The application is to be made on a prescribed form available at the Endowment’s administrative office till February 24, 2014. The prescribed form can
be obtained either personally or on payment of an application fee of Rs 100 by cash, or
by sending a request by a ‘Money Order’ or ‘Demand Draft’ drawn in favour of “The J. N. Tata Endowment” mentioning the applicant’s full name and address to enable the Endowment to post the form while online applications are invited for the scholarship programme. Deadline:
March 4, 2014 (loan scholarships). Check out: http://www.dorabjitatatrust.org
Mathematics courses
UK’s University of Southampton announces scholarships for international students on its undergraduate Mathematical Sciences courses. The Mathematical Sciences Department at the University of Southampton (UK) is offering mathematics scholarship to international students wherein up to £3,000 per annum will be awarded automatically to any full-time international student who is accepted on an undergraduate degree programme in mathematics. Apart from this, the University is also offering Golden Jubilee Scholarship, under which up to two scholarships comprising the full value of tuition fees for the normal duration of study in mathematics will be offered. These scholarships will be awarded to two academically outstanding full-time international students who have firmly accepted a place before the closing date of August 1, 2014. Duration:
Three to four years. Deadline: August1, 2014. Check out: http://www.southampton.
ac.uk/maths/international/fees.page?
For school students
Global Schools Foundation, a non-profit organisation based out of Singapore is offering merit-based scholarships to students from India to study in the flagship campus of Global Indian International School, Queenstown, Singapore. The GIIS Global Citizen scholarship was instituted in 2008 for Indian students to complete junior college (Year 1 & 2) in International Baccalaureate (IB) and (Class XI & XII) Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) at GIIS Queenstown. Eligibility:
BSE - 9th Final and 10th Pre Board - A1 Grades in all subjects ICSE - 9th Final- 90% and 10th Pre Board - 85% in Aggregate IGCSE -9th Final and Pre Board 10th - A Grades and above in all subjects with extended curriculum State Board - 9th Final - 90% and 10th Pre Board - 85% in Aggregate The students should clear a written exam. The exam is held in Delhi, Mumbai, Noida, Ahmedabad, Indore, Surat, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai. Details:
The scholarship includes an amount of S$ 90,000, onetime return airfare + visa fees, tuition fee, boarding & lodging at the hostel, one time settling allowance of S$500 and S$ 200 per month for pocket expenses. Duration:
Two years — Class XI & XII How to apply: Log on to the website download the form, fill it up and along with photocopy of the mentioned document send it to the programme manager Deadline:
March 19, 2014 Check out: www.giisscholarships.org
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career compass: front office personnel
The hotel industry involves a combination of various skills like management, food and beverage service, housekeeping, front office operation, sales and marketing, accounting.
The front office is the nodal centre of all activities at hotels. Situated in the reception/lobby area, it is the guest's first contact with the hotel, and so handling of customers and their needs is the primary responsibility. Major tasks performed here involve handling reservations, taking care of check-ins and check-outs, revenues, electronic channel sales, bell desk, concierge, guest relations, business centre and telephone exchange, among others. Those in the front office have a great deal of contact with guests organising special requirements, dealing with requests for taxis, theatre tickets, information about the local area, taking valuables for safe keeping, handling any problems a guest may have, and so on. It could also involve a large amount of administration work including record keeping, compiling bills, and collecting payment from guests. Moreover, with globalisation people have access to products and services worldwide at the click of a mouse. Reservations have probably been done on the internet and the modern guest is well informed of what services to expect. So front office staff need to respond to these changes and be adept at handling front office software as well as new changes in procedures and technologies. As most hotel staff generally work in shifts, they may also work in the evenings, weekends and public holidays. This is an ideal job for those who are well organised, have excellent communication skills and a pleasing disposition. Front desk staff is also required to have administrative flair, organisational and multi-tasking skills and some knowledge of the local area, including the location of popular tourist attractions. Since they are the first point of contact in the hotel, front desk staff needs to be able to relate to people from a range of cultures and backgrounds and work well under pressure. Besides a strong knowledge of English, it is a big advantage for frontline personnel to be fluent in some other foreign language such as French and German, or nowadays more often Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Arabic or Spanish.
Getting in
While graduates of any discipline can join as Front Office trainees and learn on the job, most hotel organisations prefer to take on trained hotel personnel. The training programmes are of two types.
The National Council for Hotel Management and Catering technology (NCHMCT) conducts training in 24 Central Institutes of Hotel Management, as also State Government Institutes of Hotel Management, and private institutes of hotel management affiliated with NCHMCT. There are also many independent private hotel management institutes. A hotel management course covers training in various skills like general management, food/beverage service, food production, housekeeping, front office operation, sales and marketing, and students can select the area of work they wish to specialise in. Most courses also include business subjects like marketing, human resources, management accounting, strategic management and so on enabling students to be multi-functional managers in the larger hospitality industry. Most institutes send students for six months 'on the job training' exposure in hotels and restaurants as part of curriculum for which they earn monthly stipend. The course also teaches several soft skills, a positive work attitude, a willingness to serve, good listening skills and so on, vital for positive customer interactions, that can make a student fit for the hospitality industry. Starting jobs for front office personnel will be in reservations, front desk, and guest services. As you build experience in dealing with and handling customer relations, you can choose to work in hotels, airlines, clubs, cruise ships, hospitals, resorts and spas, guest houses, and other institutions where catering services are provided. The key to building your career in this field is to understand that your job is to provide services to the guest and to create value for them at the hotel.
Job prospects
With increasing globalisation career opportunities in this field are not only limited within the country but there are chains of hotels that operate nationally and internationally providing huge opportunities across the country and abroad. Most hotels are part of a major brand such as Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, and other international hotel chains. Even independent and boutique hotels are often owned by large hotel management companies operating a vast number of hotels and resorts across the world, and therefore, requiring thousands of hotel and hospitality professionals to manage their properties. According to industry estimates, India needs about 1,50,000 hotel rooms over the next three years, which is already attracting more than 40 international hotels expected to be operational very soon. Pursuing a course in hotel management today has its benefits not only in the hotel industry but also in the service sector at large. The diversity of experience in hotel management is possibly greater than that in any other profession. The training enables you to specialise in the reception and front office areas or take up opportunities in different areas of hotel work, such as in the banqueting services department, in sales, personnel or accounts and then on to management. Many large hotels encourage staff to work in different departments so that they become multi-skilled and have better promotion prospects. With the training and experience of the hotel industry and the strong customer interaction of the front office job, you can diversify into roles such as business development manager, relationship manager, customer service manager and direct sales executive in multinational organisations in sectors like telecom, IT, healthcare, and in other service sectors like banks, airlines, call centers (BPOs), multiplexes and shopping malls, cruise ships etc If you are keen on a career in the hotel Industry, you must be prepared for long hours, and physically taxing work. The greatest demand for services is often during holiday time, so you may be working, while others are merrymaking. But today's compensation for hotel work is good. Entry-level salaries have risen considerably and top international chains include benefits such as medical, dental, maternity leave, vacation pay, tuition reimbursement, and retirement packages. Most large hotel organisations also offer employees things like free employee meals as well as discounted or even free vacation travel, lodging and dining at affiliated hotels, restaurants and resorts throughout the world. So if you like the idea of working in a hotel, enjoy meeting and interacting with all kinds of people, and are excited by the glamour of the sophisticated environment, a career in hotel management handling Front Office may be ideal for you. And remember, this career also gives you the opportunity to travel and to meet all kinds of successful and famous people.
Institute watch
— The writer is Director, Careers Smart, New Delhi 9 February 2014
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Smart strategy: lessons from the sports field Rajnish Virmani Sports is a key ingredient in building a strong character. One’s leadership style at work is greatly influenced by one’s behaviour on the sports field. The sport may differ but the key expectations of a sportsman are the same. Likewise, the office environment may differ, but the key expectations of a leader stay very much the same. A closer look at the characteristics of a sportsperson reveal that various traits of corporate leadership can be groomed on the sports field. 1Enjoy whatever you do: Joy comes before success. This is true not just in the dictionary but also in real life. The hours and hours of practice that it takes to make world champions would not have been put in if the champions did not enjoy playing the sport. If you want to excel in your career, you will have to invest time and practice hard, whether anyone is watching or not. Read any world champion’s autobiography and you will get to know of the thousands and thousands of practice shots that have gone in into making the champion and the joy that the sound of the ball hitting the “sweet spot” of the racquet or the bat or the club gives. Isn’t this also true in the office environment? If you are not enjoying doing whatever you are doing, I’d suggest double up and make the switch. Get a job that you enjoy and then the job is no longer “tedious work”. 2The desire to win must be a burning passion: Winning is a habit and anybody who tells you otherwise does not know the first chapter in sportsmanship or leadership. If there is only one thing common in all great leaders, it is their drive for results. Whatever the field of operation, the passion for delivering results against all odds stands out for a good leader. A champion always brings out his/her best when under pressure to deliver, whereas an average player may crumble under similar challenges. Whatever be your sport, if you lose a game and it doesn’t pinch your heart, I am afraid you will at best be a mediocre player. However, if it hurts when you lose, you will find a way to improve and win. Believe me, you will turn the situation around if you have a burning desire to do so. That’s the power of your conviction and self-belief. You approach any problem with either of two stances. Either a ‘Desire to Win’ or a ‘Fear of Failure’. If the prominent thought in your mind as you approach a problem is “I can’t do this” or “what will others think of me if I fail at this”, think again. To be successful at solving any problem in life the desire to win must be the prominent thought. 3Stretch your belief in yourself: Pete Sampras says this very well in his book when he talks of there being a devil in your head that is constantly telling you that you cannot achieve the given task at hand. He goes on to say that you have to first beat this devil in your head before you beat the opponent on the other side of the net. So true, isn’t it? Whenever you try and stretch yourself and your accomplishments, that devil speaks out. Beware the devil… Believe in Yourself! 4Keeping your cool in the face of adversity: Sports will teach you to keep your cool under pressure — a lesson that you can easily take to all aspects of your life, including the office. When was the last time you remember when under pressure you panicked, showed your frustration, shouted at someone, threw something down, showed tantrums, etc… do you remember the outcome of that event as positive or negative for yourself? Whenever I have played against someone who shows his frustration during a game, my confidence as a competitor grows and I know then I am going to win. A leader who sees his position at risk or who feels threatened in some way will use shouting and anger as a façade to show who the boss is. The mantra for success in the corporate world is the 3 Hs — Honesty, Hard-work and Humility. Stay humble, stay cool. 5Teamwork is the essence of life: With all the confidence that you may have in your capabilities, to achieve success in today’s interwoven world, you need to depend on others just as others depend on you to deliver great results. Even as a student, before you start to take the entire credit of your high academic scores, don't forget the basics taught to you by your teacher, the support given to you by your parents or even the clarifications sought from your friends in the study group. The age-old saying that a team is greater than the sum of its parts is so true in our corporate environment as well. 6Communication is a hallmark of a performing team: Have you watched a team game recently? Volleyball, basketball, soccer, hockey — you name it and the behaviour of the winning team (as also the losing team) is so predictable. Encouraging each other, high fives, patting each other on the backs, bucking up each other and celebrating success is so common in a winning team. You can sense a feeling of bonding and friendship. Of course there will be differences of opinion and ‘finger pointing’ because someone in the team did not deliver his/her part, but these differences and failures will be discussed threadbare in the dressing room — away from the spectators. Definitely analyse your failures and mistakes because that is the only way you will improve as a team, but do it behind closed doors, not in public view. Always encourage each other in public view, and remember the team is always bigger than any individual— even the best performing star. 7Learning from your mistakes: Believe it or not, you will make mistakes; believe it or not, at times you will lose. The trick is learning from the mistakes and then quickly focusing on the next task. Life will keep throwing challenges at you at a rapid pace and so if you are still thinking of the last challenge, the next one will also flatten you out. Playing a game of tennis, as an example, if you have just lost a point and are still thinking of it, guess what — you will lose the next point as well, because that next ball is coming your way already, and fast. Life is a great leveler and sports teach not just how to handle victories and keep pride in check but also how to be graceful in defeat. Carrying on with the example of tennis, if I lose a game, it is appropriate for me to go up to the net, shake hands with the opponent and congratulate him on his win. Being a winner however, it is expected that at the same time I am thinking in my head “… OK buddy, I’ll practice and improve; let's play again in a few months…” 8Practice, Practice, Practice: Michael Jordon, the well-known basketball player from the USA, said in his autobiography that he considered tournaments as punctuations between two practice sessions. The point being driven by so many leaders is simple. Keep honing your skills if you want to be the best. Be worried about an opponent who’s practicing one shot a thousand times rather than someone who’s trying a thousand different shots. In fact, I go a step further in telling my young leaders to constantly evolve as you practice. As you develop and strengthen a certain skill, the rest of the world, including your competitors catch up with you soon. It is imperative that you keep reinventing yourself and build nuances or new skills altogether to stay at the top. 9Sportsman spirit binds all of this together: This is the spirit of playing fair, displaying integrity in whatever you do, doing what you say and saying what you mean and being absolutely open and honest with your team members. Winning is everything in any sport but winning fairly makes world champions while others may — at best take short-term glory and no more. WYSWYG (pronounced like ‘Viziwig’) is an acronym that has been around for quite some time. It stands for “What You See is What You Get”. It stands for integrity of your actions. Display this trait, so that your name stands for credibility whenever it is mentioned in the friend or professional circle. We all are leaders in our own rights. We all play different roles at different times, but for all these roles I am convinced the leadership behaviour expected on the sports field is adaptable to the office environment as also in the rest of your social life. Try it. Make winning a habit.
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Work towards life-work balance
Here are five ways to bring a little more balance to your daily routine: 1
Build downtime into your schedule: When you plan your week, make it a point to schedule time with your family and friends, and activities that help you recharge. If a date night with your spouse or a softball game with friends is on your calendar, you’ll have something to look forward to and an extra incentive to manage your time well so you don’t have to cancel the leisure activities with your loved ones. You can also plan an activity with your family, like going to a movie or the park, when there is nothing on the schedule, spending quality time together is very important to beat the stress at work and to keep relations with family alive. 2
Drop activities that sap your time or energy: Many people waste their time on activities or people that add no value — for example, spending too much time at work with a colleague who is constantly venting and gossiping, or attending too many night parties where people just go to drink and eat. Take stock of activities enhance your career or personal life, and minimise the time you spend on them. You may even be able to leave work earlier if you make a conscious effort to limit the time you spend on the web and social media sites, making personal calls, or checking your bank balance. We often get sucked into these habits that are making us much less efficient without realising it. 3
Stay happy: Happiness is a state of mind as they say. No matter what your circumstances, how much you are earning, how bad your relations may be but it should not affect your mental peace and happiness because it’s very important to understand that you can’t think of a solution to a problem with the same mind that created it, you have to have a different mind-set, which is of course a little more calmer and happier mind than the one which created it. Like attracts like, that’s a law in the universe, so if you stay happy you will further attract more happiness. 4 Get moving:
It’s hard to make time for exercise when you have a jam-packed schedule, but it may ultimately help you get more done by boosting your energy level and ability to concentrate. Research shows exercise can help you to be more alert and fit. Getting up early and going for jog or some yoga class is also a good idea as these kinds of activities reenergises you with positive energy and you get ready to face the challenges at work. It’s a real boost in terms of the way you feel for the rest of the day. 5 Remember that a little relaxation goes a long way:
Don’t assume that you need to make big changes to bring more balance to your life. One should set realistic goals, like leaving the office earlier one night per week. Slowly build more activities into your schedule that are important to you. Maybe you can start by spending an hour a week on your hobby of music, or planning a weekend getaway with your spouse once a year. Even during a hectic day, you can take 10 or 15 minutes to do something that will recharge your batteries. Take a bath, read a trashy novel, go for a walk, or listen to music. You have to make a little time for the things that ignite your joy. — The writer is a Motivational Speaker
& Life Coach
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Cool counsel: statement of purpose Adarsh Khandelwal
The fundamental difference between a reasonably well-written SOP and an exceptional SOP is the manner in which a student approaches the task, organises his material and presents it in a refreshingly original manner. In short, an SOP is a highly personalised narrative that attempts to give the reader a unique glimpse into a student's character, intellect, formative experiences and future ambitions, both academic and professional. An interesting and well-written SOP encourages an Admission Officer to take a closer interest in a student, understand his motivations for applying and, if the story is compelling and original enough, it boosts a student's chances of admission to a college of his/her choice. Deconstructing a typical SOP, reveals how most students can write effective SOPs by sticking to six segments. In essence, it needs to be an engaging story, but invariably, the word restrictions (it normally ranges between 500-800 words) sometimes do not allow students sufficient "elbow room" to fashion a comprehensive life story. Writing your story within the specified word limit is one of the most challenging tasks faced by students. Achieving this is usually harder than it appears, but most students can create interesting SOPs if they adhere to certain basic rules. Honesty, that much-invoked term, is the most effective route to achieving this goal. Although it is not mandated to follow the "six segment" rule, it is highly recommended that every student follow a chronological timeline and write in an easygoing manner, without trying too hard to impress in terms of language or accomplishments. More importantly, there should be no fabrication or embellishment of facts and incidents, in an effort to portray oneself as exceptional. The first segment should introduce you as a person and also include some hint of what you might write in the latter part of the SOP. Your introduction needs to be precise and should encapsulate your character and ambitions in a few short sentences. It should be borne in mind that the quality of writing or ideas expressed in the introduction will encourage Admission Officers to delve deeper into a student's SOP. If the introduction sounds formulaic or lacks originality, most Admission Officers are likely to cast it aside and return to it once they have sampled other interesting essays. Segment two should provide a brief description of your academic or professional goals. You need to explain why you have a particular goal in mind and its relevance to you. More importantly, it would be useful to describe your long-term career goals and the role you would like to play after acquiring sufficient experience. Segment three should provide a detailed character-and-goals sketch. You elaborate about your coursework/research work /professional career. Talk about why you chose this coursework/research work and the type of knowledge you have gained from these courses and internships. Also mention how this coursework/research work is essential towards achieving your career goals. Working professionals need to describe their skill/knowledge base and their professional accomplishments. They can also expand a bit on their worldview, especially the cultural and personal insights they have gained during this period. Segment four is considered one of the most important sections of your SOP. Here you explain why you require pursuing the specified education programme. You have to write in detail about the need to acquire advanced, theoretical knowledge in a particular academic area in order to contribute to the issues mentioned earlier. Also mention about how your education will be beneficial on a broader sense for people or organisations such as, your society at large, country, etc. Segment five requires you to expand on how you have chosen a particular programme or college. In the course of this paragraph, you can expand on the benefits of applying to a particular college, namely, curriculum, research opportunities or teaching methodology. The key here is to correlate the college and the programme to your goals. This would require extensive research of the college and undergraduate/graduate programme. You also need to demonstrate your natural inclination towards the programme and how the college's existing student population will be benefited by your admission. In other words, you should also make a case for your admission by portraying yourself as more than just a bookish one-dimensional person. The more varied your skill-set, chances are, the college will regard you as an exciting prospect, one worthy for admission. If you can portray yourself as an asset, most colleges would be vying with each other to get you on board. The sixth and the final segment is the much-neglected conclusion. You should use this as a forum to summarise your personal talents and highlight the contributions you are likely to make, once enrolled in the programme. Also, reiterate how the programme will enable you to achieve your future professional goals. — The writer is Co-founder, Collegify
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Happiness @
work
A ship is safe in a harbour, but it can’t stay there all day. Similarly, persons who want to be winners have to take risks, but take calculated risks so that you don’t lose it all. “If I don’t get past you the next time, I will quit hockey forever,” said hockey wizard Dhyan Chand to the goalkeeper during the last match against the Kiwis on the 1935 tour to New Zealand and Australia. To slow the Indians down, the Kiwi organisers had left the grass uncut. Dhyan and Roop Singh overcame this hurdle by keeping the ball in the air as much as possible. The New Zealand goalie was agile and had warded off two Dhyan shots — one to his right and the other to his left. As Dhyan reached the goalmouth, the goalie braced himself to dive to one side, but Dhyan scooped the ball over his head.
As soon as Samudragupta became the King of Magadha, his elder brother Kacha — with the help of three Naga Kings — rebelled. When Samudragupta attacked, Kacha ran away and the kings were captured. Then, Samudragupta made plans for a military campaign to Madraka, Yaudheya, Arjunayana, Prarjuna, Malava, Abhira, Sanakanika, Kaka and Kharaparika republics. But as soon as these realms heard of his preparations, they accepted him as their overlord. So he turned southwards and conquered every kingdom along the eastern coast from eastern Madhya Pradesh to the Pallava kingdom. Finally, he performed the Ashwamedha yagya which was attended by envoys of Afghanistan, Persia, Sri Lanka and South-East Asia. As the American Civil War (1861-65) hit cotton supplies to Lancashire, businessman Nusserwanji Tata, father of industrialist Jamsetji Tata, saw in it an opportunity to make a killing. While Kaliandas, the partner of his firm, invested heavily in speculative business, Nusserwanji was cautious. When the war ended, Kaliandas was ruined, but Nusserwanji got away with a few shocks. On his deathbed, Peshwa Madhav Rao made his son Narayan the next Peshwa. Madhav told his brother Raghoba to be his regent. But after the Peshwa’s passing away, Raghoba and his wife Anandi got Narayan killed. When Ram Shastri, Chief Justice at the Peshwa court, found out the truth, he vehemently registered his protest at Raghoba’s crowning. Ram Shastri’s moral stand prevented his eminent arrest. He resigned and rejoined only when Narayan’s infant son was made the Peshwa. When Adi Sankaracharya decided to conduct his mother’s last rites, the orthodox Nambudiri community was aghast. As a sanyasi, he wasn’t allowed to do so. So they boycotted the event. Singlehandedly, Sankara cremated her in the backyard of his house. Later, the community repented its hasty act. One afraid of falling will never learn to walk. — Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
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Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana MoU with pharmacy college
Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) has signed an MoU with Indo Soviet Friendship (ISF) College of Pharmacy, Moga. GADVASU and ISF have excellent facilities including infrastructure, and state of the art laboratories to deal with research in pharmaceutics and pharmacology. The institutes will extend cooperation to each other and promote education and research in the areas of herbal medicine, product and processes, nutraceuticals and nanotechnology, which in turn, would be in the interests of society, particularly the farming community, and livestock owners.
Infrastructure Development Project
The department of Veterinary Medicine of the university has been awarded a prestigious infrastructure development project worth Rs 45 lakh under FIST (Funds for Improvement of Science and Technology Infrastructure in Higher Educational Institutions) programme of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. Funds will be utilised for purchasing large animal endoscope and molecular diagnostic equipment. The department treats more than 17,000 cases of large and small animals at clinics in the university each year. The department has already established the facility of ultrasound, endoscopy and echocardiography for disease diagnosis in dogs and cats.
Women in Agriculture Day
Women are an important and integral part of physical and economic strength of our society. Their contribution can develop more positive and new horizons in society. These views were expressed by Dr. V. K. Taneja Vice-Chancellor of the university in his inaugural address on the occasion of Women in Agriculture Day recently. He was explaining the crucial role of women in livestock and agriculture sector with future perspective at Ramgarh Sikri (Talwara) village. He said that bridging the gender gap in agriculture would generate significant gains for the sector and for society. He said if women had the same access to productive resources as men, they could increase yields on their farms by 20-30 per cent. It would also put more income in the hands of women — a proven strategy for improving health, household nutrition and education outcomes for children.
International pig seminar
The Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education organised a technical seminar for pig farmers of Punjab recently. Alferd Wahl, Pig expert, Polar Genetics, Canada, delivered a lecture on artificial insemination in swine and adaptability of Canadian pigs. He discussed in detail about semen collection, evaluation, handling and artificial insemination technique in swine. He stressed that by adopting artificial insemination, there can be maximum utilisation of excellent germ-plasm as well as fast multiplication of the same and additionally the spread of various diseases such as Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome , Pseudorabies, Swine fever, Foot and mouth disease and many more can be checked.
— TNS
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Meet bio challenge head on
Aakash Chaudhry Biology is not only important for board exams but also for AIPMT and other competitive examinations. This subject deals with life and life forms. So try to build a genuine interest in it. Here are some tips that can come handy in your board exam preparation: 1. Divide your time judiciously for each topic according to the weightage. 2. Divide the entire syllabus into three parts — easy, medium and difficult. 3. CBSE question paper for biology consist of 30 questions in which there are very short answer questions (1 marks each); short answer questions (2 and 3 marks);and long answer questions (5 marks each). 4. Reproduction, Biology in Human Welfare and Ecology topics comprises 42 marks. So these topics should be completed first. The questions framed in these topics are from recall and recognition domain of knowledge. So learning is an essential part for attempting them. A proper and frequent revision of these topics is very important. Genetics and Biotechnology topic has to be understood thoroughly as the questions framed are based on concepts and if your understanding of the basic concepts is low then these can pose a tough challenge. 5. Answer to each question should be in points. Avoid paragraph writing and repetition. Answer to 1 mark question should be of one word or one sentence only. Such as, Question: What is Hardy-Weinberg’s equation for genetic equilibrium? (1 mark) Answer: p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1 Answer to 2 or 3 marks question should be of two or three lines. Such as: Question: What do you mean by eutrophication? Write any two consequences of this phenomenon? (2 marks) Answer: It is defined as natural ageing of lakes by nutrient enrichment of its water. (1 mark) Consequences: a) It causes algal bloom. (½ mark) b) Causes death of aquatic organism due to O2 depletion. (½ mark)
Instead of writing lengthy answers write short specific points and illustrate them with line diagram if possible. 6. In Reproduction important definitions, examples and diagrams are to be learnt and practiced thoroughly. Diagrams should be labeled properly. In Genetics Mendelian, crosses are to be learnt by practicing them and making proper tables and flow charts. This will help in learning ratio and pattern of inheritance. In Evolution, topics should not be mixed for example Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and Human evolution are two separate topics. So, distinguishing feature of each topic is to be remembered.
Biotechnology is an application-based chapter. For example, preparation of genetically engineered insulin, PCR, gelelectrophoresis etc. should be understood properly. Ecology has fact-based chapters, which require complete observation of surrounding and you should be vigilant about environmental issues like ozone hole, green house effect, Kyoto protocol etc. During exam time
— The writer is Director,
Aakash Educational Services Ltd
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Fortnightly quiz 457
2. In which metropolitan city of India was the monorail inaugurated recently? 3. Which iconic car model’s production was stopped by Maruti Suzuki India recently? 4. How many years ago did the World War I begin? 5. Where was the Indian Science Congress held recently? 6. When is the National Science Day celebrated? 7. On which island of Indonesia is the volcano Mount Sinabung situated? 8. Which legendary American golfer was recently seen in action in Delhi? 9. Where are the 2014 Winter Olympics being held? 10. Name the two players to have scored a triple century and a hundred in a Test match. —
Tarun Sharma Winners of quiz 456: The first prize by draw of lots goes to Komalpreet Kaur (Saini); Class X-B; Guru Teg Bahadur Public School, Khankot, Amritsar; Pin Code — 143501 Second: Akshita Sachdeva; Class XII; Saraswati Public School, Jagadhri, district Yamunanagar, Haryana; Pin Code — 135003 Third: Arav Thakur; Class - 5th Rose; Sacred Heart Higher Secondary Convent School, Sector-39, Chandigarh road, Ludhiana; Pin Code —141010 Answers to quiz 456: Davos; 155; January 25; Wheat; Peshawar (Pakistan); Arihant; All India Radio; Ravi; Li Na; Stanislas Wawrinka Cash awards of Rs 400, 300 and 200 are given to the first, second and third prize winners, respectively. These are sent at the school address. Note: Kindly mention the pincode of your place on the letter/postcard to facilitate the delivery of the prize money. Answers can also be sent at quiz@tribunemail.com Name……………….…………............................................. Class....………….......….……............................................ School address ...........................................................
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Short-term course
Eligibility:
All candidates must be of 25 years or more at the time of applying for the course. A bachelor’s degree, in any discipline, of a minimum of three-year duration or its equivalent from a recognised university. Preference will be given to those with work experience in clinical, social and developmental settings How to apply:
Download application from
link: http://download.tiss.edu/admissions2014/Short_Term_Programmes_2014-2015/
Application_Form_CLL_Counselling_2014-15.pdf Deadline: April 4, 2014 Check out:
www.tiss.edu IISC, Bangalore Indian Institute of Science IISC, Bangalore has invited applications for admission to BS Programme in . biology; chemistry; environmental science; materials; mathematics; physics Eligibility: Candidates who have completed their II PUC / Class XII in 2013 and those who are expecting to complete their II PUC / Class XII in 2014 are eligible to apply. The candidates must have studied physics, chemistry and mathematics as main subjects during their II PUC/Class XII. Candidates who have studied biology, statistics, electronics, computer science, etc., in addition to physics, chemistry and mathematics are also eligible to apply. The candidates must have secured a first class or 60 per cent or equivalent grade (relaxed to pass class for SC/ST candidates) in the II PUC / Clas XII examination. Selection criteria: KVPY: KVPY-SA [appeared in 2012, and selected for the Fellowship or Mentorship] KVPY-SB [appeared in 2013, and selected for the Fellowship] KVPY-SX [appeared in 2013, and selected for the Fellowship] KVPY Fellows selected through the Empowerment Initiative for SC/ST candidates IIT-JEE-Main: Appearing in 2014 and securing a minimum of 60 per cent (GN). IIT-JEE-Advanced: Appearing in 2014 and securing a minimum of 60 per cent (GN) AIPMT: Appearing in 2014 and securing a minimum of 60 per cent (GN), 54 per cent (OBC-NCL), 30 per cent (SC/ST/PH). How to apply:
Online The online application may be prepared and submitted by accessing the IISc website http://www.iisc.ernet.in/ug Deadline:
April 30, 2014. Check out: www.iisc.ernet.in/ug
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Architectural visualisation course
A new course focusing on architectural visualisation techniques is being launched at Robert Gordon University’s (RGU) Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment this year. RGU will add an MSc in Visualisation in Architecture and Built Environment covering the rapid development of digital visualisation techniques in the industry, their implications for design, construction and collaboration and the ways in which they will impact on working practices. The new course will start in September 2014 and will be delivered online over three years. It will give students hands-on experience of a range of software packages. For more information and details on how to apply for the MSc in Visualisation Architecture and Built Environment, visit www.rgu.ac.uk/visualisation. — TNS
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If you are getting ready to graduate from high school and are not sure whether you are ready for college or can’t afford it, then draw inspiration from the examples of these youngsters who gave a headstart to their careers by skipping college
The hotel industry involves a combination of various skills like management, food and beverage service, housekeeping, front office operation, sales and marketing, accounting.
The front office is the nodal centre of all activities at hotels. Situated in the reception/lobby area, it is the guest's first contact with the hotel, and so handling of customers and their needs is the primary responsibility. Major tasks performed here involve handling reservations, taking care of check-ins and check-outs, revenues, electronic channel sales, bell desk, concierge, guest relations, business centre and telephone exchange, among others.
A lot is being said about the work-life balance and how it can lower stress levels in a ruthless corporate world. Companies and HR heads are going all out to ensure that this is achieved. But when one gets down to thinking seriously about it, then it gets very clear that this terminology is skewed and as a result the whole focus of any exercise gets lopsided. Actually it is not work-life balance that holds the key to happy and satisfied employees, it is the other way around. Everyone is actually looking to strike life-work balance as work is just one part of your life and should be treated as such. Problems arise only when one starts giving precedence to work and tries to balance life through the scales of work-related responsibilities. So if you are among those who have let life passby while they are crounching over their work station or attending meetings, it is time to wake up and take control of your life’s priorities.
Q. I am in the second year of mechanical engineering (BTech). Could you please tell me what job options I will have after completing my degree and even master’s in this area? Is the work only about research in mechanical things?
Q. Is CPL (Commercial Pilot License) a good option after Plus II non-medical? —Harshit 
A lot is being said about the work-life balance and how it can lower stress levels in a ruthless corporate world. Companies and HR heads are going all out to ensure that this is achieved. But when one gets down to thinking seriously about it, then it gets very clear that this terminology is skewed and as a result the whole focus of any exercise gets lopsided. Actually it is not work-life balance that holds the key to happy and satisfied employees, it is the other way around. Everyone is actually looking to strike life-work balance as work is just one part of your life and should be treated as such. Problems arise only when one starts giving precedence to work and tries to balance life through the scales of work-related responsibilities. So if you are among those who have let life passby while they are crounching over their work station or attending meetings, it is time to wake up and take control of your life’s priorities.
SOP — Statement of Purpose is an acronym that is commonly used in reference to a student's application for admission to colleges abroad. Many times students jocularly remark that SOP actually stands for, “Story of prospective student”. Actually that is not far from the truth. Ideally, an SOP should be regarded by every applicant as an opportunity to fashion a personal story that provides crucial insight that cannot be ordinarily gleaned by studying transcripts and letters of recommendations.
Biology in Human Welfare chapters are entirely based on memory and therefore should be properly memorised. For example: Himgiri is a hill bunt and rust resistant variety of wheat.
1. Name the India-born techie who recently took over as the CEO of Microsoft.
