Explore new frontiers
Space science is an exciting and futuristic field that offers a host of career options
Usha Albuquerque

Going where no man has gone before... well almost! India’s Mars Mission has achieved a first when it struck thered planet’s orbit in a first attempt and also struck a resounding chord in all young hopefuls looking for a career in space.

In fact, careers in space exploration have sparked the imagination of adventurous and scientifically-minded individuals even before the possibility of travelling to space became a reality.

For most people, a career in this field means the exciting job of becoming an astronaut and making trips to outer space. However, this futuristic sector contains a lot more opportunities than just for the astronauts. Most of the careers in space exploration are concerned with assisting the people, equipment, craft and missions that go into space — exemplified by the thousands involved in putting Mangalyaan into the Mars’ orbit.

The work

This field presents a vast array of opportunities that cover many different specialist disciplines. On offer broadly are two areas of work : upstream and downstream.

Upstream work is focused on sending objects into space and space exploration, and involves astronauts, engineers, scientists , who play a vital role in the ongoing space programmes as well as in the construction process of the eventual habitat and operation of manned space stations.

Downstream work utilises the research and technology from upstream in a range of different application, and involves space scientise who analyse and interpret enormous amounts of data gathered by observatories and satellites, arriving at conclusions, or refuting old theories and building new ones. In fact, downstream is where the greatest growth in the sector comes from, and where the greatest number of opportunities are.

Options

So if you are looking for a career in space, there are the more popular and visible upstream options such as :

• Aeronautical or aerospace engineering if you are interested in the engineering and space technology and want to design and manufacture spacecraft and its components. Space Technology develops the tools and equipment required to explore the far reaches of the universe. These include spacecraft structures, rockets, launcher propulsion, thermal control technology, robotics and so on. Mechanical, electrical and materials engineers develop the hardware required for space science and exploration. Electronic or systems engineers develop the software that is essential to run this equipment and ensure that they are working correctly. In addition there is mathematics which is at the core of a number of roles, especially in the analysis of the large amounts of data produced by space instruments and in calculating the orbits of space vehicles.
• You can also become a pilot, like Sunita Williams, or get into the Air Force to qualify as an astronaut or pilot for the space shuttle like Wing Cdr Rakesh Sharma . There are also several not so well known, yet exciting, downstream options. There are vast opportunities in space science for scientists who specialise in a wide variety of fields, including:
• Those good with Java and computer programming can also think of a career in space science. Computers aid in the design and building of spacecraft, as well as in their launching and tracking in orbit. Computers are used to capture the complex data sent back by Earth-observing satellites, and are used still more in analysing that data to come up with useful results.

• Love exploring space science and understanding the solar system — then check out subjects like space physics or planetary geology or planetary atmospheres. You could take up astronomy and astrophysics or even cosmology. It involves studying the planets, stars, moons and other celestial objects in order to understand the universe and make new discoveries. Astrophysics deals with the physical properties of celestial bodies and with the interaction between matter and radiation in the interior of celestial bodies and in interstellar space.
• Astrometeorology is the study of the theoretical effects of astronomical bodies and forces on the earth’s atmosphere. Astrometry deals with the measurement of the positions and motions of the celestial bodies. Depending on their areas of specialisation, astronomers are classified into various groups like observational astronomers, stellar astronomers, solar astronomers and so on
• If you are into biology, life sciences and environment science, then you could be conducting experiments in space for looking at the effects of climate change, pollution, the over-use of our natural resources, and how these issues can be tackled through a study of atmospheric science, environmental chemistry, ecology, and geosciences. In fact, some of the studies to be conducted by India’s Mars mission have been to make global measurements of the causes and consequences of land surface changes, ecosystem disturbances, ice sheet collapse and natural hazards, improve our understanding of key impacts of climate change and advance our knowledge of natural hazards.
• Through Astrobiology we can study signs of life on other planets. There is also Astrochemistry that deals with the chemical composition and evolution of the universe and its parts, Astrogeology, dealing with the structure and composition of planets and other bodies in the solar system, are all fascinating fields of space science.
• Nanotechnology is a field of acute interest for space research. Launching equipment into space is an expensive business so space engineers are using the principles of nanotechnology and the potential to reduce the mass and size of spacecraft and payloads to reduce the cost of launching a spacecraft. Nanotechnologists are hard at work developing supplemental spacecraft material using carbon nanotubes to make the craft lighter and easier to put into orbit. In time one could be looking at super-thin spacesuits and shoebox-sized shuttles!
• Space medicine is another interesting field that involves the practice of medicine on astronauts in outer space. A great amount of research is being conducted to discover how well and for how long people can survive the extreme conditions in space, and how fast they can adapt to the Earth’s environment after returning from their voyage. All manned space missions have, therefore, had doctors specialising in space medicine, and some space experiments have resulted in a wide variety of medical innovations.

Most space jobs require advanced degrees in science, medicine, mathematics or engineering, as well as experience working in a related field. If you have a dream of becoming an astronaut, or working in the field of astronomy and the space programme, be prepared for many years of study, dedicated effort and perseverance. To begin with develop a passionate devotion to any aspect of space exploration, be it computers, physics or biochemistry. Depending on your interest, you can specialise in a specific aspect of space science at the master’s level.

Courses and institutes

Bihar Institute of Technology, Mesra and Ranchi University offer ME in Space Engineeringg & Rocketry, while Andhra University, Osmania University and Anna University also offer MSc in Atmospheric and Space Sciences.

The Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore (www.iiap.ernet.in), offers PhD programmes in Astronomy, and Astrophysics.

The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (www.iisc.ernet.in); Raman Research Institute, Bangalore (www.rri.res.in); Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune (www.iucaa.ernet.in); National Centre for Radio Astronomy (www.ncra.tifr.res.in), the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Pune, and the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad also offer research programmes in space and atmospheric sciences.

Selection to these institutes is through a written exam — the Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) examination — and the minimum qualification required for appearing for the entrance exam is a master’s degree in physics, or a degree in engineering

Now the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research(IISER) offers integrated BSc/ MSc programmes in different fields of science with scholarships to budding young scientists at five of its centres in Pune, Kolkata, Bhopal, Mohali and Thiruvanthapuram.

The programme is designed as a balanced blend of core science and inter-disciplinary topics to serve as a launching pad for research and doctoral studies in cutting-edge areas in science and technology. Students can major in any of the disciplines that include physics, chemistry, biology, material sciences and environment science. The admission is based on entrance test and interview. Do check the website www.iiser-admissions.in for more details.

Job scape

After an advanced course in space sciences, you can find placement as a Research Scientist with several research institutes and government organisations like the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO); the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC); Space Physics Laboratories; Space Applications Centres, and so on.

With some years of research experience you can even apply to NASA, or any other international space programme for openings.

Skill set

The field of astronomy and space science must be the most fascinating job in the universe, but it does require some outstanding abilities — above average intelligence, keen analytical ability and good programming skills. Perhaps the most essential ingredient is curiosity, a scientific bent of mind and the ability to find answers.

So if you are a whiz at science and maths, and passionate about space, get ready to be beamed up - you could end up star trekking too.

Career Hotline
What is automation engineering?
Pervin Malhotra email your queries to careers@tribunemail.com...

Q. I am fascinated with automation engineering but I don’t have any idea about this field. What does this field involve and what are the job prospects? 
— Ishan Talwar

A. Few other careers are as versatile as that of an automation engineer.

Automation engineering or Manufacturing Processes & Automation Engineering as it is called in some colleges, is a cross-discipline that requires knowledge of hardware as well as software development and its applications.

Besides the gamut of industrial production, today automation engineering also covers areas as diverse as environmental protection and engineering, traffic engineering, agriculture, building engineering, and biomedical engineering. In fact, it has now become difficult to imagine life without automation engineering.

An automation engineer combines the knowledge of a computer scientist, a hardware developer, a control engineer, an automotive power engineer, and a communication engineer.

Leading your team right from the production stage to the realisation of complex tasks can give you a wonderful sense of achievement. You can look forward to working with core manufacturing companies upon graduation.

Apart from being innovative and future oriented, automation engineering is relatively independent of the country’s prevailing economic situation.

Sound counsel

Q. I am a student of final year of BA Psychology (H). What exactly should I do to go into professional counselling as a career? — Sneha Chauhan

A. Well there are kinds and kinds of counsellors. For instance, psychological counsellors evaluate and treat mental and emotional disorders, health and behavioural problems, and relationship issues — all within the context of the family. Popularly known as Marriage and Family Counsellors, they are typically psychologists with a master’s or higher degree in psychology or counselling. Recognising how vital the family experience is to overall health and well being, they seek additional training to specialise in this important field.

A family counsellor is sought when it’s determined that family dynamics or family life cycle issues (birth of a child, death or terminal illness of a family member) or parent-child issues are contributing to a mental or emotional problem.

Marriage counsellors essentially help couples struggling to make their relationships work, help improve communication, enrich their married life and prevent bitter separations and divorces. Similarly, pre-marital counselling is also becoming the need of the hour.

A post graduate diploma, degree or certificate course in counselling would be a good starting point. However, before you decide on a career in this field, do make sure you possess all the attributes required of a good counsellor, i.e.:

• Infinite capacity to give each client a patient hearing.
• Empathy and ability to strike a rapport with your clients.
• A caring attitude that gives the client sufficient confidence to confide in you.
• The strength to view the problem objectively without being judgmental or getting personally overwrought or emotionally involved.
• Ability to communicate with people from all strata of society.

You probably have some of these skills already. Now you can use those skills, overlaying them with professional counselling skills, to become a counsellor in your own right.

Should I opt for LLM or MBA?

Q. After doing BBA, I’m now in LLB (final year). I am interested in corporate law, but the problem is that I just can’t decide whether to go for LLM or MBA? If the former, from where( India or abroad) should I do the course? Else, should I simply go for a job after completing my LLB? I am terribly confused. — Bhawna Buddhiraja

A. As you must have probably gathered by now, corporate lawyers, broadly speaking, advise organisations on their legal rights and obligations. Very few matters actually come to the court. Instead, rock-solid contracts are negotiated to prevent chances of litigation. Unlike earlier, 75 percent of the work is transactional while litigation constitutes not more than 30 per cent.

The demand for corporate lawyers with experience in securities and transactions has grown in proportion to changes in the global marketplace.

While earlier, only major companies had international dealings, today even small players have foreign transactions requiring the services of corporate lawyers who are well-versed with International law. M & A, IPO and GDR issues, Taxation, Due Diligence, Structured Finance and Banking are some of the key services offered by corporate law firms.

To become a corporate lawyer, no additional qualification other than your LLB degree is really necessary. In fact, your BBA would be an added advantage in grasping and understanding concepts in accounting, finance and business. What you need to do is immediately start an intensive job hunt and start working either in a law firm or in the legal department of a company.

Joining IT department

Q. I want to become an income tax officer? What do I have to study for it? — Arpan Mehta

A. If you want to become an Income Tax or Central Excise Officer, then you will first have to take the Civil Services Examination conducted by the UPSC. 

In the Civil Services, both these posts are of the Group ‘A’ Officer cadre. The minimum eligibility is a bachelor’s degree.

You could also take the competitive exam for Inspectors of Central Excise, Income Tax, etc. conducted by the Staff Selection Commission.

The eligibility for taking this exam is also a bachelor’s degree.

mba mentor
Jatin Bhandari

Q. How is master’s in management different from an MBA? — Suresh Kumar

A. Master’s in management is for people with zero or less than two years of work experience. Most of the master’s programmes are specialised, and the students get an on-the-job training after the completion. The average age in these programmes will be around 21 or 22. The salaries will roughly be 60 to 70 per cent of those offered to MBA graduates.

Jobs for MBA grads: These are more dynamic in nature and will give you the flexibility to change career, move across different functions in the latter part of your career.

Most of us do not know what we want from our professional lives, and an MBA gives you the ability to make switches as your understanding of business is not limited to one particular function. For example, I have seen people moving from Pizza Hut Sales head positions, to steel manufacturing companies, and that was the widest spectrum one can have in their life. That is what an MBA does.

MIM jobs: If you are not completely satisfied with the first job you will get from your undergraduate campus and do not want to work for three to four years before exploring another round of education, go for the master's in management programmes. Master’s in management programmes are an early entry ticket to the management jobs in an international environment. Even though you will be working at a salary of 60 to 70 per cent of an MBA student, I think that is quite okay considering that the MBA student will have worked for four more years than the master’s in management programme student.

Q. Should I go to the US or Canada for my MBA? How can one select countries? How are the universities in Europe? Australia? — Ajay Jain

A. Thought Leadership: Most of the Schools such as Harvard, London Business School, INSEAD, Wharton, Columbia, Stanford, and the other top 15 schools are not US or European schools anymore. They sell equally well in Mumbai as they do in any other part of the world. The alumni network is so vast that doing a two- year MBA from these places makes the candidates global citizens. That is very true. You can Google and see how many Wharton alumni are leading Indian companies. You will find that a lot of Indian companies are more open to employing people from the top Schools in the US Europe, If you are keen on coming back to India at significant leadership positions, look for schools that have a global reputation. Still if you want to study abroad then you should consider various factors while picking countries:

Exposure to leadership: First of all a job and exposure to leadership is very important and the US offers opportunities to work on the Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and the Fashion hub of New York across various industries and functions. Similarly, Toronto( Canada) is a hub of many Fortune 500 companies and the consulting firms, and various investment banks. On the other hand, Australia will offer opportunities for Permanent Residency. It may not offer the best exposure to the leadership that an MBA graduate is looking at, but one will still get a smooth transition to a foreign country.

Opportunity to do internship: Many countries across the world do not have great internship opportunities. If you are keen on a career switch, look for two year programmes and most of these two year programmes are offered by universities in the US and in Canada. Internship is the opportunity for a candidate to try a job out and increase the chances of conversions. Only a handful of schools outside the US offer two- year MBA programmes with internship opportunities. However, in the US, internship is like an opportunity to date someone before getting married. For people planning to move to Goldman Sachs or Microsoft from Infosys( India) or Wipro( India), US will offer great flexibility.

Employment opportunities: Most of the desired companies for candidates started in the US. Working in Europe or Asia or Australia might give you a chance to work and earn in the Foreign currency, but if you are looking for a great exposure and learning curve, US is the place to be in.

Access to easy student loans: A lot of business schools in the US, Canada, and Europe will give you loans without a guarantor. Imagine, you are picking up a student loan of Rs 80 lakh from these places without having anyone to guarantee for you.

— Jatin Bhandari is CEO & Co-Founder of PythaGurus, an education consultancy.

colleges and contests
India Ideathon

Giving an opportunity to budding entrepreneurs in the age group of 19 to 55 years through active mentoring and funding support CapitalVia Global Research Limited is inviting registrations for the second India Ideathon, 2014. 

Conceived in partnership with Valueleaf, Ideathon is a non- profit initiative, that aims to encourage anyone and everyone with a business idea to realise their entrepreneurial dream. It is a platform where ideas will be polished and nurtured with personalised guidance from mentors and the most promising ideas will be provided with funding support to kick start their ventures. The best entry will get a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, while the first and second runners-up will win Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000, respectively. The other 15 finalists will get cash prizes and certificates of appreciation. All the top 18 winners will qualify for the next round, where the winner could bag seed funding of Rs 25 lakh to kick-start his business.

Registration will be closed on December 15, 2014. For, more info you can visit www.indiaideathon.com

Video competition

Students from international schools in India will have a chance to win a one-week study trip to a leading Australian university by taking part in the International Schools Video Competition run by Cambridge English Language Assessment. The competition will run till November 2014 and the winners will be announced on January 20, 2015. The winning teams will visit Australia between April–July, 2015. School principals will select teams of two or four students from grades X and XI to produce a 3-minute video about either astronomy or digital business. The winning teams will receive return flight tickets from India to Australia for two students and an accompanying teacher, accommodation, food and a one-week study course. Their entries will also be published on the Cambridge English YouTube channel. Entries are open for all the International schools (like Lancer’s International, Pathways, British School, etc to name a few) in India. There will be two national winners one per theme, who will win a trip to Australia (between April – July 2015) including visit to the partnering University (Bond University and Curtin University) and meeting with the experts.

Discovery kids quiz winners

Over 13,000 students participated in the Discovery Kids & WWF-India's Wild Wisdom Quiz 2014. This year the quiz focused on 'Forest Biodiversity' and aspires to spread awareness of the increasing importance of conserving forests. The quiz reached out to over 15,000 schools and saw enthusiastic participation from over 13,000 students across 30 cities in the country. Organised by WWF-India in association with Discovery Kids, this year the quiz introduced new categories- a Junior Level Quiz (for classes 3 to 5),a High School Online Quiz (for classes 9 to 12), in addition to the Middle Level quiz (Classes 6 to 8). This year's quiz was won by Aaron Dev Jose and Pooja Bijoy of L'ecole Chemnaka School, Trivandrum, followed by Jeevesh C. and Vignesh SK of Vidya Niketan School, Chennai and Arnav Gupta and Aniket Mishra of Arwachin International School, Delhi in second and third position, respectively. The winners have won a trip to a Nature Camp in Rishikesh, where they will get to indulge in multiple adventure sports and take part in nature-related activities. — TNS

course chat
Fashion styling course

Pearl Academy has launched Fashion Styling and Image Design course from the current session to cater to the increasing demand for fashion stylists and image designers in the media industry. The course is aimed at providing students with the knowledge of styling & image design is a four-year BA (Hons) degree programme in affiliation Nottingham Trent University. It will have various modules like Fundamentals of Fashion Styling, Cultural Studies, Communication Skills and Computer Skills that will be covered over eight semesters. Candidates with a minimum of 50 per cent score in Plus II are eligible to apply for this course.

PGPX programme

UCLA Anderson Executive Education has launched Post Graduate Program in Management for Executives (UCLA PGPX) in India at Delhi, Bangalore & Mumbai. The PGPX is a comprehensive, rigorous and challenging program covering all aspects of the management curriculum in a 60+ days schedule spread over a year. The flexible program schedule will allow busy professionals to continue work while pursuing the program. With zero opportunity cost and no career break, program helps participants build on your experiences. A week of classroom learning is conducted almost every month in different formats, including classroom and live online sessions.

The program will impart knowledge of all key business functions and a practical understanding of how they interrelate. It will hone the business acumen required to make informed, game-changing decisions in today’s economy. Participants will also hone analytical problem-solving skills directly relevant to the most critical global business and organizational issues. Various Experiential learning techniques are used throughout the program that drive home the applicability of the program sessions and develop vital skills as a team builder, leader, and member.

One can apply to the program online by submitting a short online application form. Admission follows step-by-step process (a rolling admissions process and participant applications are evaluated as soon as they are received).The tuition fee for the programme is Rs 25,000.

More details can be viewed here http://northwest.in/ucla-pgpx/admission-and-fees/.

Field in focus: Biochemistry
Strike the right chemistry
Gauri Chhabra

Interested in a career that belongs to the present century and touches a huge range of organisms, from bacterium to humans? Would you like to be associated with the determination of effects of chemicals on cancer, aging or obesity?

If yes, then biochemistry is the right subject for you. This subject that blends chemistry with life and living things opens a huge range of opportunities in different fields like health, agriculture, environment etc.

What is biochemistry?

Biochemistry involves the study of structure, composition and chemical reactions of substances in living organisms. It is an interdisciplinary field in which the principles of chemistry, biology, genetics, mathematics and physics are applied to the investigations of biomolecules, atoms, organelles, cells, tissues and organisms. It serves as an edifice for biotechnology and molecular biology techniques, ranging from biomolecular computation and modeling, to regulation of gene expression.

Getting in

To gain admission in a three-year bachelor’s degree programme in Biochemistry, you must have passed Plus II with mathematics and biology as major subjects with a good score.

For admission to a master’s degree, you must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university. After MSc., you can opt for Junior Research Fellowship programme by appearing in the NET/UGCCSIR JRF exam which will give you a roadmap in lectureship, research and development, allied work and consulting.

Some colleges in India also offer MD in Biochemistry to MBBS graduates.

This subject field requires one to have research, analytical and problem-solving skills besides good written and oral communication skills. Computational, organisational and observational skills along with an understanding of complex biological systems are the other basic requirements to excel in a career in this field.

Career pathways

A degree in biochemistry opens carer options in the following fields:

Forensic science: Here you would be helping forensic scientists by obtaining information from specimens such as frozen remains of humans and other animals such as wooly mammoths.

Food safety and food quality: You would be required to perform sophisticated biochemical assays for the testing of foodstuff for toxins, prevention of the importation of harmful fungi in wheat, as well as monitoring levels of pesticides in foodstuff. In many instances, the amounts of contaminants can be extremely small, but detecting them is vital. Scientists proficient in amplification techniques have proven invaluable in detecting harmful contaminants in food.

Quality control: You can also work as a quality control technician in labs, manufacturing plants or other facilities. You would review products ranging from pharmaceutical drugs to food in order to ensure that manufactured goods are safe and compliant with industry and health codes. Besides, you may also inspect items for discoloration or test products in varying environments looking for any chemical changes that may occur. Your work may include using microscopes and other equipment to observe and monitor physical and chemical properties of products.

Pharmaceutical sales: Pharmaceutical sales representatives combine their knowledge of medical drugs and treatments with their interpersonal skills to generate sales for pharmaceutical companies. You would be coordinating meetings with doctors and medical staff. These professionals travel to hospitals, health care facilities and pharmacies to present a product or treatment.

Clinical laboratory technology: As lab tachnologists you would conduct experiments on bacteria, viruses and microorganisms. Technologists may perform tests on levels of compounds in human blood, monitor the growth of bacteria or examine the effects of drugs on viruses. Depending on the laboratory environment that you are in, you may be involved in a broad range of studies or specialise in a specific field, such as bacteriology or virology. You may find employment in government health agencies, drug manufacturing companies or healthcare facilities.

Teaching and research: With the pace of change in the sciences today, especially in biochemistry and molecular biology, there has never been a greater need for qualified teachers. It is a challenging task to be able to teach about what research on the human genome is all about and even to do cloning experiments in laboratories.

Media and publishing: If you have fluid and accurate writing skills, then you can team up your degree and work as a science reporter for newspapers, magazines, or for the audio and visual media.

Proficient technical writers are always in demand by industry for tasks such as preparing reports, assisting with the development of public presentations by Senior Administrators, generating material for annual reports, and compiling scientific details for patent filings. You can also work in the publishing industry. Publishers need first-rate editorial assistants with precise scientific skills along with a fluid narrative style to help edit textbooks, refine handbooks, and create pamphlets and advertising materials. Most biomedical and chemical companies, too, have websites that equally call for strong scientific communication skills.

Technical writing: With increasingly complicated equipment such as robotic manipulators, high through-put assays, and fluorescent-activated cell sorters being employed in biochemistry, there is a growing demand for people who understand the principles of operation of the apparatus and can also write clear instructions. In addition to the need for effective manuals to accompany complicated scientific equipment, there is a growing need for clear, precise instructional materials to explain molecular biology assay kits that are quite common in many labs.

If you are fluent in more than one language and have the ability to effectively assess both the fixed assets and the intellectual assets of a potential foreign acquisition, then you can work as translator of technical documents. There is a considerable shortage of professionals to undertake the critical tasks of accurate translation of biotech and medical transcripts. In the same vein, challenging positions exist for you if you can facilitate multi-national drug trials.

Legal-Intellectual Property Rights: Here you would be working in close association with attorneys to help them with highly technical cases that involve alleged patent infringements. Besides, the everyday need for advice on writing defensible, clear patents, there is a special need to not only be able to understand the science but to be able to both write and explain it clearly to others. One sub-specialty associated with the law is the development of presentation materials for use in evidentiary hearings and at trials.

Business analysis: You may become a business analyst working for a biotechnology firm or in the healthcare industry. You may use your knowledge and experience with sophisticated laboratory equipment to research and recommend new equipment for labs. You may also review business costs, such as electricity or heating expenses, in order to minimise expenses and increase profitability.

From the experimental physiologists of the last century biochemistry has obtained a character, and, from a few pioneers of its own, it holds a promise of success…

— The writer is a Ludhiana-based 
career consultant

career compass: translation 
Institute watch

Most of the universities in the region offer diploma and certificate courses in translation and it is better to opt for a course from a UGC-recognised university for better job prospects. The following are some of the universities that interested candidates can check out:

• Panjab University, Chandigarh
• Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar
• IGNOU, New Delhi
• Jamia Millia Islamia University (one year)
• Jawaharlal Nehru Academy (5 months to 3 years, depending on language)
• Bharatya Vidya Bhavan (5 months to 3 years, depending on language)
• Bhartiya Anuvad Parishad (One year)
• Aligarh Muslim university, UP
• Gujarat University, Gujarat

A ‘meaningful’ option

Merely knowing two languages does not mean that a person can translate with those languages. Translation is so much more and non-translators are often perplexed by this fact. But if you have excellent skills in at least two languages, there is a lot to recommend, launching you as freelance translator.

Good translators will specialise in only a few different (often) but related areas. This allows them to keep up-to-date on changes in their industry and keeps them abreast with current trends. Inexperienced (or bad translators) will often say that they can translate anything thrown at them.

Translating from one language to another e.g Spanish to English) is not same as translating in the reverse direction (i.e. English to Spanish). So you need vast knowledge of your commanding language.

Skills required

To become a successful translator one must have:

• Thorough knowledge of the language.
• Good writing skills, Strong vocabulary
• Ablity to handle lengthy translations
• Creative thinking
• Concentration Power
• Time management skills

CBSE launches project Udaan 

CBSE launches project ‘UDAAN’ for girl students Considering the current situation of abating girl students ratio in engineering colleges, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is launching a special programme for girls called ‘Udaan’.

The primary objective behind this special initiative is to bridge the gap of low enrolment ratio of girls in engineering colleges.

The programme also seeks to drive female students who have secured good marks towards higher studies and encourage them to opt for some specific leadership roles in future.

Keeping in mind, the weightage of science and mathematics in engineering college admissions across the nation, the Board has launched this project which will particularly address the gap between the school education and engineering entrance examinations.

This project promises to provide free online resources, tutorials, lectures, study material, to girl students of Class XI and Class XII to prepare for admission tests for premier engineering colleges of the country. These will be provided online and on tablets given to students.

The programme is open for all girl students studying in Class XI and XII irrespective of their examination board. However, it is essential that student must be from PCM stream and should also have minimum 70 per cent marks in Class X overall and 80 per cent in science and mathematics. For boards which follow cumulative grade point average (CGPA), a minimum CGPA of 8 and GPA of 9 in Science and Mathematics is a must.

In total 1000 girls will be absorbed in the first year, under this special project, in which 50 per cent seats are earmarked for SC/ST/Backward classes. A comprehensive assessment system to result in accumulation of reward points has been drawn up and financial assistance, by means of reward points redeemed towards fees in IITs and NITs, will be provided.

Last date for applications is October 27, 2014.

More details available on http://cbseonline.nic.in

Career sweetener 
Integrated choices

Work- Life Balance is dying as a concept, In the ninja like world of corporates you make Work, Life & Family choices and the ratio in which you make the choices has its consequences. You or your family pays the price or enjoys the benefit.

The problem with work-life balance

The problem with work-life balance is that it suggests there is a trade-off — that one side must be “up” and the other one “down” like a weighing scale that has two sides to it. Using the word “balance” suggests that the two aspects are completely separate from one another and are at odds — that when you are at work you’re not really living. Now that’s not true, we spend 1/3 of our lives working. Work is a part of life and all parts of life have to be cherished.

Work-life balance as a term means that one’s work and personal life take place within two distinct chunks of time. So when you are working you should forget your family life, and vice versa. With the advent of technology, the new world reality may be that work and life get completed integrated in the future, poles apart from the isolated pockets concept.

The concept of Work-Life Integration

We do best when passion drives our work and is a vital part of our lives: something that inspires us to create wonderful and meaningful products. Employees are highly engaged when their personal and professional values complement and support one another.

A more realistic way to look at work-life balance is not from a tradeoff point, but from a point of “Choices You Make”. Work-life integration is an outcome of people exercising control and choices in their life to meet life’s challenges. This can be in terms of managing work responsibilities alongside their personal and family needs. The life choices will change based on an individual’s life stage — it is dynamic depending on the circumstances of an individual.

Make right choices

In my work with the C-Suite executives, I often hear “My job makes me be that way and I don’t have any time on hand.” The hard reality for senior executives is that there are some jobs that make it very difficult to achieve work-life balance.

You have made the choice to be famous and make a difference to the business, so there will be a price to pay. If you are going to surf in the sea, the last thing you should expect is that there will be no waves and it will be a smooth sailing. If you are signing up for a boxing match, be ready for a few punches.

Now the hard question comes when you have kids and family, can you take a one sided decision to pursue your career without taking their consent? Just to remind you a BBC News article says that “Teachers in the UK have warned that days of up to 10 hours in school or childcare result in children who do not talk to anyone, fall asleep and lag behind their peers.”

Levels of integration

A young college graduate may be ready to do a 60- hour week in the first few years of career to learn new skills.

A new mom/ dad may need time off to take care of the child. A highly successful mid age executive may request for a job-sharing programme to start a family.

Middle age employees may want to practice some of their hobbies which they could not do in earlier years — theater and music classes for some colleagues.

Some employees may want to do an 80-hour week – a scientist who may be working on a new drug molecule which has potential to save thousands of lives a year.

Instead of blaming someone else for your plight, take control of your life and make choices around it – thereafter own the consequences. Be happy, this life is only for once!

Try to answer these questions to help you make the work-life choices

• Do you want to keep work/personal life separate or you are fine with mingling both of them?
• What is your focus for the next five years – Career / Family / Society?
• If you could have an extra hour in a day, what would you like to spend it on?
• What are the five things you need in your life to be healthy and happy at the same time?
• Are you comfortable with the fact, that your children may not see you very often and you will miss having fun with them as they grow up?
• Are your family members on board with your work-family choices you have made?
• What de-stresses you faster and gives you a big high, can you get a dose of it every day or at least twice a week?
• What do you want to be remembered for when you die?

Smart strategy: Managing E-mails Smartly
How not to be a tech slave
E-mail is the lifeline of a corporate citizen and smart usage can help one from getting drowned 
Jappreet Sethi

Time is a scarce commodity and emailing consumes a lot of it for the corporate denizen. As per a research, a corporate e-mail user on an average receives 126 e-mails per day (excluding spam) and spends more than 41 per cent of his time managing the e-mails. No wonder that most of the corporate staff feels that it has been hit by an ‘email tsunami’ and is just overwhelmed with the load. Email is the lifeline of a corporate citizen and smart usage can help one from getting drowned. These tips will help you in managing the email load.

Take time to draft the subject line

The subject line of the e-mail should summarise the message; it has to be specific and crisp. Use the subject field to briefly summarise the content of the e-mail. This allows the recipient to prioritise e-mails and to find them later when these are archived. You can change the subject line as the subject of the e-mail thread changes. As you send the e-mail, ask yourself, “Does the subject line accurately summarise the message?”

In today’s world most of the business people use smartphones to look at e-mail, the screens are smaller and 50 words subject would be a sure shot disaster to view.

Be clear and concise in the e-mail

You should be clear as to why you are writing the e-mail so that the reader gets to the crux fast. Give the reader the full context and main idea in the beginning of the e-mail. This allows the recipient to respond and prioritise more easily, and saves them from having to scroll through numerous previous messages. Limit yourself to one issue per e-mail. This encourages each topic to be addressed separately and helps in sorting and prioritising. If no reply is necessary, say so. This eliminates confusion, saves the recipient’s time, and decreases the overall volume of the e-mail.

Try to close the loop in the e-mail

E-mails often have several action items and queries. Make sure you address all the items in your response. Failure to do so will result in e-mail ‘ping-pong’ and it will cost you time and energy. In case you don’t have the answer, be forthright about it.

TO and CC dilemma

When you are sending the e-mail to multiple people, clarify your expectations from each recipient. You should state your expectations, be clear on what the recipient(s) is expected to do, and how and when you would like their response to come through.

“To” should be used for the primary recipients.

“CC” (carbon copy) should be used when you want to keep someone informed regarding a particular issue, but do not require the person to act upon your e-mail. Before you ‘cc’ a person, ask yourself, “Is the purpose to keep someone generally informed of what you are doing?” If so, send a separate single email instead of a CC.

“BCC” (blind carbon copy) should not be used. Information relevant to the copied person can be sent separately.

It is in our hands to be a slave to the technology or use it to increase our productivity; e-mail is one of such great tools. If you do not tame it early on, you will spend a lifetime catching up with e-mail overload. The choice is in your hands.

— The writer is an HR & Strategy consultant and authors
www.humanresourcesblog.in

respond judicially

Most of the people have difficulty in controlling the impulse to constantly respond to the e-mails. This perpetual multi-tasking reduces effectiveness, unless your role is to reply to the emails only (Helpdesk/ escalation point).

Research indicates that more than 53 per cent of the e-mails that you receive are not high priority to you. However, we still tend to read and respond to the “easy” or low priority e-mails first.

If possible designate an e-mail time. Check your e-mail at predetermined times and make sure you inform your co-workers about it, when you do check your inbox, sort and prioritise the new e-mails, and decide if the e-mail should be handled immediately or later.

The “Auto-Check” function can be turned off at all times.

Removing visible and audio notifications is a good idea, as they often prove distracting.

in conversation
Saying goodbye gracefully

With some top companies announcing lay offs in the past few days, the sentiment in the job market has hit an all time low. While Yahoo Inc confirmed that it was downsizing its Bangalore office that employs 2,000 employees, Nokia is all set to suspend production at its Chennai plant where almost 6,000 full-time workers are employed from November 1. Global tech major Hewlett-Packard has also decided to eliminate 5,000 jobs as part of its cost cutting plan.

Wipro, too, is planning to slim its workflow down by about a third through automation. Thus, uncertainty about job security has become the biggest fear of several employees in the country as companies take drastic measures to tacklr HR surplus situation. “Laying-off should be the last option for an organisation in surplus situations and should be properly planned and prior announcement should be made for the reason of layoff”, says Rajesh Tripathi, Vice President & HR Head, GHCKL Ltd. He said that while companies are bound to take sound business decisions, the employees should not suffer . “Even in situations of layoff, organisations can refer employees to other organisations who are willing to recruit by supporting them with a sound reference check and the necessary trainings, for which they remain employable”, he adds. In an interview, he talks about some of the measures that HR can adopt to keep the interests of the employees intact. Excerpts:

What is an HR surplus situation?

An HR surplus situation refers to a situation where the organisation has a greater number of employees than required and this situation may arise due to some of the factors like technological change, change in the work-methods or change in the nature or extent of the functions of the organisation.

However, by preparing contingency plans for both short and long term labour surpluses will help the organization to overcome this problem and work more efficiently.

What steps can HR take to deal with it?

Some of the critical factors that needs to be kept in mind while preparing the contingency plans are the nature and intensity of work, the productiveness of the work, the strength or weakness of employers and employees and the level of job vacancy.

The first step an HR needs to take in a labour surplus situation should be:

Identify the problem: The HR should call a management meeting to determine the cause of labour surplus and how long the cause might continue. Also, there should be an identification of the positions or vacancies which management feels have become unnecessary and redundant and whether such people can be accommodated in other production or organization functions by providing ample training.

Meaningful workload changes: The HR needs to identify ways to involve the excess staff in meaningful work which might include re-starting deferred projects, or bringing outsourced services in-house. The HR head can also seek information from each department head about any backlogs or excess work which a temporary worker can perform. Sending workers to trainings, conferences, trade shows, seminars, workshops or in certification programs, if the labour surplus is short-term, will add value to the company upon their joining on return.

Ensure productive workforce: Since organizations need to pursue their business goals, the focus is always to have productive workforce at their disposal. With changing scenario of business competitiveness, especially in the field of technology, the organizations are in a race to keep up with the pace and hence they need to ensure productive and efficient workforce and impart or educate their workforce for the future requirements and provide them platforms through which they can enhance their knowledge and remain employable.

Across-the-board pay cuts and benefit reductions: The organization may also consider across-the-board pay cuts and benefit reductions to help keep workers on staff while the problem recedes is also a way to deal with a short term surplus problem. This might help organizations to keep their talent pool intact. Reviewing organization's employee list to determine if any are close to retirement can also be looked upon. Considering offering them an early retirement package will also help in a certain way.

Revisit recruitment process: The organization may look at revisiting the recruitment process and only critical vacancies should be recruited during surplus situations. Also during such times, organizations need to look for individuals who are multi-skilled to carry out cross-functional roles.

Work sharing and transfers: Cross-functional or inter-departmental sharing of work will lead to utilization of man-hours at the workplace hence surplus resources can be handled effectively. Transfers within the organization are another way of handling surplus situations. Transfers might take place between departments or divisions depending on the shortage cropping in that particular space.

— As told to Geetu Vaid

cubicle trends
False hopes!

When it comes to hiring, employers have found that a large number of aspirants tend to exaggerate their skill sets and even fabricate employment history, says a survey. About 78 per cent of hiring managers have found a lie on a job seeker’s CV (curriculum vitae) and more than half of these employers have seen growing instances of embellishment of the bio-data in the post-recession period, according to a survey by online job site CareerBuilder India.

Among the most common lies, embellished skill set was the most common fabrication caught by majority of the employers (61 per cent) followed by companies worked for (50 per cent).

Besides, other frequently used lies pertained to embellished responsibilities (49 per cent), dates of employment (47 per cent), job title (46 per cent), awards/ recognitions (35 per cent) and academic degree (30 per cent).

“While most jobseekers presume that by adding things here or there the chance of their getting shortlisted might increase, however, they do not realise that the recruiters on the other side have sufficient experience to map competencies and achievements mentioned,” CareerBuilder India managing director Premlesh Machama said. — PTI

bookshelf
Mind training

Winning personality  The Magic Key to  Success By F.Oss Bluejay Pages:134  Price: Rs 100

Having a winning personality is one of the key factors in getting ahead in career. And this slim volume is full of tips on creating a winning personality. 

Written in simple and easy to grasp language with different sections on different aspects of an impressive personally this concise book is a handy guide for youngsters. 

F.Oss stresses the importance of mind training in adjusting to one's immediate environment and to deal with the challenges that everyday life throws at a person. 

The author categories facts about personality, subconscious and conscious personal traits, and how one's personality comes into action when unlocked and maneuvered well. 

With the simple tips and rules that this book shares, get ready to face a newer you, every single day!