Career Hotline
Model choice

Q I have completed Class XII. I aspire to be a model and want to participate in contests like Mr India. How should I go about it?

— Sanjeev Goyal

A To participate in the 'Grasim Mr India' contest you need to have a minimum height of 5'10". Although no minimum educational qualification is specified, it always helps to be well educated. You can also look at other contests like the 'Gladrags Manhunt Contest', which is equally prestigious in terms of the opportunities it provides.

Once you decide upon modelling as a career, 'professional' is what you'll need to be at every step: regular with your workout, your diet and your grooming. It also helps to keep abreast of world affairs while keeping up-to-date with the latest trends in fashion to project that ideal mix of brains and brawn.

Usually the age specified for participants is 18-30 years. Typically, you are required to send one full-length and one close-up colour picture along with your vital statistics. So, the first thing you need to do is get some pictures taken by a professional photographer. For an aspiring model, a well-shot portfolio is the passport to getting noticed. Don't be stingy on this one, rather consider it an investment.

If you have an expressive and photogenic face you can also take a shot at television, ramp modelling or press advertising to begin with.

Modelling has matured from being a vocation into a Rs 2000 crore industry over the last three decades.

For details for the next 'Grasim Mr India'contest, log on to their website: www.mrindiainternational.com and start preparing in dead earnest right away. A well-sculpted body or a healthy glowing complexion is not built in a day. You have to really work at it. Best of luck!

Gear up for automobile engg

Q I am thinking of opting for automobile engineering. Does it offer good prospects?

— Daljeet Singh

A The Indian automobile industry is moving in top gear. Fast emerging as the most preferred sourcing base and BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) destination for global auto majors like Hyundai, Fiat, Ford, GM, Suzuki and several others. We have even begun to export our cars and two-wheelers, which have been enthusiastically received in many European countries.

Mechanical engineers, electronics/electrical engineers and those specialising in automobile engineering are involved in the assembly, testing, design, servicing and even marketing aspects of the automobile industry that has been turbo-charged with the entry of international giants who have set up their manufacturing plants and R &D hubs in India along with Maruti, Telco, Escorts, Hindustan Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra etc.

Diploma and post-diploma-holders are recruited for jobs on the shop floor in auto and ancillary manufacturing plants and for maintenance and servicing.

Students of mechanical engineering can also opt for automobile engineering as an optional subject in many engineering colleges. Those who clear sections A & B of the Associate Membership Exam of the Institution of Engineers (India) are also eligible for jobs on a par with engineering degree holders.

Q I am interested in pursuing a career in microelectronics. Is there any scope for microelectronics in India? Which engineering colleges offer this specialisation?

— Manvinder Chaddha

A There is tremendous opportunity in chip design as technology is increasingly moving towards embedded software (in hardware). And since it is a niche industry, the demand for IC Design Engineers by far exceeds the supply. India can really tap into this market if we can train sufficient people in this area.

The integrated circuit (chip) design industry is pegged to grow into a multi-million dollar industry in India. Though IC is hardware, the IC design work is in "soft" form and can be exported over the Internet; which is why it is being outsourced to Indian companies.

Earlier multinationals had a major share in this industry but successful start-ups in India are meeting the demand from US based companies at more competitive costs.

Intel, the giant US chip manufacturer, has set up its largest non-US chip-design centre in Bangalore.

To work on IC design a B.E. or B.Tech. Degree in Electronics, Telecommunications or Computer Science is the minimum requirement.

While an M. Tech in the subject would be ideal, the other way to acquire these skills, if you don't have enough experience, is to take up a short-term course.

Apart from IC-related knowledge, you should also know assembly level programming and C programming. Companies also look for hands-on experience in the following skills: Digital ASIC design, Physical design, Mixed signal IC design, Verilog, VHDL, VLSI design, Circuit design and simulations, Microcontrollers, Digital PCB design and Routing.

Q I have completed my CA practical training and have worked for 5 years in accountancy in a private company. I am looking for a break in an MNC. What openings and opportunities do I have? I am also pursuing a master's in financial management.

— Harjeet Bagga

A Choose an area in Financial Management like Cost Management or Tax Planning or Working Capital Management for instance and then, after updating yourself in that area, target openings in that specific area. Today, for example, ERP in the finance function, or IT-enabled Financial Services like Net Banking are good possibilities.

Q Please give me detailed information about the Indian Economic Service, including the exam pattern, its prospects, schedule etc

— Mukesh Bansal

A The IES is the gateway to an exciting career in which the selected candidates join the service as Group 'A' Officers with excellent service conditions. IES officers are placed in the various economic and statistical departments of the Central Government such as the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Planning Board, Planning Commission, the National Sample Survey, and State Bureaus of Economics, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Agriculture and other allied offices/departments that need economists — usually in the state capitals or in New Delhi. The nature of job is that of a specialist but with a fair amount of administrative responsibility.

The service conditions offered by the IES are similar to other Central Civil Services. If you make it to the IES early enough, you can expect to rise quite high on the ladder — even up to the level of Secretary to the Government of India, in any of the Ministries concerned with economic affairs.

You should be below 30 yrs with a Master's degree in Economics/Applied Economics/Business Economics/Econometrics to take the competitive Indian Economic Service Exam.

The IES exam is conducted (usually) every year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and consists of two parts: written examination and interview. The written exam is of maximum 900 marks with five papers:

Each paper (essay-type) is of 3-hours duration.

Like other competitive exams, IES also requires planned preparation, determination, hard work and will to succeed. The competition is distinct from the Civil Services Exam: The medium of examination is English (only), and the marks obtained in General English are counted in the final merit of the written exam. Moreover, there is no preliminary exam. The competition is somewhat restricted, as only PGs in economics are eligible.

For further details, log on to the UPSC website: www.upsc.gov.in

Q I passed Class XII (CBZ) last year with 48 per cent marks. I have a flair for computers. Please tell me about the DOEACC course as I am interested in pursuing it.

— Tufail Hamid

A The DOEACC Society (an autonomous body of the Union Ministry of Information Technology, conducts an established accreditation and certification programme in IT education. Under the DOEACC Scheme, computer training institutes in the non-formal, i.e. private sector are given accreditation for conducting specified levels of courses, subject to meeting certain norms and criteria. A large number of institutes have been accredited.

Four levels of (AICTE-approved) courses are offered under this scheme:

The O-Level, or Foundation Course, certifies your competence as a junior programmer, EDP assistant, web designer or lab demonstrator.

Eligibility: 10+2/ITI Certificate (1-yr) after class X.

The A-Level, or Advanced Diploma Course, certifies your skill as a programmer, web administrator, training faculty, web content developer or trouble-shooter. Incidentally, "A" level qualifiers are also eligible for obtaining working visas in Japan.

Should you wish to study further, you can take direct entry into the third semester (second year) of M. Sc (IT) programmes through distance education mode in some universities (e.g. Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, or Sikkim Manipal University, or Karnataka State Open University, Mysore), in which case you will complete your Master's in two year flat.

Similarly, you can also get direct entry to the third semester of MCA at IGNOU or SMU under the lateral entry scheme, if you have cleared the "A" level exam and completed your project work.

You can conveniently take up a job and attend the classes at your nearest study centre.

Minimum duration: 1-yr. Elig: Level 'O'/3-yr Engg Dip after Class X or XII/ Bachelor's degree.

Details: www.doeacc.org.in

Here is a clarification regarding the query on admission to RIMC and Sainik schools (April 6) from the officiating Principal of Kunjpura Sainik School:

Sainik schools are set up by the Sainik School Society (M/o Defence) and admit students from Class VII onwards.

Twenty five per cent seats are reserved for children of defence personnel, including ex-servicemen.

The fees is in accordance with any "similar" residential school (their website states a figure of Rs. 20000 + 5500 (diet money) pa. plus an initial clothing charge of Rs 1,500.