CAREER HOTLINE Q I have done BE (Elect). I am interested in doing M.Tech but I have not appeared for the GATE exam. So are there any colleges that enroll students for M.Tech without the GATE score? — Pramod Khurana A I doubt if any of the good engineering colleges will admit students in their M.Tech programmes without a GATE score. This provision, if at all, is only reserved for a limited number of industry-sponsored candidates (i.e. engineers who are working for a company and their employer sponsors them to study). IIT Roorkee, however, is one of the rare exceptions. Admission to MTech courses at IIT-R is possible in the case of seats left vacant after allotting to GATE-qualified students. Admission to these courses is done on the basis of merit in the Interview conducted on campus. Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, also admits students to M.Tech courses after clearing one entrance paper but there are only four seats and you will not be eligible for availing of the GATE scholarship of 5000, p.m.This may also apply to some other colleges, but you will have to check with them individually. A few other colleges do admit candidates without GATE scores if they are sponsored by the industry. But only a couple of seats are allocated for this purpose. For details of GATE, log on to: www.iitr.ac.in If you don’t manage to find a good college this year, take up a job instead, work on your GATE preparation, research the right options and go for M.Tech from a top-of-the line engineering college next year.
Job hunting Q After doing my Master’s in English, I enrolled for a professional course in editing from the UK. After scanning the newspapers for months for a suitable job, I am now beginning to feel frustrated. What should I do? — Manjeet Kaur A Take heart. Many jobs, in many industries, including publishing, don’t ever get advertised. So, what you need to do is to take the initiative to go looking for unadvertised jobs that are out there. First, draw up a list of the leading publishing houses in your city (the directory is a good source), and then follow either — or, both — of the following methods: Shoot off a letter or e-mail: The most common method is to send a brief letter or e-mail introducing yourself with an attached resume. Highlight your skills and the kind of work you’re looking for in your cover letter. This doesn’t mean you’ll be inundated with job offers, but employers will be impressed with your initiative. If they do have a suitable position they will be interested to know more about you. If not, they will probably keep your resume on file in case they need someone in the future. Do ring up first to find out to whom you should address your mail (name and designation if possible). Land up in person: When you decide to ‘cold canvass’ in person, ask employers for only a few minutes of their time. Have a chat about the kind of work you’re looking for and leave them a copy of your resume — make sure you include all your contact details. Dress as you would for an interview. First impressions count. One more thing: almost all book publishers have plenty of freelance editing work available. So, even if a full-time position is not immediately available, you might get freelance work from several publishers. That would give you the opportunity to prove your competence — and an inside track to the next vacancy that might arise! Incidentally, there are a number of "content aggregation" service providers who handle editing, rewriting, excerpting work for foreign publishers, whom you could also contact. These fall under the broad category of BPO (Business Process Outsourcing), of which call centres are the better-known segment. Do also look at publishers of magazine and newsletters. In fact, you could directly offer to edit company newsletters and ready them for publication (since this is something that most organisations loathe to do in-house). Finally, most companies now have websites and often list their vacancies which may not otherwise be widely advertised. Bettering the score Q Is there any way I can improve my class XII (CBSE) exam marks? Can I enroll for a Bachelor’s degree through correspondence in the meanwhile? — Ankita Mallick A Since you have taken the boards this year, you can reappear in the exam next year to improve your performance in a subject(s) or in the whole exam, provided you have not pursued higher studies in the meanwhile. You will now appear as a private candidate. If you are appearing in the whole exam and if permitted by your school, you may appear as a regular school candidate in full subjects as well. However, under no circumstance will you be allowed to improve your performance after a lapse of one year of passing the exam, so make sure you take the exams next year. If you have passed Class XII under the vocational stream, you may appear for improving your performance in the succeeding year and the following year provided you have fulfilled the other conditions. You will be issued a mark-sheet indicating your performance in terms of marks only for improvement. However, the marks will not be issued with or incorporated into your earlier mark-sheet and no fresh certificate will be issued. If appearing for improvement in subject(s) involving ‘practicals’, you will have to appear only in the theory papers. Your marks of this year’s ‘practicals’ will be taken into account. Difference of degrees Q I am a 28-year-old, B.Com (Hons) graduate and a diploma holder in sales and marketing. Based in Chandigarh, I am looking after the sales and distribution network of my territory. I have 5 years of experience but the fact that I don’t have an MBA degree from a premier B-school is turning out to be a roadblock. Despite my performance being above-average, I don’t seem to be getting anywhere. Please guide me. — Gurpreet Singh A Typically, once you start working it is your on-the-job performance that becomes progressively more important rather than your academic background. On the other hand, some companies may well have policies — whether explicit or implicit — about certain "pedigreed" educational background for the very top positions. While such a "glass ceiling" might exist in a few companies, it is not something that on-the-job performance cannot break through. So, that’s precisely what you must focus on. In this regard, take the initiative in your own hands, and periodically discuss how you are faring with your superiors, particularly requesting feedback on areas that require improvement. Welcome criticism and suggestions in a constructive spirit with an idea of overcoming the deficiencies. Secondly, why not go in for a distance/e-MBA on the side? Even if it’s not from a premier B-school, you would nonetheless have overcome the lack of a formal management qualification on your resume. Finally, as regards your stint in business, don’t think of it as a career break. I am glad you mention how it gave you valuable experience and a broad-based exposure. You should highlight this as an asset rather than a liability. — The writer is a noted career consultant — Please send in your query, preferably on a postcard, along with your full name, complete address and academic qualifications to: Editor, Jobs and Careers, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030, or at careers@tribunemail.com
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Q I have
failed in the Class XII exams this year. I am ashamed of letting
my parents down. How will I face the world? Please help.
