Career Hotline
Q My daughter is seven and enjoys playing tennis. Is it a good career for girls? — A. Kapoor A Reigning tennis star Sania Mirza is inspiration enough for your daughter.. It is best to get started just after five, although the child can begin playing as soon as she is able to hold the racquet. are costs involved, including coaching fees, sports gear etc. Professional racquets costs close to Rs 10,000. Also, there’s a lot of sweat and hard work behind the glamour. Around three hours of practice is enough for a school-going child, although serious players put in more than 5-6 hours of practice everyday. is also no mean task. Amateurs can make their way up the ladder by participating in ATP tours. Your daughter can start by competing in the junior playoffs that consist of four segments: the Under-12, Under-14, Under-16 and Under- 8. Ranking is based on the points awarded at entry-level events consisting of four tournament sections. With the points won during these events, tennis players can participate in major tournaments. You can also send your daughter for training to a good tennis academy in your city or elsewhere e.g. Peninsula Tennis Academy, Krishnan Tennis Centre, Britannia-Amritraj Tennis Foundation, Ace Tennis Academy, Tennis Village, Signette Tennis Academy, Delhi Lawn Tennis Association, Tennis Village or All India Tennis Association. Technical writing
Q I am currently pursuing a course in technical communication. Can you please tell me the eligibility and selection criteria for applying for a scholarship in technical writing? — Tejender Kaur A The Society for Technical Communication, India Chapter, offers a scholarship (max Rs 10,000) for students who would like to pursue technical communication as a profession in India.The purpose of this scholarship is to assist students like you who are pursuing established degrees, diplomas, or certificate programmes in technical communication — Technical Writing, Technical Editing, Online Documentation, Desktop Publishing etc — at graduate or post-graduate levels. To qualify for the STC scholarship you need: one-year PG Degree/ Diploma in Communication (Full Time) with at least one paper on technical communication or a short-term course in technical communication with 75 per cent marks. The Scholarship Selection Committee will review all applications received by 15 July, 2005. Your academic qualifications, financial data, course of study, referrals, and write-ups serve as the basis for this evaluation. For details, log onto: www.stc-india.org/resources/scholarships_2005.pdf Consultancy clues
Q I am interested in counselling as a career. Can you please tell me what qualities are necessary for becoming a counsellor? Is it necessary to take psychology? — Pinky A Depression, divorce and sexual problems are all on the rise. So is confusion regarding careers. And that means more people are seeking the support of a professional counsellor. You probably already have many of the skills a counsellor needs. You’re probably a good listener. And people approach you with their problems, because they see you as a sympathetic person. Now you can use those skills, overlaying them with professional counselling skills, to become a counsellor in your own right. You can be the person who helps the world become a slightly better place. Counselling Psychologists also known as ‘Counsellors’ use interviewing and testing procedures to assess the client’s needs and then use counselling techniques to help alleviate the stress caused by personal, social or educational problems. In educational institutions, counsellors are involved in vocational and educational guidance and counseling, while yet others prefer to work independently. It is the nature of work that requires a counsellor to have a background in psychology as it provides various techniques to gain an insight into human behaviour. You need to do your Masters in Psychology or Education to pursue a recognised post-diploma in Guidance and Counselling. While psychology is offered as a specialisation at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in several colleges, a diploma in Guidance and Counselling is offered at a few institutions. A course in counseling will teach you the skills of counselling: How to resolve the problems that people face; How to set up your own counselling practice; How to win clients; How to handle the client’s problems. You will also learn how to use psychometric tests and forms, and other useful information. Before you decide on a career in this field, do check out if you possess all the attributes required of a counsellor: 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 art of communicating with people from all strata of society. MBA after engg
Q I am in my final year of engineering. My friends say that it will be better if I pursue an MBA after this to improve my prospects. Please advise. — Gurvinder A Traditionally, engineers are more involved in the manufacturing and operational aspects of business. However, in their day-to-day operations, they also have to interact with finance, accounting and marketing professionals. Further, as you move up in your career, you will have more and more of managerial responsibilities while handling projects which will demand increasing interface with finance, marketing and systems experts. Therefore, it is important to have good understanding of various functional areas of management. It will also help you appreciate the need for an integrated approach for managing a successful business. Engineers today need to understand business as a whole and relate their operational aspects to the needs of the organisation. An MBA from a top-rung B-school will widen your prospects and equip you with administrative skills for value-added jobs across the board in the corporate sector as well as in industry. Palette of options
Q I have opted for B.Com due to family pressure but I have no interest in it. I am very good at art and have always dreamt of being a painter. But my father, who runs an auditing firm, wants me to be a CA like him. If I go against him there will be too much unpleasantness to face. Should I assert myself or go along with what he says? — A student A It’s so wonderful that you are concerned about hurting your parent’s wishes. But what about you? Your future? Your dreams? Your longing for creativity and meaning in your life? Firstly, I think you need to take stock of what you’re afraid of: not wanting to face the risks if he says “no”. That he may not love you anymore. That he may think you are ungrateful and not a dutiful son. Or that you’d be letting the family down. But you must also realise that you are going along with something you don’t want, and will then put the blame on them for doing it. That way, you don’t have to take responsibility. Except that when it comes to your career, you do have a choice. It’s up to you to shape your life and your career the way you want to. The fact is that each of us is born with a free will — and nothing can change that. Our free will and our understanding of this fact are perhaps our greatest resources. But with freedom, comes accountability, with accountability comes guilt and with guilt comes anxiety. Since freedom leads to anxiety, it is easier to repress it than to bear it proudly. The alternative might be unpleasant. But to think free will is always pleasurable is naive. Not taking time out to reflect about the choices before you would be a costly mistake. Unfortunately, we often blame others, so as to avoid the responsibility. By saying ‘I had no choice’ (and meaning it), we are simply betraying our human nature. I’m sure in time your father will understand. Perhaps he will even encourage you. Have you tried talking things over — explaining your aspirations and your point of view? Just try. —
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
|
|||
|
|
