Beyond the beaten path

There are many offbeat jobs available today. All you need to do is think out of the box, writes Jitin Chawla

Bar bar dekho... Bartending offers an exciting career in some of the hottest restaurants and nightclubs. Movies like “Cocktail" and "Coyote Ugly" have spiked up bartending to new levels as a career choice. These movies glorify the life of a bartender as that of non-stop action, where the scene changes every night. The job hours are long but the rewards endless. The demand for bartenders is on a high. A career in bartending is thus ideal because there are options to suit different personality types.

You're the type of person who shudders at the thought of working behind a desk in a traditional job? You want something that’s fun. Something different. Something unique. The trouble is, you're not sure what that is. You know what you like to do, but you can't get paid to do what you like to do. Right? Wrong. Actually, you can, if you just think a little out of the box, think creatively. Here are some offbeat options that are available today in various fields:

Alternative health careers: As the field of natural healing therapies continues to grow, so does the demand for alternative health careers. Some of the diverse healthcare occupations that alternative and complementary medicine offers prospective students are healing arts like massage therapy, homoeopathy, herbal medicine, natural health, and acupuncture, among others.

Adventure sports careers: Of late, more and more companies are investing in adventure sports, thanks to the booming tourism sector. Adventure sports has now become a part of corporate training. There are a lot of resorts and hotels investing in adventure sports to attract tourists. So, a degree in adventure sports will always come in handy for a job in this sector.

Golfing: A golf career sounds like an exciting and glamorous dream to many who love the sport. And it is more accessible than you may believe. According to a 2005 study by Golf Digest, there are over 35,000 golf courses currently operating worldwide. Recently, India too has hosted many international golf events and is on the list as the next best destination in this industry. This translates into a booming job market filled with exciting golf careers of every description. You may not be the next Tiger Woods, but many golf jobs are open to those with varying levels of skills and a wide variety of professional interests. Marketing and sales, course design, golf course supervision and golf management are just some of the possible fields that can be looked at.

Be a spa-cialist

Spa therapy: Today, a spa is a centre for healing and nourishing the mind, body and spirit. People go to spas for fitness, stress management, peace of mind, pampering and pleasure, and health and wellness. Spas offer a wide variety of techniques and services—traditional and modern, from the East to West — to meet the diverse needs of their clients: Swedish, Japanese Shiatsu, and Thai massage, European facials, acupuncture, Dead Sea salt scrubs, Moor mud wraps, aromatherapy, reflexology, reiki, aura imaging and hypnotherapy. Besides, they provide classes in nutrition, meditation, journaling, yoga and Tai Chi, state-of-the-art fitness centres with personal trainers, and much more.

There are various types of spas: day spas, club spas, cruise ship spas, medical spas, and mineral spring spas.

There are many other offbeat jobs available in today's age like that of pet counsellor, T-shirt artist, tattoo maker and comedian, to name a few. The choices are limitless, and the opportunities unbounded. So, the next time you pick up the job section of a newspaper or log on to one of the many job sites, spare a moment and think out of the box.

The writer is a career counsellor

Flexibility can boost employee morale
Jamie Herzlich

Employees are looking for a lot more than a pay cheque to keep them happy in today's competitive work environment.

In fact, striking a balance between work and family life is one of their top priorities, according to a recent survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management in Alexandria. The survey found that more than half of the respondents cited flexibility to balance life and work issues as very important to their overall job satisfaction.

So, if you're looking to keep some of your most valuable players, it may be time to consider instituting family-friendly workplace policies such as flextime and telecommuting, say human resource experts. In the long run, it could mean the difference between losing and retaining some of your top talent.

"A lot of employees want and appreciate more flexibility," says Fred Foulkes, professor of organisational behaviour and director at the Human Resources Policy Institute, Boston University School of Management. "It becomes a sort of a competitive necessity in many cases."

That's why more and more employers are starting to offer flexible work schedules to help employees achieve a better work/life balance, he notes.

Some options include job sharing, in which two workers split the hours and responsibilities of one full-time job; flextime, with an employee choosing hours outside of a traditional workday (i.e. such as 8 am to 4 pm or 10 am to 7 pm); and telecommuting, in which an employee works either fully or partially from home.

Finding the options that best suit your workplace must be assessed on a case-by-case basis, experts say.

Some positions just don't lend themselves to an alternate work schedule, explains David Javitch, president of an organisational consulting company in Newton, Mass. For instance, it would be very hard for a worker on a production line in a factory to work from home.

Also, some employees don't do well without typical managerial constraints, he notes.

"Some people just can't deal with the free time," Javitch says. "Treat everyone as an individual. What might work for one person may not work for another."

But if you think your employee can handle a flexible work schedule, the next step is to establish clear written guidelines of what is required of the position and of that person, says Jim Sowers, a principal at human resources consulting company Buck Consultants in Houston.

"As long as they understand what they are meant to accomplish and what they get for it, the rest falls into place," he says.

Having it in writing helps eliminate any ambiguities or disputes if the arrangement doesn't work out.

"This way everyone is clear on their expectations," notes Robert Micera, director of human resources at Margolin, Winer & Evens, an accounting firm.

The firm offers flextime and telecommuting to its tax and audit professionals, which Micera says has helped with its retention efforts.

"It's not an automatic that if you ask, you get it," he says, noting that staff has to understand that they need a legitimate reason for asking.

They also need to understand that management will support a flexible schedule and that they won't suffer any repercussions like being passed up for promotions, adds Adam Schwam, president of Sandwire Corp., a company that specialises in website development.

At least, 25 per cent of the company's 15 employees have either a flexible work schedule or work from home, he says.

For his director of business development, Joyce Glicker, it was family and personal obligations that prompted her to ask.

Between her two young children and her ailing father, she needed a more flexible work schedule, says Glicker, who earlier this year switched from a flextime schedule to part time.

"If this wasn't an option for me, I would have had to leave," says Glicker.

Schwam says that even with a part-time schedule, Glicker doesn't miss a beat. He also notes that a boss must be able to trust employees to make this arrangement work.

"If you've got the right person, you do what you have to do to make them happy," Schwam says.

— LA Times-Washington Post

Build self-image to succeed
I.M. Soni

You are better than you think, but all your life you have been troubled by the feeling of inferiority. This led to self-concepts that may be wrong. But as long as you believe in them, you will be influenced by them.

Therefore, it is important for you to discover and keep telling youself that you are a much better, abler, healthier, luckier individual than you ever dreamed yourself to be. As soon as you accept this as a fact, it will begin to influence your life. Your self-concept is the key.

Self-concepts might be compared to the houses built by the three little pigs. If a man, in a glow of alcoholism or unrealistic fantasy, builds up an image of himself that has no basis in reality, he’s building his mental house of straw. A daydream about yourself that you do not follow up with action can be blown down as easily as the house of straw.

Like the second pig, you can build your mental house out of sticks, and it can also be blown down. If you build your self-concept on casual remarks made by others, you are building it out of sticks.

If you build your mental house out of bricks, who can knock it down? The wolves can come and howl at your door, but they will never knock down one single brick.

Those bricks that build your self-concept can be scientific or psychological tests showing exactly what you can do with personal experiences, or the encouragement of a loved one.

The bricks are successful thinking about yourself. If you have had personal experience in succeeding at something, no matter how small or big, you can build the house of self-esteem on what you have done in the past.

You have potentialities that are never realised. The first step in changing your life is to believe that you can change.

Here are the ways:

Accept yourself. In a study made of a group of college students, it was found that those who were healthiest mentally nearly always accepted themselves, with all their faults and virtues, just as naturally as they accepted nature: brooks, the valleys, the mountains, the trees. Don’t tear yourself apart because you do not think you are worthy.

Believe in yourself. You have some special talent, or mark of individuality. If you do not know what yours is, that does not mean you do not possess one. Keep seeking till you find out what your best talent is.

Keep your hands and your mind occupied most of the time. An idle mind is a devil’s workshop.

Be good to yourself. Be sure to allow for some recreational activities in your life. Always have an activity that will be fun for you. It is better to participate than watch others having fun.

Make others feel comfortable and at ease. When you meet someone for the first time, concentrate on trying to make him feel comfortable. That will keep you from feeling self-conscious.

It is almost impossible for two thoughts to occupy the mind at the same time. If you concentrate on thinking about the other person, you do not give the impression that you are self-centred.

Think which of your worries can be demolished. Then do something about them. If you have some worries you can do nothing about, learn to accept the situation without bitterness.

Like yourself, and other. If there are some you cannot help disliking, try to be fair to them. Look for their good points. Do not be jealous.

You cannot know what the final pattern of life will be, but try to make the stitches you yourself sew as fine as possible, so you can be proud.

Bury the past. Yesterday was a dream; tomorrow may never come. Use this fragment of time, as though it were your last day on earth.

Smart Skills
Print line
Usha Albuquerque

Printing is one of the oldest and, perhaps, most commonly used forms of visual communication — its origin dating back to the wooden block impressions of sixth-century China. It was the German, Johann Gutenberg, however, who in the 15 th century, revolutionised the concept of copy reproduction, by introducing the first moveable type. Since then, printing has developed, changed and grown into the high technology processes we see today.

Printing is a craft that combines aesthetic sensibility with technical skill. Almost any material can be printed and a variety of methods are employed for this. Some are as old as printing itself, but today modern technology continues to advance.

The largest area of work in printing is with newspapers and periodicals. Most large newspapers have presses attached to them, and require hundreds of skilled personnel for their operation. Periodicals with lower circulation may, on the other hand, employ 10 or less people to staff their small job presses.

Training talk Anna University, Chennai - 600 025 Department of Printing & Media Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, Karnataka - 576 119 Guru Jambeshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar Department of Printing Technology, BMS College of Engineering, Bangalore, Karnataka. Sivakasi Institute of Printing Technology, 87-A, Kamaraj Road, Sivakasi - 626 123 Southern Regional Institute of Printing Technology, Adyar, Chennai - 600 113 Times Institute of Printing Management, Times of India Press, Mumbai Don Bosco School of Printing, Okhla Road, New Delhi-110 025 Thomson Press Training Centre, Thomson Press, Mathura Road, Government Polytechnic College, Deptt of Printing Tech, Ajmer, Rajasthan Deptt of Printing Technology, Pusa Polytechnic, Pusa, New Delhi-110 002

Book publishing is another huge area of work, and hundreds of private and public printing presses in India produce books, journals, atlases, art publications and other similar materials. Some specialise in art reproduction as well.

In addition, there are private commercial presses which can be large organisations, with several departments and a huge staff, handling high-volume production and a number of jobs at one time, or small self-owned units offering personalised service to a single client or print order. Commercial printers handle a variety of production jobs, ranging from greeting cards and calendars, to company brochures and newsletters. Some specialise in certain types of work, such as the design, printing, sometimes production of all kinds of packing materials like paper, cellophane, plastic/polythene, board, metal foil, or even leather or glass, others in stationery, generally personalised like letterheads, envelopes and calling cards.

There are also central and state government presses, where bank notes, currency postage stamps, government papers and forms are printed.

In recent years, desktop printers have mushroomed with the use of computers for special graphics and typesetting, together with laser printers. With the advent of DTP, an editor can have the entire page of a book on a VDU screen and design or insert graphics or illustrations at the appropriate places. Moreover, with laser printers it is possible to get actual font proofs of a manuscript on plain paper.

Work profile

Printing uses a variety of techniques to create a visual impact. It is a form of communication, employed for purposes as diverse as education, information, entertainment, promotion and art. As everywhere, there has been a rapid growth in printing technology as well. Printing has developed over the ages to what has now been called 3-dimensional printing. Printing has come out of its age-old forms and introduced new technologies for innovation in the field.

Working in this industry requires professionals at all levels to be fully conversant with current printing technologies. At a technical level, the knowledge and handling of machines and equipment is essential. On the managerial side, personnel must be aware of factors such as the efficient and appropriate use of materials and techniques, speed, cost, quality, end use and appearance.

Besides print production jobs, technicians and technologists work on the research and development of new printed materials, machinery, paper and inks while designers/printmakers are involved in devising new faces and styles of type.

Entry points

There are courses at the degree and diploma level for printing technology. For the B.Tech / BE course, admission is through the all-India level tests (like AIEEE) or the state-level engineering competitive examinations. Eligibility to appear in such tests is 50 per cent with PCM in Class XII. The duration of this course is four years. Students are given academic and practical inputs for the use of various kinds of printing technology. Important components of engineering required for understanding of printing processes and maintenance of the machinery also form a part of the course, and the emphasis is on design and graphics as part of printing.

Most of the polytechnics conduct an entrance test for admission for three-year diploma courses in printing technology. Students with a minimum aggregate of 50 per cent in Class X or XII are eligible for appearing in the test. Six regional schools of printing technology, located at Mumbai, Allahabad, Chennai, Calcutta, Delhi and Pune train students in all aspects of printing technology. Trade courses in printing are also conducted at industrial training institutes located all over the country.

Job prospects

There are also master’s degree programmes for students with a minimum of 50 per cent aggregate in engineering.

While diploma holders start their career as junior engineer trainees, and then gradually move to become a supervisor, foreman, assistant manager, deputy manager and manager and so on, degree engineers start out as graduate engineer trainees and go on to be an assistant manager, deputy manager, manager and general manager levels. Depending upon the area chosen, the work environment can range from a computer laboratory to the printing room. Computers have revolutionised the workflow in the printing industry. Printers have evolved from mammoth noisy devices in special print rooms to compact laser printers with wireless technology, or multifunctional devices. A major factor in the positioning change of printing has been the shift from analog to digital printing methods. Digital imaging has helped bring down the costs associated with colour printing.

Both the private and public sectors accommodate print technologists into their organisations. The largest numbers join printing departments of publishing houses like The Times of India, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, The Hindu, The Tribune, Dainik Jagran, Bhaskar Group, and so on that have very high-speed web offset machinery. There are also jobs in the government, where opportunities exist in postal presses, currency presses, university presses, bank owned presses, test book presses, stationary printing presses, etc.

There are also growing opportunities with a commercial press, in publishing, packaging industry and in advertising assignments. There are also possibilities for doing free-lance work, or setting up one’s own printing set-up with the use of desk-top publishing.

The spread of literacy, increased government and business activity and economic affluence in general has led to a greatly expanded demand for printing materials of all kinds. With the growth of related areas like publishing, newspapers and packaging exerting increasing pressure, the printing industry is at present faced with a huge under-employment problem. With the gap between demand and supply of skilled personnel likely to widen considerably in the coming years, it would mean many more opportunities for those who wish to take up printing as a career.

The writer is a noted career expert

Be game for career in football

Q. I am a good football player, but I do not know how to make this my career. Please suggest some institutions for training.

— Dilsher Chahal

A. Perhaps the only one of its kind in Asia, the prestigious Tata Football Academy, Jamshedpur, provides a fully free residential training programme for scientifically nurturing budding footballers.

Couched amidst 25000 sq ft of lush green in the heart of Jamshedpur, TFA is equipped with its own playing field, multi gym, swimming pool, kitchen, dining room, conference hall, medical unit and recreational room to provide an ideal ambience for promising footballers to develop their potential to the full. TFA coaches scout for talent (on the basis of strength, stamina, speed and skill) at various tournaments all over the country.

About 100-120 boys are invited for trials and approximately 35 cadets are shortlisted. The last trial was held in February-March, 2008.

If you are between 14 - 16 years of age, have a good physique (height: minimum 5’ 6” and weight: minimum 50 kg) and have participated your state U-16 championship (although it is not compulsory) then you can apply to:

TFA, Inner Circle, Road, Bistupur, Jamshedpur 831001 (Jharkhand). For further information, you could log on to: www. tatafootballacadem y.com Phone and Fax: 2221736, 2431141, 2142137. You must of course check with your state Sports Directorate for selection trials for football coaching in your state.

Another very useful source of information is the www.indianfootball. com, which lists the various football academies all over the country.

Tune into sound engineering

Q. I am very fond of listening to and playing music. What is the work of a sound engineer like? What do I need to study and where can I work?

— Gautam Vij

A. Sound engineers make high-quality recordings of music, speech and sound effects in recording studios. They use complex electronic equipment to record sound for: commercial music recordings, radio, TV, film and commercials, corporate videos, websites, computer, video and mobile games

As a sound engineer your work would involve:

• Planning recording sessions with producers and artists
• Setting up microphones and equipment in the studio
• Setting the right sound levels and dynamics
• Operating equipment for recording, mixing, mastering, sequencing and sampling
• Recording each instrument or item onto a separate track
• Monitoring and balancing sound levels
• Mixing tracks to produce a final ‘master’ track
• Logging tapes and other details of the session in the studio archive.

With experience, you could specialise in areas like mastering, or you could become a producer after building up a reputation with a number of clients. You could also choose to start your own recording studio.

Just jasoosi

Q. I am a science graduate. Instead of pursuing IT or MBA like most of my friends, I want to do something different. I am fascinated by the thought of pursuing detective work. But people say that ‘jasoosi’ is just not a job for girls.

— Kiran Sodhi

A. Private investigation is no longer a male bastion. In a profession dominated by men, the army of Indian women sleuths has been increasing steadily over the years.

In the big cities, they are not just working as private eyes, but even heading all-women outfits. Almost all 60 detective agencies in Delhi have a sizeable number of women, while six are run by women alone.

In fact, in certain cases, especially matrimonial and child custody, women PIs have often proved to be more effective than their male counterparts. A woman’s innate inquisitiveness and attention to detail makes her an ideal candidate for surveillance activities, interviewing subjects, and conducting telephonic enquiries. The greatest advantage that a woman investigator has is that nobody is suspicious of being shadowed by a woman undercover agent.

Also, you’ll find it naturally easier to access information.

You can work either with the police department or with a private detective company. In the police department, detectives are plainclothes investigators who gather facts and collect evidence for criminal cases. Besides handling undercover operations, interviews, examining records and shadowing or keeping an eye on the activities of suspects,

PIs offer many other services such as pre-employment verification, surveillance, investigating corporate fraud and individual background profiles.

If you are familiar with gadgets like mini cameras, voice recorders etc, you can get started with as little as a few thousand bucks. A matchbox sized, wireless camera costs Rs 1200, while you can get a digital recorder for as little as Rs 2,000. There are no formal academic requirements for most private detective jobs, although a college degree is essential. Most companies will train you on the job. Stating out with simpler assignments, you will advance to more challenging assignments as you gain confidence.

Many private detectives enter the field after serving in government intelligence, defence or law enforcement jobs.

However, let me warn you: A career in this field may not be as adventurous and romantic as novels and films make it out to be. Although it is certainly a ‘hatke’ profession, it’s a tough job requiring long hours, patience, intelligence, common sense, tenacity, the ability to improvise and keen observation.

Armed for action

Q. I am doing my MCA, but I’m very interested in joining the armed forces. Are there any possibilities for me at this stage?

— Vineet Pandya

A. Sure you can join the Armed Forces after completing your MCA.

The Indian Air Force recruits Officers in the Technical Branch under its University Entry Scheme as Aeronautical Engineers in the Electronics branch. Eligibility: MCA, Indian, unmarried males (18-28 yrs) or married (above 25-yrs).

Selection: Engineering Knowledge Test, Psychological Tests, Group Tests & Interview.

The Indian Army also offers a Technical Graduates Course (TGC) which is a PG course (Non-Engg) for recruitment to the Army Education Corps (AEC).

Eligibility: MCA. Selection: Group Tests, Psychological Tests, Interview & Medical Exam.

Watch out for their notifications in Employment News and other leading newspapers.

For more details log on to: www.joinindianarmy.nic.in and www.careerairforce.nic.in

IGNOU course

Q. I have passed my Class XII in science (PCM) with 50 per cent marks. Please give me details about a B.Sc from IGNOU. Can I participate in competitive exams and apply for PG in other university.

— Meena Kharbanda

A. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) offers B.Sc (Gen), B.Sc (Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Life Science, Nautical Science). Check out the details on their website: www.ignou.ac.in

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

Fortnightly Quiz-313

Relocated for a cause

1. Who was the first Field Marshal of the Indian Army?

2. To which reserve in Rajasthan — where all tigers have been lost to poaching and habitat loss — was a three-year-old male tiger airlifted from the Ranthambore national park recently?

3. Name the NASA probe that recently confirmed the presence of ice on Mars.

4. Which Indian state will be the first one to take up the linking of intra-state rivers by constructing a barrage across the Cauvery?

5. Which controversial India-born British author was recently knighted by the Queen Elizabeth II?

6. In which Indian city is the Kashi Vishwanath temple situated?

7. From which year will the Centre Court of Wimbledon have a moveable crossbeam providing a translucent cover across the court to prevent rain from interrupting play?

8. Who took the catch of Vivian Richards in the 1983 Cricket World Cup final?

9. Name the right-handed England batsman who recently reversed his grip and position — effectively adopting a left-handed stance — and hit New Zealand pacer Scott Styris for two sixes in a match?

10. Which nation won the Euro 2008 football championship?

Winners of quiz 312: The first prize by draw of lots goes to Bhavnoor Singh, VI-C, MGN Public School, The Mall, Kapurthala-144601 Second: Vishav Kishor, DAV Sr Sec Public School, Lakkar Bazaar, Shimla-171001 Third: Ankit Dobhal, X-A, Mount Carmel School, Sector 47, Chandigarh-160047.

Answers to quiz 312: Ranbaxy; June 12; Copenhagen; Jordan; Khadakvasla; Sakkarbaugh zoo of Junagadh; World Anti-Doping Agency; Austria & Switzerland; 140 runs; Bjorn Borg & Rafael Nadal

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 to facilitate the delivery of the prize money.

Answers can also be sent at quiz@tribunemail.com

— Tarun Sharma

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