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Eye Contact
It is estimated that India requires at least 2 lakh optometrists, while there are currently only about
5,000. Most optometrists assist ophthalmologists in examining a person’s vision, testing visual acuity
and prescribing corrective lenses.
Optometrists, or dispensing opticians, also called opthalmic technicians, are responsible for the visual health of patients, and work to maintain or improve the quality of their lives. Optometry is a healthcare profession, and optometrists care for their patients' vision in the same way that medical practitioners care for general health. With an increasing number of people conscious of their health and able to access medicare facilities, there is a growing demand for such paramedical professionals. Moreover, with so many people requiring glasses/lenses, and a growing incidence of macular degeneration in old people and diabetic complications affecting the eyes, this career is much in demand.
Work profile
Optometry is the science of making equipment like lenses and spectacles, which improve the vision of the human eye. Most optometrists assist ophthalmologists in examining a person’s vision, testing visual acuity and prescribing corrective lenses. An optometrist's skill is based on an intimate knowledge of the workings of the eye and visual system. A variety of complex techniques and instruments complement an understanding of the patient's needs. An optometric examination begins with a detailed case history, to determine what visual problems the patient may be experiencing, as well as other relevant information about their health and visual needs. The optometrist then performs a series of tests, some of which are carried out routinely and others when indicated by the patient's case history and the results of other tests. Based on a diagnosis of the patient's problem, appropriate treatment is suggested. Treatments can include prescribing spectacles, contact lenses or eye exercises, prescribing medications to treat infections or other eye diseases, or simply giving advice on lighting, visual habits or other issues. When an optometrist uncovers a visual complaint which requires medical or surgical treatment the patient is often referred to a general medical practitioner or an ophthalmologist.
Specialisations
Most optometrists supply the patient with the items which are prescribed to assist vision, most commonly spectacles and contact lenses. An optometrist also fabricates lenses to prescribed specifications and fits them and other low-vision aids to suit individual requirements. They also operate machines for the purpose of polishing edges, hardening and adjusting the sizes of lenses, and so on. Some optometrists develop special interests in a particular aspect of vision care. Specific areas include:
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contact lens practice Eligibility
Admission to a degree or diploma course in optometry requires a minimum eligibility of plus two or its equivalent with minimum 50 per cent marks in physics, chemistry, biology or maths. To practice as an optometrist it is essential to have a bachelor’s degree in optometry. The optometry courses are based on sciences, including biology, physics and chemistry. Therefore, a thorough background in these subjects is essential for students entering the course. The course also covers subjects such as anatomy, physiology of vision, pharmacology and histology, and the final years are devoted to clinical instruction in the management of vision problems. Most of the final year is spent working under supervision in contact with patients.
Career prospects
Most optometrists are self-employed or work for other optometrists in private practice, or with large optical chains, and in public clinics. Sometimes optometrists act as a consultant to firms or factories, or working at health care institutions such as hospitals, community health centres or special clinics. One can also practice as a leading retail Optometry clinician, or an executive at an ophthalmic industry. There is a also good scope for optometrists to work in an optical shop, and lens manufacturing unit, and ophthalmic equipment manufacturing companies. With a number of contact lens and ophthalmic lens manufacturing multinational companies coming to India, there are good career prospects for optometrists. There are several companies like Titan engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of watches, jewellery, sunglasses and precision engineering components, who are moving into retailing of prescription eyewear and require professionals with a background in optometry. Some optometrists do not enter private practice after completing their course but continue their studies through research and teaching, and have the opportunity to involve themselves in vision research, or be involved in any of the government or non-governmental agencies. Vision care is a field which demands the ability to communicate with people and to work with precision and professionalism. Another important personal attribute is a strong academic background, as the optometry courses are challenging, with places not easily gained. Once in practice, optometrists also need a willingness to continue learning, particularly as newer technologies and instrumentation come in. This is essential to keep in touch with new developments in the profession. Although optometry is not such a sought-after career in India, it is among the top 10 income-earning professions in the US. This is largely because work in this field does not require the odd hours that medical practice normally demands. It is also a field where there is high precision work entailed. Given the medical, and in particular the optical needs of people in India , it is estimated that we require at least 2 lakh optometrists, while there are currently only about 5,000. So, if your vision is clear, here is one more profession where you may never seriously be without a job.
The writer is a noted career expert.
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Progress Report
She's already a skilled networker, e-mailing friends, former co-workers and current colleagues to let them know of her job interests and handing out the business cards she received through her part-time job as a campus sales rep for Dell Inc. And she reviews her resume at least every other month: "It's a constant work in progress." Young's leave-no-stone-unturned effort will pay off, experts say. Divining your dream career requires introspection and honest self-assessment. Getting hired is all about doggedness and focus. It means throwing yourself out there over and over again and facing rejection. Again and again. Along the way, there are seven things you should do:
Post resume online
You should buy high-quality paper and fresh ink for your printer, because even these days, some employers want to hold your physical resume in their hands, and there's more on that below. Meanwhile, accept that there are virtues to going digital — those being that it's easy, fast and puts you in the nice position of being immediately accessible. The largest online job portals include n
www.monster. com Posting is generally free to job seekers — an advantage that's also a disadvantage. With 75 million resumes on Monster.com, yours can get lost in the shuffle.
Apply directly
Many companies post openings on their websites, but responding blind could land your application in a "black hole," says Gary Kaplan, founder of an executive search company. Do it the old-fashioned way too: "Get the name of someone and write to that person." Tell relatives, friends, friends of friends, trusted colleagues, your rabbi, your uncle's dentist, the deli clerk — almost anyone and practically everyone — that you are on a job hunt.
Tap hidden job market
For all the sweep of the Internet, the word-of-mouth route, also known as networking, is still invaluable. If you don't know about a position, you can't apply for it. And keep tapping even if you're not on the hunt. "One of the biggest mistakes people make is that they only network when they have to," Kaplan says. Dedicate a portion of each week to keeping relationships alive, he advises, by meeting for lunch or talking by phone. "Sometimes those that land a job fastest are not the best qualified but the best networked." Networking landed Diana her first job in consulting three years ago. She started with a computer search to build a list of companies where she might want to work and wrote directly to people at each specifying the type of job she hoped to find. The employers she met then didn't have openings, but she made such a strong impression that one found a place for her in the company within a couple of months. The 20-something woman doesn't want to use her full name because she's hunting for a new job and plans to mine the hidden job market this time too. "I figure it's better than putting your name into a big pile of online resumes with people just clicking buttons," she says. "It's not personal at all."
Contact a recruiter
Employers hire executive search companies to help them find high-level managers. These companies find prospects by combing through their resume databases, soliciting resumes and calling hot shots they hear about from former clients. And many headhunters will be happy to hear from you. It's "smart networking sense" to take calls from recruiters even if you're not looking for a job. Kaplan advises. Bobby, a 32-year-old sales representative, says he always makes time when a recruiter calls. "You don't know what's going to be behind door No. 1," says Bobby, who is looking for a new job after nearly 10 years with the same company, and like Diana, doesn't want his full name published.
Polish your resume
Putting your best self on paper or into pixels is a "craft that has to be mastered," says Richard Bolles, author of the job hunter's bible "What Color is Your Parachute." First-timers and veterans can find plenty of resume tips on the major job search sites and at the library. Spend time on the company's website, check out their annual report, company news and the biographies of the people interviewing you. Be prepared to explain why you want the job and why you're the one they should hire. Be able to explain every item on your resume. Dress professionally; leave the bling-bling at home, take out the nose stud, and make sure your suit — yes, suit — is clean and pressed. Shake hands, make eye contact and send a thank-you note.
Patience pays
This may be the toughest assignment of all. Despite all her efforts, Victoria Young admits to being discouraged at times, especially when she hears of friends who've already gotten job offers. "But I have to take myself out of that anxiety," she says. "I have to remind myself that I have to stay positive." — LA Times-Washington Post
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Career Hotline
Q. Are there are any institutions where one can pursue a formal qualification in technical writing?
— Jaspreet Bundela A. Few universities in India offer education in technical writing, and online courses can be very expensive. On the Internet, you can access mailing lists like TECHWR-L, TechComm, and TWIN that are akin to daily online seminars for Indian writers. There are very few journals or books available for technical writers to hone their skills. It is not mandatory to have a technical background to enter this profession. Though there is better scope for science graduates, many professionals from the field of journalism, English and even advertising move into in technical writing. Most entrants tend to pick up the skills through on-the- job. However, knowledge of DTP tools (Page Maker etc), development tools (RoboHelp) and web tools (HTML and XML coding is a definite advantage for working in an online environment. Short-term courses in technical writing are also offered by the University of Pune, Department of Journalism, University of Cochin and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. The Society for Technical
Communication, India Chapter, organises training and networking activities in this field. They also have a regular newsletter “Indus” which carries articles on technical communication, particularly in the Indian context (www.stc-india.
org). Technical Writers in India have joined hands to form TWIN (Technical Writers of India), an association that provides a platform to share their experiences and exchange information
(www.twin-india. com). The Writers Block, Bangalore (www.twb. in ), Courses: Fundamental Certification Pogramme, Associate Certification Program and Online Course in Technical Writing (Distance). Also check out the following: Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore, Technowrites Pvt Ltd, Pune, S A international, Ltd, Chennai, TASC Consulting Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, Technical Writers of India, Mumbai, TechnoPoint, Bangalore.
Shore chance
Q. I am planning to join a pre-sea cadet course. Is merchant navy a good option even today? — Randhir Bisht
A.
Currently, there is a worldwide shortage of officers in the merchant navy. Similarly, an increasing shortage of qualified officers to man sea-going vessels continues to confront the Indian shipping industry, even as the shipping fleet is expanding with ship owners lining up significant investments to buy marine assets. The worldwide demand for seafarers is Industry estimated at 4.76 lakh officers as against an availability of 4.66 lakh. This shortfall of 10,000 may treble to 27,000 by 2015, as new orders for ships have increased and scraping has dropped. Despite being a major ship supplying nation, India is unable to provide adequate number of seafarers to man (and woman) the Indian flag vessels with many officers preferring to sail on board foreign flag vessels owing to discrepancy in taxation policies. Out of the total of 26,900 Indian officers, only 8,900 are employed in Indian flag vessels while 18,000 are serving in foreign flag vessels. Indian officers are rated right at the top particularly in segments such as speciality vessels and tankers that require quality seamen, where they even command a premium over their counterparts from Philippines, Russia and China. Many ship manning and management companies are looking at India as a major supplier of quality crew. Several of them have made commitments in the country’s premier training institutes. The scope for further recruitment in India will go up as the export tonnage increases. And this is expected to continue well into 2010.
Subject matter
Q. I am in Class X. I plan to take science in Class XI. I like maths very much and science also because I want to become a doctor. Does science in upper classes get too tough? Can I opt for PCM+B in Class XI? — Neha Garg
A.
Yes, science does get considerably tougher in Classes XI and XII. But so what… so many students opt for it. Besides, life is tough! And tough people get going when things get tough, right? So, take it as a challenge. Remember, nothing ventured, nothing won! Sure, opting for PCBM is a good idea, provided you can manage it. Many of the research fields in biological sciences require math at the higher levels. And, so do fields like biomedical engineering and bioinformatics.
Q. Can I appear in science subjects if I take the Class XII exams privately? I was studying in a CBSE school till Class XI. — Tarun Govil A.
Private candidates are not allowed to offer subjects which involve practical work for the exam except in the case of students who failed earlier and had pursued a regular course of study at a school affiliated to the CBSE Board in the previous academic year. Nonetheless, female students can offer Home Science with practicals.
Passion vs prudence
Q. When choosing a career, should one go by interests alone? A.
It certainly makes a lot of sense to factor in your interests because they can help you zero-in on a rewarding career. There’s no doubting the fact that if you choose a job you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life! But you must also consider other factors when exploring educational and career options. Think about how your interests, abilities, experiences, personality, and values will influence your satisfaction and success. These factors are also important in career exploration -- just as important as your interests. For example, certain fields like medicine or research require a lot more study and work than others. If you find that hard work and prolonged study don’t appeal to you, it would help to take this into account when making a career choice.
All about anthropology
Q. I am a science student. I am thinking of taking anthropology at the B.Sc level. What are the career prospects? A.
If people, their behavior, customs and rituals fascinate you, anthropology may well be your cup of tea. Mainly divided into two branches: cultural and physical (with further sub-branches under each), anthropology is a social science like history and sociology that studies human beings — particularly focusing on their physical characteristics, evolution, racial classification, historic and present-day geographic distribution, current social formations, group dynamics and cultural history. Several universities offer anthropology, both at the BA as well as B.Sc-level. Students of anthropology go on to pursue postgraduate courses in anthropology or sociology, which is related to field. With a Master’s in this subject, you can look at opportunities in teaching, anthropological research, museology and developmental work. While some become anthropologists, some pursue forensic science, or even go for market research. Several consumer product companies like Nokia, Motorola, Intel, Microsoft employ trained user anthropologists or human behaviour researchers to study potential customers and their requirements so that this knowledge can be translated into better designed products and services. The info is very valuable to the technologists, designers and marketing people in the organisation. The civil services is yet another popular option. Besides the Anthropological Survey of India, museums, archives, NGOs, universities, hospitals and organisations such as the Indian Council for Medical Research, WHO, Department of Child and Family Welfare employ anthropologists as social scientists. At the bachelor’s level, in Delhi University, there are 10 papers in all, two in the first year, Physical Anthropology and Social Anthropology. There are three papers in the second year: Social Institutions, Prehistoric Anthropology and Fundamentals of Human Origin and Evolution. Third year papers include Human Genetics, Human Ecology, Tribes and Peasantries, etc.
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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All work, some play
Samuel Smiles, the apostle of self-help, says, “Tell me how a young man spends his spare time and I will tell you his future.”
These days, when the youth is demanding freedom for self-expression and self-realisation, it is important to know whether the ‘self’ needs a push or not. One way to peep into a youngster’s outlook is to watch him during his leisure time, for it is then that he is off guard and expresses his real self. What he does during his leisure, influences and moulds him. Play, or recreation, being controlled by the individual, is fraught with good or evil. If a youngster’s tastes are vulgar, his ways immoral, his approach mercenary, and his activities anti-social, he is not likely to be a success. Conversely, if he has ideals, hobbies and a good aim, he will be an asset to himself as well as to society. It is, therefore, important that the youth make the right use of leisure. The first requirement of leisure is relaxation, mental as well as physical. Nearly all the amusements that cater to public tastes are ‘passive’, the individual having no part in them beyond paying for his entertainment and being a mere spectator. His “free” time is no longer free, as it is controlled by outside forces. But in the tennis and badminton court, swimming he is participating and is not an onlooker. Writing your resume, for example, is more engrossing than watching your friend doing his. Outdoor activities are important, too, from the physical point of view, as they counteract the effects of work in close and stuffy classrooms, factories, and offices. These stimulate the mind too. William James says that the average human uses only about 10 per cent of his vast potential mental or physical power at any time. This only proves that the creative energy in man is not all absorbed by his workday life, and is waiting to be trapped if it is to yield stupendous results. This energy must be channelised through discipline to be profitable, unhealthy fun has led many to squander the best years. Pleasure extracts a price! A waste of the best years, in indolent and undisciplined ways, has ruined many careers. The most important time of youth is spent either in a school or college. It is important that these institutions should concern themselves not only in preparing their students for a livelihood by cramming their minds with bookish knowledge, but also satisfy the cravings of their souls. This can be done by stimulating in them the ability to utilise the restless emotions of adolescence for an active, useful and radiantly interesting life. You must possess an ideal, and then make an earnest endeavour to accomplish and achieve it. It is striving; struggle and challenge that make you grow in life or career. He, who grapples with you, strengthens your muscles! Discipline not only conquers slothful habits but also makes you generate a high voltage of power. Demanding quotas and concessions leads only to stagnation and decay of creative faculties. How many quota candidates have made outstanding contributions to academic or professional spheres? The youngster who drills himself in little acts of self-control finds that he is strong when adversity rages. If you are groping in the career world, with your leisure occupations, know yourself better — your abilities and interests. Do every job thoroughly; nothing is more unsatisfying than leaving a job half done. It is not what you do, but how you do it that matters! If you have an interest in something your interest will help you enormously in acquiring skill in that activity. But if you the ability without the interest, you will yawn away from it. Choose streams that merge with your career target. Take up difficult assignments and do not be content with anything less than a perfect accomplishment. If you are aiming at a career in journalism, there is no point in simultaneously squandering money and time in attending classes for the IAS. Instead, attend classes for advertising, public relations and anything professional skill. Leisure is the gold dust of time! If you waste it, you lose a precious asset. No one can carve rotten wood!
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Crew cut
The slowdown in aviation can affect the fortunes of training institutes with banks now reluctant to give study
loans for these courses, writes S.C. Dhall
For the past two years, aviation training institutes were flourishing and making arrangements with banks and financial institutions for study loans to their students. According to rough estimates, over 50,000 students have been trained for jobs in the aviation sector during the last two years from one-and-a-half dozen branded and private aviation training institutes across the country. Their fees ranges anywhere between Rs 1 lakh to 1.50 lakh per student. After getting the certificates, students usually gets a job for Rs. 12000 to 16000 per month. But with the recent changes in this sector, those students who have raised a loan from banks for pursuing the airhostess and cabin crew courses will be hard hit. They will be unable to repay their loan installments on time because the job opportunities will decline in the near future, not only in India but across the world. Keeping this in view banks have started directing their branches to go slow, specially for these loans, though the instructions are verbal only. Aviation courses are classified as career training and not professional education for the purpose of a loan and thus banks charge a higher rate of interest from the student borrowers. The situation in the aviation sector has become uncertain and hence, banks have to be cautious in granting financial assistance for such courses, says one of the senior executives from a bank with its head office at Patiala. The quantum of loans for pilot and other technical courses is on the higher side and their loan ranges from Rs. 4 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh. One of the deputy general managers of a public sector bank at Chandigarh says this is so as most of the students who take loans are financially well off and have the financial capability to pay to back the dues.
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Past tense
The secret to getting your career back on track after working for a notorious employer is to explain your tenure at the sullied organisation honestly and diplomatically. Under no circumstances should you just drop the sketchy employer from your resume.
Sales consultant Sidney Sclar knows all about such bad luck. Three of his former employers have gone out of business, including one that was shut down last year. It's a pattern that jumps out at anyone looking at his resume and one that has caused him difficulty, he says, even though he had no part in any wrongdoing. "I never lost any money for anyone," Sclar says. Yet the challenge is also one that plenty of other job hunters have faced and overcome. The secret to getting your career back on track after working for a notorious employer, career advisers say, is to explain your tenure at the sullied organisation honestly and diplomatically. Under no circumstances should you just drop the sketchy employer from your resume. Besides being dishonest, pretending you didn't work somewhere creates a gaping hole in your employment history, says Bruce Weinstein, who writes a column for And that will just make you Instead, you want to share more information on your resume, says Susan Strayer, a human resources executive and author of "The Right Job, Right Now." "Be specific about where you worked" if that helps, says Strayer, whose own career included a stint at a company which folded up after it was tangled up in a scandal. "For example, the incident happened in the accounting arm of the business. My resume makes it clear I worked in the consulting side of the business." And don't let your embarrassment about the company's fate cause you to play down your achievements there. "Include strong, detailed, result-oriented bullets for your job there," Strayer says. "Don't minimise the work you did or the results you achieved just because the company no longer exists. You still want to demonstrate how what you did there could help the company you're applying to." Once you land an interview, be prepared to keep explaining things, for the rest of your career. "Your experience may be a talking point in an interview no matter when you worked there," Strayer says. "It has been many years since I worked at that company, but interviewers love to talk about it because it's both interesting and controversial." Take care not to come across as too negative, even as you distance yourself from any illegal or unethical behaviour. "Be extremely professional if asked about how you feel about it or your take on what happened," Strayer says. "Focus on your workplace values and how important it is to report impropriety and remain ethical at all times. Avoid a discussion about placing blame or berating the professionals who played a role. Certainly you can indicate you were disappointed in the actions some of your colleagues chose to take, but focus more on what we can learn from companies and professionals in these situations." In conversations, just as on your resume, "focus on what you did, the results that were achieved, and how that experience has prepared you well for the position for which you are interviewing," Strayer says. Finally, as you're defending your reputation, don't forget to scrutinise that of your potential employer, lest you wind up in Sclar's situation, with a string of problems. "You have to be really diligent," said Trudy McCrea, chief executive of Achieve-It, a recruiting, consulting and executive coaching firm. Investigate the firm's financial stability, as well as the background of people in leadership positions. "I've done Dun & Bradstreet searches on employers," she says, referring to the credit agency for businesses. Before you accept an offer, ask to talk to customers, as well as to people who have worked at the company before, she said. Through
social-networking sites such as LinkedIn, making such contacts can be relatively easy. Ask about employee turnover, McCrea says. "Some employers just burn through people," and it's not always because of the money. — LA Times-Washington Post
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Bits & bytes
The Indian Institute of Material Management (IIMM) has said it is negotiating with IT body, Nasscom to train IT professionals in material management.
"We are holding talks with Nasscom to offer domain knowledge in supply chain management to help professionals engaged in developing material management solutions," IIMM president B V Iyer said in Kolkata recently. Iyer said it would not be a detailed course and modules would be offered to help IT companies to give inhouse training. The IIMM was also trying to offer solutions to companies in reducing farm losses with better supply chain management solutions, Iyer said. "We are only institute in the country working towards material handling and supply chain management," Iyer said. He said there was huge demand for material management and supply chain management professionals. Currently, IIM produced around 1,000 professionals in different courses. "Besides, graduate programs, we have launched diploma for supply chain for retail stores and will soon introduce diploma for hospital supply chain management and infrastructure projects to keep abreast with the industry demands," Iyer said. Speaking about the Institute, Iyer said that presentation has been made to the government to get chartership acknowledgment which would place them on par with the Chartered Institute and Institute of Secretaries and Institute of Costs and Works.
— PTI
Digital learning meet on July 29
The Delhi-based Centre for Science Development and Media Studies (CSDMS), in association with the Ministry of Human Resources Development, is organising an international conference on digital learning in New Delhi on July 29-31. The Digital Learning 2008 meet is being organised to position the role and relevance of collaborative and interactive digital learning with multiple Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools, CSDMS said in a press release. "The conference will address the equity and access issues in learning and debate the paradigm shift that has taken place in the education scenario due to technological advances and value addition of services," convener of Digital Learning 2008 Ravi Gupta said. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and the Delhi University are assisting in organising the event. Among major digital education and technology service providers who would take part in the conference include Microsoft, Educomp, Intel, Ca, 24X7Learning, Everonn, Edutech, Globus Hitachi, Adobe, Smart Technology, Promothron and Merittrac, the release added.
— PTI
New centres of Magical Methods opens
Magical Methods, a pioneer institute of Vedic Mathematics in India, has opened two new centres in West Delhi at Rajouri Grden and Kirti Ngar. The two centers will offer vedic mathematic program for the students of Classes VII to X and to Classes III to VI, respectively. This course will help in solving mathematical problems of advance level and basic level, according to a Press release. Pradeep Kumar, founder director, Magical Methods, said on this occasion, "The students who are weak in mathematics or the ones who are not up to the mark will see a tremendous change in their performance."
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Want to know the secret to landing your dream job? Hard work. Victoria Young has figured this out, and she's still in college. The 20-year-old university student, who’d set her sights set on a marketing position in an entertainment company, has interned with Sony Corp. and is now interning with Disney Worldwide Outreach, a division of Walt Disney Co.
The slowdown in the aviation industry will certainly hamper the job opportunities in the aviation sector and this scenario may also have long-term affect on the fortunes of aviation training institutes. 
When a company's reputation nosedives, it can also bring down the standing of anyone who worked there, unfairly or not.