The Counsellor- 32

Defence dreams   

I am an IT professional and want to join the defence forces. Is it too late for me?

Sumit Gupta

 

Sure, IT professionals can join the Territorial Army (TA). If selected, you will undergo two months of training in a year so that in case of an emergency, you can serve the country with your expertise in the IT sector. Presently, there are 66 units in the TA of which 42 are departmental units. In all, more than 48,000 jawans are engaged in the TA. There are quite a few IT professionals who work as commissioned officers.They train their TA unit for eight hours every weekend while continuing with their regular jobs. 

   In times of war or similar situations, TA officers and personnel are called in for active duty and become regular army officers drawing the same perks and emoluments as others. All you need to do is train for 46 days in a year on weekends and enjoy all the privileges of being an officer.The mayor of Delhi has recently called upon citizens to join the TA to serve the nation. She announced that every Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officer and employee who joins the TA will be given two months' leave with full pay to undergo training. 

   Anyone between the age group of 18 and 42, who clears the Services Selection Board test and the medical exam can join the TA. 

Marine dreams 

I am pursuing MSc in oceanography. What are my job prospects? Could you tell me about the organisations and industries that provided lucrative jobs for my degree? 

   

Ketan Mehta

Most openings for oceanographers are in organisations handling environmental conservation and protection. Industries involved in the packaging, marketing or export of marine products also provide employment to oceanographers. Besides oil exploration, petroleum and petrochemicals industries such as Essar Oil, Reliance Industries, ONGC, and government bodies like the GSI and National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, are involved in ongoing frontline research. 

   Oceanographers spend months of their time in data processing, computer programming, analysis, writing, budgeting, planning, and conferring. Also since most of the time is spent outdoors (although not necessarily at sea), the job demands physical fitness and adaptability to variations in the work environment. 

   Laboratory work demands precision, computer proficiency and an ability to consolidate data. Communication skills and the ability to work as a part of a team are also essential. 

   Depending upon the subject you major in (like physical oceanography, chemical oceanography, marine biology, marine geology), you can be working in the respective research departments of institutes like NIO or their research stations. 

   Besides the satisfaction of working in a growing profession, people who love the sea get to experience the exhilaration of actively doing something about conserving and protecting ocean life and its environment. The world's coastal ecosystems are currently in a critical condition and there is no accurate record of their history. Just as doctors have a better chance of saving the patient's life if they know his medical history, scientists would be better equipped to help reverse the dwindling marine population and restore the balance of marine ecosystems if they know the history of these environments. 

   Most research jobs are usually filled by those who have doctorates in the subject. 

   As a fresh postgraduate, be prepared to carry out routine jobs in the beginning. If you are deterred by vast amounts of paper work and mathematics, then oceanography might not be your cup of tea (or saline water). Also be prepared, this line of work requires constant travel.

 

 

 

Sunil Sharma

    Moderator

Dil Se Desi Group