Career Counseling
PRINTING TECHNOLOGY
I want to pursue a career in printing technology. What are the future prospects, scope and market in this area? Will I be able to travel abroad if I pursue printing technology? Will it be a good choice even though there is a traditional bias for core engineering streams?
Salil Chauhan
Printing technology has undergone a sea change in recent years with the introduction of computerised high-precision machinery and digital printing. The wonderful thing is that much of the latest global technology is now easily available in India thanks to the welcome reduction in import duty. Modern printing presses now offer state-of-the-art high-speed delivery and international quality material. They are now recruiting bright students who have knowledge of technology, software and design concepts to man their operations. Combining art and technology, courses in printing technology combine many branches of engineering covering electrical, electronics, mechanical, computers and management into one. Printing is a growing industry thanks to the expanding education, library and advertising sectors. India is perhaps the only country with over 50,000 registered publications (and counting). All this translates into job opportunities for fresh and seasoned printing technologists. Since the volume of printed information doubles every five years, one doesn’t need a crystal ball to see that printing does indeed have a good future. Engineers having a degree start their career as graduate engineer trainees and move to assistant manager, deputy manager, manager and finally general manager. Like all industries, growth opportunities are based on, one’s skills and performance. The more skillful you are as a technician or manager, the more responsibility will you assume through practice and further training.
CERAMIC DELIGHT
Does a career in ceramic engineering have a good future? I cleared the ISC exams this year and also the WBJEE. I have an interest in IT although some of my teachers are advising against it.
Nirudh Roy
With new developments in technology, ceramics engineers and scientists have acquired a better understanding of the uses of clay and other earthen substances. A whole lot of industries now depend on ceramics materials — bricks, cement, tile, sanitary ware, pipe and glass industries in the construction sector, the glassware, pottery, spark plugs industries in the consumer goods sector; refractory materials, electrical insulators, cutting tools, and bearings manufactured in industries dealing with industrial products such as diodes, capacitors, magnetic materials and computer memory packages in the electronics sector and high temperature tile insulation and composite materials in space technology, ceramics spark plugs used in aerospace industry and nuclear fuel rods for the nuclear industry.
Ceramic engineers work with highly advanced materials which are produced by complex chemical processes while ceramics artists and craftsmen use clay and sand for basic ceramics materials. Ceramic engineering deals with the study of the properties, manufacture, design and applications of ceramics elements in a wide range of consumer and industrial products ranging from table and sanitary ware to diodes and semi-conductors, irrigation pipes and construction material to components for nuclear and computer hardware, besides dentistry and a host of other applications. Ceramic engineers are involved in any of the following areas of work — research: to anticipate new applications for replacing existing products; design: the key challenge lies in reducing costs while making the product safe, attractive and convenient to use. Ceramic designers work in industries manufacturing tableware, light fittings, pottery, sanitary ware, decorative porcelain and industrial material; production: Since ceramics have such diverse uses, ceramics technologists generally specialise in the technological developments of specific production processes e.g. glass in manufacturing tableware, fibre optics, bulbs, windowpanes and electronics ancillaries. Specialists in structural clay are involved in manufacting enamelled articles and pipes, engine parts, tools, artificial limbs or cement used in construction or ceramic ware such as tiles, pottery and bathroom and kitchen fixtures. Manufacturing integrated circuits, sensors for the electronics sector is another highly demanding specialisation; sales: ceramics engineers also work in sales to understand customer needs to guide further research. Since ceramics technology caters to industrial customers, you will interact with engineers from other industries. As for IT jobs, these are open to engineers across disciplines regardless of their area of specialisation. IT companies pick up graduate engineers and train them on software development etc as per their requirement.
HOW TO HANDLE DEPRESSION AFTER FAILURE IN EXAM
I have not been able to clear the CBSE class XII exams because I did not prepare well enough. I am feeling depressed and embarrassed at letting my parents down. How do I face the world?
Pulak De
A single exam doesn’t (and can’t) determine your academic destiny. Exam phobia and the overarching emphasis on rote learning takes its toll year after year. I’m convinced that Board results are not always a true reflection of a student’s abilities. At times, marks can be very unpredictable. While good marks are important and do give you an edge when it comes to college admission, they’re no guarantee for success in life. Even a difference of .1% affects the fate of 50-60 students.
The slide affects 500 students. Hence, subject riders are at times reduced by 2-3% if the overall results in the subject are poor. Then, sometimes our academic expectations exceed our capability. This leads to a sense of dejection and failure when we don’t fare well. The thought that we’ve let our parents and teachers down further dents our self-esteem. But don’t let that trouble you unduly. Assure them you’ll make a concerted effort to improve your scores and performance. Similarly, a bad result is not the end of the road. Instead of letting it discourage you, it should make you all the more determined to succeed. Accept it gracefully, learn from the mistakes and move on. Above all, believe in yourself. History is replete with instances of those who refused to get cowed down by temporary failure including Einstein (who failed several hundred times) before they finally succeeded. Remember what Edmund Hillary said after climbing Mt Everest: “It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” And, I’m sure you are aware that anyone who has failed in the CBSE All India Senior School Certificate Exam can reappear for a subsequent exam as a private
candidate. The syllabus and textbooks are those prescribed for the year in which you reappear. Ignou offers a six-month Bachelor’s Preparatory Programme for those who have not completed their +2 but are 18 and above so that they can pursue a Bachelor’s degree. Better still, you won’t even waste a year if you enrol with the National Open School, in which case you can transfer your credits for up to two subjects which you have cleared and appear for the rest in November this year. So learn from the situation and move ahead.
Study CA while studying Economics
Could you tell me if while studying economics, I can study CA as well?
Payal
As far as eligibility for CA goes, the ICAI only stipulates class XII subjects and your ability to clear the Common Proficiency Test (CPT) after which, whether you pursue economics or BCom in college makes little difference. While a degree in commerce such as BCom is considered more compatible because of the commonality of several subjects in both fields, economics is not exactly ‘incompatible.’ In fact, the CA programme also incorporates an understanding of this social science. After all, in an increasingly globalised world order with newer business risks stemming from inflation, currency fluctuations, inflation, interest rates, regulatory risks, foreign markets and the WTO, an understanding of the current economic situation is necessary for planning strategy and operations based on forecasts arrived at by researching market factors such as price, demand and sales, labour and productivity, raw materials, equipment, etc. Your choice between economics and commerce would then be made taking into account other factors — comfort with the subject and topics covered in the three-year course, future prospects, choice of college, etc. Do also keep in mind the study and articleship requirements of the CA programme alongside those of your regular undergraduate course.
Sunil Sharma
Moderator:
All of this translates into job opportunities for technical printing fresh and seasoned. Since the volume of printed information doubles every five years, one does not need a crystal ball to see that printing has a good future indeed.
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