E & C Counselling..Printing Technology, Ceramic Engineering, HOW TO HANDLE DEPRESSION AFTER FAILURE IN EXAM, Study CA while studying Economics

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:

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The Counsellor - 33

Agricultural economist 

Can you tell me something about the work of an agricultural economist? What are the career prospects in this field? 

Satish Kaushal

 

   Achieving food security has been the overriding goal of our agricultural policy. To achieve this goal, we need not only agricultural scientists but also agricultural economists who can apply the principles of economics to ensure greater productivity in agriculture. The growth in this sector being a result of greater liberalisation and investment,the demand for agricultural economists is on the rise. 

   Besides land appraisal, crop grading, marketing and sales, an agricultural economist is involved with farm management, co-operative management, farm utilities, custom services, wholesale and retail marketing of agricultural products, priority setting for research, how much to invest, assessment of returns on investment ie all those activities that ensure that agricultural productivity grows at a planned rate of growth. 

   Job prospects in this field are promising. There are openings in cooperatives, banking and insurance sector, private firms in the agricultural sector, foreign embassies, NGOs and other donor agencies,ministry of agriculture, Indian Economic Service as also in the field of research and teaching. 

Although you can specialise in agricultural economics while doing your MA economics, separate MSc courses in agricultural economics are also offered at the following universities: 

Alahabad Agricultural Institute, Uttar Pradesh, www.aaidu.org 

Course: MSc agricultural economics (farm management/agricultural marketing) Aligarh Muslim University, Uttar Pradesh, www.amu.nic.in  

Course: Master of agricultural economics and business management Eligibility: BA (economics)/BCom with 55% Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 

www.tnau.ac.in  

Course: MSc in agriculture (economics) University of Agricultural Science, Bangalore, Karnataka,   www.uasbng.kar.nic.in  

Course: MSc (agricultural marketing/economics/Extn) Eligibility: BSc (agriculture/horticulture/agriculture marketing and Co-op), sericulture/forestry), CGPA 2.25 out of 4

Nuclear medicine 

I am a medical graduate and wish to pursue a career in the field of nuclear medicine. Can you provide me with details on courses in this field? 

   M. S. Sehrawat

 

As yet, there are not many courses available in either nuclear or aviation medicine. The Radiation Medicine Centre of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai offers two programmes to equip professionals for working in Nuclear Medicine Centres, the first programme may suit you best. 

   Both courses are offered under the aegis of the Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai (a deemed university). These full-time programmes include lectures, demonstrations, practicals, theory exams, apprentice programmes and clinics. Selection is based on an all India Common Entrance Test (CET) and interview. 

   Diploma in radiation medicine (two-year) 

Eligibility: MBBS with internship from a recognised university. Postgraduate medical qualificationholders and sponsored candidates can also apply. Common entrance test including 100 multiple-choice questions of the III MBBS level (Fields: anatomy, physiol, biochem, pathol, internal medicine, cardiology, pediatrics, oncology, infectious diseases, neurology, nephrology, endocrinology and recent advances in medicine.) 

Non-Sponsored candidates will receive a stipend of Rs 7,000 permonth in the first year and Rs 7,250 per-month in the second year. 

   Diploma in medical radioisotope techniques (one-year) Eligibility: BSc (60% aggregate) in chemistry, physics, life sciences, biophysics, BSc in nuclear medicine technology or BSc (medical radiological technology). MSc degreeholders can also apply. Sponsored candidates with 55% aggregate in BSc can also apply. The common entrance test covers 100 multiple choice questions on science subjects of class XII. Only 50 candidates in order of merit will be called for an Interview. Non-sponsored candidates will receive a stipend of Rs 4,000 per month. The fee is Rs 4,000 and limited hostel accommodation is available. The age limit is 40 years as on May 1, 2008, relaxed by three years for OBCs and by five years for SC/ST and sponsored candidates. The syllabus for both programmes can be downloaded from the HBNI website

www.hbni.ac.in  

There are 10 seats in each programme. The application deadline is March 15, 2008. HBNI also offers a diploma in radiological physics. Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raibareli Road, Lucknow 226014, www.sgpgi.ac.in , also offers MSc in nuclear medicine of twoyears’ duration with eligibility of an MBBS.

Job hunt 

After completing my MA (Hindi), I have been applying for jobs advertised in newspapers for the last four months but haven't received any response as yet. What should I do? 

   Janaki Verma

   As you have not mentioned your area of specialisation or the field in which you are looking for employment, let me give you some general pointers. Instead of applying to any and every advertisement, I suggest you identify the field and even more importantly the companies you are targeting in that field. Often purely academic or general courses of study need to be complemented with additional professional training. 

   Most large organisations have details of vacancies on their website. You can also find job vacancies on: recruitment and employment agencies websites or newspapers' websites like 

www.timesjobs.com  

   You may also be able to download the application form and apply online. Most jobsites allow you to search for the types of vacancies you are interested in.You can specify the type of job, the level, the salary and the location too. Some sites even notify you when suitable vacancies are posted on their site. 

   Today, online recruitment eclipses all other recruitment channels in the country including direct approaches, newspaper advertising and 'word of mouth' as the preferred way to find jobs. Statistics show that 78% respondents were satisfied with the outcome of the online recruitment process, compared with 54% who were satisfied with the traditional channels. 

   A recent study sought the view of more than 1.15 lakh people in 33 countries, including 3,000 in India. 40% of Indians said that they found their most recent jobs on-line, 22% found a job through being directly approached by an employer, 13% via 'word of mouth', 9% from newspaper advertisements, 8% by directly approaching an employer, and 8% through other methods. 

   Besides, popular jobsites like www.naukri.com  or www.monster.com , there are also some industry-specific jobsites like IT etc. Some of them even offer to spruce up your resume (for a fee of course).

 

Sunil Sharma

    Moderator

Dil Se Desi Group

 

COUNTING ECONOMISTS

FOR A COUNTRY WHOSE PRIME MINISTER WAS ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED ECONOMISTS IN THE WORLD, KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE PROFESSION AND THE NUMBER OF YOUNG INDIANS WHO ASPIRE TO BECOME ECONOMISTS IS LIMITED TO A SELECT FEW.

  The significance of economists can be traced back to Ancient Greece , with the analysis of human production by Aristotle in his works ‘Topics’ and ‘Politics’. Over 2,000 years later, economics can be described most simply as, a study of the decisions made by human beings and how these decisions affect the world we live in. More specifically, going back to economists, these are the experts who study the science of economics. Their focus includes the study of financial markets, micro and macroeconomic analysis and mathematical economics, for which they use analytical methods and tools such as econometrics, statistics and computational models to study the same. 
  Economists work in various fields such as the government, academia, and to a lesser extent, in the private sector, where most often, they are employed to study data and statistics to identify trends in consumer attitudes and economic confidence levels. 
  For most economic majors, the focus of an economist’s work, in part, if not all, forms an integral part of their academic curriculum. And despite the fact that economic graduates are equipped with the preliminary skills to study the science of economics, how many economic graduates become economists? 
  Investment bankers, consultants, policy analysts: the career opportunities one can pursue after completing an economics degree are countless, and perhaps, it is these very opportunities that have over shadowed the pursuit to become an economist. 
  “I think it’s true that few economic majors become economists. Firstly, one needs to be careful about the definition of an economist. Being an economist means strong math skills, five intensive years of graduate school and a special emphasis on solving small and large- scale problems, academic-style questions, conducting academicstyle research and trying to improve the theories and methods existing in the field so far,” explains Gabriela Dobrescu, a PhD student of Economics at University of California, Berkeley. 
  Adds Nupur Parikh, graduate student, Harvard University, “In my opinion, you can’t really call yourself an economist until you have completed an advanced degree in economics, specifically a PhD. As an economics major I worked in a field that indirectly required the skills and the training of an economics major. Both the partner and senior manager in my practice were PhD economists, whereas the majority of my colleagues had an undergraduate training in economics. Few people become economists because like I said, it takes a PhD to become one and getting a doctorate is an immense amount of work, requires a significant time commitment, and takes a high aptitude for mathematics.” 
  As a student who in fact aspired to become an economist while she was an undergraduate student, Gabriela provides a keen insight to why, despite the fact that she is in the midst of completing an Economics PhD, she no longer harbours the same professional interests. “As an undergraduate student, I always wanted to be an economist, or rather, what I then thought was an economist, ie, 
  someone who uses economic theories and methods to improve government policies and social outcomes and writes policy reports. Now, that I’ve been through three years of graduate school, I don’t want to be an economist anymore, primarily because, economists believe in their fancy models a bit too strongly and without realising that the social picture is much more complex and their models can only go that far. Plus, I personally also want to be more active, rather than sitting at a desk and evaluating or criticising,” she elaborates. 
  Perhaps an even more significant reason for the lack of economic students becoming economists is the relatively lower promise of financial returns. “Yes, becoming an economist was definitely an option for me as an undergraduate economics student, but I chose against it because it is not as lucrative and interesting a field as finance,” says Kanishk Bhatia, adding, “I think, apart from money, the other reason such few economic students become economists is because the academic/theoretical nature of studying economics exposes you to subjects like banking, accounting and finance which students tend to find more interesting and are undoubtedly, more lucrative fields.” 
  “Plenty of students get undergraduate degrees in economics, after which they can pursue numerous opportunities. The skills and training are transferable and desirable in a lot of industries, such as banking, consulting, business journalism etc, and there is the opportunity to pursue advanced degrees that build on the economics background but do not culminate in a PhD (for example, my Master’s in Public Administration in International Development, which requires intermediate level economics and math courses),” explicates Nupur. 
  In conclusion, while a majority of people remain unaware of what the job of an economist even entails, the above discussion could serve as an introduction to both, the field at large and what lies ahead, if using extensive economic tools to study and solve the problems that stand in the way of global development and growth, matches your professional aspirations. 



Sunil Sharma
Dil Se Desi Group