Mindframe of HSC students.

December 26th, 2009

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Mindframe of H.S.C. students. In the Indian education system, S.S.C. & H.S.C are considered very crucial years in a student’s life, and rightly so, since these are junctures where an important decision has to be taken. Also, the competition has become increasingly intense and various options have opened up with a number of courses being introduced. This has led to frequently asked questions like “which profession is in demand?” or “which is the ‘happening’ career?”. The youth of today are very much interested in knowing the ‘hot careers’ of the decade, like management is the most sought after career, at present. Therefore, most want to go for the same. Though it is good to keep oneself updated about the changing market trends in occupations, one also has to realize that opting for a ‘sought- after’ career may not assure you a luxurious lifestyle, unless it matches with one’s ability, personality & interest. However, the numerous avenues has led to increased confusion the student faces today. Also, ironically, the alternatives available are more and the seats available for different courses in various colleges are limited. This has created a lot of insecurity in the minds of the students. They have to face parental & peer pressure & at the same time live upto other’s & their own expectations. And, yet, ironically they don’t know what they expect from themselves. One would find a typical H.S.C. science student filling up forms & applying for engineering, medicine, B.M.S., B.C.S., & architecture, all at the same time! The logic being, “I shouldn’t miss out on anything”, “I’ll get through atleast somewhere”. Its like buying tickets to various destinations and boarding a train that comes first. However, students fail to give a thought to –“is this the destination I want to reach?’’. They fail to realize that by applying for so many different courses & therefore appearing for various examinations, they are unable to channelize their energies. To avoid this random selection of their profession, the students need to – 1. BE PROACTIVE: take responsibility for their lives. Take the initiative & seek guidance by speaking to various people such as parents, professionals in the field & career counsellors. Also, gather information about the curriculum of the courses. Take the first important step in the right direction. 2. BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND: define your missions & goals in life. 3. SYNERGIZE: channelize your energies & achieve more. 4. KNOW YOURSELF: increase self-awareness by knowing your interests & capabilities. Do a SWOT-Analysis i.e.(Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats). FINALLY, BE FOCUSED & DERIVE THE BEST OUT OF YOURSELF, IF NEEDED SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP!!!

 

Growth Centre (I) Pvt. Ltd.Tel: 25288844/7474

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Jobs & Demands

October 21st, 2009

k0320569THE CHANGING NATURE OF JOBS AND ITS DEMANDS

 

Effective utilization of available resources, information and exploring the potentials is an important issue and it is in this light that synchrony of personal aspirations and global requirements assume relevance. Globalization is creating waves of unsurety and insecurity. The recession, the boom, the demand-supply gap prevailing in certain industries, the ever increasing demand for certain professionals and also the lack of formally trained professionals; all this leads to an ambiguous situation thus making a career choice more complex.

 

One reason is that, India has primarily been a labour intensive country, but now the focus is changing from labour intensive to people centric. A shift is also seen in the preference from the conventional occupations to more coordinative, challenging, dynamic and service oriented careers. One more reason is also because of the shift from the age-old concept of life-long employment to Employability.

 

The technological change and boundary-lessness have played  a major role in changing workplace culture and its demands. This reflects a change both in the skills required for new and emerging jobs and the rising skill demands for existing jobs. New careers have come into existences. The traditional ‘permanent job’ scene has also seen a change to job sharing, part-time employment, outsourcing, working from home, global employee. Right from a Call Centre job to Hospitality Industry to being a Disc Jockey, every career is now finding its right place and the number of youngsters pursuing these careers is ever increasing. The younger generation prefers quick-money making, unconventional, more challenging and global careers to the traditional and the conventional, secure type of jobs.

 

In such a scenario, one cannot forget the demands that come along with the jobs. Unlike earlier times, where only skill, knowledge and loyalty played an important role, today’s Employers look for more. They are looking at competitive individuals, who not only possess specialized skills, but also have the ability to handle cross-functional responsibilities. Being ‘cross-functional’ is very essential in today’s’ dynamic work culture.

 

Employers not only seek individual who are promising, but they are keen to recruit individual who are more talented, performance oriented, have the ability to foresee the future desired level of ability, and then work at a faster pace towards achieving the same.

 

Basic Skills: The academic basics of reading, writing, and computation are needed in jobs of all kinds. Reading skills are essential as most employees increasingly work with information — on computer terminals, forms, charts, instructions, manuals, and other information displays. Computation skills are needed to organize data for analysis and problem solving.

 

Technical Skills: Computer skills are well on their way to becoming baseline requirements for many jobs. Workers use a growing array of advanced information, telecommunications, and manufacturing  technologies, as employers turn to technology to boost productivity and efficiency, and to deliver services to customers in new ways. For some industries — such as communications, insurance, and so on, information technology constitutes a large amount of all equipment investment. Moreover, information technology changes rapidly, requiring workers to frequently upgrade their skills for competency in successive generations of technology.

 

Organizational Skills: New systems of management and organization, as well as employee-customer interactions, require a portfolio of skills in addition to academic and technical skills. These include communication skills, analytical skills, problem- solving and creative thinking, interpersonal skills, the ability to negotiate and influence, and self-management. Employers are also now encouraging their teams to discuss work-related problems, indicating the need for these skills.

 

Company Specific Skills: New technology, market changes, and competition drive companies to innovate, constantly upgrade products and services, and focus on continuous improvement of work processes. As a result, employees must frequently acquire new knowledge and skills specifically relevant to the company’s products and services, and their production processes or service delivery modes.

 

The demands of each industry differs. An individual who is interested in making a career in the BPO sector, should be aware that it would take him some time [may be longer] to get used to the changed work timing, which would probably give him no time to socialize, adjust the biological clock, and handle  the emotional needs.

 

The flat, open, cross functional, decentralized work culture may sound interesting and fun, but for quite a few adjusting to this kind of an environment may be mammoth task. Individuals who are used to a traditional mind-set of work culture, this situation may be very unnerving. Many of the Service sectors, Media and Advertising industries, have such a work culture.

 

With new jobs, there also would be new set of frustrations, challenges, and demands may also have a negative impact on an individual thus affecting the performance. So to face the new work related demands, an individual also has to focus on personal growth and needs to also be competent to face the competitive world.  Apart form the technical skills, one also needs Adaptability, Assertiveness, Conceptual Clarity, Self- Confidence, Initiative & Proactive Nature, Teamwork, Decision-making, Risk taking ability and Problem solving attitude, as these are some of the key factors that ensure an overall successful personality.

 

Growth is and will continue in occupations and at all levels. There will be evolution and one has to re-invent continuously. Though it may sound cliché -‘Change is the only constant’ – so keep evolving.

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After X

October 13th, 2009

Boards ……….. The Exams

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Boards may motivate you, bore you, tense you, you may have already had enough of it. The board exam years of SSC or HSC can be pretty same in terms of the responses from your acquaintances and the emotions evoked in you. You are introduced as this is my son so and so…..and he is in boards and …….. it starts- Oh you are in boards, study well haan; Aur padhai kaisi chal rahi hai? Which classes have you joined?  You must forget every thing for one year but studies. Sounds familiar???

How do you react? May be at first you feel nice to get the attention, and then may be you start to expect it. And may be by mid term of your SSC or HSC you get bugged, irritated, annoyed and had enough. Some may react to it by answering back; others may actually start to feel the pressure. Whatever your reaction these situations these years are important years and along with preparing for the tough studies you need to be able to deal with the added mental pressure. As we all know the pressure for an SSC/HSC exam is many fold than a regular exam, so should be your preparation study as well as other wise.

 

The factors playing on your mind could be as follows:

  • May be you keep juggling between the school, tuitions, extra classes, special coaching etc. and feel that you don’t have any time to really sit down and study.  
  • The parents keep nagging, actually reminding you to do your best; and you really start to feel the pressure to perform.
  • Similar comments from Teachers & relatives asking you to prove yourself. Friends who though are sailing in the same boat pass on their tension to you.
  • Stories regarding college admissions & Entrance exams – my sister’s friend lost her admission in a given college by 1 percent or worse 0.5 percent.
  • Friends, parents and others keep talking about new courses and careers and you keep thinking about your future

 

Tips to keep in mind while going through the experience of being in SSC/HSC

v  Learn to manage your time. Take up classes, special coaching etc. considering how much physical exertion you can handle.

v  Try to cut on the travel time for various important classes that you may need to take.

v  Attend any special class or workshop on how to prepare for your exams and any workshop on how to do well in exams will tell you the importance of understanding the concept and then revision, so revise, revise and revise. It will help you learn better and be confident.

v  Think positive! It is a very mundane mantra to give, but this is how you can tackle the extra SSC/HSC pressure being exerted on you from all directions.

v  Keep your talking channels open especially with parents coz they may be equally tensed about you being in SSC/HSC as you. Your telling them how much you have done and how you plan to cover the portion may bring down their anxiety and thus their constant nagging oops…. Reminding.

v  Learn to relax – Physically and mentally. Relaxation exercise, yoga, meditation etc. help relax and also build your concentration.

v  Get a life! Do more than just studies. Whether others do it or not you treat your Board exams as exams which require you to be motivated, to give your best and not the end of the world.

 

One small thing to remember, this experience is like how life is-an important exam, obstacles and problems-some real but some only out of others concerns, your future course depends on it but not so much on the percentage but how you deal with the entire episode. So learn your lesson, give your best and do well; not just in exam but life.

 

 

Growth Centre  (I) Pvt. Ltd.

2528 7474 / 2528 8844

www.growthcentre.org

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Entrance Exams…

October 6th, 2009

 

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“AIEEE, MH-CET or MAH-PH-CET, which is better? Which one do I need to appear for what course?” Don’t these questions sound very familiar? This is the major confusion not only among students but also parents today, the reason being the introduction of newer courses. The education field which now has a broader horizon is becoming more dynamic. The key to success however lies in making the right choice from the vast array of options available.

 

To ensure the perfect decision however, you need to first and foremost, be aware of the various courses as well the doors or entry routes that lead to each.

 

 A thorough survey would indicate that at times there is not one but more than one door that ultimately leads to a single destination. All we need to do is knock at the right door.

 

In simple terms, the route to almost every course today is via entrance exam/exams. So it becomes crucial to be aware of these various paths and choose the right one that will lead you to your final goal. 

The present article is therefore an attempt to create a general awareness about the various entrance exams available.

 I. B.Arch.

A world of ‘Concrete Creativity’ that provides you with adequate opportunities to combine your hidden or rather in-born technical as well as creative ideas and thoughts. Architecture provides ample exposure to a world of innovation and design, be it designing homes to hovercrafts. Moreover, the subject is no more limited to students from the Science stream. So even if you are from the Arts or Commerce streams, you still hold an equal chance of entering this field provided you fulfill the below mentioned eligibility criteria. 

The road to a Bachelors in Architecture is via an MAH-AR-CET [Maharashtra-Architecture-Common Entrance Test] approximately held in the month of July.

Eligibility: 10+2 with Maths and English.

 II. BMS

Bachelor’s in Management Studies – another sought after course in today’s time especially among students aspiring for Managerial positions.

So for those looking forward to a BMS the entry route is the;

CCEE – Centralized Common Entrance Examination held in the month of June.

Eligibility: 10+2/equivalent from any stream.

 III. Defence

“I want to do something for my country and so I wish to get into the armed forces” is a very common thought among today’s youth. But the fact is that Defence is much more than just fighting in the warfront and physical exercise. Most of all the field of Defence, be it Army, Navy or Airforce requires total commitment, dedication, will power and discipline. So if you feel you possess all these qualities within yourself and in addition can work under immense pressure and stressful conditions, then you are most certainly fit to be a part of our country’s Defence sector. In addition fulfilling the Physical Criteria set forth is also equally important and necessary.

To gain entry into Defence, you need to go through the examination conducted by the National Defence Academy [NDA] generally in the month of August.

Eligibility: 10+2 / equivalent from any stream.

IV. Fashion, Textile, Jewellery, Accessory, Footwear…

 An almost everyday change in trend, increase in requirement of matching accessories or jewellery that go with the dress, requirement of a better and easy to use equipment in various industries today, by itself proves the increase in need for highly innovative and competent people in this field of designing.

The entry route into this highly competitive and creative field of Designing is through the;

CEED [Common Entrance Exam for Design] which is mostly held in the month of February every year

Eligibility: 10+2 or equivalent from any stream.

 V. BE / B.Tech

Be it Mechanical, Electronics, Civil or Computers, Engineering has always been a hot favourite among students. To encourage students further still and considering the present competition to

gain entry into this field, a Common Entrance Test has now been introduced in addition to the already existing entrance routes. The list of entrance exams for Engineering is as follows;

Ø AIEEE                     All India Engineering Entrance Exam

                                    Deemed University’s Entrance Exam

  • Ø IIT-JEE                   Indian Institute of Technology –Joint Entrance Exam                       
  • Ø JEE                          Joint Entrance Examinations of Other States
  • Ø MAH-EN-CET      Maharashtra Engineering Common Entrance Test

 Generally held between April to June.

Eligibility: 10+2 [PCM].

 Additional Exams:

  • Ø AMIE          Associate Member of the Institute of Engineers
  • Ø AMIIM       Associate Member of the Indian Institute of Metal
  • Ø AMIME      Associate Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineer
  • Ø IETE            Institute of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineer
  • Ø IIIE              Indian Institute of Industrial Engineering

 If you are 18 or above years of age and possess a Diploma in any course conducted by the Board of Technical Education of any State of India, then you are the right candidate to apply for any of the above mentioned additional examinations. 

VI. BHM

A misconception that goes with Hotel Management is that it’s all about cooking, but that’s not the whole truth. If you are the person who likes to work for people, have an ‘in-built’ host attitude and ensure that people have a memorable time – then Hotel Management is the career for you.

The entrance for Hotel Management is through the JEE [Joint Entrance Examination] for Hotel Management MAH-HM-CET [Maharashtra-Hotel Management-Common Entrance Test] generally held in the month of May-June.

Eligibility: 10+2/equivalent in any stream.

 VII. MBBS, BHMS, Physiotherapy…

Passion for the medical profession seems to have remained unaffected by a rise in the fee structure. However mere passion is no good. A combination of the same with adequate preparation to appear for the entrance would definitely contribute a lot to your progress in this field. The entry routes for students seeking admission to the first year of medicine, dentistry, ayurveda, homeopathy, unani medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, audiology, speech & language therapy, prosthetics & orthotics, etc. is through the;

Ø MH-CET   Maharashtra Health Common Entrance Test

  • Ø AI-PMT     All India Pre-Medical Test
  • Ø AI-PDT     All India Pre-Dental Test

 The exams are held around May or June every year.

Eligibility: 10+2 with PCB [Physics, Chemistry and Biology].

 VIII. B.Pharm.

Pharmacy seems to be an ideal field for students who wish to study in-depth about medicine but yet are not keen on being part of the so called Medical field. Considering the wide acceptance of the subject in recent times, the MAH-PH-CET [Maharashtra-Pharmacy-Common Entrance Test] has been introduced since 2004 to ensure a better selection of the most competent students.

 The MAH-PH-CET is generally held in the month of June.

Eligibility: 10+2 with Chemistry and Maths.

 IX. B.V.Sc

If your motto in life is “live & let live” especially with regard to the Animal Kingdom , then Veterinary science is something you should consider.  To gain admission into a Bachelor’s in Veterinary Science, you need to appear for the;

 Ø MH-CET   Maharashtra Health Common Entrance Test

  • Ø AICEE [All India Common Entrance Exam]

Generally held in the months of May or June.

Eligibility : 10+2 with PCB 

X. MBA

MBA seems to be the most sought after degree today. But little do we know that this vast field of Management does not consist of only an MBA degree. It includes equivalent full-time course options like MMS, PGDBA, PGPMS, PGDBM etc.

However, the entry route to the above mentioned as well as other courses included in this field is only through the following entrance exams;

 ATMA        AIMS Test for Management Admission

  • Ø CAT              Common Admission Test
  • Ø CET             Common Entrance Test
  • Ø JMET          Joint Management Entrance Test
  • Ø MAT           Management Aptitude Test
  • Ø XAT                        XLRI Admission Test

 

Your choice of the entrance exams from the aforementioned list would entirely depend on the institute you plan to apply to; specific institutes consider scores of specific entrance exams. These exams are generally held in the months of May and June except for CAT conducted by the IIMs which is held on the second Sundays of December. However, this year the CAT examination is being held in the month of November.

 

Eligibility: Graduation in any discipline.

 

XI. MCA

Computers, so common and a part of today’s fast life. Day to day work would probably come to a standstill if at all your computers were under repair even for a day or even a few hours. With the increase in dependency on Computers, there is going to be a growing demand for qualified professionals. So courses like MCS/MCA are going to have an increase in demand.

Moreover, a Masters degree always has it’s advantage in terms of knowledge and educational qualification.

But of course, to apply for the MCA too you need to go thought an entrance examination which is the;

AIM-CET – All India MCA Common Entrance Test generally held in the month of June.  Eligibility: Graduates from any stream and having taken Maths as a subject at the 10+2 level.

 

XII. B.Ed.

Among the most noble professions that provides you with ample opportunities to not only share your knowledge but also learn from your own teachings and interaction with the younger generation.

To pursue a B.Ed you need to appear for the

CET – Common Entrance Exam for B.Ed held in the month of June.

Eligibility: Graduation from any stream.

 

Apart from the above mentioned entrance exams, a few other institutes as well as Deemed Universities like National Institute of Design [NID], National Institute of Fashion Technology [NIFT], Tata Institute of Social Sciences [TISS], Padmashree Dr. D.Y.Patil Vidyapeeth, Bharati Vidyapeeth, Symbiosis International Education Centre, etc. also conduct their autonomous entrance exams for specific courses. Additionally, for some of the aforementioned courses, just clearing an Entrance does not guarantee admission since alongwith the Entrance the student is also required to clear a Group Discussion and a Personal Interview.

 

So no matter which course you plan to pursue, there is always a door open for you. The ultimate decision therefore lies in your hands. Since ‘Knowledge is Power’ and now you have the knowledge about most of the existing entrance exams, it is up to you to plan and start off a timely preparation towards achieving your final goal.

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