No uniform, no homework . . .finally I am a grown up! …this is the first thought that crosses most of the young minds. School life is over and the student is all set to step into the new world; away from the shield of the parents and protective school teachers. College life opens up the world of opportunity and fun for the teenager.

All mixed emotions:

The excitement is at its peak. But with this excitement comes the anxiety, the nervousness…the fear of the Unknown.  Students are generally scared, excited, skeptical, anxious as well as enthusiastic, all at the same time. Well, well…..everyone undergoes these mixed emotions at this stage of life. There is nothing to fear as this is one of the best learning experiences of life. The best thing to cope up with these emotions to is to go with the flow, experience a little discomfort while finding your own ways to cope with the same.

Assessing whom to befriend:

Generally during the first few days students are seen wandering about confused on the campus, trying to understand their new surroundings.  They first try and stick to their school friends if they happen to be still together in the college. They either accept the friendship extended to them by others or even does the things by themselves to initiate friendships. The first set of friends or we can say acquaintances are those who happen to sit near to their seats on the first few days of classes.  They stick around with their group trying and avoiding the sights of their seniors to avoid being ragged. Coping with seniors can be a very strenuous task for some students.

Understanding the college culture

One of the most important issues. As a teenager, it becomes imperative for one to be a part of the college culture and find the right fit. Try and know about the various associations and groups in the college.  They get to know about the various events in the college. .Then comes the time to checkout the ‘happening places to hang out’. These initial days of research is very important as it provides a good base for chilling out during the entire college life.  This is also coupled with understanding the rules and regulations of the college and also its various procedures. Students slowly and gradually make their way into the new setup. They try to get used to the new environment, the huge campus, being one of the many faces, being a part of the group yet trying to create your own identity .This is the time when they are trying to attain the ‘cool collegian look’.  Gathering a new wardrobe and matching accessories forms a vital part of the same.

The students from the Non- English medium

For some students who are not from the English medium, college life would be a more stressor. For instance, it would be the first time that the entire studies will be in English. Coping with the language can be a challenge for many. The other fear is of speaking. Most of the students get into the shell just by the idea of speaking in English. But, the students should remember, that it is just not the language but the confidence and knowledge that’s important for one to make friends and enjoy college life. Removing the fear of ridicule and failure is essential. As a Japanese or a Korean or and Italian have their accents and nothing stops them from succeeding, so can a Maharashtrain or a Guajarati or a Tamilian can also have an accent. Though, one essential factor is to learn English – the international language to be a global persona!

Coping with Co-Ed system or vice versa [in case of women’s university]:

Getting accustomed to the co – ed culture in the colleges can be a bit difficult for the students from single gender background and even vice versa. Infact, it is a good time to understand and make friends with the opposite gender. Giving yourself some time to cope will be really a good way of dealing with the new group.

Getting used to the mode of Transport:

For many students it may be the first instance to travel away from their home suburb or the even the city. Students thus need to get used to the mode of transport they plan to take to college. Getting used to the time table and the rush hour are the main aspects of travelling. Give yourself some time to plan your travel and make the most of the travelling time.

In case of hostel – adjusting with room mates and a life away from home:

Many students who come away from their hometowns and are living in a hostel also require coping with additional set of issues like adjusting to the room mates, the culture and pattern of living of the new place. One may get homesick for some time, but within no time one realizes that you have created a home away from home.

Preparing for the career:

After getting used to new life and their environment, Students the start planning their future plan of action towards the career they want to pursue. If they happen to be in a course which is not of their choice then the efforts are generally focused towards trying to cope with the lack of the interest and motivating oneself.

Maintaining a balance between fun and learning:

The essence of college life as most of the students do understand is to maintain a good balance between fun and learning. They find out ways to enjoy their college life to the fullest; but not at the expense of their studies.

This is not only the case with students who join local colleges in their own city…… but also with international students on University campuses abroad.  For them these initial days of adjustments are even more strenuous as they are thousands of miles away from their home in a totally alien culture. In addition to all these they also need to cope up with the language barriers as well as the climate of the place.

College life is supposed to be the best phase in life. Making the most out of it can lay a very strong foundation for any individual to achieve success in life.

In a nutshell,

Swati Salunkhe

Managing Director

Growth Centre (I) Pvt. Ltd.

Introduction:

In last decade, Bioinformatics has emerged as a new discipline. In simple terms Bioinformatics combines Biology, Mathematics, and Computer software. It involves the use of information technology in studying the life sciences, a combination of IT and biotechnology.  Thus one can say that Bioinformatics is the convergence of two technological revolutions, the explosive growth in biotechnology, paralled by the explosive growth in information technology.

Bioinformatics may therefore, be defined as a scientific discipline that encompasses all aspects of biological information, viz., acquisition, processing, storage, distribution, analysis and interpretation, that combines the tools and techniques of mathematics, computer science, and biology with the aim of understanding the biological significance of a variety of data.  In short, Bioinformatics deals with database creation, data analysis and modeling. Data capturing is done not only from printed material but also from network resources. Databases in biology are generally in the multimedia form organized in relational database model. Modeling is done not only on single biological molecule but also on multiple systems thus requiring a use of high performance computing systems.

Bioinformatics is applied in fields like molecular medicine, drug development, biotechnology, veterinary science, climate change studies, crop improvement and many such fields.  Bioinformatics is immense in scope and vast in applications.

Training:

There are different programmes offered by selected Universities in India for Bioinformatics, like 4 years B. Tech., One year postgraduate diploma, two year Master’s degree and one year advanced diplomas programmes in Bioinformatics. Admission is usually on the basis of an entrance test. Non formal, short term training courses are also being offered by computer institutes. Bioinformatics demands deep knowledge of both the biological and computing disciplines.

Required Skill-set:

Skills that have great value on the current bio-informatics-related job market are: sequence analysis, molecular modeling, Perl programming, Web interface design, data mining, communication skills, Internet literacy, integration of heterogeneous and distributed resources and tools, user support, virtual reality systems (esp. for real-time communication), visualization, UNIX, database retrieval.

Future Scope:

There is a huge demand for trained Bioinformaticists in USA, Europe, Australia, including India. However the supply of “trained personnel” in Bioinformatics is inadequate. This sector is the quickest growing field in the country. The promising start-ups are already there in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, and Delhi. Companies like SmithKline Beecham, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Glaxo, Wellcome and other 100 companies are functioning in this area. IT majors such as Intel, IBM, Wipro are getting into this segment spurred by the promises in technological developments. There is a growing need nationally and internationally for bioinformaticians, especially graduates with a good grounding in computer science and software engineering, and an appreciation of the biological aspects of the problems to be solved.
Swati Salunkhe

Managing Director

Growth Centre [I] Pvt. Ltd.

Rahul’s ninth standard examinations are over and before he gets his results he’s  trying to catch up with as much of play as he can, because he knows that the beginning of May would mean serious study in order to get high percentages in the tenth standard. His vacation coaching classes would begin and he is going to have to study hard as his ‘preparatory tests’ are going to be held soon.  No sooner will he adjust to his routine that school will start with a bang from day one.  Following which there are several pressures on him ranging from submissions, to daily home work, studying and learning, school test and exams and finally the Board Exams where he is expected from parents, friends, relatives and teachers to get percentages in the 80-90’s.  Alongside there goes on a riot in his mind “Who do I want to be?”, What must I do to get what I want?”, “ Where can I do it from?”, ‘Can I be who I aspire to be?”

Amit has recently appeared his SSC exams and now in a complete vacation mood. However, in-between the haunting questions do make him very miserable. It’s not only him but also his parents are a bit concerned.  Somewhere the thoughts start creeping in -Should I take up science or commerce? Is computers better field? Which college offers course in Biotechnology? Should I start preparing for IIT-JEE right now? Should I opt for Diploma after SSC so that I do not have to give CET? What is pharmacy all about?

Nita, a HSC [science] student who has gone through the whirlwind of coaching class, practicals, college lectures, preparation of the entrance exam is also having a lot of sleepless nights. Her thoughts are –will I get through the IIT-JEE? Will AIEEE scores give better chances in an engineering college?

Mr. & Mrs. Sharma have their set of disturbing thoughts. Though they haven’t set any particular course for their son & have always been supportive parents. However they too are not sure how should they go about helping their son in his decision of career choice.

Are you the Rahul or a Amit or a Nita I am talking about? Or, do you know someone like them?

Well, don’t you think Rahul / Nita is too young to make this decision?  And, do you think s/he can make it all alone?  Don’t they need assistance?  Probably that’s why you find that while the students are busy with their books, some of the parents are engrossed in researching various career options that their child can pursue. These are then suggested to their children for perusal. Most of these options usually comprise of the ‘upcoming careers’ or those in vogue. Some even include the easiest possible alternatives. Science is often the preferred option especially if the student has more than 80% or 85%. Commerce is the second option, and is chosen by students who have secured 70% to 80%.  Arts is the last option, especially for those who have secured around 60%.  Optionally, the students themselves may have some preset or envisaged career goals based on their aspirations, peer pressure or likings rubbed on to them from people they are close to or look up to.

Do you think this is truly a logical way of choosing a career?

Who ever said that deciding about your future is that easy? The transition from school/college life to the real world has its own unique experience for every individual.  And, therefore, the decision to choose or reject a career should be made over a period of time and after careful consideration of various relevant factors.

The process of career planning stretches from secondary to higher secondary school years.  It requires an adequate understanding of you with respect to your academic potentials, attributes, talents, interests, personality, values expectations and resources.  While making a career choice, select options where the aptitude, interest, intelligence and personality are strong assets.  Avoid areas where the aptitudes are weak and the interests cannot be easily developed.  You must also consider your expectations from the job, power, status, money and challenges involved.  Interest is the most essential to sustain in the career. Planned routes to a career along with optional careers or a ‘back-up plan’ chosen during school years, considering the above-mentioned attributes, will keep you adequately motivated throughout your training and during stiff competition.

Besides the above-mentioned, it is also important to keep several factors regarding the career in mind.  Explained briefly, these would ideally be:

Nature of Work – is a description of what the career entails.

Working Environment – contains information regarding where you are going to be located and under what conditions you are going to work.

Areas of Specialization – deals with the specialties within the broader career.

Physical and Psychological Requirements – emphasize the multitude of physical, emotional, mental, and behavioral aspects demanded by the career.

Study/Training Involved – an accurate knowledge of the educational or vocational pathway to practice in a given field.

Employment prospects – contains information regarding the different areas or related fields where the individual can work given an educational/vocational background.

Career progression – is an estimation of what heights the person can reach in a given field.

Therefore, one can say that appropriate career planning visualizes a match between the requirements of a job, personality, skills, interests and expectations.  Awareness of the individual’s “real” skills, motivation, strengths, likes, dislikes, weaknesses, aspirations are very important.  This awareness should be based on actual achievements and must be supplemented by objective tests that can be administered only by trained Psychologists/Counselors.

Psychological tests are statistically reliable and valid thereby giving scientific and objective data about the individual.  This followed by a career counselling session will deliver professional assistance to the individual by not only making him aware about his level of grasping, his strong as well as weak abilities, likes, dislikes and personality factors, but also try and find a match between his aspirations and his real self. Therefore, as commonly misconceived, aptitude is not the only measure to be considered or tested.  Intelligence, Personality, Adjustment and Interest are also to be considered and scientifically measured.

Here is a small guide about the steps to be followed in the career decision-making process:

• List the work options you desire.  These could be your childhood dreams or your current aspirations.
• Increase your knowledge base with respect to those options  by:
  - attending career seminars and/or career exhibitions,

- reading newspapers (for example, Education Times, Maharashtra Times,

Loksatta), and magazines (for example, Competition Success Review,

Malayalam Manorama),

-viewing TV programs on careers (for example, Yuvabharat, Hum Honge Kamiyab),
- and most importantly interacting with people in the fields of your choice.  Accurate information with respect to the real nature of the job can be obtained through this method.

• Simultaneously, undergo Psychometric Tests to acquire objective information about yourself through qualified counselors i.e. M.A. [Psychology] /Post Graduate Diploma in Career Counseling & Guidance and similar such qualification.
• Try and obtain an actual ’feel’ of the work environment of the career you aspire to be in.  This could be through summer jobs or by working part time while studying.

The consequences of a weak decision are dissatisfaction with work, stress and frustration – both on the job and in personal life.  “Job/career hopping” is an adverse possibility.  This usually occurs when you have not considered all the aspects discussed above.  Instead, you have chosen a career based on unessential reasons such as peer pressure, parent’s preference, easy options, current trends or scope.

All in all, one can say that making a career decision is a difficult task even when you have a lot of information.  Today, though traditional career options such as medicine, engineering, teaching, government jobs are still central and essential they are being overtaken by other more novel options such as biotechnology, management, designing, entertainment, and information technology. It is best to use a scientific, objective methodology in the career decision-making process in order to find the most suitable match between who you are and the career you select.

Swati Salunkhe

Growth Centre [I] Pvt. Ltd.

2528 8844/7474

Introduction

In today’s fast pace life, exposure to pollution, and lesser and lesser time for
our personal care, the need to care for our skin texture, our hair, our
face, feet, hands ….. down to our last toe nail is a necessity rather than
the luxury of a few. And this need is easily made possible by the evolving new
field of ‘Beauty Care’, and the experts who are today trained to take care of
us.

Besides, today the beauty industry is catering not only to women, but also to men.

Scope and Nature of Work
The Scope and the nature of work under ‘Beauty care’ can involve basic
treatments such as manicure, pedicure, facial, waxing, make-up, detailed skin
care such as rejuvenations, deep wrinkle removals, laser hair removal, hair styling, colouring, dyeing, perming and straightening …… the scope
and the terms can be as endless as OUR innovation and the clients
requirements.

Today the work is not limited to the traditional services of a Beauty Salon, but extends to prescribing the right type of cosmetics suited to specific skin
types and complexions.

Beauticians also help the client select the appropriate style of hair
considering their hair texture and lifestyle.  The ready availability, and access as well as the ease of the use of software and computers, helps considerably in this
aspect.
 
Work Environment
Beauticians can either work in, or own their own salon.  Some even have their own clientele.

Ideally, a work environment to render ‘Beauty Care’ services should contain all
the amenities that you are willing to offer.  While creating your work
environment it is important to consider the location, space criteria, your
priorities of services and specializations.  High standards of safety (especially from the use of electrical equipment), and hygiene have to be maintained at any given centre.  After all, ‘To sell beauty you have to exhibit beauty’ …. in this case your working facilities, and the beauticians involved!!!!

Like in any career, here too, the appropriate work environment plays as vital a role as the professional’s skill and knowledge. Either ways the knowledge along with the correct equipment and the perfect surroundings come together to render what it takes to make your client look the best.

Physical and Psychological Requirements
To be a successful beautician the following characteristics are necessary:

Ÿ  Sense of humor

Ÿ  Helpful nature

Ÿ  Attractive and well groomed appearance

Ÿ  liking for people

Ÿ  friendly attitude

Ÿ  courteousness

Ÿ  aesthetic sense

Ÿ  dexterity

Ÿ  ability to stand and work for long hours

Ÿ  patience

Ÿ  passion to experiment

Ÿ  confidence

Study and Training
Studying and learning the formal tried and tested protocols for handling your
customers has become increasingly important, as you simply cannot adopt ‘trial-and-error’ methods on your customers.  This is where practical and hands-on-training imparted by institutes plays a vital role in your process to become a beautician.
 
Basic courses in beauty care can be done even after completion of standard X.
Polytechnics conduct diploma courses on various aspects of beauty care for
students who have completed plus two or equivalent exams successfully.  The
duration of the courses vary from institute to institute, but generally can be
completed with a year.  Established beauticians or salons also conduct training programs. Many people even go abroad for further/specialized training after gathering their basics from here.

Knowledge of elementary science is an added advantage in this field.

Specialisations
As mentioned earlier, the field of Beauty Care today covers a lot under
its ‘sheltering’ umbrella.

While you can always learn about all the activities covered, you may develop an inclination or natural talent for something that you should further specialize in.  Of course the learning is directly related to your ‘Method of Work’. If you work at a Beauty Care Clinic, you are assigned a particular set of tasks which you will/have specialized in. If you own or manage a beauty salon, it becomes more necessary for you to be well versed and knowledgeable about practically all the requirements you could possible expect to be asked for.

Some of the specializations are as follows:
Make-up Artist: involves the application of various cosmetics to enhance a
person’s features without making it look like a disguise.
Hair Colorist: coloring of hair is becoming excessively popular in India as in the rest of the world.  Hair colorists have to be excessively creative.  They can work for a salon or a hair color manufacturer.
Nail Artist: involves tipping off nails with decorative designs or embellishments
such as rhinestones, diamantes, nail rings etc. besides, of course, modifying the
length of the nails.
Aesthetician or Skin Specialist: they perfect the look and health of skin. They
work in a salon or as consultants to cosmetic manufacturing companies.
Hair Specialists: have knowledge on hair conditions and provide treatments for
hair and scalp problems.

Career Progression
Building a Career in Beauty Care can only begin, given the correct education,
training and defining your specific areas of specialization.

Practical Hands-On Training (under a reputed Beauty Care Centre) under the
supervision of a senior can play a vital role in teaching you the ‘tips and
tricks of the trade’ that are never explained in a text book.

Knowledge, the correct atmosphere and attitude are the main elements that can
make or break any career. Make sure you have the best of all you can.

To be able to secure a specialist position one needs to undergo adequate
training, and experience.  Hard work and constant updating are equally
important.

Start off by becoming well-versed in all areas of the salon industry and then
diversify in a chosen area.  This will not only enhance the quality of your
work, but also keep you motivated in whatever you do.

One can start off working in a salon or under a specialist.  Following which one
can either start their own salon or free lance.  The initial investment for
infrastructure especially electrical equipment could be huge.

After gaining sufficient knowledge in the area of beauty care, one can even work
as a trainer for budding beauticians either by starting your own institute or by
working at a training centre.

 The list of career opportunities in the beauty industry is endless. To name a few:
· Beautician
· Hairdresser
· Make-up Artist
· Facial Expert
· Nail Care Specialist
· Mehandi Artist
· Masseuse/Masseur
· Beauty Instructor/Assistant in a Salon
· Beauty Lab Assistant
· Running Your Own Beauty Salon
· Health Club Instructor/Manager
· Yoga Teacher/Demonstrator
· Cosmetic Sales Promoter

. Television and Film Industry
· Model for Beauty Products
· Consultant/Writer 
 

Where to Study?
There are plenty of private and government institutes imparting course in
beauty. 

Some of the Institutes Imparting Education in the Field of Beauty in Mumbai are as Follows:

Ÿ  Butic Institute of Beauty Therapy and Hair Dressing, 1, Rupadarshini D. Gupta Marg, Mumbai-400016

Ÿ  Regional Vocational Training Institute for women, Kashinath Dhuru Street,
Dadar, Bombay-400028

Ÿ  VLCC, 352 Linking Road, (Hotel Bawa International), Khar (W), Mumbai

Ÿ  Shnell Hans International School of Beauty, Hairdressing and Cosmetology,
111/112 Nicola, Mistry Chambers, opposite Strand Cinema, Colaba, Mumbai 400 005

Ÿ  Shahnaz Herbal Women’s World International, Sea Bird Building, Bandra, Mumbai 400 050

There are two levels of medical laboratory workers–technicians and technologists. Medical technologists have more training and job responsibilities. They perform more complex tests and often supervise other laboratory workers. Technologists are often responsible for making sure that testing is done properly. For instance, Blood bank technologists determine correct blood types for transfusions. Microbiology technologists identify bacteria and other disease organisms.

Medical technicians do most of the routine laboratory testing. Technicians may prepare specimens and use machines that automatically analyze samples. They may follow detailed instructions to do tests by hand. They record the test results on computers. Some technicians run all types of tests while others specialize. For example, Phlebotomists draw and test blood. Histology technicians cut and stain tissue samples, and so on. In addition to running tests, technicians set up, clean, and maintain laboratory equipment, such as centrifuges and microscopes. They also prepare standard solutions for use in the lab. This involves measuring and mixing the correct amount of various chemicals.

In brief, Medical laboratory technicians, also called clinical lab technicians, under the supervision of a medical technologist or physician, perform tests on tissue, blood and body fluids to help physicians diagnose and treat diseases.

Study/Training;

• Ø Medical Lab Technologist:- (a) Bachelors in Medical Lab Technology  OR      (b) Post-Graduate Diploma In Medical Lab Technology.

   Eligibility: (a) 10+2 [PCB] (b) Graduate from any stream.

• Ø Medical Lab Technician:- Diploma in Medical Lab Technology

   Eligibility:- 10+2 [PCB].

The most interchangeably used courses & career with a lot similarity yet not the same.

Marketing is a total system of interacting business activities designed to plan, promote and distribute need- satisfying products and services to existing and potential consumers. Marketing broadly includes discovering the products/services customers want, producing/designing the product, pricing the product appropriately, promoting the product and selling the product to relevant customers.

Selling or sales is therefore one of the activities consisted in the broad area of marketing. Selling is the act of persuading or influencing a customer to buy (actually exchange something of value for) a product or service.  Marketing activities generally support and enhance the final sale of the product and pave the way for future sales and referrals.

Study/Training;

• Ø Marketing:- 2-year full-time MBA/MMS/PGDBM/PGDBA with

  specialization in Marketing or

 3- year part time MMM

 1-year Diploma in Marketing Management

Eligibility:-

• For 2-yr. full-time courses – Graduation from any stream.
• For 3-yr part-time course – Graduation from any stream with 2 years of work experience in a related field.
• For 1-yr. Diploma – Graduation from any stream.

• Ø Sales :- There is no particular course available till date. Knowledge on the subject can be sought as part of any of the above mentioned courses on marketing.

 Kartik lived very close to the airport in Mumbai. Every 5 minutes he could see an aircraft either landing or taking off. It all seemed very fascinating to him. He always wondered, “how does this huge piece of machine work?” As a kid he had always played with a toy plane, dismantled it and put it back several times. But his keenness had now made him to think about it seriously. This made him look upto Aircraft Engineer as career option. Globalization of the Indian trade and business sector has given great boost to the aviation industry in India. It is one of fastest growing sector of our country today. Aviation industry includes the airports in the service of the industry, the airlines and the people working in these. Broadly, jobs in this industry can be categorised into two groups: ground personnel and flight personnel. Ground staff takes care of activities like air traffic control, airport and aircraft maintenance, cargo handling, ticketing and reservations. The flying staff, apart from pilots and airhostesses, takes care of activities like flight engineering and navigation. Of many career avenues available in the field one very prominent one is being the Aircraft Engineer. Aircraft Engineers generally specialize in Mechanical or Aeronautical engineering. Mechanical engineers service and overhaul engines and airframes while Aeronautical engineers specialize in the maintenance of instruments, electrical and electronic equipment, navigation, radar and radio communication. Flight engineers make pre-flight inspections and are responsible for the efficient performance of the aircraft during the flight. They diagnose and deal with any systems failures, manage repairs, report any defects to maintenance and later check that they have been dealt with. Aeronautical Engineering thus deals with the design, construction and maintenance of both commercial and military aircraft. A course in this branch of engineering encompasses a study of fluid dynamics, material science, structural analysis, propulsion and electronics. This course offers specialisations in aerodynamics, thermodynamics, propulsion, structures, celestial machines, acoustics and guidance and control systems. To be an aeronautical engineer one should have a graduate degree (B.E/B.Tech.) or at least a diploma in Aeronautics. The entry eligibility for Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering is 10+2 with PCM scores. Some of the Institutes (alphabetically arranged; list indicative) offering Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering are:  Birla Institute of Technology (BITS) – Pilani and Ranchi  Indian Institute of Technology (IIT’s)  National Institute of Technology(NIT’s) Most of the regular Engineering colleges offer degree in Mechanical engineering. Madras Institute of Technology offers a one year Postgraduate Programme in aeronautical engineering for B.Sc. students. School of Aviation Science and Technology at Delhi Flying Club, New Delhi, too conducts a Basic Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Certificates (B.A.M.E.C)/Aircraft Maintenance Engineers License Training Programme. Apart from the above mentioned institutes there are several others across India which offer various courses in Aircraft Maintenance. Being an Aircraft Engineer is not an easy job. A tremendous amount of coordinated activity by trained personnel and hi-tech equipment guided by administrative mechanisms have made international and national air travel safe as well as efficient. The qualities required to be successful in the field are:  Ability to concentrate  Ability to work in a team  Alertness  Calm and even temperament  Good Communication Skills  Managerial skills  Patience  Strong sense of responsibility  Technical aptitude Employment opportunities can be found with government owned airline companies, flying clubs and private airlines. Besides these options employment is also available with Defence Research and Development Laboratories, National Aeronautical Lab, Aeronautical Development Establishment, Civil Aviation Department and other places. Aeronautical Engineers get the opportunity to work with the most technologically advanced branches of engineering. The field is thus very challenging and full of scope. Ms. Swati Salunkhe Managing Director Growth Centre (I) Pvt. Ltd.

Problems, issues, concern, name it what you may are a fact of life. Facing these facts is essential but exploring solutions rather than merely living with the problems can surely reshape the face of these facts. This calls for help many a times.  The need for professional expertise in exploring solutions becomes a need of the hour. One word that comes to the mind is counselling.

Most of us have heard this term in some context but not necessarily in the right context.

Man being a social animal has many a times to put up with societal obligation thus leading to frustration and depression.  This situation often finds an answer in someone listening to him or her.  Sometimes an individual is not looking at solutions and answers but trying to reach out a patient ear and empathetic heart.  Every individual is looking for a quick remedy -probably a lasting one for every issue of concern. Many times we become circumstantial counsellors in our own capacity-be that the issue at personal level or professional level. Counselling happens everywhere, anywhere, anytime and all the time but not necessarily by the Professional Counsellors.

Very commonly, we generalize and limit the scope of counselling to specific aspects. A quick reaction to counselling is that it is- “only for people with a mental problem”.  But this is only a part of the whole truth. Counselling is a much broader and wider concept.

We all know that Counselling happens after some problem occurs, or something undesirable happens, but there is more to it -Things won’t reach the point of break down if Counselling is done at the Right Time by the Right People. This can be in various fields be it – Educational, Career, Marital, Parental, Rehabilitation and not to forget Counselling for Enhancing one’s Personality be it –Social Skills Training, Fear Management, Communication Skills, Relaxation Techniques, etc.

In brief, one can say that Counselling is not restricted to a particular group it is irrespective of gender, age, social status, race, caste, community, area, education, etc. it is a process of gaining self-awareness and therefore is Essential for Everyone.

So how different is Psychology from Psychiatry? Is it really different or are they the same courses with different names?

Difference in Curriculum;

Study/Training;

• Ø Psychologist: – M.A./M.Sc [Psychology]

Eligibility:- BA [Psychology]/Graduation in any stream.

• Ø Psychiatrist: – MBBS & Post-Graduate Diploma in Psychiatry.

Eligibility:- 10+2 [PCB]

Difference with regard to treatment methodology;

• Ø Psychologists:- Involve majorly in counselling & psychotherapy

                                Includes verbal interactions & assessment.

• Ø Psychiatrists:- Involve majorly in administering medication

                              Also include counselling alongside.

Besides the dilemma of choosing a career, youngsters also face added pressures to conform to societal norms and parental expectations. In this stormy sea, Career Guidance and Counselling stays afloat as a raft.

What is this career guidance and counselling…

Career Guidance and Counselling is a helping service to make correct choice from among innumerable alternatives faced by the individual, for if at all the choice is incorrect, the decision is irreversible and the individual may face a set back, failure, frustration or disillusionment. If correctly made, it will enhance his development build his/him self-confidence and set him/her on his onward journey of progress with satisfaction and self-fulfillment.  Hence career counselling plays a crucial role in one’s life.

How does Career Guidance and Counselling perform this unique role?

In today’s highly competitive world, there has evolved a parallel demand for professionalism in all spheres of employment; in terms of ability, interest, personality and motivation.

A complete self-understanding is possible only when we know our aptitudes, intelligence level, personality factors and interest pattern. Though we do have an idea of our potentials, interests and personality, it may be biased and very limited. We cannot take a gamble whilst making long-term decisions, such as career choice, solely on the basis of ‘self-analysis’, for this will definitely be a decision made in the dark. We require a more stable and concrete base. It is essential that we make an informed decision, which is one that is made in the context of sound and accurate knowledge.

The process of Career Guidance and Counselling is a scientific and objective one, involving the usage of psychometric tests, which are reliable and valid. It is through the usage of these tests that we can arrive at a fairly accurate judgement of ourselves.

Before we understand the details of the self-awareness framework, it is imperative for us to know that Counselling Psychologists, who are trained with the requisite psychological tools to deal with concerns pertaining to career choice, administer the psychometric tests.

We must realize that every individual is unique and has his/her own set of interests and abilities. In order to be aware of your interest, abilities,  personality and intelligence, the tests measuring these aspects of you are conducted.

Intelligence Tests, measures the ability to grasp new concepts as well as the ability to generalize and think constructively.

Aptitude test is a test that indicates a person’s potential ability for performance of a certain type of activity of a specialized skill and within a restricted age.

Interest Inventories measure nothing but our pattern of likes and dislikes for certain jobs/vocations. The information gained from these inventories may act as indicators of future job satisfaction.

Personality Inventories measure the individual characteristics, which influence one’s behavior, such as boldness, creativity, sensitivity, social warmth, tension level, individualism, etc.

A complete assessment is one in which all these areas are measured, without a single exception.

The Counselling Psychologist then draws a profile of your intelligence, aptitude, personality and interests. And on the basis of a combination of these areas a number of career avenues that are well matched for you are put forth.

Based on the psychometric test results career counselling session is conducted to discuss the profile as well as assist the individuals in their transitions from one educational/occupational level to the next.

Furthermore, information involving the nature of work and future prospects of the related careers is also provided. The final career choice will be made exclusively by you.

Plant a good seed of ‘informed decision’, nourish it with hard work, perseverance and optimism and the fruits of success will definitely reap.

Growth Centre  (I) Pvt. Ltd.

2528 7474 / 2528 8844

www.growthcentre.org