Career Guide

(Director, CARING Career Information & Guidance, New Delhi e-mail: pervin-et@careerguidanceindia.com or write to -Editor, Education Times, TOI, (3rd floor), 7 Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110002)
NO SHORT CUTS
After completing my MCA, I am working in a private company. I want to quit and work from home. I have come across many companies but I am not sure about their credibility.Could you please tell me the right way to apply for a home-based job?
Rashid Iqbal Your concerns and suspicions regarding offers of home-based jobs are wellplaced. These schemes and offers promise quick money -usually though only for their promoters. Verifying the credentials of such offersschemes becomes all the more crucial. However, this is easier said than done. Most are offered from unknown groups or companies with little independent information available other than what is given on their website (that is, if they have it).Then too, they have complex pay-out structures and high registration or `training' fee. Even if they are legitimate and if you manage to get your head around all the technicalities, then legal hurdles could come in the way.
So, the bottom line is that there are no free lunches and certainly no `easy' money to be made.
Do realise that in the majority of cases, it can take a while before you start earning a steady income from home-based jobs. Moreover, the money may not always be at the same level as that earned through a regular job, which is why many people look at these options as a source of `additional' income.
However, all is not lost. There are plenty of viable options. However, your decision of which route to follow must flow from the answers to the following questions: What are the reasons for leaving your current job -money, work or some thing else? You must analyse your strengths and skills to evaluate what kind of work you would be good at.
Do you want it to be a full-time or a part-time business?
How much risk are you willing to take?
What resources do you have that you can use -money, space, know-how, etc?
Do you have family support?
How many hours per week would you be able to devote to the new engagement?
Do you require any special training, licences and certification?
Given your qualifications and experience, here are some options you could explore further: Face-to-faceweb-based tuitions Online freelancing (coding, programming and the like) Web development and designing Consultancy work on IT-related matters for small and medium businesses Insurance policies and mutual funds
TRANSCRIPTION
Our son is in class XI (science stream). He does not seem interested in engineering.What other options could he consider?
Tania Sood Those studying science (non-medical) are spoilt for choice. Aside from engineering, their combination of subjects (physics, chemistry, maths, economics or computers) makes them eligible for courses across the sciences, commerce, finance and management. Moreover, you are also free to pursue just about any other profession open to students of the humanities and arts -a mind-boggling choice of nearly 3000-plus careers. A brief list of careers in various areas includes armed forces (all three branches), aviation (pilot), architecture, courses in pure, physical and applied sciences; computers and IT, maths and statistics, actuarial science, law, hotel management, mass com munication, commerce and management (BBA, BCom, etc), economics, chartered accountancy, company secretaryship and cost accounting and even courses in designing, if he so chooses.
Now is the ideal opportunity for you and your son to together explore different careers, their academic requirements and future prospects. Aptitude and interest are often the key metrics on which aspirants base their decision, though career priorities vary across individuals. Course selection is the first of many critical career-related decisions that you will make. A career choice must be made after factoring in an individual's unique combination of interests, personality, and abilities (hard and soft skills). One could take a reliable career selection test to help identify suitable fields.
MARRIAGE AND AFTER
I am a married woman. I received my BA degree with 63% marks in 2007 and a DOEACC O-level certificate with 60%.My English is not good and I am weak at maths. I am considering an MBA in human resources from a distancelearning university. Will this be a good move for me?
Ragini The prospects of a distance MBA may not be great for someone like you. Such a degree is useful if you are already working and cannot take time off to pursue a regular degree, though you realise the need for an advanced credential on your CV.Despite its flexibility, the MBA may not be the right pick for you at this stage.
While several B-schools do offer legitimate MBA courses via correspondence or distance mode (online and offline), as someone with a humanities background and no work experience, you would find it tough landing a job right after taking the degree. Also, since you mentioned that communication and maths are not your strong points, that is another reason why perhaps MBA is not the right path for you. Why not instead look at further study in computers or teaching?
If, however, you are still keen to enrol for an MBA, then I suggest you start working and opt for a distance MBA after a couple of years, or better still, go for one of the PG programmes in management conducted (via satellite videoconferencing) by several leading Bschools such as the Indian Institutes of Management, among others.
You could try applying to recruitment firms and placement agencies. This will also give you a closer view of the HR function to decide whether it is the right domain for you.
BETTER BRANCH
I am an undergraduate in electronics and communication engineering (ECE).However, I am not sure whether I should continue with electronics and communication engineering or shift to computer science and engineering (CSE). Whenever I discuss this topic with others, they recommend CSE. According to you, which branch is better keeping in mind the growing demand for engineers in the IT sector?
Govind I think you have done the right thing by opting for ECE. Besides telecom, some of the other sectors that ECE graduates can look at are embedded systems, VLSI, printed circuit board designing, automobile, aviation and IT. As far as IT is concerned, companies recruit engineering graduates from across engineering disciplines. As an ECE graduate, you can choose from a wide range of career options, including those in the IT industry.
QUICK JOB
I am about to complete my BBA. I cannot pursue a Master's and need a job right now. What kind of courses can I take while working? I am interested in learning a foreign language as well. Which foreign language will be suitable for me?
Binoy You should look at courses which will enhance your employability, such as in sales and marketing or finance, depending on your interest.Also, do not be overly picky about your first job upon graduation. Treat it as an experience where you are being paid to learn. Once in a job, you can switch companies, sectors and even fields.
As far as learning a foreign language goes, do so, if it interests you. But remember that it will require considerable time to build sufficient proficiency in the language for it to help you land an assignment. It is, however, a life skill and a great way to add to your overall personality.Just do not bank on it for employment in the near future.