Career track - which one to choose.

So, the board exams would be over in a few days. And then, many would be relaxed! Hope that was what we students could have done. Actually, despite being extremely anxious awaiting our results, I am sure you would also start worrying about a major area of your life – a decision about your career path. And, your worry is definitely justified because, this is the decision that would have an impact in your lives for the upcoming years and play a significant role in defining your entire career track. If the decision isn’t made carefully you too would end up succumbed in deep ravine of frustration. And envy. And more depression. And societal pressure – society’s remarks. And even more depression – which would choke you stronger and stronger. So, you are literally scared and confused.

If this is you, well, your friend Prabhasini is back again, and she doesn’t want your frown to remain on your beautiful and handsome face for long. So, compiled from interviewing psychologists and counsellors who are experts in handling student’s issues, here is what I have – an effective guide on what to do.

Well, being an Indian student of a middle-class family, we are not really lucky enough to have an American education – wherein we are allowed to explore our choices in colleges while we are unsure of our career track in our Freshman year. There, we delve into variety of stuffs along with focusing in our chosen area and gradually choose our career track. And, being a dominantly capitalist country, scope and liberty of getting practical exposure in an area of choice is immense as well. 

But, the picture for us need not be a doomed one. Especially because we are experts while it comes to making creative ‘jugads’ (alternative solutions to a problem when the exact tools to solve it are unavailable). More so, with a plethora of choices available and shifting trends towards offbeat career options and acceptance beyond engineering and medical streams, I think the picture is rather very optimistic one. Just a little bit of wisdom required.  

For the people completing 10^th standards and who will choose streams in 11^th -

·         Many would say go by your interests. Clinical Psychologists say – interests areas of humans modify and might change over time. They might blend – broaden – or – alter altogether. Further, what might be apparently interesting might seem extremely dull and boring when dealt with theoretically. So, the best solution is to go with a choice that covers a majority of your interest set and will leave scope for future modifications in your interest too. Say for instance – you are not really sure if you wish to study science or commerce or arts. You do not have a clear preference towards engineering. And, you do not have a fascination towards chemistry or physics either. But you love maths and English. And, you have other preferences too. Well, you could take this step – take up Maths and English. Next jot down in a piece of paper what are your other preferences.

·         If you love calculations and calculator, graphs and charts, assessing people or situations then opt for Economics and / or Statistics and / or Finance. Also, fifth subject could be Psychology or Sociology. If you love calculations and calculator, graphs and charts and are engrossed the way the internet works – the underlying aspects of www and networking and love to get to the core sources of wires then take up – Physics Chemistry Maths and Computer Science along with English. The knowledge of Physics and Computer Science combined together with Maths will be really helpful. If the way human bodies work is your core concern, and you are interested in the names of medicines, you love nature and interested in hybrid technology to create grafts, you love animals and want to understand them better, then take up Biology. If your concern is about the way industries work, if you love to read the business section of the newspaper very well, if you are concerned about the price rises and increasing foreign investment and foreign goods’ infusion into our country without parallel growth of exports from our side – the ideal path is to opt for core commerce branch. If instead you love a bit of history and excavating earth for goodies, you also have interest in the society and business area then take Economics with History along with English.  

·         This way, you get good combinations to explore and also have space for future modifications.

·         Although many would try to convince you that core science stream is the best one to opt for – the reality is that no stream is generalised as the best one and all depends on the preferences that you have. It is advised to get second hand copies from seniors and read out the texts in the syllabus. Although practical interests and theories vary – but theory is what we have to study at least for school and understand it and learn to apply it practically too. That really helps to understand which subjects we connect the most with.

·         Also, in core science stream, jumping outright to get enrolled in any coaching for entrance exams adds up unnecessary extra burden beyond academic pressure.  The best way is to figure out – while you have the holiday time prior to the release of results, which joint you would actually love to opt for and know the career consequences of it. It saves both time and money.

·         It is also advised to research upon the areas like – what are the career options available for a particular subject combination, which colleges can one enrol after class 12 for continuing studies, the scopes in India and abroad for the same, and whether it is easy or highly competitive to get a job in the chosen area. Also, the median salary for a choice should be considered along with options regarding ways to diversify income options for a particular track.

·         In case, you couldn’t accommodate your preferences in the school curricula, it is strongly advised that if the field of choice is available as a vocational course or certificate course or diploma, do pursue it. It not only helps keep your options open, it also enhances your skills thus, increasing employability. Further, if this is something you love or are passionate about, then, it will provide you the much needed relaxation as well.

For the people completing 12^th standards and who will commence college life -

·         First, many might have already filled up their forms for JEE, CLAT and medical exams. And, many might be studying day in day out for it. And hopefully many would succeed. But there would still be many who wouldn’t find a place in the top tier colleges. Then what to do. Should you wait for another year and prepare again? Well, with changing economic and technological conditions – Psychologists say ‘NO’. Unknowingly we all harbour this feeling of having lost a battle when we land up in an age-group of people much younger to us yet doing better than us. And, none of us knows the game of prediction that well that we can be sure enough of the next time. It is not a job examination either. So, the best way is to get into alternative choices.

·         One must accept these choices not as compromises they make rather, as alternate solutions to progress in their career paths. The reality is – even an IITian can be unemployed and an ordinary boy or girl from an ordinary college pursuing a general field of study instead of professional course like engineering can be way better equipped and placed in life. Apart from fate – a lot depends on the real skills you develop both technically and practically especially the skills of seizing opportunities to progress.

·         Although the time before one begins to hunt admission to colleges is less, still it is advised that one researches well about colleges. If an informed choice as stated above is made while in 10^th , the process gets a lot easier. Even if not made then, make it now. The college you enrol and the course you study has a significant impact in your lives. Eligibility to several job opportunities depends on this choice. Also, the alumni reach of the institute, the outlook of management which can be assessed from their activities and the industry reach can play a significant role in giving you a lot of opportunities in your career.

·         Here too, try to get admission into a course which would be an amalgamation of a majority of your interest areas. And, in case the curricula don’t provide you with all of them, get exposure through extra courses. Say for instance - you had aspired to be an engineer but unfortunately you couldn’t qualify the joint exams. Well, you also happen to love computers and you have a creative instinct in you too with a fascination towards design creation. Then the best solution would be to either take up BSc Computer Science and a diploma in web-designing or take up BCA and a certificate in web-designing or graphic designing. That way, you can be a computer scientist as well as can transcend to be a web-designer in future.

·         An additional and very important tip here – get real practical experience – which can lead you to get a very good job. Get to do internships which will give you an idea of what the work in your chosen field can be like in reality. To know more about internships, refer to the article here.

• And finally, marks are never the yardstick of inclination towards a career track never a guarantee of success. So, never be motivated or disheartened by it.

This much for now. Hope you enjoy a hassle free process of deciding your career track. And have a great happy lives ahead. 

For personalised guidance and career counselling, send in your emails here - 

aamiprabhasini@gmail.com

Stay tuned for more, till then, Stay happy, Stay healthy, Stay safe.