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Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Financial Services

Over the last couple of years, with the emergence of a global economy, there has been a great revolution in the role of finance and accounting. Every business activity is today measured in terms of bottom-lines. finance departments are looked at more as profit centres than as cost centres.Today there are a host of careers and employment opportunities available within the broad ambit of the term financial services. Mainly, banking, chartered accountancy, company secretary, and stocks & securities.
  • Banking
  • Chartered Accountancy
  • Company Secretary
  • Stocks and Securities

Other Financial Services

There are several other financial services that offer good career prospects. These include costs and works accountancy, chartered financial analysis, financial planning, investment planning, business finance, merchant banking, foreign exhcange dealing and so on.

Cost and Works Accountancy

This specializes in stabilizing budgets and standards, evaluating operational efficiency and the effectiveness of production and service management, formulating the profile planning programme, guiding managerial decisions, identifying accountability for cost and profit variance, and thus rendering valuable assistance to the management. The Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India (ICWAI), New Delhi, provides training in this area. It has several branches all over the country.

Chartered Financial Analysis

This is basically an additional qualification for financial executives. A financial analyst's areas of expertise include corporate finance, which deals with management accoutning and financial management; investment management, which includes aspects of economics, quantitative techniques, economic legislation and security evaluation; and financial services, which cover project planning, merchant banking services, portfolio management, venture capital, leasing, hire, purchase, new issue management, credit rating and other allied areas. The ICFAI is the premier institution for this programme. Some business management institutes also offer this course.

Financial Planning

Financial planning is required mainly in the financial services serctors of banking, insurance and investment advisory services. the International College of Financial Planning, New Delhi (with branches in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad) provides training in certified financial planning. The Institute of Financial and Investment Planning, Mumbai Offers a diploma course in financial and investment planning.

Business Finance

This is a specilization which not only includes aspects of conventional auditing and accounting but also as vast range of activities like fund raising, foreign exchange, treasury management, investment banking, money market operations and broking. The Department of Financial Studies, University of Delhi (South Campus) offers a master's degree in finance and control essentially to commerce/economics graduates. The Indian School of Finance, New Delhi offers a master's in business finance.

Careers Related to Financial Services
  • Business Management
  • Business Consultancy
  • Cost and Works Accountancy
  • Actuarial Science
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Market Research
  • Economics

Monday, October 7, 2013

Information Technology

Looking for Career Option as Information Technology ? 

This section features information technology as a career option, elaborated with reference to the job profile, personality traits required, the courses and training involved, premier institutions and future prospects.

This is Information Technology age. Now days, computers are used in not only corporate world but also in other fields from exploration of space to the food processing, in banking or in any communication field.
Two main sections are in Information Technology as given below:

Hardware:

The physical elements of the computer are included in this and deal with the manufacturing, designing, and the maintenance of computer system.
Functional areas in the Hardware are:
  • Manufacturing
  • Maintenance
  • Research and Development
  • Management
Software:

Set of instructions are included in this through which computer can perform the given task. This contains the work such as designing the programs.
Functional areas in Software:
  • Manufacture
  • Software development:
  • Data entry:
  • Programmers/Coders:
  • Application programmers:
  • Support services:
Personality Traits

The individual who wants to enter in this field must have the following personal traits:
  • Willingness and flexibility for learning new things, new technologies and adopting methods of the work
  • Ability to focus and concentrate
  • Logical thinking
  • Creativity
  • Organizational and administrative abilities
  • Accuracy
  • Confidence
  • Ready to work for long hours and ability to work hard
  • High intellectual capacity
  • Ability to take decisions
  • Ability to gel well with people and good communicational skills

Courses/Training

Since this is a specialized field and therefore requires technical and academic skills. In different institutions different courses are available. Following are the courses are given for this field:
  • Bachelor in Computer Applications (BCA)
  • B.Tech and B.E
  • Bachelor in Science with Computers (B.Sc)
  • Masters in System Management
  • Masters in Computer Applications (MCA)
  • M.Sc in computers
  • M.Tech
  • Certification Courses
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications
  • Diploma in Computer Applications
  • DOEACC's O, A, B, C level courses.

Institutions
  • Department of Computer Science, Alagappa University, Karaikudi-630003.
  • Department of Computer Science, Alagappa University, Karaikudi-630003.
  • Department of Computer Science, Alagappa University, Karaikudi-630003.
  • Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Annamalai University, Anna- malainagar - 608 002
  • Department of Computer Science, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam - 530003.
  • Department of Computer Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappali;
  • Post-graduate Department of Computer Science, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal
  • Department of Computer Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani - 333 031;
  • Department of Computer Science, University of Delhi, Delhi -110007.
  • Of Computer Science, Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar-125 001, Haryana.
  • Institute of Computer Science, Guru Ghasidas University, Balaspur - 495 009.
  • Department of Computer Science, University of Hyderabad, P.O. Central University, Hyderabad-500 046.
  • Institute of Computer Science and Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi-110025.
  • Department of Computer Science, University of Mysore, Mysore-570 006.
  • Department of Computer Science, University of Jammu, Dr. B.R. Ambedker Marg, Jammu-180004.
  • Department of Computer Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad, 500 036.
  • Centre for Computer Science and Engineering, Anna University, Chennai.
  • Department of Computer Science, Madurai Kamaraj Univeristy, Palkalainagar, Madurai, Tamil Nadu - 625021
  • School of Computer Science, Kakatiya University, Warangal- 506 009.
  • School of Computer Enginee-ring, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Mahaveer Marg, Hyderabad- 500 008.
  • Department of Computer Science, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishakapathi, Thirunelveli
  • Department of Computer Science, Kurukshetra Univer-sity, Kurukshetra - 136 119;
  • Institute of Computer Science, University of Madras, Chepauk Chennai-600005.
Placements And Prospects

Numbers of activities are included in the Information Technology such as Office Automation, Computing, and Telecommunication, therefore it gives number of job opportunities in different fields and so they have right qualification.

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Pharmacy

Looking for a Career Option as pharmacists ? 

This section features Pharmacy as a career option, elaborated with reference to the job profile, personality traits required, the courses and training involved, premier institutions and future prospects.

In our day-to-day life pharmacists play an important role, as they are very much into research and manufacture of drugs. As a pharmacist.Thus, pharmacy is closely associated with scientific study.
Pharmacy as a career option has always been in demand. India being a huge nation of about a billion populations, diseases both minor and major has been a curse upon the weak and the poor. In the previous centuries and almost till the middle of the 20th century killer diseases such as acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea, depression, tuberculosis, measles, anaemia etc have been affecting thousands every year. With the advancements in medical science most of these diseases have been brought under control, with the help of high powerful antibiotics and other life saving drugs. This is where pharmacy steps in to fill the void.
Pharmacists study the chemistry of drugs, their origin, procedures for drug development, their preparation, dispensing, their effects and eventual use for prevention and treatment of disease. The complexity of drug therapy and the dangers of drug abuse has brought into focus the need of pharmacists' special skills to maintain a rational approach in the realm of drug treatments.

Personality Traits

Pharmacists must have a scientific bent of mind and should have interest in medicine. The academic acumen of pharmacists can range from average to superior. Pharmacists in research and industries should have excellent academic potential. An ability to work methodically, carefully and accurately is needed for work in hospitals, stores, laboratories and shop floors. Sympathetic attitude, caring mannerisms and a friendly disposition are required for dealing with patients.

Excellent communication skills are required by pharmacists engaged in marketing and in the production units of industries. Pharmacists in management positions must have effective management skills. In the retail sector, additional skills in merchandising, selling and financial management are required.
Pharmacists work in research, processing and manufacture of drugs. Biotechnological research has added a dynamic potential to the work of pharmacists. The investment in research and development is envisaged to expand the sphere of business activity, both in the country and abroad. Multinational joint venture partnerships have given a thrust to this growth, which has targeted business of almost 40,000 crores, approximately 3.8% of the market share by the turn of the century.

Courses/Training

After Class XII (PCM/B), the study of pharmacy is at the following levels – Diploma courses are of 2 years' duration, degree courses of 4 years' duration.
  1. After graduate degree in pharmacy, M Pharma course of 2 years' duration can b undertaken.
  2. Graduates in pharmacy can opt to do postgraduate study in biotechnology, particularly if they aspire to become research scientists.
  3. Diploma holders can find work work as technicians.
  4. Graduate pharmacists can opt for retail and hospital jobs.
  5. Postgraduates and doctorates are selected for research, production, quality control and management positions.
Those with B. Pharm and above can work in production section in pharmaceutical companies, product marketing, quality control, research, etc. They are also employed by large hospitals and research centres. There is a demand for pharmacists in western countries also, and many Indians have fared well in this field abroad.

Placements And Prospects

Those opting for D. Pharm. are employed in the above organizations at a lower level, and they also find vast avenues of employment in pharmacies and medical shops, for whom it is compulsory by law to employ a pharmacist.

Pharmacists work in four areas:
  1. Hospital pharmacist – The tasks:Procure, stock, prepare and dispense medicines, drugs and other medical accessories. Undertake responsibility for stock control, storage, placing orders, labelling and financial budgeting and account-keeping for the dispensary. The pharmacists are expected to meet patients, doctors and nurses to discuss the supply of medicines and the appropriate form of drugs for administration.
  2. Retail pharmacists – The tasks:In medical retail stores, the pharmacist prepares and dispenses drugs on prescription to the general consumer With the growing availability of pre-packaged doses, the pharmacist monitors the drug sale on the basis of prescriptions and dosages, and gives over the counter advice on how to use prescribed drugsIn the retail sector, pharmacists run chemist's shops As medical representatives, they inform and educate the medical practitioners of the potential uses of the drug or health product and its administration along with side effects or precautions for its use. The job entails regular visits to medical practitioners, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, health centres. There is usually a lot of touring to be done.
  3. Industrial pharmacists – While most firms are involved in the production of preformulated preparations, a growing number of firms are developing new formulations through autonomous research work. Industrial pharmacists carry out clinical trials, where drugs are tested for safety and effectiveness work in research and development to develop new formulations the production job entails management and supervision of the production process, packaging, storage and delivery work in marketing, sales and quality control.
  4. Research pharmacists - Research pharmacists are engaged in research activities in pharmaceutical firms, research organisations and laboratories.

For Diploma in Pharmacy

  1. As a Pharmacist in Govt/Semi Govt/Private Hospitals.
  2. They can start their own Medical Store.

For Bachelor in Pharmacy

  1. As a Medical representative or a medical detailing man.
  2. Marketing Managers or a Sales Manager.
  3. Drug Inspectors.
  4. Drug Controllers.
  5. Graduate Pharmacist
  6. Chief Pharmacist.
  7. As Lecturers for D.Pharm and B.Pharm Colleges etc.
For Masters in Pharmacy:
  1. As Lecturers for B.Pharm Colleges.
  2. Basic degree for Ph.D.,
  3. Research Assistant or Research Associate etc.
Pharmacy teachers with B.Pharma having put in 5 years of minimum teaching experience in any institution approved by AICTE are also eligible for M.Pharma course.

The prospects-

Registered pharmacists work in health centres, hospitals and medical dispensing stores, in pharmaceutical industry, in the manufacturing, analytical and research and development divisions. They also work in drug control administration as Drug Inspector, Analytical Chemist, in the Customs office experts on drugs and pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Supplies and Rehabilitation as Assistant Director of Supplies, medical representatives and executives in pharmaceutical sale divisions.
A number of multinational companies like Hoechst, E Merck and Smith Kline Beecham are collaborating with leading Indian companies as well as government labs, thus offering many job options for qualified professionals. Most large pharmaceutical firms have research divisions requiring skilled manpower. Fresh postgraduates and Ph Ds are recruited as analytical research scientists/associates or as product development research associates.
The Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) Lucknow; National Chemical Laboratory, Pune; the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad also employ researchers.
Drug and pharmaceutical firms employ graduates, postgraduates and doctorates with a background in pharmaceuticals as management trainees for their production units, operations, as well as for quality control and quality certification. With adequate experience, these people rise to senior management positions. More than 20,000 industries manufacturing drugs and pharmaceuticals exist in India, employing almost 1.5 million people.

Journalism


Looking for a Career Option in the Field of Journalism ?

This section features Journalism as a career option, elaborated with reference to the job profile, personality traits required, the courses and training involved, premier institutions and future prospects.

Journalism is concerned with collection and dissemination of news through the print media as well as the electronic media. This involves various areas of works like reporting, writing, editing, photographing, broadcasting or cable casting news items.
Journalism is classified into two on the basis of media-
  1. Print Journalism
  2. Electronic (Audio/Visual) Journalism
Print Journalism includes newspapers, magazines and journals. In print journalism one can work as editors, reporters, columnists, correspondents etc. Electronic journalism includes working for Radio, Television and the Web. In the web, skilled people are required to maintain sites by web newspapers (which cater only to the web and do not have print editions) and popular newspapers and magazines who have their own web editions. In electronic journalism one can be a reporter, writer, editor, researcher, correspondent and anchor.
Career in journalism is a prestigious profession as well as a highly paid one. Journalist play a major role in the development of nation. It is through them that we get information about daily happenings in the society. The purpose of journalism itself is to inform and interpret, educate and enlighten the people.
The opportunities for journalists are endless and at the same time the job has become more challenging, as the new world is proving the adage that "the pen (and the camera) is mightier than the sword." Simple reporting of events is no more sufficient, more specialisation and professionalism in reporting is required. Journalists specialize in diverse areas, such as politics, finance and economics, investigation, culture and sports for newspapers and periodicals.

Personality Traits

To become a journalist one should have an inquisitive mind, will power, an aptitude for presenting information in an accurate, concise and effective manner, organize their thoughts and to express themselves clearly both orally and in writing. At the same time a journalist has to be tactful, confident and organised while interviewing people from all walks of life. They must have the ability to sift relevant facts from the irrelevant. The ability to accept criticism and willingness to do considerable rewriting are also necessary.

Courses/Training

Courses in Journalism are

Diploma Courses
  • Diploma Course in Journalism & Mass Communication
  • Diploma Course in Rural Journalism
  • Diploma in Administrative Drafting & Reporting in Hindi
  • Diploma in Communication & Media Development
  • Diploma In Communication, Journalism and Public Relations
  • Diploma in Folkloric & Journalism
  • Diploma In Journalism
  • Diploma In Mass Media
  • Diploma in Mass Media In Urdu
  • Diploma In Media Communication
Post Graduate Courses 
  • Post Graduate Course in Communication
  • Post Graduate Course in Hindi Journalism
  • Post Graduate Course in Journalism
  • Post Graduate Course in Mass Communication & Journalism
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism & Communication
  • Post Graduate Diploma In Journalism, Public Relations And Advertising
  • Post Graduate Diploma In Mass Communication & Electronic Journalism
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Media
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Rural & Tribal Communication
  • Post Graduate Programme In Communication
Other Courses 
  • B.A with Journalism
  • B.A with Mass Communication
  • B.A with Mass Communication & Journalism
  • B.A with Mass Communication & Journalism in Hindi
  • Bachelor Of Journalism
  • Bachelor Of Mass Communication
  • Bachelor Of Mass Communication & Journalism
  • Certificate Course in Journalism
  • Course in Mass Communication & Journalism
  • Course In Photo Journalism
  • Course in Sports Journalism
  • Course In Television Journalism
  • M.A in Journalism
  • M.A in Journalism & Mass Communication
  • Master Diploma In Journalism & Communication
  • Master Of Journalism With Cinema Studies
  • Master's Degree In Journalism And Public Relations
  • Master's Degree in Mass Communication & Journalism
Eligibility

Bachelor's degree or post-graduate degree in journalism/mass communication is required to pursue a career in this field. Additional course work, specialized training or experience, fieldwork or intern-ship increases one's opportunities in the field. There are a number of universities and institutes offering training in journalism.
Minimum eligibility for Bachelor degree in journalism is 10+2 and for Post graduate degree courses a Bachelor degree in journalism. Some institutes also provide one year certificate courses in journalism for which eligibility is 10+2. There are also courses in specialized areas of journalism like sports, television, photo, press law etc.
No course or training can claim to make one, a journalist. The courses train persons in the technical aspects only, to ensure one's success in the field one must have an inborn ability to write and produce new stories in correct, concise and interesting style. Latest trend in this regard is that big groups of newspapers advertise the posts of trainees for which all graduates are eligible. After conducting the entrance examination, suitable graduate trainees, with flair for writing are selected and employed. In other words, now the formal academic qualification for being a reporter, copy writer or correspondent is not essential.

Placements And Prospects

They can find employment with newspapers, periodicals and magazines, central information service, press information bureau, websites, AIR and TV channels like Doordarshan, ZEE TV, Star TV etc. At the same time they can do freelancing. One can also take up this career as a part time employment along with any other field of work.
Journalists can work as editors, reporters, columnists, correspondents, staff or freelance writer, photojournalists, proofreaders, news analysts etc. in print (newspapers and magazines) and electronic (Radio, Television and Web) media.

Remuneration

The minimum salary as per government directive has to be Rs. 5500 to Rs. 9000 for reporters and senior reporters, Rs. 5000 to Rs. 10,500 for the chief reporters and sub-editors, and Rs. 7500 to 12000 for editors. Actual salaries offered depend on the company one is working with, and can be anything from very high to very low.
Travel and stay expenses as well as allowances are additional with all pay packets. Freelancers are paid for each piece of work they submit.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Law

Looking for a Career Option in the Field of Law ?
 This section features Law as a career option, elaborated with reference to the job profile, personality traits required, the courses and training involved, premier institutions and future prospects.
Legal profession is one of the growing and lucrative professions all over the world. It is one of the most adventurous as well as exciting career. Lawyers are held in high esteem in our society, and there remains the faith that when all else fails, one can still take recourse to the legal system. In our daily life in one way or other we may come across situations where legal advice is required. In such situation we need the advice of a legal professionals who analyse and interpret law properly.
Lawyers counsel clients about their legal rights and suggest course of action in a particular matter. They also advise clients and draw up legal documents, such as wills and contracts and conduct negotiations on legal matters, and may represent clients in court and tribunal proceedings.
Academic excellence is not the main thing behind the success in this profession. Professional competence acquired through experience and practice with efficient lawyers is the main yardstick of success.
There are various areas of specialisation in this field which one can choose from like corporation law, civil law, criminal law, international law, labour law, patent law, tax law and so on.
There are number of institutions and universities conducting courses in law. The most premier among law universities in India is National Law School Of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore. Admission to NLSIU is through an All India Admission Test held usually on first Sunday in May. University College Bangalore, Government College Mumbai, ILS law college and Symbiosis college, Pune and Faculty of Law of Delhi University, Aligarh Muslim University etc are some of the other leading legal Institutions in India.

Personality Traits

Success in this profession is not based on marks one obtain in the exam, but it is very much related to personal attributes. One must have good oral and written communication skills, logical reasoning, power of concentration, patience, good memory to relate and quote past cases to prove your point, ability to argue and discuss matters with a variety of people, self confidence, courage to deal with threats especially in criminal cases etc. He should have up-to-date information on any changes in law. A good library and a fair amount of reading is also important.

Courses/Training

In addition to LL.B. degree, many universities and institutes also offer other diploma courses in several disciplines of law, including Administrative Law, International Law, Labour Laws, Tax Laws and Corporate Laws.
There are various branches of specialisation in law like civil law, criminal law, corporate law, property law, income tax law, marine law, public international law, family law, labour law, press law, excise law, constitutional law, administration law, sale of goods law, trade mark, copyright and patent law etc. one can choose from.

Eligibility

Minimum qualification to go for a course in law (LLB) is 10+2. Course duration is of 5 years and is sponsored by the Bar Council Of India.
P.G. Programmes in law (LLM) are of 2 years duration & eligibility is LLB degree

Placements And Prospects

They can find employment in various courts of law, in government service both Central and State government, as teachers, as legal advisors in various companies, business houses, organisations etc. They also do private practice as legal advisors, advocates, solicitors etc.
One who wishes to become an advocate and practice law as a profession in India, should enroll with the local State Central Bar council. An application for admission as an advocate shall be made in the prescribed form to the State Bar Council within whose jurisdiction the applicant proposes to practice. The Bar Council of India and the State Bar Councils forms a self contained code of law for legal professionals practicing in India. Lawyers can find employment in a variety of positions in the Government Service as well as other fields. Lawyer can also work as legal counsel and legal advisers for firms, organizations and families. They can work as trustees of various trusts, as teachers, law reporters, company secretary and so on. Opportunities exist in the defense services too. Additional qualification along with law degree offers scope for a wide range of employment opportunities.
  1. Government ServicesLawyers are appointed in central services ( Indian legal service) through UPSC on grounds of their experience in the field. Post covered under Indian legal service are Law officers, Assistant Advisors, Dy. Legal Advisors and Legal Advisors.
    State legal service appoints lawyers through SPSC exams in senior position in State police/Revenue/Judicial Departments. The basic qualification is degree in law, besides a degree in Arts / Science / Commerce / Agriculture. Average age limit is between 21 to 30 years.
    In the judiciary, the posts are that of the magistrate, district and sessions judge, munsifs (sub-magistrate), public prosecutor, solicitors, attorney general, advocate general, notary and oath commissioner. There are also legal secretaries appointed in assemblies, law inspectors, legal officers in banks, judicial members of income tax, sales tax and excise departments, government advocates and staff in the registrar of companies' office. The examination for these posts take place periodically & is advertised as and when the vacancies occur.
  2. Magistrate and Sub-MagistrateA candidate who qualifies in the Law Service Commission or State Public Service Commission is eligible for appointment as Magistrate and Sub-Magistrate ( munsif). While magistrate presides over criminal court, munsif delivers judgment on civil cases. Promotion may take a person higher up to sub-judge, District and Sessions Courts Judge and further (depending upon seniority and vacancy) to appointments in High Courts and the Supreme Court.
  3. Public DefendersAt the state, federal and local level, public defenders serve as court-appointed attorneys for those who cannot afford an attorney.
  4. Public Prosecutor
    Govt. Pleaders represent the State in sessions courts and lends advice to officers in districts in all legal matters when called for.
  5. Solicitor
    Advices the government on legal matters and submit statement of important cases to Attorney General of India for his opinion or appearance in the Supreme court as necessary. A Solicitor General makes sure that the Attorney General performs his duties properly.
  6. Attorney General
    Attorney general appointed by the president advices the government of India on such legal matters as may be assigned to him by the president. He has the right of audience in all courts of India and participate in the proceedings of Parliament without the right to vote.
  7. Advocate General
    Similar to the post of Attorney General at centre, each state has an Advocate General appointed by State Governors. These offices generally prosecute cases that have statewide significance and work with local District Attorney's offices in the prosecution of cases. One of the best ways to gain trial experience quickly after graduation is to work at a state attorney's office.
  8. District Attorney
    Assistant State Attorneys (also called district attorneys) are primarily responsible for criminal matters and prosecution. The District Attorney is usually an elected official. Depending upon the size of the District Attorney's office, they may have multiple units that focus upon different types of crime such as domestic violence, homicide, appellate work or sex crimes. If you work with a smaller District Attorney's office, you may have the option of handling diverse caseloads.
  9. Notary, Oath Commissioner
    A notary is a legal practitioner of at least ten years experience in the profession. He is appointed on application to Central, State government to draw, verify, authenticate, certify and attest the execution of any deed. Oath commissioner is another established authority similar to the notary.
  10. Legal Advisers
    Public sector undertakings and state and central government organisations also employ lawyers as advisers.
  11. Other fields
    Lawyer can also work as legal counsel and legal advisers for firms, organizations and families. They can work as trustees of various trusts, as teachers, law reporters, company secretary and so on. Opportunities exist in the defense services too. Additional qualification along with law degree offers scope for a wide range of employment opportunities.
  12. Defence Service
    They can work in the legal branches of defence departments such as the Indian army, Navy and Air force. They conduct courts of enquiry and court martials of offending service personnel governed by the particular legislation acts.
  13. Legal Advisors
    They work in legal departments of firms or for private clients. Legal advisors counsel their clients as to their legal rights and obligations and suggest the appropriate course of action in business and personal matters. They also check deeds, issue writs, collect information for affidavits and draft legal documents.
  14. Advocate
    An advocate practises in the court of law. He represents a party (individual, group of individuals or a company) in a court of law. They present the facts of the case to the judge, cross examine witnesses and finally sum up the reasons as to why the court should decide in their clients' favour.
  15. Solicitor
    Solicitor is a kind of advisor to clients on a variety of matters that involves law. Solicitors explain the cases of his clients to the advocates. Solicitors need never appear in court directly. Solicitor's firms undertake cases related to their area of work.
  16. Teacher
    Those with a good aptitude and taste for teaching, can go for LL.M and take up job in any University or Institute offering law courses to students.
  17. Writer
    If he has a flair for writing may act as an author and produce journals and legal commentaries and bring out law reports. They can write articles for magazines, news papers etc.
  18. Company Secretary 
    A law graduate and/or a member of the Institute of Company Secretaries can be employed as a company secretary in a firm.

Remuneration

Salaries of experienced attorneys vary widely according to the type, size, and location of their employer. Initially an articled clerk or apprentice earns a stipend of Rs 2,200/- This will increase substantially over years of experience. In the government judicial service salaries range from Rs 2,000-4,000. A sub judge earns Rs 5,500 along with the usual allowances and perquisites applicable to government employees. Most salaried lawyers are provided health and life insurance, and contributions are made on their behalf to retirement plans. The private legal practitioner earns comparatively handsome amounts

Accountancy


Looking for a Career Option in the Field of Accountancy ?

This section features Accountancy as a career option, elaborated with reference to the job profile, personality traits required, the courses and training involved, premier institutions and future prospects.
Accountancy tends to be a very stable profession, as financial reports must be generated whether the buisness situation is good or bad. As demand for financial information increases with the emergence of a global economy, the field grows larger. Accountants plan, budget for, analyse, verify and interpret financial transactions. They are also responsible for ensuring that the records of these transactions are kept so that the information can at any time be extracted from them.
Chartered Accountants generally work either as employees in a firm or they indulge in their private practice. Some of the areas suited to the services of Chartered Accounts are as follows

Financial Accounting

Maintaining financial records of an organization is of utmost importance. Financial accounting is a branch of accounting which deals maintaining the financial records. It involves operating accounts, interpreting, supervising, controlling and organizing income and expenditure, doing internal audits, dealing with wages and salaries, paying accounts and sending out invoices, and coping with taxes etc.

Auditing

One of the important tasks performed by Chartered Accounts is auditing. It is the methodical examination and review of the accounts. Chartered Accounts examine and verify the books of accounts and other necessary documents of their employers or clients. On satisfaction, they issue a certificate about the company's financial state. Auditing can be further classified into sub-categories.
  1. Statutory audit
  2. Internal audit
  3. Compulsory tax audit
  4. Certification and audit
Cost Accounting:

 Cost accounting deals with working out the cost of a particular operation or job, taking into account relevant overheads. It is quite a complex task usually undertaken for monitoring expenditure, preventing it from over-shooting, minimizing costs, forecasting future needs and providing reports for management accounting etc. It also helps in drawing comparisons, analyzing costs and explaining financial information.

Tax Management

Sometimes Chartered Accountants specialize in tax management. Their job is to legally ensure minimum incidence of tax. In doing so they have to cope with taxation laws and policies on national as well as international scale depending on the kind of company they work for. Tax management relates not only to direct taxes e.g. income tax but to indirect taxes like sales tax, excise tax, agricultural income tax etc.

Consultancy

The changing scenario in the business world has opened promising and challenging career opportunities for the aspiring young. Consulting services is one such opportunity which has drawn a lot of attention these days. Chartered Accounts often indulge in providing these services in the fields related to finance and accounts. They can efficiently provide services in areas like corporate law advice, project planning and finance, investigations relating to share valuation for takeovers, amalgamation, business advice, secretarial work etc.

Personality Traits

Accountants should have academic and numerical ability, imagination, willingness to take decisions, powers of logical reasoning, an analytical mind, good judgement, tact in dealing with clients and employers, the ability to write and speak concisely, resourcefulness and a confident manner.

Courses/Training


The two major streams in Accountancy are : Chartered Accountancy and Cost And Works Accountancy (Management Accountancy). Those interested can register for the Professional Education (I) or Foundation course with the Institute Of Chartered Accountancy Of India (ICAI) or Institute of Costs And Works Accountancy (ICWAI) respectively. After clearing the PE-I of ICAI or Foundation examination of ICWAI, he/she can start off with the PE-II of ICAI or Intermediate Course of Cost And Works accountancy.
CA programme is of two years apart from the training period. It has three sections,
  1. Foundation
  2. Intermediate
  3. Final examination
  1. Foundation: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India offers CA foundation course to students passing 10+2 in any subject. The duration of the course is one year. On registration with the institute, students are provided with the study material by the Board of Studies. Students have to complete their study and clear the test papers under the postal tuition scheme. They also have an option to attend contact classes organised by accredited institutions. Students opting for these classes are exempted from taking the test papers under the postal tuition scheme.After 12 months of registration and satisfactory compliance with the requirement of the Board of Studies, the Foundation examination can be taken up. The examination is conducted twice every year i.e. in the months of May and November. The course has four papers in the following subjects.
    Fundamentals of Accounting, Mathematics and Statistics, Economics Mercantile Law
    After clearing the papers of the foundation course, candidates can register for articleship (apprenticeship) under the practicing CAs or CA firms. Articleship has to be done for a period of over 3 years. The training begins under close supervision and later on, articles can manage bigger assignments. The purpose of articleship is to impart practical training and exposure of the profession. During the articleship, after 12 months, the articles can take up intermediate examination. Articleship also includes a year of industrial training which can be done in the last year after clearing Intermediate examination. After completing articleship, seeking membership of the Institute is essential for practicing as a Chartered Accountant. After 5 years of membership fellowship of the Institute can be taken.
    Many students prefer to pursue Chartered Accountancy professional training and course after graduating. These students have to take entrance test in 4 subjects (Elements of Accounting, English, Mathematics and General commercial knowledge and Economics). Graduates who have secured 50% marks in subjects (Accounting, Auditing and Commercial or Mercantile Law) are exempted from taking the entrance test. Other graduates with 55% marks are also exempted from the entrance test. Rest all is same as those who have taken the Foundation Course.
  2. Intermediate Examination: Registered students who have completed 9 months of training as articled or audit clerks and have completed the oral/postal tuition scheme imparted by the Board of Studies, are eligible to take the Intermediate Examination. The Examination has the following subjects.
    1. Group I:Accounting, Law, and Auditing
    2. Group II:Cost accounting, Income-Tax & Central Sales Tax, and Oganisation&Management and Fundamentals Of Electronic Data Processing.
  3. Final Examination: Students who successfully clear both the groups of Intermediate Examination of the Institute and complete the prescribed period of practical training (3years) or have yet to serve a period not more than 9 months of such services can take the Final Examination. The Examination has the following groups.
    1. Group I:This group consist of the following subjects; Advance Accounting, Management Accounting, Auditing and Company Law
    2. Group II:This group consist of the following subjects; Direct Tax Laws, Corporate Management, Secretarial Practice, Managerial Economics and National Accounting Operational Research and Statistical Analysis, System Analysis and Data Processing, Costs Systems and Cost Control Management Information and Control Systems, Tax Planning and Tax Management, Management and Operational Audit.

Placements And Prospects


Chartered accountants and Cost And Works accountants find work in government service, industry and private consultancy. The government, industry and buisness are increasingly drawing upon these professionals for planning and executing their financial programmes.
The present day complex tax systems, improved methods of computing costs and controlling budgets, the new fields of management accounting and the innovations in accounting methodology have increased the importance of the accountancy profession. The field is competitive, challenging and remunerations are approx. above Rs. 10000 to start with (although this varies with location and employing organisation and invidual capability).
The fast moving world of finance requires more and more accountancy professionals with the increasing numbers of financial institutions both Indian and Mutinational.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Fashion

Looking for a Career Option in the Field of Fashion ? 

This section features Fashion as a career option, elaborated with reference to the job profile, personality traits required, the courses and training involved, premier institutions and future prospects.

India which has always been a centre for the textile and garment trade is also growing into a centre of innovation in garment and accessory design. Fashion technology has a wide scope for choosing a career. Now the fashion industry has become so specialized that it encompasses a vast field of studies in design, concept management, design production management, quality control, planning, fabric design, printing, fashion accessory design, fashion merchandising, textile science, colour mixing, marketing and so on. The primary areas of work in the fashion industry are market research, designing and manufacturing of garments and textiles. Fashion design is the most important area of work in fashion industry. Designing involves creating original designs after studying the changing trends of the market i.e market research. It has various fields of specialisation like garments, footwear, jewellery and even luggage. It is a challenging field as it requires the coordination of various jobs, in small concerns it is usually a one man show but in big organisations the jobs are specialised and allotted to different people. Manufacturing involves purchasing textiles and fabrics required for the design and making the garment according to the master pattern. Manufacturing process requires employment of a large number of trained personnel
Fashion technology education is designed to train students in the core garment manufacturing technology. The basic inputs are in areas of design and management with main emphasis on technology helping students become aware of Information Technology (IT) and its application in the fashion industry. Higher level programmers in fashion technology are designed to train students to excel in understanding and integrating the areas of technology and management for appral manufacturing.

Personality Traits

Fashion designer should have self-confidence, ambition, adaptability  an eye for detail, flair for anticipating new trends and exceptional business flair or unlimited capital. For the fashion designer certain other traits are-manual dexterity, visual imagination, sense of colour, a photographic memory for details, sufficient technical ability to grasp the intricacies of cutting, creative genius, ability for working in a group and willingness to do routine boring work during training period,ability to draw beautifully is not necessary, but basic aptitude for visual expression-drawing, painting, exploring colour and texture is important for fashion designing.

Courses/Training

The courses include Graduate, Post graduate, Certificate and Diploma in the following areas: 
  • Accessory designing and fashion designing 
  • Garment Manufacturing Technology 
  • Apparel marketing and Merchandising 
  • Leather and Garment Design and Technology 
  • Knitwear Design and Technology 
  • Textile Design and Development 
  • Fashion Journalism and Presentation

Training

The training also includes intern-ship in an organization which gives the students industry functions. Training is usually imparted keeping in mind the demands of the international market. Most training institutes have the latest technologies including laboratories, workshops, design and research centres  libraries, computers and information about the latest development in the industry. Prominent institutes in Fashion Technology are National institute of Fashion technology (NIFT), National Institute of Design (NID), International Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi (IIFT); IEC School of Art and Fashion, New Delhi; Indian Institute of Art and Fashion Technology (IIAFT), Mumbai; Pearl Academy of fashion, New Delhi; J.D Institute of fashion Technology, New Delhi.

Eligibility

Minimum eligibility for the Undergraduate course in this field is 10+2 with 50% marks and for Post Graduate courses graduation. In the prominent institutes, admission is strictly on merit- through written test, situation test, group discussion and interview. These courses are aimed at understanding concepts related to costume, jewellery, leather goods and many other similar products where fashion matters.
While 10+2 is sufficient for Accessory designing and Fashion Designing, Graduates are preferred for other courses.

Placements And Prospects

The candidates after successful completion of the course can find excellent placements in garment, leather and jewellery industry as merchandising executives, fashion designers, illustrators, fashion co-coordinators, etc. Export houses, textile mills, garment store chains, boutiques, leather companies, jewellery houses, fashion show organisers also look for such candidates. Fashion professionals are working on their own or they attached to fashion houses or garment export units, to the film industry,to the theatre or to electronic media.
Flairs is an important quality for professionals in fashion industry , whether it is in discipline of design or in marketing  fashion forecasting, organising and staging of shows, fashion coordination, communication or management.
The fashion industry's full of glamour but there is a lot of hard work. it offers tremendous creative satisfaction, frame and money too. Many successful professionals in the industry have come up without formal training but training is important today as the business becomes competitive day by day. success in the world of fashion is linked to flair, initiative and enterprise.

Remuneration

The best bet for a beginner is to get associated with an established designer or design house, and begin with doing the menial work. Most trainee designers get a stipend of around Rs. 4000, but what you can learn in terms of working knowledge is immense. Working as a part of a design team fetches around Rs.12,000 a month.