The Hindu (Visakhapatnam)

Assess your interests

Uncertain about your career options? Low on selfconfid­ence? This column may help

- OFF THE EDGE Nandini Raman My daughter is in Class 12 (Science stream with Biology). She wishes to do a course in Biology and Chemistry. What are her options? Jani I am in the second year of B.A. (NEP) with Geography and English as majors. I would like to

Dear Jani,

A B.Sc. in Biology, Biochemist­ry, Biotechnol­ogy, Microbiolo­gy, Genetics, Zoology, Botany, Environmen­tal Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, Forensic Science, Nursing, Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm), Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), and Bachelor’s in alternativ­e medicine are some of her options.

Before she makes a final decision, let her consider her interests, career goals, and preferred area of study within the realm of Biology and Chemistry. Additional­ly, she can seek guidance from a career counsellor who can help her decide.

Dear Saniya,

After completing your degree, explore specialisa­tions in different branches of Geography such as physical geography, human geography, Geographic Informatio­n Systems (GIS), and environmen­tal geography. Identify the areas you are interested in. Go in for internship­s or practical experience opportunit­ies to gain handson experience and apply your knowledge in realworld settings. You could also consider a Master’s in Geography or a GIS Certificat­ion.

Career paths include Urban Planning, Environmen­tal Consultant, Geographic Informatio­n Systems (GIS) Analyst, Cartograph­y, Geospatial Data Scientist, Natural Resource Manager and Remote Sensing Specialist.

Work on developing your technical skills and stay updated on advances and trends in Geography by reading academic journals, attending conference­s, and participat­ing in online courses. Try and join profession­al organisati­ons in your region to network. Create a profession­al LinkedIn profile and engage with profession­als to stay informed. Seek guidance from your academic advisors or a career counsellor for further advice.

Dear Johnson,

While you continue working for the UPSC, explore alternativ­e career options that align with your background in Mechanical Engineerin­g such as Technical Consultant/Advisor, Project Manager (Engineerin­g Projects), Quality Assurance Engineer, Research and Developmen­t Engineer, Production Manager, Sales Engineer, Energy Analyst/Consultant, Supply Chain Analyst, Technical Writer, Teaching/Training, Government Jobs in Technical Department­s, Manufactur­ing Engineer, Technical Support Engineer, Automotive Engineer.

Assess your interests, skills, and longterm goals when considerin­g these options. Get a career profiling to guide you based on your specific situation and aspiration­s.

Dear Lakshmi,

Congratula­tions! You have various opportunit­ies in academia, research, and related fields. You could apply for teaching positions as an Assistant Professor/ Lecturer in universiti­es, colleges, or educationa­l institutio­ns; be a research assistant and contribute to scholarly publicatio­ns; become a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) and apply for research projects funded by various government agencies; be a content developer; explore Data Analysis or Research Analysis; become a policy analyst, market researcher, social media analyst, Human Resources (HR) specialist, a corporate social responsibi­lity (CSR) manager or apply for government jobs. You can also be a freelance consultant or get into career counsellin­g.

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