COVER STORY ChoosingChoosing aa careercareer n the hurry-burry world were for growth and fulfillment. to do with your working life. Suggestions everybody runs after long list of job include: z Ambivalence, fear of change or lack I oriented courses, the students as well of self-awareness, which prevent career z If you don’t know what career to as the parents are equally worried about development. choose, look at your interests. Most the success of each. Normally advice from hobbies can be translated into career z all the parts is rather confusing, leading Failing to keep up with new choices. For example, an interest in them to a wrong destination.The blind technologies. cooking could blossom into a career as notions and forgone conclusions, which z Lacking career-related self-reliance a chef. skills. prevail in our society, usually, add only z Another option is to consider the things momentum to this phenomenon. Hence Choosing a career you excel at. For example, if your it becomes the duty of every parent that Suggestions to help you choose a strongest subjects in school were a judicious and informed decision on career include: Malayalam and science, you could career options should be taken by them consider a career either as a journalist while they select a career for their children. z Most hobbies and interests can be expanded into careers. Look at your or as a scientist and, if you are very A career generally means a progression interests. much interested in drawing you can in a particular field. The progression may select a career as an artist. z Analyze your skills from both paid be in many different directions - upwards, z Learn everything you can about your sideways or into another related field. work and hobbies. What are you good at? potential career. Ask your teachers or Some people are unable to effectively a career guidance bureau like the z Think about what things you like and manage their careers because previous University Employment and Guidance dislike in your life. For example: Do choices have left them few options. They Bureau for information and help. may not have continued their education you prefer to work alone or in a team? z Find out what sort of qualifications or updated their skills. Other issues that Indoor or outside? and experience you need for your can affect a person’s ability to manage his z Find out everything you can about your chosen field. career are labour market and workplace chosen field from employment changes, which are beyond his control. assistance agencies, the Internet, z Voluntary or part-time work in your Choices that can narrow your magazines and people already in the chosen field can give you a better feel career options industry. for the industry. z Voluntary or part-time work will also Some people are unable to effectively z Some industries require qualifications. give you valuable credits on your manage their careers because previous Study time must be taken into account. resume. choices or workplace changes have left z Consider doing voluntary, freelance or them few options. Common reasons part-time work in your chosen field. Starting your own business include: This will give you contacts, industry Starting your own business requires z Dropping out of high school. experience and resume credits - skill, motivation, hard work and a back- up fund of money to tide you over until z Failing to complete a tertiary degree, perhaps even a job. your venture starts making a profit. Self- postgraduate training, or specialized z Be prepared to start at the bottom (or employment can be a risky venture, so short courses. close to it) and work your way up. research your idea thoroughly and seek After the school z Having the attitude that a job is simply advice from professionals, including: a way to make money and get the bills If you have left school or soon will, it · Bank manager paid, rather than an opportunity is important to think about what you want · Accountant 12 June 2004 z KERALA CALLING · Financial advisor · Business advisory service · Business enterprise centre. HSE Avenues available to a person who is employed ACCOMMODATES You have a number of choices about your career, which may include: z Do nothing and stay in your current 2.52 LAKH position. igher Secondary course computer and library facilities. In z Take on extra responsibilities at work was introduced in 84 2004 there are 4196 batches of 50 to enrich your current position. H schools during 1990-91. each and the sanctioned strength is z Work towards getting a promotion. For During the Ninth Plan shifting of 209800 with an additional 20% example, you could do additional Pre-degree from colleges enhancement rising the total number training. accelerated and 842 higher of seats to 2,51,760. z Ask your employer to shift you to a secondary schools were started. Vocational Higher lower paying and less demanding job Thus by the end of the Ninth Plan, Secondary Education within the company. there were 932 Higher Secondary Vocational Higher Secondary z Do another job within your Schools with an annual sanctioned Education was introduced in 19 establishment that offers about the strength of 174300 students in 3486 Govt. High Schools in Kerala during same salary and exacts similar batches. During 1983-84. There are responsibilities as your current job. 2002-03 there were now 375 VHSS of 1267 HSS with There are more which 247 are z Apply for a new job with another government and 128 4194 batches and than enough establishment/company in the same annual sanctioned are private aided. field. student strength of number of higher Under VHSE there z Retrain for another career 2.30 lakhs. Out of are 1000 batches in secondary schools. 42 courses (2003). these schools, 416 If you hate your job Priority attention Out of 1000 batches, If you hate your job, it helps to work are government, of the 328 are in out why. You can make smarter career 512 private aided engineering choices once you understand the reasons and 339 private Government is technology, 204 are behind your job dissatisfaction. Some unaided. now given to in business and factors and possible solutions to consider Enrolment of quality, teacher commerce and 143 before you quit include: students in Higher are in agriculture. Secondary Schools upgradation and Similarly out of 43 z Conflict with fellow people- you was only 2.01 lakhs laboratory, subjects (SPB study), could try to negotiate better working in 2002-03 as 14 are in engineering relationships. Start by approaching computer and against the technology, 7 are in difficult people in a friendly (or at least sanctioned strength library facilities. business and civil) manner. of 2.30 lakhs.. 2.74 commerce, 6 are z Boredom - consider training for a lakh students paramedical and 4 each in agriculture promotion or taking on additional appeared for higher activities. and fisheries. The secondary examination and 1.63 sanctioned intake and actual z Stress - talk to your manager about lakh students (59.42%) passed. Total enrolment of students in VHSS ways to reduce your workload. number of teachers in higher during 2003 -04 are 33,000 and z No promotion prospects - don’t secondary schools is 16,292 in 2003 29089 respectively. 20% enhancement assume there is no possibility of and out of them 6883 (42%) are has been made this year. This shows advancement. Talk it over with your in government and 9409 (58 that students enrolled are only 88% of friends, superiors and organisations. percent) are in the aided sector. sanctioned seats. During 2003, 25543 There are more than enough students appeared for examination and z Other factors - other issues in your number of higher secondary 18723 students passed (73.3%). life, such as financial problems or schools. Priority attention of the (Source: Economic Review 2003) unsatisfying personal relationships may Government is now given to quality, be influencing your feelings about teacher upgradation and laboratory, work. KERALA CALLING z June 2004 13 · Financial advisor · Business advisory service · Business enterprise centre. HSE Avenues available to a person who is employed ACCOMMODATES You have a number of choices about your career, which may include: z Do nothing and stay in your current 2.52 LAKH position. igher Secondary course computer and library facilities. In z Take on extra responsibilities at work was introduced in 84 2004 there are 4196 batches of 50 to enrich your current position. H schools during 1990-91. each and the sanctioned strength is z Work towards getting a promotion. For During the Ninth Plan shifting of 209800 with an additional 20% example, you could do additional Pre-degree from colleges enhancement rising the total number training. accelerated and 842 higher of seats to 2,51,760. z Ask your employer to shift you to a secondary schools were started. Vocational Higher lower paying and less demanding job Thus by the end of the Ninth Plan, Secondary Education within the company. there were 932 Higher Secondary Vocational Higher Secondary z Do another job within your Schools with an annual sanctioned Education was introduced in 19 establishment that offers about the strength of 174300 students in 3486 Govt. High Schools in Kerala during same salary and exacts similar batches. During 1983-84. There are responsibilities as your current job. 2002-03 there were now 375 VHSS of 1267 HSS with There are more which 247 are z Apply for a new job with another government and 128 4194 batches and than enough establishment/company in the same annual sanctioned are private aided.