Dated May 17, 2006
(Questions answered on career concerns)
What are the prospects for a career in dance?
Manisha
Goa
Performing arts, especially dance, is a highly competitive area of work, with opportunities in a wide range of areas like:
Ballet: Only a few established companies exist for this kind of dance. And unless you're an established dancer, it's difficult to really make a mark.
Contemporary dance: There are comparatively more companies in this area, and some students set up their own groups and give programmes
Musicals: Includes work with cabarets, musicals, cruise liners and occasionally film/television. Performers are usually self-employed.
Teaching dance: You can find employment in schools, colleges and other cultural institutes where dance is taught.
Community dance: Includes project-based work which is sometimes locally funded to promote performing arts.
Overseas employment is an option for dancers. Dancers with companies start at the bottom, and there is keen competition for promotion. Only a few become soloists or principals.
I would like to know the career prospects of industrial engineering and management.
Ramesh Pottlur
Dharwad
Industrial engineers work mainly for manufacturing or industrial production houses. They are also called manufacturing engineers. Industrial engineers plan the most effective ways for an organisation to use people, material, information, energy and machines.
They bridge the gap between management and operations. They work on ways to increase productivity through the management of people and methods of business in the organisation. Industrial engineers use efficient mathematical analysis methods, such as operations research and design, data processing systems, etc. to solve organisational and production related problems. They also develop management control systems to assist in financial planning, cost analysis, production planning and control systems for the physical distribution of goods and services. Many industrial engineers move into management positions because the work is closely related.
Opportunities exist in industrial, public, private and other sectors as business systems analysts or business process engineers; production, process, assets or manufacture engineers; quality control managers; health and safety managers; human resource managers; logistics managers or facilities engineer; project managers; plant supervisors; scheduling and planning managers; operations managers and as management consultants. .
Can you give me some information about group discussions (GDs) and how to face them? Are there any tips to follow, which will be useful to students like me?
Abhay
Pune
Be as natural as possible. Do not try and be someone you are not. A group discussion is your chance to express your views and be more vocal. Take time to think of what you are going to say, preferably jotting a few points as this could help you create the right framework for the discussion.
If you have any doubts regarding the subject or about what another team member has said, ask for clarification. In an open discussion it is always possible to gain attention if you give valuable insights. The marks you score depend not only on your verbal communication, but also on your non-verbal skills.
Some more tips:
Be assertive but not dominating. Try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussion and analysis.
Motivate other members of the team to speak and listen to their views. Be receptive to others' opinions and do not be uncompromising.
Apart from the above, you will also be judged for alertness and presence of mind, problem-solving abilities, ability to work as a team without alienating certain members, and your creativity. Don't be disheartened if you do not do well in your first group discussion. The best possible preparation for a group discussion is to learn from your past mistakes
What are the most important things employers are looking for from someone with little to no experience?
In addition to the basic relevant skills, employers want to see if candidates have done their research and know a fair amount about the employer. .
The first thing is to avoid the mistake of applying generically. After that, you need to convince an employer that you learn fast and will work hard. Sometimes it is easier to apply for a job when no jobs are posted. This is on the assumption that, in this job market, most are hiring pretty regularly. It also helps to apply for either full-time, part-time or contract work. So if your experience is limited, someone might be intrigued enough to take a chance on you on a contract basis rather than hire you full-time.
Do we have any official format for writing a covering letter? If so can you give me some tips?
L Vikram
Itarsi
There is no one "official" format, but here are some basic rules to keep in mind when composing a cover letter.
A three-line block in the top right hand or left-hand corner of the page containing: your home address, city, state, and PIN code, and the date.
Another block, flush left, one space below the date and one space above the greeting. This block contains the addressee's full name and address, including company name, address, city, state, and PIN code.
Use a colon after the greeting, not a comma. The greeting should address a specific person in a formal manner. "Dear Ms. Harper" is perfect; "Dear Jennifer" is not.
Use a personalized salutation (not, for example, "To Whom It May Concern"). Make an effort to find out who will be receiving your letter. If necessary, telephone the company and ask. If you do not find a specific name, address the letter to "Hiring Manager," "Human Resources Manager," or simply "Manager".
A line of space should separate paragraphs' indentation is not necessary.
You may use bullets and bold prints in the body of your cover letter to organize and highlight information, and make it easier to read. The closing should read "Sincerely," followed by your signature underneath, then your full name in print below that. Always leave enough room for your signature between the closing and your name when you print your cover letter.
[The FAQ column deals with career concerns addressed to the C&K Management Ltd. P.O. Box 2178, Secunderabad 500003 or emailed to faqs@cnkonline.com]
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