dated July 26, 2006
(Questions answered on career concerns)
What are the prospects for civil engineering?
Avinash Kurapati
Via email
Civil engineers are involved with construction-related work. They are involved in the planning, research, survey and construction of all kinds of buildings, roads, traffic and transportation systems, irrigation and power plants, water supply and sewage disposal plants, ports and harbours, oil rigs, etc. They are responsible for planning and designing a project and having it constructed to the required scale. You may find opportunities related to construction of residential houses, corporate offices, roads, bridges, flyovers, etc. Civil engineers are employed by all the major construction projects carried out by the government, the railways, private construction companies, military, engineering services, consultancy services ,etc. Some of the possible career opportunities are as builders, city planners, civil engineers, irrigation engineers etc. Civil engineering graduates can also go in for research and take up teaching or consultancy services.
What are the career prospects for M.Sc Statistics and Computers?
Sirisha Pentapalli
Via email
Post - graduates are equipped to enter the statistical profession in a wide range of application areas, including finance (e.g. credit scoring), manufacturing companies, pharmaceutical companies, contract agencies, government agencies and research institutes. The main employers are insurance companies, finance houses, and consulting firms.
Can you give me some tips to overcome the barriers of communication?
Ram Prasath
Via email
In order to overcome communication gaps and barriers especially at the workplace, remember some of these ground rules:
Focus on what you know. Describe your own feelings rather than evaluating others. Express yourself and your views, rather than making assumptions about other people or situations.
Try not to take everything personally, and similarly, express your own needs and opinions in terms of the job at hand. Be genuine rather than manipulative. Be honest with yourself, and focus on working well with the people around you, and acting with integrity.
Allow for other points of view, and be open to other ways of doing things. Diversity brings creativity and innovation.
Value yourself and your own experiences. Be firm about your own rights and needs. Undervaluing yourself encourages others to do the same. Respond to others in ways that acknowledge their experiences. Thank them for their inputs. Confirm their right to their feelings, even if you disagree. Ask questions, express positive feelings; and provide positive feedback when you can.
Be consistent between verbal and non-verbal cues. Non-verbal cues tend to be more convincing than verbal messages.
What is your weakness? How does one respond to such a question in an interview?
Ashutosh Singh
Via email
Generally we know our strengths and are comfortable expressing them. Ideally, the strengths you express should relate to the responsibilities of the job.
Describing a weakness is harder. There's a concern that one might damage oneself in the process. Whatever you do, don't try to turn a weakness into strength. Example: "I work too hard." Interviewers will see right through this ploy. Besides, we all have weaknesses. If you can't express a weakness at the interview, interviewers may wonder if you'll be receptive to constructive criticism in the future.
However, pick a weakness that is technical in nature and that can be fixed by training. Example: "I would like to improve my skills in Excel." Do not pick a weakness that relates to your personality or character. Example: "Sometimes I get impatient with people." Character flaws are generally perceived as unfixable.
I would like to make a career in advertising. How do I go about this?
Vivek Rakesh
Via email
Advertising is one of the aspects of mass communication. Advertising is actually brand building through effective communication and is essentially a service industry. Advertising forms the basis of marketing.
Although fresh graduates are often taken in as trainees for client servicing, most advertising agencies prefer MBAs or those with at least a Diploma in Advertising / Mass Communication, or a BA in Economics. Media planners are also MBAs, or graduates in Economics, or Finance.
Copywriters must be at least graduates with a good all-round education and a flair for writing. Creative talent is the main requirement of the art department. A degree/diploma in commercial art or design from a reputed design school is necessary for a post here.
[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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