Dated 24th July, 2002

We are manufacturers of Ayurvedic Medicines. We would like to export our product Saugandhi. Please tell me how to gain entry into the export market and suggest some government or private organisations that deal with export of such items.

Y. Krishna Manohar

Via email

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To promote exports, several export promotion councils have been set across the country by the government. Also, the Indian Trade Promotion Organisation helps in trade promotion efforts in less explored areas. Apart from government bodies, there are a number of export houses, which source products from Indian companies and export them around the world. Depending on your target markets and requirements you could associate yourself with one of the export houses. You can get more information on export related issues by visiting the following websites:

1) http://dir.indiamart.com/

2. http://www.trade-india.com/dyn/gdh/eyp/

Health-and-Beauty/Ayurvedic-Products/:

b. http://trade.indiamart.com/offer/cosmetics- toiletries/ayur/buy.html (A resource of buyers, sellers and dealers of Ayurvedic products.)

3. http://beautyexport.hypermart.net/products.htm

(A company that is into exports of herbal beauty products.)

I have taken B.E computer science and engineering. I want to know about job opportunities that are available abroad.

Murugan

Delhi

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Computing professionals can find openings abroad in academia, research, industry, government, private software, IT and business organisations etc. Some of the research and vocational areas in computing where you can specialise in:

Artificial Intelligence, computer design and engineering, computer architecture, Information Technology, software engineering, computer theory, operating systems and networks, software applications. If interested, you can take up teaching as well.

I secured a rank of 9090 in EAMCET and applied for B.Sc (Optometry) offered by BITs Pilani, in L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. What are the opportunities for Optometry?

Sree Latha

Hyderabad

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As an optometrist you will be one amongst the Doctors of Optometry who provide advanced vision care. Your work will involve diagnosing and treating eye diseases, prescribing optical devices for vision corrections, directing pre- and post-operative care of refractive and laser surgery patients, helping children with learning disabilities through vision training, and provide vision rehabilitation services to people with severe vision impairments.

You can work in private hospitals, public health services, armed forces and community health centres. You can also opt for group or private practice.

I have done BCA and c-dac and am interested in teaching. What is the future of teaching in this field?

Pavan

Shahpur

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There are excellent prospects in teaching within primary education, including subject specific teaching. Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) have one of the highest employment rates of all graduates and are in great demand, especially those who are trained in a particular subject. At the secondary level, teachers are required to possess a degree in their functional area in addition to the Bachelors in Education degree. The Bachelor of Education degree is a one-year training course for graduates of any discipline. Teachers having B.Ed degrees are known as Graduate Trained Teachers (TGT) and those doing B.Ed. after post graduation are called Post Graduate Trained Teachers (PGT). Teaching provides immense job satisfaction to those who are really interested in imparting knowledge. Benefits such as subsidised fees for children, regular annual vacations, etc. also make a career in teaching appealing, especially to women.

Another avenue for teachers is taking tutorial classes. Tutors can provide coaching for not only the class subjects but also for competitive examinations, such as the Civil Services entrance exams, MBA, TOEFL etc. Teachers can also opt for research opportunities or open their own school, day-care centre etc, organise camps etc. Many professors also work part-time in related fields - economists can consult with governments and corporations, offer their expertise to companies; engineers and academic labs can develop products for private industry; humanities professors might want to contribute articles to newspapers and magazines.

I read an article about corporate training. I wish to know how it would help me in shaping my career.

Shruthi

Sambalpur

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Through its programs, corporate training paves the way for executives, managers, supervisors and other employees to learn something new about themselves. Participants discover the difference between what they think they can accomplish and what they can actually accomplish, both individually and as team players. Corporate training has been a major source of revenue for the IT Training industry.

IT training institutes are yielding earnestly to corporate requirements--courses are now tailor-made specifically for niche industries. At the corporate level, short-term courses that focus on basic computing skills (or those that enhance existing skills) are more common. Some of these courses go beyond the domain of IT and also include training in other areas like personality development and leadership. At the other end of the spectrum, long-term courses for professionals continue to be in demand. Engineering students favour certification courses, particularly for Security and Networking. E-learning is fast catching on within the enterprise.

Training programs should be directly in line with organisational goals; introduce new learning methods (ranging from e-learning to coaching and mentoring programs to action learning) and help employees learn and share their knowledge with others through the building and utilisation of knowledge networks.

My brother has finished his B.Sc., Mathematics. Which are the other courses that can enhance his job opportunity?

J.Sathish,

Chennai

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You will have better prospects if you have a post graduate degree. Almost every university offers M.Sc mathematics. Students of mathematics can pursue careers in any of the following fields: pure mathematics, pure statistics, computer science, physical sciences, engineering or other related fields such as insurance, banking and accountancy. There are many specialisations in mathematics too. One may work as part of a team or opt to work singly. Those who prefer to work alone may find openings in private firms or libraries. They may also take up teaching or academic research. However, graduates combining mathematics and computing subjects are also particularly well equipped for a career in information technology.

The FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) column addresses career concerns sent to CxK Networks Ltd, PO Box No. 2178, Secunderabad- 500003, or emailed to faqs@cxknetworks.com