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Q I am doing BA (English) from Guru Nanak Dev University. Can you please tell me if I can do a correspondence course from another university along with my graduation? — Kritika Khokhar A Since there is no UGC guideline to this effect, you can certainly go ahead and take a correspondence course alongside your regular course. Some universities, on the other hand, clearly forbid you from simultaneously pursuing two degree courses from the same university. But then you have such a wide choice of open and distance learning programmes to choose from. Some universities insist on original certificates, which are released only after you complete your graduation. If there is no such stipulation, you can happily proceed. The only other practical problem you may face is balancing clashing examination dates, which could be a sticky proposition. Other than that, if both courses are fully recognised, they would certainly add to your arsenal. Not just that, adding on a more market-friendly course gives you an advantage. So, if you can comfortably manage both simultaneously, do go ahead. However, to be on the safe side, do check if the correspondence course you intend to pursue is recognised by the Distance Education Council
(www.dec.ac.in). Go places in tourism Q I have passed plus two (PCM) and I am interested in travel and tourism. Can you please give me some basic details of its scope and institutes. — Manjit Gill A The travel and tourism industry has undergone a massive expansion and will continue to do so in the years to come. This year a record number of 4 million foreign tourists visited the country adding $ 5 billion to the economy. This and the growth of the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) segment, forecasts a bright future for all those who choose to make a career in the world’s fastest growing industry. (The growth rate is currently 15 per cent) The upbeat Tourism Ministry hopes to ride the wave created by the Incredible India campaign to draw 5 million tourists by 2007. That’s not all with the Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi in 2010, get ready for the mother of all tourist events and an influx of at least 15 million visitors. You could work with airlines, travel agencies, tourism boards, airports, e-travel portals and travel
BPOs. The employment potential of the tourism sector is huge. For every Rs 10 lakh invested in travel and tourism the government creates vacancies for 89 professionals whereas for the same sum of money only 13 jobs are created in the manufacturing sector and only 43 in the labour intensive agricultural sector. The IITTM offers a 3-year Bachelor’s in Tourism Mgmt (Hon) as well as MBA (dual specialisation) in the subject in collaboration with MP Bhoj Open University, at its centres in Gwalior & Bhubaneswar). The courses incorporate practical training. The institute offers near 100 per cent placement and the students are well received in the industry. The IITTM also offers a slew of related courses in Air Travel Fares and Ticketing. Acquiring the internationally recognised certification from IATA-UFTAA (International Air Transport Association & Universal Federation of Travel Agents Association), Geneva is also considered an excellent qualification for jobs in the industry. This self-paced home study programme which requires about 200 hours of study is open to anyone after Class XII. The fee is about Rs 10,000. You could contact an authorised IATA-UFTAA training centre for registration and other details
(www.iata.org/atdi/travel_tourism). Exams are held every March and September and the registration is valid for 2 years. You are allowed two attempts. Several universities offer bachelor’s level courses in tourism across the country. If pursued at a good institute, the course will qualify you for jobs in: Departments of tourism, airlines and other commercial transport services, in the documentation, publicity, sales, ticketing and reservation department of large travel agencies and tour operators, travel departments of large hotel chains as well as cargo companies. Immigration and Customs Departments also offer avenues for those with a background in travel and tourism. Of course, you could also consider opening your own travel agency or tour operation after you’ve learnt the ropes. And if you are keen on a government job in this sector, be on the lookout for recruitment advertisements published in Employment News and leading national dailies. Cargo and shipment firms also recruit those who can handle documentation work. Weighty issue Q I am from a village near Rohtak. I want to be an airhostess but I am a little overweight. Do you think my weight problem will hamper my progress? Since I come from a village will I need to take an expensive training course? — Gurdeep Kaur A To qualify as an airhostess you should be below 25 years, a clear complexion, pleasing personality, height (154 cm - 170 cm barefoot), normal eyesight, weight (in proportion to height). My advise to you is to join a gym and control your diet. Yoga will also help. Excess weight is an absolutely no-no. With the hemlines soaring high it’s best to shed any extra kilos so that you don’t look awkward in a power suit or even a short skirt. In fact, recently in a flab-shedding exercise, the 53-year-old government carrier, Indian has asked its airhostesses and cabin crew to shape up or ship out. The 3 kg excess weight grace has been withdrawn and any crewmember who exceeds the ideal weight in proportion to his / her height even by a kg will be grounded. They will be given 45 days to get back into shape if they want to perform in-flight duties. Airhostesses are also going in for complete image makeover – a far cry from some of the frumpy and ungainly airhostesses of yesteryear. The good news is that the Bharat-India divide is fast closing in and you’ll be surprised by the number of applicants from rural and small towns queuing up for airhostess jobs. No one is saying that it is going to be easy. But if you have the grit and determination you can surely get your wings for this high flying job. The minimum qualification is Class XII, though most airlines prefer graduates or diploma holders in hotel management/ catering/ travel and tourism. Proficiency in English and Hindi is an absolute must while familiarity with a foreign language is desirable. Most airlines advertise for vacancies specifying the desired qualifications. If selected, the airline will then put you on a rigorous training programme. Besides learning how to tie a perfect sari, you will be trained on in-flight services like identifying various wines and cheeses to serving meals, and handling passengers. The training will also include tips on transactional analysis, personal grooming, voice training, emergency evacuation and first aid. And don’t worry; you don’t need to enroll for an expensive course run by private institutes that have mushroomed all across the country. For example, a premiere airline like Jet Airways puts its airhostesses through a rigorous 3-month training programme to hone their skills. The career of an airhostess typically spans eight to 10 years after which you can move onto working as a Ground Hostess or Check Hostess. The opening up of the skies and entry of new domestic and international airlines translates into opportunities galore for aspirants. You can also apply for a job in private carriers by large corporates and business tycoons. Not the best prescription Q I am planning to take the PLAB Test this year. I belong to a lower middle class family and going abroad is a big step for me. What are the job prospects of working in UK? — Rahul Kapoor A I am afraid I have some bad news for you. Thousands of doctors of Indian origin are reported to be jobless in the UK, several of whom are subsisting on breadlines and food doled out at temples for their survival. This is an offshoot of the NHS (National Health Scheme’s) 2001 appeal to plug the demand-supply gap for doctors in the UK, following which 18,000 medicos from third world countries with dreams of a secure job made a beeline to UK only to face discrimination and lack of job opportunities. Further, a new survey conducted by General Medical Council, Britain’s top medical organisation, paints a rather gloomy picture. The report simply reiterates what the British Medical Journal has been harping on for the last one year. Both studies have warned overseas doctors of the grim work scenario in the country. Not even half the candidates who cleared the PLAB tests in 2004 could secure jobs in the first six months, while for a quarter of those who cleared PLAB, the last one-year has been synonymous with the ‘No Vacancies’ sign. With new rules coming into force from July-2006 Indian postgraduates applying for medical training in the UK will need work permits. Earlier, Indian doctors were given jobs under the `permit free training’ scheme. Since resident doctors and EU nationals are given preference work permits are now extremely hard to get. So, I would suggest you hold your horses for the time being as things are expected to take a further downturn in 2006. However, if you have your heart totally set on the UK, you must start enquires well in advance as it often takes 6 months – 1 year to complete the requirements and formalities. Currently, 117,036 overseas medicos are working for the NHS of which 16,000 are of Indian origin. Please send in your query, preferably on a postcard, along with your full name, complete address and academic qualifications to: Editor, Jobs and Careers, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030, or at careers@tribunemail.com
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