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I wish to become a software engineer. Could you please tell me about the job prospects for a software engineer in the software industry?

Dhirendra Rawat, New Delhi

Amongst the developing countries, India has several competitive advantages. We have cheap and abundant English-educated manpower that is proficient in technology and mathematics. It also offers a strong entrepreneurial tradition which guarantees the start-up of software firms. The country’s engineering colleges produce a quarter of a million engineers annually. The software industry, today, employs about 280,000 engineers (the starting monthly salary for a software engineer is Rs. 15,000/-) and is absorbing an additional 70,000 each year. Another 70,000 grab US visas and head out (the US Consulate in

Chennai issues more visas in this work category than any other US embassy or consulate in the world)!

Also, the 50 percent annual growth rate that software exports has witnessed over the last several years is set to continue. At $4 billion now, software exports already account for 11 percent of exports and 1 percent of GDP. The projection that exports will reach $50 billion in another 9 years is therefore entirely credible. It is estimated that software industry will employ as many people as the banking industry: over a million.

As far as software development is concerned, students with BE/BTech from IITs, RECs, BITS-Pilani and BIT-Mesra or MCAs from good universities are preferred. Within engineering itself, specialisation in Electronics is desirable as it gives the student an opportunity to work in Systems Software, not just Applications Software. Other options include Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering. The later is helpful if you want to go into computer-aided design /computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and/or graphics.

All is not lost if you cannot secure a seat in an engineering college, you can still get on with a BSc qualification in either computer science or maths. Follow this up with a 4-year engineering degree from Indian Institute of Science (IISc) or a Master of Computer Applications (MCA). An MCA is especially advisable if you want a career in Applications Software.

Then, prepare yourself for campus placements. Getting the degree will not guarantee a job. The best way to get into a good IT company is through campus placements.

I have done BCom through correspondence and have an ITI Certificate in Diesel Mechanic trade. I wish to take the Assistant Engine Driver’s Exam. Could you please tell me about the pattern of the exam.

Narender Saksena, Sangrur

Recruitment to the post of Diesel/Elect. Assistant Engin Driver (Group C) is done each year by the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs). The 19 RRBs spread all over the country have clearly defined Railway Zones, Divisions, Production Units, etc. for whom they select candidates. The Employment Notices are issued in the leading newspapers of the area including the Employment News. Eligibility is matriculation with ITI in any trade.

Selection is through a written test and interview. For the safety categories like assistant drivers etc., a psychological test is mandatory before the interview.

Pattern of written test: In 2 hours time, about 160-175 multiple-choice objective-type questions are asked in the written test. The questions are divided into 5 groups: General Knowledge,

General Arithmetic, General Intelligence, General English and General Technical Aptitude.

Psychological test: You have to clear a psychological test conducted by the specialists of Research, Designs & Standardisation

Organisation (RDSO), Lucknow, which judges the level of mental stability and safety consciousness of the candidates.

Interview: The interview generally carries 25 marks, of which 5 marks are reserved for higher academic/technical qualifications of the candidate, proficiency in sports, scouting, NCC, etc. Besides assessing personality and your manner of expression, specific questions may be asked to assess your technical knowledge, experience, etc. for technical categories such as engine drivers.

Upon being successful in the examination and interview, you have to pass a medical test followed by police verification of your character.

All those who are directly involved in the running of trains are required to have not only good health but also good eyesight.

Selected candidates are given initial training ranging from 6 months to 2 yrs.

For a sample test paper of this exam, refer to Careers in Railways published by CARING. Written by the former principal of the Railway Staff Training College, Vadodra, it gives a complete low-down on what it takes to work for the single largest employer in India.

I have passed 10+2 and wish to become a singer. Please advise.

Deepak Malhotra, Patiala

As training to be a singer requires long and arduous training and practice, it is very important to decide exactly what kind of music you wish to specialise in so that you can prepare for it accordingly.

Degrees in Indian classical music are offered right upto Master’s and PhD level in the Departments of Music of leading universities. You may be interested to know that most of the current crop of top singers in films and pop music today have their grounding in classical music.

Besides studying for a formal degree from the respective music departments of Indian universities, there are various local training institutes which impart training in the various schools of music. Of course, if you can afford the luxury there is nothing like training privately under a good teacher. As far as classical music is concerned, the time-tested guru-shishya parampara is irreplaceable.

It is the guru who helps the student internalise all the formal rules and nuances of the raga so that they become flawlessly integrated into your performance. Each gharana (school) embodies the historic and cultural vitality of a region with its subtle and yet distinctive characteristics that simply cannot be taught through a formal academic syllabus or classroom instruction.

At the undergraduate-level, a Bachelor’s degree in Music (BMus) or Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Music (BFAM) or Bachelor’s in Folk Music can be pursued after Class XII. Incidentally, Delhi University offers Music (Hon) at five colleges at the undergrad-level and has even introduced BA (Pass) with music at Bhagini Nivedita College. If you wish to study further, you can do a MMus (Master of Music), an intensive postgraduate programme of 2 years duration.

Deadline

Armed Forces

Apr 30 Indian Navy, INS Kunjali, South Colaba, Mumbai 400005.

· Recruitment of Permanent Commissioned Officers in the Musician Cadre Elig:

· Age: 21 - 25 yrs on Jan 1, 2001.

Educn Qual:

· Bachelor’s degree (relaxable to HSc for candidates with exceptional professional musical ability).

· Dip in Music: ATCL/ LTCL/ARCM. Professional competency without dip will also be considered.

· Ability to play a military band instrument in addition to Piano forte or instruments of the string section with western music notation.

· Exp: As conductor of Orchestra/Band or as a teacher of Indian/Western Music.

Selection: Interview.

Appln Format & Other Info: Employment News, Apr 1-7.

May 15 The Indian Navy, Manpower Planning & Recruitment Naval Headquarters, Room No. 204, ‘C’ Wing, Sena Bhawan, New Delhi 110011.

· Recruitment of Short Service Commissioned Officers in Technical Branches Elig: BE/BTech (55% agg) in Telecom/Aeronaut/Avionics/ Instru & Control/ Elect/ Electron/ Mech/Prod Engg/Naval Arch.

Age: Born bet 2 Jan, ‘76 - 1 Jul, ‘81.

Selection: SSB interview

Appln Format & Detailed Info: Employment News, 1-7 Apr.

May 01 Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, New Delhi 110011.

· National Defence Academy (NDA) & Naval Academy Examination (II), 2000.

Exam: Sept 24 at 40 centres including B’lore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Jammu, Shimla, Srinagar.

Elig:

· Unmarried males born bet 2 Jul, ‘82 - 1 Jan, ‘85.

· For Army Wing at NDA: 10+2.

· For Air Force & Naval Wings of NDA and for 10+2 (Exec Branch) course at Naval Academy: 10+2 with Phy and Maths.

· Those appearing in Class XII exam may also apply.

Appln Form: Employment News, 1-7 Apr.

Aviation

Rotary Wing Academy (Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.), Helicopter Division, PB No. 1790, Bangalore 560017.

· Training for Helicopter Pilot’s Licence

Elig: 10+2 with Maths & Phy. Minimum age: 17 yrs.

Appln Form: Send Rs. 250/- by DD favouring “HAL-Helicopter Division” to the above address.

Computers

May 01 University of Delhi, Deptt of Computer Science, Arts Faculty Extn Bldg, Delhi 110007.

· Bachelor of:

1. Information Tech (BIT) (4 yrs)

2. Information Sc (BIS) (4 yrs)

Elig:

For (1): 10+2 with Maths from Arts/Comm/Sc discipline (55% agg in four subjs: Maths, language and 2 other subjs from academic stream) (50% for SC/ST)

For (2): 10+2 with Phy & Maths (55% agg in four subjs: Maths, Phy & 2 subjs from academic stream including language) (50% for SC/ST)

Entrance Test: Jun 4. For (1): 9 a.m. to 12 noon. For (2): 3 to 6 p.m. Appln Form: Send Rs. 250/- by DD favouring “Registrar, Delhi University” payable at SBI, Service Branch, New Delhi (Code No. 7687) along with self-addressed, stamped (Rs. 12/-) envelope (10” x 8”) superscribed “BIT/BIS Admission”, to Office In-charge, Room No. 303 at the above address. Write your name, address & course on the reverse of DD. Also available against DD from Room No. 332.

Education

Apr 25 State Council of Educational Research & Training (SCERT), Varun Marg, Defence Colony (an autonomous organisation of Govt. of NCT of Delhi), New Delhi 110 024.

· Diploma in Elementary Teacher Education (ETE) (2-yrs)

Elig: 10+2 (50% agg including one language). Age: 17-30 yrs on Sept 30, 2000. Those who have appeared in 10+2 exam and are expecting 50% or above marks may also apply. Selection: Entrance test & interview.

Prosp & Appln Form: Rs. 120/- in cash from the Distt Instt of Educn & Training centres at:

1) Baba Phoola Singh Marg, Old Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi 110060.

2) B-2, Keshav Puram, Delhi 110035.

3) Nanakpura, Moti Bagh, New Delhi 110021.

4) Bhola Nath Nagar, Shahadra, Delhi 110032.

5) Ansari Road, Darya Ganj, New Delhi 110021.

6) Ghuman Hera, Najafgarh, New Delhi 110073.

7) Sector IX, Rohini, Delhi 110083.

Management

May 08 All India Management Association - Centre for Management Services (AIMA-CMS), Management House, 14 Institutional Area, Lodhi Rd, New Delhi 110003.

· Undergraduate Aptitude Test (UGAT)

(for admission to Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM), Bachelor of Computer Applns (BCA) and equivalent programs).

Test: May 28

Elig: 10+2.

Appln Form: Send Rs. 450/- by DD favouring “AIMA-CMS” payable at New Delhi along with two self-addressed slips or Rs. 400/- in cash at counter. Also available at following AIMA Nodal Centres:

Delhi: E-291, Greater Kailash-II, Ph: 6218962; F-8, Lajpat Nagar III, Ph: 6832681; Akashdeep Building, Barakhamba Road, Ph: 3316475; E-99, Mansarovar Garden (Opp. Rajouri Garden), Ph:

5488536; B-1, Hans Bhawan, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg (ITO), Ph: 3312989.

Noida: Sector 28, Ph: 4522953.

Faridabad: C-158, Ashoka Enclave Extn. II, Near 37 Sector, Ph: 5278895 Chandigarh: SCF-30, Sector 15C Ph: 772678.

Medicine

May 25 National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) (Deemed University), P.B.

No. 2900, Hosur Road, Bangalore 560029.

1. Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing (1 yr)

2. Diploma in Neurological & Neurosurgical Nursing (1 yr)

3. Diploma in Clinical Neurophysiology Tech (1 yr)

4. Certificate Course in Neuroimaging & Tech (1 yr)

Elig:

For (1) & (2): ‘A’ grade cert in Gen Nursing, regd with State Nursing Council with 2 yrs work exp For (3): BSc with phy/electron/comp sc (II Div) or Dip in Electron/Elect/Instru or Dip in Comp or PUC with 3 yrs work exp as EEG Technician For (4): Dip in Radiographic Tech or Bachelor’s degree in Radiation Tech. Appln Form: Send Rs. 100/- by IPO favouring “The Director, NIMHANS, Bangalore” with self-addressed, stamped (Rs. 15/-) envelope (26 x 10cm), to the Director before May 10.

Research

Apr 20 National Institute of Immunology, JNU Complex, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067.

· PhD

Immunity & Infection, Reproduction & Dvpt, Molecular Design, Gene Regulation Elig: MSc in any branch/MTech/MBBS/MVSc/MPharm with 60% agg from Sr. Secondary onwards.

Written Test: Jun 2 followed by Interview on June 3 & 4

Appln Format: Employment News, Mar 25-31.

Unless otherwise specified, the dates mentioned above are deadlines for receipt of completed application forms.

— CARING (Career Information & Guidance), New Delhi.