Education advice - Counselling for Career-42

Q.
I completed my BCom (H) programme in 2007. If I clear the cost and works accountant (CWA) final exam, is the qualification sufficient for bagging higher (managerial) jobs? I need to do an MBA programme. But reputable colleges charge hefty fees. Therefore, I think, I should do CS or CFA which are correspondence courses and hold good professional value. Any suggestions? — Rahul

A.
While an MBA degree from a good institute can certainly brighten your career prospects, the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India’s (ICWAI’s) cost accountancy course also prepares you for a high-quality career in accounting and finance. Cost accountants collect, organise and analyse financial information from all parts of an organisation to enable business decisions to be made. After completing the course, you can work in a managerial position in the financial departments of government organisations, in the banking and finance sector, in development agencies, education, training and research segment as well as in the services sector. The CFA programme imparts training in corporate finance, investment management and financial services, like venture capital, leasing and hire purchase, project planning and so on, as well as international finance, and investment management. It is, therefore, a job best suited for those who want to enhance their skills in all areas of finance. If you are interested in a finance career, it is suggested that you work for a couple of years after the CWA programme, and then pursue the CFA qualification. Moreover, it is important to remember that to be successful in management and finance, you need to have a good mathematical and analytical aptitude as well as problem-solving and organisation skills. You also need to have sound knowledge and interest in commerce and business and be good in decision making. If you possess these qualities, you can progress successfully in your career.

Q.
I have a BArch degree and five years’ experience in multi-national companies as a software engineer. I stopped working three years ago after my son was born. I am good at talking and convincing people. Is there are any option for me like some kind of counselling or work with non-governmental organisations (NGOs)? For counselling, what courses do I need to complete? — Anitha

A.
Counsellors assist people with personal, family, educational, mental health, and career decisions and problems. Their duties depend on the individuals they serve and the settings in which they work. These include schools, colleges, clinics, counselling centres, welfare departments as well as private practice. There are counselling services that specialise in particular groups, e.g. young people, the elderly, or in specific problems such as drug addiction, AIDS etc. All counselling work requires some formal training, as you need to understand people, the reasons they have the problems and how to help them cope with them. If you do not have any training in counselling, you can start work as a social worker with non-governmental agencies, special schools, family welfare agencies as well as international agencies. You can also volunteer with an NGO and help them in work which could range from handling educational needs of different social groups, organising communities for change, lobbying with local groups, government officials or other specialised groups, organising training programmes, raising legal and human rights awareness, and so on. Social work requires a firm commitment and a desire to help, more than academic qualifications. There are hundreds of NGOs working in various aspects of development, whether poverty alleviation, education, gender issues, with physically or mentally challenged people, or on environment issues, such as pollution, waste management and wildlife. You need to decide on the area of work you are interested in and then select the organisation that fulfils that need. There is a huge scope for work with NGOs and so many areas that require dedicated people. If you are motivated enough to do some social work, then you can easily approach any NGO for a job. There are many websites that can give you a list of NGOs working in Delhi including www.indianngos.com, www.nfi.org.in, www.indisponsor.org and many others. And once youve identified the kind of organisation you’d like to work with, shortlist some and get in touch with them and see if they have any vacancies. But, before joining, be prepared for the fact that its going to be a lot of hard work and the salaries won’t be too high.

Q.
I am waiting for my final-semester BTech results. Is it a good idea to do cyber laws certification programme (distance learning) from Symbiosis? What are the uses of cyber laws? - Shafanaashraf

A.
This field has huge potential for anyone who would like to be the Sherlock Holmes of the Internet. What you need is a strong background in information technology and interest in a career in cyber crime. In this, much work needs to be done to help nab cyber-criminals, predict crime patterns and motives for such crimes, and assess their impact. As Internet-based applications in government departments, banks, telemarketing and online stock trading is growing, responsibilities of cyber lawyers are also increasing, particularly due to the limited availability of trained experts on the subject. The certification programme will enable you to get into this field, and build up work experience.

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