Career OptionsThere are hundreds of career options:How do you make a career choice when you dont really know what to do?Does it seem like a big hurdle?

Follow these steps to make a good career choice:Learn about yourself or assess yourself: ValuesInterestsSkillsPersonality traits

Assessment ToolsCareer TestsCareer CounsellorsCareer Planning ProcessCareer Development Professional

How to Choose a Career after your DegreeYour InterestsFind out which subjects you like and which you dont.Avoid linking your interest with your marks all the time. It may happen that you may score more in the subject you do not like.Choosing the subject you like helps you to learn quicker and achieve great heights.

Your AbilitiesAbilities are as important as self interests.Though you have an interest in a particular subject, you should have the ability to interpret it, remember the concepts and apply them practically.Consult your parents or teachers who know your strengths and weaknesses.

Career Growth OpportunitiesLook at the growth opportunities available in the field.Meet job market experts, conduct a self research.Make sure that it is in hot demand and job opportunities are available in plenty.

Money is an important factorAll students need to recover their educational expenses and earn well to live a better life.Research the salary packages for the jobs after doing a particular course becomes essential.

Career TestsThese tests include objective questions having multiple choices from all subjects.They test reasoning, creativity, logical thinking.Consult Career Counselors, they will ask you your preferred career choice and how you need to prepare for it

Careers after Degree, Career Planning and Choice of Courses:Whether you opt for a career in jobs or prefer to be on your own, remember that there is fierce competition for getting a space in the world of work. Remember the old adage: Survival of the fittest.In view of new developments primarily triggered off by the information technology (IT) and globalisation of the economy, there are now more options than ever before. You will have to look for options. Remember also that these are days of specialisation.

Vocational Courses Various vocational courses are available in different areas. The most sought after ones of course are the polytechnic courses of three-year duration leading to diplomas in different branches of engineering and technology. The advantage of polytechnic courses is that in some branches a diploma holder can make a later entry into degree level engineering courses.

Issues to be considered before you embark upon planning your careerDo you need an immediate job because of some adverse family circumstances?Is your family financially sound enough to pay for your professional education?

Distance learning if you need a job after Degree

There are many options available. You can study at your own space and time.Ignou Indira Ghandhi National Open University.There are several other Universities too.

Spiraling cost of Professional EducationIn Professional Colleges there are two categories of seats free seats and payment seats.Free seats are highly subsidised. Generally free seats are allotted on the basis of merit and performance at the entrance tests .Scholarships, freeships and other financial supports are scarce.Education Bank loans are available with conditions.

2 steps before you proceed for Career PlanningAssess your strengths and weaknesses, likings, aptitudes and interests.Gather as much information as possible about the various educational opportunities and choose one that conforms to your assessment.Both are easily said than done. Therefore it is necessary for schools to provide vocational guidance and counselling.

3 Streams of courses As stated earlier, you have three options:The Science StreamThe Arts/Humanities StreamThe Commerce Stream The Vocational Stream

SCIENCEThere is a common belief that science is the most important subject.There is also a general feeling that the best students opt for science.In fact, brilliance and intelligence is not the exclusive preserve of science.

Options for Science StudentsIf you are interested in doing engineering, you can get into civil, mechanical, electronics, metallurgy, computers and the list goes on

B. If you wish to take up medicine, dentistry, agricultural Sciences, dairy science or biological sciences (biochemistry. Biotechnology)

C. The advantage of choosing science stream is that you can shift to the other two streams viz. humanities and commerce.It can also be the gateway to a large number of career and course options.In the South, subjects such as microbiology and computer science can be chosen at the BSc level.

D. You can also choose careers in several emerging professional areas, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nursing, computer, business administration, hotel management,, tourism management.

E. You can also opt for courses outside the university stream, such as hotel management, fashion technology, industrial design, packaging, aircraft maintenance engineering, government accredited computer courses and a host of vocational courses.If you are very clear that science is not your cup of tea, there is no point in wasting two precious years simply because it keeps many options open.

ARTS/HUMANITIES This stream also offers many options like law, travel and tourism, advertising, journalism, performing arts, business management, so on and so forth.

COMMERCENext to science, commerce stream opens up a variety of options. Some examples are company secretary-ship, chartered accountancy, cost accountancy, business management, computer.