Be sure of what you want

Studying in india

Dear Sir,

I completed my B E (CSE) with first class distinction in 2003 and have been working in a reputed product development company in Bangalore for more than 10 years now. I have taken up MA (Human Rights) in distance education from MKU as the field interests me. I have read that National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is working with UGC to introduce school, college and post graduate level curriculum on human rights education. I would like to know more about this field and the contributions that I can make at both national and international levels. 

Sreenivasan L

Dear Sreenivasan,

It is very noble of you to give up a lucrative corporate career and get into something much more meaningful. Initially, you will have to make financial sacrifices but ultimately, you will gain a great deal of satisfaction in the long run. At the same time, let me caution you that an MA in distance education will not make a professional out of you, though it will give you a good foundation. You should start working with a human rights organisation, even if it is at the entry level. Your exposure to the field will then open doors for better jobs. Later, you can also consider enhancing your qualifications by taking up a full-time course. Teaching human rights to students is one of the simplest career options. You can also get many other opportunities in UN related organisations, NGOs, child welfare organisations, government initiatives, and even in the CSR department of business organisations.

Dear Sir,

I am currently pursuing BBM and CS courses from KSOU & ICSI respectively. I am planning to study NSE’s NCFM (NSE’s Certification in Financial Markets) course also. Kindly let me know the value and scope of this course and suggest similar courses. 

Karthik Bharadwaj

Dear Karthik,

If you are keen on making a career in financial markets and have understood its intricacies, then taking up the certification from NSE (National Stock Exchange) will be quite beneficial. However, since you are also studying for your Company Secretary (CS) exam, it may add to your stress and you may not be able to do justice to three courses at a time. 

Also, CS and NCFM are slightly different from each other, and you should make up your mind about your area of focus in the long term, based on a combination of interest and aptitude.

Dear Sir,

I am pursuing BSc right now & I would like to follow it up with CA. I have read that after bachelor’s degree, one can take a separate entrance exam for this purpose. Please give me the details of the exam. And kindly suggest the study materials I could refer to for the same.

Faiza Sadaf

Dear Faiza,

To become a chartered accountant, you have to apply to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (www.icai.org). The first step is to appear for the CPT (Common Proficiency Test). Commerce graduates are exempted from this test and go to the intermediate level directly. All study material is provided by the institute, but you can take coaching either from a branch of ICAI or a private coaching centre. Do ensure that you are genuinely interested in becoming a CA, since you have studied five years of science, and CA has a highly competitive selection process, with only a small number qualifying every year.

Dear Sir,

Could you throw some light on CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) in terms of market demand, salaries offered and employment opportunities? I have read that many blue chip MNCs in India prefer this degree for high level finance positions currently. 

Mohamed A Shaheen

Dear Shaheen,

Popularity and demand of Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) is slowly increasing all over the world. It is a practical learning module which offers both full-time and part-time courses. It teaches you all the aspects of accounts pertaining to the management side, unlike chartered accountancy (CA), which deals primarily with audit and accounts. However, CA continues to be the only qualification recognised for certifying the accounts of a company in India. CIMA is a good add-on qualification for those in management and specialising in finance. For more details, visit www.cimaglobal.com.

Dear Sir,

I am a 30 year old woman with 79 percent in BCA degree from Karnataka University. Due to some personal reasons, I couldn’t pursue higher studies. Am I eligible to pursue MBA or any other higher study courses now? If yes, what are my options?

Bharati Jagapur

Dear Bharathi,

As a graduate from a recognised university, you are certainly eligible to take up MBA, either full-time or through distance education. Depending on what your work experience has been since 2005, you may decide what field to specialise in, and also whether you can give up your work and do a full-time course, or take up an executive MBA which requires you to attend contact classes periodically. You are also eligible for other post-graduate courses. So, explore all options and make your decision based on your practical expertise and your choice of a future career.


Dear Sir,

I completed BSc in fashion designing in 2011. However, I worked in this field for just six months as I did not like the environment and nature of the work. Now I’m working in a BPO as an accountant. Though this is not my field, I like working independently in front of a computer. But considering my education and passion, I would like to make my career in a creative field like graphic designing. Kindly shed some light on my decisions and options available.

Rini Lobo

Dear Rini,

If you are a creative person, it is highly unlikely that you will enjoy working as an accountant in the long run. Hence, it is good that you are reviewing your direction at an early stage of your career, despite having a good job. You can start exploring other creative fields like animation and game design, product design, interiors  and even allied fields such as market research and event management. Dabble in any of these fields that interest you, check out your skills, look for a short-term or distance learning course too. Once you are confident, take up an entry-level job and plan for higher studies to upgrade your qualifications. Thankfully in India, many excellent design schools have opened up including those that offer post-graduate courses.