Employment for all

PROFESSIONAL education may not always be within easy reach for everyone. For whatever reasons, you might not have been able to earn a professional degree. This however need not deprive you of your right to earn a living or pursue a vocation of your choice. There are a number of jobs that do not demand formal qualifications.

Capturing raptures

You don't need to graduate to be a professional photographer. Attending workshops, taking a diploma from an art school or working as an apprentice with a photographer can give you the required training. Thereafter, you can set up your own studio or freelance for newspapers and journals etc.

The office assistant

The facilitation and administration departments in most companies require the services of office assistants. Day-to-day tasks like maintenance, mailing, inventory checking, purchasing etc are undertaken by Office Assistants.

Sales representatives form another important and indispensable part of any business. Persons with pleasing personality and good communication skills are employed in showrooms, retail outlets, and exhibitions and for promotional events.

The Railways has requirement for jobs like diesel/electrical assistant engine driver (requirement: Higher School+ITI) and skilled artisans from mechanical/electrical (requirement: Higher School+ITI) background. For this a practical test in the related field is conducted. The recruitment is done after a written test and interview. With training from ITIs and technical schools one can also take up trade in electronic equipment servicing, broadcasting, refrigeration, air-conditioning etc. The duration of courses at ITI ranges from 1-2 years.

`Training opportunities'

The Special Class Railway Apprenticeship Examination is conducted for candidates between the ages of 17-21 who have passed Intermediate/Senior Secondary (Physics Chemistry and Maths) in first or second division. After recruitment, training is given at the Indian Railway Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering for four years

Hiring for the posts of assistants and clerks in the Railways is done through the Staff Selection Commission after a series of examinations designed for each category. Certain other non- technical positions exist for which the requirement is High School matriculate.

For the people...

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts examinations for persons who have passed Intermediate (Senior Secondary) level for the Railway Services in class II and I. For stenographers the Grade-D examination is held for persons within the age group of 18 to 25 years with a 10th class pass certificate. The examination consists of general awareness and a test of stenography. For recruitment of clerks, the Clerks Grade Examination is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission.

Keeping the coast clear

Those who have not matriculated past their High School can opt to work as Naviks with the Indian Coast Guard Service. Naviks (domestic branch) need to only clear 8th class (age 17-22 years), while general duty naviks should have passed their 10th class. Yantriks need to have a diploma in Mechanical /Electrical /Electronics/ or Aeronautical Engineering besides a matriculation.

Opportunities for 10+2 students are as navigator and technical sailors, and in addition if you possess a commercial pilot's license, and fall in the age group of 19-25, you can be hired as a general duty pilot. After the preliminary round of selection, a written test is administered to select the candidates.

Opportunities exist in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force and the Assam Rifles. A student who has passed 10+2 (Intermediate) can take the exam for the post of a constable, if he meets all the physical requirements and falls within the age group of 18-25.

Armed to the teeth

In the Indian Police Service (IPS) entry is open to both men and women. For the post of a constable, one needs to pass Class 10th (High School) and be within the age group of 18-21 years.

Recruitment for ranks other than officers in the armed forces is conducted through recruiting offices spread throughout the country. All recruitment is done through recruitment rallies held every month. General Duty (G) category soldiers need to possess a minimum educational qualification of Matric/10th Class. Recruitment of airmen to the Indian Air Force is through the Central Airmen Selection Board.

The Merchant Navy also has openings for 10+2 students with Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. The entrance examination tests students in English, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry after which a 2-year navigation course is given to recruits. Artificer apprentices are hired by the Indian Navy for maintenance of mechanical and electrical equipment and machinery. Persons who have passed their 10th (Matriculation) with 45 percent are eligible to appear for a competitive examination. The test includes Mathematics, English and Science, followed by an interview and medical examination after which they undergo training for 3 years and a hands- on training on ships for 6 months.

Banking on commerce

Clerical positions in commercial banks, the Reserve Bank of India, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Regional Rural Banks, Life Insurance Corporation of India and General Insurance Corporation for which persons with class 10 or 10+2 are recruited between age-groups of 18 -26 year after a written test and interview.

Miscellaneous

Certain institutions offer courses for 10+2 (Biology, Physics and Chemistry) students in the field of general nursing and midwifery and other paramedical courses for jobs in government and private hospitals. In the field of teaching, Montessori training can be taken after 10+2 to apply for the post of primary teachers.The Department of Post and Telecommunications also recruit matriculates or 10+2 students as postman, mail sorter, postal clerks, record clerks, and telegraph clerks. The age limit is 18- 25 years.

ARCHANA JAYAKAR

archana.hyd@careercommunity.co.in