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Afternoon Despatch & Courier
« ALERTS HLL’S NEW COURSES IN HEALTHCARE
HLL Academy, the academic wing of the central public sector enterprise HLL Lifecare Ltd., has announced two new courses, in clinical engineering and in management, as part of its efforts to address the shortage of skilled manpower faced by the healthcare sector in these two key areas. HLL Academy is offering a Post Graduate Diploma Course in Clinical Engineering and Management (PGDCEM) and a Post Diploma Course in Clinical Engineering and Management (PCEM) for graduate engineers and diploma holders. The one-year courses will cover different aspects of product development, production, quality control, and marketing of various pharmaceuticals, medical devices and services. The programmes will be offered through distance education supported by contact classes and will comprise two semesters of six months each. The curriculum has been designed to fulfill the requirements of healthcare institutions, procurement service agencies and equipment manufacturers. The eligibility for PGDCEM is an Engineering degree in Biomedical, Electronics, Electrical, Mechanical, Instrumentation, Chemical or Biotechnology disciplines. Engineering Diploma holders in Biomedical, Electronics, Instrumentation, Mechanical or Medical Instrumentation can apply for PDCEM. The details of the courses and prospectus are available at HLL Academy website www.hllacademy.in.
FRESHMENTORS.COM’S ADMISSION HELP
November–December are the most crucial months for students applying to foreign universities. Freshmentors.com, a recently launched online portal designed for prospective college students, aims to provide all possible authentic information before a student takes admission. Freshmentors.com provides relevant and personal college counseling at extremely affordable price. Approximately 450 colleges have Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA) plans and with most students prepping to apply for EA / ED by November, Freshmentors.com can be a boon to such students. ED/EA applications are typically for students who have researched colleges extensively and understand which college would be the best fit for them. Both EA and ED applications communicate a candidate’s sincerity and keen interest in that university/program. The option to apply as an EA or ED candidate only applies to US universities. Students can choose to apply to any one university as Early Action (EA) & Early Decision (ED) and the deadline to submit for the same is usually in November, almost a month before general admission deadlines. EA and ED are different and have different legal liabilities. Submitting an application under Early Decision, would legally bind the student to accept if an admission offer was made to the candidate. Unlike ED, Early Action is not legally binding. EA and ED is a great way for students to make the process of admission less stressful – since they are able to get a decision on their application much faster. Freshmentors.com can help students properly research universities and understand which college is the best fit for them before they apply for EA/ED. The portal works like a buddy/mentoring programme where aspiring students from India are connected to highachieving college students at their target universities in USA, Canada and Singapore.
MUMBAI | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2013
Life in a Consulate
Working in a consulate at the age of 22 is as good as any great travel experience, says Naressa Coutinho, while she shares a first-hand account of her experiences
W
hen I walked into the well-lit, spacious room, where I would be interviewed, I had butterflies in my tummy and suddenly sweaty palms. My resume did paint a pretty picture but everything about the consulate made me feel like a puppy in a den. My interviewers walked in; one of them being the Consul-general himself. I barely remember what proceeded after that, but my first day at work, in the consulate, was the happiest day of my life. This might sound too cliché but I had always wanted to work in an Embassy or consulate and many of my relatives told me that the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) was the ideal way. Somehow, this path did not appeal. I never imagined though, that by simply learning a language, I would stand a chance in a Consulate. It was, in fact, my knowledge of a foreign language that gave me an edge over the other candidates. Every post in a diplomatic mission is advertised on their website and in national newspapers. These posts are either contractual or permanent. You will have to meet the criteria for recruitment first, which mostly requires the applicant to be a citizen of the country where the foreign mission is set up. They work on a point system where your score would depend on your education qualification, work experience and interview. You may have to give a test or essay depending on the system followed by each diplomatic mission. This is usually the tough part but once selected, life is beautiful. What is the job? Well, if you are looking at countries like USA and UK that have many departments
<<Naressa Coutinho and a huge staff, then your options are plenty. You may be hired in any of the departments handling politics, media and communications, trade, etc. However not all countries maintain multiple departments and often try to work with a small staff where duties are miscellaneous. I, for one, was appointed as an assistant, handling administrative duties, visa procedures and interpretations. The exciting bits included spotting fake passports and interviewing suspicious applicants. Lunches were a cultural fest and work was a fun place to be. Working with a consulate
guarantees work-life balance and a serene working environment. You work 40 hours a week that includes your lunch break. Moreover, employee satisfaction is at the top of their agenda. They have maternity benefits, gap years and other facilities. In the event that you have to work extra hours, you are duly compensated for, with more leaves. These may be called either ‘earned leaves’ or ‘day off in lieu’. Some European embassies and consulates may even work lesser hours during summers. Comfortable working hours with a hefty paycheck is an added bonus but again this would vary from country to
country. Your appointment letter is mostly dollar-friendly and so every month you have to pray that Obama does not disturb the market with his benevolent policies. Like me, if you were to join the sweet life at a consulate, be sure to bookmark the ONDA site (currency convertor). Besides, working with foreign nationals and diplomats teaches you a lot about their culture and ways. You get to meet dignitaries and foreign diplomats from other countries at events and on special occasions. In my six months with a foreign mission, I evolved as a person. People say travelling broadens your outlook on life but I can safely say that at 22, working in a consulate was as good as any great travel experience. If the ‘six months’ has got your attention, then yes the sad part about working here is that you are mostly contracted and there is no job security. If you really want to work in a consulate, aim for a permanent post. Moreover, you cannot rise in the ranks as foreign missions employ officials from their own country for top government positions. However, this is not always the case. Therefore, you might have to compromise on career growth and you could be bogged down by the static nature of your job. Look at it this way. Maybe it could be an early retirement option when you start a family and you have to juggle responsibilities. There may come a moment in your life where your career takes a back seat. This could be your next best option. It is a job many vie for and especially in a country like ours where working is a stress boogie, this is the ideal job for a stress-free life and happy living. <<Ghazal Maestros Pankaj Udhas, Bhupinder Singh & Mitali Singh spent some time with children at Each One Teach One (EOTO) Learning Centre at New Sion Municipal School yesterday. These Ghazal Maestros will be performing at a live concert to raise funds for setting up EOTO’s Vocational Centres and education for underprivileged children on Friday, November 15 at Nehru Centre, Worli