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Statement of Purpose (Scholarship Special!)

You’ve gotten a rough draft of your motivational letter ready, and have filled in all the other relevant information. In many cases however, you can be in for an ugly surprise when you realize that universities ask for a SEPARATE financial statement for the sole purpose of awarding you financial aid. Worry not, the MHPC is here to guide you through this maze of statement-writing to please the admissions & financial aid committees. Given below are some pointers to keep in mind while setting out to draft your essay, and you’ll be just fine:

1

Write an introduction. Develop a thesis statement. Outline your academic and career goals. Indicate the main categories you will address in your statement. Describe how your academic record, work experience and community service have lead you towards your goals.

2

Describe your academic record and any challenging courses you may have taken. Any skills you may have acquired outside of your mains study will be a plus, as will be any volunteer projects or research in which you may have undertaken.

For example: “I graduated from my undergraduate institution with a 4.0 GPA. I majored in Elementary Education and Spanish, with a minor in Sociology. I applied for and received a prestigious internship working with the state government on developing educational policies.”

3

Communicate your leadership skills. Describe how your work experience has taught you how to interact with a variety of different people. Affirm how your educational experiences have taught you to overcome obstacles and face challenges. Describe how life experiences have motivated you to continue your education and given you a clear vision of your future.

For example: “My parents moved our family to this country from Albania when I was 12 years old. I did not speak any English when we arrived. The ESL teachers in my school helped me to be successful in school, and I want to do the same for other students in my circumstances.”

4

Explain your community service history. Emphasize active participation in clubs, organizations, or civic associations Explain how you chose your community service projects and how long your involvement was. Also talk about your travel experiences and how your interactions with different cultures have broadened your horizons.

For example: “Each summer, I volunteer for the Migrant Workers Education Association in Chester County, Pennsylvania. They service migrant workers who come here from Mexico to work on mushroom farms. We not only link families with community services, but we also tutor children in English and help them learn important school skills that will allow them to be successful in school.”

5

Illustrate how your past experience has imparted qualities that the scholarship committee will value. Describe the qualities you have developed as a result of your academic, work and community service experience. For example, your academic experience may have given you motivation, knowledge of your current field and an attention to detail. Your work experience may have given you originality, creativity and an ability to solve problems. Your community service experience may have given you maturity, emotional stability and the ability to face challenges.

6

Choose your words carefully. Strike the right balance between being modest and bragging. Be genuine with your abilities with phrases like “good candidate,” “well-prepared,” and “good leadership skills.” Avoid presumptuous statements like “my fantastic background,” or “my eternal passion for learning.” Present clear evidence of your skills and accomplishments. The evidence will speak for itself.

With this article (and another one on writing a Statement of Purpose, check that out too!), you have all the tools ready to unleash your creativity and verse upon the word document…before you edit it thrice more. Let us know whether these tips have been helpful for you!

-Nimisha, PR Team

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Why it’s time to end hustle culture

“Never once at the start of my workweek — not in my morning coffee shop line; not in my crowded subway commute; not as I begin my bottomless inbox slog — have I paused, looked to the heavens and whispered: Thank God It’s Monday.”        

Erin Griffith

                                                            –

Grind. Hustle. Strive.

An entire generation has begun to live by this mantra. They say ‘Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle’. The reason why many think that hustle culture is helpful is that it usually equates to getting up in the corporate ladder faster and that relentless work ethic leads to personal fulfillment and happiness, which in turn give way to financial success..

Both workers and companies have adapted to the mindset that the more you work, more celebrated you are. Skipping daily chores or even necessities like sleep, meals and time with family are normalized and taking a break has become a sign of weakness, of belonging to those “who won’t make it”.

The New York Times says, “hustle culture is obsessed with striving.”

It means devoting as much of your day as possible working — hustling. 

It is the complete abandonment of finding healthy work-life integration and instead, defining one’s worth-and perhaps one’s entire life- by what is accomplished in the workplace. 

It is harmful, very.

Elon Musk has been infamously quoted as saying, “There are way easier places to work, but nobody ever changed the world on 40 hours a week.” 

The founder of Tesla emphasises on how overworking is the key, however, he recently opened up about his personal life and mental health problems in a series of tweets.

  1. Death is Just One Extreme 

Recently, a 31 years old journalist Miwa Sado overworked herself to death; her heart failed after a whopping 159 hours of overtime. Longer working hours are associated with poorer mental health and increasing levels of anxiety, depression and cornucopia of illnesses & conditions that just don’t make it worth it. 

Overwork is definitely not the stepping stone for success, but efficiency might be. Instead of working 6 hours slowly and stressfully, one can work smart by not procrastinating even smallest of the works, follow the time table, carry and make use of planners and apply shortcuts wherever possible; job is now done in 4 hours with time to relax.

Most importantly one shouldn’t overwork, breaks in between and power naps are important.

2.   Role of Social Media

Hustle culture has hit the millennials especially hard because of their relationship with technology. Digital media creates an environment of constant communication and the idea of being available through our devices all the time.  This often leads to employers using social media as an excuse to stay “connected” even after you’ve left the office, and often workers don’t feel like they stopped working even when they get back home..

But what needs to be understood is that just because you’re awake at 2 in the morning (maybe binging on netflix) you won’t start replying to the pending mails. Physically exiting the office is necessary, but what is more important is psychologically disconnecting from the obligations and duties that come with your work. 

3.   Toxic Sense of Competition

 Hustling hard at something you’re passionate about while maintaining the right balance between hustling and recharging isn’t really a bad thing; but if it’s about outdoing coworkers where winning becomes the only acceptable outcome, that healthy sense of rivalry can turn deeply dangerous to company productivity and individual well-being. Striving to foster a culture that celebrates hard work but also appreciates and rewards employees who take care of themselves should be the next thing.

4.   Unhealthy Lifestyle

Not everyone needs the same eight hours each night, but an ongoing sleep deficit isn’t something your body can ignore for long. Lack of sleep is a corporate epidemic worldwide.

Diet is equally affected. Fast and junk food have become an easier and faster alternative to cooking healthy food from scratch which can amount to a  lack of energy. Fresh air walks, exercises, fun and refreshing hobbies are all sacrificed, making one a machine out of a wo/man.

To sum up, as human beings we all come with hard-wired physical, mental and emotional limitations which should be respected. A work-life balance should be embraced. It’s completely okay to aspire to achieve goals, but if you’re ending the day worn out and sacrificing your well-being for it, it’s time to reassess your priorities and remind yourself that while your office can easily replace you, your loved ones can’t. And more importantly, you owe it to yourself to rest and rejuvenate. 

Shalini Yadav, PR Team

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How to Crack Job Interviews

Interviews are an indispensable part of one’s professional life.

Job interviews are not just a mere formality. It marks your first impression that barely fades.

Anonymous

Hi PathBreakers!

An interview is an indispensable part of your professional success. Any opportunity-be it internship, job or even volunteering- includes interviews as part of its selection process, and cracking these can be your ladder to success throughout your lifetime. But the journey begins early, right from college days, so the MHPC has created a checklist for you to ace interviews:

1. Investigate:

Research about the company, its history and hierarchy and work culture. Be informed about your position, role and job. Yes! This instills confidence in you, and will convince your prospective employers that you’re willing to commit to the company and are worth their investment.

2. Arrive Early:

Arrive about 15-20 minutes early- too early and you’ll seem too eager to please, too late and you’ll seem unprofessional and shoddy. This will also give you time to compose yourself, familiarize yourself with surroundings and  be in a better mental state for the interview itself.

3. Over 75% of communication is non-verbal:

Your body language says a lot about you as a person and is bound to make a strong impression. Make sure you’re sitting upright, are relaxed, making eye contact and definitely not fidgeting or showing your nervousness. Nod your head at intervals while they talk, and, and have a steady handshake- this creates a bigger impression than you might think. Carry wipes and hand creams if necessary, and avoid sweaty palms at all costs.

4. Dress up!

Wear well-pressed formal clothes (Take note of company culture and dress code, if any). Avoid loud colours and strongly scented perfumes and give your shoes some shine. Finally, add a confident smile to complete your look.

5. Pre-interview grooming:

Shampoo your hair well and have a neat hair-do. Little things can make a difference, like having bad breath (mints to the rescue!) or unclean nails. Earrings, spectacles and jewellery, if any, should be minimalist and subtle.  If you’re a woman, make sure your make-up is understated and natural.

6. Practice answering questions:

Some questions are almost universal in their nature, starting with “Tell us about yourself.”  Although you want to sound like the perfect match to the position, your answer to this question should give you the employer a glimpse into you as a person- with your hobbies, interest and background- and not just as a machine to fulfill work.

“What is your greatest strength/weakness?”, “Who inspires you?”, “Why should we hire you?”, “What makes you suitable for this position?”: These are some of the basic questions you’ll be expected to answer in every interview. Practice these and have a gist of what you would say when asked, but don’t memorize anything. It can sound rehearsed and put off your interviewer.

7. Prepare questions:

When asked, “Do you have any questions for us?” Do not reply, “No, you’ve covered everything.” That shows a lack of interest. Have a few questions ready. Ask “What are the company’s values?”, “What is a typical day like?”, “What’s your favorite part about working at the company?”

And, yay! there you are! Poised, polished, and all prepared for the interview.

-Sangamithra, PR Team

Featured

Resume Building 101

Resumes can be the make-or-break for your career.

A resume, which is a written compilation of your education, work experience, credentials and accomplishments, is the most essential document when looking to advance your career . It not only gets you past the first threshold and creates a ‘first impression (most employers dismiss candidates on the basis of their CV alone), but can also be used as questions. And what all do you exclude and keep aside? Here are some tips to keep in mind to get that perfect resume and reach your goals:

Organize your personal information

This is an essential part of your resume, but can’t be the most overpowering one visually. It should include your full name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn URL. Things like marital status, religion, race, etc are best avoided. 

Things to keep in mind here:-

•Use the same font, font size and keep each piece of contact information on separate lines.

•Always double check the spellings and other contact details.

Be honest about your skills

You want your skills section to echo what the employer is seeking, but you don’t want to lie about what you can do only for it to backfire later on (with terrible consequences).

Again, skills can be of two types, hard skills and soft skills.

Hard skills include what you have learned in the past in school, college, internship and the like to prove that you have the desired knowledge to perform the job. For example, degrees

and certificates, expertise in MS office, computing knowledge, typing speed, social media skills etc.

Soft skills reflect your personality and character and is equally important as it helps you to be different from others and stand out from the crowd in various aspects. Proper balance should be maintained between the two while designing the resume.

Things to keep in mind here:-

•The experience section of the resume can be used to provide evidence of the skills that you

learned and used on the job.

•The objective statement can also be used to show how your skills can prove beneficial for the required job.

• Do NOT include skills or certifications you don’t possess, even in terms of degree. Don’t write things like “proficient in Google Analytics” if you’re only a beginner, these kind of things can get your fired and blacklisted, not to mention ruin your credibility and chances of obtaining a reference for future jobs.

•Featured skills can be endorsed by your colleagues, seniors and other references to grant greater legitimacy to your claims.

Sectional tips:

Experience:-

This includes your internships, previous job experiences(if any), and volunteerism. Summarize what you gained from each of these in a line or two and organize these chronologically (most recent to oldest).

Education:-

This includes your school and college degrees, and important GPAs. In the Indian context, this should mention your grade 10, grade 12, and cumulative college GPA, preferably in a 3×3 table.

Accomplishments:-

This includes the projects undertaken, honors and awards, publications (if any), known

Languages and positions of responsibility.

You could also include another section on seminars and workshops you’ve attended, and hobbies your pursue. Employers like to know their interviewees as complete people with well-rounded interests.

Things to keep in mind:

•Keep it plain and simple with clear and bold section headings and in aligned bullet points to

make it short and precise. Don’t use borders or colours and never try to make it decorative.

•Regarding the font size, 11-12 is perfect, but for the main page header, 22-24 is preferable and for subheadings, around 14. Use the same font type throughout. Arial, Times New Roman and perhaps Cambria are acceptable, but none other.

•Try to go with an old-school, classic resume style that will appeal to all kinds of employers so you don’t keep retouching it. 

•It’s better to send your resume as a PDF as the formatting, font and layout remains the same irrespective of what device you open it in.

•Go through your resume properly before going for the interview so that you do not say anything contradictory to the mentioned points.

•Try to be as professional and concise as possible and the most important thing, be honest!

And there you have it. Everything you need to get started on your journey for success.

-Chetna Gupta, PR Team

The value of participating in College Societies & Competitions

One of the best things about college life is certainly finding hobbies outside of the classroom. College societies are one such source that helps students engage in a range of activities and enhance their skills through active participation in a range of creative subjects of interest. Competitions have an extremely important role. It motivates people to employ a range of cutting-edge techniques and develop their skills and concepts. Competitions are vital for motivating one to do well and receive rewards. It also gives you the chance to get a lot of experience, assess results, demonstrate your abilities, and learn new things.

How to integrate into society based on interests?

Ask yourself these questions before you join any society. Your interests and society: do they match? For instance: If you enjoy writing but dislike public speaking, you should join a creative writing society. But if you’re interested in creative writing, you won’t like it if you join the debating society. You start to feel burdened and bored by that society. Just select a society based on your preferences, interests and future ambitions.

Following are some of the benefits of participating in societies and competitions:

  • Amps Up Your Resume

Competitions can have a significant impact on your resume. They demonstrate your outstanding abilities and set you apart from the rest of the group. Also, they will provide you a benefit when you seek for a job or graduate study. As a result, competitions pay you throughout your life with consistent rewards. It’s a surefire method to stand out from the competition and improve your resume, whether you do it the traditional way or through your social media profiles, to be able to win any student competitions. As a result, winning contests allows you to brag about your accomplishments on Facebook and LinkedIn. The likes will start to roll in, and they’ll be followed by employment offers. Competitions will also enable you to showcase your hobbies and knowledge if you are genuinely interested about any subject that is unrelated to your major.

Moreover, keep in mind that your lack of formal training should never intimidate or deter you. You may achieve a lot in life by following your interests and passions, not just in competitions. You may stand out from the crowd by displaying the range of your abilities and letting your colours shine.

  • Make new friends

You can meet new people, network, and make friends from several other fields and geographic places through competitions and college societies. You may discover more about the many industries they work in, their interests and ambitions. In general, students enjoy the college society experience because they make new acquaintances and connect with like-minded individuals.

  • Helps in obtaining significant experience

Many situations in college will provide you a realistic perspective and exposure to the competitive nature of life. You go through a variety of quick problem-solving and brainstorming sessions while competing . As a result, you get to experience a special type of learning that is usually not taught at colleges or schools.

  • Challenging Yourself

Societies aid in skill development and learning. Students who join a collegiate society are required to participate in discussions with other members, attend meetings, and suggest ways to improve the calibre of their work, among other things. Also, they are in charge of planning many fests and events all year long. Also, you can discuss your experience while applying for jobs, universities, and interviews.

One of the most crucial things to remember is that entering the competition and succeeding in it will teach you critical lessons. Whether you succeed or fail won’t diminish how impressive you were on stage. Hence, regardless of the outcome, keep your attention on what you have learnt and how to continue growing.

Overall, the college society and competition experience are  fun as students form new friendships, get to meet like-minded people, and most importantly enjoy being part of something that helps them to learn practical things from outside the books as well as enhance their CV.

— Kritika Agarwal (Media & PR Member, MHPC)

How to make most out of LINKEDIN

Which app takes a large pie of your mobile screen time? Don’t you think some apps are cheating you to get 1st rank? Do you feel that you should change your priority over mobile applications?  

“ Replace your bad addictions with good ones.”

One website where you can learn endlessly is LinkedIn. Don’t think it’s simply for people seeking for work; it’s for everybody who understands the importance of bagging opportunities. Undoubtedly, using LinkedIn can make you a more positive and successful person. But will making a profile be enough? To make the most of it, one must understand how to use it.

  • Catchy Profile:

As you write your profile, your distinct quality should shine through. There is no such thing as a perfect profile, so don’t try to write something odd; instead, be honest. Fill up every detail so that people may view your profile from all angles.As per reports, ‘two new users sign up for the platform every second’, so if you don’t want your profile to be lost in the mass, consider highlighting your work in an interesting way.

  • Networking: 

‘Your network is your net worth’ 

Don’t hesitate to connect with new people. One can meet like-minded people through networking and focus on improving their skill set. This is a fundamental task. With several connections, you can connect with a significant audience. For individuals who want to pursue a career in digital marketing, this phase is crucial.

  • Endorsements:

Having endorsements from other members gives your skills more credibility. Don’t be scared to ask for support on a few important skills in a courteous message.

  • Appropriate use of Buzz Words:

Using buzzwords wisely in your profile will help you connect with a lot of people. Being a professional environment, practically everyone would describe themselves as “passionate,” “specialised,” “driven,” etc. Use wise choice of words if you want to stand out.

  • Show your presence: 

Make it a habit to share content that is important to your industry by liking, commenting, and reposting it. You can learn and, in fact, relearn many things by staying active. This can also be used as a platform to enhance your GD performance. By expressing your view, you allow others to learn more about you.

  • Enable creator mode:

A profile setting called “creator mode” enables you to connect with plenty of people. To access additional tools and services that assist you in producing content and expanding your LinkedIn audience, you can enable creator mode.

Everyone has the same amount of mental capacity; what differs is how you use it. In a similar fashion, why shouldn’t you gain more from tools like LinkedIn if others can?

Make the most of your LinkedIn account by prioritising it in your screen time.

— Lakshmi Sri Durga (Media & PR Member, MHPC)

Choosing the right college

Choosing the right college can be a daunting task for most of us. Straight out of high school with our score cards, we’re eager to embark on the journey of a lifetime and creating our career paths. Our college plays a vital role and determines the next 3-5 years of our lives, so it’s imperative to think about it carefully. Some guidelines to help you make the right choice are:

  • Shortlist:  Many times colleges get weeded out simply because they don’t offer the course you’re interested in, or are geographically inconvenient, or simply not affordable.  Take into account your expected grades and have a shortlist of colleges ready before you begin the actual admission process.
  • Check rankings:- In the Indian context, the National Institutional  Ranking Framework and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council provide ranks and grades respectively, which can be incredibly useful when deciding on a college. These bodies take into account multiple factors before according their results. On a global level, The Higher Education (THE) and Quadercelli Symmonds (QS) are  some of the more prestigious rankings to look into- they offer overall ranks, subject wise ranks, and even personalised one according to the criteria that matters to you the most (employability, research output etc)
  • Syllabi & Faculty-It would be a good idea to take a close look at the curriculum and how its structured over the semesters. Most colleges have a list of their faculties listed on their website, and glancing at them can sometimes give you a clue into the kind of quality in teaching you can expect.
  • Eligibility criteria :- Most colleges only require ‘passing’ your grade 12 to make you eligible for admission, but some might need your entrance exam scores too. If your test results didn’t meet your expectations, colleges with multiple admissions criteria (like extracurricular activities etc) are often willing to overlook one poor component in your application for others.
  • Placements and internships :- Look at previous internship and placement statistics if available. Although it’s possible to find internships on your own, it always helps to have an official body coordinating it in your college.
  • Prior college visit:- Some colleges allow prospective students to visit their campus on open days. If possible, visit the colleges you’ve been considering to experience first-hand what the atmosphere is like, how the location and connectivity is, and whether the college has adequate infrastructure.
  • Strong Alumni network:- A minor strength, but a strength nonetheless. A strong alumni indicates not just a lasting legacy and reputation of the college, it also makes it likely that future employers/academicians will view your alma mater favourably.

Regardless of which college you choose, make sure you utilize everything it has to offer and make the most of your time there. These are just some tips to point you in the right direction, but any educational institution is only as good as its students-and while these few years might seem like the most important ones right now, they’re only building blocks to bigger things to come in your future.

-Jagriti, PR Team 

Writing a Statement of Purpose

A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is a reflection of your personality that you present in front of the admission committee  for getting enrolled in universities abroad. It is your chance to impress the committee by complementing your academic grades with a more comprehensive insight into your interests and character. It can count for 30% of you application package and is often a deal breaker when it comes to admission into top universities. Here are some top tips to make sure you don’t go wrong:

1.Start early

. Don’t wait until the last minute to write your personal statement. You will inevitably, edit, re-edit, and  revise your draft multiple times over the course of a few weeks at least, and you should have sufficient time to do that without the application deadline looming over your head. 

2.Get organized.

 Write an outline that organizes your ideas and categories.  Most universities give you clues and include 2-3 lines about what they’re looking for in an ideal candidate (write about your motivation to pursue this particular program, why are you a good candidate for this, an experience or person that changed your life etc).Include enough details to be thoughtful and complete, but avoid being long-winded.

3.Be personal and reflective. 

Share information about who you are. Tell the readers what you want them to understand about you. Give them information about your family and past experiences and how they have motivated you to pursue your studies and shaped you into the person you are. 

4.Be authentic. 

Write about who you really are and what you really care about. Don’t try to use academic jargon or flowery words to impress them, it’s bound to backfire. Insincerity and flashiness are unpleasant characteristics that the committee will definitely be able to distinguish after reading hundreds of applications each year. Instead of trying to outsmart them or appear ‘better’ than you are, stay true to who you are. 

5.Avoid humor and clichés. Remember that those reading the essay do not know you. They may not understand your sense of humor, so it’s best not to use it in such an important and formal document, especially with the risk of causing offense.

And those are just some handy tips to keep in mind before embarking on the SoP-writing process. In any case, don’t worry and have faith in your own abilities and achievements. It’s difficult to convince someone else you deserve something if you don’t have faith in it yourself. 

-Nimisha, PR Team

Resources to utilize in college

College years are one of those years that plays a major role in molding one’s future. It then becomes really crucial to use these years very tactfully, to fully make use of them and enjoy the outcomes. College campus provides an ample amount of resources that can be used as building blocks of one’s corporate life. From libraries to reading rooms, fests to workshops, trips to seminars, a number of opportunities to learn and to grow are lined up. Here’s how you can make the most of these resources to jumpstart a successful career.

Societies and cells

Every college has some kind of cultural societies  or professional cells, often abbreviated to SOCs. These societies help in an overall development through their multifaceted activities. They help you gain confidence in communicating and enhance your personality . They force you to think out of the box and innovate. Ability to meet deadlines and working under pressure with the whole team are the key skills provided by these cells, which come in handy in a career in the corporate world.

Interaction with alumni

Networking with alumni is a good idea to get through the options available to you. They can guide you and brief you about capacity building and smart strategies to make it into your field of interest. Alumni meets and LinkedIn are useful means to do this.

Educational trips and visits

Industrial visits and educational trips open you up to a plethora of opportunities. These kinds of visits introduce you to corporate culture and are a good way to interact with industry insiders and sharpen one’s knowledge and skill sets.

Libraries and internet services

If you are in doubt about any concepts or just interested in exploring an idea further, the library is your best friend.The vast range of books let you further your interests, and the availability of WiFi facilities means you could probably catch up on those readings and assignments piling up between classes.

Common rooms and discussions

Discussions among your peers and teachers expose you to a variety of perspectives. Confidence in representing our views and interpreting others’ to arrive at a nuanced conclusion is an experience best facilitated by such spaces.

Workshops and seminars

You get to know about the  alternatives available to you in careers and higher education fields through workshops and seminars. Pre-placement talks can also come in useful even if you don’t make it, since they familiarize you with the recruitment process and give you an inkling into what companies are looking for in the ideal candidate.

Mock interviews and counselling

Uncertainty about future prospects can be cleared through counselling and training; with the help of mock interviews, you can  practice overcoming your anxiety and be better prepared for the final day. 

All in all, one must use these beneficial resources available free of cost by the college. In one way or another these resources can boost one’s journey towards a successful career. The events organised by the college including fests can prove to be a blessing if used wisely as an occasional recreational activity to help you stay refreshed and proactive.

-Vanshika, PR Team 

Networking in College

What is networking?

Networking is a skill that is often underrated by college students. While they may talk about their academic and extracurricular commitments, they tend to overlook the importance of networking. Networking refers to  meeting and forming contacts with people from your as well as from other fields-this can include your peers and superiors both. It is a crucial skill to develop not only for professional advancement but also for the enhancement of soft skills and articulation. It can be difficult to make the extra effort to initiate a conversation with someone you don’t know, but there are a quite a few advantages for doing this.  Here are some ways in which networking as a college student can benefit you.

1.Knowledge

Through networking, you can get in touch with professionals in your field of interest. Their life experiences and struggles will give you valuable insights into what goes behind the making of that career, and also inspire you to work harder. 

2.Referrals

Referrals become very important when you are looking for a job. In this  competitive world where there are hundreds of applicants for one position with similar qualifications,it can come in handy to have an insider recommend you and gives your application greater credibility in the eyes of the employer.  

3.Keep yourself updated

Staying up-to-date with the latest developments in the field of your interest is extremely important these days; it shows a commitment to your passion and that you won’t get left behind when things change. Networking gives you greater opportunities to keep yourself abreast of current affairs, when you make meaningful conversations with people, you’re bound to learn more.

4.Enhance your understanding 

Networking exposes you to a variety of perspectives and backgrounds, and allows you to gain a fresh and nuanced understanding of issues by looking at it from different angles. 

5.Boosts self-confidence 

For most of us it can be daunting to approach people, especially as freshers in  a new and intimidating environment. When you work in a group and get appreciated for your work, it automatically boosts your confidence and enhance your personality.

Ways to build your social networks

In college, you will get numerous opportunities where you can build you network: for example, by attending inter college tournaments and competitions, you can meet new people from different backgrounds and will get to know about other fields too. While doing internships, you have the opportunity to make contacts and learn new things from other interns as well as senior employees. College societies and clubs help you the most when it comes to networking. Through organisational collaborations and sponsorships, societies often work and have connections with youth-oriented companies; you never know when an opportunity to work at a bigger level may knock at your door. Some sites are specifically for professional networking , most notably LinkedIn. From veterans  who’ve been in business for decades to the newly college graduates, you can find everyone on this site. LinkedIn also lets you follow those at a higher career level who may not connect with you directly, so you can still stay updated on their achievements and activities. 

Other social media platforms like Twitter, facebook and Instagram can also help you form connections, although they are not primarily used for this purpose. These sites also let you know of workshops and conferences being organised by external organisations which you can attend.

“Networking is an investment in your business. It takes time and when done correctly can yield great results for years to come.”

–Aastha Jain, PR Team

Acing Group Discussions

TIPS AND TRICKS

Group discussions are a challenging but essential part of most selection processes by companies. It’s a chance for them to gauge your communication skills, how well you pick up on social cues and non-verbal hints, and whether you can participate in a discussion without dominating it while also putting your ideas forward. Many of us fail to perform to the best of our potential because of several reasons such as social anxiety, unpreparedness, stage fright or just last-minute nerves. Here are some simple yet significant points to remember during group discussions to ace them.

  1. READ: Read about as many probable topics as you can before the group discussion so that you have all the content fresh in your mind. This helps you recall and gather the required information in less time and also makes you certain about the facts.
  2. MAKE BULLET POINTS: Organise your ideas in the form of bullet points and avoid writing paragraphs. Arrange the points in the order in which you wish to bring them up, and you could even write down points for an impactful introduction and a crisp conclusion.
  3. INTRODUCTION AND CONCLUSION: Show your leadership skills by either introducing the topic or concluding it when the time is about to get over. 
  4. LISTEN, THEN SPEAK: Listen to what others are saying before speaking in order to make your point relevant. This also avoids overlapping of information and gives a direction to the discussion.
  5. COMMUNICATE PROPERLY: Mastering communication skills in a day is not possible but you can remember certain points to make sure your voice is heard. Keep your language simple, crisp and to the point. Raise your voice only when necessary but do not shout or get aggressive. Mind your tone and body language. Complete your sentences and do not rush to another point without completing the previous one. Do not interrupt when someone is speaking and wait for him to complete. Formulate your ideas before speaking and make sure that your words make sense.
  1. BE CONFIDENT: Do not get nervous while speaking because it can make you stutter or shiver, creating a negative impact. Confidence makes your point sound stronger, making people listen to you and hence, giving you an opportunity to share your thoughts uninterrupted.

These points should help you perform your best in any group activities and attain that position you really want. No process is impossible to master, and the MHPC is here to give you all the tips & tricks needed to ace them!

-Ashima, PR Team

Offbeat career tracks and their scope in India

For a long time, there were only so many career paths you could hope to lead a comfortable life with-doctors, engineers, lawyers, the army and of course, civil services. These jobs attracted Indians with their job security, longevity and scope- but did not offer a lot of scope for satisfaction, growth and personal fulfillment. Youngsters of the 21st century, however, are willing to risk financial security and the promise of a pension for their passion, and it’;s slowly leading to a good paycheck as well. The MHPC has outlined some offbeat hatke  career tracks for the aspiring artist in you, ready to unleash your creativity upon the world. And it might be difficult to embark on these paths, but we promise its not impossible.

DIGITAL MARKETING 

The number of internet users across the globe is 3.5billion and counting. The rate at which technology is evolving is unbelievable, from new social platforms to new mobile technologies. Digital marketing is a newly emergent but fast growing field, and so for most organisations experience is not necessarily a requirement for landing a job. It is perhaps the only cost-effective and most viable method to get your message out and build a solid consumer base. 

There are numerous job profiles available in this field such as marketing automation, email marketing, search engine optimization, design, social media marketing, content marketing etc. Demand for digital marketers are very high, the companies are now switching from conventional methods to digital technologies.

You don’t need a college degree to start working as a digital marketer, it’s a skill oriented field. Forester Research has projected that digital marketing will top $100 billion and account for 35% of all marketing spending by 2019. Depending on the company you’re working in and your experience, your salary could easily go into six-figures. Digital marketing as an offbeat is an excellent choice when one has to develop his career in the field of technology. 

MOUNTAINEER

Passion for mountains, you love the air around it and want to do something extraordinary out there. You think you have that ability, that zest to break the records of the mountaineers then yes mountaineer as an offbeat career is for you. 

There are so many career options in mountaineering such as you could be a trek guide, climbing agency owners, climbing guides and even government sponsored climbers.

In fact, the pay grade is also quite good and one could easily earn around 1500-2000 rupees in a day based on the specialisation in the field one possesses. According to this source, “the ones willing to innovate in this field make the most money.”

There are several prestigious institutes which offer certificates in mountaineering:

  • Nehru Institute Of Mountaineering, Utarakshi, in Uttarakhand
  • Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports, in J&K
  • National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, in Arunachal Pradesh
  • Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling, in West Bengal

TATTOO ARTIST

Tattooing is one of the oldest art forms which involves creating permanent or temporary words, symbols or images on the skin where a human body is transmuted into a canvas and the person that chooses to be that canvas sees the tattoo as a self expression. Breaking the normal trend of opting for engineering, medicine, law is no easy task. Taking up a field which is not preferred by many takes a lot of courage and dedication.

 Tattoo industry globally is valued at rupees 12,000 crores. On an average a tattoo artist earns up to 1500-2000rupees per inch per design depending on the sizes and the ink colour which the customer demands. But a highly professional tattoo artists charges up to 8000-9000 per inch per design depending on the needs of the customer. One can get inspired from Devil’s Tattooz  one of India’s emerging and biggest chain of tattoo studios. 

For an offbeat career, a tattoo artist is one of the most amazing and fun loving  jobs as new technologies are also emerging  and can expect a bright future in this area. 

RADIO JOCKEY

Becoming a radio jockey is diversifying in nature. Every RJ has their own style of communicating, should be warm, friendly, spontaneous, dynamic and must possess good communication skills. It is a very exciting and challenging career for those who have a passion for music.

 There are no entrance examinations. Anyone can do a short term course or diploma in this field from various institutes,

1-AJK Mass Communication Research Centre

2- Indian Institute of Mass Communication

3- Amity School of Journalism & Communication

4- Kamla Nehru College, DU   

Job opportunities for both government and private sectors are available for a radio jockey. The skills which RJ pertains are voice modulation, command over the language and its vocabulary. A RJ can earn up to 2000-3000rupees per show and the pay grade increase with time and experience. The various recruiting radio agencies are available in the link provided.

As an offbeat career the job of RJ is highly creative and you get to live a lot of different characters through your voice and this industry is gaining popularity and is growing fast. 

BLOGGER/CONTENT WRITER

A great opportunity of becoming an entrepreneur when one doesn’t have enough resources to start the company, one could always start by being a blogger or a content writer.  understanding of a topic. If one possesses good content marketing skills, then blogging is the perfect job. A number of niches have emerged in the world of blogging: cooking, travelling, gossips, parenting, finance, web development etc. A good and reputed blogger earns more than 1,00,000 rupees on his content per month and  the pay grade increases as the topic attracts more readers.

As an offbeat career a blogger/content writer as job is one of the most successful and emerging profile from the past certain years all it requires is optimism and a willingness to learn.

PROFESSIONAL DANCING 

A dancer is an artist who uses the movements to convey the stories and ideas. National programs such as dance India dance, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa have made a very huge impact of dancing on the audience. Nowadays the number of people involved in this art form has increased and people are now pursuing this as their primary career.

Bhangra, Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Manipuri are some few of the dance forms that have won the hearts of people worldwide. These have evolved so much in the past years and are attracting different people from various cultures and also gaining admirers globally.

One can get a college degree in dancing from the following universities:

  1. Christ Bangalore
  2. Rabindra Bharati University
  3. Miranda house
  4. Banasthali Vidyapeeth
  5. Ramjas college

The average base pay for a dancer is 6.5lakhs pe annum and it increases with experience.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Full of wisdom, happiness, sorrow and with an unforeseeable future, the world we live in makes for a terrifying place. And what better way to narrate a story than through a picture? With the help of a little exposure and the perfect timing, a picture can recreate a story. 

Professional photography has various specializations such as fashion, wedding, portrait, landscape and wildlife.  Fashion photography is the most emerging photography and is highly paid followed by a war photographer then fine arts. Various institutes which provides a course in photography are

1-Delhi college of photography

2- Sir J. J. Institute of Applied Arts

3-Life and Light academy

4- One school Goa 

-Aanchal Khera, PR Team

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