I don’t write about myself. Not in public, and rarely, if ever, in private. The proposed amendment to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, presented by Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Virendra Kumar in Lok Sabha on March 13 forces my hand, and yet
For decades, “cool" in popular culture followed a predictable formula. It was exclusive, carefully controlled, and often built around mystique. Stars appeared rarely, spoke sparingly, and maintained distance from the audiences who admired them
SW Railway tests postponed amid language protestsSouth Western Railway postponed promotion exams in Karnataka due to protests over lack of Kannada language option, causing employee uncertainty. Published on: Mar 18, 2026 7:34 AM IST By Arun Dev
Apple CEO Tim Cook has dismissed speculation about stepping down, calling such reports “a rumour" and reaffirming his long-term commitment to the company. In a television interview with Michael Strahan on ABC News, Cook made it clear he has no plans to slow down. “No, I didn’t say that
Noel Tata seeks truncated term for Tata Sons Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran as part of succession revampTata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata wants to dilute powers of the Tata Sons chairman by including a CEO & MD and a Deputy CEO, and a non-executive chairman. Updated on: Mar 18
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I am a B.Sc. Electronics graduate more interested in practical work. I am thinking about working as an auto electrician. What courses should I do? Are there other options with better salary? My communications skills are poor so I need a job that doesn't involve too much communication. Fazil
Dear Fazil,
For a career as an auto electrician, you will need a ITI certificate or a Diploma in Automotive Electronics from a polytechnic or a private institute, which will cover modern vehicle systems. Another option is to sign up for a Manufacturer-Specific Certification, which involves being certified by specific car manufacturers such as Maruti Suzuki or Toyota or Hyundai. You can work in authorised car service centres, independent garages, trucking companies or start your own workshop eventually.
Your B.Sc. Electronics opens doors to fields with significantly higher earning potential than an auto electrician role. Some excellent alternatives are Electronics Hardware and Service Roles as a PCB Design and Testing Technician, a Field Service Engineer (for specific machinery) or an ATM Technician or Service Engineer. The Industrial Automation and Control Sector is booming and a great fit for your profile. You could be an Industrial Automation Technician (may need a short-term diploma or certification in PLC and SCADA programming). The IT and Networking Hardware Side offers Network Support Engineer or Technician roles for which you will require a foundational certification such as Cisco's CCNA.
I have an M.Tech. Structural Engineering from IIT-Kharagpur and am working in a construction company. I want to develop my skills in Behaviour Marketing. Should I do an MBA? Venky
Dear Venky,
An MBA will give you a comprehensive business foundation, a structured curriculum and networking opportunities. Choose it if you want a complete career transformation. The other alternative is a specialised programme such as an M.Sc. in Behavioural Science or a PG programme in Digital Marketing, which are highly focussed, research-oriented and dive deep into the psychology and neuroscience behind decision-making.
Online Certifications and Executive Education is the most flexible and immediate way to build this specific skill without leaving your job. Consider programmes on Behavioural Economics and Neuroscience or DIgital Marketing with a behavioural focus on online platforms. You can also be self-directed and learn by application. This requires high discipline, but it is the most cost-effective. Start with books like Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely, and Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini.
I would recommend a hybrid approach. Start with a high-quality online certification, apply these principles to your current job, document the results and build a portfolio. If this seems transformative, then consider an Executive MBA or specialised Master's programme.
I am a B.Com. graduate preparing for the CAT. I am interested in finance. If I don't clear this exam, what are the alternatives? Vidhya
Dear Vidhya,
Consider other entrance exams such as XAT, SNAP, NMAT, MAT, or CMAT depending on the institution you want to study at. An MBA from any of these colleges will open doors to finance roles. Other highly specialised and globally recognised Finance Certifications include Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Company Secretary (CS), Chartered Accountancy (CA), and Certified Management Accountant (CMA, the U.S.). You can also consider specialised degrees such as Master's in Financial Management, PG Diploma in Financial Marketing. All these will open doors to jobs in the banking sector. Consider taking the Bank Probationary Officer exams or the RBI Grade B Officer Exam or the SEBI Grade A Officer exam or the NABARD Grade A/B exams. All of them offer job security, good pay and a clear career path in the financial sector.
I have completed B.Sc. Computer Science and will be doing MCA. What courses should I take to upskill myself for the IT Sector, given the mass layoffs due to AI's impact? Keerthana
Dear Keerthana,
Build specialised, high-value skills to complement AI rather than compete with it. Move from being a generalist coder to a specialist who can solve complex problems, design systems, and work effectively with AI tools. Courses like Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) on LeetCode and GeeksforGeeks are performant and cost-effective. System Design is highly valued for senior roles. Mastering a Tech Stack (Go Deep, Not Wide), but MERN/MEAN Stack, Java Spring Boot, Python/Django, Cloud-Native Stack are also helpful.
Instead of fearing AI, learn to leverage it. Prompt Engineering for Developers and learn to effectively communicate with AI models (like GitHub Copilot, Amazon CodeWhisperer) to generate, debug, and document code. This is a fundamental new skill for all developers. Understanding the fundamentals of AI/ML is crucial. Data Engineering and Data Literacy is a superpower. Learn SQL (advanced), Python (Pandas, PySpark), ETL/ELT processes, and data warehousing (Snowflake, BigQuery).
Specialisation protects you from mass layoffs. So invest in Cloud Computing and DevOps. Get a foundational certification like AWS Certified Cloud, Cybersecurity (specialise in application security or AppSec or network security). Certifications such as CompTIA Security+ are a good start. Mobile Development (Native) is also a specialised skill.
Disclaimer: This column is merely a guiding voice and provides advice and suggestions on education and careers.
The writer is a practising counsellor and a trainer. Send your questions to eduplus.thehindu@gmail.com with the subject line Off the Edge.
Published - December 20, 2025 04:00 pm IST
The Hindu Education Plus / careers / study abroad / universities and colleges / university / students / internships / entrance examination / test/examination / higher education / College admission
Source: TheHindu
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