Chemical Engineering

Introduction

An incredible chain of comments was noticed on Facebook:

Person A’s status update read “I love heavy Heavy Metal”. His friend Person B’s first comment read “Heavy Metal is defined as a metal which has a potential negative impact or an environmental impact maybe termed as a heavy metal. Some examples are cobalt, chromium (not Ubuntu’s web browser) and lithium. “The very next comment read “He can say all that in a single breath.”

Does Person B sound like you? Can you recite the periodic table backwards? Are you thorough with formulae? In other words does working with chemicals seem like the most exciting job? If you answered yes to all these questions, then you might want to think about a career in Chemical Engineering.

Chemical engineering is a discipline which is uniquely poised at the interface between engineering and molecular sciences. It is linked to fundamental subjects like chemistry, biology, mathematics and physics- and is closely associated with other engineering disciplines such as materials science, computer science, mechanical, electrical and civil engineering. It has almost always been linked to fuel combustion and energy systems, today’s chemical engineers are at the forefront of new development, in fields like medicine, biotechnology, microelectronics, advance materials, energy, consumer products , manufacturing and environmental solutions.

Duration & Countries

Did Dexter from ‘Dexter’s Laboratory’ intrigue you? Have you ever wondered what chemicals Dexter used to create his signature mutant mixtures, which could turn ordinary people into animals, or super powered mutants? Dexter was a born chemistry genius and already had a laboratory at the tender age of 7. However, anything is possible in a cartoon, taken the other way around, if you ever dreamt of being a master scientist like Dexter, realistically you have to be prepared for four years of intensive study at a Chemical Engineering College.

Amongst all the courses in engineering, chemical engineering is one of the oldest and most recognised. There are plenty of options at your disposal, if you wish to study chemical engineering, both in India and abroad.

USA - There are many universities in USA which offer courses in Engineering. Universities like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley and Stanford University offer Bachelors in Science degrees. The duration of these courses is around 4 to 5 years and the fee is approximately $26,000 to $35,000 per annum. Associate degrees are also available in some universities

UK - U.K. has one of the leading educational systems in the world. The degrees given are recognised throughout the world. At the undergraduate level, chemical engineering can be studied as B.Eng. or M.Eng. The top universities for chemical engineering in UK are University of Cambridge, University of Oxford and Imperial College London. The courses are 3 to 4 years long and the fee per annum is approximately around 13,000 pounds to 16,000 pounds.

India - In India, courses in chemical engineering are offered at both the undergraduate and the post graduate levels. The basic eligibility criteria for BE/B.Tech programme in chemical engineering is 10+2 with science subjects, (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics), or equivalent examination, with at least 60% marks in aggregate. It is also mandatory to qualify in the Joint Entrance Examinations (JEE), conducted by the IITs. Most colleges which offer engineering courses in aeronautics consider JEE score as the qualifying grade. Diploma courses are also available in chemical engineering. The BE/B.Tech courses are for a duration of four years while diploma programmes are for a duration of 2-3 years. The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) at Mumbai, Kharagpur, Chennai, and Kanpur are the topmost colleges for chemical engineering in India

Training Areas

Remember Gunner from “The Expendables” series? He plays the chemical engineer with a chemical dependency. What if I told you he was a Chemical engineer, for real?

The actor in question ‘Dolph Lungdren’, has acted in more than 40 movies, and holds an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Sydney. ‘Harsha Bhogle’, international cricket commentator also holds a degree in chemical engineering from Osmania University.

There are certain areas that a chemical engineer is trained on; doing action movies and anchoring sports shows unfortunately is not part of the course yet. However, a few things are listed here:

• Biology
• Calculus
• Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• General Chemistry
• Geometry
• Materials
• Mechanics
• Organic Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry
• Physics
• Reactor Design
• Reactor Kinetics
• Statistics
• Thermodynamics

Opportunities

A chemical engineer can find jobs in the public and private sectors, both in India and abroad. There is no shortage of jobs for chemical engineers. As non-renewable sources of energy are dwindling, being a chemical engineer could prove to be extremely useful. A chemical engineer can help synthesise replacements or options for sources of energy. A chemical engineer can work in either the research or production of such chemicals. Additionally, a chemical engineer can work for a government organisation like ONGC, or even a private player like Reliance energy.

Many chemical engineers are selected as trainee engineers in Fortune 500 organisations like Intel, Texaco etc.

Career Prospects

The prospects of finding work are very bright indeed. Over the recent years Chemical Engineers have served as CEOs of leading energy, semiconductor and oil companies. Chemical engineers are required to play a variety of roles in an organisation:

• A Scientist
• A Researcher
• A Chemical engineer
• Subject matter expert

Chemical engineers have always been in demand, as chemical engineering is considered an extremely critical branch of engineering. There are huge opportunities for someone completing a course in Chemical engineering. One can easily find work in the pharmaceutical, bio-technology and energy industry.

Type of Companies

The work of Chemical Engineers, the most versatile of all engineers, involves the invention, development, design, operation and management of processes in industries. The work of several fields as chemistry, industrial engineering, materials engineering and electrical engineering is combined. Chemical engineers are responsible for the availability of modern high-quality materials that are essential for running an industrial economy.

There are many organisations you can work for, once you have completed a degree in chemical engineering. I have listed some of the organisations you could find work in once you have completed a course in chemical engineering.

• 3M
• DuPont
• Intel
• General Electric
• Union Carbide
• Dow Chemical
• Exxon
• BASF
• Gulf
• Texaco

Entrepreneurship

In the past, Chemical engineers worked as part of a team. This trend has changed over the past few years with many graduates starting out their own organisations. Chemical Engineering is one of the toughest fields of work. Chemical engineers are highly paid and respected.

Once you have completed a degree in Chemical engineering, you can easily pursue a course in business studies and start your own organisation. One of the most popular chemical engineers in India is Mukesh Ambani, CEO of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), which is ranked #99 in the Fortune Global 500. Mukesh Ambani as of 2012 is the richest man in India.

Though chemical engineers work as part of an organisation, one can always set up their own chemical organisation, or set up a bio-fuel plant, etc.

Remuneration

Ever wonder what money is made off? The paper used in currency notes, is a special blend of 75% cotton and 25% linen. While studying chemical engineering, you could learn how to mint money; conceptually at the very least. Chemical engineering is a highly paid career choice. Here is a generic remuneration of a chemical engineer’s salary in India:
 

Experience in Years	Compensation per annum
0 to 5 years	2 to 7 lakhs
6 to 10 years	8 to 13 lakhs
11 to 15 years	13 to 20 lakhs
15 years	20 lakhs and above

Ineligible Subjects

There are many options available to someone who chooses to study chemical engineering. Chemical engineering is a combination of molecular sciences and engineering. This should give you a fair idea about the kind of subjects you will be studying throughout your course.

Once you choose this field, you will not be able to opt for commerce, humanities, arts, political sciences etc as they have no relevance with this field in any regards. You cannot pursue master’s degree in MBBS, dentistry or commerce after you have graduated with chemical engineering.

Pros & Cons

There are a number of advantages of being a chemical engineer. You could easily create evil (non dangerous) chemical concoctions and test them on unsuspecting friends.
Following are some of the advantages of being a Chemical Engineer:

• High Salary Packages
• Good reputation
• Serving energy fields
• Regular inflow of knowledge, about technologies
• High end perks
• Travel opportunities

There are many disadvantages as well, like:

• High responsibility
• Excessive research
• Longer study years
• High quality has to be maintained
• Longer working hours

Skill Sets

Mr. Hyde exhibits the archetypal monster. Chemicals have always been associated with shifts in personality. So much so, that one often wonders what is an ideal personality? Is it possible to walk into a chemical lab and cook up a vial of ideal personality? Let’s have look at the personality traits required to be successful in Chemical Engineering:

• Open for a challenge
• A keen observer
• A consistent mind set
• Ability to handle peer pressure at work
• High end interpersonal skills
• Leadership qualities
• A creative and curious bent of mind
• Ready to take initiative as and when needed
• Can command respect of co-workers, juniors and team members
• Can maintain a cool head
• Ability to take charge of a situation

If working with chemicals excites you, and you often wonder whether the fabled philosopher’s stone can change any metal to gold, look no further, pursue a course in chemical engineering and give yourself the chance to experiment. With a little bit of luck, you just might find the chemical responsible for turning a metal to gold.

Chartered Accountancy

Introduction

Whether you like it or not, sometime in the future, you will have to pay taxes. However, it takes more than a brilliant mind to understand its intricacies. Albert Einstein once famously said, "The hardest thing in the world to understand is income tax." If a mastermind like Einstein had this to say, you can very well imagine how much hard work and intellect goes into mastering this highly specialised field.

Attracted by immense money making potential, many students choose chartered accountancy as a career path. But it is not a cakewalk and one has to pass a series of examinations which progressively get tougher. The percentage of students who clear it is very less but if you swear by hard work and determination, success will surely be yours. So guys read on if you want to know, why that BMW with a 'CA' sticker whizzed past you at the traffic signal and left you thinking, what does a 'CA' do to own a BMW and pass you by at racing speeds?

Duration & Countries

 India - Chartered accountancy in India is regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) which was established by Parliament under the Chartered Accountants Act of 1949. Since then, the term Chartered Accountant has been used in place of Indian Registered Accountant. This is the statutory body which administers, regulates and awards certifications or degrees to successful candidates and subsequently they can call themselves Chartered Accountants.

Chartered Accountancy in India can be pursued after class 12 or graduation. The whole course can be summarized as follows:

• Foundation course was introduced by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India; it is suited for students who complete their class 12. It is a yearlong course, mostly taken up in a distance education format. Upon successful completion, students can apply for internship (article ship) with any experienced CAs.
• During article ship, students are paid a stipend and get to learn the intricacies of accountancy. A firsthand experience into the functioning of finance, audit, tax or any other chosen specialisation is what the students learn in article ship. Simultaneously, students enrol in intermediate courses and take its examination.
• Once you pass the intermediate examination, you can serve in any financial, commercial or industrial project as part of the training. This training ranges from about 9 months to a year.
• If you appear for the intermediate examination during article ship, you can take the final examination. Once you pass the final examination, you need to gain membership to the ICAI before they can start practicing as a CA.

UK - England is the Hail Mary of all countries in accountancy as on a relative scale, 'Chartered' are paid the highest here! This birthplace of industrial revolution also happens to the Mecca of regulated accountancy (later the nomenclature was changed to Chartered Accountancy). Here, students do not have to obtain any license to practice accountancy but to use the title of "Chartered Accountant" you should be a member of any of the following organisations.

• the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) (You will be called ACA or FCA)
• the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) (Like wise here you will be knows as CA)

USA - The minimum eligibility to sit for the U.S. Certified Public examination is generally a four year university degree. Most states in the US require 150 university semester-hours before you can sit for the CPA exam. Lawyers and accountants are said to have the most number of Rolex watches between them in the entire of America. So go ahead and fly to the land of hot dogs and begin your career filled with green bills and Rolexes.

On a serious note, the system of regulation and certification in the US for accountants is different than that of India or UK. Having an ICAI degree may not get you the million dollar job but will give you eligibility to sit for the CPA examination.

Training Areas

Chartered accountants perform a variety of functions. A few of them are listed below.

• Accountancy
• Auditing
• Taxation
• Cost Accountancy
• Special Company Work
• Investigation
• Directorship
• Companies Secretarial work
• Management Accounting
• Share Valuation

A Chartered accountant can also act as an arbitrator to settle disputes concerning insolvency and company fraud.

Univariety recommendation: If you planning to file for bankruptcy in future or declare insolvency make sure you know at least one brilliant Chartered Accountant to pull you out from the trouble!

Opportunities

Opportunities exist in both India and abroad but being a course closely related to local laws, there is higher probability of finding jobs in India. Also, as mentioned earlier Chartered Accountancy in India is regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. The umbrella organisation under which this bodyis a member is Edinburgh Society of Accountants (formed 1854), the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries (1854), and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants. Simply put, a student completing a course in India can find related opportunities in any of the commonwealth countries (Those countries which were, or are a part of the British Dominion and now United Kingdom). So if you looking for opportunities abroad, UK and Australia are good options. USA follows a different pattern and hence you may not get the best jobs for your profile.

Career Prospects

Having a professional qualification ensures that one doesn't have to start working at any entry level jobs. Typical designations for CAs are:

• Finance Manager
• Accounts Manager and
• Internal Auditor

These jobs lead to senior management roles such as

• Financial Controllers
• Advisors
• Directors

Typically, it takes about 10 years to reach the above roles. Chartered Accountants also have plenty of opportunities in:

• Capital markets (Share markets and bond markets)
• Business houses like any multinational conglomerate or a big blue chip company
• Banking
• Investment companies
• Financial consultancies ( Karvy Consultancy is an example)

Professionally qualified Chartered Accountants are required for research, preparing project reports and do budget planning along with cost analysis.

Type of Companies

Employment in the government and public sector offers regular working hours and also all the ‘sarkari’ benefits like a red beacon installed Ambassador car!
The private sector offers greater opportunity in terms of work and money but also can be really taxing in terms of responsibility. There is a requirement for greater day-to-day involvement in the financial and business operations of the company.

Entrepreneurship

This is entirely a matter of personal choice, guided by preferences and individual tastes. Depending on what you feel comfortable you can either join an accountancy firm as an associate or start your own venture. Like every business, an accountancy start up will also have to deal with logistic, infrastructure and income flow issues. We recommend that you work for an experienced CA for a few years and then branch out after knowing the working of accountancy firms inside out.

Usain Bolt did not directly run the Olympics; he practiced at his school and locality level first before jumping the big league! Similarly get a firm grounding in accountancy while working and then start your own firm. This way you can get that cherished Ferrari sooner!

Remuneration

Chartered Accountancy is a profession where returns are quite high, be it public, private sector or a self run business. Salaries of C.A.s employed in public or private sector companies vary depending upon qualification and experience. Average salaries at junior level are 10000 to 15000 per month while person with 5 years experience can expect to get 50000 to 60000 per month.

Chartered Accountants who are engaged in consultancy and private practice also earn enviable incomes depending upon the numbers and kinds of clients they have. Sky is the limit in this field but it all boils down to a lot of hard work coupled with calibre to understand finance, tax or audit, which ever the case may be.

Experience in Years	Compensation per annum
0 to 5 years	1.5 to 6 lakhs
6 to 10 years	5-12 lakhs
11 to 15 years	14-24 lakhs
15 years	25 lakhs and above

Ineligible Subjects

The students who choose CA as a career path normally start preparing at class 10 and accordingly choose commerce at class 11 and 12. This is because high school study in commerce will help in pursuing CA foundation course as both have a few common subjects. So, if you have studied commerce at class 12 then you may not be able to pursue any technical or medicine related course. Apart from technical courses, there is no such restriction on fields or subjects you can pursue after completion of CA. Do you want to change a field and leave all the pots of money you can make being a chartered accountant, that's for you to decide!

Pros & Cons

Advantages:

• The profession is highly challenging as a career choice.
• On the positive side, this is a profession that pays well and provides opportunities for fast growth within a few years of leaving high school. No other profession affords lucrative career opportunities so soon, not even Engineering or Medicine.
• One also has the advantage of offering competent services across the board or specialising in one or more domains within Chartered Accountancy.
• Jobs are practically guaranteed on enrolment at the Institute and the training makes candidates career-ready even before they received the official certification.

Disadvantages:

• The examinations are difficult with very low pass rates.
• Updating oneself constantly is a given in Chartered Accountancy since new rules and regulations are added continuously by the lawmakers and one could get left behind and cause immense losses to clients if one's not aware of the changing scenario.
• The responsibility stakes are really high in this profession since CAs are the official money managers.
• The profession is in the direct line of fire when companies are not doing well or have been found to have compromised financial ethics.
• One has to be really careful and execute work with integrity and independence in this profession.

Skill Sets

To be a good Chartered Accountant, you require sound business skills and numerical ability. Also, good communication skills, objectivity, independence of thought and integrity coupled with the ability to work under the pressure of deadlines form the ingredients of your magic potion. A healthy dosage of this potion will guarantee you that BMW you’ve been yearning for and more!
Go on, bring forth the number cruncher genie in you and let the magic begin!

Business Management

Introduction

Remember the lavish and classy apartment Farhan Akhtar resided in Rock On or the posh Ferrari that Hritik Roshan drove in Zindagi na Milegi Dobara? You must be wondering why you are being asked such weird questions! Here’s the point: do you remember the onscreen profession of these characters in the movie? Both these guys worked as successful investment bankers. Yes, investment banking, stock broking, marketing professional, and many such smart and interesting career alternatives will be waiting for you, once you choose to pursue your higher studies in business management.

Today business forms the lifeline of the world’ economy, thus it is extremely essential that all aspects of business needs to be managed with experts hands. Experts are not always born. They acquire knowledge and skill through study and practice over the years. In order to be a business expert you need to surpass several milestones in order to reach your final destination and this is where you start off - an undergraduate degree in business management from a reputed B-school. Again, getting into a reputed Business Management school is not easy and one has to combine speed, skill and intelligence to crack through the rigorous admission process. So guys read on if you want to be part of the glamorous corporate management world.

Duration & Countries

 Choosing the right country and the right B-school is a big job. Today there are huge options both in India and abroad, and so it is important to explore them thoroughly before you take a final decision.
Following are some of the best countries as well as colleges where you can pursue and complete a course in Business Management successfully:

U.S.A. - In the U.S., these courses are offered as Bachelor of Sciences or Bachelor of Arts. These are generally for a duration of 4 years and the fee structure ranges from $20000-50000 per year depending on the colleges and the universities. The most important aspect of pursuing Bachelors in Business Studies from any of the leading colleges in USA is to know the application procedure of colleges in which you want to apply; weight age is given to your 10+2 results as well as the IELTS score. Some of the top known colleges are listed below:

• Harvard University
• Stanford University
• University of Pennsylvania
• Sloan University
• Kellogg University
• University of Chicago

U.K. - There are various institutes and universities based in and out of London which offers undergraduate courses on Business Management. Most of these institutes offer a full time 3 year’s course, and fees structure ranges from £5000-20000 per year depending on the colleges and the universities. Some of the well known institutes are:

• Brunel University
• City University London
• Coventry University, London
• Regents College, London
• Kingston University, London
• London Metropolitan University
• Warwick Business School

Most of these institutes would require you to have good IELTS score (at least 6.5).

Singapore - The undergraduate management programmes in Singapore are for a duration of 4 years and the fee structure ranges from SGD $ 15000-40000 for the entire course depending on the colleges and the universities. Students are required to complete at least 12 years of schooling before applying for these courses. Also most of the universities in Singapore require an IELTS score of 6 or above and a TOEFL score of 550 and above. Also most of the universities mandate successful completion of 2 years of full time study in English medium. Some of the prominent institutes in Singapore include:

• NUS Singapore
• Management Development Institute of Singapore
• Singapore Institute of Management
• JCU Singapore
• SGP International Management Academy
• Shelton College Singapore

India - Undergraduate studies in Business Management are recognised with four major course names in India, viz. BBM (Bachelors in Business Management), BMS (Bachelor of Management Studies), BBS (Bachelor of Business Studies) and BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration). Generally all top BBA colleges in India provide full time 3 year’s course, and fees structure ranges from Rs.20000-60000 per semester depending on the colleges and the universities. There are a large number of colleges in India in cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune. However, the top institutes and universities in India of national prominence include:

• St. Xavier’s College in Kolkata
• Loyola College in Chennai
• Christ University in Bangalore
• International Management Centre in New Delhi
• Apeejay School of Management in New Delhi
• Amity University's School of Business Management in Noida.

For most of the Government Colleges, you would be required to clear the Common Entrance Examination. The Private Colleges like Amity might require you to sit for their separate examination. Based on the scores of such entrance test the candidate is selected for a course.

Training Areas

People studying business management will most likely develop very strong management skills. During your course of study you will be trained in the following subjects mentioned below:

• Marketing
• Economics
• Operations and project management
• Human resource
• Financial Management
• Organisational Behaviour
• Strategic Management
• International Business
• Management Information System
• Business and Corporate Law
• Accountancy

Apart from the above mentioned academic subjects you will be trained to enhance your soft skills, personality, presentation and public speaking skills. Thus, a degree in management will not only enlighten you knowledge base but will also help you transform into a full grown professional, ready to face the competition and indefinite challenges of today’s business world.

Opportunities

There are lots of international opportunities especially if one completes the course abroad. Globalisation of business has resulted in opening up immense opportunities for business management graduates both within and outside India. As already mentioned, there are several universities all over the world that offers remarkable campus placements. Thus, as you complete your course you are sure to find yourself placed at your dream job.

Business houses are always in need of good managers with strong business insight and thus there is no dearth of opportunity in this field. This fact justifies the huge demand of business management graduates all across the world. Companies do hire management trainees and provide them on- the- job trainings to create seasoned professionals. You get to work with some international firms like Hewlett – Packard, Apple, Google, Boston Consulting Group, Reliance Group etc.

Career Prospects

As a business management graduate you might land up a job in a top notch MNC, or join your family business and take it to great heights, or start off your own venture and make it big. If you want to work for a firm, job options are many for a person with a bachelor's degree in business management or administration. These opportunities would depend on your specialisation and also on the prestige of the school you graduate from. In general, Bachelors in Business Administration would be helpful to getting a position in administrative jobs; from office management to administrative assistant, financial analyst to human resource executive, entry-level sales executive to junior marketing professionals, etc. You should note that in most cases students are not going to be senior-level managers the day they complete an undergraduate programme, rather you need to team it up with a post graduate degree in the same field in order to make it really big. However, a bachelor’s degree in business management is a great start to the golden path of success as a business professional.
The possible careers after completion of your course include:

• Sales manager
• Marketing manager
• Business consultant
• Financial analyst
• Human Resource Manager

Type of Companies

A bachelor's degree in business management prepares you mainly for entry-level supervisory roles within various industries. As a business management graduate you get to work in fields, such as

• advertising
• marketing
• human resources
• finance

As a business management graduate you might mainly endeavour entrepreneurial opportunities but again there are huge opportunities in private sector companies as well. Here are some of the eminent brands you might get associated with:

• Tata group of Companies
• Reliance
• HSBC
• Unilever
• Microsoft
• Google
• Pricewaterhouse Coopers
• Barclays Bank
• Credit Suisse
• UBS
• Arcelor Mittal etc.

Entrepreneurship

Dreaming of having your chain of coffee shops? Learn the art of business in a reputed B-school. It will help you to sustain in today’s world of huge competition and uncertainties when you start your own venture. Business management is synonymous to entrepreneurship. It teaches us the skills of managing and enterprising.

It is not necessary that after completing your degree in business you have to work for someone else. However, it is a good idea to first learn the tricks of the trade and then head towards starting your own firm. The experience in an established firm will help you evolve as a strong and successful manager with time. This is essential since to become a successful entrepreneur you require certain qualities which you can gain only through time and experience.

Remuneration

Business Management is a profession where returns are quite high. Corporate firms pay very high salaries to competent managers who can independently run a team, a process or a department.
 

Experience in Years	Compensation per annum
0 to 5 years	1 lakh to 4 lakhs
6 to 10 years	5 to 11 lakhs
11 to 15 years	12 to 20 lakhs
15 years	20 lakhs and above

Ineligible Subjects

Has it been a challenge for you to remember the dates and events of World War II? Did you always find balancing the chemical equations a tough job? Then I guess business management is the subject for you. Here you get to avoid subjects like History, Geography, Pure Maths or Science that had once given you sleepless nights. Rather you get to explore a new set of subjects like economics, accounts, human resource, marketing, etc. and these help to trigger the business acumen in you and also help you develop your entrepreneurial skills.

If for some reason you do not find BBA or BBM that interesting at the end of the programme, you might want to shift your base. You can choose from alternate careers like CA, CWA, CFA, CFP, mass communication, banking jobs, government jobs in departments like income tax, sales tax, excise etc. However, after getting a bachelors degree in management studies the best option is always to get an MBA.

Pros & Cons

Advantages

• You get direct industrial exposure through the internship programme that is a mandatory part of the course. This way, you will have real time experience of the work you will do on an everyday basis.
• This course helps you to strengthen your business intuitions and also develop your entrepreneurial skills.
• As a business professional, you contribute towards the country and the society too.
• Above all, its gives you a fat pay check that helps you take care of all your material needs.

Disadvantages

• The responsibilities assigned to you could be really challenging and critical as you will reside in the decision making circle. Therefore, learn to brace yourself as situations might not be that smooth always.
• Management in corporate world could be really taxing and one might be required to slog for hours as and when required.
• Too much of stress, anxiety and long hours of work can cause severe health hazards like.

Skill Sets

Every day when you read the newspaper, or catch up on current affair, you are sure to come across names like – Chetan Bhagat, Arindam Chaudhary, Shiv Khera, Indra Nooyi and so on. They have charismatic personalities and have flamboyant public speaking skills, but what do they have in common in terms of their academics?

They are all Business Management Graduates.
Fame and success are part of their professional lives and parties, seminars, meetings are their daily schedules. They have the best brains to manage and run any global corporation. They are the business managers who can change lives of many around them. They hold the magic wand in their grip. Their charm and charisma is the key to their success. Thus, in order to be successful business personnel you need to nurture such qualities in you as well. Some of the important qualities that you should have in you are as follows:

• Self Motivated
• Optimistic
• Reliability
• Leadership qualities
• Public speaking skills
• Flexibility
• Confidence
• Calmness
• Open mind to accept change
• Strong listening skills.

Most importantly learn to identify the risks and gains. Studying business management will equip you to discriminate between “stupid risk” and “calculated risk”. You will be able to foresee the odds in business and take precautionary measures accordingly. That’s the real job and utility of being a business management graduate.

Biotechnology

Introduction

Have you seen the famous TV shows CSI or House or for that matter movies like Contagion, 28 days later or Will Smith's 'I am legend'? These are the most popular TV shows and movies which reflect the effect of biotechnology on human lives. In fact, whatever you are eating while reading this including your breakfast cereal or your vitamins; they all have a bit of Biotechnology in them. So, what is Biotechnology?
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine, and other fields requiring bio-products.

A biotechnologist is a trained scientist who applies his or her knowledge of living organisms to a variety of industries, especially manufacturing, medical, environmental and agricultural.
A series of derived terms have been coined to identify several branches of biotechnology; for example:

• Bioinformatics is a subfield which addresses biological problems using computational techniques. (It is difficult to think that computers can be used to rectify biological problems, but apparently biotechnologists do so and do it pretty well!)
• Blue biotechnology is a term that has been used to describe the marine and aquatic applications of biotechnology, but its use is relatively rare. (Did you know that for a long time whale oil was used in cosmetics, crèmes and lotions)
• Green biotechnology is biotechnology applied to agricultural processes. (That's why vegetables are the size of rugby balls and baseball bats now!)
• Red biotechnology is applied to medical processes.
• White biotechnology, also known as industrial biotechnology, is biotechnology applied to industrial processes.

Duration & Countries

Bio-Technology is a research oriented science, a combination of Biology and Technology. It covers a wide variety of subjects like Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Immunology, Virology, Chemistry and Engineering. It can be studied as a B.Sc and M.Sc programmes (a few universities also offer five-year integrated B.Tech /M.Tech Dual Degree Programmes after 10+2 Science) and also as a B.Tech and M.Tech courses.

USA - With most of the research oriented universities in USA; it is a natural first choice for students aspiring to study biotechnology outside India. BS in Biotechnology is the course offered at the undergraduate level. The duration of the courses are approximately 4 years and the fee for the topmost universities is between $20,000 and $35,000 per annum. University of Iowa, Oregon State University, University of Texas At Austin and University of California are some of the most popular universities for biotechnological studies in USA. .

UK - More than 25 popular universities in UK offer full time B Sc (honours) courses in Biotechnology. The most popular of them are the University of Bristol, University of Nottingham, University of Birmingham and University of Glasgow. The duration of these courses is for 3 to 4 years and the fee is around 11,000 to 16,000 pounds per annum. Merit based scholarships are also available but are very competitive.

Australia - With more than 27 of the most popular universities in Australia offering courses in Biotechnology, it is one of the most sought after countries to study. University of Queensland, James Cook University, University of Western Australia, La Trobe University and Charles Sturt University offer 4 years full time Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology) courses. Scholarships are in plenty and the fee is around 18,000 to 30,000 AUD.

India - With its prominent Biotechnology hubs in Hyderabad, Bangalore and Mumbai, India is a good option for biotechnology related courses. The Universities and colleges like All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and IITs (Delhi, Chennai & Kharagpur) offer B. Tech & M. Tech in Biotechnology and are for duration of 4 to 5 ½ years. Admission to the courses in any of these prestigious universities is through an entrance exam. The fee for both undergraduate and post graduate courses in biotechnology is around Rs. 50,000 per annum.

Training Areas

India-With its prominent Biotechnology hubs in Hyderabad, Bangalore and Mumbai, India is a good option for biotechnology related courses. The Universities and colleges like All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and IITs (Delhi, Chennai & Kharagpur) offer B. Tech & M. Tech in Biotechnology and are for duration of 4 to 5 ½ years. Admission to the courses in any of these prestigious universities is through an entrance exam. The fee for both undergraduate and post graduate courses in biotechnology is around Rs. 50,000 per annum.

• Protecting the environment and making sure that the water we drink is purified, safe hygienic.
• Using acquired knowledge of microorganisms to make processed food or household products.
• Discovering cures for diseases.
• Researching the effects of pesticides and developing alternative ingredients.
• Working as an investigator and ensuring companies follow safety and health regulations.

Don't we just love those seedless papayas, watermelons and apples? Just dig your teeth into the fruit and it melts in your mouth. There is no need to worry about chewing a seed accidentally and spoiling the taste of the fruit. How thoughtful of the biotechnologists to have considered our eating inconveniences and coming up with seedless solutions!

Opportunities

Biotechnologists are needed all around the globe. People everywhere need their aspirins and vitamins; vegans need soybeans and cheese whereas non-vegetarians need everything else. Every product eaten (including soybeans and cheese), applied on our body or manufactured in a factory uses biotechnology. Therefore, biotechnologists are considered a valuable addition in every industry in every country.

Besides working in various industries, most biotechnologists receive grants and fellowships from universities abroad to help further their research in their specific field of study. Fellowships are for a period of 2 to 3 years and the financial support depends on the university you have applied to. Therefore, international options are also available for academically inclined biotechnologists. One can work as a research scientist in the biotechnological firms or work as college professors on advising students internationally. That's your choice!

Career Prospects

It is not commonly known to us but biotechnology has been in use for over 10,000 years. The earliest form of biotechnology was when our ancestors found a way to select and grow certain types of plants and animals. The industrial use of biotechnology started when people learnt to use microbes to produce wine, bread, cheese, and other products. Sounds like it is a pretty old profession!
With a post graduation in Biotechnology, an individual can find work as:

• Bioinformatician - A bioinformatics specialist designs, develops, and uses tools for gaining information about biotech procedures.
• Biotechnical Scientist- A biotechnical scientist works as part of a group of scientists on specific projects. This position often entails knowledge of several programming languages.
• Consultant- A biotechnical scientist can work in an engineering consulting firm to provide advice and support in product development, process implementation, forensic analysis, manufacturing, management recruitment and training.
• Industry Researcher- A biotech researcher helps define the range and scope of new areas of research. (A position with a lot of power and authority)
• Investigator- An investigator's job is to determine whether a biotech company is operating in compliance with existing laws and regulations.
• Professor- If you like an academic profession more than research, this may be the right choice for you. Many universities look for scientists willing to share their knowledge and expertise with others.
• Project Leader- A project leader oversees the collection, analysis, and integration of data from different sources. He directs collaboration between group scientists as well as two-way work with partner organisations.

In case, the above mentioned careers or industries don't impress you, you can always start your sheep rearing business. Surprised? Haven't you heard of "Dolly" the perfectly cloned sheep? Brisk business and no mating issues!

Type of Companies

Have you seen the NIIT advertisement? The one in which the NIIT graduate gets kidnapped and recruited in a firm. In reality, biotechnology graduates are pretty much in the same limelight.

Biotechnology is a booming industry and is growing at a tremendous pace. A survey by FICCI reveals that the shortage of doctorate and post – doctorate scientists in Biotechnology field is around 80 percent. This is the reason why the job prospects in Biotechnology are 10 times more than in other life science industries. Hence, a student with a professional degree in Biotechnology is sure to find a good job that offers sumptuous remuneration.

Following are some of the industries where biotechnologists are kidnapped and placed. Sorry …..typo error….recruited and placed:

• Agriculture
• Animal Husbandry
• Aquaculture and Marine Industry
• Environment
• Healthcare & patenting
• Chemical & Pharmaceutical industry
• Manufacturing Industry

In fact, companies which are involved in the activity of controlling pollution, also hire the services of experts in Biotechnology. So, from gene modification to pollution control, a biotechnologist does it all.
Few of the popular companies in India which hire biotechnologists are:

• Biocon
• Serum Institute of India
• Panacea Biotech
• Mahyco Monsanto Biotech
• Rasi Seeds
• Novo Nordisk
• Aventis
• Indian Immunologicals
• Venkateshwara Hatcheries
• Ranbaxy
• Dr. Reddy’s Labs
• Piramal Healthcare.

Entrepreneurship

Equipped with the qualifications of a biotechnologist, you can choose to be either a part of a firm or an entrepreneur. Since you will specialise in one aspect of biotechnology; your job or your new firm will naturally cater to that specific industry. You can become an entrepreneur by setting up a biotech company of your own. Today, India boasts of more than 150 biotech companies which are either into the manufacturing of products or are into the provision of services. Biocon India is just one of the examples.

One note of caution: Any biotechnology company will require huge investments for research, equipments and manpower. If you don't already have a patented product, besides money patience will be your real asset.

We suggest that you first choose the industry within the biotechnological sector which interests you the most. Work in your chosen industry to gain experience, expertise and insight. Generate contacts over a period of time and then take the plunge. Your chances of success will be much higher.

Remuneration

Biotechnology is one of those very few courses which pay high remuneration, even to fresh graduates. However, the remuneration depends upon the academic qualification, institute or university from which the degree is obtained and the level of work experience. A salary ranging in between 3.5 lakh and 4 lakh per annum is offered in the Intellectual Property Rights Division, where one begins one's career as a research associate. One will be able to command a remuneration of 3 lakh per annum as a research scientist in the research and development department.
Following is the salary range for Biotechnologists in India:
 

Experience in Years	Compensation per annum
0 to 5 years	3 lakh to 7 lakhs
6 to 10 years	7 to 16 lakhs
11 to 15 years	16 to 25 lakhs
15 years	25 lakhs and above

Ineligible Subjects

Biotechnology is that branch of science which is rapidly gaining significance amongst youngsters who want to explore the new frontiers of science.

Although, the name may suggest that this branch of science has stemmed out of biology but that's not the case. Apart from biology, this branch of science also assimilates diverse subjects like physics, chemistry and mathematics. Furthermore, engineering applications are also an integral constituent of biotechnology. So, anyone who wants to study biotechnology will naturally have science subjects in his/her 10+2.

A natural choice of course for a biotechnology graduate would be to pursue a post graduation in the specialised field. An unconventional choice would be Law, Architecture or Arts subjects. You can pursue these as a second bachelor’s degree since you have science in you class 12.

What you cannot pursue are career like defence services since they have a very stringent age criteria.
Did you know that 70 percent of all processed food items readily available in the supermarket owe their existence to biotechnology? Why then would you want to change a career when it gives you to opportunity to walk into a supermarket, pick up any food product and proudly declare "I have helped in genetically modifying this product." (Don’t say it too loud….you might scare a few people from buying it.)

Pros & Cons

Biotechnology uses a combination of technology and biology to solve some of today's most urgent cultural and scientific issues. It is a diverse field with unique advantages:

• Upcoming and constantly growing field and has opportunities worldwide.
• Does not restrict you to a particular job or an industry.
• Hefty pay packages
• Respect from peers and seniors

Even the best career has its disadvantages:

• You will have to put in a lot of hard work which can be frustrating at times.
• You cannot make a fast buck in this profession. Success can be a slow and a tedious process.

Skill Sets

Becoming a biotechnologist is not easy. It requires many years of dedicated academic study and research experience. It is a rewarding career for those who can patiently pursue it.
Following are some of the skill sets and qualities needed to be a biotechnologist:

• Patient and persistent
• Creative and enquiring
• Organised, accurate and observant skill in analysing and interpreting information
• Planning and problem-solving skills
• Research skills
• Communication and people skills
• Mechanical, laboratory and computer skills

So, how do you want to contribute to the society? Do you want to help astronauts deal with the effects of weightlessness or do you want to create fabrics for the runways of New York and Milan? Would you rather want to dedicate your life to the pursuit for finding cures for deadly diseases? You can achieve all of these through the use of biotechnology.

And remember the next time you go camping, you know who made your camping gear and climbing ropes so reliable…….yes, a biotechnologist.