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Career counseling, planning and guiding is a very important and contemporary topic. Many books, articles and studies dealing with related issues are available from qualified and well-experienced persons. There are several career counseling institutes, firms and professionals which/who enroll, train, test and prepare students for different career options. As career planning and development is an ongoing aspect at different phases/periods of one’s life, many available books and literature deal more with the career development of the working individuals and are concerned less with the beginners. This book does not intend to go for high sounding and glaring names, jargons and descriptions. Instead, it concentrates on practicalities with reference to Indian scenario, mainly from a beginner’s viewpoint. The subject matter of the book has been divided into ten illuminating chapters. Chapters 1 to 4 deal with theoretical aspects of career counseling, career skills, etc. Chapters 5 to 7 give sufficient practical illustrations and sample questions and guidelines, mainly on résumé, interview and career change. Chapters 8 to 10 briefly explain the education system and facilities in India, give various career paths and routes for various options/ opportunities at different educational levels and also financing of higher education. These chapters also provide details, prospects, study routes, institutes and competitive examinations for over 50 major careers. The book has been revised and enlarged to include more details on career counseling and planning. The aim of the book is to serve as a professional career counselor. A complete and thorough study of the present book will enable the students to assess and take adequate decision regarding their career. About the Author Sushil Kumar Srivastava, B.E. (Mech.), is a retired Chief Mechanical Engineer (AGM/I/c Mechanical), Alloy Steel Plant, SAIL, Durgapur. He was Member of Institution of Engineers, India, and Member of Fluid Power Society of India. He has also worked as General Manager at IITian General Services Ltd., Kolkata. He is a certified Surveyor and Loss Assessor since 1996 and is empanelled with several public sector insurance companies. Besides, he is a prolific author. He has written numerous articles on Maintenance, Planning (PERT and CPM), Lubrication, Lubricants, Oil Conservation etc. His books, namely Oils, Lubricants and Lubrication; Industrial Maintenance and Management; Tribology in Industries; Study & Immigration in USA; and Maintenance Engineering & Management have received overwhelming response from readers. Table of Contents Preface Abbreviations 1. Career Counseling: What and Why?–Definition, Counseling vis-à-vis Coaching, Counseling vis-à-vis Advising, Counseling vis-à-vis Motivation, Counseling vis-à-vis Planning, Counseling vis-à-vis Therapy, Career Counseling, Need of Career Counseling 2. Career Requirements, Skills and Assessment–Career Needs/Requirements Career/Job Skills—Foundation Skills, Motivated Skills, Identification of Skills Career Tests Self-assessments and Career Assessments 3. Career Counselor–Counselor vis-à-vis Consultant, Counselors vis-à-vis Brokers, Career Counselors, Career Counselor and Counselee Relationship, Role of Career Counselor, Types of Career Counselors 4. Career Planning–Assessment and Self-assessment—Personality, Value, Skills, Knowledge and Academics, Entrepreneurship Explore and Research—Career Trends, Information Search, Information Interviews, Job Shadowing and Experience Gaining Decision Stage—Career and Personal Objectives, Career Options and Goal, Work Search Contacts and Networks—Résumé/CV, Interview Working/Re-evaluation—Work Offer, Success at Work, Develop Effective Learning Style, Re-evaluation Reasons for not getting Your Job, Things you should do while you are Unemployed, Career Planning and Dilemma for Students, Career Development, Career Management 5. Résumé/CV/Bio-data–Differences between Résumé, CV and Bio-data Importance of Résumé, Categories of Résumé, Biographies vis-à-vis Résumé, Résumé Writing Tips—Basic Points to be kept in Mind, Writing Points, Tips for Job-hoppers, Tips for Older Workers, Caution Format/Types of Résumé—Contents of Résumé, Chronological, Functional, Combination, On-line, Curriculum Vitae (CV), References Three Illustrative Résumés, One Illustrative Cover Letter, Guard Against Many Common Résumé Lies, Recapitulate Steps for Winning Résumé 6. Interview–Interview Scenarios/Categories, Interview vis-à-vis Questioning Types of Interview—Informational and Career/Job Interviews, On-Campus, Off-Campus, Screening Interview, Panel Interview, Group Interview or Group Discussion—General Group Interview and Competitive Group Interview Telephone Interviews, Video-Conferencing Styles of Interviews—Behavioural, Biographical, Stress and Un-patterned Interviews Steps (Tips) Prior to Interview—Gather Information/Facts, Get Ready to be Recruited, Proper Attire, Reach Before Time Interview Session—Structure of Interview, Your Behavioural Presentation, Avoid Annoying your Interviewer or Ruining your Interview, Handling Illegal Questions, Take Control of the Interview and Beware of Tricky Questions Negotiating Salary and Terms, Typical Common Questions, Factors that can Cost You the Interview/Job, Question You may Ask the Interviewer, Cautions for Telephone Interview Post Interview Guidelines and “Thank You” Letter—Signals that your Interview was Good 7. Career Change–Definition, Career Diversity, Career Unrest Career Unrest Levels—Job Unrest, Organizational Unrest, Career Content Unrest, Career Self-unrest, Personal Self-unrest Resistance to Change, Reasons for Career Change, Types of Career Change, Career Change Process/Steps, Few Myths about Career Change, Mistakes Career Changers Should Avoid Resign Your Job Gracefully, Post-Retirement Career Change 8. Career Paths, Education System and Financing Higher Education–Career Portfolio Indian Educational System—Multispecialty Universities, Non-university Stream, Advantages of Studying in India Accreditation and Ranking of Schools/Colleges in India—Ranking Methodology and Parameters Choosing Career Paths (depending on education and other factors), Myths about Career Choosing Financing Your Higher Education—Loans, Scholarships and Fellowships 9. Career Options at Different Levels–Career Options at Pre-Secondary Level—Vocational Training and Courses Career Options at Secondary Level—Jobs for Matric/Secondary Level Entry Career Options at Higher Secondary (HS) Level—Jobs for HS Entry Level, NDA, SCRA, Teachers Training, Primary Education Career Options at Graduate Level—Jobs for Graduate Entry Level, Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship, CDSE IT Related Jobs/Careers—IT-Software Jobs, IT-ES Jobs, BPO, KPO and PPO Jobs, Other Jobs, Qualification for IT Jobs Emerging Careers Career Options at Postgraduate Level—Jobs for Postgraduate Entry Level, Professional Research Institutes 10. Details of a Few Career Options–Accountancy (Finance Management), Advertising, Aeronautics, Agriculture, Architecture, Armed Forces, Aquaculture, Ayurvedic Medicine, Banking Service, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, Ceramic Technology, Civil and Allied Services, Combined Engineering Service, Combined Medical Service, Commercial Flying (Aviation), Dairy Technology and Industry, Dancing, Dentistry, Dramatics/Acting, Engineering, Fashion Design, Technology and Merchandising, Film and TV Serial Making, Fine Arts and Commercial Arts, Food Technology, Processing and Styling, Homeopathy, Horticulture, Hotel Management/Industry, Information Technology and Computers, Insurance and Actuarials, Interior Design/Decoration, Journalism and Mass Media, Law and Related Options, Leather Technology, Library Science, Management, Medical, Merchant Navy/Marine Engineering, Mining and Petroleum Technology, Modeling, Music, Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics, Oceanography, Para-Medical Services, Para-Military Services, Pharmacy/Pharmacology, Photography, Postal Service, Railways, Sports and Physical Education, State Civil, Police and Allied Services, Teaching, Textile Industry/Technology, Tourism, Veterinary Bibliography