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4 Things You Could Do After Pursuing Economics Honours

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Economics is one of the most sought after courses at the University of Delhi (DU). If you are in your last year of pursuing Economics Honours, here are a few career prospects you can explore for yourself.

Economics is a multidisciplinary subject that finds its place in the three verticals of the contemporary Indian education – Science, Arts, and Commerce. It is not everyone’s cup of tea and calls for one to have a knack for it. Here are a bunch of things you could consider after completing your graduation as an Economics Honours student:

     1.Masters in Economics

This option is an ideal and obvious choice for someone who wishes to increase their in-depth knowledge of Economics as a discipline and further consider options in academia. It will allow you to specialise in a certain branch of Economics and comfortably call yourself an expert in the subject. Prestigious institutions in India such as Delhi School of Economics and Jawaharlal Nehru University await you in case to decide to take this up.

  1. Analysis

To gain a headstart in the corporate world, taking up an analysis-based job is a great idea. Be it as an investment analyst or a financial analyst, this field can be considered to be a typical job profile for an Economics graduate who has achieved a good academic record. These options provide you with an excellent chance of getting to work with big multinational giants in the initial years of your career itself.

  1. Think Tanks

Think Tanks are resource bodies that are responsible for the deconstruction of economic phenomenon and issues for the prime purpose of policy interventions and offering recommendations.  Niti Ayog, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, and the Center of Policy Research are among the top think tanks of India that work in the field of public policy and economics where you could consider applying.

  1. Business Journalism

If you have a flair for writing and an understanding of economic events, then this is your go-to option. Research papers, journals, magazines, and newspapers can be your working ground and you can hone both your skills by taking up this career path.

So, get out there, make the most of your learning and create a niche for yourself in a world that is controlled by the reins of economics.

 

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat Archives

 

Bhavya Pandey

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DUB Speak

Offbeat Options: Career and Contentment

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What becomes of you outside the college gates should not be decided by your neighbour and other Sharmajis. We bring you five choices your relatives never thought could pay your bills.

It is the time for board examinations, and the time for graduations. DJ rightly said in Rang De Basanti, that the life beyond the gates of the school is an entirely different, perhaps more cruel one. The one factor to making it seem less cruel, and in fact enjoyable, is to choose a profession that makes you hate Mondays a tad less. Here are five offbeat career prospects that have the power to make you rich, content, or both:

1. Cartoon making: So Many of the world’s artists spend their entire lives with their heads stuck in a math problem, when they would much rather use the last page for a sketch of Mr. Bean. It is time to make money from your “hobby”. Every acclaimed newspaper and magazine has a dedicated space for cartoons nowadays, while television and movies provide more possibilities to your love and skill for doodling. Asian Academy of Film and Television, National Institute of Design, and National Institute of Fashion Technology are only some of the excellent institutes to hone the skills needed to cut it in this profession.

2. Pet Grooming: As a student of the University of Delhi, you must have become accustomed to having dogs and cats enter your vicinity at any time. If you enjoy petting them more than you love engaging with humans then, there is a future in it for you. It requires patience, and an understanding of the needs of those who cannot express themselves in words. There are no essential qualifications for this profession, but it requires immense skill and hard work. To grow further over the years, you can start a pet salon or a pet cafe, and work with organisations like PETA as well.

3. Rural Studies: If you are one of those people who find the lack of attention given to the 70% of the population of the country, residing in the rural areas, appalling, then there is an excellent opportunity in the field of rural studies for you. You can work with NGOs, the government, or open a business of your own, focussing on the area that interests you the most. There are Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees offered in this course at colleges in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Delhi.

4. Museology: The main reason to pursue this is, of course, the “I dig you” memes. The other important reason is your passion for something considered atrociously boring by the science-inclined population of the nation, i.e. history. Study museums, their significance, and the stories of the past with this career. University of Calcutta and National Museum Institute of History of Arts, offer the best programmes for this opportunity.

5. Bartending: There are careers that are fun, and then there are jobs which make everybody envious. Bartending is a profession that has been around for a long time, but it is only in the recent past that its mainstream value in making money has been realised. If you enjoy listening to people’s drunk break-up stories, and have a love for alcoholic drinks, then this job is for you. You should be a graduate in any subject, if you want to be hired by high-end bars. A knowledge of alcohol, and preferably a diploma is appreciated for this career. Indian Institute of Bartending (Chennai), B’Mann School of Bartending (Chennai), Liquid Art Bartending School (Hyderabad), and Institute of Bar Operations and Management (New Delhi) are the best institutes to acquire a degree for the profession.

 

 

Image Courtesy: Monster 

Anushree Joshi

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DUB Speak

Give that CV some thought!

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The most threatening sword of Damocles that hangs above all of our heads today is a two lettered, innocent sounding word ‘CV’. It appears as if one step in the wrong direction will jeopardise one’s future forever. It’s a weighty word though, inspite of the ease with which it can be spelt and said. Say it aloud among a group of college-goers and the atmosphere will be mixed- a pall of gloom on the side of those who feel like their all-important two page document is filled with exaggerated achievements in a painting competition at school, and jubilation and smugness on the side of those who have done eight internships, presented six research papers and published ten. The future is quite secure now, isn’t it? After all, isn’t that what they said? A good, long CV will get me a good job, and a good job means good money and a good life.

We spend our college lives, putting together that document-line by precious line. Don’t get me wrong- I am not saying your CV is not important or advocating rebellion against the established order of things. It definitely is a significant document, both in terms of higher education and employment.

But it’s time we watched what really goes into it. Doing an internship merely because it may add another fancy line to your CV is both redundant and a waste of your time. That piece of paper is meant to be a record of your dedication towards your goals and the ability to work towards them. Therefore, the number of internships you have done and research papers you have published will matter very little if you cannot identify your goals and justify your choices. Saying I interned with XYZ organisation because I wanted another line on my CV is certainly not an option.

Thus, building a CV should not be the only motivation to do anything in college- be it an internship, volunteering with an NGO, or publishing articles and research papers. College, after all, is the perfect opportunity to discover yourself, identify your interests and then pursue them as a career option or course for further education.

Image credits: www.global-workplace.com

Abhinaya Harigovind

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Interviews

In conversation with Nikhil Pandhi, Rhodes Scholar 2014

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Nikhil_Passport_Size_PictureNikhil Pandhi from St. Stephens College recently received the Rhodes scholarship, one of the most prestigious international graduate scholarships in the world.

Along with coverage of the university and college fees at Oxford, the recipient of the scholarship also receives a monthly maintenance stipend to cover accommodation and living expenses that is funded by the Rhodes Trust. Although all scholars become affiliated with the residential college while at Oxford, they also enjoy access to Rhodes House, an early 20th century mansion with numerous public rooms, gardens, library, study areas and other facilities.

 

 

You recently received the Rhodes scholarship. I’m sure that must be really exciting! Tell us about what motivated you to apply?

Quite honestly, I had always heard about the Rhodes but when I figured that my college seniors had applied for it when I was a fresher, it seemed a lot more possible and doable. I saw that I had coincidently accumulated several extra curricular activities with a fairly good academic score that further motivated me to apply. I also thought that Rhodes is an excellent scholarship for somebody who is interested in academic and research particularly. Being somebody who is, I thought it would be good to give it a shot.

What was the procedure?

The procedure is an online application that opens on 1st July. The online application contains of your personal details, a statement of purpose and letter of recommendation.

How did you prepare for it? Any tips for aspirants?

The Statement of Purpose is the most important point of your application in which you need to be really sure of which course you are applying for and why you are applying for it. In order to draft the Statement of Purpose you need to be really sure about what you are writing and deconstruct yourself in way to portray your strengths.

How was your final interview?

I’m always the one who prepares for the interview and not leave it to luck and chance. You need to be thorough with your SOP because at the end of the day the SOP is the fulsome of the interview as whatever they ask is you is more or less based on the SOP.

Having said that, one needs to be aware of not only what you want to do at Oxford but also how it will be relevant to modern day South Asia, as you will be representing your country at Oxford. You need to be aware of theoretical dimensions; debates and controversies around your field and you need to brush up on your own abilities and strength. In the final interview they assess your understanding of the course, your ambitions and aims.

How much importance is given to academic achievements in the application?

Academics are important, but at the same time importance is given to your extra curricular activities, sports and leadership initiatives. I believe that they are not looking for a particular thing but for an overall profile.

What gave you an edge over the other contestants?

I think it was my interest in fields that haven’t been explored widely. Like, I taught myself an East African language “Kiswahili”; I founded the poetry society of my college; I’m trained in Indian Classical Music and I play tennis and badminton regularly. They are looking for somebody who has demonstrable leadership abilities in different realms supported by a good academic record with an equally balanced extra curricular. Also my first book of poetry, “Derelictions” is out too!

Which course are you planning to study at Oxford?

I’ll be studying Archeology at Oxford. I want to be a historian/archeologist with a particular focus on South Asia, Africa and the Indian Ocean while continuing in academia and research so that I can particularly contribute towards the study of regions of history that have not been studied traditionally.

Now that you have this brilliant opportunity, how do you plan ahead?

The MSc is a one-year course and then I plan to apply for the MPhil and follow research with DPhil so that I can teach and continue my research independently. The Rhodes covers a minimum of two years of your education and based on your academic records it is extendable to your third year as well.

Nikhil is currently studying History and has won the Westcott Memorial History Prize, the Ranjit Singh Goel Memorial Award as well as the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Undergraduate Scholarship. We wish this multifaceted student the best for his future endeavors!

For more information about the Rhodes Scholarship, click here.

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Offbeat

Offbeat Careers: Social Media Management

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A social media manager is responsible for monitoring and posting to all social media outlets as well as interacting with and growing a company’s audience. The ultimate goal is to raise awareness of the brand, company, product or a person online while driving traffic online, offline or both. Depending on the job, a social media manager is typically associated with brand building through Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, MySpace and corporate blogging.

We all know how important word of mouth is, and social networking is like word of mouth on steroids. As a business, it’s vital to tap into and join online conversations not only about your brand, but also those about your competitors, your industry and your areas of expertise.

Even if you haven’t launched an outbound social media strategy, it helps to keep a pulse on what people are saying — good or bad — about your company, competitors and major trends. And, by representing your company in a positive, authentic way, you can build credibility for your expertise and business and link to customers and prospects quickly. You can also help mitigate damage should negative conversations about your company emerge by quickly responding to complaints.

Also, contrary to popular belief social media management is not only about management but also writing and analyzing. It is an amalgamation of journalism and advertizing. It offers a career in creating content in multiple places, such as a blog, Twitter, a Facebook page, etc.; monitor and scan the views, decide what comments to approve, and respond to replies on these sites, scanning Twitter followers for conversations you may want to join, or checking your RSS reader subscriptions for relevant articles and new ideas. Checking Google Alerts to see when and where your business is mentioned on the Web and creating and monitoring a community and topics on a site such as Facebook or LinkedIn

However, social media management in India is still at a nascent stage and not many colleges or institutes offer it as a course. Having said that, there is a lot to explore in this sector and understanding social media at the root level is enough to kick start your career. A lot has to be learned and figured out on the job.  Getting internships at a digital advertizing firm or an online news publication is the best place to start if someone is interested in a career in social media management. Nirali Hingwala, the Content Head at SocialSamosa.com, a website catering to Indian Social media news says, “Initially Social Media Management doesn’t pay off well, because its still evolving, there is lack of good talent in this field with no proper training as the discipline is still not taught in the Indian universities. There are only private courses.”

It’s a great time to break into a social media career. The importance of social media is becoming clear to more companies every day. This means social media managers are in high demand and the market is wide open.

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