Q. I am pursuing an MSc in dietetics and food service management from IGNOU (distance learning) and have completed a certificate course in food and nutrition. Please throw some light on my job prospects.
Subia Ashfaque

A. Since you are doing an MSc in dietetics and food service, you have an edge for clinical and therapeutic nutrition. The acquired knowledge can help you become a dietician who plays a major role in hospitals, day care centres, general/ weight clinics. Get yourself registered at Indian Dietetics Association (IDA) after your MSc, which makes you a registered dietician (RD). This certification gives you more weightage from hospitals and even makes you eligible for opening up a clinic  on your own.

Q. I have completed my PG in food and nutrition and would like to become a registered dietitian. At present, I am in Delhi. How can I get registered and from where to get the form, date of examination, and is there any scope in other fields as a food and nutritionist?
Shweta

A. Since you have finished your PG in food and nutrition, you are eligible to become a registered dietician. For this, graduates/ postgraduates can take the all-India entrance exam, which is set by IDA once a year. It usually happens during October. You need to keep a tab on the website (www.idaindia.com/ ) to know when they are rolling out the application forms for the entrance exam. You can explore your career working with FMCG companies, pharmaceutical companies, social, developmental organizations like Ministry of Women and Child Development, and other bodies like the UN.

Q. I find that only girls are in the field of nutrition ? Can boys also join?
Sumanta

A. Of course, boys can also pursue the course! There are limited colleges which allow them to enrol for the programme. For instance, SNDT Mumbai is one college which happily takes male candidates. 

Q. I’m doing MSc in Dietetics & Food Service management. I would like to pursue my career as a food inspector. Is it possible? And How can I get a job in food manufacturing company. Please help me.
Akshika.

A. FMCGs like Hindustan Unilever Limited, Nestle India, Britannia, Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited, Procter & Gamble, Dabur require the support of nutritionists in the rol of Nutrition Inspectors. Do keep a tab on their respective sites to get details about any openings.

MIXED BAG

Q. I am doing final EEE. I am interested in pursuing a job as electrical or electronics engineer with a company. Many say that girls are not preferred by core industries. How can girls cope in the core industry? Give me details
Vaishnavi

A. Careers in a core sector are  challenging and with the rise in competition for good engineers, are rewarding as well. It is a myth that corporations do not prefer women engineers.

Though a bias did exist in early 60s or 70s (remember the story about Sudha Murthy, who was initially rejected by Tata Motors?), it no longer applies. With the war for talent hotting up, corporations do not give any weight to your gender. In fact, with the increasing awareness about inclusiveness, they go out of the way to increase the number of women in their technical workforce. All they would look for is, whether you are capable of working under strenuous conditions, especially in heavy electrical industries. Electronics sector does not have the same level of physical rigour. So go ahead and apply.

Q.  I completed a Diploma in Apparel Design & Fashion Technology in 2010. I want to work as a merchandiser in the garment industry, for this, which combination of subjects can I select in degree? I am also interested in export/import and management?
Reema Olivera

A. Reema, normally the diploma you have earned is sufficient to begin work as a merchandiser, because you would already have learned about, fabric, construction, costing and production. What you may not have learnt in depth would be the nuances of export marketing as well as skills in documentation, a crucial part in export/ import business.

Ideally if you have the time and energy, you must go for the international business degree offered by institutes like IIFT (read about it in our Sectorial MBA story). But that would mean first going in for an undergraduate degree. Another option is to pursue a diploma in export/import management offered by many universities in distance learning mode.

Gain some experience even while registering for an undergraduate degree in correspondence mode. If you are working, go for some easier subjects like English Literature. But a Commerce Degree might be more useful. 

Q. I am working in a call centre for the past two years. I am interested in SAP CRM module but my friends say that as I am an undergrad I will be rejected if placed in a good company. Can you guide me?
Vignesh

A. Vignesh, it is important that you first earn a graduate degree. For most companies, a basic degree is a prime requirement. Do not get carried away by advertisements which promise the moon if you earn one certification or the other. Each of the industry certifications have value, only if the company you seek to work uses that technology or application. In general, a specialised certification like SAP module would add value if you have developed some experience in coding or have substantial experience in the functional domain. So go for a basic degree, may be pursue a part-time MBA and try and grow in the vertical. After you have gained some functional experience, if IT still interests you do think about the certification.

Q.Sir, which stream should I choose, so that I can crack MBA very easily - Engineering, Commerce or Arts?
Kakapako

A. Kakapako, none of the disciplines offer you much advantage in cracking the MBA. Each discipline has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. For example, engineering discipline forces you to work on Maths, and logic. So you tend to perform well in the reasoning and quantitative sections in your MBA entrance. Also most B-Schools have a preference for BE/ B.Tech graduates. Commerce on the other hand gives you thorough grounding in accounts, finance and even business studies. If you finally want to specialise in Finance this is the best stream to choose. Arts, would endow you with substantial ability to communicate well in the long run. So if immediate success is your concern, then Engineering and Commerce would score over Arts.