Q:I am a journalism graduate. Is corporate communication a good career choice for someone with my qualifications? Is it the same as PR?

Saurabh Gupta

A: Often confused as being an extension of public relations, in reality, corporate communication is quite different from PR. Most corporate houses hire corporate communicators for handling employee communication, reputation and identity management, investor relations and for leveraging the company?s image through the media and corporate events. Earlier, corporate communication was dismissed as a glorified form of wining, dining, lobbying and winning consent. In a vibrant economy, corporates are increasingly realising that to utilise the full power of brand imaging, professional communicators are required.

Corporate communication is no longer restricted to interacting with the media and preparing press releases. Over the years, the profile of corporate communication managers has changed and they are an integral part of the management team?s decision-making process. They have to liaise with stakeholders, employees, customers and industry associates.

An interesting niche area is ?Personality Marketing? in which a corporate communicator builds, packages and promotes an individual. There are no defined qualifications for entering this field. Those with the gift of the gab and the ability to write have an edge. Someone with your qualifications is particularly well-placed for a career in corporate communication. Soft skills like networking, inquisitiveness and time consciousness are also important. Graduates in English literature and mass communication with some hands-on experience are preferred at the entry level, so are MBAs.

While talented people can make their way up to the level of VP, at the entry level, corporate communicators usually draw asalary of Rs 12,000-15,000.

Art for business?s sake

Q: I am a final-year student of art. I belong to a Marwari business family. I am not interested in becoming an artist. Is there an alternative glamorous career related to art that I can pursue?

Manisha Gupta

A:Yes, you can make ?art? your business ? but don?t get bedazzled by the glamour. To be successful, you need to be passionate about art. Many swank art galleries have ended up shutting shop as the owners lacked in-depth knowledge about art and artists.

Successful professionals who have made their mark in the field feel that some of the prerequisites for a good gallery showing are promoting new talent, prompt payment to artists, proper cataloguing and documentation. Besides a good location, you also need to network with the media to promote talent and draw customers.

Many go into this business out of a genuine concern for promoting art. It would be a good idea to do your homework before you venture into this field.

Protecting the high seas and beyond

Q: I am keen on a career in the Indian Coast Guard. Could you please tell me about the jobs offered to women? I am in Class X.

Amrita Ganguly

A:The Coast Guard is the youngest branch of the Indian Armed Forces (28 years old). It protects our long coastline (7,615 km) and 2.2 million sq km of exclusive economic zone (EEZ) comprising about 1,200 islands and 11 major and 164 intermediate ports, not to mention over 500 Indian merchant ships sailing around the world and off-shore installations and oil assets worth Rs 1,500 billion.

As our economic interaction with the world increases, so does the importance of our maritime assets. The Coast Guard?s presence ensures safety to seafarers in our waters. From checking piracy and assisting the customs authorities in preventing smuggling, poaching and terrorist activities, collecting scientific data, protecting our marine environment by fighting oil spills to helping fishermen in distress, the Coast Guard has its hands full, though some of its responsibilities are shared by the Navy.

The Coast Guard?s exemplary role in saving lives and providing relief to Tsunami-ravaged people in India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives is a case in point.

Women are recruited as assistant commandants (general duty), assistant commandants (pilot or navigator) and assistant commandants (technical branch) for ashore billets.

Eligibility: For assistant commandant (general duty): Degree with mathematics and physics in Class XII. You should have passed the Second Mate?s Exam prescribed by the ministry of surface transport. Age: 21-25 years. Physical standard: Height 157 cm, Weight 45 Kg. Eye sight 6/6 & 6/9 without glasses.

For assistant commandant (pilot/ navigator): 10+2 with current Commercial Pilot Licence or BSc (physics and maths). You should have passed Second Mate?s Exam. Age: 19-27 years. Physical standard: Height min. 162 cm, max. 198 cm, weight 91 kg (max), eyesight 6/6 without glasses.

For assistant commandant (tech branch): Degree in naval architecture/mechanical/ electrical/electronics/marine/design engineering. Age: 21-30 years. Physical standard: Height 157 cm. Weight proportionate to height, eyesight 6/12 and 6/36. Selection procedure: Test, interview and medical examination.

For further information, log on to the Coast Guard website: www.indiancoastguard.nic.in.