• Q: I am working with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which is partnering with the government in development projects. I am in a fairly senior position. But of late, I have been feeling that I need to add to my qualifications to boost my career prospects. If I apply for IIM’s public policy programme, do I need to take the CAT? Also, could you please let me know more about the programme?

N.P. Sengupta

• A: IIM-Ahmedabad offers a rigorous one-year full-time residential programme in public management and policy, which focuses on public policy formulation and implementation, financial regulation, infrastructure development and public enterprise management.

This programme is ideally suited for bright, motivated mid-career civil servants, managers, administrators, and NGO professionals aspiring for leadership positions in management and administration. Given your background, it will definitely serve as an excellent add-on for enhancing your career prospects.

The best part is the international exchange component designed to offer an exposure to work practices abroad. It will help you to understand the fundamentals of macro-economics and do a SWOT analysis of the host country in terms of governance and policy.

Potential partners are departments and schools of Carnegie Mellon University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Ohio State University, University of Geneva and University of Texas at Austin.

And yes, you need a valid GMAT/GRE, CAT or the IIM’s specially designed test score plus work experience of seven or more years to apply for this programme. For details log on to www.iimahd.ernet.in

IIM-Bangalore also offers a two-year full-time postgraduate programme in public policy and management.

Hope for BPO job seekers

• Q: I have completed BCom and am very keen to work in a BPO but since I live in a relatively small town in West Bengal, there is no possibility of getting such a job. Also, my English is not very good but with a little bit of training, I can certainly improve. Is there any hope for me?
Niranjan Basu

Niranjan Basu

• A: Why not? There’s plenty of hope for you and several others like you. After all, English is not our mother tongue, so we do need some practice to speak it fluently.

Moreover, the employment strategy of service sector companies is changing in favour of small town youth. ICICI Bank plans to recruit graduates from smaller towns and villages who have a government school background. Wipro has also started sourcing some of its workforce from this pool.

Don’t blink when optometry brings you success

• Q : Could you let me know about career prospects in optometry? What is the difference between ophthalmology and optometry?

Mahua Roy

• A: Often confused with an ophthalmologist, an optometrist (also known as an ophthalmic technician) is a professionally qualified primary eye care provider, akin to your family eye doctor. In India, optometrists usually assist ophthalmologists or recommend patients to specialists for secondary and tertiary treatment. An optometrist tests visual acuity and prescribes corrective lenses. Adept at handling eye-testing equipment to examine a person’s vision, the optometrist also fabricates lenses to prescribed specifications and fits them and other low vision aids to suit individual requirements. High-precision machines are used to polish and harden lenses.
With an increase in the aged population and the growing incidence of macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, optometrists can play an important part in the treatment.

Optometrists usually work in eye hospitals, clinics and opticians’ outlets or with multinational vision care companies. You may also specialise in particular types of vision disorders (i.e. squints, colour blindness). After gaining experience at a private establishment or with a lens manufacturer, you can open your own business.

You will be surprised to know that optometry features among the top ten income-earning professions in the US. This 700-year old profession is perhaps one of the nearly extinct breeds of jobs that offer regular work hours. Flexibility in practice and myriad choices in geographic location are the icing on the cake.

Whereas India needs at least two lakh optometrists, the actual number of optometrists stands at a measly 5,000. Approximately 400-odd students pass out of various institutes every year.

Moreover, with most people over 40 (and even earlier) requiring glasses/lenses, a skilled and experienced optometrist is always in demand. With an increase in the number of unqualified optometrists prescribing lenses in two-bit optical shops, some sort of regularisation to prevent malpractice has been demanded. Besides, most of the courses are still not recognised by the ministry of health. So you must make sure that you enroll in a reputed institute.