Internship essential to get a feel of field

Q I am a media studies graduate. My parents have forced me into doing a master's in this subject as well but I have no work experience. I also have zero interest in writing, editing or even journalism. I have always been inclined towards careers linked to hospitality and tourism because of my love of travel. How can I now change careers? Should I look for a job straightaway or pursue another master's degree?

Meghna Kothari

via email

It must be frustrating to not have had the freedom to choose what career you wish to pursue. Such a situation can very easily fill you with negativity. However, before you throw out journalism completely from your life, think calmly and very carefully what skills, if any, journalism has taught you. If there are any skills that you have acquired, these may be relevant for and useful in other fields as well. To me it seems that your dissatisfaction with your master's degree may, to a certain extent, arise from not having done an internship or a job in the field of journalism. A profession is very rarely the way as it is depicted in a college, no matter how professional an institution it is. The real world out there may be completely different. Now that you have a Master's in Media Studies, I suggest that you work in the field for a few months at least. Some part of the profession may appeal to you, after all. The learning you pick up on the job or from an internship is priceless. It is really a pity that many more colleges don't integrate internships with your degrees.

The next step I would suggest is you try and understand the types of jobs available in the hospitality or the travel industry. How much travel do these actually allow? Typically, in the hospitality and travel industry you work for other people who are travelling and you may or may not travel with them. If travel is what really floats your boat, then you need to go backpacking yourself and see how you enjoy it. You can then, maybe, start a travel blog, which can eventually develop into something big.

However, it is possible to travel as part of your job in practically all fields. My suggestion it that you explore your strengths for a few years before you decide to study for another degree. For instance, if you wish to work in the hospitality or travel industry, definitely seek a job in that with your present qualifications. Most communication skills are transferable so what you learned will be applicable to the hospitality industry too. And, in this context, what you can learn on a job is worth far more than what a college will teach you. Once you get a fair idea about what you enjoy and what are the skills you have, then you could decide on the degree that is most required for the field of your choice. Right now, however, you need to find a job that fits your current skills so that you can check out what your strengths in the field are.

Listen and observe

Q I am studying in Class XII in the science stream. I want to become a counsellor. How do I go about it?

Sunaina Sinha

Jamshedpur

Counsellors are trained psychologists who help clients solve personal and social problems. To help you prepare for a career in counselling, you could attempt to acquire some basic personality traits. Make friends from different regions, classes and backgrounds to develop a non-judgmental approach to life. Volunteer in an NGO to develop patience. You should also enhance your listening and observational skills.

For a start, graduating in psychology would be a good idea. You could specialise in counselling at the master's level. Clinical psychology is closely linked to counselling. Clinical psychologists work with clients with more documented mental disturbances whereas counsellors work with people who are going through a temporary transition or stressful problem. Neither clinical psychologists nor counsellors can prescribe medication; that is the job of a qualified psychiatrist.

If your interest changes after graduation, you could do an MBA and specialise in human resource management. You can also get a Master's in Social Work and continue to work with people.

Counsellors can work in schools, colleges, special education centres and so on.

Shivani Manchanda is the director of Career Track, an educational consultancy, and a postgraduate in Counselling from the US. Her expertise lies in counselling students on career development, stress prevention and international education. She has been advising students for over two decades