Your Counsellor Replies

Your Counsellor RepliesI‚m a class XI student and a regular reader of EducationWorld. I would like to join the Indian Air Force (IAF). Please advise.Mahesh Khupse, PokhrapurTo join the IAF you need to be admitted into the National Defence Academy (NDA) ‚ the ‚Ëœcradle of Indian military leadership‚ ‚ located in Khadakvasla, Pune. The academy is one of the few defence training institutions in the world which offers joint services training i.e. combined training for the army, navy and air force. Admissions into NDA happen in January and July. Over 150,000 students apply every year and of the 80,000 who write the entrance exam, only 10,000 qualify, out of which only 300 are admitted into NDA. Males within the age group 16-19 years who have passed class XII or equivalent are eligible to write the entrance examination conducted annually by the Union Public Service Commission‚s Services Selection Board. After graduating from NDA, air force cadets proceed for a further year‚s training in the Air Force Academy, Hyderabad. On completion of this course, cadets are awarded the President‚s commission and inducted as officers into the IAF. For details log on to www.nda.nic.in. I want to become an airhostess after finishing my BA next year. Is it necessary to join a training academy before applying for this job?Carol D‚Souza, Panjim Aspiring airhostesses don‚t require specialised training. Most airlines prefer to train them in-house. Look out for ads and notifications of major airlines for cabin crew in your local newspapers. Keep passport-sized photographs and an updated resume handy so you can immediately respond either in person for a walk-in interview or send in an application. The typical requirements for an airhostess‚ job are normal eyesight, pleasing personality, self-confidence, poise, clear complexion and good communication skills. Moreover you should be between 18-27 years of age and above 5‚3″ in height. Fluency in Hindi and English is essential, while a graduate degree is not mandatory. Experience in customer service, hospitality or allied industries will work in your favour. Selection includes a general proficiency test and a group discussion followed by a personal interview.After completing Plus Two (arts) I would like to read for a law degree. Please provide information on degree programmes offered in this field. Can I pursue a company secretary‚s (CS) course simultaneously with my law degree?Neerja Kamath, MumbaiThe five-year integrated B.A.LLB (Hons) offered by the University of Mumbai is the best option for you. The degree programme covers all aspects of law including family, property, company, constitutional, and labour law. It‚s a good idea to study for a CS diploma while reading for the law degree. It will help you carve out a career in corporate law and allied fields. I‚m a second year engineering student. Please tell me about the Engineering Services Examination (ESE).Prakash Chavan, PuneIf you have an engineering degree and are between 21-30 years of age you can write the ESE. Part 1 of ESE is a written examination, comprising two sections: section I consists of objective questions and section II of conventional papers. Both sections cover the entire spectrum of engineering disciplines viz. civil, mechanical, electrical, electronic and telecomm-unications engineering. Section I consists of three papers of two hours each ‚ general ability test, English language skills test and general studies. Section II has two papers on the chosen engineering discipline, each three hours in duration. Part II of the selection process is a personality test (200 marks) which is for candidates who successfully complete the written examination. The examination notifi-cation appears in Employment News in January-February and the examination (which is the engineering equivalent of the IAS/IFS) is held in June-July. For details visit www.upsc.gov.in. I‚m reading for an M.Com degree with management as a specialisation. Will I have the same opportunities as an MBA graduate since both are postgraduate degrees?Srinivas Rao, BangaloreAn M.Com is an academic training programme whereas an MBA is a professional training programme. No doubt certain features of the curriculum are similar, but corporate recruiters tend to prefer graduates of business schools offering the MBA programme rather than commerce colleges. However some colleges/ universities are exceptions to this rule.I would like to pursue a pilot training course after finishing class XII (science). What are the eligibility requirements and where do I train?Navin Kapoor, New DelhiYou need to complete training for a commercial pilot‚s licence (CPL) and then write the theoretical exam-ination conducted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in aviation and related subjects. Training for a CPL involves completing 250 hours of flying. The cost of training is around Rs.15 lakh. Anyone who has completed 10 +2 with physics and maths is eligible to start training for the private pilot licence (PPL) which includes 60 hours of flying. After getting the PPL, you start training for the CPL. Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academi (IGRUA), Fursatganj Airfield, Raebareli 229302, UP (www.igrua.com) is India‚s premier training institute for the CPL. Admission is through a written exam, aptitude test and interview. The future is bright for pilots with several new airlines having taken to the skies recently.I would like to join the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) after my B.Com next year. Please advise.Radha Iyer, ChennaiThe Indian Foreign Service is one of the 20 plus services for which recruitment is on the basis of performance in the Civil Services Examination (CSE). As per the current format your selection into the Indian Foreign Service depends on the merit position you secure in CSE. Any general category graduate between 21-30 years of age is eligible to write CSE. Age criteria are relaxed for students of reserved categories. Visit www.upsc.gov. in for further details.