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I‚m a psychology student and would like to do my postgraduation in the same subject. Which of these specialisations ‚ clinical, industrial, counselling psychology ‚ offers the best career opportunities?Kiran Rao, MangaloreAll three specialisations offer excellent job prospects, but your decision should be made after understanding the demands of each specialisation and an assessment of your personality. Industrial psychologists enjoy better prospects when it comes to corporate sector placements. So if you are interested in a corporate career, focus on this specialisation. Clinical psychologists could also find placement in the HRD departments of corporate organisations, while counselling psychologists enjoy better prospects in private consulting practice. Success in the profession, however, ultimately depends upon a psychologist‚s personality and ability to connect with employers and clients.I‚m an arts graduate and keen on a career in events management. Can you recommend some institutes offering full-time courses in this subject?Nalini Puri, New DelhiWith career opportunities in the events management business multiplying, there are quite a few institutes offering this course. There is no formal rating/ grading of events management courses, but if you are interested in university affiliated courses, you can enroll in the International Institute of Events Management, University of Mumbai, Vidyapeeth Vidyarthi Bhavan, B-Road, Churchgate, Mumbai 400 020 ([email protected], www.iemindia.com). Recently the Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad 380 058 (www.mica.india.net) introduced a one-year postgraduate programme (including industry internship) in public relations and events management. Other such programmes are offered by Pioneer Media School, 2nd Floor, Link House, 3 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002; the National Institute of Event Managament (www.niemindia.com) and EMDI, IES Management College Building, 4th floor, 791-SK Marg, Bandra (W) Mumbai 400 050 (www.emdiworld.com).I will be graduating in law next year and would like to pursue a postgraduate degree in the subject. Please advise.Avinash Raghavan, BangaloreA bachelor‚s degree in law is sufficient qualification to begin practice at the bar. Postgraduation will offer you choices for specialised study leading to options in teaching, research and consultancy. Most universities and specialised legal education institutions offer postgraduate education in law. You could consider pursuing an LLM from the University of Mumbai (www.mu.ac.in) or various other universities such as Faculty of Law, Delhi University (www.du.ac.in). Admission to some of them, such as DU is on the basis of an entrance test. You would also have the choice of pursuing an LLM from specialised law universities/ institutions such as NLSIU at Bangalore (www.nls.ac.in), NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad (www.nals aarlawuniv.org, www.nalsar pro.org) and WB National University of Juridical Sciences, NUJS Bhavan, 12 LB Block, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700 098 (www.niys.edu). At the National Law University, Jodhpur, NH-65, Nagur Road, Mandor, Jodhpur 342 304 (www.nlujodhpur.ac.in) you could apply for a six semester Masters in management and law (MBA LLM)/ four semester Masters in governance studies/ intell-ectual property law/ trade related law/ criminal law and forensic science/ WTO studies/ insurance studies.Please provide details of institutes offering postgraduate programmes in environmental economics.Nikhil Srinivasan, ChennaiMadras University offers anMA in environmental economics. This specialisation is also offered by some other universities which conduct programmes in economics. Career prospects tend to be in research and teaching. Later, consulting opportunities could come your way depending upon the credibility you have built up through study, research, publishing etc. You also have the option of going abroad for higher studies or research provided you have an above average academic record in economics and can fulfill other admission criteria.I‚m planning to read for a Master‚s in mechanical engineering in a US university. What are my job prospects after completing the course?Martin D‚Souza, PanjimYou‚ll have to write theGRE to qualify for admission into postgrad engineering programmes in the US. There are excellent postgrad programmes for mechanical engineers abroad. However, after qualifying there is no guarantee that you will be able to get a job offer there. You may be allowed to work for a year but shouldn‚t expect long-term employment. So while formulating your plans for study abroad, also plan for alternatives in India in case you don‚t get a visa to study abroad. How lucrative is a career in the beauty business? Where does one train and what are the different career options?Nandini Patil, MumbaiThose in the beauty business include make-up artists, skincare specialists, hair stylists, hair colourists, salon owners, etc. In most of these vocations, you need good hand and eye co-ordination, finger dexterity, patience, good communication and interpersonal skills, tact, and pleasant manners. Beauty as a career is a long-term path and you will have to update yourself on equipment, cosmetic treatments, technologies etc to keep abreast of competition. There are several centres which offer training in various aspects of beauty treatments and procedures. For example, in Mumbai there‚s the Shahnaz Herbal Women‚s World International, Sea Bird Building, Bandra, Mumbai `400 050 or the Schnell Hans International School of Beauty, Hair dressing and Cosmetology, 111/112, Nicola Mistry Chambers, Opposite Strand, Colaba, Mumbai 400 005. There are numerous specialised training centres for aspiring hair stylists as well, which are advertised in local dailies. I want to qualify as a television news anchor. Please advise.Shirin Mistry, Bangalore With television channels multiplying, the demand for news readers/ anchors is rising. There are no specific study programmes for news anchors although you may be able to attend workshops on news anchoring in institutes offering journalism or mass communication courses. The basic qualification required is a degree from a recognised university, a voice suited for broadcasting, good pronunciation and diction. A postgraduation in journalism or mass communications or broadcast journalism would better your chances of success. Your first degree could be in mass media with specialisation in journalism (offered in many colleges across the country).