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Im keen on pursuing a career as probationary officer (PO) in a bank. Please advise the way forward.Vidya Rajan, Bangalore Examinations are conducted by public/private sector banks to recruit probationary officers in the junior management cadre. Those who clear the exam and interview are recruited as POs and receive extensive on-the-job training. ICICI Bank offers a PO programme (www.icicicareers.com) which includes shortlisting through a written exam and interview followed by a one-year fully residential programme to train selected probationary officers by the ICICI Manipal Academy of Banking and Insurance (http://www. ima.manipal.edu/programme.htm). I want to sign up for an MBA in energy management at the Indian Management School and Research Centre (IMSRC), Mumbai via the distance education mode. The institute is not UGC approved but is affiliated/accredited with the University of North East Virginia and the Distance Education Council. Are IMSRCs degrees recognised? Please suggest names of other institutes offering this study programme. Vijay Suri, Mumbai IMSRCs MBA programme has credibility since it is approved by the Distance Education Council (www.dec. ac.in). Some other reputed universities/institutions which offer a postgraduate diploma in energy management are: Centre of Distance Education, Univer-sity of Hyderabad (www.uohd.ernet.in); MIT School of Distance Education (www.miyode.com); and Annamalai University, Annamalainagar (www. annamalaiuniversity.ac.in) which offers a postgrad diploma in electrical energy management and energy audit. Prior to applying, check your eligibility with the institution since you dont possess a bachelors degree. I will complete my Plus Two (commerce) next year. Is studying for a B.Com degree a good career choice? Neeta DSilva, Panjim For best career trajectory, you should read for a B.Com degree simultaneously with a course in chartered accountancy, company secretaryship or cost accountancy. If you cannot manage the pressure of doing B.Com with CA/CS, just focus on your bachelors degree. A B.Com degree will open doors in all industries at the junior executive level. Im an engineer and have been working in an IT company for the past one year. Im now interested in a career in the media. Is it advisable to make a career switch? Srinivas Iyer, Chennai An it engineer can secure employment in the media, though its advisable to study your new vocation. Several institutions offer postgraduate programmes of one-two years duration in mass communication. For qualified personnel, job opportunities are also aplenty in print, television and radio broadcasting, advertising, film, televi-sion, online media ventures etc. How-ever before you make the switch, do some homework to understand the nature of work involved, and whether its in sync with your abilities and interests. After graduation, I want to sign up for an MBA in a B-school in the US. Please provide information on the GMAT test. Neelam Rao, Bangalore The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardised test which measures graduate students verbal, mathematical and analytical writing skills. It is designed to help B-schools to assess the potential of applicants for advanced study in business management. All who aspire to enrol in any graduate B-school programme in the US must write GMAT.…