Are you ready to listen?

Q: I find career counselling and motivating people very interesting, and would like to start a counselling centre in my place. I am an engineer. Do I need a degree in psychology?

S. Roy

A: The ability to communicate with people from all strata of society, to give each client a patient hearing, to strike a rapport with your clients and most importantly, a caring attitude that will encourage people to confide in you — these are the qualities you need to be an effective counsellor.

You probably have some of the skills already. Now you can use those skills, overlaying them with some professional counselling skills.

Counselling psychologists use interviewing and testing procedures to assess a client’s needs and then use counselling techniques to help alleviate the stress caused by personal, social or educational problems. In educational institutions, counsellors are involved in vocational and educational guidance while others prefer to work independently.

It is the nature of work that requires a counsellor to have a background in psychology as it equips you with various techniques of gaining an insight into human behaviour. You need to do your masters in psychology or in education to pursue a recognised post-diploma course in guidance and counselling.

A course in counselling will teach you the skills of a counsellor’s art: How to resolve problems that people face, how to set up your own counselling practice, how to win clients and how to handle their problems. You will also learn how to use standard tests and forms and other useful information. While psychology is offered as a specialisation at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in several colleges, a diploma in guidance and counselling is offered at some institutions.

Options in National Law School

Q: Besides LLM, what are the various postgraduate courses offered by the National Law School of India University in Bangalore?

Lolita Dutta

A: Apart from the two-year LLM, NLSIU, Bangalore offers the following postgraduate courses:

• Master of Business Laws (Distance, 2 years). Eligibility: Bachelors degree.

• PG Diploma in Human Rights Law (Distance, 1-year)

• PG Diploma in Environmental Law (Distance, 1-year)

• PG Diploma in Intellectual Property Rights Law (Distance, 1-year)

• PG Diploma in Medical Law and Ethics (Distance, 1-year)

The issue of application forms will commence from 1st April, every year. For further details, do log on to their website: www.nls.ac.in

All you need to know about banking basics

Q: I am a commerce graduate. Can you tell me something about an MTech in banking?

Padmaja Polisetti

A: The Institute of Development & Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT), Hyderabad, in collaboration with the University of Hyderabad offers MTech in banking technology as well as a postgraduate programme in banking technology management to train manpower for the rapidly computerising banking industry. The courses cover banking tech and security, network and components, application software, info security, IS Audit, digital certification, e-commerce payment systems, IT laws and cyber crime.

Eligibility is BE/BTech with GATE score (85%+). You must have strong fundamentals in mathematics and computers. Selection is through a tough written exam, group discussion and interview. For PGPBTM, the eligibility criterion is BE/BTech/BSc (Engg) or MS/MSc/MCA. You should be below 30.

The graduates are picked up by the RBI as Gr B/Scale II officers, and as managers and senior executive officers at other financial institutions. Another course that may interest you is the PG diploma in financial services and software testing which is offered by Loyola Institute of Business Administration, Chennai, in collaboration with Maveric Systems, a software verification and validation company. Eligibility: BE/BTech in IT with strong programming skills. Selection: Written test, GD and interview. This will equip you to work as a testing professional in financial services.

Q: I have completed BCom and wish to become a chartered financial analyst. What are the qualifications required for working as an analyst in
any credit rating agency?

Avijit

A: The American CFA programme is intended to supplement the education and work experience of investment specialists. The curriculum equips you with knowledge of the tools and concepts, asset valuation and portfolio management. Log on to www.cfainstitute.org for enrolment. Banks and credit rating agencies like CRISIL and ICRA recruit MBAs, CAs and CFAs as stock market/financial analysts. The work involves analysing specific industries to arrive at the ratings. Additional CFA qualification would be an asset.

ICFAI University, Hyderabad, also offers a similar CFA programme as part of their MS in finance course (www.icfai.org).