How BOLD are you ?

Recently I saw many people in FB praising the film "how old are you" ,and the actress Manju Warrier. I too saw the movie and appreciate the fact that Women oriented movies are coming and can make an impact in the society's mindset of gender stereotyping. The movie has a strong message saying that when the woman decides to come out of her shell and try to prove the significance of her life, all her dreams are possible.

Her role Nirupama in this movie is a typical portrayal of a normal "housewife with a govt/private job" . Any malayali man would like to have that kind of a wife, who earns the salary as well as takes care of the family without disturbing him or his happiness much.

In this movie, Ms.Nirupama, feels dejected at a particular instance and later realises her potentials, started a venture. By god's grace in her first attempt , she proved that she can be successful. Thus, she got the respect of her husband and the rest of society. The movie ends with a happy ending...where in even the President of India invites her for a meeting within the first 2 years of her venture.

But, what would have happened, if she failed in the first attempt? What would have happened if her entire crops was a failure and she loses the entire 5 lakh loan?

How many Nirupamas can face such failures? What will the society tell about Nirupama, if she had failed ? Will the society give her the support? Will her own husband accept her? Most probably, Nirupama will end up becoming the same old "housewife with govt job" or in worst case, commit suicide (coz, women are emotional fools)

9 out of 10 ventures are bound to be failure in the first attempt. But, if only each of those 9 ventures continue to sustain with the support of family or society, we can see wonders around us!

The real support that a woman needs is in times of failures and not in times of success.

Hope , more Nirupamas arise in this Mallu society, where woman are viewed upon mostly as an object of lust and least as an individual with her own dreams!

Thanks Manju Warrier and awaiting a movie where a woman keeps on failing and striving until final success. 

Are you highly qualified?

Hi friends, 

I am just sharing a few examples of people whom I have met recently. 

Eg 1 -A guy from a below average family background, poor schooling, not presentable ..couldn't get admission in a decent college (thank god! ) 

He did an animation course and learnt all software related to designing. Attended his first interview along with his portfolio of works done and got his first job with a high paying salary not even given to PGs. Now he handles entire online marketing of the company. 

Eg 2 - A guy from a well- off family, international schooling, high- fi life, well groomed. Managed to get admission in a decent college, Did MBA. Got job in sales, didnt like it, threw it and went to some other profile.  Then jumped to HR and then to something else. Now hunting for a job.

Eg 3 - Last day I met this smart young man who is our client and on casual discussion, I found that he is just 26yrs and is handling pan- india business development for this Delhi based company. He travels pan -India and establishes business units in the cities. Within the past two years he has set up offices in over 10 locations and set up running the branch. He is an IIT chennai guy specialised in Ocean technology. But I was surprised at the way he talked business strategy, his selling skills and the way he was focused on his task and managed his own time! 

Eg 4- A guy who has done his BTech from a decent Engg college in IT.  When asked whether he can design a simple website with 10 pages, prompt came the answer- "Maam, I don't know programming and all. I will learn and do it" . But you have mentioned in your resume that you know web designing.  OK, how much time you will need to learn? , "Maam, i dont know, may be three months". Me- So, until you learn , why should I pay you? You learn and come with your portfolio.. I will hire you.

Now, Y did I narrate this four examples? 

Just to highlight the fact that , gone are the days when Educational qualifications mattered. Now is the time to really focus on SKILL Development. 

My dear students who are about to pass out- Please FOCUS on developing your SKILLSETS while in college, so that you become EMPLOYABLE immediately. 

CeeVee 

The Maleficent Course

Yday, I met a young girl who has completed her BTech from a rural college with over 90 percent mark and with an eagerness to pursue her career. She is from a rural village from a neighboring district and lacked confidence and English communication skills, due to her poor schooling. On enquiring further about what she is doing after Btech, she said that she has joined for a CCNA course (Cisco Certified Network Architect) in an IT training institute in Cochin. The course fee is Rs 20000. and she,who is coming from a very poor family background has somehow arranged loan from a wellwisher and has reached Cochin with a lot of aspirations. The training institute has withheld the truth that there are providing only the CCNA training and the certification will actually cost another 75K . This girl was under the imagination that she will soon become a CCNA and that all her family woes of an ailing father, mother and sisters will end, when she gets a job in two months time, whereas in real, she doesnt even have the money to survive in cochin and can't even imagine of arranging 75K for the exam fee!! Only a certified Network engineer can actually think of getting a high paying job and most others end up back to square one or taking up BPO jobs !

I felt really upset when i came to know that the training institute has actually cheated her by not providing the right career guidance! When asked, whether she actually enquired about the credibility of the course and the center, she said that the counselor told all their previous students have got job in MNCs. 

The word MNC IT company lured this girl too ...coz she thought that her Engineering education with 90 percent did not get her job..may be this course will atleast help her! And the highlighting part is that she is no way connected to the field of hardware or network engineering before and her Btech was in Electronics and communication! And still she got convinced that this will bring a magical twist to her career! 

But, her problem in my assessment is only ONE - Lack of English Language skills. If only she corrects that, she will easily get through any of the interviews..coz , she already has the confidence and the attitude to learn. Instead of giving solution to the core problem, unfortunately, people spend time, money and resource on something else and then end up frustrated!!!

Wish, each educational institution plays atleast some interest in the development of soft skills and communication skills in the students , rather than producing engineers like broiler chickens! 

Wish ,the training centers provides the right guidance , instead of just trying to sell their courses on these poor victims who lack financial background ,exposure and are really perplexed about their career! 

Wish students become a little more sensible in developing their skills by understanding their own weaknesses and the education system provides such opportunities. 

Wish, every parent (especially the lower and middle sections) stop taking huge loan for their child's education unless they are sure about the child's area of interest, capability and possibility for placements by doing the course.

And Wish, our country provides the best quality education in the Schools where the foundation is laid properly! 

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N.B. This girl is now part of my office, quitting her useless course and saving atleast the remaining of the course fee installments. But how many can I save like this?