APPS Recruiting 33,738 Jobs

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Kartik Sawhney, a blind student who has scored a 95% aggregate in science with computers in class XII.

NEW DELHI: KartikSawhney had to wage a battle before being allowed to study science in class XI. The CBSE was not convinced Kartik, who is completely blind, would be able to handle the 'visual inputs' — graphs, diagrams, models — required for science. The doubters got their answer on Monday. Kartik scored a 95% aggregate in science with computers in class XII.

The DPS, R K Puram, student is now off to Stanford University to study computer science. If he had his way, however, Kartik would have studied in an IIT in India. But changes in IIT-joint entrance exam rules introduced last year have made it impossible for blind students to qualify, he said.

Kartik said, till last year, blind students taking the JEE had "exemption from visual input". They could attempt only the theory questions and their ranks would be determined by their performance in those. "We could also have a scribe and reader from science background," he said.

But this year, blind students were no longer exempted. Neither were they allowed to use assistive technology. "They expected me to multiply 11,652 with 651 mentally," said Kartik. "And according to the new policy, I could have a scribe and reader only from humanities or commerce streams."

It is argued that a scribe with a science background can help the candidate with his answers. As a result, Kartik had to work with readers who were not able to identify symbols and terminology in question papers. "I've had one reader describe a symbol as an "ulta V", he said. It could've been a pi or a lambda. "But I don't know," he said, "I've never seen a 'pi'."

If the education system had prevailed, Kartik wouldn't have come this far. He had to write more than two dozen letters to the CBSE and its controller of exams, had an NGO campaign and his school negotiate for him before he was allowed to opt for science in class XI.

"It was very difficult to convince the authorities to let me study science," says Kartik, the son of a car-accessories store owner. Once he finally got to study science, his school — Delhi Public School, R K Puram — found ways to help him. "For practicals, the teacher explained the apparatus and in the test, I got multiple choice questions based on the practical curriculum," he said.

Kartik's case is exceptional, said George Abraham, CEO of Delhi-based Score Foundation, "After class VIII, most blind were exempted from studying maths and science. They would be offered subjects like music. Now, some schools allow science but the number is low." Abraham adding that from 2012, CBSE has allowed multiple-choice questions in lieu of practicals and computer-based exams.

In school, Kartik was even allowed to perform experiments, but none that were hazardous, involving toxic chemicals. He also used a range of assistive devices and software — he used one to convert graphs into verbal descriptions. But there was little material available that was accessible.

"In India, we don't generally use ebooks. I used a screen-reader but didn't have text books on the computer," he said.

Kartik painstakingly keyed in all the text. "I had to do it all by myself," he said. Nothing comes to him easily, not even CBSE results. There was a glitch in his scores that had him rushing to his school in the morning. By evening, CBSE had rectified the error.

But all that work has paid off as he leaves for Stanford on September 2. He was extremely happy with the way the SATs are conducted. "You're allowed readers and they give you test booklets where the word is written for the symbols," he says.

Kartik has never lived away from his family — his father owns a store in Lajpat Nagar, mother's a homemaker and he has a twin sister and an elder brother. "I am a little nervous about leaving home but when I think about the IITs and what they did, I become confident."

Source : TOI

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Auto Driver's Daughter is National Topper in CA Exams

Mumbai : The dream of a lifetime materialised for Prema Jayakumar yesterday, when the 24-year-old topped the nation-wide Chartered Accountancy exam in her first attempt. Prema, whose father drives an auto for a living, is now determined to use the milestone as a stepping-stone towards providing her parents with a life of comfort.

Prema's four-member family squeezes itself into a 300 sq ft room in S B Khan Chawl, Malad. Beaming over her success after the results were declared yesterday, she said, "The day I start working, I will ensure that my father can rest at home. He has always toiled for my welfare." Prema, who outshone her peers in academics since her school days, scored a remarkable 607 on 800 in the CA exam.

This is not her first stint on a toppers' list: she scored 90 per cent in her Third Year B Com exams from the University of Mumbai, standing second. Prema said that she owed a debt of gratitude for the professors at her college and coaching institute, who had worked hard with her. The graduate from Nagindas Khandwala College completed her M Com from the University of Mumbai.

She said, "Fees were never an issue in school or college. In my school days I used to get a scholarship, and the college fees were nominal. My father Jayakumar Perumal is from Tamil Nadu, and has been driving an auto for 20 years. My mother used to work for a private company. She stopped working when I grew up and started earning during my articleship. I also received a scholarship of Rs. 40,000 from my coaching institute, so fees were never a source of worry for my parents or me."

While achieving her own personal goals, Prema has also been a guiding force for her 22-year-old brother Dhanraj, who also cleared his CA exam this year with his sister in his first attempt.

"We registered together with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and appeared for the exam in November 2012. My brother completed his TY B.Com in 2010. But he started studying for the CA exam after his HSC. He managed to gather registration fees for the exam by working at a call centre while completing his degree course."

Prema added, "My father's income was never fixed. He used to earn around Rs. 15,000 every month. We used to earn Rs. 5,000 per month during our articleship. My parents didn't study beyond school, so they are very proud that both their children have opted for higher education."

Road to success

After completing her B Com in 2008, Prema appeared for the Common Proficiency Test (CPT) entrance organised by the ICAI in December 2008. In November 2009 she cleared both groups of the Integrated Professional Competence Examination (IPCE) which made her eligible for two-and-a-half years of articleship. The stint made her eligible for her CA final."

Dhanraj said, "My parents earned well as they both use to work. Money wasn't an issue as we also started earning when we grew up. Our articleship helped us to pay our registration fees for the CA exam. My sister was so intelligent that she earned her fees from scholarships. We both took leave from our articleships before the exam.

We always studied together as that helped us to discuss our problems with each other. My sister is my inspiration and it is she who helped me to clear the exam. Our neighbours were very supportive and maintained peace when we studied."

The trick

The siblings shared tips for success in the tough exam

"I have noticed that people fail their CA exams many times. We used to study from 7.30 am till 12 midnight. We used to rest at night. Sleep is very important when you are studying hard the whole day. If the person doesn't rest adequately then exhaustion will hamper preparations. We used to take a single break for lunch. We used to watch TV for half an hour before going to bed, just to relax," said Dhanraj.

Source : NDTV

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GATE 2013 : Important Tips

 The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE ) is an all India examination administered and conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science and seven Indian Institutes of Technology on behalf of the National Coordination Board. It is jointly conducted by IISc Bangalore, IIT Bombay , IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras, IIT Roorkee.

GATE tests the comprehensive understanding of various undergraduate subjects in Engineering and Technology. The last date for submission of online applications is September 30, 2012.The GATE score reflects the relative performance level of a candidate. The score is used for admissions to various post-graduate programmes (eg. M.E., M.Tech, direct Ph.D.) in Indian higher education institutes with financial assistance provided by MHRD and other Government agencies.

The number of aspirants is rising every year. Candidates have increased from a mere 1.8 lakh in 2008 to 7.7 lakh in 2012. Due to higher number of candidates, the competition will surely be tougher which further results in sluggish recruitment in the IT industry as most of the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) are recruiting in large numbers and GATE qualification is mandatory for most of those jobs.

Important tips : Foremost thing is to prepare right from the day you want to plan for it. Beginning is half success. If you wait for some good day to start, that good day will never come and eventually you will loose/waste your time gratuitously.  Candidate must collect GATE 2013 syllabus copy and find the subjects asked during examination and segregate the subjects based on past questions and mark weightage of each subjects. GATE paper consists of that questions that are connected to specialization in M. Tech and M.E. therefore, when you start your preparation, just focus on concept not on theory derivation.  Have preceding year questions papers handy to know which type of questions can be asked in the exam and contemplate on the topics that you skipped or you do not know in syllabus during your graduation.Do not revise the topics that you already know as this will waste your time. Make a separate note of equations with 2 marks and grasp it along with its concepts.

Important dates :
Last date for Submission of Online Application- September 30, 2012
Last date for request of change of city- November 20, 2012
Availability of admit card on Online Application Interface- December 5, 2012
GATE 2013 Online Examination- January 20, 2013
GATE 2013 Offline Examination- February 10, 2013
Announcement of results on Online Applicant Interface- March 15, 2013

Source : http://indiatoday.intoday.in

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10 Tips for Job Seekers in the Digital Era

How exactly should someone use these to their advantage? Here are ten tips for landing the gig of your dreams.

1. Research, Research, Research

A likely first question any interviewer will ask is, “what does our company do?” This seems like an obvious one, but you’d be surprised at the number of people that have no clue. If you’re not prepared to discuss the company, they probably don’t want you.

Take the time to know the company inside and out. Research what they do, follow their social-media pages, and understand the industry and the competitors. Basically, have the company’s elevator pitch down pat. To be safe, practice it on a friend.

2. Connect Before the Interview

As you’re researching the company on their social media pages make sure to like some of their posts, leave a comment or two, and re-tweet what you find interesting. The reality is that you never know who might be watching. Many recruiters prefer finding talent via Facebook and LinkedIn rather than through a job site like Monster.

Does the company sponsor or organize any events? If so, show up at some of them and meet the representatives from the company. They can serve as a good “in” to the people who are hiring. If possible, connect with this person on LinkedIn afterwards.

3. Build Your Social Presence

Are you popular in the social sphere? Do you blog, Yelp, and have a ton of friends on Facebook and followers on Twitter? If so, great. You want to continue to build your social presence. If you haven’t flexed your social muscles yet, then you better get going! This is a critical way that recruiters assess how passionate you are about digital.

4. Be Prepared

Find out how the interview will be structured and plan accordingly. Determine who your interviewers will be, find out as much about them as possible, and then impress them with your knowledge.

Also, make sure you ask questions. Questions that haven’t been thought through very well leave a bad impression. Write questions down ahead of time and be precise, but don’t overdo it.

Another big item is the company’s dress code. Check out their Facebook page, look for photos in the news. People want to see how you assimilate into a culture. That said, always dress one step up from the code.

5. Arrive Early

Arrive at least fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. The interviewers are scheduling their days around you so be ready to go. If you are going to be late, it better be for an excellent reason. Call and let the person who is waiting for you know.

6. Be Flexible

Don’t bring up money in the first interview. It positions you poorly. Acknowledge that you appreciate being trained and will be a strong asset in the future. Remember that it’s not about what you get paid the first day. It’s what you end up getting paid the first year.

That being said, if the company really likes you then money might come up so be prepared with a realistic number. There are some good sites that offer salary estimates. Feel free to take those into consideration, but not as the final word.

7. Don’t Pigeonhole Yourself

Companies want people with diverse interests. If you like to work in different areas, let that be known and don’t pigeonhole yourself into one department. Also, don’t feel shy about sharing your hobbies and interests. Varying interests bring character and color to a company’s culture.

8. Think Career, Not a Job

Make it clear you’re interested in a career, and not just a job. Ask what you can expect over the next ninety days, and communicate what exactly you’ll be bringing to the table. But don’t communicate that in blanket statements like, “I’m good at sales” or “I like to take initiative.”

Instead, if you’re good at sales say, “In one year I closed five new accounts and grew three existing ones, resulting in $300,000 in new business.” Or, if you’re a go-getter, describe a problem you helped solve and the result. Show your real impact and potential by talking about accomplishments in your career.

9. Keep the Details in Mind

Keep these small, but important, details in mind when interviewing: Shut your phone off, don’t chew gum, sit up straight, don’t say “yeah” or “like” or “you know,” don’t talk over the interviewer, maintain eye contact, and don’t tell the interviewer about where else you’re interviewing.

At the end always go for the close and ask about next steps.

10. Follow Up and Maintain Contact

After the interview, make sure to get everyone’s business card and send a thank-you email that day. Then check in every now and then with your main contact to see how the process is moving along.

If you don’t get the position, that’s OK, too. Learn from the experience, improve your talking points, and keep up positive communication with the company. Maybe they found someone with more experience, but that doesn’t mean another position won’t open up in a few months that you’re perfect for, and because you remained in contact, they might call you up for that job instead.

Source : Mashable

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