Humanities to civil services 

I am in Class X. My hobbies are singing, dancing, acting, reading and writing. I have published a book of poems and have a YouTube channel with 400+ subscribers. I like science, social science and English. I am interested in learning languages and about different cultures. However, I am not so good at mathematics. I am keen on the Indian Foreign Services but the UPSC exams are India’s toughest, so I need a backup plan. Which stream should I choose?
Ananya Paul,
Ranchi, Jharkhand

It is great that you have published a book at such a young age and have a YouTube channel with a significant number of followers. Yes, getting into the civil services is quite tough. It is very competitive as lakhs of students appear for it every year. So, it is sensible to think of what to pursue at the undergraduate level first. Given your profile, I recommend humanities in Class XI. You can then look at majoring in history, political science, psychology, linguistics or media and communication. These will lead you to careers in advertising, psychology, journalism, social media, teaching, policy-making, etc. These are some of the backup options that you can look at. But do delve deeper to see which of these is right for you. It would be best if you started preparing for the civil services exam from the second year of college or latest by the beginning of third year. You can attend coaching classes or prepare on your own and take a couple of mock tests.

Switch from archaeology

I am pursuing archaeology. I took it up due to my interest in ancient history. But with the emerging job markets in other sectors, I wish to change my field. What should I do after graduation?
Swaha Haldar,
Vadodara, Gujarat

Trends in the job market will come and go. So, it is important to pursue a field that you are genuinely interested in. You will have to spend hours at your workplace, so ideally, it should be something you enjoy and find meaningful. With this degree, apart from becoming an archaeologist, you can work in the following areas: art curation in a museum or art gallery, policy-making, academia, social research, or conservation of historic buildings and sites. You can take the civil services exam or pursue a degree in law. You could also go abroad for higher studies in a related field. See if any of these is right for you. If you still want to do something entirely different, you will have to carefully re-evaluate your interests and capabilities. Advertising, PR, social media, marketing or event management are some careers that you can explore. You may have to study further or do a short course to get into some of these areas. For instance, a social media or digital marketing program is required to get into this field.

CA without mathematics 

I am in the third semester of BCom. Although I passed Class XII without mathematics, I want to study chartered accountancy. What should I do?
Zeba Khan,
Calcutta

Chartered accountancy (CA) is a great career option if you are interested in taxation and accounting. And, yes, you can pursue CA even without mathematics. However, you need to have a methodical approach and strong analytical and problem-solving skills to succeed. BCom with CA is a good combination, and many subjects are common between the two courses. You’ll have to clear different levels: Foundation, IPCC (Integrated Professional Competency Course), Articleship and Final. You can apply for provisional registration to the IPCC directly in your final year of college itself. You will have to, subsequently, submit marksheets and pass certificate of the finals for the registration to be confirmed.


Nina Mukherji is a career counsellor and certified psychometric assessor. She conducts workshops in various areas for students. Mail your queries to telegraphyou@gmail.com with “Ask Nina” in the subject line. Don’t forget to add the name of your school or college and a contact number