I am a third-year student of political science at Jadavpur University. If I do a master’s in political science with international relations, what are the career options apart from research, academia and civil services? How do I get related jobs as a fresher as most places look for people with experience? Can I pursue journalism with a degree in political Science?

Sanjana Ghosh Calcutta

International relations is a diverse field wherein you will learn about the complexities of relationships between countries and apply this knowledge to the world of work. Political science develops your analytical and practical skills, making you suitable for different kind of careers. For example, you could work as a political analyst, parliamentary researcher or programme coordinator, or diverge into law and become an international lawyer. You can work with international organisations such as United Nations agencies, European Union departments, the World Health Organization and the World Economic Forum as an international relations specialist. And yes, you can surely pursue journalism after a degree in political science.

To make it easier to get a job as a fresher, you should take up internships or volunteer work while studying. Realworld exposure gets a lot of weightage. Please check the Niti Ayog website, it has some great internships. You will get exposure to various government departments and verticals, reforms and policy development. Various think tanks and NGOs also hire students as interns. Prepare well for interviews so you can convince the interviewer that you are the right person for the job.

A new beginning

I just completed my bachelor’s in computer science (BSc Hons) and would like to pursue an MCA. My degree was acquired during the pandemic. So, I didn’t get to explore my stream, and I was unable to study in online mode. After my final semester, I realised I liked the course and enjoy this subject. But whenever I try to work on something now, my mind goes back to the last two years and I feel guilty that I didn’t study much or utilise my time well during the programme. Please help me with a solution as I want to do something in my life, forget the previous things and start afresh.

Avishek Mondal Asansol

I understand that you have faced challenges while studying and engaging fully with your course. The pandemic has had this effect on some students who did not adjust well to the online mode of study, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Let’s look at the bright side instead — you have completed your bachelor’s degree, you enjoy computer science and now you plan to pursue further studies in the same line. All this is good, it bodes well for your future. If you feel you have missed out on some aspects of the subject matter, catch up through additional reading, working on small projects, joining online forums — some of the learning in courses like computer science happens through these other sources as well.

Let go of the past and focus on the present. Think through your next steps and commit to them fully. Henceforth, you will be attending regular offline classes where I am sure you will find it much easier to work hard and be completely engaged in the programme. All the best!

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