I have taken the CBSE Class X board exams this year. I am confused about what stream I should choose. I am interested in law and psychology. Should I take science at the Plus Two level and then go for the subject I want to pursue or should I choose humanities now itself?

Anuswa Nayak Delhi Public School, Durgapur

Ideally, one should start the stream selection process at least midway through Class X, so that they have enough time to research and look into various options. At this stage, two options are available to you. The first one is to go ahead and take science subjects as it keeps many career options open. As you know, science students can choose any course under the commerce or humanities umbrella. And though you have mentioned being interested in law and psychology, you may not have complete clarity or information about these careers, so it may be difficult to commit to a stream that rules out many other options. The second option is to do some research on the subjects you like to get clarity and make a more definite choice. First, make a list of careers that you want to know more about. Then, read up about them. Several websites have articles and videos about different careers. As you read up about them, analyse the pros and cons of each career you have selected, see whether they suit your personality, interests and strengths. You could also discuss your options with adults at home and teachers or counsellors at school. This research and analysis will help you make an informed decision about your career. You can then choose a stream and subjects based on that. You could also do a career psychometric test to further validate that you are choosing the right path.

Options galore

I am 28 years old. I completed BSc in 2019 with 45 per cent marks and have been preparing for government jobs ever since. I have appeared for several exams and have missed the cut-off by one or half per cent. I am at a loss and depressed about my situation. I can’t decide on whether I should prepare any more or not. If I stop preparing, what should I do? How do I get a job and in which field (since I don’t have any specialisations)? I will be grateful if you help me out.

Srijoni Chakraborty

There are many career options these days apart from government jobs. There are several careers related to each of these different areas: finance, HR, marketing, advertising, healthcare, technology, entrepreneurship, non-profit organisations and the development sector. What I have mentioned are just broad heads and there are many options under each of them. So, you need to think about which career is suitable for you based on your personality and interests. You may want to look at the option of studying further or doing a shortterm course to upskill yourself too. But you could also just start working. It is easier to get a job in some fields such as advertising, hotels, PR and events. Startups are also willing to take on freshers and train them. Sometimes it’s a good idea to start working and gain experience. The exposure to the world of work and to new people will help you to get more clarity on your own aspirations and goals. You will start to realise what careers and jobs are out there and further finetune your plans for the future.

Nina Mukherjee 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