I am unable to decide what I am suited for. I have done my graduation in commerce, have done lots of computer courses and have hobbies such as dance but am unemployed till date. I don’t like typical jobs; I want to do something different. I have no one to guide me and am unsure how to proceed. A reason for my confusion is my varied fields of interest. Please advise.

Siddhida Sawant

Given your educational background and the courses you have done, here are some options for you. You can get into law, management, advertising, banking and finance, event management or hotel management. If you are interested in computers, you can get into web design, UI/ UX design, social media or digital marketing.

To discover a career that’s right for you, follow these steps. Start by making a list of jobs that you find interesting. Research these careers deeply — read articles on the Net and blog posts by professionals, watch videos and interviews on YouTube and other sites to help you understand these careers better. If possible, try to connect with and speak to people working in some of these areas as well. As you delve deeper into these professions, you will realise which ones are not right for you — strike them off the list. You can also try to do a few internships or career immersions to get practical exposure in a particular job. You can find such internships for freshers on Internshala, LetsIntern, FreshersWorld, HelloIntern or LinkedIn.

All of this will help you find the right career for your personality, skills and interests. You could connect with a career counsellor to discuss career options suitable for you.

One last point — once you have done your research and found some good options, dive into it and get started. It will work out fine.

Home science sans science

My daughter is in Class VIII of a reputed ICSE school. She is a bit weak in science except for biology. She may not get science in Class IX-X. She is interested in home science and has a great deal of interest in crafts. What are the probable career options for her? Can she take up home science without science?

Mom Chattopadhyay

Biology and home science are a good combination. She does not have to take science with home science, she can do it along with commerce or humanities too. She will have to study various areas like sociology, economics, resource management, design, hygiene, food and nutrition. Many career options are available after this. She can work in counselling, psychology, fashion or textile design, interior design, teaching, event management, or in the hospitality or retail industry. Her interest in crafts ties in nicely and will help her in many of these careers. If she takes home science with science (physics, chemistry, biology), she could work in nutrition, dietetics, or the healthcare industry.

I think she should continue with science till Class X. She can always drop it in Class XI-XII and take humanities or commerce with home science. You may have to speak to the school about this.

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