Top Benefits of Approaching a Career Counselling Service

With the challenging job market and the wide variety of career choices, it is to get confused about what to do once your education is complete. A student stepping into a new career or someone considering a change of track can get support and direction from career counselling. Ahmedabad career counselling centres provide clients with a professional advisor to guide them to the right path. Here are some of the benefits of career counselling:

1. Determining your Strengths and Weaknesses
A career counsellor is a trained professional who knows the proper way of assessing the skills and abilities of an individual. A career counsellor will put you through various aptitude tests that have been specially designed for you. These tests are intended to match your skills and abilities with specific careers and will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. Aptitude tests save you time and energy by leading you to a more appropriate career for you than one that will only bring you frustration.

2. Assessing your Career Goals
A career counsellor not only helps you set realistic career goals but also guides you in taking the steps to achieve the goal. Someone confused finds it difficult to set goals for themselves. With the help of another person, that confusion gives way to clarity and leads to proper goal setting, whether you are a fresh graduate or a working professional exploring new career options.

3. Career Choices
There are an overwhelming number of careers available today. While having such a variety of choices can be positive, for both young students and professionals looking for a job change, this can be confusing at times. A career counsellor helps you find the perfect career by focusing on your skills and abilities,

4. Educational Support and Guidance

A lot of careers need you to undergo special trainings. This can be frustrating for a lot of people but you can relieve the stress by sharing the experience with a counsellor who will provide you with a safe place where you can open up and get support and understanding in return. The supportive environment is free from judgment or hidden agendas.  There are no self-imposed limitations on what is possible.  The client is free to speak openly and honestly knowing that anything discussed will be held in complete confidence. The counsellor will also arm you with resources required to succeed in the training path and at work.

5. Job Search Support
The confusion and frustration of seeking a job is the same with everybody, whether you are looking for a new job or your first job. A career counsellor is an invaluable source of support and guidance. Along with counselling, they often provide résumé writing, cover letter and interviewing services. These services can be extremely beneficial for you to succeed in your job search.

With the help of career counselling Ahmedabad students and working professionals can get access to resources, support and guidance that help them progress in their existing careers or land a new job.

All you need to Know about the US Student Visa Application Process

The demand and interest in an educational degree from the USA has been steadily on the rise. Once a student has successfully overcome the arduous college application process and secured the offer letter, the time comes for a student visa, which will enable the student to enter and pursue their dream course in the foreign land.

The application process for a US student visa requires various documents, transcripts, testimonials, evidence of sufficient funds, but the most important part is the interview. Visa consultants in Chennai answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the visa application process:

Documents required
To qualify for a student visa, the individual must come to the US Consulate for a personal interview. In addition, the following documents are required:

• An I-20 form, Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant Student Status, issued by a US university proving your acceptance into a course at the university. The newer, bar coded form is required and it must be signed by both you and by a school/college official.

• Mark sheets, transcripts, and certificates of previously completed courses. These are required to ascertain your scores and if they are up to expected standards.

• In some cases, you may also need to produce your SAT, GRE, GMAT or other standardized US test scores.
• A very important factor that decides whether or not a student qualifies for the visa is financial evidence. It is essential to have the funds for financing your education and living costs. Students must prove that they have sufficient finances for the first year and funds for the subsequent years will also be available. Failure to produce financial evidence can results in rejection of application.

• Photo ID proofs are also required, mainly a valid passport.

Things to Remember before the Interview
The interview is where consular officers will decide whether or not you are eligible for the visa. Applicants must have all the required documents and produce them when asked for. In addition to producing financial evidence, applicants must also give sufficient reasons as to why they are eligible to get the visa satisfy and must satisfy the consular officer that they are going to return to the country after the completion of the program once their authorized temporary stay is over. Other areas such as honesty, self-confidence, communication, etc. are also measured during the interview on the basis of which an application may be approved or rejected.

Common Reasons for Rejection
There could be various reasons for rejection of visa application. These could range from failure to produce financial evidence to failure to satisfy the consular officer. There could be several other reasons for rejection of visa application, like wrong or misleading information, false documents, lying, and bad conduct during the interview.

Final words
Visa consultants in Chennai recommend that students must educate themselves on the visa application process and always follow the proper process listed on the consulate website in order to avoid paying extra fees.

It is natural to get stressed about the whole process. But being relaxed is the key to appearing confident and to better convince the officers about your application.

How to Write a Statement of Purpose that is Impactful

Right from a very young age we are made to believe that we can be the best in the world. Study hard and achieve our dreams, work hard to reach those goals. However, what you weren’t told was it’s a mad world out there and to be the best you need to beat the rest. Competing takes a lot of effort.If you want to shine through you’ll need something impressive on your side. Getting into a great school takes more than determination to get selected. And if you want to study overseas, Chennai has a number of counsellors you can approach for help.

One of the first thing’s you’ll need to work on is a statement of purpose that creates a strong impact for a chance at getting selected.

Here’s what you need for an impressive statement of purpose:

Answer Tactfully

The first thing you want to do is read the university’s instructions carefully to understand what their asking. Once you get the picture plan your answers. Make sure you answer all of the questions asked and try to get in a little more information that goes beyond these questions. But do this in a subtle manner.

Introduce Yourself

When introducing yourself be professional. You will be talking about you and since you know a lot about who you are you might tend to go overboard. You need to be brief with your personal story. Look back at all your accomplishments, interests and motivations. Select the ones that will keep the reader interested and intriguedto knowing more about you.

Be Specific

If you’re too vague it doesn’t set you apart from the rest. Be specific about what inspires you, why have you chosen this school in particular, state your dreams and desires. Everyone wants to do something great with their lives but the great have always been specific about what they want to achieve.

Draw Attention

You won’t be the only one submitting a statement of purpose. Yours will be among hundreds of others. So keeping it interesting is very important. Be enthusiastic people are naturally attracted to an upbeat attitude. Confidence and politeness when addressing the school will go a long wayand simple English that is grammatically correct will leave a good impression too.But these are just the basics some people forget. What’s moreimportant is to be yourself. There’s no one like you which makes you unique. State how your diversity makes you stand out and how it can help you and the institute grow.

Prepare a Checklist

Make sure you’ve included points that state:

o The classes you’ve taken

o Your passion for the field you’ve chosen

o Your participation in extracurricular activities

o The reason you’ve chosen the school

o The professors who have helped you and whom you admire

o Any work of yours that has been published

o Major accomplishments

o Your current projects

o Have someone read your statement, like a teacher

Finally, also make it a point to look through samples or old statements of purpose online. Read a couple of them before writing your own, then use it as a template to create your own.

Apart from answering test papers writing a statement of purpose is one of the most important texts you will have to write during your academic career. With a dream to study overseas, Chennai is your best chance of making them come true. Don’t forget to do your research about the school you’re interested in because your knowledge about them will also play a part in how you write your statement.

Top Questions to ask at an Education Fair

Indian students who want to study abroad need to do extensive research and gather all critical details before the application process begins. An ideal place where this is possible is an education fair where students get an opportunity to talk to the college representatives and have a look at the vast range of options for higher studies in foreign universities. The delegates can enlighten students on all aspects including scholarships, application process, career prospects and more.

If you desire to pursue higher education with a top foreign university, then make sure to visit a prominent education fair. This can give you useful insights into the education system of the particular country and the career opportunities that are likely to emerge after your course completes. So, when you meet delegates, consider asking some important questions to gain crucial knowledge. To help you with questions that can add value to your interactions, some suggestions are provided below.

Asking All the Questions you need 

Your questions can be about academic programs, accreditations, activities, admission process, costs, financial aids, campus, counseling, alumni, faculty and so on.

The List of Programs

While talking about academic programs, you can ask about the types of degrees including majors, minors and electives that are offered in the college and also, about the main courses that one needs to do in freshmen year. Find out which program is well recognized. Ask if they run any special programs also such as study abroad, off-campus study, and joint programs in collaboration with nearby college. Meanwhile, also try to enquire about the study pressure.

It’s crucial to know if the college is accredited or has applied for accreditation. Who is the accreditation authority?

Admission Requirements and Eligibility 

You need to be well informed of the admission requirement of the college. Hence, enquire which test scores they consider - SAT, ACT, high school GPA, etc. You can also gather from them if there is any need for audition, test, portfolio and so on.  Having information on admission deadline and application fee is also necessary. So take note of these as well.

Living Costs 

Since education and living costs also contribute hugely to the decision of taking up a course in foreign university, you can seek answers about tuition fee, room and meal charges, etc. Find out if the college allows any special payment policy. Along this line, you can question about the financial aid program of the college and the number of students who can be eligible for the same. Asking about on or off campus placements by college can also be a good idea.

In addition, you can look for details on activities that students can join. These can be a dance, drama, or debate club, writing for student magazine, a musical band, or organizations such as ethnic, political, and more. It will be useful to know if the college has provisions for psychological or personal advisors, career and financial counselors, placement counselors, etc. At the same time, you can also quiz the person on the size of the faculty and their academic achievements.

About Study Overseas Global

With a nationwide presence, Study Overseas Global has been instrumental in helping thousands of students find the right international academic opportunities every year. Visit them on Sunday September 20th 2015, at The Gateway Hotel, Residency Road Bangalore during the Study Overseas Education Fair and have all your queries answered.

Top Reasons to get an MBA from the UK

It is a good time to study MBA in UK. The country has widespread repute all over the world for more than hundreds of years of high quality educational history. With the same flexibility as offered by other MBA programs, most full-time programs in the UK take only one year to complete, while part-time programs- often the choice for working students- take two to three years. In recent times, international students also have the option of taking an online MBA course, without relocating. With more and more companies recognizing the value of a management degree, it makes perfect sense to get an MBA to boost your career.

Here are the top advantages of getting an MBA in UK:

1. Flexibility

The UK offers a number of MBA programs to cater to all kinds of students- working and non-working. There are full-time programs that require more time and dedication and there are part-time programs that offer more flexibility. There are also online courses and specialist MBAs, besides Executive MBA or EMBA programs for experienced managers. If you're from outside the UK, make sure you check before applying if the university accepts your degree.

2. Standard Admission Tests

Although some colleges in the UK may have their own admission tests, the standardized test for admission to any MBA program is the Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) that is the common MBA admission test for most universities over the world. If you're from a non-English speaking country, then you have to pass an English language test. You either have to take the TOEFL or the IELTS, and there are various books and guides available to help you.

3. Scholarships

The cost of an MBA program can be quite expensive in the UK, and along with living costs, the amount you will have to spend can be very high. If you have an exceptional academic record, you may be eligible for various scholarships to take care of some of the expenses. London Business School, Henley Business School, and Manchester Business School are some of the institutes that offer various kinds of scholarships, including full funding.

4. Industry Exposure

All MBA programs in the UK offer excellent career services, including internships and industrial training. Many B-schools have corporate hot shots as guest speakers or lecturers and this leads to networking opportunities for students. Strong alumni network in most schools also results in better placement opportunities for students. Some of them even land job offers long before completing their course.

5. Prestige

An MBA degree from a leading international institute gets more preference from recruiters. When you get an MBA from a prestigious school in the UK, your résumé is sure to stand out among several other graduates. If you work hard enough and can be at the peak of the class, then there will be no stopping you from getting hired by a top organization. The value an MBA from the UK adds to your CV is immeasurable.

It is definitely a wise decision to study MBA in UK. For more information on B-schools, get in touch with an education counselor for details and guidance on how to proceed.

Top Internship Programs for MBA Students

An MBA is incomplete without hands-on training. Experiential training can be achieved in several, from part-time jobs to internships. Not only for students but an education consultant in Pune will tell you that internships help fresh graduates or anyone looking for industrial training to develop knowledge, competencies, and experience related to a specific career.

Here are the top internship opportunities that MBA students can take advantage of:

* Toyota Intern Program

Every year, Toyota chooses eight to twelve MBA students for their summer internship program, where they have opportunities in marketing, strategic planning, and finance. More information is available on the website of Toyota.

* Sony Global Internships

Sony recruits undergraduate, postgraduate, and MBA students for their global internship program. Upon completion of the program, interns also stand the chance of being employed at Sony companies. Students need to register and upload their résumé on Sony's website.

* Verizon College Intern Program

The Verizon College Intern Program for undergraduate and postgraduate business and technical majors provides opportunities that include professional skill workshops, online training, and networking. Students need to visit the college website to know about submission guidelines.

* Sun Internship Program

The internship program offered by Sun is open to business students majoring in computer science, engineering, marketing finance, human resources, business administration and information systems. Interns get development opportunities, career services, project-based assignments, and also competitive compensation packages.

* DOL MBA Internship Program

The Department of Labor's internship opportunity serves as a recruitment source for certain departments. The program offers academic credits, experiential training, networking opportunities, and more. More information about credits and compensation is available on the official website.

* PARC MBA Internship Program

The internship program by Palo Alto Research Center is for students in a two-year MBA program. A technological background is preferred but not mandatory. The program is aimed at students interested in research, commercialization, and technology entrepreneurship.

• Progressive MBA Internship

The internship program offered by Progressive Insurance provides first year MBA students with hands-on experience in quantitative analysis. Students need to apply online on the company website.

* Mattel Internships

Mattel offers both undergraduate and MBA internships in design and engineering, and marketing and finance respectively. Interns get the benefit of a progressive environment and the same perks as employees.

* Wal-Mart MBA Internship Program

The internship program offered by Wal-Mart to first and second year MBA students is in the field of operations management, merchandising, finance, logistics, marketing, global procurement and international divisions. More information on the program and compensation is available on the website.

* The Hartford MBA Intern Program

A very selective program for first year MBA students, it helps students gain knowledge about senior level management, networking events and projects. 

Internships make it easy for MBA students to get familiar with the job market as well as learn the ropes of their prospective career. There are several other internship programs available across the globe and by talking to an education consultant in Pune, students can get more detailed information about the best intern programs around the world and the eligibility for them.

Weighing the Pros and Cons of Getting Your MBA Online

An MBA degree can be transformational for a career, be it for fresh graduates or working professionals. Overseas education consultants in Delhi will tell you that an MBA is not only helpful for people who are completely focused on their career but also for stay-at-home mothers who want to make a comeback to work. Today, time or distance doesn’t pose a barrier to education anymore. With virtual learning, everybody can further their education. For the same reason, an online MBA program is fast gaining popularity, with many of the world's top business schools developing virtual learning courses that can match up to their full-time MBA programs.

But as with everything, online MBA too has its own benefits and disadvantages. Let's look at them below:

Pros:

1. Online MBA programs have the same curriculum as a traditional MBA, that prepare students in business management skills. The level of difficulty and the duration also remain the so you can reap the benefits of a full-time MBA program right from home.

2. An online MBA program eliminates the need to travel to college every day, leaving you with ample time. This is great for students with work commitments, stay-at-home mothers, or anybody who cannot commit to a full-time MBA program.

3. An online MBA course requires you to be more disciplined. When you study from home at your own pace, there are numerous distractions that can come in the way. Students need to be more focused since there is no teacher to guide them all the time and this helps them become disciplined.

4. A virtual MBA course consists of lectures, reading materials, and assignments that can be downloaded as text, audio, or other multimedia files. Through webinars, discussion boards, chat and email, interaction is made between teachers and students and among students. Since modern businesses heavily rely on online communication, online MBA grads have better knowledge of the technological aspects.

Cons:

1. Reputation is seen as the biggest disadvantage of an online MBA program. Although some of the top B-schools now offer virtual MBA courses, most recruiters still look down upon such programs and give more importance to traditional MBA courses. This could result in difficulty to land job offers after completing the course.

2. Traditional MBA courses require students to attend lectures on site and face to face interaction with peers and professors, resulting in fruitful relationships and a healthy exhange of ideas and information. Students need to collaborate on projects which closely resembles work environment, preparing students for the business world. Online MBA programs lack this benefit.

3. It is easy to get distracted in an online course, especially if you're doing it from home. You will be tempted to take a break very often, make a sandwich, or laze around, making you lose out on precious time. You need to be extremely disciplined to take a virtual program.

Overseas educations consultants in Delhi will help you pick out the right course for yourself. But whether a traditional MBA suits you better or an online one is a decision you have to make on your own.