Career Zone

Monday, August 28, 2006

Career in Animation

At present, the so-called ‘SYNTHESPIANS’ or DIGITAL ACTORS are ruling the entire world of cinema. Photography and animation have major contribution to film advertising, television and gaming industry. Besides this, the potential of this medium extends to diverse field ranging from aeronautics, robotics, reverse engineering, fashion and research. But in developing countries animation industry is still in infancy but they provide a base for outsourcing. Most of animation projects are being done in developing countries, as the total production costs are much less compared to developed countries. Eg. For making a full-length animation movie in America, it costs around $100-$175 million while it is not more than $15-$25 million in developing countries.

The team and the work sequence.

Every Project has ……
-A main lead animator who draws the main character, its movement and expressions.
-Clean-up artist fills up the intermediate gaps that left by the lead animator.
-Further there are junior artist, lay out artist, background artist and character designers.

Animation process begins with preparation of a storyboard, which provides the visual script for the animation sequence.

Modeling- it is used to convert real objects to animated ones by optically scanning them and converting them in to digital form.

Scripting/movement control -It involves manipulation of static images to give the illusion of moving pictures.

Rendering- is used to make the characters of the object to look lifelike by manipulating light, colour, texture, and transparency.

Skill set Required..
If you are looking to be hired as an animator rather than being self-employed, you should have a bachelor degree in media and fine arts. An animator must have excellent creative and artistic skills, a taste for drawing, sketching or caricaturing, In addition to this, a good sense of humour, good observation skills, patience, self –motivation followed by proficiency in handling current animation and multimedia software ie.ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS,MAYA ,3D STUDIO MAX,ANIMO,Flash gift animator, good compositing software like adobe photoshop,coraldrew. Etc.

Career outlook and salary
Many people are choosing this as their career option. Like any other field, there exist a tough competition. In order to excel in this field, one must prepare well by maximizing your qualification and skills that learn during the education period. According to US bureau of labor, salary range in animation industry is wide. However as you gain reputation by good skills and talented work, you can earn much more than an average salary.


For more details…

http://www.aardman.com/

http://www.ucas.co.uk/


Lists of premiere institutions offering courses in India

http://www.arena–multimedia.com/

http://www.ftindia.com/

http://www.bitnoida.net/

www.cedtimohali.org

Monday, August 21, 2006


E-MAIL Guidelines (for job application, /covering letter/ academic presentation)

In this new era of technology we find a better way of communication through ‘e mails’, but majority of us are still not comfortable with this inevitable communication medium. May it be a job application, covering letter, an enquiry or an academic presentation, Email constitutes an important aspect in deciding the fate of response. Here we are dealing with certain common principles to be stick on to which one can be sure of a positive response.

-Make it brief and to the point

Keeping the fact that reading a long e-mail is often harder than reading a printed communication. So make it concise.

-Use proper structure and layouts

Since reading from a screen is difficult than reading from a paper. Use short paragraphs and blank line between each paragraph. When making important points,Number or mark them as separate entity.


-Read the mail before you send it.


Majority of people don’t bother about this aspect.By reading the content, you can find a lot of grammar and spelling mistakes. Avoid misunderstandings and inappropriate comments.

-Don’t attach unnecessary files

By sending a large sized attachment, you are annoying the receiver and their e-mail system, still you need to send an attachment, compress it and send.

-Use proper spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Improper spelling and grammar convey a bad impression of your company. Mails with no full stops and commas may affect the meaning of the text. Always use spell and grammar checking option before you send the mail.

-Do not write in CAPITALS.

If you write in capitals it seems as if you are shouting. It is highly annoying and might cause an unwanted response.

-Don’t leave out the message thread

Message thread means including the original mail in your reply, in other words by clicking ‘reply’ instead of ‘write a new mail’ option .It will save recipient’s valuable time, if he is a kind of person who deals with a bulk of mails daily. Then it is not possible for him to remember your previous message. / Email id. Etc.

-Don’t overuse high priority option


If you overuse high priority option, whenever you really need it, it won’t serve its purpose. Your message may look aggressive, if you put it under high priority option.More over don’t flag it as ‘urgent’, if you are so urgent, make a call, and don’t send E-mail.

BUISINESS EMAILS

Think before you act.

Is Email is the right way of communicating this message. E-mail messages can be misinterpreted especially when discussing sensitive/emotional issues. Read twice before you send it. Consider getting a second option.

Communicate as if E-mail is on your office letterhead. Any form of Informality, when contacting with people you don’t know well is not advisable.

Content

-Always capitalize the first word or use initial capital on all of the words.

Email body

Make the first paragraph a single sentence, which may be a repetition of your subject line. Importance of this that, when the receiver of your message browses through a number of mails he may tend to forget its subject heads altogether. This first sentence may help him to distinguish it

Use normal conversational style. Write as you say it. In short sentences, using short words.

Include only one idea per paragraph. Try to keep paragraph in three sentences or less.

Do not use emotion icons (Emicons) in your professional emails. Use only if you have well-established relation with someone.

Don’t use abbreviations

Check spelling and grammar, Proofread before you send the message

Send e-mails in plain text instead of HTML.Avoid using colour or picture backgrounds; black text on a white background is advisable.

Use common file format for your attachments. (DOC, JPG/GIF, PDF, TXT, XLS)

Consider the http://www.rapp.org/url, http://snurl.com/, or http://tinyurl.com/ to create short URL. These tools allow you to enter a long URL, this application creates a shortcut link, which is easier to use in e-mails communications.


Want to know more about it !! Visit ….

http://www.iwillfollow.com/e-mail.htm
http://www.onlinenetiquette.com/business_e-mail_basics.html
http://www.stiknowledge.com/events_media/Top10Netetiquette.pdf
http://www.webdesignwisdom.com/articles/JD_are_your_e-mail_messages_good_looking.shtml

Career Prospects of Nursing

Apart from being a noble profession, nursing demands much dedication, Patience, Sacrifice, Responsibility, love and care for the sick persons and Commitment.Nurses are coming more and more to the frontline of a health care delivery, as the doctors are becoming specialized and spending much less time with patients.

The tasks they undertake are...

Bedside care to convalescing patients, administering medication orally and hypodermically, assisting physicians during examination and operation of patients. Assisting patients in personal care, Preparing patients for surgery. Maintaining patient’s treatment records, temperature, respiration, pulse rate, nourishment, progress etc. Observing patients condition closely reporting it to the physician. Overseeing the maintenance of cleanliness in the wards to check the spread of communicable diseases.

The career

Career in nursing can be flexible .You might choose to work in a hospital, nursing homes, rehabilitaion unit. You might work in a community health agency, federal health agency, at a school, in industry and business or in the military. Its specialities include surgery, emergency, paediatric, and psychiatric, school, publichealth, nurse midwives etc. Some specialities require further experience, study or certification.

Prospects

There is a strong demand for nurses and their job possibilities are plentiful .Nurses are needed not only in hospitals but also in health care agencies; long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, care centers and in community health. With good skill, education, and training in nursing one can expect one of the highest starting salary .An expert have the potential to earn over $100,000 per year.

New trend in licensed nurses include combining other specialty skill to form new business, like nursing informatics (Combining nursing and computers), legal nurse consulting (combining nursing and law) etc.

For more information on nursing, visit…

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing:
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/education.htm


SigmaThetaTau Honor Society of Nursing:
www.nursingsociety.org/career

The Johnson & Johnson Company:
www.discovernursing.com



Saturday, August 12, 2006


Certain vital aspects of Interviews

Our presentation should be efficient and effective in an interview. Though we make an adequate preperation, if we are not able to present it before the interview board then it is quiet disappointing.

-We should be at the interview venue at least half an hour before the scheduled time. If the venue is quiet unfamiliar, reach there on the previous day, and take a note of the route, bus no./railway station etc.Traffic should not be an excuse for our delay in reporting for the interview.

-Suppose the venue and the institution are the same ,spend a few minute on the premises, which may provide relevant information about the institution meanwhile we can have a chat with the other candidates for the interview. It is good to listen from them but don’t be misguided by whatever they say. Never try to present before the interview board, something you have heard from a stranger. Tell only the actual details that you have heard from an authentic source.

Dress code – The way you look always matters. We cannot change our faces but can change our facial expressions. Entering with a pleasing smile always help to create a good impression.

- First impression often made by the dress, your facial expression. and the first few words you speak……

-We have to dress up appropriately for the occasion keeping in mind the place, the weather and the time. By dressing well ,we are showing respect to the interview board and indirectly telling that we are taking the interview seriously.

-Dazzling costumes, large checks and gaudy colours should be avoided

-Conventional dressing in light colour shirt and dark colour trousers is fine.Wearing a tie or suit should not be your first experience in life since you will feel uncomfortable in such situations.

-Comb your hair well and button your shirt properly.Shave your face in the morning unless you keep a regular beard.

-Women should avoid very tight clothing, heavy ornaments and strong perfumes. Long hair should be secured well.


More over we must take the interview seriously, enter with a pleasing smile will certainly help you to create a good impression. As soon as you enter the interview room ,members should feel that you are taking the test seriously.
Depending on the hour, greet the board “Good morning”,” Good afternoon” or “Good evening”

Carry these items to the interview:
Several copies of your resume on quality paper .A copy of your references. A pad of paper on which to take notes (which are optional).

-Prepare answers to the 10 most common interview questions…

1.Tell me about yourself
2.Why did you leave or are you leaving the last position?
3.What do you know about this company?
4.What are your goals?
5.What are your strengths and weaknesses?
6.Why do you want to work for this company?
7.What has been your most significant achievement?
8.How would your last boss and colleagues describe you?
9.Why should we hire you?
10.What are your salary expectations?

After the interview
-As soon as possible, write down what you are thinking and feeling,
-Later in the day look at what you wrote and assess how you did.
-Write a follow up or a thank you letter reminding the interviewer of your qualities.


Career in Technical writing

Technical writing has become an essential occupation in buisiness and government sector and jobs can be found in almost any industry because of the need for the user’s guide ,instruction manuals and training materials .A huge demand for technical writers is growing at a rate of 35% each year.Roughly there are about 2000 jobs created each year.

Duties and resposiblities

Technical writer often specialize in specific industry such as agriculture,health care,Pharmaceuticals,Telecommunication,Computers or manufacturing.Within the choosen industry they specialize further.

Technical writers must write in concise and easy to read manner for consumer publications
or in a highly specialized language for experts.They are responsible for publication process including graphics, layouts and document design.

They create product instruction,reference and maintenance manuals ,articles,project proposals,training materials ,technical reports,catalogs,brochures.They help system
webpages,multimedia presentations, and sales promotions.


Skills required are…

Ability to concentrate for a long period of time
strong organizational skill such as

Writing -Communicating effectively with others in writing as indicated by the need of the audients.

Active listening –Listening to what other people are saying and asking questions as appropriate.

Speaking- Talking to others to effectively convey information.

Information gathering- knowing how to find out information and identifying essential in formations.

Information organization- Finding way to structure or classify multiple pieces of informations.

Active learning- Working with new material or information to grasp its implication.

Product Inspection –Inspecting and evaluating the quality of products.

Synthesis or reorganization-Reorganizing information to get a better approach to problems or tasks

English language- Including meaning and spelling of words,rules of composition and grammer.


Working environment

During planning and production of publication technical writers required to travel to another location to discuss a project with programmers or specialists.

They use personal computers and word processing or desktop publishing software for text, graphic and multimedia production.

Remuneration

Technical writer on an average is paid $25 to $33 in the international market depending on the skill set and seniority.

Education and training

Some firm will hire only specialized writers who specialize in one field of technology .Many employers prefer applicants with four year college degree in communications, Engineering, Journalism or those processing a degree or certificate in technical writing

Some employers require a strong background of technical knowledge and experience combined with writing skills. Applicants must have good computer skills and may require knowledge of specific industry operation and procedures.

Moreover technical writers must be able to keep pace with the changing technology.
Today many of them are producing work for online and multimedia publications which requires additional software skills.