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What can my son, a 1st year B.Tech Computer Engineering with Data Science student at KiiT Bhubaneswar, do to enhance his domain knowledge for learning and career?

Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |3909 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Sep 07, 2024

Nayagam is a certified career counsellor and the founder of EduJob360.
He started his career as an HR professional and has over 10 years of experience in tutoring and mentoring students from Classes 8 to 12, helping them choose the right stream, course and college/university.
He also counsels students on how to prepare for entrance exams for getting admission into reputed universities /colleges for their graduate/postgraduate courses.
He has guided both fresh graduates and experienced professionals on how to write a resume, how to prepare for job interviews and how to negotiate their salary when joining a new job.
Nayagam has published an eBook, Professional Resume Writing Without Googling.
He has a postgraduate degree in human resources from Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Delhi, a postgraduate diploma in labour law from Madras University, a postgraduate diploma in school counselling from Symbiosis, Pune, and a certification in child psychology from Counsel India.
He has also completed his master’s degree in career counselling from ICCC-Mindler and Counsel, India.
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Asked by Anonymous - Sep 07, 2024Hindi
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Career

Sir, my son is in 1st year B tech Computer Engineering with Data Science at Kiit, Bhubaneswar. Please suggest about certification courses and other learning which he should undertake in parallel to the college course, for enhancing domain knowledge both from learning and future professional career perspective. Kind Regards

Ans: There are a number of online platforms providing CERTIFICATION programs. One of the best online Certification Course Platform is NPTEL, the Certificate of which is recognized by most companies and even most colleges recommend it apart from other platforms like UpGrade, Coursera, LinkedIn, Internshala etc. And the best sources to recommend perfect courses would be his college faculties. Please advise him to create his Professional Linkedin Profile and should keep updating it every 3 months once he qualifies any certifications and / or any other activities. He should also put Job Alerts, based on his domain, in LinkedIn to get notifications of job vacancies to know the job market trends from the Job Description (JD). Please go through one of my lengthy answers in which I have provided the steps/tips/strategies to be followed by a 1st year Engineering Student till last year. If your son follows the same, it will boost his confidence when he reaches 4th year and gets ready for Campus Placement. All the BEST for Your Son's Bright Future.

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Asked on - Sep 07, 2024 | Answered on Sep 09, 2024
Sir, thank you very much for your guidance. Much appreciate the quality inputs. May I request for the link / copy of one year before ‘lengthy’ answer (unable to trace back); that would be of much helpful! Kind Regards
Ans: 1) Visit the college campus & your CSE Department. Spend around 2-3 hours, if the college has not yet opened. 2) Check the reviews/do thorough research about the college in Google/Quora. Please note, no college can be 100% perfect and the perception/opinion of the students about the college differs from one another. Keep in mind any negative evaluations of universities, but avoid making predetermined conclusions until you get them validated after joining the college, as the internet is flooded with information with differing opinions. 3) If the course curriculum is available on the college’s website, go through it. 4) Try to research your favorite subjects in Google / YouTube / LinkedIn etc. till college opens. 5) Now, create your professional-looking LinkedIn Profile. 6) It is advisable to create a new professional email ID (preferably Gmail ID) like ‘ravikant_btech or ravikant_tech or ravikant_cse_tech’ etc. (for LinkedIn/Job Applications/Certificate Courses) INSTEAD of using the same personal email ID that you might be having already. 7) You can provide your email ID to the college if it stresses for the same ID when you applied for the college No issue. 8) Have a limited/like-minded friends circle though you can interact with all the students of your classroom. 9) Involve in co/extra-curricular activities, related to your domain or which will be of your interest. This will help you in the long run for Campus Interviews/Abroad Education etc. 10) Avoid skipping any classes and take notes, provided by the Faculties. Class notes are more important for all tests/exams in your college. 11) Have a good/professional relationship with all faculties of the CS department. 12) Create a separate note-book for doubts for each subject. 13) Whenever doubt-clearing sessions are conducted, fully utilise them and get all your doubts cleared and note down to avoid 11th hour pressure before each test/exam. 14) Important: Maintain a decent SGPA/CGPA of 8.5 and above without any backlogs/arrears. 15) After 1st Semester is over, start learning and/or upgrading new skills from NPTEL, LinkedIn, Coursera, Upgrad, Internshala etc. and / or recommended by your faculties. 16) Once you complete the online/offline short-term courses & get certificates, immediately update them in LinkedIn. 17) MOST IMPORTANT: Put job alerts in LinkedIn, related to your domain (CSE), get notifications, go through the JD (Job Description) of each job vacancy to know the job market trends and prepare yourself for the same. 18) Whenever you get an opportunity, interact with the 2nd to 4th year students & get their advice which will enable you to plan after completing each academic year. 19) Whenever Campus Recruitments are taking place, if time permits, interact with the last year students after they attend the interview, to know about the assessment tests, interviews, group discussion, selection process & companies visited. 20) Placement cell of most of the colleges displays the names of the recruiters/companies visited during the last 3-years. Whenever time permits, do a research about each company by visiting its website. 21) It is advisable to start preparing for assessment tests of Campus Recruitment, once you enter into 4th year. 22) Decide in advance in 4th year itself, whether you want to go for the job after your BTech or to pursue your Masters in India or Abroad. 23) If decided for Masters, start preparing well for Entrance Exams/IELTS/TOEFL/PTE etc. whichever is applicable. 24) Before approaching an Abroad Education Consultant, conduct thorough study on the countries and universities you are interested in. 25) Please note, your college cannot arrange to provide internships for all students. If you get, well and good. 26) If not, you should start trying through LinkedIn, Internshala, any other Internship platforms, or through your parents/their colleagues in any of their companies for Internship (instead of relying only on your college). 27) As far as the Campus Interview is concerned, prepare a good/professional-looking Resume just in 1-page as you will be a fresher. Use ‘cultivatedculture’ Resume Building Platform which is very user-friendly and free also. 28) To prepare for the online or offline interview, prepare yourself with Mock Interviews using your mobile phone with the help of your family members/friends. Conduct at least 10 mock interviews, correcting yourself in each one for your responses to the questions as well as your body language. 29) Preparing around 20-25 technical / non-technical questions & answers for the same in advance will further boost your confidence when you face actual interviews. 30) When applying for campus interviews, prioritize organizations with job descriptions that fit your profile, hobbies, credentials, qualifications, location, job title, and company reputation. 31) However, have Plan B & Plan C if campus recruitment does not work out. I Hope, I have covered almost all aspects with value-additions. I am supposed NOT to provide any direct link here. Please visit Coursera, UpGrade, Internshala etc., go through the Courses available and make your son join. It is also advisable to seek guidance of his College Faculties who are the first best sources to provide information on this.
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Hello Sir, My question - Male, Age is 29, Salary of Rs. 22000/- p.m., my expenses 6-8k p.m. (Approx), Current Investments: Mutual Funds 2k monthly, 3k RD monthly for 3 Yrs, what is suitable Health/Life/Term Insurance? ROI option for same? or Other Investment options? I have my father who got his pension & he manages our household Expenses.
Ans: You are 29 years old, with a stable monthly salary of Rs 22,000 and low monthly expenses of Rs 6,000–8,000. Your father’s pension covers household needs, giving you flexibility for investments. Current savings of Rs 5,000 per month (Rs 2,000 in mutual funds and Rs 3,000 in a recurring deposit) is a good start.

Priorities and Recommendations
1. Health Insurance
Health insurance is crucial to safeguard against medical emergencies.

Coverage for Self: Opt for an individual health insurance policy with a sum insured of Rs 5–10 lakh. Look for plans offering cashless treatment, comprehensive coverage, and no claim bonus.

Coverage for Family: If you wish to extend coverage for your parents, consider a family floater plan with Rs 10–15 lakh coverage. However, check premiums and benefits before including senior members.

2. Life Insurance
Term Insurance: A term plan is the most cost-effective option. Choose coverage of Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore to secure your family financially. Premiums for a non-smoker male at your age are low (approximately Rs 5,000–7,000 annually for Rs 1 crore coverage).

Avoid investment-linked insurance policies such as ULIPs or endowment plans, as they offer low returns and inadequate insurance coverage.

3. Building an Emergency Fund
Save at least 6–9 months of expenses in a highly liquid instrument like a savings account, short-term fixed deposit, or liquid mutual fund.
Given your expenses of Rs 6,000–8,000, aim for Rs 50,000–70,000 as an emergency fund.
4. Investment Strategy for Growth
You have significant surplus income after meeting expenses. Allocate it to high-growth investment instruments:

Increase Mutual Fund SIPs:

Increase SIPs to Rs 5,000–6,000 monthly.
Diversify across flexi-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap funds for long-term growth. Suggested categories include:
Flexi-Cap Fund: For diversification.
Mid-Cap Fund: For higher returns over a long horizon.
Small-Cap Fund: Allocate a smaller percentage (10–15%) for aggressive growth.
Recurring Deposit (RD):

RD is low-yield and taxed. Consider redirecting RD savings into mutual funds or a Public Provident Fund (PPF) for better long-term returns and tax benefits.
Public Provident Fund (PPF):

Invest in PPF for a secure, tax-free return (current rate: 7.1%). It’s an excellent long-term savings tool, especially for retirement.
5. Tax Planning
Leverage Section 80C: Maximise Rs 1.5 lakh yearly investment in tax-saving instruments like PPF, ELSS mutual funds, or 5-year tax-saving fixed deposits.

Opt for a health insurance policy to claim benefits under Section 80D (up to Rs 25,000 for self and Rs 50,000 for senior parents).

Suggested Allocation of Rs 10,000 Monthly Surplus
Mutual Funds: Rs 5,000
PPF: Rs 2,500
Emergency Fund: Rs 2,000 (till the fund reaches Rs 50,000–70,000, then redirect to other investments)
Health Insurance Premium: Rs 500–1,000
Final Insights
Prioritise health and term insurance immediately.
Focus on mutual funds and PPF for long-term wealth creation.
Avoid low-ROI options like recurring deposits once current tenure ends.
By maintaining discipline and increasing investment amounts annually, you can achieve financial independence while ensuring your family is protected.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

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Ans: Dear Anonymous,
If you have really decided that you will only marry him, then you should continue trying to convince your parents. Both of you are consenting adults and I am sure you both love each other since you have been together for so many years. Highlight these and any other positive points in your partner to your parents; let them know he is a nice person and he has been committed to you for so long.

I am not sure whether you two broke up for a while or just weren't sure about marriage, but either way, it looks like there was a break in the relationship. So this time around, if you want to rethink the relationship, there is no harm. And if you are not sure what you want, you should take some time to think about it. Don't rush.

Moreover, consider your parent's point of view. Why are they not convinced? Are they seeing something in your partner that you are overlooking because of love? You can ask them for the reason directly and evaluate how reasonable they are.
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Career Counsellor - Answered on Nov 18, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Nov 18, 2024Hindi
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Sir I actually did 2 mistakes while filling jee mains form.. 1. I skipped my middle name while filling the candidates name but my 10th marksheet show my full name that is name along with middle name 2. I did mistake while writing my address (I didn't wrote my building name) While it cause any problem during details checking at examination centre if yess what should I do to correct it
Ans: Please don't worry. 1) If you want to talk about the mistakes you made, please email the NTA Query Redressal System (QRS) or call the number given. You can just type "NTA Query Redressal System (QRS)" into Google to get the email address and phone number. The email addresses and phone numbers can be found by clicking on the first hit. When you send the email, make sure the subject line has your name and the application number that is on your 10th certificate. Keep your email as proof that you told NTA ahead of time about the mistakes you made on the application form.

2) The NTA will also open the CORRECTION window for two days in the first or second week of December 2025. Sign in to your account on the NTA site and check it often. You are empowered to fix the mistake you made.

2) Some applicants have different names (prefixes and suffixes) on their Birth Certificate, School Certificate, and Aadhar. This will make it very hard for them to fill out the application form and also when they go to the college to finish the admissions process.

3) This is my general advice to everyone who wants to take the JEE (Main) or any other entrance exam: Please check that your name is the same on all three documents: your birth certificate, your Aadhar card, and your 10th grade certificate. It's easy to change your name in Aadhar (based on your 10th grade certificate) because the process only takes one month. Please make sure that none of your names are the same (except for Passport), because the department that issues passports has its own rules about how names should be written. But please make sure that your name is exactly the same on the JEE application, the 10th grade certificate, and your Aadhar card.

I hope this answer clears up your question. Just Focus on your Preparation. All the BEST for your JEE-Main 2025.

To know more on ‘ Careers | Education | Jobs’, ask / follow Us here in RediffGURUS.

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Ramalingam Kalirajan  |7046 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Nov 18, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Nov 18, 2024Hindi
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Hi Gurus , Finally last month I have started my investment in MF thru sip in following funds: 1. Parag Parikh Flexi Fund Rs 5000. 2. Motilal Oswal Mid Cap Fund - Rs 10000. 3. Nippon India Muti cap fund- Rs 5000. 4. Nippon India Small Cap Fund- Rs 10000 5. Quant small cap fund -Rs 5000. Further I can spend 10000 more thru sip and suggest good funds for that. Also please note that the above investment is in regular thru ICICI and for retirement purpose. My current age is 45 years. Please suggest about my portfolio and asset allocations.
Ans: Your portfolio demonstrates diversification across flexi-cap, mid-cap, multi-cap, and small-cap categories, which is a good starting point for long-term growth. However, there are areas for improvement to enhance risk management and alignment with your retirement goals:

Observations
Overexposure to Small-Cap Funds:

30% of your SIPs are allocated to small-cap funds (Rs 15,000 out of Rs 50,000).
Small-cap funds are volatile and risky, especially for someone closer to retirement. Reducing this exposure is advisable.
Balanced Allocation Missing:

There’s no allocation to hybrid or large-cap funds, which offer stability.
For a retirement-focused portfolio, balancing risk and stability is essential.
Fund Overlap Risk:

Nippon India Multi Cap Fund and Nippon India Small Cap Fund could have overlapping holdings, which might reduce overall diversification.
Good Use of Regular Plans:

Regular plans ensure you receive ongoing guidance from your Mutual Fund Distributor (MFD) or Certified Financial Planner (CFP). This is beneficial for monitoring and rebalancing.
Suggested Asset Allocation
Given your retirement horizon and age (45 years), a balanced approach between equity and debt is prudent. Consider the following allocation:

Equity Funds (70%): Growth-oriented funds, primarily large-cap, flexi-cap, and mid-cap funds, with reduced small-cap exposure.
Debt Funds (30%): Stability-focused funds, such as short-duration or dynamic bond funds, to reduce portfolio volatility.
Suggested Portfolio Changes
Reduce Small-Cap Exposure:

Maintain one small-cap fund, such as Nippon India Small Cap Fund (Rs 10,000 SIP). Exit Quant Small Cap Fund to reduce overlap and risk.
Introduce a Large-Cap Fund:

Add Rs 5,000 to a large-cap fund like SBI Bluechip Fund or ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund for stability.
Add a Hybrid Fund for Stability:

Use the additional Rs 10,000 to invest in a hybrid fund like HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund or ICICI Prudential Balanced Advantage Fund. These funds offer a mix of equity and debt for lower volatility.
Monitor Multi-Cap Fund Performance:

Keep an eye on Nippon India Multi Cap Fund. If underperformance persists, consider switching to a better-performing multi-cap fund, such as Kotak Multi Cap Fund.

Recommended SIP Allocation (Post Changes)
Flexi-Cap Fund: Continue investing Rs 5,000 in Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund for diversified growth across market caps.

Mid-Cap Fund: Maintain Rs 10,000 SIP in Motilal Oswal Mid Cap Fund to capture mid-cap growth potential.

Multi-Cap Fund: Retain Rs 5,000 in Nippon India Multi Cap Fund but monitor its performance. Consider switching if it underperforms consistently.

Small-Cap Fund: Keep Rs 10,000 SIP in Nippon India Small Cap Fund and exit Quant Small Cap Fund to reduce overlap and risk.

Large-Cap Fund: Add Rs 5,000 in a stable large-cap fund such as SBI Bluechip Fund or ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund for consistent returns with lower volatility.

Hybrid Fund: Allocate Rs 10,000 to a balanced advantage fund such as HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund or ICICI Prudential Balanced Advantage Fund for a mix of equity and debt stability.

General Suggestions
Review Portfolio Annually:
Regularly assess fund performance and rebalance to ensure alignment with your retirement goals.

Shift to Debt Gradually:
Start increasing debt exposure around age 50 to reduce portfolio volatility closer to retirement.

Emergency Fund and Insurance:
Maintain an emergency fund covering 6–12 months of expenses and ensure adequate health and term insurance coverage.

Professional Advice:
Continue investing through a reliable MFD or CFP to adapt your portfolio as per changing market conditions and personal goals.

Final Insights
Your portfolio is promising but needs adjustments to balance growth and risk. Reducing small-cap exposure and introducing large-cap and hybrid funds will add stability and align your investments with your retirement vision.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

...Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |7046 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Nov 18, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Nov 18, 2024Hindi
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Money
Hi, I am 32 now. My in hand salary is 1.30 lakh/month (post deduction of taxes, mediclaim and PF). I have around 15 lakh in PF (combining PPF and VPF). Around 6 lakh in FD. Now, per month I invest 47k in PFs, 20k in FD, 12.5 in Sukanya samriddhi yoyona, 10k in MF. I do not have any outstanding debt, have residential building. If I plan to increase my investment @5% per year, will I be able to create a retirement fund of 20 crore? And will it be sufficient to support me for 30 years podt retirement? (My current livelihood expense per month is around 25k)
Ans: You aim to accumulate Rs 20 crore by retirement (assuming age 60) and sustain a 30-year post-retirement period. Your current financial health is excellent, with no debts, a stable income, and disciplined savings. However, to assess whether your goals are achievable and the sufficiency of Rs 20 crore, let’s examine the following:

Key Assumptions
Time to Retirement: 28 years (till age 60).
Post-Retirement Period: 30 years.
Inflation Rate: 6% per annum (to estimate future expenses).
Investment Returns:
Equity Mutual Funds: 12% annually (post-tax).
Debt Instruments: 6% annually (post-tax).

Step 1: Estimate Future Expenses
Your current monthly expense is Rs 25,000. Considering 6% inflation, the monthly expense will grow significantly by retirement:

At age 60: Rs 1.42 lakh/month (approx).
Annual expense at 60: Rs 17.1 lakh/year.
For a 30-year post-retirement period, Rs 20 crore may suffice with proper withdrawals and portfolio management.

Step 2: Review Current Investments
1. Provident Funds (PF):
Existing corpus: Rs 15 lakh (combining PPF and VPF).
Monthly contribution: Rs 47,000.
Growth potential: Assumed at 7% CAGR.
2. Fixed Deposits (FD):
Current amount: Rs 6 lakh.
Monthly contribution: Rs 20,000.
Growth potential: Assumed at 6% CAGR.
3. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY):
Monthly investment: Rs 12,500.
Lock-in: Till daughters turn 18 or 21.
Growth potential: Assumed at 7.6% (current rate).
4. Mutual Funds (MF):
Monthly SIP: Rs 10,000.
Growth potential: Assumed at 12% CAGR.
Step 3: Can You Reach Rs 20 Crore?
With a 5% annual increase in investments, let’s estimate your retirement corpus:

Contributions by Age 60 (Approximate):
Provident Funds (PPF/VPF): Rs 3.2 crore.
Fixed Deposits: Rs 1.2 crore.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana: Rs 1.5 crore (depending on daughters' ages).
Mutual Funds: Rs 7.5 crore.
Total Corpus: Rs 13.4 crore (approx).
Gap: Your goal of Rs 20 crore requires an additional Rs 6.6 crore.

Step 4: Bridge the Gap
To achieve Rs 20 crore, consider these adjustments:

1. Increase Equity Exposure:
Currently, equity (MF) comprises a small portion. Shift some fixed-income investments (FDs) to equity funds for higher growth.
2. Review FD Allocations:
FD returns are low after taxes. Redirect a portion of your Rs 20,000 monthly FD allocation to equity funds.
3. Enhance SIPs:
Increase your mutual fund SIPs from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000. Even small increases over time can significantly boost your corpus.
4. Annual Step-Up Investments:
Continue increasing investments by 5% or more annually. Regularly review your portfolio to maintain the right equity-debt balance.
Step 5: Post-Retirement Planning
Withdrawal Rate: A safe withdrawal rate is around 3-4% annually. With Rs 20 crore, you can withdraw Rs 80 lakh/year, which accounts for inflation-adjusted expenses.
Portfolio Allocation: Shift 60-70% of your portfolio to debt instruments closer to retirement to reduce risk.

Final Insights
Rs 20 crore is achievable with a higher focus on equity investments and disciplined saving.
Increasing your SIPs and reallocating funds from FDs to mutual funds can bridge the shortfall.
Rs 20 crore should sufficiently support a 30-year post-retirement period, considering inflation.
Consult a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) to monitor and optimise your strategy for consistent progress.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

...Read more

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