Home > Career > Question
Need Expert Advice?Our Gurus Can Help
Shekhar

Shekhar Kumar  | Answer  |Ask -

Leadership, HR Expert - Answered on Apr 14, 2024

Shekhar Kumar is senior manager, talent acquisition, at the Shri Venkateshwara University in Gajraula, Uttar Pradesh. He has 18 years of expertise in the search and placement of executive leadership talent across various industries.
He has also mentored middle and senior management professionals for leadership positions and guided them in career development.
Shekhar has a bachelor's degree in business management from Magadh University, Bihar, and a master's degree in human resource management from Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu.... more
Sanskriti Question by Sanskriti on Apr 14, 2024Hindi
Listen
Career

I'm doing job as frontend developer in very small company and I got stipend 5000 per month meanwhile I also want to prepare for gate exam but I'm confused what should I do ? Should I do job ? Should I prepare for gate? Should I do both job + gate preparation? I'm afraid because due to recession job is not getting easier and if I got fail in gate exam then I don't have anything to do

Ans: Thank you for sharing your career dilemma to me. It sounds like you're facing a tough decision, but don't worry, I'm here to help you figure it out! I believe balancing work and exam preparation can be challenging, especially when you're worried about the uncertainties of the job market. Here are a few things to consider before making your next move.

I would recommend you to first set your priority. You should take out some time to think about yourself to know what matters most for you right now. Ask yourself what is better for you to advance your career in software development through your job? Or is it pursuing higher education and potentially expanding your career opportunities through the GATE exam? Then consider the pros and cons of each option. Make self assessment if you continue your job, will it allow you enough time and energy to prepare effectively for the GATE exam? Or On the other hand, if you focus solely on GATE preparation, are you financially prepared for the time you won't be earning a salary? Try to check if there any possibility for you to negotiate with your employer for a reduced workload or flexible hours that would allow you to dedicate more time to GATE preparation? Some companies are supportive of employees pursuing further education and may be willing to accommodate your needs. If you decide to pursue both job and GATE preparation at the same time, make sure you have a well-structured plan in place based on your priority. You should also allocate specific time slots each day for studying while ensuring you fulfill your responsibilities at work. I believe an effective time management will be crucial in maintaining your balance between the two. Understand that there's always a level of risk involved, whether you choose to focus solely on your job, GATE preparation, or both. However, remember that failure is not the end of the road. If you don't succeed in the GATE exam, you'll still have gained valuable experience and can continue to explore other opportunities.

Ultimately, the decision is yours to make based on your unique circumstances and goals. Take your time to weigh your options carefully and trust yourself to make the best choice for your future based on your priority and self satisfaction. And remember, no matter what path you choose, if you stay focused, stay positive, and keep moving forward then you will get what you want. Feel free to contact me on Rediff Gurus if you need further assistance or help.
Career

You may like to see similar questions and answers below

Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |10236 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on May 31, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - May 16, 2024Hindi
Listen
Career
Sir ,I have been preparing for government exams since 2018 June firstly I prepare for gate in 2019 with college semester in 2019 gate result I.e, 2019 March I qualify with 46 marks that's somehow good score that time for me because I prepare with self study due to over confidence and lack of family income I didn't join coaching and started preparing for UPSC engineering services with full dedication at the age of 20.5 in 2019 eligible for ese 2020 with 21 yr age somehow I got 150 around marks and didn't qualify prelims that time cut off around 240 due to railway has taken his seats so UR cut off increase by 60 which is 188 last in 2019 ese so I got in depression that I prepare with full dedication and even I have a gap of 100 marks in prelims so somehow I came to home in june 2020 after a huge gap of depression in 4,5 months in delhi and started for gate and ese again same condition I couldn't even qualify prelims and got covid in 2021 and from that 2021 I joined UNACADEMY work 1.5 yrs and again I started preparation due to less salary now I have a gap of 5 years no masters degree no industrial skillls and family income less than 20k per month what should I do go and search for civil engineering related job or build a confidence and again prepare one more attempt
Ans: I have gone through the details of your Efforts, Failures, Depression & Your family’s Economic condition.

Based on the above factors, here are the suggestions for you:

1) Till your age bars, try to attempt other comparatively easier (than UPSC) Competitive Exams for Government Jobs & prepare daily for 2-3 hours before & after you come back from work.

2) But AVOID attempting those Competitive Exams which you have already done a number of times and failed. Lack of change in preparation strategies / change in Govt. Policy are the reasons for your subsequent failures.

3) Keeping in view your family’s economic condition & your AGE now, it is suggested to DEFINITELY go for any work, related to your domain, to support your family.

4) Try to upgrade your skills by joining short-term courses with any Institute, related to your domain (or) any other domain you are passionate over. However, make sure that the Institute you join provides JOB GUARANTEE after you complete the Course. Or you can join any ONLINE Courses which are much in demand in job-market.

5) If time does not permit for you to prepare for Competitive Exams & if you feel you are highly demotivated for Govt. Exams, it is advisable for you to fully FOCUS on your Career, related to Civil Engineering & gain good experience.

Hope I have clarified your doubts.

If you need any other clarifications or have questions for anyone, post your questions (in detail) to me and/or follow me here in RediffGURU for more useful information on ‘Careers / Education / Jobs’.

All The BEST for your Bright Future from RediffGURU.

Nayagam PP
EduJob360
CERTIFIED Career Coach | Career Guru
https://www.linkedin.com/in/edujob360/

..Read more

Aasif Ahmed Khan

Aasif Ahmed Khan   | Answer  |Ask -

Tech Career Expert - Answered on Aug 01, 2024

Latest Questions
Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |10236 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Aug 13, 2025

Career
Respected sir,i got Walchand sangli CSE(unaided) so what is difference between government aided and unaided? I am from DEFOPENS...
Ans: Sohit, Government-aided and unaided engineering colleges differ primarily in funding sources, which directly impacts fees, governance, and operational autonomy. Aided colleges receive financial support from the government, enabling lower tuition fees typically ranging from INR 20,000-60,000 annually, with standardized curricula, faculty recruitment through government exams, and adherence to strict regulatory guidelines. These colleges often provide more affordable education but may have limited infrastructure development due to budget constraints. In contrast, unaided colleges operate independently without government funding, relying entirely on student fees and private sources, resulting in higher costs typically ranging from INR 2-4 lakhs annually for engineering courses like CSE. Walchand College of Engineering Sangli offers both aided and unaided seats, with unaided CSE fees approximately INR 3.41 lakhs for the complete program. For DEFOPENS (Defense Personnel Open Category) candidates, you benefit from reserved quotas but must pay the same fee structure as other students in your chosen category. Unaided colleges generally provide superior infrastructure, modern facilities, flexible curricula, and autonomous decision-making but charge significantly higher fees. The admission process remains similar through MHT-CET counseling, with seat allocation based on merit and category preferences. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

...Read more

Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |10236 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Aug 13, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Aug 13, 2025Hindi
Career
Sir can you breifly explain about the scopes of internships in the mechanical branch(core) of vit chennai.
Ans: VIT Chennai's School of Mechanical Engineering offers extensive internship opportunities for core mechanical students through strong industry partnerships with companies like Bosch, Tata Motors, Mahindra, ISRO, DRDO, Ather Energy, and Volvo. Students can pursue mandatory summer internships after second or third year and final semester internships with companies providing pre-placement offers. The school's MoUs with over 75 organizations including Saint Gobain, Johnson Controls, and Honeywell facilitate research internships, project collaborations, and live industry problem-solving. Essential institutional aspects include NAAC A+ accreditation, experienced faculty with PhD qualifications, state-of-the-art laboratories for thermal systems and CAD/CAM, transparent governance structures, and dedicated placement cells ensuring career support and industry readiness through practical exposure.

Recommendation: VIT Chennai provides excellent mechanical engineering internship scope through diverse industry collaborations, mandatory structured programs, and strong placement support. The comprehensive industry exposure, modern facilities, and experienced faculty make it an ideal choice for core mechanical engineering career development. However, try to have back-ups for internships instead of relying only on VIT. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

...Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10240 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 13, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Aug 13, 2025Hindi
Money
Hi. I have a monthly income of 1.5lakh. I have SIPs of around 35k monthly. The SIPs are of Nifty smallcap, nifty50index, midcap,parag parikh flexi, kotak midcap. I want to build a diversified portfolio and have an asset of 1cr in 10 years. I have a home loan emi going on which is monthly 20k now. It will increase in the coming months. Please suggest.
Ans: You are already showing strong discipline with Rs. 35,000 monthly SIPs. Starting early and staying consistent is the key to building your Rs. 1 crore goal in 10 years. Your current income and surplus allow you to plan in a structured way without putting pressure on your lifestyle.

» assessment of present portfolio
– Current SIPs are in smallcap, midcap, flexicap, and index funds.
– Smallcap and midcap funds give high growth potential but carry high volatility.
– Flexicap offers balance by letting the fund manager switch between market caps.
– Nifty 50 index gives broad market exposure but no active management flexibility.
– Index funds simply copy the market and cannot avoid downside in bad phases.
– Actively managed funds can shift allocation to protect returns during corrections.

» building a more diversified allocation
– Avoid over-concentration in smallcap and midcap segments.
– Keep largecap actively managed funds as a stability anchor.
– Maintain some exposure to debt mutual funds for safety and liquidity.
– Include an international equity fund for global diversification.
– This reduces risk from Indian market downturns and currency fluctuations.

» recommended asset split for 10-year goal
– Equity funds: 70% of monthly investment.
– Debt funds: 20% of monthly investment.
– Gold or other hedge assets: 10% of monthly investment.
– This balance offers growth, safety, and inflation protection.

» adjusting current SIP mix
– Reduce direct index fund allocation and replace with actively managed largecap or multicap funds.
– Continue with one midcap fund but avoid holding too many in the same category.
– Retain flexicap fund for dynamic market allocation.
– Keep smallcap exposure limited to 10–15% of total portfolio for high growth potential without excessive volatility.

» role of debt allocation in your case
– Debt mutual funds give stability during market falls.
– They also provide liquidity for planned expenses or emergencies.
– Over 10 years, the debt portion will be shifted towards equity in the early years, then increased again in the last 3 years for safety before withdrawal.

» impact of home loan EMI increase
– Your EMI will rise, reducing investible surplus temporarily.
– Plan in advance so you do not stop SIPs when EMI increases.
– Keep an emergency buffer equal to at least 6 months of EMI + expenses.
– This prevents you from redeeming growth investments for loan needs.

» estimating potential growth towards Rs. 1 crore
– If you invest consistently and follow a balanced allocation,
– Equity growth over 10 years can multiply invested amounts significantly.
– The debt portion will add stability and protect from market timing risks.
– Even with moderate growth assumptions, Rs. 1 crore in 10 years is realistic.

» tax planning for your investments
– Equity mutual funds: LTCG above Rs. 1.25 lakh in a year taxed at 12.5%.
– STCG on equity: 20% tax rate.
– Debt mutual funds: taxed as per your income slab for both short and long term.
– Plan redemptions around your goal year to minimise tax liability.

» review and rebalancing
– Review portfolio performance annually.
– If one category grows beyond target allocation, rebalance to maintain risk level.
– Rebalancing avoids over-exposure to any single segment.
– In last 2–3 years before goal, gradually shift gains to debt for safety.

» safeguarding financial plan
– Ensure you have adequate health and life insurance.
– This keeps your investment plan safe even if an emergency occurs.
– Avoid stopping SIPs unless there is a severe cash flow issue.
– Continue business or salary income growth to keep surplus healthy.

» finally
You already have the right habit of disciplined SIPs. By reducing over-concentration in high-risk segments, shifting some index fund allocation to actively managed funds, and adding a planned debt portion, you can control risk while targeting Rs. 1 crore in 10 years. Staying consistent, rebalancing regularly, and protecting your plan with insurance will ensure you reach your goal confidently.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

Close  

You haven't logged in yet. To ask a question, Please Log in below
Login

A verification OTP will be sent to this
Mobile Number / Email

Enter OTP
A 6 digit code has been sent to

Resend OTP in120seconds

Dear User, You have not registered yet. Please register by filling the fields below to get expert answers from our Gurus
Sign up

By signing up, you agree to our
Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy

Already have an account?

Enter OTP
A 6 digit code has been sent to Mobile

Resend OTP in120seconds

x