Most employers are willing to hire students who are passionate and don’t have any job experience.
As a seven-year-old boy, Mihir Velapure was fascinated with snakes at the Katraj Snake Park, especially the king cobra that the keepers introduced him to. Eight years later, the cobra has grown into a 14-foot-long snake but the 15-year-old still hasn’t outgrown his love for zoo.
Mihir recently gave his standard X board exams and is volunteering for a summer job at the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park.
“I made so many plans for the summer but i finished all my work in ten days. So instead of sitting at home and watching television or chatting on Facebook, I decided to do something constructive with my time”, he said.
An animal lover, Mihir plans on having a career in zoology or veterinary sciences and volunteering at the zoo is the perfect summer job for him.
Like Mihir, several youngsters are taking up unusual paths to spend their summer constructively. Summer jobs in India were quite rare earlier but the trend is catching on as many students work for hands-on experience and monetary independence in interesting and fun jobs.
Zoo education officer, Ashwini Shitole, said, “Volunteers have to be interested in wildlife and be committed and devoted to the work we do.” Students are given different tasks such as working in offices, treating animals, patrolling, animal feeding, acting as a guide and creating awareness about conservation.
Ryan Sequiera also wanted to start work early but wanted a job that was different. An animation and design student by day and bartender at night, he listed the perks of his job: meeting new people, attending theme parties and of course earning your own money. “But it’s not just about the money”, he said, “I
also have fun and it’s a great learning experience.”
Team work, handling pressure situations, discipline and commitment are aspects of the work culture that these students are imbibing at an early age. “These students learn the basic work skills at their summer or part-time jobs and by the time they graduate, they are far ahead of their compatriots in terms of attitude and basic discipline,” said Janaki Viswanath of Twist n Tales bookstore at Aundh.
For arts student Lijya Perayil, her passion for books led her to her first job at the bookstore.
She said, “When I started, I didn’t realise the discipline it would require but now I’ve got used to the work routine. It’s a great joy working at a bookstore, especially when a customer comes up and tells me they loved the book I helped them buy.” She’s also learnt to be more organised and particular about details on the job, the qualities that reflects in her personal life.
Shraavani Sistla is working three days a week in the summer as an interpreter and translator to help foreign university students in their research. Her work takes her to areas outside her comfort zone and the 18-year-old believes it’s an important learning experience that will help in her future career as a film-maker.
Most prospective employers rank innate passion and drive high on their check list and are willing to hire students without previous experience for part-time and summer jobs. So there are no more excuses for sitting in front of TV, working in the summer has just
become cool.
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