Engineering has remained as one of the most sought after career options for bright students over the years. The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) tests the students’ capability in engineering concepts along with managerial skills. It is considered as one of the toughest examinations in our country. The competition level is very high and one requires a well-defined strategy to make it through this examination. In this examination, the preparation level of the candidate is judged relatively and not absolutely. Apart from reflecting the relative aptitude of the candidates, GATE scores also add value to the engineering graduation.
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Today, GATE is not only meant for post graduate studies (ME/MTech.) that finally leads to a teaching career only. After qualifying GATE, the career prospects for the candidates span across multiple areas as below:
1. Higher Education (Post graduation): Post graduation is mandatory for those wishing to apply for research positions in R&D centres in India and abroad. GATE also gives an opportunity to pursue their studies in prestigious IITs, even if they couldn’t could not do the same at the under graduate level. Students who qualify in GATE are entitled to a stipend of `8,000 per month during their MTech course. After post-graduation studies, the candidate can also opt for higher studies in India or abroad through GRE and GMAT. Master’s degree (ME/MTech/MSc) in respective discipline can be considered as value addition stage that is possible after qualifying GATE. Post-graduation helps in developing a broad view of engineering concepts and thus helps in easily solving the problems. Better remunerations are offered for students having MTech/ME degree with a qualified GATE score.
2. Research Fellowship: Candidates who qualify GATE are also taken in as research fellows in various institutes under reputed faculty members. The tenure as a research fellow helps in maintaining the continuity in studies for those who didn’t get their desired institute or field of study. It simultaneously adds value to the individual’s academic record as research work experience directly helps in higher studies. The candidate also gets renumerations during research fellowship that is equivalent to the scholarship. The individuals get opportunities to work in various modules and assignments of big projects of government and private companies.
3. Recruitment in PSUs: Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) are the companies partially owned by government that undertake commercial activities on behalf of the government. Many public sector undertakings such as BHEL, IOC, NTPC, BPCL, BARC, HPCL, etc., are using the GATE score for selecting candidates for their organizations. PSUs generally have their own facilities of health/fitness, medical, schools, etc., for their employees and their family. Many people rate jobs in PSUs as one with higher job satisfaction and career growth which also assures work-life balance.
There are lots of other opportunities for sincere engineering graduates. UPSC’s Combined Engineering Services Examination offers technical, managerial and administrative opportunities in various departments of the union government, such as railways, military, defence, public works, electricity, water commission, etc. Hence, very diverse and challenging opportunities are available in various PSUs, research and development, teaching and private sector companies offering lucrative jobs. In the present competitive scenario in engineering studies and job opportunities, GATE score is considered as the only the measure of the caliber of an engineering graduate. A GATE score definitely gives one an edge and competitice advantage to the engineering graduates.
Happy learning :)
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Author: AJAY KUMAR TAMRAKAR Author of ‘Wiley Acing the GATE Mechanical Engineering’ |