We  need to work on a product that helps students and parents:

Discover their strengths

            Move towards goal clarity

            Explore new career options

            Analyze the fit between goal and strengths

As a future business, we need to understand the process of counselling. Was speaking to Ankur at Chandigarh in March. Asked him to teach GK through stories. He wrote one about a Collector implementing government schemes to help Bhola, a landless labourer in Mewat district of Rajasthan. Inspired, I am also going to talk about the design of a counselling program through a story.

Imagine yourself taking up the case of Nidhi. Nidhi’s parents want to know what her strengths are. There have been various aptitude tests to check skills: spatial, numerical, creative, communication, analytical etc.  You advice them that instead of starting with a battery of tests, it would be a better idea for Nidhi to start with some introspection. You ask Nidhi to talk about her likes, her hobbies. You ask her to talk about her achievements. You confirm that her likes and achievements correlated. If you had not found the correlation in Nidhi you would have asked her to rethink. You would have pushed her till you got an achievement in which she has a sense of pride. If you could not find even this, you would have asked Nidhi to take some more time off to think. A child’s strengths cannot be foisted onto her. That idea should come from within.

Fortunately Nidhi is quite clear that her interests are in the creative field. She has cleared both her elementary and intermediate exams in drawing. This can be taken as a validation of her creative interest. You look at her school mark sheet to check for clues about any other strengths – any subjects that she has RELATIVELY scored better in.

You talk to Priya, her FAVORITE teacher at school. (You assume that Priya knows more about Nidhi than her other teachers.) Priya thinks that Nidhi is quite good at science. You are puzzled – because Nidhi thought herself as a creative champion. You need to postpone the time for judgment. What Priya should have done was to write down a letter of recommendation for Nidhi – an honest one. You make that request to Priya – who actually takes an hour to write a very insightful letter. You gift Priya a copy of ‘The Sabre Tooth curriculum’, a book that is received well by progressive teachers.

Your next session is with Rahul, Nidhi’s father, an engineer working with TCS and Anu, Nidhi’s mother, who used to be an accountant, but has been a home-maker since the time Nidhi was born. You actually had a problem getting Rahul to come to meet you. He has been travelling for some on-site work. It was only when you insisted that you will only meet both the parents that he agreed to come in late in the evening on a Saturday. It is important to have both parents come in for this meet. (Nidhi was not invited). You expect Rahul and Anu to have different perspectives – and you would like to know more sides of the story.

Rahul is as expected, an engineer. He feels that Nidhi should also be one – as ‘engineering’ is a safe option. Anu on the other hand feels that her daughter has a good future as a ‘commercial artist’. You ask Rahul and Anu about what they think Nidhi wants to become. Rahul is not sure, though he once her speak something about some design shesign. You find from Any that Nidhi loves animals – which is why Puggles – their dog – was adopted. Nidhi is a reserved child – she has taken part in a few debates at school – but did not win any prizes. Rahul on the other hand is a bit worried about her marks in history and geography – after all she has to perform in the board exams, that are due soon.

The next week Nidhi lands up at your office. You have planned out a few exercises for her. The first exercise is a team one. You pair Nidhi up with one of your other clients, Alex, and ask the duo to work together to create from some craft material that you have given them, a design for a new computer. You have invited Ashwini, a NID Ahmedabad Passout, to observe and comment. Ashwini is impressed by the fact that Nidhi took time to make sketches before she started her construction work. She is methodical, but it takes time for her to realise her mistakes – and change her approach. Ashwini rates Nidhi to be amongst the top 33 percentile as far as her computer design modelling is concerned.

The next workshop planned for Nidhi is designing a science experiment. She is given some junk from day to day life – and asked to come up with an experiment to demonstrate centrifugal force. This workshop was also done with another client, this time a girl Swapnali, who is a commerce student who has shone good promise in science. Ashwini rates Nidhi’s science experiment in the top 10 percentile of experiments that she has seen students perform. Ashwini also notes that Nidhi has demonstrated good team working ability in both the workshops.

Though there are counsellors who believe that all students should be put through the paces of a wide variety of tests, but you believe that Nidhi’s preliminary interview and her parent and teacher feedback suggest that these are the two more important tests she needs to concentrate on. In a rare case, you do get students to take a third test – but that is the absolute upper limit. Otherwise you are like an incompetent doctor who enriches a lot of pathologists and radiologists in his own ignorance. In today’s world the real challenge is reducing data, not increasing it. Before Nidhi leaves for the day, she goes through one psychometric test. The test reconfirms Anu’s feelings that Nidhi is indeed an introvert. It also reveals that she is a ‘big chunk’ person rather than a detailer.

The stage is now set for the review. On a bright Sunday morning, Nidhi, Rahul and Anu all three show up at your office. Over coffee and Horlicks, you start by reviewing Nidhi’s strengths based on the perspectives of Nidhi, Rahul, Anu and Priya. You arrive at an intersection set: ‘Nidhi is good at working with her hands to create something new.’ Nidhi is then asked to think about what her goals are. Sheela, Nidhi’s best pal from school, is into IIT training right from her 6^th Standard. Nidhi does think that she could also look at getting into IIT. She thinks a BSc Physics may also be a good idea – if she does not get into a good engineering college.

Time for you to encourage her to think. She feels that medicine is definitely out. You interject to tell her that the objective of the session is to create options, not start ruling them out. What does she have in mind, apart from engineering? You advise her to look at the 5 year graduate program at AISSER, which are the newly started Pure science institutes. She is lucky that she stays in Chandigarh, which has an AISSER campus in the neighbouring Mohali. You arrange for her to visit the campus and meet Milind, who is a Professor over there. Milind will also ensure that Nidhi works on some small lab projects and interacts with his graduate students.

Another program that you recommend for Nidhi is the design program offered by NID, IITs and some good schools like MIT in Pune and Shrishti in Bangalore. Rahul offers to get Nidhi to intern at MS Fab, a company run his friend Mehboob, which is into manufacturing bespoke furniture. You discuss the rationales for your recommendations.

You schedule an appointment with the three of them a year later – with Nidhi expected to come up with a clear definition of her goal. She should have either zeroes in one of the three, or at least should be know what her top two priorities are going to be. Turned out that AISSER did not thrill her enough. When she talked to Milind’s grad students she found that most of them end up in academics. Teaching is something that Nidhi does not particularly like. MS Fab was a mixed experience. The internship was boring to start with – when Mehboob Bhai made her go through the sales manuals. It became more interesting when he put her on the shop floor – and she was actually assembling kitchen units. Design, says Nidhi, is it. She asks you what should she do now? You recommend Bulls Eye – great place for design entrance prep. You also tell Nidhi to keep engineering as a backup – prefereably mechanical. The journey begins!

Career Counselling

Process:

1. Administer MBTI Test to candidate
2. Get parent interviews in place: Both parents should be there. Get Background of parents. Get them to talk about Strengths, Achievements and Goals of student.
3. Get Student to talk about their own Strengths, Achievements and Goals
4. Get personality type of student
5. Start by explaining the psychometric report – what it means.
6. Then look at alternatives for goal – advice on what is suitable and what is not suitable
7. Q & A session with parents

Student Sessions Conducted:

Ankita Dekhane:

Has just finished her 10^th standard. Likes watching TV, reading to books, texting on phone,  listening to music and hanging out with friends. She is quite interested in Biology. She has been a compere at a school function, which she is quite proud of. As a goal, she wants to help stray animals and neglected pets.

Ankita is the only child. Ankita’s father – Makrand, is an engineer from IITK and MBA from IIM Calcutta. He runs a consulting company in Pune. Mother is a home maker, who also dabbles in jewellery and reiki. Her parents think that she has got good grasping power – and is reasonably good in science and math. She is an all rounder. She has an interest in food, more from the eating, than preparing point of view. She could also look at opening a bakery or a coffee shop at some point of time.

Based on her psychometric test, she seemed to be having a good inclination towards research. In addition to the B.Sc (Veterinary Science) course which was being considered, we advised her to also look at a B,Sc (Zoology) program at Fergusson College. Her parents are also looking at a few courses in Singapore which may interest her.

Susan Job

Has just finished her 10^th standard. Susan thinks of herself as a compassionate person who is good at understanding people. She is good at English, especially in thinking of and communicating new ideas. (Corrobrated by her MBTI test) She is proud of ranking 11^th at an All India level in the International English Olympiad. She thinks that she can be either a Doctor or Author.

Susan has a younger sister. Susan’s dad, Mathew is the MD of Racold India, and his wife Susan is a Professor of Electrical Engineering. They feel that their daughter is hardworking, and a voracious reader. She has interest in taekwando and baking, off late. She is quite flexible, and adjusts to new locations easily – having spent time in Hongkong and Delhi before coming to Pune. She is a perfectionist. They feel that she could look at a career in research, especially in the field of Biology.

Based on her MBTI report, we felt that she would be better off doing a course in Pyschology or journalism. She has potential to be a visionary.

Shubhankar:

Shubhankar has just finished his 9^th standard from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kothrud. He has no siblings. His father is a metallurgy engineer from COEP – who is working with Johnson Controls in Pune. His mother runs her own travel agency – she is a graduate in Psychology and an MA in Music. His mother, Naina, had come alone. Naina felt that Shubhankar’s GK is good. He has varied interests – plays tennis and the harmonium. However he requires to have in depth knowledge in some field. He has started showing inclination to Electronics – having assembled his own computer recently. He definitely does not want to be a doctor – and has no IIT dreams.

Shubhankar feels that he is good at drawing and geography. He feels that the computer that he assembled is his biggest achievement. He also feels quite happy about winning his first tennis match. He feels that he would be most happy building machines or writing computer games. His MBTI scores indicated a high degree of extroversion. We advised him to not go in for Computer / IT – as he is more of a sensing person. He could also look at directly enrolling for a Diploma after his 10^th, so that he can get more into practical mode, rather than theory, which he dislikes. We also encouraged him to go in for an internship with a mech / electronics company to understand the field better.

Dhruv

Dhruv’s dad was previously into insurance sales. He now runs a restaurant. His mom, Juhi, runs a placement consultancy. She has an office in Magarpatta – and has a team of 3 people working with her. She is an MBA from PUMBA, and was earlier working with Honeywell – as head of recruitment. She switched over to HR from Mktg, because she wanted to spend more time with her kids. (Dhruv has a younger sister, who is in class 3).

Dhruv is an introvert, who has very few friends. He has done his schooling at Bishop’s, Kalyani Nagar. In school, he prefers sports like badminton and chess over team sports like football. Has developed a strong interest in robotics, because of a hobby class that he attended when he was in Class 7. He spends a lot of his time in researching robots. Has done well in the field, and has won an award for a remote controlled motorboat that he created from his old toys. His team from school also qualified in the regional robot competition and went to Delhi for the finals. Although shy by nature, he did not find it difficult to make a presentation to 100 parents, when he was asked to do so by the company that organised the hobby class.

Dhruv is quite clear that he wants to make his career in robotics. However, he does not have a Plan B. Apart from Mech Engg, which he was already considering – have advised him to look at 2 other options: Design (aka NID Ahmedabad), and a Diploma in Mech Engg immediately after Class 10 ( he has scored 90% in his boards). He has been asked to research these options and revert back to me in a week’s time.

Sharvari

Sharvari’s Mother is working as an Admn Manager in a pharma company. She is a science graduate, and has run a training institute of her own before getting back to corporate world. Sharvari’s father is a civil engineer who has a business related to interior designing. Sharvari has a brother who is in class 7. 

Sharvari is a creative girl, who is good at drawing. She has also taken part in drama in school. She is an all rounder, and a kind of ‘jack of all’. 

She wants to be a doctor. (It helps that she does not like math.) Have advised her to consider things related to medicine like Biotech and microbiology. She may look at doing an MBA after her graduation. She needs to take science for her 11th – 12th, but could consider things like BA (Psychology) if she does not like science. Would be good if she can research these things before her results come out.

Janhavi

Janhavi’s dad is into finance. Mother is a dentist. Did an internship in IUCAA and did not like it. So did not take up science. The joint family also is into business. Non ferrous castings – maternal grandmother. In Bhosari. Janhavi is a generalist who has varied interests. At different points of time she has been involved in Tennis, Golf, Kathak, Singing, Piano, Guitar, Ornithology, Speech and Drama, and Trekking. (Seems to be helicopter parenting) She liked drawing.

What does Success mean to Janhvi?

Janhvi’s is serious, analytical and a perfectionistic. She looks at a problem or idea from multiple perspectives. She is a natural scientist and mathematician. She has high standards for her own understanding and accomplishments, and generally will only value and consider other individuals who have shown that they meet or surpass her own understanding on a given issue. Janhvi values clarity and conciseness, and has little esteem for behaviors that are purely social. Janhvi values social interaction that is centered around the meaningful exchange of ideas. Janhvi values structure, order, knowledge, competence, and logic. Above all, she values her own ideas and intuitions about the world.

What is Janhvi’s Learning Style?

For Janhvi, interest in learning a subject revolves around finding the answer to the question, “Why is this so?” The clearer and deeper the answer this type receives during the learning process, the greater their interest in the topic, and the greater their desire to delve deeper into the subject. Her desire to study something is driven by a search for ideas that can answer not only fundamental questions, but also practical questions of popular interest.

A moderate pace is best for her when learning, because Janhvi spends time forming and retaining theoretical connections between different pieces of information. She can retain knowledge remembered in this way for decades. Repeatedly presenting the same material helps Janhvi remember it, but presenting it from different points of view and using various examples is even more effective.

Janhvi is a conservative person, who wants a secure job and will ensure that she balances her professional and family life. She likes to live life at her own pace – and does not want to be pushed around. She is interested in social work like animal care or teaching, but may not consider it as a career, as they do not meet her financial needs. Has good reading habits and loves thinking challenges.

She is considering psychology, economics or statistics in her graduation. Given her special skills in empathy, my preference for her would be psychology. Apart from choosing these fields for her PG, she can also look at management. Would recommend a couple of years of work before she does her PG. If at all she ends up doing an MBA, she should look at a Marketing specialization. Would not recommend business for her, but she can look at self-employment in the long term. She could possibly make a career in the travel / hospitality / wellness industry.

Action Points:

            Look for internship after 11^th in one of the recommended industry areas.

            Find out more about the B.Stat program at ISI

            Find out more about the 5 year integrated MBA program at IIM Indore

            Look up Azim Premji University, Bangalore and Ashoka University, Sonepat

Eshita Kesari

Her mother has done PG in Economics and is a housewife. Her father has done his engineering from COEP PUNE and M-TECH from IIT BOMBAY. Currently he has a consultancy business. Eshita is a reserved person, scared to open up. ‘I love myself the way i am and would expect people to accept me the way i am . Often in the pursuit of changing people you actually loose them.’

What does Success mean to Eshita?

Eshita is a creative soul. She seeks harmony and affection in her relationships with others. She values spirituality. Is sensitive and easily hurt by rejection. For Eshita, personal success depends upon the condition of her closest relationships, her artistic creativity, her spiritual development, and how much she feels valued and accepted for her individual contributions.

What is Eshita’s Learning Style?

For Eshita, interest in learning a subject is related to a sense of “I like this, this is beautiful”. The more she enjoys the given topic, the greater her interest in it. She can easily take in practical material, especially if it is demonstrated using real-life examples. A moderate pace of delivery of the information is favorable. 

She easily and quickly retains new material when it actively engages her feelings and emotions. The repetition of material for better retention is of great value to her. She does not always evenly distribute her efforts when learning new material and may resort to last-minute cramming.

Eshita is confused about her career. She used to hate Physics and Math in Class 9, but thanks to tutoring from friends has done well in these subjects. Has an interest in creative pursuits like writing and dance. Was considering medicine at the start. Also is happy with the conventional engineering. (I would not recommend engineering.) Has am ambition of settling down in the US.  I would recommend a graduation in physiotherapy. As an option she can also look at Journalism. One option suggested by her dad is Counselling. Dad also feels that she can be good managerial material.

Action Points:

Look for internship after 10^th in orthapedic rehabilitation center.

Find out more about the 5 year integrated MBA program at IIM Indore

Look up good programs in Mass Communication (Xavier’s Mumbai is a good one)

Explore psychology programs.

Feedback from parents – post session.

All of the participants were quite happy with the test. They felt that we added value by suggesting an option that they had not considered previously.

We feel that the session can be made into a week long program, with a schedule which could include Tests and lectures / workshops on Time Management, Planning and Communication. We will gift 2/ 3 books and a 25 page report as part of the course. We are looking at a price point of about 3,000 for the program.

Discussion with Shrikant Patil and Baskar on Counselling Product

Baskar has a friend who is onto school counseling product. He charges about 2,000 for a one on one session. Baskar tells me that there is a lot of resistance above this price. As a result, our friend is stuck at a turnover of 25 lakhs or so, many years after having started this company. His observation was that as long as the preparation is for a test, people are ready to pay. Also he felt that for the one to one counseling – experienced people will be required.

Shrikant’s idea was to have two sessions of 6 hours each. These would be on consecutive weekends. Parents would be expected to attend the sessions along with the students. It would be expected that parents would be given a lot of stuff to read /  go through as part of these sessions.  In the second session, there would be a one on one where alternatives are discussed with parents and students. Also in the second session, we would have industry experts participating – and parents would have a Q and A with them.