Gangtok, September 29 (IPR): The Women, Child, Senior Citizen & Divyangjan Welfare Department (WCSC&DWD), in collaboration with the Skill Development Department, Government of Sikkim, organised a two-day Career Counselling-cum-Job Placement Programme at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok, today.
The programme aimed to provide career guidance, skill development, counselling and employment opportunities, particularly to youth in need of such support.
The programme began with the welcome address delivered by Special Secretary, Women, Child, Senior Citizen & Divyangjan Welfare Department, Ms Bandana Rai. She briefed the participants on the objectives and schedule of the programme and highlighted the employment opportunities available through the initiative.
She informed the participants that potential employers were participating in the programme and would brief them on the employment opportunities available with their respective organisations. She encouraged the participants to attend the presentations and familiarise themselves with the job opportunities, eligibility requirements and other details before appearing for the interviews.
She urged the participants to make full use of the sessions to identify employers and job opportunities relevant to their interests and prepare themselves for the interviews scheduled for the following day.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Women, Child, Senior Citizen & Divyangjan Welfare Department, Mr Zigmee Dorjee Bhutia, in his address, said that most of the participants were graduates or pursuing graduation and were at an important stage of their careers. He appreciated the Skill Development Department for partnering in the programme and said that the department offered a wide range of opportunities, including domestic and overseas placements and skill development programmes through various Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the state.
He encouraged the students to acquire skills in line with the changing demands of the employment market, particularly technology-based skills. He said that technology had become an integral part of almost every sector and could not be replaced. Developing technology-oriented skills, he added, would help young people remain competitive and access wider employment opportunities.
Highlighting the changing employment landscape, Mr Zigmee Dorjee Bhutia said that while government employment had traditionally been a preferred career choice, the private sector had emerged as an important source of employment and economic activity. Referring to the economic reforms and liberalisation initiated in India in 1991, he said that the changing economic environment had opened up wider opportunities for the younger generation.
He also highlighted examples of people who had completed their education in the country and subsequently pursued careers abroad, while others had returned and established businesses and start-ups. He said that such examples reflected the growing opportunities available to young people both within India and overseas.
Mr Zigmee Dorjee Bhutia further said that the present generation had access to a wider range of career opportunities, with opportunities available across government, private and other sectors. He encouraged the participants to explore different career pathways based on their interests, skills and aspirations.
He highlighted the potential of the hospitality and service sectors in Sikkim and identified aviation as another area offering employment opportunities. He said that Industrial Training Institutes and skill development programmes were providing training in sectors with considerable demand. However, he noted that a gap continued to exist between the demand for skilled manpower and the availability of locally trained workers.
Emphasising the need to bridge this gap, he said that several services in Sikkim continued to depend on workers from outside the state. He said that developing skilled manpower locally would create greater employment opportunities for local youth and help meet the growing demand for skilled workers.
Mr Zigmee Dorjee Bhutia appreciated the efforts of the Skill Development Department over the past several years, particularly its innovative initiatives and placement opportunities, including overseas placements. He encouraged the students to regularly visit the department’s website, explore the available opportunities and interact with officials whenever they required guidance.
He emphasised that the programme had been organised to support young people and provide them with a better understanding of available employment opportunities. He urged the students not to hesitate in seeking assistance from the department and encouraged them to share information about such opportunities with their friends who could not attend the programme.
He said that the orientation was intended to provide participants with an understanding of how to approach employment opportunities and prepare themselves for future career opportunities.
Concluding his address, Mr Zigmee Dorjee Bhutia said that the future of the participants could be in Sikkim, elsewhere in the country or across the globe. He wished them success in their careers and encouraged them to continue learning, pursuing opportunities and achieving their goals. He said that their success could serve as an example for other states and organisations.
Joint Secretary-cum-CEO, Niyukti Kendra, Skill Development Department, Ms Sushma Pradhan, made a presentation on Training and Skill Development Opportunities. The presentation highlighted Niyukti Kendra as a one-stop centre for mobilisation, training and placement of skilled youth. It also highlighted its role in facilitating placement drives, career counselling and training programmes, job fairs, campus interviews and coordination with industries and companies.
The presentation further highlighted the network of Government Industrial Training Institutes and emerging areas for skill development, including renewable energy, electric vehicles and automotive technologies, robotics and automation, welding and manufacturing, hospitality and tourism, healthcare and allied services, electronics and mechatronics, and digital and IT skills. The presentation also outlined the role of ITIs as skill hubs and industry-linked centres.
Training opportunities under DDU-GKY were also presented, with upcoming programmes covering job roles such as Guest Service Associate, Commis, Deputy Human Resources Manager, General Duty Assistant, Production Equipment Operator, Emergency Care Assistant, and Digital and Sales Marketing Executive.
Training opportunities under Sikkim INSPIRES were also highlighted, covering a range of employment-oriented roles, including Professional Makeup Artist, Home Stay Host, Business Intelligence Analyst, Meeting, Conference and Event Manager, Emergency Medical Technician-Basic, Digital Marketing Manager, Graphic Designer, Beauty Therapist and Cosmetologist, among others.
The career counselling session was conducted by Founder, CEO and Senior Career Counsellor, Mind Company, Mr Sajal Sharma. He explained that career counselling helped individuals understand their personality, interests, abilities and values, explore suitable career options and develop practical career plans.
Mr Sajal Sharma introduced the RIASEC Assessment, developed by psychologist Dr John Holland, and explained the six areas covered under the assessment, namely Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. He stated that the assessment provided an evidence-based starting point for understanding career interests and planning a suitable career path.
He also spoke about challenges faced while making career decisions, including confusion, decision fatigue, fear of failure, comparison and external pressure. He explained that structured counselling could provide clarity, help break major decisions into manageable steps and build confidence.
Highlighting the importance of preparation for employment, Mr Sajal Sharma advised the participants to focus on resume building and interview preparation. He emphasised the importance of highlighting strengths, tailoring resumes to specific job roles, practising through mock interviews, maintaining appropriate body language and researching the organisation and role before an interview.
The inaugural session concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by Joint Secretary, Women, Child, Senior Citizen & Divyangjan Welfare Department, Ms Manisha Cintury.
This was followed by group counselling sessions conducted by the Mind Company team. The sessions provided participants with an opportunity to discuss their individual interests, abilities and career aspirations and seek guidance on suitable career pathways and employment opportunities.
The group counselling sessions were followed by presentations by the participating potential employers. Representatives from the organisations briefed the participants about their respective sectors, job roles, employment opportunities and requirements. The interaction provided participants with first-hand information about the available opportunities and helped them identify suitable options ahead of the on-the-spot interviews scheduled for the following day.
The programme was attended by officers and officials from the Women, Child, Senior Citizen & Divyangjan Welfare Department, Government of Sikkim, and the Skill Development Department, Government of Sikkim, along with representatives from various private establishments.