I have completed MBA and am working as a business development executive in the IT space. I have one question about the experience certificate. Usually all the experience certificates are given in the company's letterhead with a seal. But in some cases companies do so without a seal. Is it necessary for a seal in the experience certificate given in a company's letterhead? In my present job, I had to explain to the HR about the same and produce other certificates and testimonials to prove a point. Kindly advice future course of action. I am sure many face the same problem.

Nilanjana Tripathi

In the corporate world of today documentation has become pertinent and important. When you join a new company, a thorough background (BG) check is done either by the company recruiting you directly or professional vendors who get the BG done and help the hiring organisation assess the antecedents of the applicant. In the process of joining a new company, the experience certificates/ relieving certificates become very relevant.

Various parameters are adopted for the check which clearly emphasises the documentation required. One, however, should not panic; a letter in a given format on the company letterhead is always helpful to prove one's employment with a company. In case of doubt there are other parallel documents that will be considered; the documents related to income tax can also prove to be crucial, yet supportive. In the process of BG the parameters adopted will help to prove one's existence in a company.

Another important issue that one has to note is that BG will be done for the academic qualifications as well, for which one should be ready with the detailing of one's testimonials. The BG would clearly prove the veracity of the claims of an individual; thereby any speculation of fake certifications and employment letters would be avoided and one would have a clean chit from the word ‘go.'

The best thing to do is to register in official portals which will give credence to one's employment. In IT/ITES, the NASSCOM registry has proved to be beneficial beyond doubt. You should visit the website of NASSCOM at https://nationalskillsregistry.com/nasscom/ for more details and accrue of the benefits.

Please help me to understand the difference between an academic calendar year and a regular academic year. I am trying to pursue the academic Law programme by distance mode from a university in Tamil Nadu and they are asking me to admit myself as a student in the calendar year. I am confused.

Arun Kumar, Bangalore

Most of the Distance Education Institutions (DEI) conducting Distance Learning Programmes (DLP) have adopted the system of calendar year (January to December) and the regular academic year of June to May. This helps students to enrol twice and also those who have missed out.

Hence, you need not worry about the same; it is valid as per the norms of academics because if you are to take up a two-year course and start in January 2012, you will complete the same by January 2014. If another learner starts the study in June 2011 he/she will complete the programme in June 2013.

I am pursuing B.A. (HEP) and am interested in the Archaeology course offered by Deccan Institute, Pune. Please guide me as I have not been able to get any kind of information about the course.

Janardhan

The Deccan College Post-Graduate Research Institute (1921) is a centre of excellence in the area of Archaeology. The college presently plays host to the Departments of Archaeology and Linguistics. The courses on offer are:

Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology

Linguistics

You should contact the Deccan College authorities at the following address: Deccan College, Yerwada, Pune, Maharashtra-411 006.

My children are in high school. I have always been enamoured of the SAT programme but never got much information about it. Kindly provide information through your columns about the programme and the contacts for classes if any.

Rachna, Bangalore

It is wonderful to start preparation early on in one's life. In fact, this will help one to prepare well and plan accordingly. To begin with, at the school or Plus Two level, your children should appear for the Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology (PCMB) combination.

Then they should take the SAT Reasoning Test (SAT). It consists of three major sections: Mathematics, Critical Reading and Writing.

The major sections are further divided. Subject tests are designed to measure your knowledge and skills in particular areas, as well as your ability to apply that knowledge. Students take the subject tests to demonstrate to colleges their mastery of specific subjects like English, history, mathematics, science, and language.

The tests are independent of any particular textbook or method of instruction. The tests' content evolves to reflect current trends in high school curricula, but the types of questions change little from year to year. SAT conducts subject test in the following areas: English (Literature), History and Social Studies, Mathematics, Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics).

For more information and application form, you can contact: Prometric Testing Private Limited, 2nd Floor, DFL Infinity Tower A, Sector 25, Phase II, DFL City, Gurgaon, Haryana-122002. Ph: 0124-5147700.

I am a M. Tech (Computer Sciences) graduate. What are the courses that the Oracle group offers for the benefit of students and do they enjoy good job prospects?

Ankur Kashyap, Bangalore

Oracle Corporation (www.oracle.com/education/certification) offers the following certification programmes:

Oracle Database Operator (DBO): Database Operators assist DBAs with day-to-day operational issues like database start-up and shutdown, installations, backup and recoveries, etc.

Oracle Certified Associate (OCA): Enables one to act as a junior team member working with database administrators or application developers.

Oracle Certified Professional (OCP): OCP candidates have proven skills for managing a large-scale database or developing robust applications that are deployed enterprise-wide.

Oracle Certified Master (OCM): The highest credential you can earn in the Oracle certification programme. These people are senior-level members of IT departments and are responsible for handling mission-critical database systems and applications.

Internet Application Developer (Release 6 or 6i): Oracle developers using Oracle iDS (Internet Developer Suite) Forms and Reports.

Oracle Java Developer (JDEV): Developers using the Java platform.

Depending on the skills that you would like to acquire, you can take up the programmes. You need to upgrade as and when the changes happen. Identify a training location that will help you to understand the actual issues that Oracle wants the students to get to rather than going to organisations that will only promise and not deliver. The job prospects are vast in the field of Oracle and you should make efforts to get the best of knowledge and implement the language where it is needed.