Working Out

While Garg spends about five hours a day on the job and tries to maintain a balance between his studies and work,he’s not alone. Many college-goers start working before they graduate. “The numbers are swelling,” says Charan Jot Kaur,an MA student at the Government College of Arts who does portfolios for models and industrial shoots. In the two years that Kaur has been working,she has also already put up two group shows and is working for a music album Deep Senses. Kaur earns about Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000 a month,an amount that hardly covers her expenses. “But I still put my heart and soul into my work as I want to build up my portfolio,” she says.

Like Kaur,most youngsters want to explore and develop their marketable skills by working in relevant fields before going into the real business environment. “It helps me make choices and build contacts,” says Purva Maheshwari,a student at the University Institute of Engineering and Technology,who is working with chdads.com as a sales person. “The job gives me hands-on experience,” she says,flaunting the 700-odd business addresses on her contact book.

Nitish Singal,a third-year student of University Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology and his friend Salil Aggarwal,a fourth-year student at the Punjab Engineering College,have floated a firm,Commingle,where they design websites and take home Rs 10,000 a month. “We reinvest most of that amount in the company and design our own websites. We take risks and explore different avenues and want to be on a firm footing before we leave college,” Singal says. Unlike earlier,when doing odd jobs was mainly for pocket money,now it is about getting consolidated in the field that you want to make your career in. “Sometimes,jobs take a toll on your grades but often it ends up being an asset,” says Vipul Sharma,a student at SD College who does photo shoots for his college and modeling portfolios. “All my evenings are spent with my camera,” he says,a decision that has helped him decide to take up a professional course in photography.

A range of flexible-hour jobs are available,from a gym instructor,tutor to a library assistant. “For me it was something that could complement my studies,” says Gaurang Sharma,a post graduate marketing management Student at DAV College,working as a Sales Development Manager with HDFC Standard Life. “ I want to learn how to work under pressure,to stand against odds and to gain valuable experience,” he says.

As for Arunesh Modgil,a BCA student at SD College,modelling has opened up new vistas. “After winning the title of Mr Panjab University,I started getting a lot of offers. I have already done still shoots for Karma Republic and Amartex along with a few ramp shows,” he says,adding that he makes about Rs 5,000 a month. “It comes handy as pocket money and for grooming sessions,” he says.