Satya Narayanan R, founder chairman of Career launcher Educate limited, talks to MUSKAAN JAIN about the institute and how to choose between self-study and coaching
How has Career launcher (Cl) evolved over the yearsIJ
Our core purpose has been to enable the youth to realise their potential and make their dreams come true. Research, ownership, openness, honesty and innovation (ROOHI) are our core values. We are the only ones in India who do every single test preps and give coaching for every exam. We want to be relevant for the five to 55 age groups as far as individual aspirations are concerned.
What was it like when you started ClIJ
I had only Rs 5000 when I started Cl. I would work in the morning in a company and get to Cl work after 7 pm. In Cl’s first year, I had only 64 students who would pay a fee of Rs 1000 each for a year. So, my revenue for the year was Rs 64,000. Through word of mouth, the enrollment increased from 64 to 800 students and since then there was no looking back.
What is the basic coaching module of your programmeIJ
There are five elements that comprise coaching for any programme — classroom element, study material, test series, online component and personality development. Career Junction was formed to provide the student and their parents with relevant information about the industry.
How are mock tests doneIJ
There is a team of senior members to design the tests. They take the test themselves. Whenever there is any change in the pattern of entrance tests, it gets reflected in our mocks the very next day.
How should someone decide between a coaching and self-studyIJ
Most questions come from a person’s self-awareness. However, we have a couple of free tools online that tells you on the basis of your marks which colleges is the best and how many marks will be required. According to that, you can decide whether you need to take coaching or self-study. It’s a mix of subjective judgement and objective analysis based on data.
When is the ideal time for students to join coachingIJ
Somebody starts a year in advance, others do so six months or two months before. But whenever you decide, give it a good shot. If you are half hearted in your approach, don’t try.
Many prefer to take a break of a year to prepare for entrance examsIJ
There is no hurry to appear for the entrance exam. In many countries, it is common for students to take a gap and do other things. One can take time to decide. We have created quite an artificial sense of urgency.
How should students cope with the change in exam patternsIJ
If changes are not drastic, not to worry. Patterns change because they reflect the changing world realities. If I am a school teacher, I am trying to prepare the student for the real world. Everybody is a victim of the next link in the value chain.
What is the right approach for a student to make a career choiceIJ
Ask yourself: ‘Will I do this, even if I’m not paid to do thisIJ’ That is the litmus test. If the answer is yes, you are on the right path. If no, try something else.
Any plans of expansionIJ
We have 200 plus centres across India. We focus on product, geographical and channel expansions. The millennials are going digital and learning from their mobile apps. So, the pursuit is to stay technologically ahead so as to match up with the behaviour and needs of the millennials.