Finding A Job When Colour Blind
This is the second in a series of three guest posts that Tony Holden has kindly agreed to write for Same Difference on colour blindness. Tony blogs at Cynical Chatter From The Underworld. He also runs the UK Disabled Bloggers group blog. Thanks to Tony.
I’ve already described the joys of school as a colour blind person, while that could be hard work with the snide comments and stupid questions, it was nothing compared to joining the working world.
My first problems came in school careers interviews, those conducting them knew less about colour blindness than I did, and they didn’t know I was colour blind until I told them. Even though I was already planning on joining the Army and told them so, they just didn’t have a clue, I had no warning at all of what was to come.
One spring morning I wandered into the Army Careers Office at the TA centre in Holker Street, Barrow-in-Furness, I wanted to join the Army. I had grand visions of all sorts of jobs, after the tests the recruiting Sergeant told me that I could apply for anything, my results were superb. I felt great. I was already mentally applying for the Army Air Corps, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and many other Corps that would give me a good trade. Then came the medical and those damned Ishihara tests for colour blindness. The doctor mentioned a colour blindness grade of CP4, but that I could be a CP3. The plate that was semi-legible to me, and actually shows 29, should have been the deciding factor. Now, though I didn’t realise it, my future career was hanging off that plate.
I had to go for further tests, that saw me heading for Carlisle one day soon after to see a specialist. We started with the Ishihara test again and as he worked the specialist started to tell me the things about colour blindness that I should really have been told about long ago. What causes it, what the effects are and how it can affect your life. As I was being told this, the specialist started testing me with different coloured lights through different sized holes, I was getting a sinking feeling in my gut. by about half way through there was no way for me to be certain of the colours in the test. I knew I was doing badly, for many of the later exposures I couldn’t even give a colour, all I saw was a light. The verdict by the end, that although I had better colour vision than a CP4, I didn’t qualify as a CP3.
Writing this I can still feel that mixture of emotions, feeling pissed off now that I knew this could mean the end of so many dreams, and injustice that something beyond my control would always have an effect on what I did in life. I know many people reading this will understand that mixture of emotions, and I’m sure they will also understand the other part of me that was really angry, the part that wanted to know why no one had ever told me what the diagnosis that I first got so many years ago had really meant to my life.
The next stop in my story is Harrogate, it was one of two selection centres for the Junior Leaders, the part of the Army you could join direct from school while under seventeen and a half years old. You went for two days, the first day was taken up with tests, tests and more tests. I did pretty well getting a grade one, or SSG1, the grade is designed to give a guide to which trades you should aim for, theoretically the sky should have been the limit for me, but it wasn’t. The Royal Artillery Captain who interviewed me on the second day was sympathetic and he tried to find possible ways into the career of my choice, but that damned grade CP4 was like an anchor dragging me down, nothing involving flying and nothing involving electrics or electronics. My choices were limited and I went for survey, little did I, or the Captain, realise that It wasn’t the best choice, but it was one I could, and would, deal with.
Between the selection centre and my first brush with survey came a year of training at the Junior Leader Regiment Royal Artillery (JLRRA), Gamecock Barracks, Bramcote. That started in September 1982 and ran through to August 1983. towards the end I was told that my first posting would be to a Locating Battery based at Larkhill, but I wouldn’t be going straight away, first of all I had to do another course, one that typically was of no real use for my future posting, but it did introduce me to using survey-like equipment, namely the Director, a sort of less accurate version of the theodolite.
It also brought me troubles as we started using what was one of the staples of Artillery survey, coloured flags to mark survey points.
Okay, the smaller ones had two fairly distinct blocks of colour close up, though the red/green ones were a bloody pain, but I could manage with the magnification through the director and the fact that distances would be short. Survey was a whole other ballgame as they say.
Let me introduce you to the No2 Mk4 Hilger Watts Microptic Theodolite.
A lovely piece of kit, one I thoroughly enjoyed using, okay the image was upside down and back to front, but you soon get used to that, unfortunately there were still the flags and one other device of torture at long distances.
The latest flag I would see was the flouro, a square flag made up of two triangular panels, the panels would either be fluorescent Pink, red or yellow, just great for colour blind people! !t fades right into anything green or brown at long distances, like the trees and grasslands we most often worked in.
The next item, the device of torture, was the beacon Banderol set, it sat like a very tall tee-pee with a very short cover over survey points and had a skirt made in the same colours as the flouro, a device made for being seen over long distances, 10 km or more, that just faded into the background for me at about 5km under the worst conditions. Fortunately we always worked in pairs, so I never found a problem like this to be insurmountable, but have you noticed, greens and variations of red are very popular for marking things. I’ll cover that in my next, and final, post.
The Dr told me that I ‘m colour blind grade II… what does this mean.
The doctor said i am colour blind GRADE II, I can see all the colours whether how small they are. I can see the colour wheel 100%.And on the ishihara test I can see 70% of the double numbers, some of the single numbers are difficult to distingush while practicing without the aid of anyone.
There is a doctor in Maryland who guarantees 100% that you can pass the test with his color correction system. Check out his website http:/www.colormax.org . Color vision correction changed my life as I know have my dream job. I personally thinks its discrimination against color blind people. People who wear contacts lenses can’t pass a regular eye test without their lenses. So I why should be any different for color blindness!
i also agree with you…colour blindeness is not at all a problem those who are not working in Labs. then why this much of discrimination?… govt. provides reservation to all PWDs Ortho, hearing disabled persons… then why don’t they provide reservation to colour blinded guys in any recruitment.
Can anybody take up this matter with our HR Ministry and find a solution?
dear friend i will be fight for colourblind people in bombay high cort
You are right!! Shouldn’t have discrimination against colour blindness.
Yes, the govt(army) should look into it and justify those recruits who do well in BMT and give them a chance to go OCS or SCS, may be put them in some postion that does not need normal color vision like the manpower ministry…..
i am an engineer and my dream job is research and development work in the organizations like ISRO, DRDO, HAL, BARC, BHEL. Will colour blindness will effect the job opportunity there? Please suggest where should i go?
Son, I am a retired mechanical engineer, 67 years of age.
Please donot be upset.
In the Govt. job youwill be screened medically, for colour-blindness also.
Safe will be to work in the private R &D for this reason, if you are selected,
this particular limitation may not create much difficulty.
Even then, you should try once, for your dream R & D in the Govt.
You have not told your particular discipline.
In the structural engineering, architect, civil engineering, work in the field in applied mechanics ( in mechanical engineering), in the design office work, computer software
engineering, in the IT, you should be able to work. ( In the Defence R&D, you should not
expect, they are medically very strict).
In essence, try more in software, management (MBA environment), design, HRD, etc. and more attempta in the private sector.
God bless you, have no fear, you will reach satisfaction; or say, you can try to establish your
own industry.
sir,
i have acute color blindness.i am from computer science engineering department.my dream is to be a good software professioal.i have got a job in cognizant technology solutions.but in the offer letter it is mentioned that i can it after being found medically fit by cognizant doctors.so can i join my dream company??????are other major it companies also reject candidate on the basis of only color blind???????
please help me!!!!!!!!!!!reply please
I’m 25 yr old and have done my graduation in Chemistry and a PG diploma in quality control analysis. After completing my training I got a job in a MNC company as a QC analyst. After my medical test I was told that I am slightly colourblind and had to leave my job. After 5 years of studying I have to change my career and start from the begning. I’m interested in marine field and oil field
Could you please help me?
i am a marine engineering cadet of marine academy ,chittagong,bangladesh.
i know that i am a colour blind.i am not nautical cadet.i am a engine cadet.can i do job in ship.please reply.
Hello
I am Bangladeshi too and wanted to pursue marine engineering or nautical profession but I was rejected for color blindness.
I advise you to change the profession right now because after 2 years cadet course u have to face the pre-sea CDC exam. And for a marine engineer color observing is the most important factor as it involves selection of wires and you may put the lives of ship crews in danger.
By the way, I was rejected from Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore even having 6/6 vision.
hi
i am bijay.
i completed my b.tech in marine engg. & now i am rejected as color blindness affects my life, now what should i do? other than this where should i apply for job….plz reply
Dear Bijoy,
I feel really sorry for you, having such a good education, you are in a position of sadness.
As I have already answered, also try in higher studies in the same discipline, teaching, research and development, with salary/fellowship/stipend etc. compensation; also may make a career in the ship management with software backing, or say, in the design work in marine machinery. God Bless.
Son, I am a retired mechanical engineer, 67 years of age.
Please try in the private sector complany in marine engineering,
in tea gardens engineering, in the private power plant etc., in private
marine workshop etc.
i am suffering from partial colorblindness and i want to be an architecture.
will it create problem in my career?
.
.
.
please give u’r suggestion.
In the field of Architechure, you should not find any difficulty.
But, try for private company, and learn software engineering and try to go in the related IT.
God bless.
i am dip. mechanical i have rejected after 1 yr exp. for colour blind
hi,
i’m a 15 year old boy and i’m still in high school. i’m studying hard to become a doctor and i do my best, but i knew for a couple of years already that i was pretty colourblind (especially with red and green). while reading through a medical book i noticed that sometimes it’s important to distinguish colours.
my question is: are you able to become a doctor with a partial colour blindness?
You better try for the Medical Infomatics ( computer software oriented medical science,
related to the design of medicines).
You may find difficulty in the in take to the medical collages…., so , go for the software related to the medical science into which you have interest.
I have a mild colour vision deficiency (CP 3 (red-green category) to be exact),have got a job offer in a steel plant , will I be accepted ?
Please someone with experience , reply soon.
No, dear son, in the steel industry, they are quite strict about colour blindness !
Better you try for private manufacturing/fabrication/mechanical industry.
Try to learn more computer usage, software engineering and get well-engaged in the
profession, better not to try for govt. job.
GOD BLESS. VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011
I am selected in hero honda motors ltd..and recently found out that i have partial colourblindness (red colour deficiency)..i am a mechanical engg.
is there a hope?
sir I am selected in hero honda motors ltd..and recently found out that i have partial colourblindness (red colour deficiency)..i am a mechanical engg.
is there a hope?
hey did u got through the medicals???
As because that is a private organization, you can take a chance, ever for further
experience, first hand expeience, ‘how to face the real world’.
God bless.
@ Kalhan Sir: Do you have any suggestion for a chemical engineer? I mean apart from going to IT.. How much does this affect in private R&D? Is getting a higher degree like MS or PhD any helpful?
Dear Chandan, Son,
If you can get an entry into a private R &D enviornment, you can progress in many fields,
more focused in the design of chemical plants/devices/systems/system design, or
system study; try to focus on design and calculations; chemical engineering field is very extended with unlimited opportunity, do not feel sad….it is ever expanding…
higher study will always help, in the intellectual appreciations…
God Bless.
Recently I went for a driver’s license medical in Gurgaon (India). For the doctor, medical test required only color blind test. I could have been missing legs or arms – that would be fine. But, I could not read the Ishihara plates. Therefore he refused to OK me for a license.
By the way, there was a tout who took money from me and bribed the doctor. I got my license. Now I am worried what I will do at the renewal time.
Does all this mean that I can not take any job which might require driving and honesty (like not bribing the doctor) in India?
sir, i am a student of electrical engineering in my final year. i will get my degree in june this wear. i am very worried about my career because i know that i am a colour blind. i am not able to differentiate between red-green, yellow-green, blue-violet and many others . the situation worsens in case of coloured lights. so please help me out. what sort of jobs can i get?
It is a great advantage that you are an electrical engineer, Dear Amrit, your natural domain
shall be ‘software engineering’ in a private organization, the second option may be, persuing
management studies with an orientation in decision making process or say, HRD, please donot go for industrial domain of electrical engineering….., over all, you may have to make,
either, in teaching post, in some private college, or ‘sure’ in the software (not hardware) domain.Donot try for the govt. job.
There is enough possibility….in the academics field, in private envioronment.
You need not be upset…once you are able to enter into a professional career of any kind,that will give you honourable entry into any domain, govt. or private, as a guest
expert/consultant. Continue studies in higher degree and learn a subject by heart,
then only you can become a true consultant.
God Bless.
Dear Amrit ,
Please contact me via my email if you happen to be free.I got a question for u.TQ
Thank you for your expert guidance sir.
i don’t have ur e mail id.
Sir, I am a mechanical engineering student. I have recently been placed in a private MNC as a piping design engineer through campus selection. Now, last month, when I took a color blindness test, I found that I have red-green color blindness.
Sir, do you think that this condition will impede my career? Also, kindly suggest any alternative career options for a core job in mechanical engineering.
Dear Ramesh,Son,
In an MNC as the Pipeing design domain, you should not get any difficulty with your colour vision difficulty…., the Company should not be very fussy about it, as far as the work is concerned, there should not be any practical difficulty. Moreover, in a comples design situation, of piping, where solid modelling may be used in the computer, it will be a team work, in the three dimensional situations with multi-coloured pipings, you will always get the support from your co-engineers; you need not discuss much about your this problem !
Otherwise, you try to take a career in the ‘machine design’ environment/office or in a machine production workshop (guiding the machining work), you also can go for the maintenance work, donot try for govt. job, otherwise, software field related to the mechanical engineering is always available, donot try for metallurgical job where colour is important, such as foundry/forging etc. Donot go for process plant work.
You can always make a career in teaching in so many private colleges, also you may like to thing about doing your ‘own’ factory work, please donot get upset, you are already getting your employment offers, that is your market value, for you know your subject well…., so many avenues are there for you…GOD BLESS
Thanks sir, for clearing the doubt and advice. I was in fact looking forward to work in process industry since I am good at Thermal Engineering and Fluid Machines. Had I known about this condition of mine earlier, I would have prepared my mindset towards a teaching job…
Dear Ramesh,Son,
When I suggestd you not to go for Process Plant environment, I mainly meant,
Chemical Process Plant. If you get job in the operation/maintenance of Thermal Power Plant,Hydro Plant, in the private sector, it is alright for running the career.
If you get job , in the private sector, in the Flow Machinery, like Pumps, Turbines, say in the manufacturing, there is likely to be no problem. Otherwise, you may always go for the Design enviornment in flow or power plant system, again to say, in the private company, MNC.
As because you are good in the Fluid mechanics, Thermodynamics, Power Plant engineering etc. , it is a great advantage for you, that you are also good in the analytical domain, and that leads to become a good software engineer of great value; you absolutely have no doubt to find a profession of your choice, and , as I said, teaching profession is always available for you, ofcourse, if you continue, your post graduate studies, say, in the path of fluid machinery/mechanics. My only point is , donot try for govt. job where medical clearence is quite rigid. Never think that you have to change your liking/aptitude for flow-system-engineering, actually, half of mechanical engineering is , in some way, extends in energy and flow engineering, into which, ‘you are strong’.
Thanks very much, sir for your advice, I will definitely keep this in mind…
Hi Im color blind with red and green. I’m not sure about the degree of it but I believe I am CP3. Just recently I have been doing the medical for a train driving job. I will have to do the lantern test in the next week. Do you what level of color blindness do they accept?
Also are there any jobs apart from being a sniper in the army that color blind people will excel at? I have a degree in Accounting but in my region it is a small town and competition is very high…
With your Accounts background try something in the same discipline, via, Internet-search,
in other towns also, in the business-world of different kinds; you have a good chance to utilize your knowledge of accountency, this is a good back ground with the nature of your opthalmic problem, to donot try anything technical where use of eye is more important. To start with, you may try in the field of book-keeping, in a humble way, in your town, say , as a trainee first, then, you may try to develop your further education in costing/CA etc., try to learn further, while working and earning, in the use of more and more commercial software, in business related, banking related, to add to your own market value. But, first of all , you need a job, say, in your town itself, to support your self-confidence, even, in the office of a church, or, say, in a club, or, say, in a business outlet. All of them need to keep the ‘book-keeping’ as a compulsion, try this route, to start with. God Bless.
Dear Aviroop,
Swami Vivekananda told, ‘Face the devil, face the brute’, that is face the reality of the hurdles in life. You must face the medical test this time, and shall know your own prospect,
yourself, to chart your career for the correct port of destination. Whereever you go the , the entry medical will be only once, in life, face such test once in the profession, then decide suitably. God Bless. you are sure to find your own success.
@Kalhan sir
thank u for ur information.sir i am ready to face the medical check up and i also know that i can’t pass the colorblind test.sir,would u kindly tell either any chance is present to get in that software company???actually i thought that software line will be perfect for me.was i wrong???????would u tell me spcfically that whether i can opt for CTS,TCS,IBM etc IT major despite my colorblindness?????
Dear Aviroop,
You have been absolutely correct, in my ability to understand, ‘software’ is naturally your line of activity, with the background and with the medical limitation; but, if even for such field, logically, the major IT organizations are not in a mind to appreciate the talent and the service-ability, then it will be really unfortunate , for the both sides. Design work in the hardware, say, embedded items, IC etc. , VLSI etc is not suitable for you, s you can appreciate, next remains, logically, teaching and higher studies. Most important is to get a job first, where such rigid medical hurdle may not be there, even then, I must say, if your line could be software related, it could be appropriate for you.
Anyway, in the beginning of your career , you try in the ‘software’ line irrespective of the special reputations (or not) of an organizations, then decide, allow the Lord to decide for you. It appears to me, you may get the entry to a IT major of your choice, eventually, where such medical problem may not come into in your way, now go on taking chances, leaving no stone unturned.
I don’t understand why industries are not forced to make changes, like change the colours of wires, etc, to enable colour blind people to work. Other ‘disabilities’ have to be catered for. This would be such an easy change to make that would open up opportunities to some very intelligent people, with dreams of a job in engineering or similar, allowing them to pursue their career path. I know my little boy is colour blind. He is 7. So now I feel I have to guide him away from certain things because I know there is no point him studying them, never mind loving them and wanting to do them for a job.
Now we find, via a kind way of brainstorming, employability of colour blindness is taking
a logical way-finding. Excellent to read the opinions of Julie, 22 March and Amrit 23 March.
Once we wanted to remember, Swami Vivekananda’s inspiring support, ‘Face the devil, face the brute’ in the life-skill, while , about to over come a problem in life, that means, donot avoid/or by-pass a problem, face it with courage, no one knows, in what way, a solution shall appear, as a boon in disguise.
So far, the mails were mostly informing the advance level of education, mainly in the technical fields, those having such opthalmic problems and I tried to tell them, in a way of
support, what could be more logical to them, in the approach, in selecting a route to possible success.
Now, Julie and Amrit has suggested something which is very positive.
About Julie, just to tell her, yes, through out the world, in the inspired creativity, many are trying to find out how to offer, in a novel way, the solutions of the technical problems, not only in the field of opthalmology, but, many more in our physiological limitations, social
limitations, administrative limitations.But, such efforts in the route of human progress takes time, if we may consider the various complexity of the sociological problems.
Excellent that, you have said, as the parent, fine that you ‘plan’ early, from the beginning,
for a route of education/training/profession ( for the future of the child), if you are able to know correctly the kind/degree of the difficulty. The possibility in the world/universe is infinite, and one may be able to prosper immensely if guided from the beginning, evaluting the ‘aptitude’ and the ‘natural inclimation’ known with kindness.Broadly speaking, Humanities-Commerce-Science, again may be divided in various kinds of artistic ability, with huge creativity.If choosen with enough confidence, one may become a good leader in that field….let everyone prosper in different routes, that is how, all of us were ‘created’ to perform with joy.Mainly for the economical reason, to try to take up the technical fields, though, many of us, may not be fit for such fields, aptitude-wise, it becomes a forced entry, and in the later stage one only remains, just as an average (I am talking about persons with normal eye-state). This natural inability in a choosen field is also a kind of limitation, like a so called colour blindness.Yes, Joulie, govt. in a country should try to device a way out , technically and administrative way, how to support that group those who has become already qualified in the technical education.
About them, Amrit has indicated a fine oppotunity, start with an NGO who are more inclined to perform to complete a job, time bound. It is a challenge and also an opporunity, to learn what is really practice in a real life situation. Point is, as the country is allowing the process of admission to a technical stream , with the softness, in the medical examination, before the admission, and as, the student is able to complete the educational/training compulsions, for the degree, they also should get, some kind of avenue in the profession, ofcourse, the appropriateness of the fields have to be thought, where the human-life and property is not at stake.
Any judgement should be thought, thinking, gobally/holistically, and just not for a one time solution for a personal gain !
Even then, I want to say, if the planning in the early childhood is not done, for any reason, a person can think to work, in general, in the fields of software, graphics, design, teaching, self-generated business, knowledge generation, performing arts, literature, research in amy field of inclination, data generation and analysis, statistics, mathematics, accontency, philanthropy, social work, more dependence in the private organisation and NGO.
In fine, Let The God Select For You All, but again, God helps her/him more who helps themselves !
@Julie Baxter I am a student of electrical engineering in my final year. the course will get completed in may this year. recently i discovered that i m not eligible to apply for the vacancies in industrial domain of electrical engineering just because i am a colour blind. one by one i kept searching for different such jobs and to my utter surprise all of them clearly mentioned that colour blind people need not to apply and they will be disqualified if they applied. neither i am eligible for any defence jobs and other government jobs for the same s reason. i cried and cried but nothing could be done about this. there was no point in blaming these industries and government. somehow i have consoled myself and few days back was selected for a good job in a NGO, and still i am continously looking for better options in the areas where i am eligible to apply in. i would strongly suggest you to prohibit your son from going into conventional engineering streams in the future, there are enough opportunities in other fields too. and never let your son feel like that he is deficient in anything, he is equally capable like other normal kids just that he would not be able to differentiate between some colours. and one more thing colour blinds are very good at hiding their secrets. ha ha kalhan sir will help you more in this regard. all the best for you and his future.
Today when the world is besieged with such huge problems, it is unreasonable of us to expect any government to look into such small matters. I am a color-blind mechanical engineer, and now that I think about it, if given another chance, I wouldn’t want to be anything else, color blind or not. Today I am preparing for my EIL interview and in a few more days may be one for a steel plant, I know that I might get rejected there, but that will never deter me from looking for career prospects in my field. My knowledge can not be worthless. If nothing else works, I will become a teacher or a scientist at some technology institute; But I will never want to live my life based on the so-called disabilities. From the first atomic model proposed by the color-blind Dalton to the creator of the immensely popular Facebook, Marc Zuckerberg, the world has seen ample examples of color blinds making it big. My advice is, do not let the apparent disability affect your decisions, do what you are good at, that is the best contribution to humanity that you can make.
hiiiii I am rejected 5times. because I am colourblind …. so what can i do.. in my ..feture
Arvind Dear,
What is your field of education or what is your preference in profession or what you know
best or what is your aptitude/inclination, naturally.
God Bless.
hello sir i,am doing software engineering,does partial colourblindness creates any problems in future ,vry upset about it.
I find no reason for you to feel upset, your field is quite alright with your status of
vision, try to learn as much s possible, with the sincerity, for you have to satisfy the
employer about your ‘more ‘ value. Donot try in the Govt., good software organization
with lot of creative people there should not be average in their outlook, they simply want
good work, with good potential, and colour aspect should not come in the consideration.
I am sure, with your software background will be find many opportunities, in creating, designing, using , advancing in the software. Try to get entry into a good software firm, IT firm, for a professional training, such as, IBM etc. to add more value to your more usefulness. Never feel upset in this software climate of the world. God Bless.
The last post was for Deepak, software student.
@kalhan sir
u have already replied to my querry previously—i am also a acute colorblind and got a job in CTS….as u suggest DEEPAK for trying in IBM like MNCs ,can u please inform me whether i would be okay with my colorblindness with CTS??
Affectionately, Aviroop,
Though I donot know enough about their recruitment policy, but, I would suggest,
leave no stone unturned, by adding more value to your employability, by, first,
learning from them, something into which they are specialized ( in the software field,
ofcourse) by making an entry ‘into them’, and permitting them to know, that you are quite
capable in the ‘usage’ of their speciality, and inbetween they will be in a position to understand ‘colour viewing’ in NOT a baffle, getting service from them. So most important is
to secure a ‘training’ arrangement from them. Please response to all such calls, or try through forced applicatins, or trying to arranging visits to them, from your end, preferabbly, taking appointments. Now a days, things are more accessible via Internet.
Point is, never give up, never give up. ( You are not to tell them anything about your
colour-limitations. ). Kindly remember, now, almost everything is a ‘team work’, and you are to receive cooperations from your group, surely. But, the first chance is a ‘God Sent’
opening, for anyone. God Bless.
sir,i m singhu and now i m preparing for eng. entrance exam.i m partilly color blind. sir i want to know that can i go in machanical/electrical/software enginner.and can i take admision in IIT COLLEGE,NIT.
Singhu,
Try for software discipline, if possible. If your merit list permits for very reputed Institutes,
and if you can get admission and chance to study there, please go ahead. First of all, complete your degree requirement, further avenues shall open up, eventually.
Also, your case is a partial one, so chance is more, if you can learn the subject by heart.
Even if, you get chance in the disciplines of your prference, first complete it, and then, switch to the software in that discipline. God bless.
Dear Sir,
I am an IT student from sri lanka who plans o transfer to USA university.And my consultant told that there is a good demand for telecommunication and computer networks in USA.So i decided to transfer my credits to computer networks and telecommunication degree program.But sir i am color blind person.I want to know whether it will affect me in my future career in the field i am going to work.
Dear Snipe,
You are already in the process of becoming a IT professional and if you read the previous postings,
you will appreciate that, the software field (not the hardware) is OK proposition who is not alright with colours. Then, US is a conuntry with extensive possibility…, if someone knows his job, he is always welcome there.Kindly try to read all the previous posting to know the community well and also to receive the positive encouragements. I strongly feel, your talent will be well utilized there, only try to learn the subject with heart, and go ahead with your plan. If US cannot offer the opportunity and solution, none other can ! They are so much ‘scientific’ in attitude that, possibility is
infinite. But, you need not try in the Govt. organizations, they may be very strict in the nedical.
You need not tell anywhere, unless there is any legal binding, that you have such problem. What is required in the profession, whether one can perform well, that is all. With software service there should not be any problem in performing. God bless.
Thank you very much sir.
God Bless you.
Sir I am a final year student of Electronics and Communication having red-green colour blindness, I want to know that what jobs are suitable for me and whether I can apply for PSUs.
Dear Bipin, son,
Yours is a very extended field having very good possibility, but chance in the govt. and PSU is doubtful for they are routinely strict in the medical; even then you should take the chance, just once there, what the luck decides, in those system, medical is only in the entry level, in the later stage, it will not be required any more.You need not tell or write about your visual problem. Let the God decide.
Most probably, avoid the hardware field. Dont you find difficulty in the academic practical work with the coloured electronics equipment/components/assemblages/embedded systems, in the laboratory/project work.
So try for the teaching job,software engineering, research work, further higher studies, acoustics engineering, radar communication engineering, IT, Astro-physics field, medical electronics engineering, knowledge-based electronics and communication; but, in the private organizations , you also can think about business development in your fiield, management of communication engineering etc. Must be many more with further imagination. God Bless You.
Thank you sir for your reply and regarding the difficulty in the academic practical work with the coloured electronics equipment/components/assemblages/embedded systems, in the laboratory/project work till now I haven’t faced such problem. Also sir can you tell me whether their is any such physical parameter regarding colour blindness to be fulfilled for giving Indian Engineering Service (IES) examination and once again thank you for you helpfull advice.
1. Dear Bipin, I am not telling that you are not in a position to perform, professionally,
in the hardware, point is the medical criteria, in the govt., if they can evaluate you for the colour viewing difficulty, they may not clear you for the appointment. Ofcourse, All depends on your degree of defect, that is why, you take the chance, once.
2. For IES, the comment is the same as above. I suggest, you sit for the exam., then, after the academic selection, go for the medical when they suggest so, and see what happens, in the actual situation.
3. You will find many openings, later, with your qualifications, in suitable organizations.
All the best.
Thanks alot sir.
Dear sir,
My colour vision is defective. I want to be Hindi Officer in any govt organization. Will this be problematic for me in medical examination?
Dear Dilip Kumar,
To work as a Hindi Officer, may not create any problem for you, but, for the entry to the Govt. Org, , either for technical or non-technical post, criteria for the medical clearence
will be the same, more or less ! So, I suggest, you take a chance first, and face the test first,
in the actual situation ( you need not tell them anything from your side), and depending on the acuteness of your problem, no one knows, you may secure the clearence, if the God so decides. Best of luck.
kalhan sir,
my little brother has just passed class 12th(commerce stream) with 61%.
I know that he is a colour blind(fully).
so now keeping his future in concern, which course should he apply to?
please suggest some good courses with good universities, plus we are an average earning middle class family, we can’t afford very high fees.
DEar AMRIT,
It is a very good planning that your brother did his studies in commerce. With his medical limitations, it is entirely appropriate.
First of all you have to select a near by college/university fromyour residence so that expenditure will be less. Then, first of all, complete, B.Com. course ( Bachelor in Commers, I mean, with Accountency as Honours subject, as obviously). With that, he will get a good graduate degree in a core field. Then, depending on opportunity/possibility/result/finance, he may go for any good avenue in the Commerce field, such as, CA ( Chartared Accountency ). If he is willing, he should focus on Accountency, as his future field of profession, side by side, let him learn, use of software in varoious commercial fields, such as, banking etc. Try to search the Internet for various kinds of trainings in the commercial software and accountency.
From now onward, you may like to contact CA Organization in Delhi , (but you must not tell them about his visual problems etc., that is not required also.) for their advise for use in future. But, I suggest, he must complete his commerce degree first , then the other things.
GOD BLESS.
Sir i m mechanical engg. & want to know how color blindness affects in assembly lines
Dear Ankit,
In the assebly line, before the actual automated assembly sequence is set in the shop floor ,
thorough time-motion-work study is done to establish the time to complete the phase of an assembly job, that is, as you know, part A has to reach a station B to complete an assembly phase C, in a specific time limit, and to keep the station B ready for the next unit A available at that station. Now depending on the kind of machine unit to be assembled , even in the planning stage, in the drawing, there may be multicoloued lines and instructions, and in the actual assembly line, there may be items of multi coloured items with faces coloured with different colours for identifications, there may be safety norms written in different coloures; again, depending on the kind of machine to be assembled, say, electronic, or say, mechatronics (combination of fine mechanism combined with electronics or electrical parts), there can be many many situations via colouerd instructions, so you can well appreciate ! God Bless.
Sir,
My son has got a good rank in AIEEE and would get a seat in good NIT.. Unfortunately, we have come to know just recently as he is a red-green color deficient i.e. partial color blind..
Kindly suggest which branch is more appropriate for him so that he should not face any problem in his career..
Sir,
My son has got a good rank in AIEEE and would get a seat in good NIT.. Unfortunately, we have come to know just recently as he is a red-green color deficient i.e. partial color blind..
Kindly suggest which branch is more appropriate for him so that he should not face any problem in his career..
Surya Rao
Ref. Shri Rao.
1. Please consult an Opthalmologist to know the EXTENT of the defect, in the practical sense, if it is of minor nature, then he may take up any field of his preference. But, please remember, for any Govt. job, in future he may not get the clearence, depending on the class/nature of the defect.
2. If he is also good as an artist , he may consider Architecture stream.
3. He may also go for, BCA, MCA, Physics, Mathyematics type of course to lead himself to Software Engineering.
4. What I feel , going for any core engineering field, like, civil, mechanical, electrical, may not be suitable, for problem in future, same is for chemical, electronics….., computer engineering, may also create problem, but computer science (not engineering) may offer some possibility. But, in the private organisation, he may be taken in, with all the engineering fields.
5. Kindly read all other mails in this forum to get more ideas.
6. Though I feel sorry for him, but, for a good student like him possibility is ever- expanding…
God bless you in taking a well thought decision.
Thank you for your reply,sir. Can the Information Technology poses any problem in real working in software companies.. Which one is preferable among Information Technology and Computer Science Engg. Please reply sir.
Surya Rao
IT (Information Technology) will be more preferable to Computer Science Engg. IT will have more chance to work in the use and design of software domain and computer science engg demands design of hardware related to computer world. Though, chance of working with software is always possible in computer science engineering also. But, my feeling is, IT will be more inclined to the chance of working in software field, that too, may not be always in the field of technology-oriented, may be in any field of human endavour, say, strategic studies, commerce, banking, design of medicine (Medical Informatics), genetics, supply chain design, space science and technology, etc etc. , so with his kind of case, say, a good degree in Information Technology will be more suitable, to expand in later years.
Having said all this, and selecting a good course in a good Institution, leave the rest to The Lord, no one knows, what is optimum for us, every thing is destined, as all of us are aware ! Since he has got a good chance to further his studies, let him secure a good degree first, in any possible field, then let us see how he charts his port of destination. God Bless.
hi i am a colour blind plz teel me weather i eligible for IAS EXAM OR PCS….REPLY ME FAST
Dear Sir,
I recently got a job in a automobile industry electrical.i am red green colour blind.medical test is pending..Will it be possible for me to get through
Dear Shantanu,
I / We pray for your success in the medical.
You sure take the chance, and post the result for us all.
(You need not tell them anything from your side, let them decide the acceptability).
Yours is an actual case study for others to know the possibility, when they arrive to such a moment. Swamiji ( Swami Vivekananda told, “When there is a conflict between the head and the heart, follow the heart. ).
GOD BLESS YOU.
Sir,
I am rejected from from tata motors thou i was able to identify individual colours and wire colours.Now i sholud look for a MBA in finance.I got another offer from volvo.is it a problem over there?
Shantanu,
Never give up….face Volvo.
Also try for MBA, it is a good idea.
God Bless.
sir,i have very mild color blindness.i can read 20 out of 24 plates in ishihara clearly,i am a mechanical engineering student in fourth year.can i get through psu’s and other good private companies such as tata motors.
Dear Prabhakar, I feel you stand a very good chance, even in PSU, but all depends on a chance factor, during the moment of the screening; otherwise, so many of us are having so many kinds of limitations, in a fine/feeble level, in physical or mental ; that may be more psychological, than physical.Your case is really a , ‘almost no problem’. But , from your side, never try to discuss with the examining doctor; from case to case, they will take a broad view, and you will be successful.GOD BLESS.
Dear Sir,
I have a red-green color blindness. I have done my MSc in organic chemistry and right now i have two offers, one for R&D executive in organic synthesis and other as a customer application specialist in a analytical instrument company. CTC Package is almost same.
Which job will be more suitable for me considering my physical limitatioons and future carrer scope?
thank you in advance.
Since you have already secured the jobs, you can accept any one, depending on your
vision in life. In R &D it will be more intellectual/academic engagement, if you so like, otherwise, the next one, customer application specialist in a analytical instrument company., is of more marketing type, if you so like. To come to your specific question, it will be more ‘safe’, in the customer application specialist in a analytical instrument company.This is my perception. ( It is really, difficult to take a decision, for , as a career, there is nothing like the R &D environment, from where, you also may like to switch over to teaching, if so required, in future.). Let the Lord guide you.
i am marine engine cadet ,has just completed pre sea training from bangladesh marine academy and i have taken C.D.C. my eye sight is 6/6 and i have passed lantern test.But now i have applied in a company but there madical officer told me that i am a colour blind that is i failed in ishihara test but i passed in lantern test.
so now i am in a big problem that i have no hope about my carrier.I can’t think anymore.if there anybody please help me.
my e-mail address is shahedshazib@gmail.com
i got through in second company..but tata motor doctors rr very strict..they conduct medical test in their own hospitaif any one wants more clarification abt tml mail me shantanupatil2010@rediffmail.com
My dear Son,
I really feel very sorry for you; but , please , all of us, has to face the reality in life, and I must tell that, ‘Face the devil, face the brute’ (Swami Vivekananda), to curve out the more possibilities in our lives, I can say, your so called unsuccess, now , is entirely temporary, you have more avenues to open, never give up, never give up.
Now about your tests, the previous ones, say, the lantern tests etc., was through your Institute, and there was no provision for Ishihara test, may be, may be they thought , it was not required. But, when you appeared for the actual employment in a professional company, may be they had more strict standard of screening; so that is that.However, True, in the actual marine environment, one needs the very strict screening. But, I must tell you, you must take chance, at least thrice, in other marine organizations, not govt., but in private companies, they may have urgent requirement; more over we still not sure, what was the extent of your limitation in the colour blindness, so get more testing chances, in the actual environments.
Later, if required, try for the shore jobs in the private companies, such as, marine workshops, ship repair facility, tea industry, power plants, maintenance and operations in the various industries.
The following article I had collected for sharing in this forum. I sinerely acknowledge the contribution of the kind opthalmologist who had written it to help us all. His name was not available in the article.
” WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011
Not necessary that all have an eye for colour
Be it the fiery red, melancholic blue or vibrant yellow, colours are indispensable to life. Instilling emotions, feelings and thoughts, human beings have always assosiated colours with joy, pleasure or grief. After all, visual aesthetics do play an important role in creation, perception and shaping your responses.� Have you ever wondered how different would the world be for those who cannot differentiate between some of the colours? Colour blindness or colour vision deficiency, a condition that came into limelight after John Dalton’s paper on extraordinary facts relating to the vision of colours, can be defined as the decreased ability to perceive differences between some of the colours that others can distinguish. It is often of genetic nature, but may also occur because of some eye, nerve, or brain damage, or exposure to certain chemicals.� Here’s what Dr Kaushik Murali, Consultant Paediatric Ophthalmology, director Nanna Kannu Comprehensive Eye Care Programme for Children, Sankara Eye Hospital has to say about colour blindness in children What is color blindness and what are the different types? Colour blindness is used in colloquial terms to refer to the difficulty in distinguishing colours apart but a more correct term would be colour vision defect. Colour blindness is a misnomer because only a small percentage of people are unable to see any colour. Five to eight per cent of men and 0.5 per cent of women in the world are born colour blind.� The defect can be inherited or acquired. There are three groups of inherited colour vision defects: monochromacy, dichromacy and anomalous trichromacy.� The last two groups are subdivided into red-green and blue-yellow types of defects. Monochromacy-Rod monochromats, or complete achromats, are truly colour blind since they cannot distinguish any hues. Dichromacy is a less severe form of colour defect than monochromacy.� Dichromats can differentiate some hues apart. The ability of anomalous trichromats to distinguish between hues is better than dichromats but still not normal.
What should teachers, school nurses, and parents know about being colour blind? How can they help children? Children may have difficulty especially with close hues. With colour being an integral part of the education system, it becomes important that teachers are aware of the possibility of some of the children having defective colour vision. To maximise contrast it is always better to use a white chalk as opposed to coloured chalks on a dark board. Also, teachers may look to label pictures where the response requires colour determination. Most parents are unaware of their child having a problem as a preventive screening is often not done. It would be ideal to screen the child at one, three and five years of age for visual problems. The colour vision can be tested in all five-year-olds and most three-year- olds.� Can you tell us about the pediatric colour vision test for three to six-year- old children? In children we use a variant of the Ischihara test which is based on an pseudoisochromatic principle. For the non verbals there are patterns that the child can follow. For older folks we prefer the FM 100 hue test which is a more elaborate test and also provides a computer based analysis of the particular colour variants affected and the extent of the same.
How does the world look to someone who is colour deficient? The world is not black and white as most would assume. They do not learn to call red ‘green’ and vice versa. Protanomalous or deuteranomalous individuals can usually pass as a normal observer in everyday activities. They may make occasional errors in colour names, or may encounter difficulties in discriminating small differences in colours, but usually they do not perform very differently from the normal except on colour vision tests. The colour spectrum shifts depending on the colour affected and they may find differentiation especially difficult in dim light.
Dear kalhan sir, this is madesh recently i got selected in sbi…….but i am red green colorblindness……..will this be a problem in selecting me after my medical examination…
but banks select visible impaired candidates also……then wat about color blindness candidates……….please kindly reply to my question…………….
Dear Mades,
This is a very good news, that you are in the process of selection in SBI, after the medical
clearence. First of all, please go through the medical process and know for yourself their
norms. I feel, personally, you will not find any difficulty in working in that environment. But, as because that is a govt. organization, they are suppose to follow the medical procedure like the similer ones; I am not sure, if there has been any thing other than that. What normally happens in the normal govt. jobs, for the medical clearnce, they send the candidates to the district medical college (govt.) and in most of the procedures, they follow the same procedure, including the colour blindness test, no matter for which organization thay are being screened, in a routine way. Yes, depending on the mood of the medical team and the discipline of the hospital, there may be , say, sometimes, some amount of Leniency or say, human error; so, always take a chance, no one knows the destiny !
You have raised the point of blind person being selected, say, but, that may be in the quota
criteria, advertised accordingly and the stipulated leniency already decided according to the govt./SBI rules. God bless you, and take the chance.
Dear Mr.Kalhan,
both my children have red green colour blindness(strong) and are in 8th and 9th standard.
first one is intrested in astronomy and research.he is logical,analytical and hardworking.second one is extrovert,bright and happy go lucky(will fit into management stream).we do not want them to take accountancy/CA or teaching and prefer them to do a basic engineering course and then branch off.
which would be a correct engineering field for both of them-mechanical engineering,software engineering,aerospace engineering?is it possible for them to do nanotechnology and go towards medical nanotechnology side?we may be able to supposrt them for the graduation financially and are anxious to see them settled in good and financially sound job.we have not put across any of our career suggestions to children as we want them to choose and evolve on their own(and moreover do not want to provide any wrong guidancce inadverently as they are having red green colour blindness(strong)).Shall appreciate your advise and insight for their future guidance,
I undersatnd the limitations in reputed big engg and software firms as also the limitations in psu and govt sector(in India) for colour blind candidates.does software engineering perse involve any colour appreciation?
Regards
Anand
Dear Mr. Anand,
I must appreciate in your understanding in planning, yes, where is a real limitations, but, true, with sincere thoughtfulness, thare has to be an illumination, as much as, the Lord guides, in His Will.We must have trust in the self, more so, we must have trust in the Ultimate SELF , at the same time we have to take ‘logical’ goal , with open mind, trusting into , what is logically possible, say.
As such, going into engineering in the field of THEIR preference, is always possible, in fulfilling the basic wish, but as you are in a position to appreciate, in the profession, in true engineering field, in the organizations having the usual screening procedures for the colour blindness, may create baffles.
But, if he takes up, pure physics upto masters level and selects astronomy as the major, he can fulfill his dream, also, if he wishes, can go for radio physics/applied physics, as the case may be, in the post graduation.Otherwise, if he has to go for software in any field, let him complete , either M.Sc. in Physics or a basic engineering in any field, say, mechanical.
For the second child, as you have indicated, let him complete a basic degree in engineering in any field liked by him then an MBA.
GOD BLESS.
is there any jobs for marine engineer who has color blindness,as merchant navy don’t allow me to join?
Dear Bijoy,
Please try for shore job, in maintenance, say, in marine workshop, tea gardens, power plants, automobile related, steel plants, that means, in the segments of maintenance, in mechanical/metallurgical industries, in private sector. God Bless.
is there any jobs for marine engineer who has color blindness,as merchant navy don’t allow me to join?
Can a color blind student take admission in mbbs cource?if he do it,can he applied for govt job after completing mbbs?i will be gratefull if i get the answer
Govt. job is not possible, one may try in the private sector.
i m b.tech electrical engg last year student and colour blind and i am defence lover means desperate to join any defence but i think i cant because of colour blindness so wht should i do as i have been selected for ssb by indian navy and should i go for higher studies but i m very strong in my branch and if not defence i love to join any privatr firm of elect core so what should i do i m totaly u know kind of dying and kalhan sanyal i dont know u but i must say u have done totally noble cause i would say thanks from side of alll problem facers..
Iam nikhil kumar 4th year electronics and communication engineering student.I recently found that i have colour blindness.Iam interested in automation(companies like honey well automation).will this colourblindness create any problem in seeking job in the field of automation.Reply plz………
Nikhil, you have to take chance with open mind, one after another, only The Lord knows !
May be your problem is minor.
All the best.
friends can I take admission in food science and technology I am colour blind,I can see all colour but why I am colour blind I dont know
Go ahead in your dream of education, Lord shall hold your hand when the need be.
i m selected in techmahindra and bank po..medical is pending…if i will be rejected in both then i will be a wrong person…i will do illegal job…becoz they will reject me on d basis which does matter rhe performance in that field…aaag lga dunga duniya me…
can i do fashion designing ? i have color vision defect ?
Yes, but may be in a Team of designers.
I feel, as you are basically a creative artist, you are sure to find openings.
God Bless.
thanks a lot for your answer … i also hope for the best ..
I have been selected to the interview for scientist-B position in Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). I am from metallurgical engg stream.I have got color blindness (red-green deficiencies). ..In the application it is mentioned that final selection will be approved only after medical fitness test. They didn’t mention in the application that color blindness people aren’t eligible. Am I eligible for the post?..if so only then I will be in a position to attend the interview to be conducted in next month.please clarify my doubt
Dear Arun,
You should attend the interview without fail and see for yourself what happens.
In any govt. job medical procedure is almost same.
From your side do not tell them anything, let them evaluate in their normal way.
God bless.
Sir,
i got job in coal and steel companies but i got rejected in medical just because of colour blindness…is there any way to crack ishihara plates by remembering numbers. If so please tell me how and is that book common every where…please help….
Dear Sukumar,
Unfortunately that is not possible, scheme is done with huge maturity, statistically
compiling the colour-dot patterns by the opthalmologists of great merit. Also neither
it is ethical to skip a well pattened evaluation for which the society will suffer, in the long run,
from a various kinds of possible accidents.
Now, you have to select a profession more judiciously, try to read many more responses in the same forums also try to take the advice of some good opthalmologists who will be in a better position to suggest some more avenues.Teaching may be a good option, say.
God Bless.
Thank you very much for your suggestion sir
I feel your pain… I have just done my aptitude and medical at cranwell for the aac, I passed the aptitude but they’ve put me as a cp4. Which has angered me, they didn’t do the lantern test they just did the bloody ishihara. I have to wait two weeks for my results now but I think I’m going to argue my case as I’m expecting a negative outcome. Do you know if I can request further investigation?
Many thanks
sir,iam vijay from electronics and communication engineering.i recently applied for a job in cdot(centre for department of telematics).iam colour blind.will there be any problem of colourblindness in that???
Dear Vijay,
In my appreciation, to work and learn in CDOT is nat a problem for you.
But, as because that is a GOVT. Org. the procedure of medical test is likely to be same.
But, as that is a real creative Org., try you luck and see what the GOD arranges for you.
All the best.