When the whole crowd is after the engineering and medical courses, there is a chance for you to stand out of the herd and opt for vocational training courses. This will not only hone your skills but will be a lifetime learning experience. These courses make the students be career-ready in three aspects: academic skills, employability skills, and technical, career-specific skills.
Vocational study and courses have the following characteristics:
- Focus on a specific trade or field
- Non-academic in-nature
- Hands-on experience & practical activities
- Need Apprenticeships or on-the-job training
- Need a credential, certificate, or diploma
Vocational Courses deal with the industry-friendly skills that are provided to the candidates into the diverse fields and aim at preparing them for a dedicated career.
Few of the popular vocational courses in India are:
1. Digital Marketing
The demand for online platforms is surging, so is for Digital marketing. The scope of this subject is growing day by day, and many people are opting to become digital marketing professionals and trying their fate in the digital sector. The average salary ranges from 1.5 lacs per annum - 3 lacs per annum for a fresher in India. Someone with 5-10 years of experience may earn up to Rs. 10 LPA - Rs. 30 LPA.
Career prospects: Here one can choose any specialisation and can be offered job roles such as SEO expert, Social Media Manager, Social Media Expert, Content Developer, Content Marketing Manager, PPC expert, Email Marketer and many more.
2. Web Development and Designing
Private Institutes offer the diploma and certificate courses in web development and designing. The duration of these courses varies over the nature of the relevant program and can last from six months to two years. The Average Web Developer’s Salary in India is 2.75 to 3.5 lakhs per annum
Career prospects: The sector is seeing unprecedented growth and MNCs, as well as the small companies, are hiring the new developers.
3. Food and Beverages
A Diploma degree in Food and Beverages is usually of 6 months to 1-year duration. Candidates who have strong communication skills along with good knowledge on hotel administration can opt for this course. The average salary ranges between Rs 1.8 – 6 lakhs per annum.
Career prospects: On completion of this course, the candidates can be placed as chefs, Head cooks, waiters, beverage manager, etc.
4. Audio Technicians/Electrical Technicians
One can opt for the certificate and the course over the audio engineering that imparts the knowledge on the technical side of the music and the broadcasting communications. These technicians are also in charge of the relevant equipment which records the music and the audio tracks. The job prospect is promising and many of the big and the small houses hire such skilled professionals.
Career prospects: An electrical technician maintains and repairs the electrical connections and fittings, installs and checks maintenance of the wiring, checks control over the lighting systems at homes, offices or factories. With the dependence over the electrical products, the demand for the technicians has risen for servicing and the maintenance. The job responsibilities here are repairing and up-gradation of the electronics equipment and the systems.
5. Game Designer
The Gaming Industry in India is rapidly growing and is expected to be a market of 1 billion people. The game designers design the video games and discover technical aspects that are needed into the designing of every single video game and have sound knowledge of the computer software which are used to design the new age advanced video games. In gaming, the popular streams are Animation, Computer Science, Graphic design, Multimedia Design, and Software engineering. To become a Designer you need to be proficient in 3D as well as 2D art. A bachelor's degree is required to enter the gaming industry.
The salary of a game designer depends on the job role he is performing. The average salary ranges from Rs. 3 lac p.a- Rs.8 lac p.a.
6. Foreign Language Expert
With businesses witnessing a boom all over the world, demands for the foreign language experts are seeing an all-time high. The primary job responsibility of the language expert is to communicate with foreign clients mostly about the company’s product range and the services. Some of the other requirements are needed in translation work, software development, foreign language tutoring and in the embassy of countries. The most demanding foreign languages in India are Chinese, Japanese, French and German. One can also join in a travel and tourism company as a tour guide.
Chinese is the highest paying foreign language in India that draws an average salary of Rs 8 Lac per annum- Rs 11 lac per annum depending on the job role.
Career prospects: They can work in sectors like travel and tourism, international organisations, publishing industries, diplomatic services, embassies, etc.
7. Animation, Graphics, and Multimedia
The course study over Animation and Multimedia can be of a great opportunity, where the creative bent of mind is the prerequisite for the relevant course. There are a number of institutions in the country who offer the 1-2 years of the diploma courses, whereas, the B.Sc and B.Courses offered in this sector are of the three-years duration. The salary of a fresher may vary from Rs 8k–12k per month.A well-experienced animator who has a good portfolio of excellent animation work could easily get Rs. 50,000-60,000 per month.
Career prospects: The candidates will majorly get placed in sectors like television, education, gaming, advertisements, etc.
8. Forensic Scientists
If mystery-solving is your forte, then straight away go for a Diploma degree in Forensic Science. This course will help you solve criminal disputes.
Career prospects: They can work as forensic technicians, bloodstain pattern analyst, DNA analyst and scientists in laboratories, R&D facilities, Government institutes, private institutes, etc.
9. Photography
The career options of this course field lie in the field of photojournalism, Fashion and Advertising, Nature and the Wildlife, Travel or the Event Photography. As per “India today” a photographer can earn Rs. 2 lakh- Rs. 3.5 lakh per year as a starting salary.
Career Prospects: One can also start one's career as an assistant photographer or join website design agencies or work as a freelancer. Photojournalism is known to be an exciting job which requires the clicking of the news-worthy images.
10. Disaster Management
This course aims at the creation of strategies for countering fatalities, natural disasters, man-made disasters, etc.
Career prospects: A course in Disaster Management will enhance your knowledge and skills in dealing with disaster and your decision-making capacity.
You can apply in:
- Government disaster management departments like fire, law enforcement authorities, relief agencies, etc.
- NGOs
- MNCs Security administration
- High-risk sectors (like petroleum and mining industries)
There are several ways to choose for the best career and work over the pursuit. These vocational career options fill the bridge gap between the candidate and the dreams.