Alternative Careers After High School – (Part II)
Given the fact that in our country the pass percentage of students in 10th & 12th std exams averages at 55–60 % and in this, at least 50% secure marks between 45 to 60%, the dilemma is what’s the best option for such students? A regular two year course at college or get hands on training in two years and become employable? It’s a Catch-22 situation for many students and parents. But a decision must be taken, else the future is at stake. With this scene in the background, there are the alternative career options which promise exciting opportunities to the young generation, writes AMEEN-E-MUDASSIR.
APPAREL / FASHION TECHNOLOGY
Today, the textile and apparel sector employs 35 million people (and is the second largest employer), generates 1/5th of the total export earnings and contributes four percent to the GDP, thereby making it the largest industrial sector of India.
“It is expected that Indian firms will have to invest close to Rs. 1400 billion by year 2010 to increase its global trade to $ 50 bn. This kind of investment would require, by our calculations, about 70,000 supervisors and 1.05 million operators in the textile sector and at least 112,000 supervisors and 2.8 million operators in the apparel sector and all this is dependent on the availability of skilled manpower.” ~ Pankaj Chandra, IIM-Ahmedabad, The Textile and Apparel Industry in India, April 2006.
Courses offered by leading apparel technology and fashion designing institutes/ colleges across India
1. Sewing Machine Operator: One month (full time)
2. Computer Aided Textile and Garment Designing: Three months
3. Apparel Production Supervisor: Six months.
4. Sewing machine mechanic: Six months.
5. Fashion Design & Boutique Management
6. Garment Manufacturing Technology.
7. Pattern Cutting Master’s Course (six months)
8. Garment Construction Course (four months)
9. Measurement & Quality Control Course (three months)
10. And many more tailor-made courses to suit the industry needs.
Few selected institutes across India:
1. National Institute of Fashion Technology with centers in New Delhi, Chennai, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore. Website:http://www.niftindia.com/
2. Apparel Training & Design Centres in Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Ludhiana, Tirupur, Trivandrum, Noida, Gurgaon, Indore, Mumbai, Mewat, Faridabad, Gundlapochampally, Surat, Bangalore, Chennai, Kanpur, Tronica City, Bhubaneshwar, Silvassa, Ranchi, Rayadurg. For more details visit: www.aepcindia.com
3. IITC – India International Trade Centre – Training Institutes in New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Pune and Nagpur. Website: http://www.iitcworld.com/training.htm
Job Opportunities in Apparel/ Fashion Industry
According to a leading apparel technology institute, the career options available for students after finishing courses in Apparel technology are:
1. Sample Coordinator.
2. Supervisor in Production Planning and Control.
3.Costume Designers, Fashion Coordinators.
4.Visual Merchandisers, Quality Controllers.
5. Apparel Manufacturing Technology and Management.
6. Becoming Entrepreneurs, setting up own business.
INTERIOR DESIGNING
An interior designer/ decorator acts mainly as an advisor to his client. The planning for the interior furniture, furnishings, design patterns, colour combinations, etc., is an integral part of the job. At certain levels an interior designer takes up exclusive and unique designs of furniture, fittings and artefacts, keeping in mind a client’s tastes, personality, lifestyle and his budget.
Personality requirements to be an Interior designer: skill of imagination, creativity, innovation, originality, ability to visualize and translate them to actual work, good skills of communication, etc.
Few selected institutes offering courses in Interior Designing:
1. Small Industries Service Institute (SISI), GoI, Ministry of Small Scale Industries, Bangalore – 44. Website: www.sisikarnataka.org. SISI Centers are also present in all major cities and towns across India in Chennai, Goa, Guwahati, Indore, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mumbai, Jaipur, Ranchi and Kanpur.
Diploma in Interior Decoration & Designing
Duration: Six months. Eligibility: 10th pass and above.
2. Exterior-Interiors (P) Ltd, F-12 , Kalkaji Main Rd, 1st & 2nd Floor, New Delhi-110 019. With centers in Calcutta, Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Shillong, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka & USA. Website: http://www.exterior-interiors.com
3. IITC – India International Trade Centre: Training Institutes in New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Pune and Nagpur. Website: http://www.iitcworld.com/training.htm
Diploma in Interior Designing (One year)
Eligibility: 10th standard pass
4. U.P. Rajarshi Tandon Open University, 17 Maharshi Dayanand Marg, Allahabad – 211001.
One year vocational Diploma in Interior designing
Job prospects:
In our country, there is a huge increase in the demand for interior designers in all areas of construction – houses, bungalow, malls, apartments, villas, companies, exhibitions etc. After successful completion of a course in interior designing and undergoing practical training, the candidate can work with architecture firms, and set up his own business.
FISHERIES SCIENCE
Today for a country like India which has more than 3,000 miles of sea coast, the sea food industry plays a key role in its economic growth. If growth is measured in terms of economic gains then a flourishing career in fishery sciences means “more” growth, gains and huge, steady profits. Listed below are two training programs leading to technical careers in the Fishing and Marine Industry:
Refrigeration Technician Training Course
Qualification: Pass in SSLC or equivalent
Duration of the course: Ten Months.
Course fee: Rs. 1000/- per head per month.
Course details: Refrigeration theory and practical including Refrigeration Engineering, Electricity connected to Refrigeration, Basic Physics, Basic Chemistry, Welding, Psychrometry, Thermodynamics and practical sessions.
For admission details, contact: The Director, Integrated Fisheries project. Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016.
Career Training in Vessel Navigator and Marine Fitter Trades
The Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical & Engineering Training (CIFNET) at Kochi/ Chennai/ Vishakapatnam offers career training to candidates in Vessel Navigator and Marine Fitter Trades which have been newly introduced by Director General of Education & Training, Ministry of Labour, New Delhi under Craftsman Training Scheme of NCVT.
Duration: 24 months, including training on board fishing vessels at sea.
Entrance Exam: 1st July at CIFNET Kochi, Chennai and Vishakapatnam.
Eligibility: Pass in 10th Standard (SSLC)
For details, contact: Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training, Fine Arts Avenue, Dewan’s Road, Kochi-682016. Website: http://www.cifnet.gov.in
Job Prospects
The demand for highly skilled manpower is increasing every day in the Fisheries industry. Jobs exist in the fish processing, breeding industries both private and public.
The above mentioned vocational training in vessel navigator and marine fitter trades will lead to technician careers in the marine and fishing industry.
[Any Queries on Career/ Education, send to MSW – Career Guidance & Information Center (CIGMA) Foundation, # 214, United School Building, Ilyasnagar, J. P. Nagar Post, Bangalore – 560078. Email: ameen@cigma.in , Website: www.cigma.in]
