Anoop Verma
GIVEN a chance every student might want to have his Curriculum Vitae (CV) embellished with a degree from a reputed university. But at times financial considerations or other factors come in the way and many students are forced to explore variety of career options after completing their schooling. It is now possible for Class 12 passed students to enrol for a short duration diploma programme before entering the career of their choice. There exist a range of courses in which candidates can pursue two or three-year programme and begin working straight away.
If the student has been able to identify the domain of his choice early in life, then it becomes much easier for him to dive into a desired career pool. Those who have not been able to identify the domain where they would like to build a career must conduct a comprehensive research before joining the course that is most suitable for their needs and aspirations. After that they have to identify the courses that can impart you with the necessary skill-set. Today we live in a very dynamic economy, and major employers have started seeing value in diploma and certificate courses.
Here is a list of diploma options that you can explore: Diploma in Engineering
You may be surprised to hear that even in a highly technical field like engineering, you can have a good career through by acquiring diplomas. Currently, in India, we are having more than 300 different kinds of Diplomas, Post Diplomas and Post Graduate Diplomas on offer in the Engineering field.
Your diploma can enable you to have a lucrative career in areas as diverse as Aeronautical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Automobile Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Hardware & Networking, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Industrial Safety & Engineering, Marine Engineering, Leather and Footwear Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Production & Industrial Engineering, Videography & Audiography, Textile Designing, etc.
In most cases the minimum qualification required for the diploma level course is Class 12, but in some cases you can also join the courses after completing your Class 10. It is possible that the diploma would span three years if pursued after Class 10 and two years if pursued after Class 12. It is better to go in for a diploma course that is approved by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). The fee structure in many cases is quite reasonable, and most students are able to afford it.
Diplomas in Management
Today there exists great demand for ready-to-be-employed, well-trained and skilled people for managing the various aspects of our industries. Offered in various functional specialisations, some management diplomas aim at skill development of people willing to join or excel as professionals in management domain. Like in case of engineering, there are different kinds of courses that the institutes have come up with to train students for jobs in various industries. Such diplomas usually lead to a significant improvement in the salary that you can command.
Diploma in IT
Many students covet a diploma in IT because the field of IT plays a major role in other crucial sectors like banking, manufacturing, telecom, hospitality, hospitals, etc. Moreover, IT is a promising discipline by itself. There is a huge demand for software programming, data mining, business intelligence software, analytics courses, cloud computing, data warehousing, android and windows mobile- based applications development both in India and abroad. Today education in the IT sector is mainly divided into four segments – vendor-based certifications, vendor-neutral certifications, government-based certifications and specialised programmes that are offered by private institutes.
Diplomas in Finance
The courses in finance tend to be highly focussed and intensive in nature, but the candidates who are well trained face no problem in getting absorbed by the industry. The National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. (NSE), which is a popular stock exchange in the country, is providing courses in finance. The course is a Post Graduate programme in Financial Markets (PGP-FM). It is conducted on a weekday and weekend mode. The programme runs in collaboration with the National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM), which is promoted by the Ministry of Finance.
Candidates who have scored 50 per cent marks in graduation are eligible to apply for the course. Students with CAT/MAT/XAT score can also apply. It is also possible for aspirants to appear for NIFM-NSE online test and clear after a personal interview.
Similarly the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) is also offering courses in finance. For undergraduates, a key programme of the BSE is the Global Financial Market Professional Programme. It is a part-time programme of 2.5 years, with enrolling capacity of 30 students and conducted in all the four metro cities and Ahmedabad. You can also go in for diplomas in insurance, banking and other areas of financial management. A Standard and Poor’s Company, CRISIL, has come up with the Certified Analyst Programme (CCAP). The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is also making contributions in the area of education.
Diplomas in Science
New developments in healthcare and other sectors have led to a large number of openings for host of professionals. These are jobs that are well paid and yield high level of satisfaction. After passing Class 12th you could enrol for a diploma course that gives you both theoretical and practical exposure to hospitals. Beyond healthcare, you can go for a diploma in horticulture, which is one of the main branches of agricultural science. The rising level of affluence in our urban centres is leading to the demand for professionals who are trained in areas of nutrition and dietetics. There is simply no dearth of options that you can explore in the area of science.
