From childhood, we have been told that the only way to succeed in life is to score good marks. Our teachers and parents encourage us to improve our grades and focus on examinations. But the truth is your career depends on something other than your score or a degree. There are multiple fields and career opportunities where an average or even a less-than-average student can shine and earn well if they have the right skills.
When we say scholars we are referring to people who have consistently performed well in examinations and scored excellent marks or grades. No worries if you don’t fall in that category, let’s look at five career alternatives you can explore that don’t focus on your mark sheet.
1. Animation
Animation is all about creating visual effects for media such as films, video games, mobile devices, online platforms, and many more. If you are well trained, you have unlimited scope not only in India but also abroad. There are various skills you need to master to do well in this field.
Where to begin?
You need to complete your secondary school education i.e. 10th and 12th to get admission in an undergraduate animation course. One can complete secondary education in any stream-science, commerce, or arts to begin a career in animation.
Types of Animation Courses in India
Diploma Courses
These courses generally last from six months to one year. Students who have completed 10th std are eligible for diploma courses. These kinds of courses are beneficial for those who want to get familiarised with the industry.
Certificate Courses
These are for a short duration ranging from 3 to 6 months. You can specialize in one particular aspect of animation such as VFX, 2D animation, 3D Animation, CG art, etc.
Bachelor’s Degree Courses
These are detailed under graduation programs for 3 years duration. You can even get a master’s degree after completing your bachelor’s.
Get more details about all the animation courses in India.
In India, the average salary in this field ranges from 2- 6 lakhs per annum. One can excel in this field with further specialization and experience.
3 Pointers to remember
1. It is a diverse field. You should decide the role you want to undertake based on your interest and future scope.
2. Choose the right course that will teach you the right skills, the latest techniques, and trends.
3. In upcoming years, careers related to VR animation are more likely to have a wider scope compared to 2D animation projects.
2. Graphic Design
Graphic Designing blends art and technology to communicate messages. It is used heavily in the advertising industry, both print & digital. It helps create an entire identity for the brand right from logos to visiting cards, flyers, and more. One can begin their career in this field by simply enrolling in graphic designing courses.
Where to begin?
You don’t need any educational qualification to become a Graphic Designer but it is advisable to complete your secondary and higher secondary education.
If you have the passion for art or the visual medium, below are three ways to become a Graphic Designer
Bachelor’s Degree
One can learn graphic design through degree courses related to media studies and applied arts. Explore one such course in Goa here.
Self Study
There are various websites and YouTube channels where you can self-learn different software and skills. But there is one disadvantage, you won’t be able to get practical knowledge and solve real-live problems until you don’t get any gigs. Here are 15 beneficial YouTube channels for Graphic Designers from where you can learn a lot more.
Short Courses
There is no other quick and efficient way to kickstart your Graphic Designing career than short courses. One can go for online or offline courses. There are various online platform that offers basic Graphic Design course like Unacademy.
But offline courses are more likely to cover in-depth details while providing personalized attention and opportunities for networking.
Pay range
The annual salary of Graphic Designers can range from 2 to 8 lakhs per annum based on skills and experience.
3 Pointers to remember
1.There are different niches in Graphic designing and specializing in one will give you an edge over your competitors.
2.In Graphic Designing, you can find a lot of freelancing opportunities. You can also set up your own company because there is a high demand for such services.
3.Designers need to keep polishing their skills and update themselves with the latest tools and technology used in the industry.
3. Website Designing
In our modern world, the web design industry is one of the most lucrative career options. The digital world demands a unique space to showcase every product, person, or brand; this can be fulfilled through websites. A misconception among youth is that one must know coding languages to become a web designer. But Web designing mainly deals with visual and interaction with users on the website.
Where to begin?
After completing your 10th and 12th std from any stream, you can either opt for Bachelor’s degree in Computer science or enroll in diploma courses. One can also go for specialized courses that will teach you about one platform to begin your career.
Web Designers play an important role in website development right from determining the aesthetics of the website like colors, and layout to technical aspects such as managing traffic. There are various ways one can design websites without any coding knowledge using platforms like Webflow and WordPress.
WordPress : User-friendly system
Wordpess is one of the most popular content management systems. It is an open-source platform (meaning free) that is designed for non-programmers. The WordPress community has developed various plugins and themes for users worldwide.
Elementor is one such plugin that has got the seal of approval from lots of website builders. You can learn to build websites via elementor in just two months.
Pay Range
The annual salary of a Website designer range from 2 to 5 lakhs per annum, depending on multiple factors like company, experience, and skills.
3 pointers to remember
1. This is a field full of opportunities since every company wants to showcase its work through websites.
2. Once you learn the basics you can easily develop your skills via Youtube and other online sources.
3. One should begin by building mock websites to display their skills and expand their portfolio.
4. Event Management
Nowadays any private, corporate, or community event requires a great deal of planning and management. From weddings to conferences, you can use your leadership and organizational skills to build your career in this industry.
Where to begin?
There is no need for one particular kind of qualification to get a job in an event industry but a university degree or diploma can increase your chances of securing a job. However, if you want to work in a reputed company, you must have an MBA degree along with good public relation skills. Getting a degree in public relations along with Masters in marketing will provide added advantage in this profession.
It involves organizing an event with focused goals, visualizing concepts, planning, budgeting, executing events etc. People who are creative, enterprising, analytical, good with people, and who can work effectively under pressure are best suited for this job.
You can start your career at a fairly low expense with minimum qualifications. There is a lot of human interaction and job diversity in this field. It can also provide traveling opportunities. Networking also plays a huge role in building your career. Event management in India is a flourishing industry and there are immense opportunities in the trade, culture, sports, and entertainment sectors.
Pay Range
The average annual salary of people working in the event management industry can range from 4 to 10 lakhs, depending on the company and position.
3 points to remember
1.Freshers can start their careers by doing internships or undertaking voluntary work with NGOs.
2.You need to be flexible and adaptable to take up the challenges since it involves a lot of work pressure and long hours of work quite often.
3.A degree in communication, public relation, or management studies can be helpful in this field.
5. Fashion and Lifestyle
If you have a taste in fashion and lifestyle, you can explore this ever-booming industry. Specialize in one type of style or choose a role that suits you the best. A career in fashion demands creativity, originality, and aesthetic sensibilities. It is one of the most exciting career paths available worldwide, especially in India.
Where to begin?
After completing 12th std from any stream one can graduate with B.sc or B.es in Fashion Design. There are various institutions in India that provide bachelor, master and diploma courses in Fashion.
Today a career in Fashion is not just limited to designing garments. There are various branches like Textile and apparel design, Accessory design, Jewelry design, Fashion technology, Luxury brand management, Fashion business management, Image consulting/ personal styling, Fashion blogging,Influencers and photography.
Pay range
In India, the annual average salary range from 6 lakhs to 9 lakhs depending upon the brand you are working with. It also depends on the city and states you are based in. For example, You can pursue high-paying opportunities in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Banglore compared to other cities in India.
3 points to remember
1. In India, the fashion industry is not organized, and competition is extreme.
2. The best place to start as a fresher is to get an internship.
3. If you start with a small agency, there are more chances of getting versatile practical experience and more accomplishment on an individual level.
