If you are a student who is either planning to pursue or is already pursuing ITI courses, you must have encountered one very nagging but important question, i.e., ‘What are the career prospects after ITI?’
Career Options after ITI Courses
If you are a student who is either planning to pursue or is already pursuing ITI courses, you must have encountered one very nagging but important question, i.e., ‘What are the career prospects after ITI?’ Today, skills of a professional matter as much as their academic degree. To top that, various government programmes such as Skill India are also pushing to empower the youth of the country with skill sets which make them more employable and more productive in their work environment. Therefore, students who have undergone training at the Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) across India, have excellent career opportunities ahead of them.
Popularity of ITI Courses
Traditionally, ITI courses have been very popular among the students, especially from rural areas, as they provide courses that focus on skill development. Students who walk out of ITIs are skilled professionals, either in the Engineering or Non-Engineering trades.
However, in the last decade or so, the popularity of the ITI courses has dipped drastically due to various factors. This has compelled many students to start thinking about the viability of taking up an ITI course. Today, students often face questions such as ‘Have ITI training programs lost their old sheen? Are such training programs useful at present?’ Come, let us find answers to these questions.
Career Options After ITI Courses
The 21st century is the century of skills and knowledge; professionals who possess specialized skills or have the right knowledge and know how to apply them have been successful. Therefore, thinking that ITI courses are inferior to the others or do not present good career opportunities will be wrong. In fact, with rising unemployment rates, in many cases, ITI students who have the right skill set and training will have a better chance of employment as compared to others who hold higher academic qualifications.
As far as career opportunities are concerned, ITI students have two main options that are available to them, i.e., either go for further studies or explore job opportunities. Both these options have their own advantages as discussed below:
1. Further Studies
- Diploma Courses: For students who have undergone ITI training in technical trades or engineering domains, there are several engineering diploma courses available. Unlike the ITI courses, the diploma engineering courses go in the details of the respective subject covering both theoretical as well as practical aspects of the domain.
- Specialized Short Term Courses: For ITI students from certain specific trades, the Advanced Training Institutes (ATI) offer specialized short-term courses. These courses help students hone their skills further, specific to the job profiles or industry requirements in the respective domains.
- All India Trade Test: Another option for ITI students after the completion of ITI course is to go for AITT or All India Trade Test. The All India Trade Test is conducted by the NCVT (National Council for Vocational Training ). The exam is a skill test that certifies the ITI students. After passing AITT, students are awarded National Trade Certificate (NTC) in concerning trade by NCVT. In many engineering trades, an NTC is equivalent to diploma degree.
2. Job Opportunities
Just like other professional and vocational courses institute, even ITIs have dedicated placement cells which look after placement of students. These placement cells have tie-ups with various governmental organizations, private companies and even foreign companies, who hire the students for jobs in several trades.
A. Job in Public Sector Units
The biggest employer of ITI students is the public sector or the government agencies. Students who have completed their ITI can seek employment with various Public Sector Units / PSUs such as Railways, Telecom / BSNL, IOCL, ONCG, State-wise PWDs and others. In addition to this, they can also explore career opportunities with the Indian Armed Forces i.e. Indian Army. Indian Navy, Air force, BSF, CRPF and other paramilitary forces.
B. Jobs in Private Sector
Private sector, especially the ones dealing in manufacturing and mechanics seek out ITI students for trade specific jobs. The key sectors in which ITI students can find lucrative career opportunities include construction, agriculture, textiles, energy. As far as specific job profiles are concerned, electronics, welding refrigeration and air-conditioner mechanic are the most sought-after skills in an ITI student in the private sector.
C. Self-Employment
This is probably the most important advantage of opting for ITI course, as it allows one to start own business and be self-employed. Thanks to the preference towards white-collar jobs, professionals who do blue collar services. Therefore, today we find an acute shortage of trained and qualified plumbers, carpenters, construction workers, agricultural workers etc. This is a great opportunity for students with an ITI certificate to start their business and be self-employed.
D. Jobs in Foreign Countries
Another career opportunity that ITI students can explore after the completion of their course is off-shore jobs. Similar to India, many developed and developing countries are facing the shortage of blue-collar professionals; people who can fix things or provide associated services. Especially for specific trades like Fritters, there are many job opportunities with international oil and gas factories and shipyards etc.
