How Can A Diploma Help You Switch Careers? April 19, 2022

How Can A Diploma Help You Switch Careers?

Gone are the days when one would stick to one particular job and industry for their entire lives. Today there are so many career options and one can work in whichever field they have an interest in. Usually, to start working in any field, one would have to complete a full-time degree program.

However, for people pressed on time, there is a solution, diploma courses. There are several institutes like TOMS that provide diploma courses. Before enrolling in one, let us understand how a diploma course can help in switching careers.

Table of Contents

What is a Diploma?

Diploma Course Details

Eligibility Criteria

Admissions Process

Benefits of a Diploma Course

Things to consider before switching careers

Switching Careers with a Diploma

 

What is a Diploma?

A diploma course is a short-term degree that is more fast-tracked and job-oriented. Generally, students who wish to start working immediately but do not have the time or funds for a full-time course can opt for a diploma course. Most diploma courses admit students who have completed their class 10th examinations. Applicants are not required to have completed their class 12th examinations to enroll in a diploma course.

Diploma courses can be used to enroll in a full-time course in the same field, directly into the second year. Alternatively, there are certain industries that will hire a diploma holder too. Most diploma courses are completed over a period of one to two years but depending on the chosen subject the duration will differ. For instance, diploma in Engineering courses run a duration of three years

Diploma Course Details

Diploma courses also have their own eligibility criteria and admissions processes. These will differ depending on the course topic and also on the university one is applying to. However for general reference, one can refer to the following. th examinations. Applicants are not required to have completed their class 12th examinations to enroll in a diploma course.

Eligibility Criteria

As stated before, diploma courses require their applicants to have completed class 10th examinations. Some courses accept class 12th, and pass-out students, too. Also, at a minimum, the aggregate score to apply should be 50%. This aggregate score could be higher for some courses. The schooling should be also from a nationally recognized educational board.

Moreover, for Engineering courses like a diploma in Chemical Engineering one must have had Science subjects like Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics at class 10th level.

Admissions Process

Admissions for diploma courses take place on both merit basis and through entrance tests. For merit-based admissions, only the aggregate score of the previous qualifying examination is taken. Thereafter, if an applicant meets the cut-off they will be invited for admission. For entrance test-based admissions, universities could ask for both national or state level entrance test scores. Institutes could also hold their own tests for admissions. Only if the test taker completes the test and meets the minimum passing mark will they move on to the next round in admissions.

Benefits of a Diploma Course

While the most obvious choice for choosing to enroll in a diploma course is that it is short term and perfect to start working immediately, there are more than meets the eye. For anyone on the fence about deciding between a diploma course and a regular program, the following are some benefits of earning a diploma degree.

Diploma courses are job-oriented. They teach the essential industry skills to start working on it.

Diploma courses are highly flexible. There are more subject options as compared to other programs.

Diploma courses can be completed completely online in the comfort of home.

The admissions criteria are more relaxed and less cumbersome for diploma courses than regular courses.

Another major benefit of opting for a diploma course is its cost. Diploma courses are of comparatively lower cost. However, the cost will be different for private and public institutes.

Things to consider before switching career?

Be it during work or student life, it is quite common to be confused as to which career path to take up after graduation. During this introspection phase, it is essential to think objectively and figure out why is there a need to change careers. To do so, consider the following points.

Look at the reason for unhappiness in the present field. If the present work is looking easy then simply asking for more responsibilities or moving to a different vertical in the job would help in some cases. In any case, a frank talk with a senior would help immensely.

If there is a career you wish to change to, consider the finance aspect. If the career requires taking up a course then what are the course fees. Moreover, one would possibly also have to relocate.

Besides the above point, consider the changes the said career would bring about in your life, in terms of work-life balance. Can the said career change be made without making drastic changes in the existing routine?

Research online or through one’s network if anyone has made a career change and how they went about it.

Switching Careers with a Diploma

The process for switching careers will not be the same for two individuals. For starters, it would be harder to switch between certain fields. Thereafter, the individual’s existing qualifications and the job must also be considered before making the switch. Also, a step-by-step guide can be referred to, making the process easier which has been written below.

Figure out if you are happy in your existing field. Generally, certain problems can be solved after some introspection and communication with seniors or teachers. After all, one should not regret the career change move later on.

List down interests, skills, and hobbies. Take time to understand what would make you happy doing for the rest of your working life. There are lots of tests and quizzes online for the same purpose that will be helpful.

With a couple of career options narrowed down, explore the career graph in these jobs. Talk to professors or others in the field. What are the entry-level jobs, the experienced level jobs, the salary graph, qualifications required, etc?

Prepare a tentative action plan of steps to take. Shortlist courses in the field and their admission processes and fees. Take one last review before proceeding.

Take admission in the chosen course like diploma in Chemical Engineering and complete all course requirements.

After the course is finished, look for employment in the field.

As students choosing a career that one would be happy in for the rest of their lives is easy. Luckily, it is not as hard to switch careers today. While there are many ways to do so, one way is to take up a course like a diploma to switch careers. Diploma courses are the perfect solution. They are short-term and industry-oriented making it easy to look for employment after graduation.