Today's generation lives in an era of rapid change and uncertainty where traditional career pathways are faced with unprecedented challenges. With the rise of technology, globalisation, and shifting societal norms, there’s been a creation of a landscape where job security is no longer guaranteed. There has to be a way out of the 9-to-5 grind. In the face of all the ambiguity, it naturally becomes crucial to recognise the need to explore alternative career pathways that offer much more fulfillment, flexibility, and growth, despite being unconventional.
So here are 3 unique career options that an aspiring young adult may look into:
1) Speech-language pathology (SLP): This is one of the fastest-growing careers. Speech-language pathologists are trained professionals who help individuals overcome difficulties with communication and swallowing, broadly speaking. Their job umbrellas a large variety of specialties to consider.
For example- Aphasia Rehabilitation, dysphagia rehabilitation, dysarthria management, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), cognitive-communication therapy, voice therapy, fluency therapy, and much more. Besides, one of the best parts is that you can choose to work in a setting you prefer. It could be a school setting, hospital, clinic, rehabilitation centre, outpatient, private practice, or even a research centre. The pay scale varies from place to place. But on average, SLPs make about Rs 7-8 lakh per annum.
How to be a speech-language pathologist?
To be a speech-language pathologist in India, you are first required to qualify for your bachelor’s (4 years) and master’s degree (2 years) from a recognised university. After completing your master's degree, you need to register with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) to practice as a speech-language pathologist.
Simran Kaur, a passionate SLP, exemplifies the impact of this specialised career path. As a founder of Simran Speech and Hearing Clinic in Ludhiana, she embodies the dedication and expertise required in this field. Simran's story serves as a beacon of inspiration for the youth, highlighting the significance of speech therapy in transforming lives. At Simran Speech and Hearing Clinic, individuals of all ages find solace and support in their journey towards improved communication. From children with developmental delays to adults recovering from strokes, Simran's personalised therapy plans cater to diverse needs with compassion and empathy.
Understanding the diverse needs of each child, Simran tailors her therapy sessions to maximise their hearing potential and speech development. She specialises in providing specialised speech therapy and Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT) for hearing-impaired children utilising digital hearing aids and cochlear implants at her clinic in Ludhiana.
2) Social Media Management- Social media has become a principle area for marketing, owing to its capability of reaching thousands of people across the globe and realising their needs and demands. As a social media manager, you’re expected to set strategies for scheduled content posting and driving engagement on a company’s social platforms. Besides creative writing and editing, you also have to learn how to analyse data to see how the company’s content is performing and make changes accordingly.
Ultimately you are supposed to report the metrics to your marketing team and the company’s stakeholders. Although it depends upon the company and the products it is advertising, typically social media manager salary in India ranges between Rs 1.1 Lakhs to Rs 10.0 Lakhs with an average annual salary of Rs 5.3 Lakhs.
How to be a social media manager?
To be a social media manager, you need to have a Bachelor’s degree in digital marketing. A master’s degree in a relevant field may provide an extra edge. Again, there are further classifications to this career option. You can, depending on your skills, choose to be an advertising manager, content manager, PR manager, or SEO manager. There are many success stories of several social media managers including those of Neil Patel, Mandeep Singh Chahal, Bhavik Sarkhedi, and many more.
3) Virtual Reality (VR) Designing- This includes creating immersive and interactive virtual reality environments for various purposes, such as gaming, education, training, or therapy. It combines creativity, technology, and also an incredible opportunity to shape future digital experiences. Programming languages like Python, C+, and JavaScript are also used for automation, data processing, or creating custom tools.
Virtual Reality Developer salary in India ranges between Rs 1.1 Lakhs to Rs 13.5 Lakhs with an average annual salary of Rs 4.2 Lakhs. To become a Virtual Reality Experience Designer in India, you would typically need a bachelor's degree in a related field such as Computer Science, Game Design, Graphic Design, Animation, or Multimedia. Additionally, pursuing specialised courses or certifications in Virtual Reality (VR) development, 3D modeling, animation, and programming languages like Unity or Unreal Engine can enhance your skills and marketability in this field.