Job-oriented diplomas after 10+2 (Part III)

Updated on: Sunday, November 07, 2010

Selecting a Diploma course in India must be little difficult, since many of them do not provide a prospective career for the individual in the future.

However, in spite of this complex situation several individuals have managed to get good jobs after completing a diploma. Many aver

that they were able to get even fulfilling careers through these diploma courses. All that they mustered were commitment, skill, talent, aptitude and above all healthy discipline.

Diploma in IT/ Hardware:

THE monitor flickers relentlessly, the mouse gets whimsical and the CPU makes a strange sound! Its time to call Mr Fixit, the computer hardware engineer. Unlike the software field, computer hardware is all about the architecture of the device.

This includes configuration, troubleshooting and maintenance, assembly and dismantling of the components besides networking architecture and overall security system.

Entry level; The minimum educational qualification required for a programme in IT/ Hardware engineering depends from course to course. An institution which confers short-term certificate course (of six months) or a diploma (of 12 months) sets the eligibility as 10+2. Opportunities do exist for higher studies in this sector, but are not essential for the first job.

Course content: This includes understanding computer components, diagnosing problems and troubleshooting them. Fixing, repairing, replacement, upgradation and installation of the device are the major thrusts in learning.

The students are also trained in leading operating systems like Unix, Windows 2000 and others. At higher levels, students gain expertise in Local Area Networking and Wide Area Networking respectively. With increased instances of security breaches incorporate functioning, now the concepts of security configuration and firewall data also find elaborate mention in the curriculum.

Job responsibilities: LAN performance, adding/deleting users, adding servers, creating backup of critical data are some of the task that a fresh engineer is assigned with, says Prakash, an engineer working with HCL. In the next stage of job growth, a responsible candidate would be assigned with tackling of advanced TCP/IP, security fundamentals, security implementation and router security to safeguard corporate information.

The stages of growth, broadly moves from being an engineer to senior engineer and then on to server administrator. Next stage is off-site or on-site manager/project manager and then a consultant, says Prakash.

We conduct a personal interview to check if the applicants are serious. Creativity and interest are a must Ravinder Goyal Director, IACM

All companies need IT/hardware engineers. Multinational companies as well as IT companies have in-house employees who are responsible for security and maintenance of the systems. Some large recruiters include Google, Wipro, Tata Consultancy Services, Citibank, Mercer, Agilent Technologies, General Electric and HCL among scores of others.

Other requirements: It is widely perceived that an engineers job is not in the frontline and therefore communication skill is not significant. However, this notion doesn't hold much ground in todays job market. In current context, engineers interface with customers is frequent and ever expanding. Therefore, engineers who are proficient in conversing hold a definite edge over their co-workers.

Ambitious candidates also keep their employability levels high by pacing up with technological advancement. Any other qualification like vendor certificates like Microsoft MCSE or Cisco CCNA or CCNP or CCIE, or Novel CNE or Sun Microsystems Sun Solaris Administrator adds to an engineers profile. But remember as you move up the scale it is the skill that matters more than the certification.
Ravinder GoyaL, Director, IACM says, by 2012, there will be a demand of over 5 million computer professionals, as per a recently concluded IDC-NASSCOM McKinsey survey.Today, even an organisation having five employees can function without networking support.

A network engineer must be capable of implementing, administering, maintaining computer Hardware, Networks and overall Security Systems. He or she will be able to manage and troubleshoot computer hardware and LANS, administer and configure different kinds of servers, implement and manage CCTV, Biometric, smart Access Control Systems and RFID devices and maintain access control systems, manage Intruder Alarm and Building Automation and prevent and manage fire through Automatic Alarm Systems and much more.

After completing the programme a student can work as a Trainee Engineer in the field of Hardware, Networking and Electronic Security at a starting salary of around Rs. 5,000-10,000. He can grow as Server Administrator, Network Administrator, Security Manager, Project Manager, Infrastructure Leader and a Technology Consultant. With a starting salary of around Rs 5,000-10,000 at an entry level, a student can reach up to a salary of 12 lakhs per annum in a span of around 8 -10 years.

Job-oriented diplomas after 10+2 (Part III)

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