Journalism of Courage
Advertisement
Premium

Unconventional Careers: Image consultants, doodle artists, wedding planners and more

What is common among all these unconventional career choices is that they involve more skills, passion and innovation rather than pursuing specific educational background or a career path.

Unconventional careers for students after Class 12Tea tasters, wedding planners, doodle artists, food artists and many more unconventional career options are now available. (Representative image. Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element.

Sana Jamal

The advent of the Internet, the emergence of new-age technologies and evolving educational system have fuelled the rise of unconventional career options. Gone are the days when an engineer and a doctor were the only coveted career options available to the youth. Today, even your favourite pastime can be turned into a full-time vocation. Some of these unconventional career options are given below:

Image Consultant

An image consultant is a professional who manages the image and its elements, such as appearance, behaviour and communication of individuals and companies. It involves an understanding of who the client is, their personal and professional goals and his characteristic traits. The minimum eligibility is Class 12, followed by a course in communication and certification in image management. Aspirants should have excellent interpersonal skills, sound management skills and a passion for fashion. 

Some of the notable image consultants are Renu Mehra, Nidhi Jagtiani, Neha Gupta and Samira Gupta, among other.

Courses and institutes

There are several short-term courses available in this domain. Some of the institutes offering an image management course are as follows:

Image Consulting Business Institute, New Delhi 

Indian School of Image Management, Mumbai

— Pearl Academy, New Delhi

— International Image Consulting Institute, New Delhi

Salary and prospects:

There are several career options available in image consulting, including fashion blogger, beauty pageant and event stylist, jewellery and accessory stylist, bridal and wedding stylist, celebrity stylist, grooming and etiquette coach, corporate trainer and many more. A good image is the demand of the 21st century, and hence image consultants are sought-after by celebrities, corporates, politicians, companies, influencers, artists and many more.

Some of the top recruiters in this industry include Image Redefined, Suits Me, Style Puzzle, DressLife and many more.

Story continues below this ad

The starting salary is Rs 10,000 to 15,000 monthly, which upgrades with experience. Staying up-to-date with the latest fashion trends, strong networking skills and taking specialised courses will help you stay ahead of your peers.

Doodle Artist

Do you know that doodling on the last pages of the notebook during lectures is now a full-time career option? Although a doodle appears to consist of simple abstract patterns and lines, these elements have a representational meaning. Doodling is an excellent option for presenting information graphically. Creativity, a flair for design, and sound knowledge of design tools are necessary for this profession. Doodle artists are employed by print houses, magazines, comics, animation companies, merchandising outlets, fashion houses and FMCG firms. 

Courses and institutes

To become a doodle artist, one can choose courses such as Bachelor in Fine Arts (BFA), Bachelor’s in Visual Communication or Bachelor’s in Communication Design after Class 12. Try to gain an internship early on and gain relevant experience. Showcasing your portfolio on Behance and Pinterest always helps. Some of the institutions that can be the gateway to your doodling career are:

— National Institute of Design

— Indian Institute of Art and Design

— Pearl Academy

— National Institute of Fine Arts

Salary and prospects:

A doodle artist can work as a creative technologist, graphic recordist, comic book artist, whiteboard animator, children’s book illustrator, etc. They are highly in demand by creative and advertising agencies, film and production houses, media, gaming and entertainment firms. As a novice, you can expect a minimum salary of Rs 2.8 lakhs per annum which can go up to Rs 15-20 lakhs, depending upon your experience. 

Story continues below this ad

Tea Tasters

If you are a tea lover and looking to pursue it as a career option, choose tea tasting as your career. Tea tasters assess the quality of tea by tasting before scale and exploring blending options. A typical tea taster might taste around 100 samples daily during the peak season.  Tea tasters are thoroughly abreast of tea production and trends, and can reveal much about tea merely by examining leaves.

Courses and institutes

There are currently no full-fledged courses available in tea tasting. However, the demand has spurred short-term certifications, which can be helpful. A Class 12 degree in science followed by a bachelor’s in Botany, Horticulture, Agricultural Sciences, and Food Science is a good starting point. Subsequently, candidates can opt for specialised courses in tea management. An in-depth understanding of the tea industry, strong sensory skills and decision-making skills are vital for tea tasters. Some of the institutes offering tea-tasting courses in India include

— Assam Agricultural University

— Dipras Institute of Professional Studies, Kolkata

— Darjeeling Tea Research and Management Association, Darjeeling

— University of North Bengal, Darjeeling

— Birla Institute of Management and Futuristic Studies, Kolkata

— Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Bangalore

Salary and prospects:

Many companies employ tea tasters to ensure quality and prepare specialised blends. Tea Tasters find jobs in plantations as well as tea trading businesses. You may also consider starting your own tea brand. Tea tasters earn around Rs 3 lakh per month, while specialists can easily expect a salary of Rs 6 lakh per annum.

Wedding Planner

Wedding planners plan ‘the special day’ for people by taking care of all arrangements such as venue, décor, guest lists, music, and catering. A typical job of a wedding planner begins with a consultation and deciding on specifics, followed by research, contracting, planning the flow of events and implementation. With destination weddings gaining momentum, wedding planners get to travel to exotic locations. Moreover, evolving wedding trends such as sustainability, limited guest lists, and demand for personalization have given a fillip to wedding planning as a career option. Wedding planners should have sound knowledge of aesthetics, good management skills, and an eye for detail and creativity. 

Courses and institutes: 

Story continues below this ad

A bachelor’s degree in Event Management or Hospitality and Tourism Management can be the gateway to your career in wedding planning. Several institutes are offering short-term courses in the domain, which will add brownie points to your profile. Some of the institutes offering courses in wedding planning include:

— Tritya Institute of Event Management, New Delhi

— Wedding Management Institute, New Delhi

Salary and prospects:

In India, people are willing to go the extra mile to make their weddings special. Wedding planners work in event management firms, wedding planning agencies, hotels and creative agencies. Some of the top recruiters include Devika Narain & Company, Savya Weddings, DeamKraftz, etc.

The salary of an entrant typically varies from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 per month. A full-fledged wedding planner typically charges 10-15 per cent of the total wedding cost.

Food Stylists

If you credit photographers for making food look enticing in photographs, think again. Besides photographs, food stylists also play an important role in making food look attractive through garnishing, dressing and presentation skills. Flair for design, excellent photography and photo editing skills, and understanding of the colour palette and aesthetics are crucial skills for this profession. As a food stylist, you can work with magazines, advertising companies, photographers, restaurants, or freelancers.

Courses and institutes:

Story continues below this ad

A degree in hotel management, culinary management and food service management comes in handy for this career. The minimum eligibility for these courses is Class 12 from any discipline with a minimum aggregate of 50 per cent marks. Some of the reputed institutes include

— Institute of Hotel Management, Catering and Nutrition, New Delhi

— Amity University, New Delhi

— Galgotias University, Noida

— UEI Global, New Delhi

Salary and prospects:

Food and hospitality are booming industries, with new food chains and fast-food joints opening almost every month. Most of these food chains are increasingly investing in their social media presence, increasing the demand for food stylists. As per Glassdoor, food stylists typically start with an average salary of Rs 16,000 per month, which increases with experience. 

There are umpteen career options available to youth today. What is common among all these unconventional career choices is that they involve more skills, passion and innovation rather than pursuing specific educational background or a career path. So, if you dare to think beyond the obvious, opt for unconventional career paths where the sky is the limit. 

(The writer is a Career Coach at Mindler)

From the homepage
Tags:
  • Career Career options wedding planners
Edition
Install the Express App for
a better experience
Featured
Trending Topics
News
Multimedia
Follow Us
Express PremiumRise of the new peacemakers
X