Career as Shoe Technologist

In today's life Shoes have become more than just footwear. With growing demand of shoe engineering, the scope of work for a shoe technologist not only designs a footwear products as per fashion trends but also decides on the material to be used. A shoe technologist also uses the requisite technical know how to enhance the performance of the footwear. A lot of trial and error goes into the creation of a shoe product. It helps a shoe technologist to be a little stubborn. A strong passion for sports in general and athletic shoes in particular is most important. Being able to identify opportunities (and these often come disguised as problems) is equally important. Finally, being a good problem solver (engineering method helps here) counts because your first solution is rarely the correct one. There's a lot of trial and error in getting to a final product so being a little stubborn is a good thing.

To start with, there are a lot of blogs and websites dedicated to the shoe industry. Exploring these and seeing if one feels as strongly about shoes as the people posting comments, will give one a sense of how well suited one is for the job. For a two year PG diploma in management - footwear technology (PGDM-FT) from the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI), graduation in any stream is a must. Admission is through an All India entrance Exam.

To think that someone, somewhere is going home happy because of a product that you helped create is very rewarding. One gets to be one's own shoe-tester. One does not always get one's way. Some of what one may think is one's best ideas may never see the light of day.

Shoe Technologiest (Footwear Technician) Payoff and Jobs

Shoe Engineering in india, a trainee footwear designer / footwear technician earns Rs. 2.5 lakhs to Rs. 3.5 lakh per annum. An executive footwear designer / footwear technician gets Rs. 3.5 lakh to Rs. 5.0 lakh per annum. A manager earns Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 7 lakh per annum.