Are you confused about your career after B.Com? As a B.Com student, I’m sure you’re constantly asked about your plans after graduation. And if you’re especially in your last year, apart from your teachers and parents worrying about your career options, I’m sure you’re constantly worrying about your career after B.com too.
However, fret not! In this article, we will explore all conceivable career options after B.Com for you.
After graduation, students have two options – they can either look for a job or they can pursue higher studies.
Bachelor of Commerce is a very popular graduation course, however, it is not enough. With the increasing competition in the market, freshers find it very difficult to find an acceptable job let alone a high-paying job. In such conditions, you need to boost your profile by adding relevant post-graduation or professional certification courses to your resume.
In contrast to the popular notion, there are a handful of avenues available for B.Com students to explore after graduation. With this in mind, I have listed out the top options for a career after B.Com. This list will help you select the right career path as per your interests and intellect.
Top 12 Career Options After B.Com
1. Digital Marketing
Most students aren’t aware of this career option after B.Com and I’d like to shed some light on this topic. If you think you’re a creative person and don’t find the standard B.Com career options appealing, scroll no further.
With the digital economy embedded in every corner of our lives, digital marketing is one of the best skills to learn for almost everybody and not just B.Com students.
In a digital marketing course, you will essentially learn multiple concepts and techniques that will help you promote a brand or business through the internet. In a digital marketing course, you will learn principles like Social Media Marketing (SMM), Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Website Development, Email Marketing and so on.
There are multiple avenues and opportunities for you to venture in this field. And with the gap between demand and supply of a digital marketer, companies will reward you generously. If you’re keen on opting for digital marketing as a career after B.Com, I’d take a look at IIDE’s Post-Graduate Course in Digital Marketing with an MBA equivalent exposure.
Eligibility: Class 12 and above
Duration: 3 to 11 months
Avg. Salary: 4 to 15 lakh rupees per annum
2. Chartered Accountancy (CA)
Every commerce student is aware of this career option. It is one of the most popular and reputable career options for B.Com students. By opting for a CA course, you can craft a lucrative career for yourself as CAs are in an outrageous demand.
To begin your career in CA, you have to clear three exams conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). These exams are CPT, IPCC and Final CA.
After successfully clearing all these exams along with an internship of 2.5 years, you can blissfully add the title of CA to your name. As a chartered accountant, you can open your own firm or make a career for yourself in banking, finance companies, mutual funds, legal companies, investment homes, auditing firms and more.
Eligibility: Graduation + 2.5 years of professional experience
Duration: 3 years
Avg. Salary: 7 to 20 lakh rupees per annum
3. Master of Business Administration (MBA)
I’m sure many have already suggested this as a viable option for your career after B.Com. It is the most popular and desirable post-graduation program among students of all streams. Through an MBA program, you can bag a high-paying job and build a more stable career.
However, pursuing an MBA program will only help you craft a successful career if you’re practising it from a top B-school. Having an MBA degree from a less credible institution won’t add much value to your profile. Hence, before you opt for this career option, make sure you can secure an admission at a reputable institute.
In an MBA program, you will learn how to manage all aspects of a business based on your specialization course. To get into a college that offers an MBA program, you will first need to clear the CAT (Common Admission Test) exam with good scores. These scores will determine which college you pursue an MBA program.
Eligibility: Graduation + a valid CAT or any other relevant test score
Duration: 2 years
Avg. Salary: 6 to 10 lakh rupees per annum
4. Master of Commerce (M.Com)
M.Com is another popular career option among students. You should definitely think about opting for an M.Com program if you’re looking to build an academic career or a career in the BFSI (Banking, Financial Services and Insurance) department or Accounting and taxation department.
You can gain an M.Com degree from any recognized institution. In this course, you learn all the concepts you’ve learned as a B.Com student but with greater depth and you learn to implement it on businesses. You can specialize in fields like business management, finance, accounting, economics, taxation, statistics, marketing, management and more.
Eligibility: Graduation
Duration: 2 years
Avg. Salary: 3 to 6 lakh rupees per annum
5. Company Secretary (CS)
During your B.Com education, if you enjoyed learning about corporate law, you should definitely consider CS as a viable career option. Similar to CA, CS is one of the most esteemed positions for a commerce student to attain.
In a CS course, you will study corporate law in three stages – Foundation, Intermediate and Finals. As a CA, you will be solely responsible for the smooth functioning of an organisation. You will also advise the board of directors and ensure the implementation of all their decisions to safeguard an efficient workflow.
Eligibility: Graduation
Duration: 3 years
Avg. Salary: 4.5 to 10 lakh rupees per annum
6. Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) is the highest standard of excellence in the investment and finance industry. It is also a globally recognized qualification offered by the CFA Institute in America. If you wish to build a career as a financial analyst, statistician or a market research analyst, this is the right career option for you.
To pursue a CFA course, you have to clear a three-tier exam. In a CFA course, you study a wide range of topics in the field of advanced investment analysis. Like an MBA program, you learn aspects of management and business but with the principal focus on finance.
Eligibility: Graduation + 2.5 years of professional experience
Duration: 2.5 years
Avg. Salary: 6.5 to 18 lakh rupees per annum
7. Business Accounting and Taxation (BAT)
The traditional B.Com syllabus fails to provide the students with the practical knowledge required to enter the industry. To bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge, students opt for the BAT course. Hence, if you wish to pursue a career in accounting or finance, this is the optimal course for you.
Through this course you will gain the practical knowledge on topics like accounting, reporting, taxation, compliance and other skills required by the finance and accounting industry.
By studying this course, you will transform into an industry-ready professional with hands-on experience on the most used tools of the accounting and finance industry.
Upon completion of this course, you can pursue roles like tax consultant, company law assistant, tax advisory services, corporate legal assistant, tax analyst and more.
Eligibility: B.Com and above
Duration: 8 to 12 weeks
Avg. Salary: 5 to 11 lakh rupees per annum
8. Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
If you wish to work abroad or work for the top MNCs, studying a CMA course would be the right career option for you after B.Com. CMA is another globally recognized professional certification offered by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) in the USA. Apart from being a popular certification in the USA, it is also trending in regions like China and the Middle East.
To pursue a CMA course, you have to clear two exams. This course primarily focuses on teaching you management accounting and financial management. Through this course, you will possess expertise in topics like financial analysis, control, planning, decision support and professional planning.
Eligibility: Graduation + 2 years of professional experience
Duration: 6 months
Avg. Salary: 8 to 14 lakh rupees per annum
9. US Certified Public Accounting (CPA)
US Certified Public Accounting (CPA) is yet another globally recognized certificate mentioned in this list. It is the highest standard of competence in accountancy across the world. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) regulates this exam.
The US CPA program is just a more elaborate version of the Indian CA program. Besides learning the contents of the Indian CA course, under the US CPA course you will also learn the US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards), Generally Accepted Accounting Standards (GAAS), US federal taxation and business laws. This will give you an upper hand among other Indian CA graduates while applying for a job at a US-based financial firm.
Eligibility: Graduation and above
Duration: 2 years
Avg. Salary: 7 to 20 lakh rupees per annum
10. Financial Risk Manager (FRM)
The Financial Risk Manager (FRM) course can help you carve out a lucrative career. If you wish to work in the banking and finance sector, I’d suggest the FRM course. It is another internationally recognized certification course, and the Global Association Risk Professionals (GARP) offers this program.
Through this program, you will gain substantial knowledge in risk management concepts in the real financial market. As a financial risk manager, you will be responsible to identify and analyse threats to the company’s assets, earning capacity or its performance in the market.
Eligibility: Graduation and above
Duration: 9 months
Avg. Salary: 10 to 18 lakh rupees per annum
11. Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA)
With an ACCA certification course, you can explore career opportunities in the fields of banking, management, accounting and consulting. It is one of the most sought-after career options after B.Com and it’s opted by many students across the world.
The ACCA course is a predominating course when compared to the Indian CA course. It includes all the contents of the Indian CA course in addition to the UK GAAP, IFRS and laws. To gain this certification course, you have to clear 14 papers in two years.
Eligibility: Graduation and above
Duration: 2 years
Avg. Salary: 6 to 16 lakh rupees per annum
12. Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
CFP is another fantastic career option after B.Com. It is an international certification course primarily focusing on the fields of financial planning, wealth management and financial advisory services. It is one of the most prestigious and well-respected qualifications in the global financial planning community.
A certified financial planner advises its clients on topics like insurance decisions, investment plans, tax issues, and financial advice. You can strengthen your certification by specialising in financial planning, investment planning, insurance and risk management and tax planning.
Eligibility: Class 12 and above
Duration: 6 months to 2 years
Avg. Salary: 2 to 10 lakh rupees per annum
In conclusion
So these were some of the best options for your career after B.Com. I hope this answers your question ‘What After B.Com?’. I understand it’s very difficult to pick one career path among the plethora of options I’ve laid down in front of you. However, don’t worry, all you have to do is pick a course in line with your interests. Before you agree to a course, make sure it is feasible for you in terms of money, time and expertise level.
If you wish to pursue a digital marketing career after B.Com, I’d recommend IIDE. They offer an intensive 11-month Post-Graduate Course in Digital Marketing with an MBA level exposure. It is one of the most impressive courses I’ve come across with stellar reviews on every platform.
With that, I hope this detailed blog helps you choose a profitable career after B.Com. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below.
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