Best Career Options for Commerce Students

Once a student has completed their 10th exams, picking the right stream is the most critical decision. Commerce is a field that is gaining traction. While everyone is well aware of the course opportunities when it comes to science, commerce students are still baffled when it comes to understanding their career options. 

Whether you are a 10th standard student wondering if you want to pursue commerce or if you are a commerce student wondering about the next step in your education journey, this blog will guide you to better understand the avenues of commerce-related jobs that are waiting for you.  

Unlike the most common misconceptions, commerce is a well-structured field to kick start your career journey. It is crucial that you are well versed in the professional courses that are available for you and have a thorough understanding of what are the job roles for each career option. In this article, we speak in-depth about the list of options that are available. Some courses will even allow you to start with your preparation when you are in your 11th or 12th. 

One thing that makes commerce professionals adept at their jobs is the fact that you will get some on-the-job experience with some internships or articleships, this will help you to build skills that are required for your profession. 

Career Options for Commerce Students

1. Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)
2. Bachelor of Law (LLB)
3. Chartered Accountant (CA)
4. Association of Chartered Certified Accountants(ACCA)
5. Cost Management Accountant (CMA)
6. Company Secretary (CS)
7. Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
8. Bachelor of Economics
9. Journalism and Mass Communication

Best Career Options for Commerce Students 

• Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)

B.Com is one of the most popular and well-known commerce courses that students pursue post their 12th. It is a 3-year degree course which will educate its aspirants on various courses such as Accountancy, Statistics, Management, Human Resource, Computer, Economics and more. The basis for your admission will be your 12th board scores. Students can get admission into a college of their choice based on how they have done in their 12th. B.Com has been sought after these many years for a reason, it is a great foundational course and gives aspirants a good understanding of subjects they need to focus on before they take a step forward in their career. 

The course structure and curriculum are also not too tedious. If you wish to take another degree alongside it, you can easily practice and pursue them to get a better footing once they are done with the graduation. 

• Bachelor of Law (LLB)

LLB is yet again a course that has stood the test of time and is one of the career options that opens up a plethora of job opportunities, enabling students to get ahead in their professional careers. Governed by The Bar Council of India (BCI), an LLB degree offers its students to be well established influential lawyers or advocates. Students of law will be exposed to subjects such as Family Law, Constitutional Law, Property Law, Company Law, Administrative Law, etc. LLB is one of the most popular choices for professional courses after one has pursued 12th commerce. 

• Chartered Accountant (CA)

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India administers the professional course for students who have completed their +2 exams. This professional course consists of 3 levels - Foundation, Intermediate and Final. Students need to clear one in order to be eligible to attempt the next level of exams. It is a highly regarded and reputed career option, CA is without doubt one of the best career options out there. 

The overall difficulty level of the course is high when it is compared to other bachelor's degrees. It is well recommended that students enrol themselves in a good coaching institute to better prepare for the examination.  CA is one profession that commands one of the highest salaries as well. Students will also go through an articleship period during the course that will better prepare them for what they can expect on a daily basis. The subjects that students will learn include Accounting, Cost Accounting and Financial Management, Advanced Accounting, Taxation, Auditing and Assurance, Business Laws, Ethics and Communication, Information Technology and Strategic Management, Corporate and other Laws, etc.

• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants(ACCA)

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants or ACCA is one of the most respectable global accounting professions out there. It gives you the right platform to build your career in Accounts and Finance. Once you are accredited ACCA there are various roles that will be available for you, these include the roles of Financial Analyst, Treasurer, Business Analyst, Funds Manager, Group Accountant and Financial Manager. 

In order to complete the course, you will need a minimum of 3-years, during this tenure students will need to attempt 14 papers. One of the best advantages of ACCA is that it is a very flexible course, students can attempt the paper of their choice during any 4 exam windows open throughout the year. Another plus point that ACCA holds is that if a student doesn't clear one paper, they need to attend only that particular paper and not the whole group, unlike other accountancy courses. Since ACCA is a global professional, students can work in well-established big 4 MNCs such as KPMG, Ernst and Young, Deloitte, and PwC. ACCA is a well-established organization and has tie-ups with employers across the globe, this has resulted in more than 208,000 fully qualified members and 503,000 students in 181 countries.

• Cost Management Accountant (CMA)

CMA just like CA and ACCA is a Professional commerce course. This qualification is offered by the Institute of Cost Accountants of India. Just like CA and CS this exam also consists of different levels and students have to clear one level to progress to the other. CMA is considered a gold standard in accounting and is a globally recognised profession. This means that with this qualification you can work anywhere in the world. A CMA qualified individual can climb up to a managerial position with ease. According to a recent survey, a CMA holder will get 62% more in their salary compared to a non-CMA counterpart. 

A CMA will have to an expert in subjects such as Cost & Management Accounting, Fundamentals of Commercial and Industrial Laws,  Laws and Ethics, etc.

• Company Secretary (CS)

A Company Secretary is also one of the most respected commerce professionals in this country. It comes under the administration of The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). This is ideal for students who have an inclination toward the theoretical courses in Law. The role of a company secretary is not just confined to the administrative affairs of an organization. Company secretaries ensure that the company is following all the rules and regulations.  

A CS has to assure that their organization submits all the mandated legal filings such as annual earning disclosures, tax obligations, quarterly earning disclosures, and many others. Students who wish to pursue this course need to appear for the CSEET exam, which is an entry-level exam. The course will give its aspirants a complete and comprehensive understanding of the legal purposes and agreements of their company. Professionals can climb to the highest levels in an organization with this qualification. 

• Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

Considered one of the best career options for commerce students, the Financial Planning Standards Boards India (FPSB) administers and supervises this professional course. The course is ideal for those students who have a keen interest in financial planning subjects this course certifies and recognizes the expertise and knowledge in subjects such as financial planning and taxes, retirement, insurance, and estate planning. CFP is one of the top professional courses in the commerce domain. 

• Bachelor of Economics

Another popular professional commerce course is the Bachelor of Economics. The course is of 3-year duration, it a great option for students as it exposes students to a wide range of financial concepts and analytical methods in economic studies. 

The course ideal for students who have an interest in economics and wants to get an in-depth understanding of the underlying concepts and principles of the governing subjects. The course will help you to secure the knowledge and skills in various subjects in economics such as microeconomics and macroeconomics, econometrics, statistics, history of economics, political economy and more. 

• Journalism and Mass Communication

Journalism and Mass Communication is a course different from the business courses that offer education related to finance and business topics. If you are a student who is keen on having a career in media houses, print media or digital media, or if you are passionate about content creation and delivery, then this is the right course for you. 

The degree in Journalism and Mass Communication is a 3-year program which will give an in-depth exposure to explore skills which provide you with an education in Media and Indian Polity, Public Relations and Corporate Communication, Event Management and much more.