You’ve just finished with your 12th board exams, and you are eager to catch a breath, correct? We’ve all been there. But if you think that you’ve won the War then you’re deeply mistaken. You’ve just won a battle; the war is still on. So, gather your men, restock your supplies, strengthen your arsenal and march on to the next battle.
“What is the next battle?”, you ask. Well, everyone had a defined course up until this point, checkpoints that needed to be reached. No more. This point onwards, everyone sets their own goals and each individual chooses the path s/he thinks is the most suitable one to achieve the said goal. Let’s make things easy for you to process. Post 12th you can look at 2 different options: a) Start earning and b) Continue learning. There are also opportunities where both scenarios co-exist, we’ll delve deeper into it later. Let’s analyze these two options first.
Want to Start Earning?
This can include a full-time job, a part-time job or even free-lancing for that matter. We at StudySid recommend getting an undergraduate degree before looking at employment opportunities but we understand that there are circumstances where one must take the mantle of the breadwinner. For such cases, employment opportunities are ample, and though they are not very well-paying, they feel like Midas’ touch in tough times.
The following are some job profiles that 12th Pass students can look at:
- Data Entry
- Store Manager
- Hotel Booking Executive
- Business Development Executive
- Sales Personnel
- Aviation Ground Staff
- Adventure Travel Consultant
- Call Centre Executive
- Government Jobs (these usually have additional perks
Want to Continue Learning?:
This is the most commonly adopted practice. Most students take up undergraduate courses after 12th while some students explore diplomas, certificate courses and vocational training. Among the undergraduate courses, there are some conventional courses and some off-beat or unconventional courses. Let’s divide the courses into Streams: Science, Commerce, Arts and Others.
- Science:
Science is the darling of most Indian parents and the mortal enemy of a large number of students. Here, you can look at application-based fields like Engineering, Medicine, Pharmacy, Aviation, etc. or research-based fields or Pure Sciences like a bachelor’s degree in Physics, Chemistry, Astrophysics, Mathematics (can also be put under the Commerce umbrella) and Psychology (is both an Art and a Science).
Options after 12th with Science [Most Common]:
- BE/BTech (Engineering)
- Bachelor of Architecture (BArch)
- BSc (Science)
- BCA (IT & Software)
- BSc (IT & Software)
- MBBS
- Post Basic BSc Nursing
- Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharma)
*Most science students can switch streams and even opt for Arts and Commerce courses.
- Commerce:
Commerce is a very broad term which basically includes all domains that touch upon the study or application of money in one of the many ways in which money is looked at. By definition, “Commerce relates to ‘the exchange of goods and services, especially on a large scale’. It comprises of legal, economic, political, social, cultural and technological systems that operate in a country or in international trade.” Accountants, Financial Risk Planners, Bank Managers, Portfolio Managers, Cashiers are examples of jobs that can be landed after pursuing an undergraduate degree in Commerce.
Options after 12th with Commerce [Most Common]:
- Chartered Accountancy (CA)
- Company Secretary (CS)
- Financial Analysis (CFA)
- Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce (BCom)
- Business Administration (BBA)
- Management Studies (BMS)
- Banking and Insurance (BBI)
- Accounts and Finance (BFA)
- B.Sc in Mathematics and Statistics
*Students who have cleared their 12th with Commerce can usually pursue Arts courses but not Science courses.
Arts:
When most people come across this word, a picture pops into their heads. They picture someone painting, occasionally singing or dancing. We often restrict our vision and understanding of the subject to painting, singing and dancing. This is not all that there is. Art is a diverse range of human activities in creating visual, auditory or performing artefacts (artworks), expressing the author’s imaginative, conceptual ideas, or technical skill, intended to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power. It is an eclectic field that is often undermined. Everything in its purview is necessary for the strengthening of society. Lawyers, historians, linguistic experts, communication experts, journalists, sociologists, psychologists, content writers and more are a part of this domain of study.
Options after 12th with Arts [Most Common]:
- B.A in History/Geography/Political Science/Public Administration/English Literature/Economics
- B.A + L.L.B – Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Legislative Law
- BBA + L.L.B – Bachelor of Business Administration & Bachelor of Legislative Law
- Fashion Communication
- Interior Designing
- Fine Arts (BFA)
- Performing Arts (BPA)
*Students who have cleared their 12th with Arts (with Math) can usually pursue Commerce courses but not Science courses.
Another important thing that we want to turn your attention to is the effect of ‘internships’. Internships or Apprenticeships are opportunities to work on projects in a hands-on manner, where an individual learns by doing. Most internships are unpaid or have negligible payments but what matters the most with these internships is the experience that they provide. They add value to your CV/Resume, help establish connections in the industry you want to work in and can also lead to permanent employment. The best places to find internships are Frapp and Internshala. (www.frapp.in and www.internshala.com ). Another great way to learn and earn at the same time is by taking up a part-time job (not recommended). One can also get certified online and get into teaching with platforms like eMaester (www.emaester.com) where students can become certified English Proficiency coaches and are then employed by eMaester to teach English to students.
In conclusion, there is nothing that you can’t do if you put your mind to it. Stay focused, find a goal and work towards it. Remember, the battle is done but the war has just commenced.
