This document provides information about career opportunities in commerce. It begins with definitions of career and career development. It then outlines the 4 step process of career development: self-assessment, career exploration, decision making, and taking action. Next, it discusses the importance of career development and provides examples. The rest of the document details various career options in commerce like chartered accountant, company secretary, cost accountant, and others. It provides information on eligibility requirements, institutes, and salary ranges for these careers. Finally, it lists postgraduate programs and international opportunities for commerce students.

1. CAREER
OPPORTUNITIES

2. CONTENTS
Career – Introduction
Career Planning
Career Development – Process & Importance
Careers In Commerce

3. Etymology:
The word ‘Career’ is derived from the Latin word “carrus" which means
"wagon".
Definition of Career :
A CAREER is defined as “the sequence and variety of occupations (paid and
unpaid) which one undertakes throughout a lifetime.”
A CAREER is defined as “the progress and actions taken by a person
throughout a lifetime, especially those related to that person'soccupations.”
A career is often composed of
the jobs held,titles earned and work accomplished over a long period of
time, rather than just referring to one position.
Meaning of Career :
Career describes an individuals' journey through learning, work and
other aspects of life.

5. Career Development
Meaning : CAREER DEVELOPMENT is the
process of managing life, learning and work over the
lifespan.

6. The Career Development Process involves the completion of a
variety of activities geared to help you to, initially, determine
or confirm your desired life direction. We believe this is the
initial action that must be taken in order to select an
appropriate career.
Process of Career Development
Career
Develop-
ment
Self
Assessment
Career
Exploration
Decision
Making
Taking
Action

7. Step 1 - Self Assessment (INSIDE)
The first and most important step of this process is Self Assessment. Step 1
focus is on the INSIDE of a person. After the successful completion of Step 1,
you should have a good idea in terms of who you are and what’s most
important in your life, ingredients considered by career specialists as crucial
for determining accurate direction.
Step 2 - Career Exploration (OUTSIDE)
The second step of the process involves Career Exploration. Step 2 focus is on
the OUTSIDE of a person. While it is important to know the first step you
ought to take in order to make a good career or college major selection, it is
also important to become aware of significant influencing areas outside of you
that will need to be factored in before you finalize any big decision. Key areas
on the outside of you include the World-Of-Work; Family, Faith/Beliefs;
Leisure-Time and so on. It would be wise to consider and thoroughly examine
supportive as well as non supporting aspects of each of these key areas prior to
your career and/or occupational choice.

8. Step 3 - Decision Making (CLOSER LOOK)
Step 3 will require you to begin the process of Decision Making. It will require
TAKING A CLOSER LOOK and, eventually making a decision. This is the
point where you take what you have learned from your self assessment and
career exploration and conduct more detailed research. The main goal is to
narrow down possible options, consider any significant influencing factors,
and select the career or college major you believe to be the best fit.
Step 4 - Taking Action (MATCHING UP)
Taking Action involves MATCHING UP the results of your self-assessment
results and the most supportive aspects within significant influencing areas
in Step 2. The main goal is to actually begin to do what you decided to pursue
as a career or college major. This might entail enrolling into a college or
tarining program; registering for a class; conducting a job search; creating a
resume; filling out an application; participating in an interview, and so on.

9. Importance of Career Development
Career Development as an Effective Tool to Enhance the Attractiveness of Public
Employment.
1. The attractiveness of public employment depends on a multiple set of
elements, among which career development systems are crucial in recruiting
and retaining competent staff and in competing effectively with the private
sector.
2. An attractive career development system as defined in this study not only
responds to organisational needs but also motivates and commits staff.
3. Major prerequisites for motivational career development systems are: a
promotion policy with clear rules based on the reward and recognition of
individual merit and performance; opportunities for staff development
through mobility, training, job enrichment, job enlargement, coaching etc.
with attractive career prospects.
4. The study illustrates huge differences between the fifteen Member
States’ and the European Commission’s career development systems. This is
very well illustrated by the main features of promotion policy, mobility policy
and the career paths of senior
civil servants. One important factor behind these variations is the differing
conceptions and philosophies of managing a civil service (career system versus
position system).

10. Introduction
Commerce is all about the understanding of business or trade. It deals with studies
of market, economics, fiscal policies, industrial policies and so on. Commerce is a
broad orbit of interdisciplinary branches viz. accountancy, business administration,
finance, economics, marketing, advertisement, e-commerce, and so many. The
overall economic health of a nation largely depends on advanced commerce
studies. This stream offers a wide range of career options.
Scope
Commerce opens up many career avenues. Globalization, foreign insurance and
foreign banks has created enormous job opportunities for commerce
students. Chartered Accountant (CA) is still a coveted career.
Commerce graduates have a very exciting career option such as e-commerce.
This career is well-suited to commerce students because of their sound
understanding of business transactions.

11. Remuneration
It mainly depends on academic qualifications, training, experience, location,
responsibility and employer. Private sector especially foreign companies
provide attractive pay packages. The salaries in this sector ranges from
Rs.10,000-1,50,0000 per month. Professional like MBAs, CAs and CFAs get
high pay packages.Foreign banks and insurance companies give good
packages.
Eligibility
Graduation and post-graduation is desirable for the higher posts. It mainly
based on the type of career to be pursued. The certications and liscencing
from professional bodies is required for CA, CS, CFA, etc. MBA (finance) is
also preferred in many foreign banks.

12. Career opportunities :
Higher education: B.Com students can go for higher education (MBA, M.Com,
MCA, Ph.D, ) or immedate jobs. There are some prestigious certification courses in
Commerce viz. Chartered Accountancy (CA), Certified Financial Analyst (CFA),
ICWA, CFP and Company Secretary Ship (CS).
Banking: Career is chosen due to fair salaries, job security and high social
acceptance. Many local/national/foreign banks provide good job opportunities.
Investments: One can get job as equity research analyst, investment banker,
mutual fund executive, capital market manager, asset manager, venture capitalist
and real estate.
Insurance: It is showing exponential growth due to liberalization policy in India.
The public and private insurance companies in life and non-life insurance
providing enormous career opportunities. It also offer jobs in actuary and risk
management.
*

13. Capital market: Liberalized Indian economy has opened up capital market for
foreign investors along with domestic investors. The heavy flow of capital into the
capital markets has generated many employment opportunities. .
Management: B.Com and BBA courses provide good background for MBA
course. MBA (Finance) requires sound back ground of commerce field.
Accounting: Demand for skilled accountants has increased considerably in the
domestic and international job market.
KPO and BPO: Enormous opportunities for commerce students in this emerging
field.
Taxation: Many jobs related to taxation has been created in recent years.
*

14. Career Opportunities in
Commerce
Some popular careers options in Commerce:
1. Chartered Accountant (CA): He/She is specialized in accounting, auditing and
taxation. CA serves as a corporate caretaker and occupies respectable position in
corporate world. The demand of CA has increased. Salaries of C.A. depends upon
academic qualification and experience. Average salaries 25,000-1,50,000 per month.
Abroad, salaries may go up to Rs. 5,00000 per month. CA who does consultancy earns
good money. Eligibility: Admission is open to 10 + 2 pass or equivalent examination. CA
Program has three sections viz. Common Proficiency Test (CPT), Professional
Competence Course (PCC or PCE) and Final examination. Institute: The Institute of
Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is an examining and a licensing body.
www.icai.org
2. Company Secretary (CS): He/She co-ordinates various departments, ensures
compliance of company legislations and advises directors on statutory requirements of
the company. Apart from this, CS also looks after finance, accounts, legal, personnel
and administrative functions. CS is a well remunerated career option because of its
multifaceted nature. Eligibility: The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI)
offers a three-stage course to qualify as Company Secretary. Foundation course is of 8
months that can be joined after 10+2 exam. Institute:T he Institute of Company
Secretary of India conduct and regulate the course of Company Secretary.
http://www.icsi.edu.

15. Career Opportunities in
Commerce
3. Cost and Work Accountant (CWA): Certified CWAs maintain cost accounting records, do
cost auditing for companies, certify import and export documents under the Exim Policy,
serve as executor, administrator, receiver and valuer. CWA facilitates strategic decisions in
respect of diverse economic activities of the organization.Eligibility: The ICWAI examinations
are held in three stages: Foundation, Intermediate and Final. A candidate may appear for the
Foundation examination after passing 10+2 examination. Graduates in any discipline are
eligible for direct admission to Intermediate course. Candidates passed in final examination
with a minimum work experience of three years are eligible to become members of
ICWAI. Institute: Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India (ICWAI) conducts and
regulate course. Further details: www.icwai.org
4. Chartered Financial Analyst : Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA®) utilize their skills in the
core areas of financial and hedge fund research, portfolio management, investment
consulting, investment banking, investment management, international finance and research.
Career opportunities for CFAs with IT skills (trained in high-end packages like SAP, Oracle
application and Baan) have increase manifold. CFA regarded as the key position by financial
professionals. CFA gets good salary. Eligibility: To be a CFA, a graduate requires clearing three
levels of examination. A minimum of three years of investment/financial experience is
essential. Institutes: ICFAI conducts CFA programme in India. This course is offered through
class room as well as distance learning packages. Further details: www.icfai.org

16. Career Opportunities in
Commerce
5. Banking: For a career in banking, one can start off by maintaining accounts. Now a day’s
banking sector recruits MBA graduates, CAs and CFAs to enhance the efficiency of
banks. Now banks are in the mutual funds, securitization business, credit cards, consumer
loans, housing loans, etc this open up many career avenues. Eligibility: Public sector Banks
recruit mainly graduates for Clerical and Probationary Officer posts on the basis of All India
Level examination. Graduates with commerce/economics are desirable candidates but any
one from any stream can enter into this service by qualifying the exams conducted by
banks. Foreign Banks prefer take MBAs, CAs, CFAs, etc.
6. Investments: One can job opportunity as equity research analyst, investment banker,
mutual fund executive, capital market manager, financial planner/asset manager, venture
capitalist and real estate.
7. Insurance: Insurance field offers jobs in actuary, risk management manager, insurance
surveyor, underwriter, etc. The key factor for success in this field is experience. In private
sector, the salary is more attractive. In private sector generally management graduates are
inducted in the areas of marketing and sales gets salary ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs
50,000 per month. The Commissions are the most common form of compensation for
insurance agents and the amount depends on the type and amount of insurance
sold. Eligibility: To pursue a career one has to pass the entrance examination conducted by
the Actuarial Society of India, Mumbai. Students who have passed 10 + 2 or equivalent
exam are eligible. License is needed to work in this field which can be achieved through a
training programme.

17. Job options & Self-employment
Job Options:
 Accountant/Costs and works accountant
 Auditor
 Book Keeper
 Business analyst/Market analyst
 CFO
 Controller
 Finance manager
 Internet Marketing Executive (E-commerce)
 Stock broker
Self-Employment:
 Business firm
 Stock broker
 Trade consultant
 Management consultant
 Entrepreneur
 Corporate lawyer
 Financial analysts
 Tax consultants

18. Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)
 B. Com (Computer Application)
 B. Com (Foreign Trade)
 B. Com (Tax Procedure)
 B. Com (Advertising & Sales Management)
 B. Com (E-Commerce) and
 B. Com (Office Management)
Bachelor of Business Management (BBM)
 Finance
 Marketing
 Human Resource
Bachelor in Management Studies (BMS)
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS)
Bachelor of Corporate Secretary-ship (BCS)
Diploma in Industrial Accountant

19. Masters of Commerce (M.Com)
 Banking and & Insurance Management
 Co-operative Management
 Marketing
Master of Corporate Secretary ship (MCS)
Master of Financial Control (MFC)
Master of Financial, Administration (MFA)
Master of Financial Management (MFM)
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Post Graduate Diploma in:
 Capital Market & Investment Analysis
 Finance & Control
 Management Accounting
 Banking & Finance
 Public Accounting

20. 1. Chamber of Commerce Examination: It conducted by a British
Institution for Indian youths. www.lccieb.org.uk
2. UGC National Eligibility Test for Junior Research Fellowship
and Eligibility for Lectureship: National Eligibility Test
(NET) http://www.ugc.ac.in
3. SSB/Air Force Accounts www.dfas.mil
4. Combined Defence
Services www.upsc.gov.in/general/cds.htm
5. Bank examinations: Clerical and Probationary
officers http://www.bankexamsindia.com
6. MBA examination: www.entranceexam.org
Examinations

21.  Actuarial Society of India, Mumbai www.actuariesindia.org
 Birla Institute of Management & Technology, New Delhi
 Birla Institute of Technology, Pilani www.bits-pilani.ac.in
 College Of Insurance, Mumbai www.insuranceinstituteofindia.com
 Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), Delhi www.icai.org
 Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI).
 Institute of Company Secretary of India, New Delhi. http://www.icsi.edu.
 Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India (ICWAI) www.icwai.org
 Institute of Insurance & Risk Management, Hyderabad www.iirmworld.org.in
 International Institute for Insurance and Finance,
Hyderabad www.iiifindia.com
 International School of Actuarial Sciences (ISAS), Hydrabad
 Narsee Monjee Institute of Management, Mumbai www.nmims.edu
 National Insurance Academy, Pune www.niapune.com
 SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai www.spjimr.org
 Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar www.ximb.ac.in

22. Abroad Degrees
www.universities.com
www.degreedirectory.org
www.distance-education.org
www.onlinedegreeadvantage.com
www.excite.co.uk
www.universities.com
Abroad Fellowships and scholarships
www.scholarship-positions.com
www.usyd.edu.au
www.educationnewsupdates.blogspot.com
Abroad Jobs
www.trade.gov/jobs
www.internationaljobs.com
www.nationaljobs.washingtonpost.com
www.harvard.edu
www.mcgill.ca
www.yale.edu
www.auckland.ac.nz
ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES

23. Hundreds of hiring authorities throughout the
World put their trust in Career Insights to fill
their most difficult positions.
This helps the companies to hire their own team of
expert Headhunters/Recruiters.
Career Insights provides professional
and confidential personnel recruiting/search
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world.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES - INSIGHTS

24. Thank You
By,
Meghashree S Bramhawar
MBA, NITMS