In India, Engineering is the most common career choice. While completing engineering, it seems students again find themselves at the crossroads of career. The only problem is the confusion and lack of confidence on the alternative career options for Engineers. The world seems more fascinating and everyone dreams about lots of money, a big house, foreign trips and a life full of luxuries. All these are available to you but remember this popular quote of Rancho from Three idiots – “Kaamyaab hone ke liye nahin, Kaabil hone ke liye padho!” So be venturous and present yourself to the world as a product.
Students think that the First year of B.Tech. or B.E. is the year of enjoyment and relaxation. But you have to plan your further life doings at least in the pre-final year. There are two primarily two career options after engineering- Higher studies and Jobs.
Weighing Career Options
Higher studies mean going for M.Tech., M.S., or MBA. In India, your score in GATE matters to choose for better institutes like IITs and NIITs. M.Tech., allows you to get a specialization and lead a better chance in placements. You can also go for a career in academics like research or teaching. You may choose to go for M.S. in foreign universities through GRE, IELTS, or TOEFL with a lucrative scholarships. MBA can also be a choice for many of you. Through your score in CAT, you can opt for IIMs and other universities.
Many good institutes offer job opportunities through placements. Students can mostly get software jobs and few may get a chance to work in the core jobs. GATE score can also help you in getting job offers from PSUs. Other than placements, there are always career opportunities in government sectors through UPSC and state/ central competitive examinations.
Alternative Career Options for Engineers
You can fulfill your dreams to earn a name and fame in the public sector too. To get into the public sector, you are required to clear government exams best suited to your qualifications and aspirations. For example, one could get 20 L.P.A plus packages in a government job. Similarly, there are many attractive packages along with other perks which exist in the public sector, for example, the Banking sector, regulatory bodies, etc.
Nugget from ixamBee
We can broadly classify the career options after engineering into the following four main streams.
- Finance Jobs – You will be working with either Big 4, Finance division of a multinational, boutique accountancy firm, banks, RBI, SIDBI, EXIM bank, IFCI, SEBI, Insurance Companies, NPS or LIC.
- Opportunities in Agriculture and Allied Sector- This sector opens up so many industries in itself and hence a multitude of opportunities. The organizations that are operational in this sector are NABARD, FCI, AFO, Seed Companies, Horticulture, Floriculture, Agrochemicals, Fisheries, Logistics, Packaging companies, Research and Universities.
- Career in Information Technology Sector – You can make your way up into IT services/products, start-ups, hardware, networking, artificial intelligence or cybersecurity companies
- Others – You can opt for varied opportunities in either Railways, SSC CGL/CPO/ Selection Posts, NGOs or government advisory.
With this short description, you can make your career choice as per your likings and capabilities. All the best!
About the Author Dr. Deepesh Singh:
Dr. Deepesh is a post-graduate from IIT-Delhi and Ph.d from Kanpur IIT. He authored a book on Environmental Science. Right now he is functioning as an Asst. Dean of HBTU, a campus of Kanpur IIT.
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