Career Options after 12th Commerce: Top Career Options for Commerce Students in 2024

The right career path after Class 12th Commerce will help you in your professional career. Students often get lost as to which career is right for them and often follow their peers which leads to frustration or not doing their best in their work. There are endless career options after 12th Commerce that many students are not aware of.

Commerce is a wide field where there are different types of jobs available for students upon completing their degree. You need to choose a career that matches your interests and abilities. This article provides the top career options for Commerce students in 2024. If you are aware of the opportunities, you can narrow down your choices.

Career Options after 12th Commerce

There is a diverse variety of career options after 12th Commerce if candidates look for the best and the most demanding career choices. Students who usually take up Commerce in their 10+2 level are mostly the ones who do not have an interest in the Science stream or find it to be more challenging. In the hope of getting a good job, these candidates study Commerce. We have discussed below the possible top career options for Commerce students in 2024.

Chartered Accountant (CA)

CA is considered one of the most sought-after and challenging options for students who have studied Commerce. Be it public or private sectors, CAs are very much in demand and hold the top positions. As a Chartered Accountant , the candidate has to take financial responsibility for the companies/ organizations or individuals by filing tax returns, recording financial statements, auditing financial statements, reviewing financial reports, etc. Lakhs of students after 12th Commerce appear for the CA examination. However, the CA journey is not as smooth as it may seem, but those who have dedication and work hard can become a Chartered Accountant. Among other career options after 12th Commerce, if you think of becoming a CA, then you should have sound knowledge of tax, accounting, auditing, business laws, corporate ethics, corporate laws, etc.

The CA examination is conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and includes stages like CA Foundation, CA Intermediate, Articleship Training and CA Final. The CA course structure takes around 3 to 5 years to complete and an articleship training under a qualified CA.

Company Secretary (CS)

A Company Secretary is in charge of understanding the legal objectives and agreements of companies. One of the top career options for Commerce students in 2024 is definitely becoming a CS as they are considered the backbone of the organization.

The CS course consists of 3 levels, Foundation program (8 months duration), Executive Program (9 months duration), and Professional Program (15 months duration).

Cost and Management Accountant (CMA)

CMA is a popular career choice for Commerce students as it is an internationally accredited professional certification program for commerce and accounting people. It is a lucrative career option after 12th Commerce as students are equipped with knowledge of Strategy, Management, Financial Reporting and Regulatory Framework. A CMA is responsible for managing the accounts and finances of a company.

The course credential for the CMA program is issued by the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI). The three stages of the CMA course are CMA Foundation, CMA Intermediate and CMA Final. Candidates can study this course after completing the foundation courses for CA or CS.

Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)

One of the most basic courses that students after 12th Commerce take up is B.Com . This is a 3-year full-time course offered by many colleges in India. Candidates can choose to take a specialization for the B.Com course such as Accountancy, Marketing, Accounting and Finance, etc. Upon completion of the B.Com degree, graduates can work in top companies as Accountants, Financial Analysts, Tax Consultants, Business Analysts, Financial Managers, etc. Most colleges admit students based on their marks in Class 12th and the cutoffs for that particular year.

Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

Individuals who are interested in financial management can think of becoming a Certified Financial Planner as a career option after 12th Commerce. As financial planning professionals, they can provide suitable financial plans to their clients and allow for transparent decision-making and reduce risks. If you specialise in any of these Investment Planning, Retirement and Tax Planning, Risk Planning, and Estate Planning fields, you can set your career.

The CFP certification can be opted in 2 ways; the regular pathway and the challenge status pathway. Prospects enrolled in the graduation program generally apply for CFP through the regular pathway. For the challenge status pathway, candidates should have passed the final exam, Advanced Financial Planning.

Investment Banker

Investment Bankers are in high demand in the private sector these days where they assist companies in managing and growing their financial assets. Among the other top career options for Commerce students in 2024, Investment Banking jobs have become popular in India as there are multiple job opportunities in India with great pay packages. In recent years, it has been seen that candidates from Commerce backgrounds are showing interest in investment banking jobs due to the job opportunities, earning potential, etc.

Lawyer

In India and worldwide, lawyers get immense respect as the law is considered a prestigious profession. With the increasing number of job opportunities, more and more students are taking up law after completing their Class 12th. Lawyers are employed in various fields such as Law Firms, Government Jobs, Corporate Giants, Pharmaceutical Companies, Casting Agencies, Private Practice and Consultancy Firms.

Students who have completed their 10+2 can study integrated LLB which is taught for 5-year duration. B.Com LLB is a popular choice among students who have an interest in business and law. Those who wish to become a lawyer should appear for law entrance exams like CLAT (Common Law Admission Test), LSAT , etc to get a chance into top colleges in India. You can only practise law in India after you have passed AIBE (All India Bar Examination).

Journalist

Another great career option after 12th Commerce is becoming a Journalist for those who have an interest in media. As media plays an important role in our lives through newspapers, TV and the web, a career in journalism is something that many students are interested in.

After completing a degree in journalism and media, you can work in media and publishing houses. With a journalism degree, one can also work in the fields of public relations, corporate communication, event management, film direction, production, media and Indian polity.

Bank Probationary Officer (PO)

The job as a Probationary Officer in the banking sector is a great career option after 12th Commerce. A Bank PO manages lots of responsibilities such as managing cash flow, managing customer complaints, finances, loans, mortgages, supervising employees, etc. As this is a secure job, many people can grow within the sector.

For PO posts, government banks release notifications for the PO job role such as State Bank of India and other banks like Allahabad Bank, PNB, Bank of Baroda, etc. SBI PO, IBPS PO, etc are the exams conducted for selecting candidates for the PO role.

Digital Marketer

A career as a Digital Marketer will help you to flourish as it is a booming profession. Digital Marketers promote products and services for revenue generation through digital mediums like Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), Display Marketing, etc.

After 12th Commerce, candidates can pursue a bachelor’s degree in Digital Marketing . Commerce students can also do certification courses in digital marketing.

Also Read: List of Professional Courses after 12th Commerce

How to Choose the Right Career Options after 12th Commerce

If you know the different available career options after 12th Commerce, it will automatically be easier for you to narrow down the option you would like to enter into. By following the steps given below, candidates can decide on their career options after 12th Commerce:

• Research and Collect Information: Find out the right career options after 12th Commerce by talking to your seniors, teachers, etc. You can also research the suitable courses that Commerce students can study after completing their Class 12th.
• Consider your Strengths and Weaknesses: The right career will help you to shine as you will have all your strengths devoted toward that particular career. Always consider your strengths and weaknesses when choosing a particular career. The appropriate career should challenge you to do better and showcase your strengths.
• Identify your Career Interest: Students must identify their interest in the career that they want to pursue after completing their studies. Based on the career you want to pursue, you can choose a course of your choice.
• Seek Career Advice: While choosing your career options after 12th Commerce, if you are unable to decide which career will suit you the most, you can seek advice from career counsellors, education advisors, etc.
• Look for Career Prospects: Commerce students can enhance their career prospects if they do certain courses. There are specific courses for Commerce students that provide employment opportunities and higher earning chances.
• Assess the Reputation of the Institute: If you are thinking of doing a course to improve your career options after 12th Commerce, then you must check the reputation of the institution offering the course. The institutes can have a significant impact on your career opportunities.

Best Courses after 12th Commerce

There are plenty of courses offered to students after 12th Commerce. Find here the best courses for Commerce students that will help you to have better career options after 12th Commerce.

Also Read: Courses After 12th Commerce without Maths

Salary Structure of Jobs after 12th Commerce

While searching for career options after 12th Commerce, candidates should be aware of the salaries offered in different careers. Commerce students can check out the various professions in 2024 along with their average salary based on their experience level below. We have already discussed in detail the career choices above, so students need to tally the salary and the job that is best suited for them.

CA Salary

The salary of a CA depends on the experience that they have gained during their articleship training. After getting a job, a CA can switch to another company and get a good increment based on their experience and skills.

CS Salary

A Certified Company Secretary with their qualifications, skills, and experience is able to get a good salaried job. The table provided below depicts the typical salary range for qualified CSs:

CFP Salary

To understand the salary structure of a CFP, one has to know that the salary of a CFP depends upon different factors such as the company one is hired into, the role that they are working into, specialized skills and advanced knowledge that one has attained, the years of experience one has obtained, etc.

Investment Banker Salary

The salary structure of an Investment Banker is quite attractive as they get benefits. Those who want to earn a significant salary and get respect for their job role should think of becoming an Investment Banker. Their salary depends on their skills, their designation, experience, etc.

Lawyer Salary

Some of the LLB specializations are very popular in India and they offer a huge amount of LLB salary packages. Find here the law specialisations that offer good LLB salary packages but with consistent hard work and dedication can get good salaries with time.

Journalist Salary

The salary of a Journalist in the initial years may not be fascinating as the student starts from INR 1,00,000 to 1,50,000 per annum. The salary also varies from individual to individual and from organization to organization and with time they will earn lakhs.

Probationary Officer Salary

The salary of a Probationary Officer depends on the banks that have hired them. The starting salary is somewhat less but with experience their salary increases. If they get internal promotions, they also get increments.

Digital Marketer Salary

As digital marketing is trending in the current era, nearly every organization uses digital marketing in some form or another and hires Digital Marketing professionals. Check here the salary structure of these professionals based on their specializations.

Also Read: Courses After 12th without Maths

Top Commerce Colleges in India

The following colleges offer several courses after 12th commerce at the UG level. After completing 12th with Commerce, students can opt for commerce courses after 12th at the following colleges:

If you are interested to know the career options after 12th Commerce, then fill out the Common Application Form available on CollegeDekho . Our expert counsellors can help you clear all of your doubts and assist you throughout the admission process to the college and the course of your dream.