Added opportunities

Jobs are multiplying for commerce students with the emergence of new areas,
writes Sunit Dhawan

Commerce has always been one of the most sought-after disciplines for career-oriented students. Its scope and significance have witnessed an upsurge with the advent of globalisation and fast-paced economic growth.

The field of commerce includes subjects like management, finance, accounts, economics, statistics and business administration. A host of professional study programmes are now available in all these traditional specialisations as well as many emerging areas.

Commerce graduates can go in for any of these specialised courses of their choice, following which they stand a fair chance of getting a placement.

Though most of the professional courses are meant for graduates, the early starters can opt for the foundation courses in CA or CS after a plus two in commerce. However, experts recommend that the students should first complete their graduation in commerce (B.Com) and then venture into professional study programmes.

It is also advisable that along with their graduation, the commerce students join some relevant computer course to attain proficiency in its use and commerce-related applications.

Those aspiring to make a career in marketing, banking, insurance, human resource management or other related areas should also acquire good communication skills. A course in English-speaking and personality development from some reputed institute would be helpful to them in the long run.

The commerce graduates can go in for professional courses like MBA, Cost and Works Accountant (CWA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Master of Finance and Control (MFC), Master of Business Economics (MBE), CA, CS, LLB and so on.

Then, there are short-term as well as specialised study programmes in insurance management, bank management, travel and tourism management, advertising management, merchandising and so on.

A professional qualification in any of these from some reputed institution can kick-start the career of a commerce graduate.

For the not-so-ambitious ones, there are short-term courses like Tally and computer accountancy which can help them get some decent job.

While getting a professional degree from some premier institute - like an MBA from IIM - is of great help in shaping one’s career, there are many emerging specialisations designed in accordance with the needs and requirements of the changing times.

These include rural marketing, retail management, real-estate management, hospital management, investment planning and financial management.

E-commerce, or electronic commerce, is the buying and selling of goods and services through some electronic device, usually the television or the Internet. It is a phenomenon which is set to computerise (read revolutionise) the mode of dealing with the banks, insurance companies, airlines, railways and other such institutions. It includes concepts like e-banking, e-reservation, e-ticketing and e-billing etc. The concept is still in its infancy in the country.

E-commerce, coupled with the wide variety of job opportunities available on and through the Internet, are also going to influence commercial transactions, apart from creating employment opportunities.