Clearing the higher secondary examination is one of the most significant milestones in a student’s life. At this stage, they graduate from their student life to be transitioned into their professional life.
The academic years do not end here, but the choice for the next course determines where a student is headed towards their career. This is why career guidance after 12th becomes almost imperative. The right career guidance after 12th can help you find the most suitable career path.
A whole new gamut of opportunities opens up at this phase, and often, a student feels overwhelmed by the options. There are numerous degrees, diplomas, courses, and certifications available at this juncture, but proper career counselling after 12th helps to choose the right one.
Some courses are more traditional; some are fancier, some sound more promising, while some may seem more relevant. What should a student choose, and what must be the criteria for making that choice? The proper career counselling after 12th provides you with the right answers to all such questions.
When students seek career guidance after 12th, they are provided with a list of courses to choose from.
However, career counselling after 12th must help the student choose a course or stream that would be perfect for their future as well. Otherwise, it is of no use.
A list of courses is available everywhere, but the dilemma of choosing one over the other is tricky. When you’re seeking career guidance after 12th, considering some factors can make it a little easier to make that choice.
Necessarily, as career advice for students after 12th, there are three such factors which must be kept in mind when choosing the next course:
- What was the stream selected in the 11th and 12th standards?
While courses such as LLB, web designing or BBA may not require specific background and are stream neutral (unless otherwise specified by the provider of the course), courses such as engineering and medical sciences require students to have studied PCM or PCB in their 12th. - What are the career interests of the student?
There is no point in pursuing a degree in B.Pharma (Bachelor in Pharmaceuticals) if, eventually, the student wants to build a career in animation. Yes, interests have indeed changed as exposure and awareness increase, but the innate knack and aptitude remain similar throughout.
Hence, if a student is unsure what he wants to pursue later in life and knows that arts subjects do not interest him, he should go for a more traditional Bachelor’s degree in a science subject. And vice versa. Also, if Mathematics as a subject seems interesting, then pursuing a course in statistics or accounting may be a good option. - Return on Investment:
Students are often unaware of this vital parameter based on which all decisions are taken across the world. If a course requires an investment, what would be the return on such investment?
Remember that return on investment is not always calculated in monetary terms, nor is the investment. A course requires money as well as an investment of effort. Thus the career that is provided by the course should be able to reap the results of that effort and money. Salary and satisfaction derived from the job would be the return on investment.
Typically, the courses available post-higher secondary are divided into three main subgroups – courses after science, courses after arts and courses after commerce (that is, they are based on the streams chosen in the 12th).
Typically, the courses available post higher secondary are divided into three main subgroups – courses after science, courses after arts and courses after commerce (that is, they are based on the streams chosen in the 12th).
Career Guidance After 12th Commerce – The Best Courses to Choose
When deciding on the best courses after completing 12th commerce, several factors come into play. It’s important to consider your interests, aptitude, long-term career goals, and the market demand for specific fields. Some popular choices for commerce students include:
| Course Name | Typical Course Duration | General Eligibility | Average Salary (per year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) | 3 years | Intermediate with a minimum of 60% | INR 5 lakhs to 10 lakhs |
| Chartered Accountancy (CA) | Minimum 4.5 years | 50% aggregate in 10+2 from a recognized board | INR 6 lakhs to 14 lakhs |
| Company Secretary (CS) | 3-5 years | 10+2 or an equivalent examination | INR 6 lakhs to 20 lakhs |
| Cost Management Accounting (CMA) | 3 years | 12th with a minimum of 50% marks | INR 7 lakhs to 22 lakhs |
| Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) | 3 years | A minimum aggregate score of 60% in Intermediate | INR 5 lakhs to 12 lakhs |
Career Guidance After 12th Science – Top Courses to Choose
After completing 12th science, there are several excellent course options to consider based on your interests, aptitude, and long-term career goals. Some popular choices for science students include:
| Course Name | Typical Course Duration | General Eligibility | Average Salary (per year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTech | 4 years | A minimum aggregate of 60% marks in 12th | INR 6 lakhs to 20 lakhs |
| BSc | 3 years | Minimum aggregate of 50% in 10+2 | INR 4 lakhs to 10 lakhs |
| BCA | 3 years | At least 50% marks in aggregate in Class 12 | INR 5 lakhs to 14 lakhs |
| B.Pharma | 4 years | Class 12th Board exams with 50% aggregate marks | INR 4 lakhs to 12 lakhs |
| B.Arch | 5 years | 50% marks in Class 12 or Class 10 + Diploma from a recognized institution | INR 5 lakhs to 10 lakhs |
Career Guidance After 12th Arts – The Best Courses to Choose
Choosing the best course after completing 12th arts depends on your interests, strengths, and long-term career goals. There are numerous options available for Arts students to pursue higher education. Some popular choices include:
| Course Name | Typical Course Duration | General Eligibilit | Average Salary (per year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA | 3 years | 50% aggregate marks in 10+2 | INR 4 lakhs to 12 lakhs |
| BA LLB | 5 years | A minimum of 60% or equivalent in their class 12 examination | INR 6 lakhs to 12 lakhs |
| Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication (BJMC) | 3 years | 10+2 with a minimum of 50% in each subject | INR 7 lakhs to 16 lakhs |
| Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM) | 3 years | At least 50% marks in 10+2 | INR 6 lakhs to 14 lakhs |
However, these courses are not strictly to be pursued in the said subgroups only. For example, someone with arts in 12th can also pursue Chartered Accountancy, and someone from a science background can also choose to graduate in mass communication.
Also, it is an indicative list and not an exhaustive one. There are courses, such as Bachelor of Hotel Management and Bachelor of Business Management.
These courses do not necessarily need a specific background or stream but are very lucrative in terms of career opportunities.
A list of other such courses which are job oriented and do not depend on a stream of education before graduation are as follows:
- Air Hostess Training
- Animation and Film Making
- Fashion Designing
- Interior Designing
- Advertising
- Advanced Editing
- Textile Designing
- Tourism Management
- Aviation and Hospitality Management
In addition to the above, students seeking career guidance after 12th can also prepare for government exams and/or the NDA entrance exam for the National Defence Academy. For the Airforce and Naval Wing, they need students with Physics and Mathematics in the 10+2 exam.
Since there are so many options, as a student looking for career counselling after 12th, you might find yourself facing multiple questions when you stand at this crucial crossroads of life.
- What course should I take up?
- What career can I pursue with this course?
- What profession would I never be able to continue if I go for this course?
- Which colleges provide this course?
- What is the course fee?
- Would I get placed after this course?
Thanks to the internet, many of the answers to the questions above are not difficult to find. But the internet provides data, which must be analysed and processed by the students, and an informed decision must be made through proper career guidance after 12th.
Having selected a course, the next pertinent question that comes up is, “Which college is the best?” What must a student consider while choosing a college or an institution from where to pursue the course of his choice? The proper career guidance after 12th gives you the right answers to all these questions!
The courses may be numerous, but the list of colleges is unending. Even after considering the cut-off score, the college fees and location, a student is left with hundreds of names. Here is a list of some other very important factors which every student must look into before taking this big decision:
- Reliability of the institution: Finding an engineering college at every nook and corner of a big city is not difficult. But who is the founder of the institution, who runs the college, is there a regulatory body that recognises the courses offered, and who are the members of the governing body of the college or university? A college should have a background of trust, which it has built over years of providing quality education.
- Placement records: Does the institution take care of placements after a technical course? What percentage of students have been getting placed year-on-year through campus placements? Who are the recruiters? Does the college have tie-ups with any business organisations? What is the average package (not the highest) offered through campus placement? Most colleges declare only the highest package, which does not portray a true picture of placements. Good institutions always mention the average package offered along with the highest package.
- Accreditation: Is the college or university accredited or recognised by any educational governing body, such as UGC or AICTE? It makes the course more credible and accepted in the industry.
- International Exposure: In the age of globalisation, any course must be so designed that it is valid in the international arena. Does the college of choice have any tie-ups with a foreign governing body or institution through mentorship or exchange programs?
- Curriculum: The course curriculum must include an emphasis on hands-on knowledge as much as theoretical knowledge. Most colleges conduct courses through books. But workshops, seminars, real-time projects, industry speakers, and lab exposures are essential for a recruitment-ready programme that caters to the needs of hiring organisations.
Why Choose BMU?
BMU is a renowned name in the field of education. With its cutting-edge technology, BMU believes in imparting a culture of learning that helps a student grow into ethical, responsible world leaders who are innovative, research-oriented as well as entrepreneurial.
The college is mentored by the Imperial College London, a 108-year-old university. The design of courses, student exchange, faculty training, and research activities are facilitated jointly by the university, thus ensuring a benchmark with global standards.
At BMU, the focus is on the overall “competency” development of students. While technical knowledge is vital, a student is never industry-ready without honing his practical skills. Just like a pilot, before flying a real flight, goes through several simulations. Similarly, at BMU, 45% of the curriculum emphasises experiential learning, which includes internships, working laboratories, and workshops.
The courses here are so designed that students go through life-like situations through workshops, group activities, and industry exposure and transition smoothly into an organisation. Problem-solving, conflict resolution, dealing with ambiguity, and out-of-the-box thinking are attributes that are nurtured in BMU as, ultimately, these qualities help a student to succeed in his career.
Swimming lessons cannot be provided in the classroom. With that principle, the classes in BMU are synchronised with the workplace to provide an environment of learning, problem-solving, innovation, engaging and, at the same, ensure that the entire process is enjoyable.
The relevance of education is in its application in today’s world of rapidly changing ideas and fast-moving preferences. A student must adapt to this global environment and be proficient in keeping himself relevant through the pursuit of continuous learning. At BMU, the effort is to create such thinking minds while inculcating good citizenry and social etiquette.
The “outside-in” approach of BMU’s curriculum design helps to customise the theoretical concepts with practical inputs from the industry. This approach has attracted several top players in the industry to hire students who have been taught and trained in the BMU.
Get the Right Career Guidance After 12th to Make the Suitable Choice
The choice made by students after their higher secondary education makes a big difference in building their careers. Hence appropriate career guidance after 12th from a professional with the involvement of parents and students is required at this time. A decision is useful only if it results in a good career for the student. Hence, with proper career counselling after 12th, all the factors must be given due weight and wise consideration.
FAQs
What is the best way to choose a career after 12th?
The best way to choose a career after intermediate is to take career guidance after 12th and, with the help of that, explore your desired course in depth, its fees, duration, career prospects, market value etc. and then make a final decision.
Why is career guidance important after 12th?
Career guidance after 12th is important because it instils greater career awareness in students about all the prospective courses they’ll likely choose.
What should I study after 12th for a high salary?
For a higher salary, study that course after the 12th that matches your interests and strengths.
How do I choose a career after 12th?
Choose a career as per your interest, and to select the perfect course for you, take career counselling after 12th.
What are the career problems faced by students after 12th?
Some of the major career problems faced by students after 12th are:
- Indecision about choosing the right career
- Limited information about various career options
- Parental or peer pressure
- Financial constraints
What are the 7 steps in choosing a career?
The 7 steps in choosing a career are:
- Self Assessment
- Identify your career goals.
- Research or Explore various career options as per your career goals.
- Take guidance from experts who provide career advice for students after the 12th.
- Engage yourself in gaining practical experience through internships etc.
- Develop the skills required for your chosen career path.
- Make a decision based on the information and insights you have gathered.