Top 5 Career Options in India: Best Career Options To Choose in 2024

Having navigated the landscape of career options in India, I understand the pivotal decisions freshers must make after completing their formal education. While diverse paths await, opting for a career that not only offers security but also ensures decent job satisfaction remains a prevailing choice. 

Among the factors that should weigh into your career decision are: 

• Salary: The financial aspect is undoubtedly significant, and it plays a key role in career choices. 
• Growth: Consider the potential for professional advancement and skill development within your chosen field. 
• Security: Job security is a crucial concern for most candidates, and it influences their decision-making. 
• Brand: The reputation and standing of the organization or industry you choose can impact your career trajectory. 
• Job Satisfaction: Finding fulfillment in your work is essential for a satisfying career journey. 
• Opportunities: Evaluate the opportunities available within your chosen field for continuous learning and career progression. 

Each individual has unique preferences. Some thrive in roles involving extensive travel, while others prefer the comfort of a cubicle. However, salary, growth prospects, and job satisfaction consistently top the list of priorities for most candidates. 

In this article, I’ll outline the top career options in India to help you make an informed decision based on your preferences and aspirations. 

Learners receive an average Salary hike of 58% with the highest being up to 400%.

Top Career Options in India

1. Data Science

Data science can be defined as a process that involves the collection of a structured or unstructured data, pre-processing it to make it readable by algorithms, fetching important details and metrics, and sometimes making predictions, etc. It is considered to be the topmost career option in India because of its vast future offerings. 

To understand this interesting field, let us divide it into further parts-

1. Data Mining: The job of a data miner is to collect or mine the data from a vast set of structured/unstructured data. The process involves extracting important data points from internal or sometimes publicly available data sources and presenting them in a readable form.
2. Data Analyst/Scientist: The Data Analyst/scientist team thoroughly investigates the data given to them by the data miners and comes up with interesting insights that help in driving business decisions and identifying potential threats.
3. Machine Learning Engineers: Machine Learning engineers use the mined data to predict outcomes and analyze the future of a business move. 

Since the dawn of data tools in the 1990s, the opportunities in the field of data science have drastically increased. After some major companies like Google started using useless data piles to their advantage, companies all over the world adopted similar techniques to excel in their particular domains. Hence, for at least a century, data science has become one of the top choices of students for a career in India. 

From the data mentioned above, we can clearly see the rise of data scientist postings on Indeed. It is, in fact, one of the highest booming sectors in the world. Due to its versatility, data science has become a need for all the major organizations across domains and hence is deemed to be one of the best career options in India. This also helps a fresher from any field to fit into the role of a data scientist very easily.

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upGrad’s PG diploma program in Data Science acts as a brilliant end-to-end learning experience for any level of candidates to get into a data science career in India. This course will serve as a perfect mixture of different concepts like Predictive Analytics using Python, Machine Learning, Data Visualization, Big Data, Natural Language Processing, etc. It is certified and taught by experienced professors from IIIT Bangalore, along with industry experts who know what it takes to get into this exciting field of data science. This is one of the most interesting and best career options out there.

Read: Data Scientist Salary in India

2. Digital Marketing

For every brand out there, however big or small, promotion of their product stands out to be one of their ultimate jobs. For years, brands have been using different tactics to promote their products in a quest to maximize sales. With the rise of digital tools, especially social media platforms, where a considerable number of people engage every day, the digital form of marketing has become one of the foremost ways of promotions.

Due to this fact, almost all the major brands hire a large number of digital marketing people who can drive strategies for the promotion of their products through different channels of communication. The primary role of a digital marketer is to create campaigns for specific products and even companies in general that help them create an ever-lasting impact on potential customers or clients. A digital marketer is also responsible for creating and maintaining the brand image of a particular company. 

Digital marketing is an essential ingredient that is required for companies to stand out against competitors. The better a brand looks, the better are the sales.

There are multiple channels or techniques used by digital marketers in this mission. 

The major digital marketing career options in India are- 

1. Content Marketing
2. Big Data
3. Marketing Automation
4. Mobile Marketing
5. Social Media Marketing
6. Conversion Rate Optimisation
7. Internet of Things
8. Search Engine Optimisation
9. Wearables
10. Paid Search Marketing
11. Online PR
12. Communities
13. Display 
14. Partnerships

As we can see from the above visualization of data, the number of job postings in Digital Marketing has drastically increased over the last decade. This is majorly due to the sharp rise in the number of digital platforms and advancements in technologies. Over the years, more and more people have started engaging with the online forms of content.

Hence, to keep up in this competitive sphere, companies need to strategically come up with techniques that help them to reach out to the customers easily. This requirement has helped in fueling this field to be one of the best career options in India.

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To get a kickstart in digital marketing, you should enroll in upGrad’s Post Graduate Certification in Digital Marketing and Communication. This program has covered all the essentialities that the students would require for developing a career in Digital Marketing. Interestingly, through this program, you will be able to get a grasp on different techniques used in digital marketing like Social Media, Public Relations, Content Promotion and Marketing, Marketing Analytics, and Branding. 

Taught and mentored by experienced professors from Mudra Institute of Communications (MICA), Ahmedabad, and professionals from companies like Facebook, this program will help you ace any post related to digital marketing like SEO Manager, Social Media Specialist, Content Manager, etc. with ease. 

Read: Digital Marketing Salary in India

3. Product Management

A product manager does the task of driving different teams involved in the creation of the best possible product. Think of a product manager as the director of a film. During production, we have actors, writers, musicians, cinematographers, and all the other people required in the process. But, it is the director of the film that drives all these different teams for the perfect product that is delivered to us. 

The role of a product manager rose during the decade of the 2000s when big companies like Google, Facebook, etc. started building big products that required attention to detail and a more customer-oriented approach. A product manager has to look into each and every aspect of a product from different faces and suggest and implement manipulations required to optimize it.

He/she looks into the user experience, how the user is behaving, what particular changes/features do users need, getting user feedback, testing, and rolling out new changes. Apart from this, a product manager also controls the technology aspect, looking over the different frameworks and system designs that are being used in the product.

While doing all these jobs, a Product Manager needs to make the business sense out of his/her decision. Since the ultimate aim of the companies is profit, the product manager needs to think and improvise in a direction where the sales and revenue are increased.

The critical factor that has led to a rise in the number of applicants in product management is that people from different domains like business, UX, tech, etc. can enter the product domain and reach a high-level position in a company easily. Thus, it has become a vibrant choice for a career in India.

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From the above graph, we can see that Product Management provides a perfect combination of salary and job satisfaction. This is majorly due to the fact that the job of a product manager is very dynamic and independent of the timeframes.

One of the best sources to learn product management is upGrad’s Product Management Certification Program. This certification is powered by Duke University, which is long known for its excellence in product management. On top of that, you will also get to learn from top professionals from big companies like Google. This is one of the best career options you can consider!

Read: Average Product Manager Salaries in India

4. Software Engineering

With the rise of digital services and products that are being offered to billions of people, the demand for high-quality software to provide a strong platform for the product or service to function has also increased. Although the basic skill set required to be a software developer is quite easy, it is challenging to reach a point where you can design difficult software without any inefficiencies. 

Hence, most of the big companies generally opt for more experienced candidates while looking for a position. Due to this fact, it is a bit difficult for freshers to get into this career in India, and hence, it is strongly recommended that the candidates should inculcate a firm hold on different data structures and algorithms. These pave the way for the candidates to excel in a software engineering job application.

The job of a software engineer is to develop specialized software according to the needs of the user or client. Apart from this, he/she is also responsible for maintaining the architectures, analyzing potential risks, and targeting the software for the best experience overall. 

Irrespective of the domain in which a particular company operates, software development is required by a majority of them. Even if the company doesn’t operate in a non-digital domain, the software is used to catalyze their daily processes and events.

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From the above data from Indeed, we can clearly see that making a transition from software development to other fields like data science, data analyst, machine learning, etc. is comparatively easier than others. This is due to the fact that the skills required for software development act as a strong base for any other job in the tech industry. An experienced software engineer already has a decent understanding of different algorithms and frameworks. Hence, understanding the concepts of data handling, prediction and analysis becomes a cakewalk for him/her.

Although it is difficult to get into the field of software engineering easily, Upgrad’s Master’s program in Computer Science can act as a strong catalyst for job application. Taught by experts from the famous Liverpool John Moores University, this course will help you ace the art of software development in an easily understandable manner. 

Read: Software Engineer / Developer Salary in India

5. Blockchain

Although the concept of blockchain was revolving around silicon valley since the late ’90s, its recognition got a significant breakthrough when Satoshi Nakamoto, an unidentified engineer published a research paper on the futuristic payment system based on Blockchain- cryptocurrency. Once properly discovered, the whole world was shocked, following which multiple other cryptocurrencies like Etherum, Ripple, Lightcoin came up.

But, apart from cryptocurrency, industry people and researchers also started pondering over the use of Blockchain in other domains. Eventually, the basic concept of a blockchain boils down to a simple ledger. Due to this fact, it is used across industries to enhance the security, transparency, and management of the system or a set of systems.

Tools like smart contracts, action management, DBMS, etc. have enabled Blockchain to easily get into the framework setups of companies from different domains. Today, Blockchain is used in 1000s of tech and non-tech industries like public administration, medical, education, etc. and has become the top choice of students to make a career in India in this field. 

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The above mentioned 2019 data compiled by Hired precisely shows the growth in demand for Blockchain engineers. The primary reason here is that most of the security attacks that cost billions of dollars to major companies can be decreased to an extent by using Blockchain. Hence, companies prefer to invest more in hiring a large number of Blockchain candidates rather than paying up for the losses that happened due to their irresponsibilities.

Learning Blockchain isn’t an easy task at all. upGrad’s Postgraduate Certificate in Blockchain Technology helps Blockchain aspirants to quickly get their feet into this interesting field without any difficulties. Taught by experienced professionals from IIIT Bangalore, this program is a complete package that will get you acquainted with Ethereum, Hyperledger, smart contracts, Fabric, Composer, Advance JavaScript, NodeJS, etc. These skills are sufficient enough to kickstart your blockchain career in India. Out of all the new career options, this one comes with great opportunities!

Read: Blockchain Developer Salary in India

Top Career Options Stream-wise

Science Stream: 

Commerce Stream: 

Arts and Humanities Stream: 

These are just a few examples, and each stream offers a wide range of career possibilities. Individual interests and skills often play a significant role in choosing a suitable career path.

Considering your next steps after B.Com? Explore the variety of career options after BCom to navigate your future with confidence.

How To Get a Job of Your Dreams

While we have learned that there are some amazing new career options for you out there, however, you now need to understand how you can land these amazing jobs. Here are some tips that can help you –

1. Explore yourself and understand your skills

Improve your other qualities in addition to your main competencies today, even before you seek a job among the top career options available. Employers are looking for applicants with talents, which include the ability to work well in a team. The following are a few extracurricular pursuits that might help your CV stand out from the competition:

• Do some volunteer work
• Publish articles or blogs online
• Create a website about yourself
• Do some charity work or start a fundraiser

2. Stay up-to-date

The modern employer looks for applicants that are current in their industry as well as possess the appropriate educational credentials.

For instance, many individuals who graduate from college have little knowledge of what is occurring in their industry after they begin working. Employers are looking for original, creative, and driven people to improve.

You must also be computer literate and have a method to connect with people via your expertise if you want to improve your prospects. Stay up-to-date and recognize the new trends for some top career options to become available to you. 

3. Constantly update your resume.

Many job seekers still use the same outdated resumes they created years ago. Your resume has to be changed in accordance with the position you are applying for in order to stand out as a strong candidate.

Your resume must address the requirements listed by the many employers who advertise job-specific demands. As a result, you might need to reflect in your resume on the needs of the employer and how you can benefit the business.

4. Create a network

One of the requirements for landing a job in today’s competitive professional job market is having connections. Start forming good connections with individuals since you never know; one of them could end up becoming your employment.

Join social media sites to build your network. Engage with others in your field to expand your professional network. Professionals frequently publish job openings on various social media platforms, so you never know—you may land a great job.

5. Have a social presence

In today’s job market, many companies now search social networking sites like Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram for the ideal applicant. As a result, you must be adaptable and sociable.

Establish a profile on one of these social networking sites and list your credentials and abilities. Discuss various employment scenarios, how you would respond to them, etc., on a regular basis. Your chances of being viewed by a potential employer increase as you upload more information about jobs. When used properly, social media platforms may work wonders for your career.

6. The Final Interview

Go online and look for sample interview questions to help you prepare for the interview and improve your chances. Numerous websites provide free sample questions and suitable responses. Next, duplicate all the necessary paperwork.

Be well-groomed and wear appropriate attire to the interview. You must carefully articulate your abilities and skills during the interview. Keep your body language real at all times, make direct eye contact, refrain from fidgeting, and listen.

Best career options for future in India

Drawing from my extensive experience, I want to highlight some of the best career options for mid-career professionals aspiring to secure their future in India’s evolving job landscape: 

• Technology and IT: The demand for roles in software development, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity remains consistently high. I’ve personally witnessed the growth and opportunities in these fields. 
• Healthcare: With an aging population, opportunities for healthcare are on the rise. Professions like doctors, nurses, and healthcare administrators continue to be in demand, offering stable and fulfilling career paths. 
• Renewable Energy: India’s push for sustainable power sources opens prospects in the renewable energy sector, particularly in solar and wind energy. This field is not only forward-looking but also environmentally responsible. 
• Data Science: Data analysts and data scientists play a pivotal role in data-driven decision-making processes. The demand for their expertise continues to soar, and this field offers an exciting career trajectory. 
• E-commerce: The e-commerce industry has expanded rapidly, offering diverse roles in logistics, marketing, and technology. It’s a dynamic sector that promises growth and innovation. 
• Environmental Sustainability: As environmental concerns grow, careers in environmental conservation and sustainable agriculture are gaining prominence. These roles contribute to a more eco-conscious future. 

These Career Options in India hold the promise of rewarding and fulfilling journeys in future job market. By aligning your skills and interests with these fields, you can secure a stable and prosperous professional future. 

Final Words

Making a career in India or any nation requires students to possess basic knowledge and skills. Many a time students like to choose a different career option than the academic field they have been to, in such cases, this type, of course, is a boon as it provides all the necessary skills and understanding that a candidate may require to reach his/her career goals.

With the advanced times, skills have become an inevitable requirement that makes people suitable for any work. These career skills, job skills, and employability skills have a significant impact on a person’s workability and help an organization grow.

It is best to upskill yourself with the latest technologies. Checkout upGrad’s top courses in Data Science, Machine Learning, Digital Marketing, MBA from LBS& Full Stack Development.

You can also check out our limited-time free courses to utilize this lockdown to upgrade yourself.