Commerce is all around us. From the small shop tucked in a narrow alley of a small town to the multistoried skyscraper of a big business organization, every business operation of every business entity requires commercial knowledge and technical knowhow of how to implement that knowledge in an apt way. Commerce is the foundation of any nation that eyes progress at every step of the way. Commercial activities are an important part of our lives and we do have some basic knowledge of this subject without even knowing it. Daily trading with local shopkeepers, getting change for transport, eating out at restaurants, paying our taxes, using digital wallet for various transactions, all activities require commercial know how to proceed.
Commerce education in India follows a very rigorous pattern. Right from choosing the commerce stream in the 11th standard, students in India work very hard to achieve the dream of taking up a desired course or getting a seat in a college of their choice. Once they end up on the other end of the river of uncertainty however, a promising and rewarding career awaits them. Success is certain with the bright future of this ever growing educational field.
CAREER PATHS:
The route to success in the field of commerce is as varied as the subject itself. Many commerce graduates end up working with multinational companies as business executives while some help investment firms to help make the right decision at the right time. Some of them become Chartered accountants while a large proportion work for the government as accounts officers. The opportunities are immense. Here we present a few of the options available for such graduates in commerce:
1.Finance: Markets nowadays have become really competitive and organizations, firms need to be at their toes to evade various overhead costs. Additionally, they need to return back maximum profits to the investors, attracting newer buyers alongside. Students who have taken up commerce as their graduation stream can opt for various roles in finance like financial analysts, financial managers and risk management.
2.Banking: Banking is one of the most sought after careers in India, and commerce and management graduates are in always welcomed with both arms in this sector. Whether Private or nationalized banks, the demand for such highly trained graduates never diminishes. Many professionals end up becoming the CEO’s or heads of these banks and few of them get lucrative offers from foreign banks or financial institutions.
3.Chartered accountancy: The first choice of many chartered accountants in India is a degree in Commerce. Although many pursue other fields like science and management before becoming a Chartered Accountant, they are outnumbered by those who started off with a commerce degree. Chartered accountants work in many areas of commerce, namely business and finance, audit, taxation, financial and general management. While some of them are are employed to do public practice, others work in the private sector and some others work for the government. The salaries for chartered accountants too are very healthy and they compete with top business executives of the country in terms of financial benefits and perks.
4.Company secretary: A company secretary is entrusted with the systematic management of a company or organization, particularly in situations where safeguarding compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and for ensuring decisions made by top management is required. After getting selected as Company secretaries in companies and firms, commerce graduates become the first point of contact for the advisory board on the running of business, ranging from everything from legal advice on competition, conflicts of interest, accounting advice on financial reports, to the growth of strategy and corporate planning.
5.Investing/Share Marketing: Investment firms value advice from professionals who have a deep understanding of how money runs through the markets. Commerce graduates are making waves in such organizations and well respected among the top executives. Opportunities in this area increase exponentially if a person has 2 years or more of experience working with trades, derivates and related financial instruments. As a result of rapid Economic growth and liberalization of the Indian markets, A commerce graduate as a stockbroker may be employed by numerous agencies and entities in India and abroad. On top of that, they provide financial counseling and create financial portfolios for their clients.
TOP COLLEGES: There are numerous colleges and institutes that offer B.Com degree as a first degree to students, but it is important that the students choose only the best as their first choice. Although the competition among students is very tough, hard work can generally bag you a lucrative seat in one of the colleges mentioned below:
1.SHRI RAM COLLEGE OF COMMERCE (SRCC), NEW DELHI: Without doubt, Shree Ram College of Commerce is the most sought after Commerce College in the country. With cut-offs soaring nearing 100%, it is extremely difficult, but not impossible, to get admission into the B.Com (Hons.) course taught on campus. Established in 1920, This College also prides itself at being one of the first few institutes in India that imparts knowledge in the fields of Commerce and industry.
2.LADY SHRI RAM COLLEGE FOR WOMEN (LSR), NEW DELHI: LSR was established in 1956 and is acknowledged as the premier institution of higher learning for women in India and Asia. Many national and international personalities call it as their alma mater. With its central location of New Delhi, it has a very accessible campus, especially for women. It is known all around as a hub of academic prowess and caliber and reputed as the finest in the country.
3.LOYOLA COLLEGE, CHENNAI: Consistently ranking among the top five colleges in the country with relation to degree programs in commerce and other streams, Loyola College is equally recognized as a center of excellence by students and educators alike as one of the commerce best colleges. It is an autonomous college falling under the University of Madras. Loyola yields 100% placements for the students who register with the campus placement cell. Large corporate houses and MNC's start recruiting students from the initial academic year itself. Loyola is certainly a Mecca for students who want to make a career in commerce.
4.ST. XAVIER’S COLLEGE, MUMBAI: St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai was SET UP in 1869. It is regularly accredited by NAAC with A+ grade due to its rigorous study system and a focus on quality over quantity. It is an autonomous college under the management of University of Mumbai. It is regarded by aspirants as one of the best educational institution imparting knowledge on commerce and related subjects. The three year tenure with St. Xavier College helps students in growing their confidence with respect to academic as well as personal growth. Moreover, lying in the heart of the financial capital of India, Mumbai, gives it an extra edge over other institutions.
5.CHRIST UNIVERSITY, BANGALORE: Emerging out of the long term vision of eminent educationalists and reformers of pre independence India and being run as an important commerce academy, Christ University was established in its present form in 1969. Being one of the first few institutions in Karnataka to be accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation (NAAC), it runs true to its ethos with great efficiency. The management is efficient and works tirelessly to ensure students and teachers are at ease and concentrate on their sole concern, i.e. studies. Placements are a breeze and usually, students get placed in top companies which come annually on campus to recruit commerce graduates.
