Best Career Options After 12th: A Comprehensive Guide To Choosing The Right Path

The hardest part about transitioning into an adult is choosing the best career options after 12th. It’s like being at a crossroads, with so many choices you cannot make it through.

As per the 2023 report of the National Career Service, more than 60% of students need help to choose their career after 12th in India. So, don’t worry; you are not alone. Whether in Science, Commerce, or Humanities, the scope is unlimited.

This article will take you through some of the best career options after completing the 12th class so you may know what to do, which option would be better for you, and in which stream you  are interested.

There’s always something for everyone! From the ancient professions to the newer streams, So, let’s get started!

Factors You Must Consider Before Choosing Best Career Options After 12th

Before going into the natural options, let’s rundown the key things to keep in mind while choosing the proper career path after 12th grade:

Interests and Passion: What is that something that recharges you fully? If solving problems gets your juices flowing, then sciences or engineering will be your cheese. However, if creativity is more of your theme, design or media might suit you perfectly.

Skills and Strengths: Take a moment! Try to understand what you are good at. Do you like working with numbers, words, or technology? Sometimes, your best career options depend on your strengths; you just never know!

Future Scope: Always try to choose careers with high future demand. Currently, technology, digital marketing, and healthcare are the most promising Indian industries of the future.

Education and Training: Some careers require additional education or certifications, so make sure you know what’s ahead in terms of study duration and costs.

Salary Potential: Of course, some of these jobs pay much more from the get-go. It is true that the salary shouldn’t be the only factor, but it is worth considering. Thus, consider comparing the salary packages when you are looking for a suitable career.

Job Demand Market: Research and check which careers are in demand right now. Professions like tech or healthcare always offer excellent job stability and higher salaries.

Potential Options For Jobs After 12th Grade

Be it Science, Commerce, or Arts, there are numerous career options for you.

Here is a general list of career fields you can pursue once you complete your 12th grade:

• Engineering and Technology
• Health and Medicine
• Business and Money
• Design and Creative Arts
• Law
• Teaching and Research
• Government Services and Defense
• Fun and Media
• Digital Marketing

This leaves ample opportunities; the happiness is that you can always change the direction of your life if your passion changes.

Career Options After 12th: Humanities

Humanities is perfect for those who enjoy thinking critically, exploring human behavior, and expressing themselves creatively.

If you opted for Humanities (Arts), you are in for a range of career alternatives. Whether it is traditional or modern, Humanities students have many choices.

Here are some of the best career options after the 12th Humanities for you to check out!

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) (History, Political Science, Psychology, English, Sociology, Philosophy, etc.)
• Journalism & Mass Communication
• Hotel Management
• Event Management
• Public Relations (PR)
• Fashion Designing
• Law (5-year integrated LLB course)
• Content Writing/Editing

Career Options After 12th: Science

Science graduates, listen up! You now have a line-up of high-cool, high-calorie, and viable career paths after the 12th grade.

Here are a few excellent options for quick viewing:

• Engineering
• Medical fields
• Science deep dives
• Data Science & AI
• Forensic Science.
• Aviation: Officers Pilots, Cabin Crew, Ground Staff
• Environmental Science
• Animation and Multimedia

This science stream opens the doors to some of the highest-paying and most excellent jobs available. So, pick what excites you and go for it!

Career Options After 12th: Commerce

Love business, finance, or crunching numbers? Commerce is your jam! This commerce is perfect for the ones who are either very good with numbers (which I wasn’t at all) or have an interest in business as well as finance.

Check out these excellent career paths after the 12th:

• Chartered Accountancy (CA)
• Company Secretary (CS)
• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) / Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS)
• Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)
• Financial Analyst
• Event Management
• Banking (Probationary Officer, Clerk, etc.)
• Insurance and Risk Management
• Marketing & Advertising
• Digital Marketing

Now, there are people who didn’t take maths in their 12th commerce stream.

Well, you, too, have plenty of best career options after 12th:

• BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration)
• B.Com (General or with Specialization in Finance)
• Law (5-year LLB)
• Event Management
• Travel and Tourism Management
• Fashion Designing
• Hotel Management
• Marketing & Advertising
• Digital Marketing

Career Options After 12th: Arts

Arts students can pursue a wide array of careers. If you enjoy creative thinking and people and cultures attractive, Arts would be an excellent option for you.

Some of the best career options after 12th Arts:

• BA in other majors, including Literature, Psychology, Sociology, etc
• Journalism and Mass Communication
• Advertising & Public Relations
• Film Studies
• Fashion Designing
• Interior Design
• Graphic Designing
• Animation & Multimedia
• Event Planning
• Content Writing

Career Options After 12th: Vocational And Skill-Based Courses

If you like hands-on work or want to jump into a career quickly, vocational courses are a great choice.

Here are some best vocational and skill-based career options:

Digital Marketing	Online businesses and e-commerce are currently growing. Digital marketing is booming. SEO, SEM, content marketing, and social media skills are in high demand.
Graphic Designing	Do you love artistic and visual creations? Then, a graphic designer would be perfect for you. This work includes designing websites, advertisements, logos, etc.
Animation and Multimedia	This course is suitable for creating movies, cartoons, and general digital content. It focuses on visual effects, 3D modeling, and animation.
Activities Management	If you like organizing events like weddings, corporate functions, or festivals, then event management can be a really accomplished career.
Fashion Designing	You can have a very creative career by exploring the world of fashion and design. Furthermore, you might become a designer or stylist or work in fashion marketing.
Photography	A photography career gives you the opportunity. You would be working in numerous fields, such as fashion, journalism, wildlife, and wedding photography. Moreover, it may, in particular, be well suited to those with attention to detail.

Career Options After 12th: The Emerging Options To Choose From

Today, the Indian job market is at very fast-changing times. Some of the industries are simply superb. The opportunities for careers here are fabulous, too. Besides, these jobs are going to be in high demand soon. So, they are good alternatives after high school.

This is the list of some emerging career options that you may pursue after your 12th graduation:

• Data Science & Machine Learning
• Blockchain Technology
• Cybersecurity Specialist
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineer
• Robotics
• Sustainability Consultant
• Social Media Influencer
• Gaming Industry Professional

Choosing The Best Career Options After 12th!

So, now that you’ve completed 12th, you must be doing a lot of wondering about “What am I going to do next?”.

Worry not at all! Here is just a guide that can quickly help you choose the right career path .

• Know yourself: Firstly, you must try to find out what you like doing. Do you enjoy reading? Can you be creative? Is it tech-savviness? Knowing oneself can be a great advantage in researching for the right career path.
• Do Your Homework: Secondly, try to look up occupations that interest you. How do the qualifications work? What kinds of work do people engaged in those occupations do? Do your homework beforehand.  
• Talk to the pros: Thirdly, you can talk to people who are already doing the jobs that you’re considering. They can give you the inside scoop about the job profile you are interested in.
• Think long-term: Next, you can select a career that will ensure you are both happy and have fruitful job opportunities.
• Be flexible: Lastly, your interests might change over time. If you feel like your interests have changed, it’s okay to turn in a different direction. The best career path is the one that excites you, but there is no single correct answer.

List Of Unique Career Options & Salary

Some of the most unusual careers can offer you high salaries if you build up your expertise. For example,

Careers	Eligibility	Expected salary(Per annum)
Engineer	B.Tech/BE degree	Rs. 3 Lakhs to upto 10 Lakhs
Doctor	MBBS/BDS/BHMS/BUMS	Rs. 5 Lakhs to Rs. 12 Lakhs
Architect	B.Arch	Rs. 4 Lakhs to 10 Lakhs
Pilot	Pilot license to become a Pilot at the Indian Air Force (IAF), they need to clear the NDA examination.	Rs. 6 Lakhs to 10 Lakhs
Data Scientist	B.tech from IT or computer science	Rs. 3.5 Lakhs to 9 Lakhs
Veterinarian	B.V.Sc. & A.H.BVMS	Rs. 2.5 Lakhs to 5 Lakhs
Agricultural Scientist	Masters degree in Agri-Botany/ Agri-Biotechnology/ Agri-Chemistry/ Agri-Economic/ Social forestry.	Rs. 5.5 Lakhs to 11 Lakhs
Biomedical Engineer	Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical engineering	Rs. 3 Lakhs to 10 Lakhs
Nurse	General Nursing & Midwifery courseB.Sc. Nursing	Rs. 3.2 Lakhs to 7.8 Lakhs
Government Jobs	Bachelor’s degree in any field.	Rs. 3 Lakhs to 7 Lakhs

Entrance Exams After 12th Science

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the significant entrance exams where you can appear if you are from the science stream:

Exam Name	Subject Focus	Career Opportunities
JEE Main & Advanced	Engineering	Engineering (Various Branches)
NEET	Medical Science	MBBS, BDS, Nursing, Physiotherapy
AIIMS	Medical Science	MBBS
BITSAT	Engineering, Science	Engineering, Tech Fields
NDA	Defense	Indian Army, Navy, Air Force

Entrance Exams After 12th Arts/Humanities

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the significant entrance exams where you can appear if you are from the Arts/ Humanities stream:

Exam Name	Subject Focus	Career Opportunities
CLAT	Law	LLB (5-year), Legal Careers
DUET	Humanities, Social Science	BA, B.Com, Journalism, and more
IPU CET	Humanities, Management	Various UG Courses
NID/NIFT	Design	Fashion Design, Graphic Design, etc.
NDA	Defense	Indian Army, Navy, Air Force

Common Mistakes That You Must Avoid When Choosing A Career

Choosing a career can be a hectic job. It is the one that shapes our lives. As someone who has gone through the process already, I have firsthand experience of how difficult it can be! I made mistakes! Yes! But I don’t want someone else to go through the same trouble.

That’s why I am going to list a few common mistakes that you must ignore when you are looking for your dream career:

• Tracks Trends: Don’t start a career because it happens to be the hot one or because your friends are doing it.
• Ignore Strength: Try to have careers in which you may excel rather than in which you feel you might only “get by.”
• The failure to consider long-term goals: They include job stability, growth opportunities, and work-life balance. Undersell effort: No job is easy; one must put in the effort to study, build skills, and network.

Wrapping It Up!

Choosing the best career options after 12th can be overwhelming, but with self-reflection, research, and open-mindedness, you’ll find the perfect fit. Explore all possibilities, emerging fields included! Don’t be afraid to change course if needed.

Remember, the crucial factor is your passion and happiness! Thank you for reading!

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