After Class 12: Is B Com a good course option?

Best schools: Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) Delhi, Loyola College (Chennai), St Xaviers College (Kolkata), Presidency College (Chennai), Symbiosis Societys College of Arts & Commerce (Pune), St. Josephs College Bangalore, Narsee Monjee College, BM College of Commerce (Pune) and St. Xaviers (Mumbai) Qualification: 10+2 in Commerce Our advice: Commerce is a multidisciplinary field, choose your options carefully WHAT do steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, PepsiCo Chairperson Indira Nooyi and Kinetic Motorss Joint MD Sullaja Firoda Motwani have in common? Besides being established names, all of them are Commerce graduates. Not that their illustrious careers were scripted while studying. But their Commerce background definitely aided in setting the stage. It familiarised them with financial foundations of a company, besides acquainting them with core financial underpinnings that result in smooth functioning of really successful corporations. Mr/Ms X, a third-year student of Delhis Shri Ram College of Commerce might just be a leader-inthe-making. With a high level of commitment and an enterprising attitude, he/she too could be trained into taking on the financial reins of a company, someday. The course is interdisciplinary in nature. There are students who hails from a business family with a views like, I wouldnt like to give control of my companys finances to any outsider. This puts into perspective, their reason for choosing commerce. BCom basics Commerce is a fundamental academic UG programme, besides Science, Arts, Engineering and Medicine. After completing Class 12, one can pursue Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) or Bachelor of Commerce (Hons), both three-year full-time programmes. Commerce comprises a wide range of interdisciplinary branches such as accountancy, finance, statistics, and e-commerce among others. In the first year programme, there are eight subjects, followed by nine and seven respectively, in the second and third year. Best option would be Political Science in second year, over Maths and English, it helps one in better understanding of and adjusting in any environment they would work in. In the third year one can go for Marketing and Financial Management and Investment Management and Human Resources and Tax. One can be well versed in the concepts of

microeconomics, statistics, financial accounting, business communication, business law, corporate law and auditing among other subjects. In the third year, one will understanding the theories of financial management and macroeconomics. The curriculum in most colleges is similar. Many UG colleges are integrating industry-required knowledge in their course curriculum. The reason being, For Better placements for students. PG level and beyond After graduation, you can opt for a Masters in Commerce (MCom) from any recognised university or institute. The Faculty of Commerce and Business at Delhi School of Economics offers two PG programmes, Masters in International Business (MIB) and Masters in Human Resource and Organisational development (MHROD). You can also pursue a Masters in Finance and Control as an option in the field of Commerce at the Department of Financial Studies, South Campus, University of Delhi. Both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes can be pursued through distance learning, such as those offered by the School of Open Learning in Delhi. Other alternatives include a Bachelors in Investment and Financial Accounting or Bachelors in Business Studies. Some colleges like the St. Francis College for Women, Hyderabad offers a BCom in Foreign Trade. Commerce students can also join the Indian Economic Service or Indian Statistical Service. The Union Public Service Commission conducts the entrance exam to these services in November every year Complementary courses Many BCom students pursue a professional course like CA, CWA or MBA in Finance, CFA alongside, so as to enter highly skilled professions. Many students are doing the same, and are currently pursuing their Company Secretary (CS) course. They plans to appear for ICWA Intermediate level exams in April 2011. By then they would have given their final year BCom exam and would be entitled to forgo the Foundation Level. The Inter-level exams are in December,. Diploma certificates for medium-skilled jobs can also be done. For example, obtaining certification in Accounting Technician Course from ICAI. IT-based courses like Tally or Cyber security are good additional qualifications for Commerce graduates.

Like for example, Mr X while working as finance assistant with ESS ESS India undertook a threeweek course in Business Development and ICT Innovation from the London School of Economics in August 2009. The summer school programme in London would cost him Rs 1.75 lakh, inclusive of accommodation and food. It gave her additional exposure in the field. Supplementary knowledge of stock markets, currency trading, commodity training is also helpful. Such diploma and certification courses are offered by institutes or by the knowledge arms of organisations, themselves. National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange Ltd, for example, runs NCDEX Commodity Certification Course. National Institute of Securities Markets has a 300hour certification programme in Financial Engineering and Risk Management with a fee of Rs 1.5 lakhs. Cyber law and computer courses related to cyber security can also be considered. Career prospects Job opportunities exist in banks, financial institutions, outsourcing firms, insurance companies and audit firms. A fresh Commerce graduate can start out as account assistant, in CA firm or any other small organisation,. There are numbers of CA practicing firms across the country. To name a few, firms like CA practicing firms like TR Chada and Co, Thakur Vaidya Nath Aiyar and Co and Singh Suri and Co absorb a lot of BCom students. These firms usually employ grads for auditing as well as taxation assignments, accounting and research work,. Corporates from Sectors like CD (Consumer Durables), FMCG (Fast Moving CD), HEALTHCARE, BANKING, OIL&GAS, CD, IT, TECH, REALTY, METAL, POWER, PSU and AUTO also recruits fresh BCom students from campuses. Recruitment policies have changed from vertical to horizontal, a mix of graduates are required. Commerce graduates get an edge because of the existent curriculum and exposure to varied subjects. It is better for students to have a general degree before going into a specialised degree. In the banking sector, foreign banks typically prefer skilled Commerce graduates. In nationalised banks, a fresh graduate is eligible to take a Probationary Officer exam. Government offices recruit non-experienced candidates in assistant grade. The demand for graduates is high for sales and marketing functions by banks and insurance,. Commerce graduates also work as researchers and teachers. Eighty percent of management faculty possesses MCom degree.

Accounting and counting Pay packages depend on the organisations as well as area of specialisation. The average salary students received this year was 4.25 lakh per annum. Salaries depend on the nature of organisation and type of job. However, it ranges between Rs. 8,000 and Rs.16,000 per month for a fresh hire. Students with good communication skills tend to get paid better. They are ideal candidates for front-end functions such as customer service, marketing and sales. The salary can be 20-30 percent higher. So, if you have the financial aptitude and are willing to develop further competency, be rest assured, as a Commerce student you will never be out of a job!