Engineering remains one of the most sought after educational disciplines in India. A majority of students opt for the science stream after Class 10, aiming to make a career in medicine or engineering. Of these too, a sizeable number prefers the latter. Though only a handful make it to premier engineering institutes like the IITs, there is no dearth of colleges across the country that welcome engineering aspirants into their folds and help them realize their dream of bagging a BTech degree. There are, thus, thousands of young engineers graduating from different colleges every year. This only means stiff competition for getting through the limited job opportunities corresponding to your educational qualifications. Here are a few lucrative career choices you can aim for after BTech:
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Work as an Engineer
You have spent four years of your BTech degree training to be an engineer. It is only logical then to pick up a job in field of your specialization upon completion of your degree. Engineers specialize in different technical fields such as electrical, mechanical, chemical, electronics, computer and IT, and biomedical. Fresh engineering graduates are employed in various professional roles and capacities ranging from planning and designing structures, production, testing, maintenance of equipment and machines, and installation of engineering goods in their respective fields of specialization. If you are looking to work as an engineer, aim to secure a job through campus placement drives organized by colleges for final year students. This will bring in a sense of security to your career even before the completion of your education. The freshers graduating from premier institutes such as IITs and NITs can bag a lucrative salary package of up to Rs 10 lakh. On the other hand, the average salary of engineers passing out from other lesser known institutes ranges between Rs 10,000 to 25,000 a month and can go up to Rs 50,000-80,000 in a matter of 1-2 years.
Get a Masters Degree
A lot of youngsters get into engineering out of immense pressure from parents and peers. However, half way through the course they realize that they are not cut out to pursue a career in engineering. If you are one of those, you can consider pursing a MBA degree upon completion of BTech to find a suitable job in a managerial position. Once again, the starting salary after an MBA is largely determined by the institute you pass out from and your area of specialization, with MBA graduates specializing in finance from premier institutes like IIMs can get a starting package as high as Rs 12-15 lakh a year. The average starting salary for fresh MBA graduates ranges between Rs 20,000-35,000 a month and can go up to Rs 50,000-80,000 with 2-4 years of experience.
On the other hand, if you are one of the rare few who choose to pursue engineering for the sheer love of science, you can opt for a MTech degree. You’ll need to crack the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE), a national entrance test conducted across India, to get through premier institutes such as IISC, IITs, NITs. With a master’s degree in technology, you can make a lucrative career as a consultant in multi-national firms, Research and Development professional, and professor in technical institutes. The starting salary for MTech degree holders Rs 40,000-95,000 a month and can go up to Rs 1,50,000 with 2-4 years of experience.
Join the Civil Services
If you are looking for a high profile job and career security at the same time, you can appear for the civil services exams conducted by the UPSC. There is no denying that it is one of the toughest entrance exams not only in India but across the world. However, with meticulous and diligent preparation, you have a shot at making a breakthrough. If you get through, you can join the IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS and a whole host of other government services depending on your merit ranking. The starting salary ranges between Rs 15,000-39,000 along with grade pay of Rs 5,400. Increments and salary increase depends on promotions and government policy.
Join the Armed Forces
Another lucrative career choice for BTech graduates in joining the armed forces. The Army has a special entry for BTech graduates known as University Entry Scheme or UES, where you can straight away appear for Service Selection Board after a brief preliminary round of selection on campus. This is followed by one-year training at the Indian Military Academy. Officers commissioned under UES scheme are also entitled to an ante-date seniority of two years, giving you an edge over your peers in terms of promotion.
The Indian Navy too has UES scheme for aspirants with a technical background. Similarly, you can appear for Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT), followed by an AFSB, to join the Air Force. BTech graduates can apply for flying positions and make a career as a pilot in the Indian Air Force. The starting salary in the armed forces is around Rs 40,000 a month, and is subject to annual increments and revisions as per the recommendations of the current pay commission.
Build Your Own Startup
Startups are mushrooming in a big way today. If you do not fancy the idea for working for someone else, you can take the leap into the realm of entrepreneurship by starting your own business. However, it is important to bear in mind that being your boss doesn’t mean you can have it easy. Establishing a business requires a lot more hard work than a regular 9 to 5 job and is fraught with risks and uncertainties. As long as you are committed to relentlessly working toward your goal, success will come by sooner or later. Your earnings, of course, depend entirely on how successful your business is.
There are plenty of lucrative career options available after engineering, provided you are prepared to look beyond the obvious.
