7 CAREER OPTIONS AFTER A BACHELORS IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

If you’ve been dreaming of auditioning your next big business idea on Shark tank since the age of 10 or can’t wait to dive into the world of management and entrepreneurship, a Bachelors in Business Administration (BBA) is the right course for you. Launched less than 30 years ago in India, a BBA was one of the first professional Bachelor’s degrees on the block, excepting the fields of engineering and medicine. Since then, the course has only grown in popularity, allowing you a chance to get a good job right after college. Before we explore what kind of jobs are available after a BBA, it is helpful to know what you’ll be studying in a well-designed BBA course.

What is a BBA?

Typically, a three-year long course, a BBA includes core modules in business studies, economics, marketing, and computer science. Since it a professional course, the BBA emphasises project work & practical, hands-on training in management, leadership skills, teamwork, and communication abilities. This is carried out through case studies, visits to work sites, and internships. The end goal of a BBA is to leave you career-ready for management, in case you don’t want immediately to pursue higher studies. Another question you may have is how to get a job after your BBA. Most good institutes offer campus placements, primarily if you have scored well in your course, so doing well in academics always helps. Even if your institute doesn’t offer placements, many Indian and multinational companies (MNCs) hold recruitment drives for entry-level managers, analysts, and researchers.

Which type of BBA course is the best?

It is always a good idea to go in for a BBA with a reputed institute, such as the Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies (Delhi), Christ University (Bangalore) or SRM University (Amravati, Andhra Pradesh). Another very valid criterion for choosing a BBA is a well-rounded course that offers you diverse electives in arts and sciences. For instance, the SRM university BBA offers electives in fields such as psychology, law, journalism, and computer applications, which can go a long way into enhancing your communication and leadership skills. Having varied electives also opens up your choices in future careers.

What is the difference between a BBA and an MBA?

This is a question which often stumps applicants! The biggest key difference between a BBA and MBA is that the latter is a two-year postgraduate course, which compresses learning in a shorter time. While the BBA spends more time building concepts, the MBA is more focussed on project-work. The other difference is that a BBA course may or may not include a specialisation, but an MBA always includes a specialisation like finance or marketing. You can find jobs after a BBA and MBA, both. There is no better or worse choice between the two: you can always follow up your BBA with an MBA if you are so inclined. Some of the advantages of doing a BBA are that it gives you ample time to strengthen managerial concepts and is typically more affordable than an MBA.

What careers, jobs and salaries can I expect after a BBA?

1. Study further

Specialisation courses after a BBA, include an MBA degree, which is a natural progression. In your MBA, you can specialise in finance, marketing, human resources, and other areas. You’ll be required to qualify the Combined Aptitude Test (CAT) to get into premier institutions like the IIMs. But an MBA is by no means your only option for advanced study. During or after your BBA, you can study Chartered Accountancy (CA) and Company Secretary (CS) courses, which have a rewarding career trajectory. You can also opt to study law, specialising in business, intellectual property, and company law. To qualify for postgraduate law study, you typically have to take the CLAT or Common Law Aptitude Test. You can also opt for Postgraduate diplomas and Masters in fields like entrepreneurship and marketing. If you are looking for creative courses after a BBA, you can opt for courses in journalism, advertising, graphic and computer-aided design, and fine arts with institutes like the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai; MS University, Baroda, and MICA and National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad. Most of these will require an entrance exam and/or a portfolio of creative work. If you wish to go for non-professional or academic specialisation, you can opt for an MA or MA/PhD in areas such as organisational behaviour with an accredited university.

2. Work with the central government, defence services, or the banking sector

After your BBA, you can take the Indian Administrative Exams (IAS), the Provincial Civil Services Exam (PCS) to join lucrative government service. Government jobs after a BBA are a great choice, since government careers involve administration and leadership, which your management specialisation prepares you. You can also take the Central Defence Services (CDS) or NDA exams to join the armed forces, and bank exams to join public sector banks, such as State Bank of India.

Monthly salary range: Upwards of Rs 50,000 for IAS, PCS, and defence services; upwards of Rs 38,000 for probationary officers (PO) in banks.

3. Work as a financial analyst

Whether or not you have specialised in finance in your BBA, you can find work as a financial analyst with MNCs, consulting firms, or Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) firms, such as KPMG and Genpact.

Monthly salary range: Rs 25,000 and above

4. Work as an operations manager

Events management companies, hotels, and various other businesses are always on the lookout for managers to oversee their operations. Ops managers supervise all working operations of a company from procuring goods and services to final delivery.

Monthly salary range: Rs 20,000 and above, depending on the size of the operation

5. Work in sales and marketing

You can work as a sales and marketing executive with companies such as Amazon and Tata, or as a marketing researcher with consulting firms and advertising agencies, such as Gartner and Leo Burnett. If you enjoy coming up with fresh ideas and can turn a witty phrase, you can also join an advertising firm as a copywriter.

Monthly salary range: Rs 20,000 and above, depending on the size of the operation

6. Work in retail

Retail stores, food delivery outlets, malls, and companies manufacturing FMCG products all need retail managers. Though starting salaries may not be very high, you’ll be surprised to know that some big brands pay store managers very rewarding median and advanced salaries even without an MBA or other advanced degrees.

Monthly salary range: Rs 15,000 and above

7. Start your own business

A BBA degree can be a great way of learning the ins and outs of business if you have an entrepreneurship idea in mind. You may already know what you want to do; a BBA will give you the tools on how to execute your dream.

Whatever option you pick, the multi-faceted BBA degree is a great way to acquaint yourself with the world of business, and prepare you for a fruitful career in leadership!