Career crossroads

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I am in Class 10. I am interested in a career in Fashion and am considering applying to NIFT. I also see myself as an entrepreneur one day. Which stream should I choose for Class 11? Is Engineering a stable backup option? What other career paths will align with my interests and provide security? Srihita

Dear Srihita,

The Humanities or Commerce would be a suitable choice in Class 11. Maths is optional, not mandatory. A NIFT degree opens doors to roles such as fashion designer, stylist, visual merchandiser, costume designer, brand manager, merchandiser, luxury retail manager, and so on. Many graduates also launch their own labels or pursue global opportunities and higher studies abroad.

Engineering is a stable backup only if you genuinely enjoy it. It requires Pure Sciences in Classes 11 and 12 and has little overlap with fashion or entrepreneurship. Pursuing it without interest can lead to burnout. Smarter backup options aligned with your goals include B.Des., BBA, BMS, or B.Com, followed by an MBA in Fashion, Luxury, Retail, or Entrepreneurship. Fields like Graphic Design, UI/UX, Product Design, and Communication Design also offer strong creative career pathways. Liberal Arts degrees in Design Studies, Media and Communication, Psychology, Marketing, or Cultural Studies can prepare you for branding, consumer insights, and creative business roles.

Meet a career counsellor for professional profiling to understand your strengths and align them with the right path.

I finished B.Com. in 2019 and worked for a daily wage while preparing for the government exams. Now, at 28, I am unemployed, lack any experience certificate and don’t know what to do. Aswin

Dear Aswin,

The key is a structured re-entry plan and a skills upgrade. Accounting and Finance support roles may be the quickest entry points. Target positions such as Accounts Executive, Accounts Assistant, Billing Executive, Junior Accountant, or MIS Executive. Get certified in Tally, GST, and basic Excel. Apply to CA firms, SMEs, hospitals, schools, logistics companies, and start-ups. You can also consider roles like Relationship Officer, Operations Executive, Back Office Executive, or Loan Processing Executive in private banks, NBFCs, and fintech firms.

If you prefer a fresh direction, explore digital marketing (especially performance marketing and analytics) or supply chain and operations support. Short certifications and internships can help you transition. Highlight skill certificates, internships, freelance work, projects, and references in your applications. During interviews, explain how you used your time while preparing for exams.

I am pursuing a B.E. from a tier-3 college and aim to secure jobs in Software Development or Full Stack Development. I also want to work part-time as a real-time information provider on social issues, based on knowledge gained from newspaper reading and books. How can I do this? Navya

Dear Navya,

Prioritise your Software/Full-Stack career first, as that will fund everything else. Let your social-impact work complement, not distract from, your core goal. Choose one employable path and avoid choosing too many. Build a few strong projects — a CRUD app with authentication, a real-world dashboard using public APIs, and one project linked to a social issue — and deploy them using platforms like Vercel, Netlify, or Render. Your GitHub should show consistency and real work. Next, apply for internships at start-ups via Wellfound and LinkedIn. Even short or unpaid internships can strengthen your profile.

For social issues, pick one niche and build content consistently. Over time, this can become your portfolio and networking tool. Maintain an active LinkedIn presence, post weekly insights, and join open-source communities, developer forums, and local tech meetups.

I am a B.Sc. Maths graduate doing M.Sc. Statistics and preparing for the banking exams. But I am not sure if that is the right fit. What are my options in trading and finance after my M.Sc. in India and abroad? What other skills do I need? Melvin

Dear Melvin,

A B.Sc. in Maths and M.Sc. in Statistics is highly valued in finance. Most banking roles lead to operations, compliance, retail banking, and administrative functions, where your mathematical and analytical strengths may be underused. If you enjoy data, probability, markets, and problem-solving, finance and trading are better aligned.

After your postgraduation, you can look for roles such as Junior Trader, Quantitative Analyst, Risk Analyst, and Market Analyst across proprietary firms, brokerages, and hedge funds. Overseas roles in quant trading, research, and financial engineering may require further specialisation.

Quantitative finance and financial engineering are especially strong fits with roles such as Quantitative Analyst, Model Validation Analyst, Derivatives Pricing Analyst, and Risk Modelling Professional.

You could also explore financial data science (fraud analytics, credit scoring, and algo-trading support), actuarial science, or policy and research roles in think tanks and central banks. Build skills in Python (essential), SQL, advanced Excel, derivatives, portfolio theory, and risk metrics. Certifications like CFA, FRM, CQF, or NSE can further strengthen your profile.