Even when different professions and degrees have come up in the market, the fanaticism behind getting a B.Tech or B.E degree or going for the different branches of Engineering is an enticing and the most sought out option. India has approximately 6000 engineering colleges, which is an indicator of the popularity of the stream.

There are nearly 2.9 million students who are studying these courses, and on average, 1.5 million students get their degree in engineering every year. But, as per research, less than 20% get employed as per their degrees and core domain due to the lack of technical skills that are required as per the job.

But science stream in +2 and then engineering was more popular in the past and has not yet lost its appeal, especially for parents. The degree is a sign of the high quality of the people and their knowledge, but due to dwindling opportunities in the job market, people are trying to find “what to do next?”

There are numerous career options after the B.Tech or B.E degree, but it is important to choose the one that is right for you. The list contains what you might be looking for:-

Pursue an MBA degree

Masters in Business Administration is one of the most sought out Masters degrees after engineering as it enables an individual to get more high paying jobs and enter the corporate world. To enter a reputed MBA institute, one has to give a CAT exam [Common Aptitude Test] and achieve a good ranking.

After B.Tech, you have a good hold on the theoretical knowledge of your field, but the MBA degree will give you a taste of the practical knowledge. The different areas in which you can study and work within the corporate world are:

  1. Marketing
  2. Human Resources
  3. Management
  4. Data Analytics
  5. Banking and Finance
  6. Sales Management
  7. Product Management

There are more areas within which one can enter and work in. MBA is a good opportunity, and managerial positions are high paying as well as reputed.

Higher Studies in Engineering

B.Tech degree has been deemed the status of ‘not enough’ when it comes to the job market. The employment rates of engineering students are as low as 6% in India due to the wide skill gap. But, if your interest prevails in the subject, you can go for higher studies in the same and widen your horizon and skills.

The GATE [Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering] is the next step if you want to pursue an M.Tech degree next. It is a competitive exam conducted by IIT and IISC, Bangalore. The exam includes questions that test your pre-existing knowledge that you have been given during your undergraduate course. After an M.Tech degree, you will be more equipped with the knowledge of the field and more eligible for the job market. If you have come out of good institutes such as IIT and NIT, you will have no trouble finding work. If you are not interested in GATE, you can also appear for JAM.

This prepares you to enter the research and academic space of your field of study.

Government Jobs and Public Sector Undertakings

Our previous articles have covered a lot about government jobs, so it would be wrong to ignore this option. GATE score is the main determinant of your selection in Public Sector Undertakings, and there is a pre-declared cut-off present. The government provides jobs in industries such as BHEL, SAIL, HAL, etc., where you can get the various benefits of having a government job.

The competition for the same is high due to the amount of engineering students who graduate every year and appear for the same, but it is worth the time and dedication. These are attractive job offers due to the immense benefits they provide, such as high salary/income, job security, income guarantee, after employment benefits, after retirement benefits, and good reputation.

Another way to enter the government sector is to appear for the Engineering Service Exam [ESE] and enter the  IES [Indian Engineering Service], which is as prestigious as other posts such as IAS and IRS. The exam is a national level exam.

Passing the exam with a good ranking ensures work in Railway services, Central Power Engineering Service, Geological Survey of India, etc.

Entrepreneurship

Phone is ringing and we need to stay productive!

If you are good at problem-solving, you have solved your problem of unemployment already. Entrepreneurship is one more but the topmost option to choose after engineering. The similarity between the work of an engineer and an entrepreneur makes it a good option.

Identifying a problem of the masses and creating a solution that makes everyone's lives easier, entrepreneurs sell solutions that work. Although it is important to note that success is not an overnight achievement, it is a long process and requires hours of work and leads of effort. Starting a service or business does not require a lot of capital; this is a total myth. You need an idea that will work and enough determination to bring this idea into practical play.

Then find creative solutions that are user-friendly too. Different aspects also come in handy, such as networking, marketing skills, communication skills, etc., in your path to entrepreneurship.

Campus Placements

Campus placements are the easiest way out of the question of "what to do next?". But this is either easy or hard, and there is no in-between. Campus placements are a good option, especially because there are various kinds of companies that come to colleges to find the next batch of employees.

If you are good at what you are studying and know-how to present yourself in interviews, you will be able to get job posts even before graduation as job placements take place in the final year.

But there are a few pointers:

  • You will have to maintain a good CGPA score.
  • Don't just stick to studies, participate in extracurricular activities and gain practical knowledge through the same.
  • Study the companies you are applying for thoroughly and prepare as per their requirement for the interviews.
  • Maintain a good and updated resume
  • Highlight your core strengths and weakness and point out why you will be  for the job

Every college has a placement cell; make sure to create good connections in your college to be informed of the same whenever there is an opportunity.

Become an expert

Model: @Austindistel https://www.instagram.com/austindistel/ Photographer: @breeandstephen https://www.instagram.com/breeandstephen/

After four years of studying advanced-level science and mathematics, you are well equipped to become an expert for businesses and individuals with lesser knowledge about this area. There is a demand for technical writers, positions that you can fill due to your expansive knowledge of the same.

You can give tuitions or answer academic questions for students. Moreover, you can also take certification courses that will help you expand your skills in the sector as per the job market’s demands. These opportunities after completion of the extra courses are high paying and regular.

Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Machine Learning, Data Science and Analytics, etc., are in demand due to their credibility and the fact that they help in covering the skill gap.

Civil Services

Clearing civil service exams take preparations separate from college graduation studies, but your optional subjects in these exams are everything that you have studied for your graduation.

Civil services are one of the hottest and most sought out options from the perspective of employment. The power of decision-making and the reputation that comes with all the benefits is a plus point. There are also state-level PSC exams along with the national level UPSC exam. The exam is conducted in three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Personal Interview, clearing all, you are accorded the service sector as per your ranking.

Internship opportunities

Internships are a great way of getting on-hand practical experience in your field. There are internships in your specific field such as bio-engineering, mechanical, technical, etc. the internship work varies from research and content writing work to provision of solution or expert advice and other positions in startups as well as well-established companies.

Internships are mostly short term opportunities but also are a good way of securing full-time employment opportunities in the same company you are interning for. They are also mostly paid internships, and thus, you will be able to get some cash while working and experiencing the job market. These also add credibility and experience to your resume, which will later help you to achieve better perspectives in the future or even during campus placements.

Enter the private sector

On the one hand, where campus placements are a good way of entering the private sector, they are not the best or the easiest. All the previous points are a little connected to this one. The first step is creating a basic resume with whatever achievements you have in your bag so far.

Then go for internships and add them too. Make a LinkedIn profile and create connections. Try to get job opportunities by connecting to people over LinkedIn and other professional websites. You will be easily able to search for jobs that match your profile and will also get opportunities coming your way as people search for someone to work for them, someone whose profile might be yours.

Since the presence of MNCs is increasing and the tech industry is also rapidly growing, presenting yourself in the open forum of the job market is very important. But there are severe difficulties and challenges you may face while applying for the private sector.

One of them is the excess supply of engineering graduates in comparison to the demand. Thus, you will have to be patient and work hard to stand out.

Join the Indian Armed Forces

There are three wings in the IAF: the Indian Army, the Air Force, and the Navy. There are immense opportunities in this sector, especially as a B.Tech student. You can serve the nation by being a serving officer, which requires you to pass the NDA exam and the criteria of the different wings.

But as an engineering graduate, you can go for professional job posts in the army as per your field of study. Usually, Engineers are allotted to any of the three branches –Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers,  Corps of Engineers, and Corps of Signals.

One can join the Army through  SSC Tech entry schemes and TGC (Technical Graduate Course).

For Air Force, B.Tech graduates are usually selected through the AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) Entry scheme. And for the Indian Navy, there is a new scheme of recruitment that has been started by the government. Engineers are recruited in the Navy via the SNAES (Special Naval Architects Entry Scheme) Entry scheme.

Get a certification

Learning is a life-long process and is never-ending. As stated before, in a few other points, certification courses are a major plus point to your resume and skill set.

After graduation, you can enroll in certification courses that are either.

  1. Related to your field or existing skills set
  2. Something that interests you and has work opportunities
  3. Have a high demand in the market

Some of the most valued certification programs include Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (Core Infrastructure), CISM (Certified Information Security Manager), CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), PMP (Project Management Professional),  CSM (Certified ScrumMaster), etc. Other courses may not be related to your fields, such as Software Development, Management courses, Data Science and Analytics, Marketing courses, Design course, machine learning, blockchain, research, and academic writing, education, etc.

These courses are offered by renowned platforms like CompTIA, Google, Cisco, AWS, etc., which are either long-term or short-term, depending on the course structure.

Obtaining professional certifications will help you:

  • Add credibility to your existing skill set and work.
  • Expansion of professional knowledge
  • To improve career prospects.
  • Gain a higher paying job due to your qualifications
  • Encourage professional development and learning.