Mix and match and forge ahead

COURSES & COLLEGES

Thousands of students completing their II PUC or  XII Std Arts & Commerce stream look for a strong graduation or a diploma course which can prepare them for the job market. Though the first choice is a BA or BCom or BBM. discussed below are the options which are offered as a combination with BA / BCom / BBM or as full time courses. These often give students an edge over the regular courses.

1. B Com (Banking & Insurance) / BA ( Bank Management)

This is a 3-year course with emphasis on subjects from the Insurance and banking sector. After successful completion, one can seek employment in banks for business development, underwriting, reinsurance, agency business, actuarial for the insurance sector. Many colleges offer Banking and Insurance both as options in B Com while the BA (Bank Management ) course is a complete course on Bank Management.

2. B Com (Travel & Tourism) / BTS

( Bachelor of Tourism Studies) / BTM (Bachelor of Tourism and Management)
The 3-year B.Com in Travel and Tourism and BTS / BTM course is designed to prepare the student to meet the demands of today’s tourism and travel ad hospitality industry. The course has a good balance of theory subjects and practicals. The B Com (Travel and Tourism) is offered by Christ University, Bangalore and BTS is offered by IGNOU (ignou.ac.in). One can also do a 6 months to 1-year training course in ‘International Tourist Guide’ offered by Thomas Cook or Kuoni Academy and become a well paid tour manager, tour planner, guide as well as set up a travel agency.

Reputed colleges that offer this course:

- Mount Carmel College, Bangalore.
- Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, New Delhi - 110021
- Bangalore University, Central College Campus, Bangalore - 560001
- Pondicherry University, Pondicherry – 605014
- Kakatiya Univeristy, Warangal - 506009
- Madras University, Chennai - 600005.
- IGNOU, School of Social Sciences, Maaidan Garhi, New Delhi - 110068
- Goa University, Goa - 403203
- Sophia College, B.K. Somani Polythechnic, Mumbai - 400098
- Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh - 202002

3.B Com / BA + Retail Management

Along with the 3-year B Com / BA, students who have good sales and marketing can take up part-time diploma courses in retail management. These courses give special training in the skills required to meet the retail sector. The Future group ( Big Bazaar, Pantaloon brands) has set up the Future Learning and Development Center and offers diploma and certification programmes in retail. With these skills, one can seek jobs in the retail sector as depot managers, counter sales staff or inventory controllers or cashiers.

4. B Com / BA + Event Management

A regular B.Com from a good college along with an event management course opens up many opportunities in the event management sector. One can enroll in event management courses from institutes like the Event Management Deve-lopment Institute (EMDI), promoted by stalwarts of the business of event management. This institute provides wide exposure to the various dimensions of organising and conducting events. EMDI has centres in Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Thane, Kolkata and Dubai. It offers 1-year part time courses for those who have completed II PUC / XII Std.

- Diploma in Event Management
- Diploma in Advertising & Media
- Diploma in PR and Journalism

For more details, contact : EMDI, # T2-A, No. 17, Casa Capitol, Wood Street, Ashok Nagar Bangalore - 560025 . Ph: 41128945/990. Email: [e-mail]. Website: emdiworld.com/ .

So completing your B.Com along with an event management diploma offers can get you exciting jobs in conducting corporate events, shopping festivals, weddings, concerts, etc…

5. B Com / BA + Advertising

Advertising basically has 2 sections (i) Creative Section : This is the section responsible for the flesh and blood of an advertisement. They are the visualisers, copywriters, art directors, graphic designers, creative designers, illustrators.  (ii) Client Servicing Section: It consists of people who hold meetings with clients and act as interface between the client and the agency.These are Client Service Executives who study the client, the product and the market. They also analyse consumer behaviour and market trends. It also consists of media executives who do the planning, scheduling, purchase and booking of space in newspapers, magazines, hoardings, Sign boards, etc.

So along with your B Com, you can pursue a part-time diploma course and take a huge plunge into the multi-billion dollar advertising industry as Account Executive, Account Planner, Copywriter, Media Executive, Production or Administration Team member. If you are hard working, perseverant, have the ability to work under deadlines and pressure, have creativity and innovation, it’s just the right opportunity for you.

Courses available: Many courses offered are along with other important sections of Advertising i.e. – Sales, Marketing & Public relations.

- Integrated BA in Advertising, Sales Promotion & Sales Management (after 10+2)
- Diploma / PG Diploma in Advertising.
- Diploma / PG Diploma in Advertising & Photography.

Reputed colleges:
- Indian Institute of Mass Communication, JNU Campus, New Delhi.
- Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan, Mehta Sadan, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi.
- Advertising Club, Carex Center, Anna Salai, Chennai.
- Center for Image Management Studies, Noida.
- Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communications, Pune.
- Karnataka University, Dharwad.

Universities offering courses through distance mode.

- Annamalai University, Chennai (annamalaiuniversity .ac.in)
- Gurujambeshwar University, Haryana (www.gju.ernet.in)
- Kurukshetra University, Haryana (www.kuk.ernet.in)
- Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai (mkuniversity.org)
- Punjabi University, Patiala (universitypunjabi.org)

6. B Com / BA  / BBM + HR Skills

If you have an inclination towards understanding qualities of people and liking for preparing training programs for developing skills in people, doing a course in HR skills along with graduation will make you get into HR jobs like – Recruiter, Training Co-ordinator, Industrial Counsellor and later move up the ladder with added skills and experience.

7. B Com / BA  +Technical / Content Writing

If you have a flair for language and have excellent writing skills, then becoming a technical writer or content writer will be a very satisfying career options. Today technical writing and content writing training is offered by several institutes as full or part-time trainings. You can google to find out the list as well speak to ex-students of the institutes for an insight to the training imparted. Placements in this sector are good. Getting a job is not difficult for those who prove themselves.

8. B Com / BA  + Foreign Language

If you can pick up a language quickly, have good memory and have good communication skills, then you can look forward to  careers in translation, interpretation or technical writing. You can learn a foreign language like Japanese, German, Chinese, Russian or French. Some institutes in Bangalore offering the courses:

- Bangalore University, Department of foreign Languages, Central College, Bangalore.
- Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, PO Box 108, Thimmaiah Road, Opp UNI Building, Vasantnagar, Bangalore - 560052: Ph: 41231340, 41231344, 41231345
- Max Mueller Bhavan, CMH Road, Indiranagar, Bangalore - 560038; Ph: 25205305, 25205306, 25205307 / 308.
- World Langauage Lab, BTM Layout I stage, Bangalore, Ph: 080-26782925
- Institute of Foreign Language and Culture. Basavanagudi, Bangalore – 560004; Ph: 08041500490

9. B Com + Company Secretaryship

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India offers the foundation course (8 months) for those who have passed 10+2. If a student has enrolled in B Com and has the aim to become a Company Secretary then, he can simultaneously enroll for the 8 months foundation course from ICSI and later after completion of B Com take up the Intermediate course and complete the course to become a Company Secretary.

10. B Com + Chartered Accountancy

Becoming a Chartered Accountant takes a minimum of 3-4 years. The entry is after completion of PUC and successfully passing the Common Proficiency Test (CPT) and then enrollment with ICAI for Integrated Professional Competency Course – IPCC to become a CA or Enroll in the Accounting Technician Course – ATC to become an Accounting Technician. After this, one must pass one week orientation course and also do a compulsory 100 hours of Information Technology training. In the meantime the student must register for ‘Articleship’ and then complete the Final CA exam to become a CA. Christ College, Bangalore, has started the 3-year B Com (CA) evening course. This enables the students to do their articleship with a practicing Chartered Accountant during the day. If a student cannot attend the evening course, he /she can take up B Com through correspondence and do the articleship during the day.

11. B Com + ICWA

The Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India offers a foundation course in Cost and Works Accounts for the 10+2 passouts. This can be taken up along with B Com and after graduation the students can take up the intermediate course and then the final course to become a Cost and Works Accountant. IGNOU offers B Com with Major in Financial & Cost Accounting for students who have registered for the foundation course of ICWA. Cost and Management Accountants are holding key positions in Central and state governments. Realising the need and importance of these professionals, the Union government has set up the Indian Cost Accounts Service (ICAS) on a par with other Class-I services such as IAS, IFS etc.

Evening classes for ICWA Courses are conducted at the following centres:

- Vijaya Junior College, 11th Main 30th cross, Jayanagar 4th block, Bangalore - 560012.
- St Joseph's College of Arts & Science, Richmond Circle ,Bangalore - 560025
- Malleswaram Ladies Association, 15th cross, Malleswaram, Bangalore - 560003
- Bharathiya Samskrithi Vidyapitha Arts and Commerce College for Women, Vijayanagar, Bangalore - 560040.

Indicative list of colleges offering B Com with specialissations mentioned above.
- Mount Carmel College, Bangalore
- Christ College, Bangalore
- St. Agnes College, Mangalore
- St. Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bangalore
- Jain College, Bangalore
- Al Ameen Arts, Science & Commerce College, Bangalore
- MES Arts, Science & Commerce College, Bangalore.

12.  B Com + SAP

Systems Applications, products in Data Processing (SAP), is a software company based in Walldorf, Germany, which has developed an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software designed to reduce cost and increase efficiency for IT companies. SAP consists of three types of modules viz,. functional, technical and techno-functional. Persons interested in a career in the functional area of SAP should have experience in areas such as Sales & Distribution (SD), Marketing Management (MM), Human Relations (HR), Controlling Operations (CO), Financial (FI) etc.

Seimens Information Systems Limited, No. 206, Logos, Ground Floor, Bible Society Building, M.G. Road, Bangalore - 560001 (Ph:25095577 / 79) is the only officially-authorised Institute by SAP to conduct the SAP Certification programme which includes 25 working day training sessions followed by the Certification examination. Corporate Office, DEXLER Information Systems Limited. SAP has set up Community of Education Partners across India, which provide well-developed and accessible training on SAP Technologies. After completion of SAP Certification, one can find lucrative employment as Analysts, Consultants, Administrators etc. in multinational companies. Careers are unlimted in SAP.

( The author is Career Counsellor and Director, CIGMA India – A career guidance and counseling organisation in Bangalore.)