When a student finishes BCA, the most viable option is to complete MCA. A higher degree never hurts. Moreover, you gain more insight and experience in this field. As a BCA, you have limited scope, but being an MCA makes you at par with the engineering graduates. Additionally, your sound knowledge of the subject will be sought after in many companies. You have the opportunity to serve in the public sector as well. Most government departments need a skilled workforce to look after their database and keep it updated.
The dilemma: When a student completes MCA, he/she is faced with many dilemmas. Whether to opt for the public or private sector. Whether to go in web development or coding or networking or hardware. At this point, you actually need to assess yourself. Try to figure out your strong zone. Never go to a particular field just because your friend is in it or its employees get paid more. Any stream pays equally well to the deserving candidate. Moreover, if you select a field which you don’t like, how will you survive for the rest of your life? So, always select your field of choice and then look for the options. So, what are the career option son completing MCA? Here is a comprehensive list.
Career Opportunities and Job Scope after MCA
- System Analyst: A System Analyst is usually hired by an organization to take care of its IT department. In this role, you will be required to analyze the current computer systems of the organization. You also have to assess their business needs. After that, you need to create a perfect balance between their business needs and the efficiency of the computer systems. You will be required to innovate new ways to make the existing systems more efficient. During installation, you have to guide in the customization of the systems. Also, you need to keep the computers in sync with the latest developments keeping in mind the needs and budget of the organization. At times, during system upgrades, you will also be required to make a report citing the expected cost and the benefits of it.
However, you need to have particular skill sets for a better salary. Try to be adept in javascript, .Net, jQuery, ASP.NET Framework, Java/J2EE, Microsoft SQL Server and C# programming language. These are in huge demand. If you have missed these during your masters, you can join short-term courses offered at various institutes. Another way is to get enrolled in the online courses offered by reputed universities on edX. They are of really very good quality and are valid in most companies. Moreover, you can get them from your home or even while working. This career is expected to grow at 9% per year. The average salary is currently around 6LPA which obviously increases with expertise and experience.
- Software Application Architect: When IT companies plan to make a particular software, they need an expert who knows what exactly is needed and how to achieve it. As a software application architect, you will be suggesting the IT firms regarding the designs and functionality of the software in making. This will require a high-level understanding on your part. You need to keep yourself updated with the exact needs of the company. Also, the target client’s needs should be always given priority because ultimately they will be using this website. You need to have an extensive knowledge of computer science. Also, a great deal of your time will be spent in reviewing the codes written by your juniors and then communicating with the clients. This is currently one of the hot-shot career options. The average salary is a whopping Rs.21 Lakh/PA for senior software architects. As a newcomer, you will get around Rs.19Lakh/PA.
- Scientific Officer/Programmer/Technical Assistant in National Informatics Centre: You can also join the NIC, given you have a first class degree in MCA. You first need to clear the national level test NIELIT. Once you achieve the minimum requisite cut-off marks, you will be called for the interview. The pay in the government organizations is comparably less than that of the private sector. But you will have the job security and an opportunity to serve your nation. Also, there are certain perks like free quarters, good medical support and also pension in the government job.
- Project Manager/Project Engineer/Project Assistant/Project Technician in C-DAC: C-DAC spread over various centres throughout the nation also employ MCA. However, their eligibility, as well as experience requirements, differ. You need to check that on the official website of C-DAC. Being a government job, you will get the job security. Also, your appointment will be subject to the vacancies and also reservations as per the government regulations.
- Software Consultant: As someone with MCA degree, you have both the knowledge of technical and functional aspects of the IT. But being a software consultant, more emphasis is laid on the functional part. A software consultant is responsible for mainly maintaining and supervising a company’s software requirements. You will be required to analyze the system requirements, deal with the clients and keep the company in the loop about the developments. If you are associated with a company that is involved in software making, you will be required to meet the clients, tell them about your product, give them useful suggestions and also help in the implementation of the software. In short, you will in the role of a consultant dealing with the IT aspect of the company. So, you do need to have good communication skills along with the ability to persuade someone convincingly. This is a new yet highly growth-oriented career option. Currently, the freshers get around 7.5LPA. If you can move to big MNCs, the pay is even better. Also, your expertise level determines your paycheck. So, always keep yourself updated. Most IT firms allow their employees to go through timely skill enhancement training. Always try to be a part of such training. Even on the personal front, you can try to upgrade your skills through short-term courses or online education portals.
- Web Designer and Developer: Web Designers and Developers are primarily associated with the creation of websites. Now, you must have noticed that there are websites that are very attractive, user-friendly and are very responsive. While some are really slow. Many websites simply crash upon reaching a particular number of visits per day. here, the expertise of a web designer comes handy. You need to be skilled with a wide array of software to excel in his field. Most of this software is usually taught during the course of study. Here is a list of a few software that you must prove your competency in:
- HTML
- CSSiii
- Javascript
- Ajax
- C++
- Java
- Perl
- PHP
- ASP
- SEO
- Adobe Photoshopviii
- Sketch
- Macaw
- Figma
- Also, you need to have a creative bend of mind. You need to understand the exact requirements of the target audience. Also, you should try to build an as much user-friendly website as possible.
As more and more companies now want their online presence to be felt, this career option is sure to show a boom. Currently, the average salary s 2.3LPA. If you gain better skill set and experience, this salary definitely increases.
- Hardware Engineer: The best part of doing MCA is that equal attention is paid to hardware parts as well. Here you have the advantage over the IT engineers. You can begin to work as a hardware engineer. You will be responsible for designing, researching, developing and cross-checking various computer components. As an expert, you will be responsible for upgrading the hardware parts to facilitate the faster working of the software. Most of the time, you will be dealing with the up gradation of the motherboard. With so many peripheral devices being designed every day, you will also be responsible for making them compatible with the present computer system and vice versa. These days, most of the hardware engineers are busy with studying the current computer systems, detecting their shortcomings and working towards removing them. This field holds just the same importance as the IT one. As a matter of fact, in the USA, hardware engineers are paid higher than the software ones. This is a very lucrative career even in India. The average salary is currently 1.8LPA for freshers. Usually, those who have more than 10 years of experience in this field move on to another career option.
- IT Specialist in Banks: Most public and private banks carry out vacancies for IT specialist each year. For the public sector banks, you need to appear in the IBPS specialist Officer Exams. After clearing this exam, you will be called for the interview. These days, the banks are expanding like never before. Each and every bank is trying to reach the remotest corners of the country. Now, this is a well-known fact that all banks now work on core banking. Also, many online functions need to be performed in the day to day banking. An IT specialist comes handy there. From handling the computer systems of a particular branch to designing the bank’s website, they handle it all. The banking sector job comes with its own share of pros and cons. It is actually a very hectic job. But then, you have a permanent job and a regular income.
- Teacher: After doing MCA, you can appear for B.Ed. Exams if you want to get into the teaching line. After completing B.Ed. you can begin teaching in the government as well as private schools. But if you want to be a professor, you first need to clear NET exams. It is conducted twice a year. Upon clearing the exam, you become eligible to be a college lecturer. For better chances in lectureship, you should get yourself PhD Professors are handsomely paid these days. an assistant professor gets about Rs.60,000/month. You will also get the chance to be in touch with your studies. Regular seminars and conferences will give you global exposure.
- Troubleshooter: This job deals with handling the hardware and software errors in the operating systems. So along with having a sound hardware knowledge, you also need to be good with the software. You need to have a good knowledge of various programming languages. You should have the knack for detecting bugs because most of the times, they are the ones responsible for errors. In the private sector, you will be paid around 3.5LPA as a fresher.
- Ethical Hacker: If you love exploring the codes and detecting the anomalies, you can go for ethical hacking. All the government, as well as private organizations, hire Ethical Hackers who look into their online resources’ security. Most of the IT giants even organize a hacking competition where the participants are required to hack the company website. This helps the companies in keeping their security robust as they get to know their weak points. The winners are handsomely paid and many times even land a job. Currently, it is more of a freelance job with high returns.
- Technical Writer: You can use your expertise in computer science for being a technical writer. Most of the book publishers, online education portals and also the companies need technical writers who can write about the subject matter. Book publishers and education portals are concerned with the traditional topics while the companies need technical writers for writing white papers about their products. White papers are detailed papers about the particular product. Now, a general writer cannot understand the intricacies of the software and hardware. So, IT companies hire technical writers to fulfil this demand. With good skills and pace, you can earn anything ranging from Rs.20,000 per/month to Rs.80,000 per/month. It depends mostly on your subject approach and speed.
We hope that we succeeded in guiding you through the career options. Never forget hat you have a vast sea of opportunities to explore.
