Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) is undoubtedly one of the most popular and preferred tech graduation programs alongside Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in our country. As the name suggests, this 3-year undergraduate program allows individuals to explore the world of computers & their applications and subsequently makes them eligible for building a career in the Information Technology (IT) sector.
But there exists a common misconception in a majority of the students’ minds that there are limited career options for BCA graduates compared to other tech graduation degree programs. However, it is not at all true as there is a wide range of career opportunities available for BCA graduates.
For instance, a BCA graduate is eligible for numerous tech jobs in various IT giants, or he/she is also eligible for various remarkable government jobs, or a BCA graduate can go for a relevant post-graduate program like MCA or MBA, etc. So, here in this article, we’re going to discuss several best career options for BCA graduates that they can consider in 2023 and beyond for bright and worthwhile career prospects.
Best Career Options After BCA:
1. Master of Computer Applications (MCA)
First and foremost, let’s talk about this post-graduation program that is often preferred by numerous BCA graduates to dive deeper into the world of computer applications. To pursue this 2-year PG program, students are required to opt out of various subject specializations including Application Software, Management Information Systems (MIS), Software Development, etc. Accordingly, candidates after doing MCA can apply for job roles like – Network Engineer, Test Engineer, Database Administrator, etc. It is usually quite beneficial for the BCA graduates to pursue MCA also as various tech and non-tech companies prefer the candidates, during the recruitments, who hold both the degrees – BCA and MCA. Other than that, BCA graduates who want to build a career in the teaching field in their respective domain – then pursuing MCA would be really helpful for them also.
2. Tech Jobs at IT Companies
Many leading IT companies like TCS, Infosys, Wipro, etc. offer various career opportunities to BCA graduates for numerous job roles like Programmer, System Engineer, Software Developer, IT Analyst, and many others. As a BCA graduate, you will be eligible to apply for all these jobs and start your career In the IT sector conveniently. However, what all students, who’re currently pursuing BCA (or are planning to pursue), need to remember is that they must upskill themselves and become proficient with the required technical skills and knowledge for these job roles. Just a graduate degree in BCA won’t be sufficient alone to make the recruiters hire you. For example – if you’re planning to build your career as a Software Developer after completing your BCA then you should have a decent knowledge of programming fundamentals, data structures & algorithms, etc.
3. Specialized Courses or Certifications
Another worthwhile career option for all BCA graduates is that they can go for some specialized courses or standard certifications to get into the professional world. For example – one can go for the Data Science domain as it is something in great demand in the industry. Similarly, those who’re looking forward to building a career in Cloud Computing can opt for the standard certification like AWS, Azure, etc. As a BCA graduate already holds a decent proficiency with core tech subjects like web technologies, computer networks, operating systems, etc. it provides them a learning advantage while getting started with any specialized course or certification. Though, you need to remember that before picking out any specialized career domain or certification – you must consider several crucial parameters like its demand & scope, your interest, etc.
4. Government Jobs
After doing BCA, you can also go for government jobs as numerous government departments like UPSC, SSC, PSUs, IBPS, etc. offer adequate job opportunities for BCA tech graduates frequently. Not only these job roles are related to the tech domain but also come up with remarkable payscale and perks. Some of these job roles are – Computer Programmer, System Administrator, IT Security Professional, Software Developer, etc. These jobs usually require tech graduation as the eligibility criteria and thus a BCA graduate can easily apply for such government jobs. Meanwhile, you need to know this as well that almost every standard government job exam has its own selection process and a graduate degree in BCA can make you eligible to apply for it but to crack the exam you need to be prepared well accordingly.
5. Digital Marketing
You may find it strange but yes, Digital Marketing is also one of the considerable career options for all BCA graduates. If we look at it from the demand & scope perspectives then we all know how rapidly digital transformation is happening, especially after this global pandemic. Almost every business, whether it be small or huge, is going online. Hence, it’s the right time for all BCA graduates to build an enriching career in Digital Marketing. As a BCA graduate is quite familiar with web fundamentals and concepts, it will become a bit easier for him/her to learn the technical aspects of Digital Marketing.
6. Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Here comes another most preferred career option – Master of Business Administration (MBA). Those BCA graduates who want to get into management roles can opt for the MBA program. There are numerous renowned MBA specializations such as IT & Systems, Project Management, Finance, Operations, etc., and you need to pick out a specialization for yourself first as per your preference. Meanwhile, all the BCA graduates who’re looking forward to pursuing an MBA program from a reputed and worthwhile institute are recommended to prepare and score well in the relevant national level-test like CAT, MAT, etc. to get some great outcomes.
7. Freelancing
Last but not the least, freelancing is another career option after BCA. It is best for people who do not want to get limited doing a 9-5 job but start something which is out of the box. BCA graduates can start with any domain whether such as web development, software testing, data management, etc. Apart from this freelancing has its own benefits such as flexible hours, multiple sources of income, variety in daily tasks, location flexibility, improved skill set, etc. So if you want such an innovative and creative lifestyle then choosing freelance is the best option.
Conclusion
Most probably, as of now, you have understood that there are plenty of career options available for all BCA graduates in the coming years. However, all you need to remember is that a degree whether it be a BCA or any other can’t directly land you up to your dream job or career goals until and unless you won’t upskill yourself and make yourself eligible & deserving for the particular opportunity!!
