11 Best Career & Job Options After BA

“The arts are what makes life worth living. You’ve got food, you’ve got shelter, yeah. But the things that make you laugh, make you cry, make you connect – make you love are communicated through the arts. They aren’t extras,” said Barack Obama. How true! In a world of humming buzzwords like machine learning and artificial intelligence, the humanities (aka Arts) are becoming more important than ever.

Gone are the days when a Bachelor of Arts (BA) was considered a fallback option for those who failed to get admission in Science or Commerce. In fact, career options in Arts are as diverse and lucrative as any other field. The trick to a productive and fulfilling career in the arts lies in choosing the right subjects to major in. So, we have made a list of diverse career options after graduation in Arts, that also tells you what subjects you would need to study to pursue them.

1. Writer

Do you often find people coming to you to help them write heartfelt messages, or to help them draft the perfect email? Would you usually be found with your nose buried in a book? You’ve probably got a thing for words. And that’s reason enough to step into the world of writing!

If you love digging up stories and having great discussions, you could try your hand in the field of journalism, where you could work in print or online publications. If nailing it in a few words is your talent, then joining an advertising agency as a copywriter would be the best option for you. You could also become an author and write your own book. As Toni Morrison said, “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” You can pursue your BA in English or English Literature on your path towards becoming a writer. 

The average author/writer salary in India ranges between INR 6.5 lakhs and INR 7 lakhs per annum. So, if you are waiting to let your creative juices out, we’d say, let them flow!

Still not sure of what a writer does? Spend a day in the life of a Creative Writer – Sonia Mehta and see if that piques your interest.

2. Human Resources

If you love solving conflict and bridging communication gaps then you should consider a career in human resources. An HR professional chooses the workforce and becomes the bridge between the company and the employees. Choose psychology as your major in BA as it will help you understand human behaviour, and learn various problem-solving skills. The average HR salary in India is INR 5 lakhs per annum and continues to rise with experience, expertise, and additional certifications. 

As you gain professional experience, you can explore several roles such as HR manager, chief human resources officer (CHRO), employee relations manager, staffing manager, HR director, and other specialised roles. If you love thinking logically and prefer to connect with people at work instead of working individually, a role in HR is ideal for you!

The most important thing you must bear in mind while building a career in HR is the work you do before and during your MBA. Whether you intern with growing organisations or established corporates, ensure that you learn and experience the practical aspects of the job. This will help you network later in your career and enhance your portfolio!

3. Survey Researcher

Are you someone who would be interested in understanding how certain group dynamics work? Are you drawn to statistics and research? Then survey researcher could be the career you’re meant for! You can opt for this career if you’re a graduate of BA Sociology. As a survey researcher, you essentially study people’s perception, usage patterns, behaviour, and other factors in the context of specific products and services.

Everyone, right from the film industry, educational institutions to polling organisations would be interested in the research that you would collect on groups through surveys. Thus, it is definitely a go-to role if you’re looking for high paying jobs after BA. Essentially, a survey researcher conducts extensive research to present fresh facts about diverse topics like public health, government policies, education, social sciences, etc.

For instance, as a survey researcher, you may attempt to present information relating to the distribution of life-saving drugs during a pandemic. The average salary for a survey researcher in India is around INR 3.05 lakhs per annum. Your income increases based on how specialised your area of research is and may also differ based on the organisation funding the research project.

4. Lecturer

If you enjoy tutoring your peers, or just have a general love for teaching, you could become a professor. Once you have chosen your specialisation in BA, you could either pursue a B.Ed or a Masters depending on whether you want to teach at the school or college level. To teach at the college level, you would have to clear the National Entrance Test (UGC-NET). The eligibility for this exam is a minimum of 55% marks in a Master’s degree. 

Once you have completed your master’s degree, you can choose to teach right away or pursue a PhD in a subject of your choice. Earning a PhD enables you to become a professor in top-tier universities and gain access to high salary packages. The average lecturer salary in India ranges between INR 90,000 to INR 1,35,000 per month. The salary package becomes better as your years of experience increase. 

While teaching may seem monotonous at the start, if you really have the passion for nurturing young individuals and creating thought leaders, becoming a lecturer will take you several steps closer to your career goal!

5. Counsellor

We all need pearls of wisdom every now and then. And if you are the agony aunt of your group, you can consider pursuing a major in psychology. While most opt for psychotherapy, you should know that right now, India is in need of 1.4 million career counsellors, so there is a large scope here. Today, with so many career options to choose from, students could do well with some professional guidance.

The average counsellor salary in India ranges between INR 5 lakhs and INR 7 lakhs per annum. Your income increases with experience and is also based on specialised areas of practice. Moreover, in a world spoilt for choices, parents, individuals, educational institutions, corporates, and others are all investing in counsellors to help people crawl out of their holes of confusion. Thus, this is an ideal role if you want to help people while making a splendid career out of it!

Thinking of a career as a Psychologist? Take the Mentoria assessment and talk to our career counsellors to get personalized step-by-step guidance for your future career path.

6. Historian

Imagine spiralling down the rabbit hole of time to study ancient wisdom trapped in pyramids or the ruins of the Harappa civilisation. If this is something that excites you, then a BA in History can open interesting career choices for you. As a historian, you are qualified for jobs dealing with archaeology, museums and preservation, and restoration of historical gems.

The average historian salary in India is INR 11 lakhs per annum. If you’re aiming for top-tier organisations to work at, the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) must definitely be on your list! Additionally, as a historian, you can take up diverse job roles like that of an editor, publisher, author, or even an archaeologist!

Wondering how you can write about history? Check out the renowned author William Dalrymple who has authored a number of books on Indian History, especially about the pre-independence era!

7. Artist

In a world ripe with logic and reasoning, there’s always space for an artist. Don’t you agree? If creativity and expression drive you, consider a career as an artist. Depending on where your skills lie, you can take up a degree in Fine Arts. From painting to dance and music, India houses colleges dedicated to honing all kinds of talents. 

From becoming a fine artist to a museum curator, a career in arts is limitless. While this career comes with utmost satisfaction and creative freedom, it might seem like a financial nightmare for entry-level artists, however, if you are persistent and deliver great quality, you can earn a lot and showcase your work around the world! 

The average artist salary in India is around INR 28,000 per month. The salary of artists usually depends on their popularity, quality of work, years of experience, place of showcasing/gallery, ongoing trends, and several other dynamic factors.

8. Social Worker

If you are someone who is always volunteering at NGOs, and the misfortunes in society drive you to make it a better place, this is the career for you. While volunteers do not need any specific qualifications, as an aspiring social worker, you need to understand in-depth the cause you want to work for. Along with your volunteering gigs, you should pursue a BA in Humanities, especially social work to be fully equipped for a career in social work.

Earning as a social worker may get stressful sometimes due to the unavailability of steady income, however, if you want complete job satisfaction from a career that inspires you from within, social work is an ideal career for you. 

The average social worker salary in India is around INR 20,000 per month. This may vary based on the NGO you’re associated with or the cause you’re working for. Nevertheless, it is a profession that provides scope for growth and learning!

9. Government Officer

There are plenty of perks to a government job. It gives you the opportunity to serve your country by working within the system. It is also a stable job, has great medical benefits and a reasonable workload. Once you graduate, depending on whether you want to get into defence or administration, you can take the UPSC-CSE exam which helps you qualify for IAS and IPS. A BA in Political Science will best complement your preparations for exams.

You can even enrol into specialised UPSC coaching centres to study the curriculum in detail and experience mock tests and interviews before your actual attempt. The average government officer salary in India depends on factors like position/seniority, department, country of posting, etc. Annually, a member of the parliament earns INR 3.3 lakhs per month and the starting salary usually ranges between INR 1.5 lakhs and INR 2.8 lakhs.

10. Diplomat

If you have a keen interest in world politics, and constantly find yourself devouring news about different nations and leaders across the world, consider becoming a diplomat. You can hone your passion by pursuing your BA in Political Science. After graduation, you will have to appear for the UPSC-CSE and opt for IFS (Indian Foreign Service) as your specialisation.

As a diplomat, you can work as an Ambassador, Policy Maker, or even represent the nation at the United Nations. Diplomats are mainly responsible for maintaining foreign relations, drafting foreign policies, making speeches, and even attend important events abroad. While this seems like a glamorous job, the path to it requires utmost focus and dedication!

The average salary for diplomats is INR 9 lakhs per annum and increases with higher and more important postings. So, if you want to be posted at foreign locations and aspire to represent India on a global stage, this career might just be your calling!

11. Probationary Officer

While B.Com is a general choice for people aiming to get a job in banks, even if you have a degree in BA, you are eligible for the bank PO (probationary officer) exams that hire people in the government banking sector. After graduation with a minimum of 60% marks, you can appear for the SBI PO and IBPS PO.

The average salary of a probationary officer is around INR 55,000 per month. A Bank Probationary Officer (PO) is responsible for performing several tasks. These professionals are required for varied Banking-related activities such as finance, billing, accounting, investment, marketing, etc. However, the most crucial function of a PO is to handle a customer’s financial transactions.

In India, you can work with several banks like SBI, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and others as a probationary officer. These banks hire an experienced workforce and offer impressive salary packages!

People often look down on the arts, because they aren’t aware of the variety of careers you can pursue with a BA. If you want to know more about what kind of careers you can pursue based on your interests, we are happy to help. 

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