Overview, The advent of modern technology has made I.T. a booming sector worldwide. It’s hard to imagine anything without technology. And while talking about computers and technology, the first career option that clicks in everyone’s mind is M.C.A. – Master of Computer Application. With the advancement of information technology regularly, the demand for M.C.A. graduates is growing exponentially. Any M.C.A. graduate with proper skill sets in terms of analytical and language skills can easily find a job in the I.T. sector. Moreover, the demand for M.C.A. graduates in international countries is rising nowadays.

Starting Salary of an M.C.A. Fresher

The starting salary of M.C.A. candidates varies from individual to individual as it depends on the area of work and responsibilities of the employees and their talent and skill level. Usually, the entry-level salary of an M.C.A. graduate for different roles is listed below:

• App Developer: Rs.20,000-Rs.35,000
• IT Assistant: Rs.10, 000-Rs.20,000
• Hardware Engineer: Rs.15,000-Rs.25,000
• Software Engineer/ Developer: Rs.21,000-Rs.47,500
• Web designer and developer: Rs.25, 000-Rs.55,000

Average Salary of M.C.A. Graduates – Experience Wise

The average salary package for M.C.A. degree holders / experience-wise is as follows:

The average salary package of software developers will be entirely different from that of technical business analysts. The average salary of M.C.A. Graduates will also depend upon their designation. Take a look at the following table to understand the average salary of M.C.A. graduates according to different roles:

Experience

Salary per month

For Fresher

Rs. 15,000 – Rs. 36,000

1 -3 years

Rs. 26,000 – Rs. 44,000

Above 5 years

Rs. 40,000 – Rs. 1,50,000

M.C.A. Career Opportunities–Job Options

There are several work areas in M.C.A., and depending upon your interest, passion and aptitude, you must choose the right career option. The different career options after doing M.C.A. are as follows:

App Developer:

There is no denying that the whole world has now united into the zone of mobile apps. For every small product or service, you will find a mobile App. Nowadays, every company wants to promote and market their products and services through mobile apps. This has created a massive demand for App developers. This role is primarily based on ideating, designing and building a mobile application for iOS, Android, Blackberry and Windows platforms. Therefore, you as an App developer can easily find a job in any organization, provided you have the proper skill set and zeal to learn and stay updated with new market trends.

Business Analyst:

The role of a business analyst is to track the technical and non-technical aspects of the respective business and suggest fundamental changes accordingly. If you are good at analyzing the key issues and have excellent problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities, this business analyst profile will suit you. Being an M.C.A. Graduate, it is a known thing that you have excellent data-crunching skills, however, if you blend it with your business and product management skills, you are bound to grow in this field.

Software Developer/Programmer/Engineer:

Mostly, every third M.C.A. graduate prefers to work as a Software Developer. Software Developers are primarily involved in ideating, designing and maintaining complex software systems. Their job is to provide I.T. services by observing and analyzing the client’s needs and developing the software system based on their requirement. This is a very challenging yet creative field, where you are expected to show your talent that goes beyond specific coding skills.

Troubleshooter:

Virtually no company can sustain without a troubleshooter. A troubleshooter looks after the problems of computer hardware and software and makes the technology accessible to all those who require them. In a company, if any I.T. issue pops up, it is the job of a troubleshooter to fix it on time so that the projects are delivered on time. They also hold the responsibility of maintaining the resources required by software engineers and others. This job role is perfect if you love taking on challenges and have the knack for coming up with result-oriented solutions every time you are assigned a task.

System Analyst:

The job of a System Analyst is to ideate and design innovative I.T. Solution modules to drive the respective business and increase efficiency. They act as a key person between the clients and software developers. As a system analyst, you need to study the current business extensively, business processes and models to design a better I.T. solution system in terms of software development for clients.

Software Application Architect:

If you are good at visualization and imaginative skills, the role of Software Architect will be an ideal fit for you. Software Architects make high-level decisions in the design and architecture of I.T. products and services. They are responsible for the smoothing running of several software architectural models. A software application architect’s key responsibility area of work is to develop technical manuals and protocols such as tools, platforms, and software coding standards. 

Software Consultant:

The consultancy has emerged as a popular career option today. The job of a software consultant is to evaluate and analyze the business process and provide optimum software solutions and other relevant feedback to drive business efficiency. Primarily, the objective of a software consultant is to provide cost-effective business solutions to enhance the sales process of a respective company. Importantly, this job offers financial freedom as you can start your work in this profile.

Hardware Engineer:

The job of a Hardware Engineer is to work with computer hardware systems such as circuit boards, wires, hard disks, printers, computer chips, routers and keyboards. Hardware Engineers are also involved in the production and testing of hardware equipment. A hardware engineer must have a passion for taking on critical challenges when installing and testing the computer system, ensuring that the system works hassle-free.

Technical Writer:

If you have exceptional writing skills and good technical skills, you can opt for technical writing as your career option. For this, you must have a passion for the latest technologies and love for gadgets and writing. Generally, a technical writer is responsible for writing technical documents such as User Guides/Manuals, Product Descriptions, White Papers, Project Plans and Design Specifications.

Web Designer and Developer:

With the rise of the internet and online marketing, the demand for web design has grown multifold. A Web designer is responsible for ideating, designing and developing websites, depending on the brief shared by clients. As a Web Designer, you should be very imaginative and have excellent visualization skills. You must have the proper creative sense towards colour, font style and layouts to design an appealing website. In addition, you should also have a strong hold over software like Dreamweaver, C.C.S., Photoshop and Illustrator, along-with sound knowledge of HTML and Flash.

Popular companies offering jobs to M.C.A. Graduates:

Some of the reputed I.T. companies that are always on the lookout for talented M.C.A. graduates are as follows:

• Wipro
• Infosys
• Infotech
• Sathyam Mahindra
• IBM
• HCL
• Tata Consultancy Services
• Accenture
• Capgemini
• Cognizant

These companies hire M.C.A. graduates based on their real-time work experience and skill sets. Therefore, if you have the right skill set in the I.T. sector and have the passion for taking on challenging market projects and delivering them in the stipulated period, you will grow multifold in this domain.

Critical I.T. skills that you must have after doing M.C.A.

To become a good programmer, you should have a good command of computer programming languages like Java, C++, C, .Net and ASP.NET.

Those interested in the web designing field must have a strong hold over languages like CSS, PHP, JavaScript and HTML.

If you are interested in working in the networking field, you must have a strong hand in LINUX, SQL, etc. Also, it would help if you got quick certifications in CCNP, CCNA and CCIE to grab the attention of potential recruiters.

Further study options after M.C.A.

After completing your M.C.A., You can do M.E. (Computer Science & Engineering).

If you wish to continue your study after doing your M.C.A., you can do your M.E. (Computer Science & Engineering). The eligibility criterion for admission to M.E. is M.C.A. (10+2+3+3 years pattern) or B.E. / B.Tech. For doing a PhD after M.C.A., you need to have an M.C.A. degree and a valid GATE score. The minimum and maximum duration to complete your PhD are two and five years, respectively. The top institutes for doing PhD in Computer science are as follows:

• Bengal Engineering and Science University (BESU), Kolkata
• Department of Computer Science, Banaras Hindu University (B.H.U.)
• Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
• Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati
• Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad
• Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
• Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai
• National Institute of Technology Calicut (NITC)
• Symbiosis Institute Of Computer Studies & Research (SICSR), Pune