These days, there are many great career options available for women. Over the past few decades, women have overcome social boundaries and fought to achieve personal and professional growth.
Think of the ‘rocket women’ working on the Chandrayaan-3 lander. They have encouraged many young women to consider a career in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Women have taken up successful jobs in many careers. Yet, some jobs might be preferred over others. Some jobs offer lower barriers of entry and provide greater flexibility. Traditionally, some industries also prefer hiring female candidates.
If you’re a young woman thinking about the best career options or the best paying jobs, here’s some information that might be useful.
We’ve listed down the best career options for women in India and explained why they are popular. There’s also a table of good career options and their qualifications.
Ultimately, you can choose a career based on your interests, passions, and skills. But remember to evaluate all your options before making a final decision.
List of Popular Career Options for Women and Qualifications Required
| Profession | Popular Job Roles | Minimum Qualification | Popular Courses in India |
| Teacher/Education | – School Teacher – College Lecturer – Tutor | 12th + Bachelor’s Degree | B.Ed, M.Ed, UGC-NET, CTET |
| HR Management | – HR Executive – HR Manager – Recruitment Specialist | Bachelor’s Degree | MBA/PGDM in HRM |
| Journalism | – Reporter – Editor – Content Writer | Bachelor’s Degree | BJMC (Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication) |
| Nutritionist/Dietician | – Clinical Nutritionist – Sports Nutritionist | Bachelor’s Degree | B.Sc. in Nutrition, M.Sc. in Nutrition |
| Counsellor | – Career Counsellor – Family Counsellor | Bachelor’s Degree | MA/M.Sc. in Counselling Psychology |
| Fashion and Design | – Fashion Designer – Textile Designer – Model | 12th | B.Des, B.FTech, Diploma in Fashion Design |
| Gynecologist | – Obstetrician – Infertility Specialist | MBBS + MD/MS | MD/MS in Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| Nursing | – Registered Nurse – Nurse Practitioner | 12th (Science) | B.Sc. Nursing, GNM |
| Beauty and Wellness | – Makeup Artist – Hair Stylist – Wellness Coach | 10th/12th | Diploma in Beauty Culture, Certificate in Hairdressing |
| Hospitality | – Hotel Manager – Restaurant Manager | 12th | BHM (Bachelor of Hotel Management) |
| Cabin Crew/Air Hostess | – Flight Attendant – Ground Staff – Air Hostess Trainer | 12th | Diploma in Aviation, Air Hostess/Cabin Crew Training |
| Banking | – Bank Clerk – Bank PO – Financial Analyst | Bachelor’s Degree | IBPS, SBI PO exams, RBI exams |
| Business Management | – Sales Manager – Marketing Manager – Finance Manager | Bachelor’s Degree | MBA/PGDM, BBA/BMS |
| Law | – Corporate Lawyer – Criminal Lawyer – Civil Lawyer | LLB | BA LLB, LLM |
| Social Worker | – NGO Worker – Child Welfare Officer – Rehabilitation Counselor | Bachelor’s Degree | MSW (Master of Social Work) |
The Best Job Opportunities for Women
Teacher/ Education Expert
Teaching is a popular career option for women in India. First, because it provides a degree of flexibility that might suit your lifestyle. School hours often align with family schedules, providing some work-life balance.
The presence of fixed leaves and limited working hours also makes it a popular career choice for women.
Another reason why teaching is popular is that it offers the chance to shape future generations and create a profound impact on society.
Many women also take up part-time teaching options, either through tuitions at home or by taking up classes at coaching centres.
Human Resource Management
The Human Resource team is central to any organisation. This team is responsible for recruiting, managing, training, and helping the personnel of an organization.
In the past few years, this sector has seen immense growth and has become one of the best career options for women with good interpersonal skills.
If you are good with people, have attention to detail, and possess great communication skills, HR is among the good career choices for women.
It is a high-paying job and provides a fulfilling career path. You can pursue Bachelors and Masters’ in Human Resource Management to make a career in this field.
Journalism
Journalism has seen many exemplary women over the years, with many reporters making a name for themselves. After completing a journalism course, you can work in media houses, publishing houses, or practice independent journalism.
Journalists play an important role in shaping public opinion, which makes it an attractive career option.
It’s also a very exciting and dynamic job, appealing to those energetic, driven individuals and those who thrive on variety. All of these make it a good career to join after college.
You can work as a writer, editor, journalist, reporter, or research analyst. The scope of work and career growth is immense in this field.
Nutritionist/Dietician
The job role of nutritionist or dietician is popular among women, because the field of dietetics was heavily marketed towards women.
The success of role models like Ishi Khosla, Shikha Sharma, and Rujuta Diwekar has also popularised the field among women.
But with an increase in awareness of health and fitness among all sections of society, the demand for nutritionists has increased rapidly. This has made it a top career choice for women.
As a nutritionist, you can provide diet charts, health tips, and fitness regimes to your clients. You can work in a hospital, fitness center, or open your clinic. You can pursue this career after college by doing a Bachelor’s in Nutrition.
There are diploma courses also available to become a nutritionist. Earnings can be very good and are directly proportional to the success of your practice.
Also Read : Career Options after B Pharm
Counsellor
The role of a counsellor requires a high level of emotional intelligence. Since women are traditionally believed to be more empathetic, caring, and good listeners, the role of psychological counsellors has shown a preference for women. This is one reason it was considered among the good career options for women.
That said, in India, the demand for counselling services is increasing. This is because people are becoming better aware of mental health issues and are accepting counselling as therapy.
Within counselling, you can choose to be a career counsellor, family counsellor, life coach, or advisor. You can work with counselling clinics, NGOs, or practice privately.
With enough work experience, it is among the best paying jobs for women.
Fashion industry
Like the beauty industry, the fashion and design industry has been heavily marketed towards women for decades. The fashion industry has also offered women great economic opportunities.
Fashion and Design are an integral part of every woman’s life. If you are creative and passionate about fashion, you can choose to become a Fashion Designer.
There are many career options in this industry for you. You can become a designer, textile designer, or even a model.
You can also set up your boutique and build your clientele. Pursuing a course in fashion design will help you gain knowledge and exposure to the fashion industry.
Gynecology
Gynecology is another profession that shows a preference for women practitioners. As the patients are women themselves, they are often more comfortable with female gynecologists. Many women also prefer discussing intimate health issues with female practitioners.
Though it takes some intense effort, once you are well established, it can be a well-paying job. Like any medical practitioner, the profession can be demanding. But you also get the satisfaction of working to improve women’s health. This makes it a top career choice for females.
You can work in a hospital, medical institute, or privately in your clinic. You can work as a general gynecologist or develop specialisations to focus on Obstetrics (focus on pregnancy and childbirth) or even Pediatric Gynecologist (Focus on the care of children and teenagers).
Nursing
Nursing has traditionally been a women-dominated profession. That is because women traditionally took on caregiving roles in families. Women were also thought to naturally possess many of the qualities associated with nursing — being compassionate, patient, and understanding.
In recent times, many men have also been joining the profession, breaking the stereotype of nursing as a female-only profession.
There are also many women-only nursing colleges, making it easy for females to enter the profession. There is also a huge demand for female nurses, not just in India but also abroad.
This makes it a top career option for women.
As a nurse, you need to attend to patients, take care of their needs, and monitor their health. You can undergo a course in nursing before applying for this job position. Then, with time and experience, you can grow in this career path.
Also Read : Top 13 Career Options after 12th Arts
Beauty and Wellness
Society has traditionally focused on the importance of appearance for women more than men. The beauty and wellness industry is also mainly aimed at women.
So job roles like being a makeup artist have employed more women than men.
However, many men and non-binary folks have gained popularity on social media, breaking the gender stereotypes of the beauty industry.
However, the beauty industry can be one of the best career options for women.
You can become a hair stylist, nail technician, makeup artist, wellness coach, or even a personal trainer. Many women have found success by becoming beauty Bloggers/Vloggers as well. You can initially practice under a successful makeup artist to learn and gain experience.
Later on, you can become an independent makeup artist. You can start this career after college as well. Your earnings may vary according to your skills. As you gain more experience over time, you can demand a higher fee from your clients.
Hospitality
In India, women have traditionally been associated with roles involving hospitality, care, and service, which is why the hospitality industry often favors women.
Women are also perceived to possess better communication/interpersonal skills and etiquette. Many job roles in hospitality offer flexible working hours, decent pay, and a safe work environment. Because of these factors, most people consider this the best career option for women.
The potential for career growth and global exposure also makes this a good career option for women.
If you’re interested in working in a hotel or restaurant, you can pursue a hotel management course after completing your 12th class. After gaining experience, you can even venture into running your own hotel or restaurant.
Airline Industry
Historically, the role of Cabin Crew or Air Hostess was viewed as glamorous. It also offered a certain social status, especially since it was a well-paying job for women in India. The added benefit of traveling both domestically and internationally was a bonus.
Today, however, many men are also entering this field.
After working as a cabin crew for eight to ten years, there are opportunities to transition into airport management or even become an air hostess trainer.
To become an air hostess, it’s necessary to enroll in a training course offered by various academies. Job responsibilities primarily include assisting and taking care of flight passengers.
Banking
The banking sector remains a popular job choice for both men and women in India. Banks offer stable jobs with clear growth opportunities, fixed working hours, and leaves. It’s a prestigious profession in India.
Inspirational women like Arundhati Bhattacharya, Renu Sud Karnad, Shanti Ekambaram, and Shyamala Gopinath have achieved notable success in the financial sector.
To work in banking, clearing various exams conducted nationwide is a prerequisite. After clearing these exams, one can work in either government or private banks. It remains a successful career option for women.
Business Management
Once a field dominated by men, business management is increasingly seen as a career of choice for many women. The success of entrepreneurs like Falguni Nayar, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw has popularised business management roles.
The increased visibility of women in leadership positions is also breaking the glass ceiling for women here.
As a career option for women, it provides upward mobility and a change to bring about change. There are roles in various departments like Sales, Finance, Marketing, and Human Resources. The salaries are also quite competitive.
While there are many benefits, you can face some challenges too. This includes navigating traditionally male-dominated corporate hierarchies and maintaining a work-life balance.
Getting a Master’s in Business Administration is the best way to break into the field.
Law
Women have been making significant strides in the field of law, showcasing their skills in defending and advocating for people’s rights.
The legal profession is immensely rewarding for those who are driven by justice and representation.
After acquiring a law degree, there’s an opportunity to specialise in diverse areas such as criminal, family, corporate, or civil law. While the profession can be demanding with its long hours and intricate cases, the sense of accomplishment in upholding justice makes it a fulfilling career choice for many women.
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Social Worker
Social work is often seen as a job suited for women, mainly because people believe women are naturally caring. But this career involves much more than that. It requires strength, problem-solving skills, and an understanding of society.
For a job seeker, here’s what to consider.
First, you will get to help people and make a positive impact in their lives.
Second, there are many areas in social work, from working with children, public health, grassroots finance and helping the elderly.
The field also offers many opportunities for career advancement and specialisation.
To start a career in social work, you’ll typically need a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) or a related field. Pursuing a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) can open up more advanced positions.
Additionally, gaining experience through internships or volunteering in community organisations can provide valuable insights and boost your job prospects.
In the end, if you’re passionate about helping others and can handle challenges, social work might be a rewarding choice for you!
Also Read : Best Career Options after 12th MPC
FAQS on Career Options for Women
1. Can a good resume help me land the dream job?
Making sure that the resume is tailored according to the industry standards and to the particular organization that you’re opting for would work well.
2. What career choice is more dominant today?
Due to the pandemic, the demand for healthcare workers, especially nurses have increased exponentially.
3. What are some good career choices for women studying Engineering?
A software developer, automation, data scientist are some of the more high paying jobs in this field.
4. What are a few options for women who do not have a relevant degree?
Pilots, dental hygienists, radiation therapists are some of the options that do not require a specific degree.
5. Is career counselling advised for women who are about to start their careers?
A trained professional will certainly help in guiding the applicants and making them understand their strengths and weaknesses. This will enable them to find the right job.
Although there are endless career opportunities for women, we have discussed some of the top careers for females in the country. You can choose a career by considering various factors such as your skills, job opportunities, career growth, job requirements, and career goals.
