Expand Your Career Opportunities: The Importance of Going Beyond 'Scope'

No, these are not just random phrases and words. In fact, they represent some of the most popular Google search terms related to careers in India. Chances are, you have come across a few of them or even searched for similar terms yourself while contemplating your career path.

But why are we discussing search terms? Well, these search behaviors reflect what students are looking for and what concerns them. They exemplify our fixation on "Scope" as a decisive factor in career choices.

Sometimes, our obsession with scope leads us to prioritize it above all else when selecting a career. Questions like "Which career offers the most scope?" demonstrate how much we value scope, even if it means neglecting whether the career is suitable for us or not, as long as it promises a promising future.

However, in many cases, fixating on scope can prove detrimental to our career choices. There are several reasons why it's crucial to look beyond a career's scope when making decisions:

The career with the most scope may not align with your strengths.

It's simple yet often overlooked – while you may seek a career with vast opportunities, what if it's not the right fit for you?
Your suitability for a career depends on various factors such as aptitude, interests, personality traits, motivators, and even emotional intelligence. If these factors don't align with a supposedly high-scope career, you won't be able to excel or find satisfaction in that field. Even if a field is in high demand, it won't guarantee a successful career if you lack the necessary skills and talent.

High-scope careers might entice you with the dream of six-figure salaries, but let me assure you, no company will simply hand you money unless you can prove your worth. In any field, there are top performers, average individuals, and those at the bottom. The coveted six-figure salaries are typically earned by the top performers, not the others. It's up to you to decide if you want to be at the bottom of a high-scope field or excel in a field where you have the aptitude.

Did You Know? : The Allegiance Educare Career Assessment evaluates you based on 3 dimensions to recommend the best-fit careers for you.

Scope evolves over time for many fields.

"Scope" is a fluid concept that is never static. What's in demand in the job market today may lose its appeal over the years, while a field that didn't exist a few years ago might become highly sought-after. Fields like Data Science, UI/UX Design, Machine Learning, Social Media Marketing, and Blogging emerged only recently but are now among the top emerging careers.

Another example is the shifting popularity of careers over time. Traditional careers like Engineering, Management, and Law used to dominate the top positions, but now they have made way for entirely different careers like Merchant Navy, Computer Applications, and Mass Communication. And these trends change every month! You can witness this in our monthly roundup of the top 10 popular careers in India.

Given the dynamic nature of the job market, we cannot accurately predict which careers will have the most scope in a few years. A field that seems devoid of scope today may experience a surge in demand and become the next big thing.

In the pursuit of scope, you may overlook the perfect fit for you.

You might wonder, "What if the career I love doesn't have much scope? Is it worth pursuing?"
The fear of pursuing a field with limited scope or demand often deters individuals from pursuing their passions and careers they are well-suited for.

However, what you fail to realize is that individuals who create value also create demand for themselves and their careers. Numerous examples exist of individuals who built excellent careers based on their skills and created their own demand.

• Amit Agarwal, India's first professional blogger, started his tech blog The Digital Inspiration back in 2004 when blogging was an unfamiliar concept, and now he attracts over 3 million visitors to his blogs every month.
• Suchita Salwan founded the Little Black Book at the age of 22, providing a platform for people to discover interesting places and events in their cities. She has even been featured in Forbes' 30 Under 30 list.

And these are just a few examples.

If any of these individuals had been consumed by concerns about scope, they would not have achieved their current success. They would likely be stuck in fields that didn't suit them.

Thus, scope exists in every field, and there will always be opportunities for those who can demonstrate their worth through their work. Don't miss out on the perfect fit for you in the blind pursuit of scope!

Scope is often synonymous with popularity rather than actual demand.

Scope is an abstract concept that often resides in the popular mindset rather than concrete numbers and figures. People tend to assume that a field has high scope simply because everyone is pursuing it:
"It must be a good field if so many people are interested, right?"

However, those people are often following others, and so on. This herd mentality is frequently the reason why certain careers are believed to have vast scope, even without solid data to support such claims.

In such cases, scope can be illusory. You might rely on someone else's opinions or ideas, such as your friend's elder sister recommending a course because "there is a lot of scope in it" or your cousin discouraging you from pursuing a particular field because "I heard there is not much scope for it in India." In both cases, there's no actual data backing their views. They might have heard the same information from someone else or simply be influenced by popular opinions.

Therefore, most claims about scope often disregard on-ground realities and demand. To conduct thorough research, it's much better to seek insights from individuals with precise information, such as career counselors or professionals working in the specific field. Their knowledge of the job market will be more reliable than that of a neighbor or an arbitrary website listing fields with the most scope.

So, what is more important than scope?

Now that you understand why scope isn't the best factor to rely on when choosing a career, it's essential to focus on finding a career that aligns with your aptitudes, interests, and personality. Consider the work individuals in the field do and determine if it excites you.

There are also instances where a field becomes oversaturated due to its popularity. For example, Engineering is often claimed to have a lot of scope. However, the reality for many engineering graduates is different due to the excessive number of engineering students and colleges in the country. Job placement and opportunities may not be as promising as initially portrayed.

In such cases, rather than relying on the claimed scope, it's important to identify the skills required to stay ahead. Engineering students who learn emerging skills like machine learning, artificial intelligence, and the latest programming languages are more likely to succeed.

Hence, building relevant skills and finding careers that complement your existing skill set are far more important than fixating on scope.