UPSC Unsuccessful? Don’t Worry, The Future is Bright and Innovative

Failure in UPSC/IAS examinations after putting years of hard work, money, and time into it can be emotionally devastating for many aspirants. Many candidates start seeing their failure in UPSC exams as the end of the world. It is understandable as full-time preparation by candidates for many years results in a work gap in their resume and isolation from friends and family. Work gaps can be a deterrent in finding a suitable job as per the capabilities of the candidates and he/she may have to compromise with a lower pay scale and rank in the industry. The industry is not to be blamed for it though. Disconnecting from friends for a long time during prep years acts as a barrier to seeking their help in getting back into the corporate sector as they fear appearing opportunist in the eyes of their friends. A lot of money and time devoted to the preparation won’t come back and it all looks like a waste. This results in depression, anxiety, and further isolation from the world as the aspirants find it tough to amalgamate with the world.

But let’s not forget that this is not the 1980s or 1990s when people did not have many career avenues to serve society and make it big. It is an era of the internet age and knowledge economy where students can still do big in life. Life is a very long phase, one cannot keep regretting failure in one exam. Most of the aspirants desire power associated with the bureaucratic positions, which is a malaise that has crept up due to skewed power equations between citizens and bureaucrats in mixed economy India. It should not have been the case in the first place, but since it is it is.

Even for students desirous of getting power, there are many career opportunities in today’s world, only if they can understand what is power at a much broader scale and not merely in terms of banner plates and red lights on cars and a few security guards walking behind them. That’s not power, that’s merely a show of power. There are many options to get real power, in terms of people whose lives you can change for good, whose opinions you can influence, and who contribute to the well-being of the people and the planet on a much larger scale.

Here we shall be exploring career options for students who failed in UPSC exams and are looking forward to making an awesome career in a world beyond bureaucracy. A world where you have the liberty to create and innovate something, unlike being a cog in the wheel and a part of the red tape. One just needs to come out of the regrets of failure, think ahead, and hone the skills required in the industry one wants to make big.

Students with backgrounds in sociology, psychology, history, geography, political science, and philosophy have a wide range of modern career options even if they did not clear the UPSC examination. The foundational skills in critical thinking, analysis, and understanding of human behavior they’ve gained from these disciplines can be highly valuable in many fields. Here are some modern career opportunities:

1. Sociology:

   • Market Research Analyst: Use your understanding of societal trends and behaviors to analyze market conditions and advise companies.
   • Social Media Manager: Utilize your knowledge of societal interactions to manage and develop effective social media strategies.
   • Human Resources Specialist: Apply your insights about social structures and interactions in managing and improving an organization’s human resources.
   • Diversity and Inclusion Manager: These roles are increasingly important in modern organizations, and your background in sociology can help you excel.

2. Psychology:

   • Human Factors Specialist: Work in tech, automotive, healthcare, or other industries to design user-friendly products.
   • User Experience (UX) Researcher: Use your understanding of human behavior to enhance the usability of digital products.
   • Psychotherapist/Counselor: With additional qualifications, you can help individuals navigate their mental health challenges.
   • Organizational Psychologist: Help businesses improve their workplace environment and increase productivity.

3. History:

   • Content Creator/Writer: Write and develop content for diverse platforms like blogs, magazines, and online portals.
   • Cultural Resource Management: Work with organizations that aim to protect and preserve historical sites.
   • Public Relations Specialist: Use your strong research and storytelling skills to create a positive public image for organizations.
   • Documentary Filmmaker: Bring historical events to life through the medium of film.

4. Geography:

   • Environmental Consultant: Use your knowledge of physical geography to advise businesses on environmental impacts and conservation.
   • Urban Planner: Work on developing and implementing plans for land use in urban areas.
   • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist: These professionals are highly sought after in various sectors including environmental services, logistics, and government.
   • Climate Change Analyst: Play a role in addressing one of the most pressing issues of the modern world.

5. Political Science:

   • Public Policy Analyst: Work for government bodies think tanks, or NGOs to develop and analyze policies.
   • Legislative Assistant: Assist legislators in researching and understanding issues, and in drafting legislation.
   • Political Consultant: Provide consulting services to political candidates or parties.
   • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Manager: Guide businesses in creating positive social impact.

6. Philosophy:

   • Ethics Consultant: Advise organizations on maintaining ethical standards and practices.
   • Tech Ethics Consultant: With technology rapidly advancing, companies need guidance on ethical issues such as privacy and AI fairness.
   • Non-Profit Program Manager: Use your critical thinking skills to manage and improve non-profit programs.
   • Mediator: Help resolve disputes between parties in a fair and balanced way.

7. Public Administration:

   • Non-Profit Organization Manager: Utilize your skills in public administration to manage and improve non-profit programs, ensuring their effectiveness and adherence to regulations.

   • Policy Analyst: Apply your understanding of public administration to evaluate and develop public policies for government bodies, think tanks, or NGOs.

   • Urban Planner: Work on developing and implementing plans for land use in urban areas. This could involve working on infrastructure, public spaces, transportation, and more.

   • Human Resources Manager: With your understanding of organizational structures and management, you can excel in managing an organization’s human resources, dealing with employee relations, training, recruitment, and more.

   • Public Relations Specialist: Utilize your skills to help organizations manage their public image, liaising with media and developing effective communication strategies.

   • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Manager: Public administration graduates can apply their understanding of societal issues and governance to guide businesses in creating positive social impact, ensuring that their operations are sustainable and ethical.

   • Healthcare Administrator: Oversee the operations of a healthcare facility, ensuring efficiency, quality of care, and regulatory compliance.

   8. Anthropology:

   • Market Research Analyst: Anthropologists can use their understanding of human cultures and behaviors to help companies understand market trends, consumer behavior, and social nuances in different markets.

   • UX Researcher: Anthropology graduates can excel in roles where understanding human behavior and needs are important, such as in designing user-friendly digital interfaces.

   • Cultural Resource Manager: Work with organizations that aim to protect and preserve historical sites, ensuring that cultural resources are managed sustainably and ethically.

   • Diversity and Inclusion Consultant: Use your deep understanding of cultural differences and human behavior to guide companies in creating inclusive work environments.

   • Consumer Behavior Analyst: Work with companies to understand how cultural, societal, and individual factors influence consumer behavior, helping them tailor their products, marketing, and sales strategies.

   • Community Development Coordinator: Use your understanding of human societies and behaviors to develop programs that improve living conditions and community well-being.

   • Human Rights Officer: Work for NGOs or international organizations, using your understanding of cultural contexts to advocate for and protect human rights.

Certain fields best suited for students who have done serious preparation from UPSC irrespective of optional background are the following :

1. Coaching Industry– The coaching industry is an evergreen industry and India with large young demography and limited jobs is a good market for the coaching sector. One needs to sharpen his/her skills as a teacher and the sky is the limit in terms of money and fame. Now we have a Coaching sector billionaire too in India, Alakh Pandey, founder of PhysicsWallah coaching institute.
2. EdTech– Development in technology and the emergence of a plethora of Artificial Intelligence tools augurs well for starting a career in the field of EdTech. One needs to be innovative enough to come up with ideas to solve issues of students. In EdTech one can easily scale up with effort in the age of the internet and fast flow of information.
3. Journalism and Mass Media- One field where you can bring to use all the knowledge accumulated in the preparation of the IAS examination is Journalism and Mass Media. Today the sector is not in great shape due to the paucity of analytical journalists and thinkers. Most of the writings and TV news shows reek of shallow analysis and noise. People want quality and journalists with deep knowledge have a big market if they can empower people through their writings. Also, remember that there is no bigger power than the capability to influence people’s minds. Journalism has that power. This way you will be strengthening the fourth pillar of democracy.
4. MBA– A candidate can prepare for a few more months for CAT/XAT and MAT examinations and get into a Tier 1 or Tier 2 MBA college. Work gap will be an issue in the case of this choice, but if one is good enough one can get admission and later placement in the corporate sector.
5. Start-Ups– If one has a profitable idea and resources and capability to implement the idea then one can go for entrepreneurship too. But it is a risk-prone field and most students who have witnessed a big failure in exams recently will be scared to venture again into a risky field. This is not for everyone, only students with deep pockets and substantial financial support should try for entrepreneurship. The key is to start small and scale up gauging the market response to your idea.

StoryBrunch suggests candidates check our articles in the Success Hacks category which will be helpful in deciding future career paths and lead you to a fruitful productive life. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Have a break and bounce back in life like a King.