“Why Vice-President, why not President?” — this meme about Indian parents reacting to Kamala Harris’ historic win still makes me laugh. But beneath the humour lies a truth: our education and parenting systems often push students toward ‘safe’ and ‘high-scope’ careers like Engineering, Economics, or Computer Science — without helping them discover what truly excites them. Today, however, that formula doesn’t work. Technology and globalisation have transformed the job market, creating countless new, rewarding career paths beyond the traditional ones. Here are some of the best unusual career options in the age of AI, especially beyond the engineering-economics zone.
Sales, Marketing, Advertising, Digital Marketing
Consistently ranked among the highest paying careers, this is a skill that cannot be replaced by technology. Those with the flair to connect with people and creatively influence them truly make businesses move.
You can also combine business and/or management studies with artificial intelligence. Explore some of the best undergraduate programs in business and AI in India and abroad.
Psychology, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science
This is one of the few areas outside pure science designated as “STEM” by U.S. universities. Psychologists can read people, data, and language to uncover insights and manipulate positive outcomes. The real scope lies in combining Psychology with business (industrial psychology), biology (neuroscience), language, data science, or computer science (cognitive science).
Media, Music, and Film
The lasting opium of the masses, nothing — not even a pandemic — can keep us away from entertainment. There are high-growth roles in media management, music production, blogging, and event management. Film is generally considered to be poised for another explosion, given its extensive use in education and training, marketing videos, and home entertainment.
The lasting opium of the masses, nothing — not even a pandemic — can keep us away from entertainment. There are high-growth roles in media management, music production, blogging, and event management. Film is generally considered to be poised for another explosion, given its extensive use in education and training, marketing videos, and home entertainment.
Design
An online world spends heavily on user experience design as well as on redesigning work and home spaces, WFH fashion, furniture, and gadgets. Design is often the lifeline of companies looking to reinvent themselves. Combining design with business skills and technology opens growth opportunities in luxury brands and fashion management, web, app, and game design, among others.
Law
Negotiating contracts and settlements, debating disputes, and designing cyber law cases … here is something that artificial intelligence cannot easily replace. As the volume of business increases, so does the demand for professional legal services.
Academics and Education
University professors are among the highest paid in many countries. It takes a fair amount of passion, study, and patience to get here, of course, with a doctorate or a decade of teaching experience. But if education gets you going, the rewards are only as far away as that.
Social Sector, Think Tanks, Policy Research
The scope lies in building expertise — whether it is water and environment, public health, pollution, education, or conflict. Again, you need to build expertise, usually at a doctoral level. Numerous government-funded and privately-funded think tanks hire specialists to research, analyse, write, and implement policy recommendations. Then, there is fundraising. A bit like marketing, it rewards persuasion skills, creativity, and persistence with leadership and financial opportunities.
In all, don’t get stuck choosing fields that people say have “scope”. Look for what gets you going.
This article first appeared in the Hindu on November 13, 2020.
Richa Dwivedi Saklani is a certified coach from UCLA and is an accredited MBTI trainer who has worked with over 10,000 people across career planning and as a behavioral trainer in companies. She is the CEO & Founder of Inomi Learning and author of “The Ultimate Guide to 21st Century Careers”.