Career Roadmaps: 26 roles, step by step

Keep these subjects

Maths, Physics, Computer Science

Routes in India

B.Tech / BE in CSE or IT through JEE Main, JEE Advanced, BITSAT, VITEEE, SRMJEEE or TNEA; BCA through CUET-UG or college admission.

1. Phase 1, basics: One programming language learned well (Python, Java, Go or JavaScript), how the internet works, Git.
2. Phase 2, core: Databases (SQL first, then NoSQL), building secure APIs, caching, servers, testing.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Containers and deployment pipelines, scaling large systems, monitoring, AI coding tools.

Starter project: A link shortener that is deployed online with a proper README.

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Keep these subjects

Maths, Computer Science

Routes in India

B.Tech CSE / IT (JEE Main, BITSAT, VITEEE, TNEA); BCA or B.Sc CS (CUET-UG).

1. Phase 1, basics: HTML and CSS done properly, JavaScript in depth, TypeScript.
2. Phase 2, core: A framework such as React, managing app data, styling at scale, talking to APIs.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Accessibility for all users, speed and performance, testing, deployment, AI-assisted coding.

Starter project: A fully responsive, accessible personal portfolio site.

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Keep these subjects

Maths, Physics, Computer Science

Routes in India

B.Tech CSE / IT (JEE Main, BITSAT, VITEEE, TNEA); BCA (CUET-UG).

1. Phase 1, basics: Programming fundamentals, how the web works, front and back essentials.
2. Phase 2, core: Databases, APIs, logins and security, teamwork with Git.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Testing across the whole app, deployment, scaling, monitoring, AI features.

Starter project: A small complete app (for example a class notice board) with login, database and live link.

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Keep these subjects

Maths, Computer Science

Routes in India

B.Tech CSE / IT (JEE Main, TNEA); BCA or B.Sc CS (CUET-UG).

1. Phase 1, basics: The testing mindset, designing good test cases, reporting bugs clearly.
2. Phase 2, core: A programming language, automating web and API tests, database checks, test frameworks.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Testing inside deployment pipelines, load testing, security and accessibility checks, quality strategy, testing AI systems.

Starter project: An automated test suite for a public demo website.

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Keep these subjects

Maths, Physics, Computer Science

Routes in India

B.Tech CSE / IT (JEE Main, JEE Advanced, BITSAT, TNEA).

1. Phase 1, basics: Strong programming across front and back, data handling and APIs.
2. Phase 2, core: Deep product knowledge, understanding a customer's world, building quick working prototypes.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Client communication, deploying and handing over, feeding lessons back to the product team, deploying AI tools.

Starter project: Solve a real problem for a local shop or school club and document the whole journey.

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Keep these subjects

Maths (essential), Economics or Computer Science

Routes in India

B.Sc Statistics / Maths / Data Science, B.Com or BBA Analytics (CUET-UG); the IIT Madras online BS in Data Science (own qualifier, no JEE); ISI (own admission test).

1. Phase 1, basics: Analytical thinking, Excel and Google Sheets, SQL.
2. Phase 2, core: Statistics, cleaning messy data, charts and dashboards (Power BI, Tableau), understanding business numbers.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Telling the story behind the data, Python or R, A/B tests, how data warehouses work, AI-assisted analysis.

Starter project: Analyse a public dataset (cricket, weather, school results) and present three findings in a dashboard.

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Keep these subjects

Maths, Computer Science

Routes in India

B.Tech CSE / IT / Data Science (JEE Main, BITSAT, TNEA).

1. Phase 1, basics: Python, SQL in depth, Linux and Git.
2. Phase 2, core: Data modelling and warehouses, building data pipelines, big data tools like Spark.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Real-time data with Kafka, cloud data platforms, scheduling tools like Airflow, data quality, data for AI.

Starter project: A small pipeline that pulls daily weather data, stores it and refreshes a chart.

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Keep these subjects

Maths (essential), Computer Science or Economics

Routes in India

B.Sc Statistics / Maths / Data Science (CUET-UG); ISI B.Stat and CMI (own tests); IIT Madras BS qualifier; B.Tech via JEE Main.

1. Phase 1, basics: Python with pandas, statistics and maths, cleaning data.
2. Phase 2, core: Exploring data visually, hypothesis testing and experiments, machine learning basics, building models.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Deep learning, explaining results to non-experts, working with engineers to launch models, using LLMs well.

Starter project: Predict something real (for example house prices in a city) and explain how sure you are.

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Keep these subjects

Maths (essential), Physics, Computer Science

Routes in India

B.Tech CSE / AI & Data Science (JEE Main, JEE Advanced); IIT Madras BS qualifier.

1. Phase 1, basics: Python and good coding habits, the maths behind ML, machine learning fundamentals.
2. Phase 2, core: Deep learning and transformers, working with large language models, building AI apps (search over documents, agents).
3. Phase 3, on the job: Deploying and monitoring models, testing AI quality, safety and fairness, cost and speed trade-offs.

Starter project: A question-answering bot over a set of school handbooks, with a simple test of how often it is right.

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Keep these subjects

Maths (essential), Physics, Computer Science

Routes in India

B.Tech CSE / AI & ML (JEE Main, JEE Advanced); ISI B.Stat / B.Math; CMI.

1. Phase 1, basics: Python and software skills, maths for ML, preparing data.
2. Phase 2, core: ML algorithms, deep learning with PyTorch, training and tuning models, judging them fairly.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Deploying models, watching them for drift, scaling on GPUs, fine-tuning LLMs, responsible ML.

Starter project: Train an image classifier, then deploy it as a small web app.

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Keep these subjects

Maths, Physics, Computer Science

Routes in India

B.Tech CSE / IT (JEE Main, TNEA); BCA (CUET-UG).

1. Phase 1, basics: Linux, networking, scripting, Git.
2. Phase 2, core: Deployment pipelines, Docker and Kubernetes, infrastructure written as code (Terraform), cloud platforms.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Monitoring, reliability targets and incident handling, security, scaling, AI infrastructure.

Starter project: Set up automatic testing and deployment for one of your own projects.

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Keep these subjects

Maths, Physics, Computer Science

Routes in India

B.Tech CSE / IT (JEE Main, TNEA); BCA (CUET-UG). Cloud certifications come later.

1. Phase 1, basics: What the cloud is, networking, core cloud services, Linux and the command line.
2. Phase 2, core: Infrastructure as code, identity and security, designing for reliability and scale.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Controlling cost, containers and serverless, weighing trade-offs, explaining designs to clients, cloud AI services.

Starter project: Host a simple website on a free cloud tier with a backup and a cost alert.

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Keep these subjects

Maths, Computer Science

Routes in India

B.Tech CSE (Cyber Security) via JEE Main or TNEA; B.Sc Cyber Security or BCA via CUET-UG.

1. Phase 1, basics: Networking and IT basics, Windows and Linux, core security ideas.
2. Phase 2, core: Network security, how attackers think, monitoring tools (SIEM), responding to incidents.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Fixing vulnerabilities, identity and access control, rules and compliance, practice labs and certifications, AI in security.

Starter project: Build a home lab and take part in beginner Capture the Flag (CTF) challenges, always ethically.

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Keep these subjects

Maths helps; any stream

Routes in India

Usually a first degree plus work experience. Common starts: B.Tech (JEE Main), IPM (IPMAT, JIPMAT), BBA (CUET-UG), B.Des. Many later take an MBA through CAT.

1. Phase 1, basics: What a PM really does, understanding users and their problems.
2. Phase 2, core: Testing ideas with real users, prioritising, writing clear specs, working with engineers and designers.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Metrics and experiments, launching products, managing stakeholders, business sense, AI features.

Starter project: Pick an app you use daily, find one real problem, interview five users and write a one-page proposal.

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Keep these subjects

Maths, Computer Science

Routes in India

B.Tech CSE / AI (JEE Main) is the strongest start, then product work; MBA later (CAT).

1. Phase 1, basics: Product management basics, how AI models actually work.
2. Phase 2, core: Designing for unpredictable answers, data and feedback loops, measuring AI quality.
3. Phase 3, on the job: AI user experience, safety and responsible AI, cost and speed trade-offs, build or buy decisions.

Starter project: Compare two AI tools on the same ten tasks and write up which is better, for whom and why.

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Keep these subjects

Any stream; Art or Design helps

Routes in India

B.Des through UCEED (IITs), NID DAT, NIFT entrance and private design school tests. Portfolio and drawing practice matter.

1. Phase 1, basics: Design thinking, user research, organising information.
2. Phase 2, core: Interaction design, visual design (type, colour, layout), wireframes and prototypes in Figma.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Design systems, accessibility, usability testing, handing designs to developers, a strong portfolio, designing for AI.

Starter project: Redesign one screen of a school or local service app, with before and after and the reasons.

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Keep these subjects

Psychology, English; Maths helps

Routes in India

BA Psychology or Sociology (CUET-UG); B.Des (UCEED, NID DAT).

1. Phase 1, basics: What research is for, interviews and observation.
2. Phase 2, core: Surveys and numbers, running research sessions, usability testing, making sense of findings.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Presenting insights that change decisions, research operations, strategy, AI for research.

Starter project: Interview six classmates about how they revise for exams and turn it into three clear insights.

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Keep these subjects

Maths, Economics or Business

Routes in India

BBA, B.Com or BMS (CUET-UG, NPAT, SET); IPM (IPMAT, JIPMAT).

1. Phase 1, basics: What a BA does, how businesses run, gathering requirements.
2. Phase 2, core: Writing requirements, mapping processes, data analysis and SQL, reports and dashboards.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Business cases, managing stakeholders, Agile teams, AI in analysis.

Starter project: Map how your school canteen handles orders today and propose a better process.

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Keep these subjects

Any stream; English, Business

Routes in India

BBA, BMS, B.Com (CUET-UG, NPAT, SET, IPMAT); BA Mass Communication.

1. Phase 1, basics: Marketing fundamentals, audience and customer journey, content.
2. Phase 2, core: SEO, social media, paid ads, email marketing, copywriting.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Analytics and tracking, improving conversions, budgeting, AI in marketing.

Starter project: Grow a school club's Instagram page for one term and report what worked.

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Keep these subjects

Maths, Economics, Business

Routes in India

BBA, IPM, B.Com, B.Sc Economics (IPMAT, NPAT, SET, CUET-UG). Comfort with numbers is key.

1. Phase 1, basics: The growth mindset, the full funnel from first visit to referral.
2. Phase 2, core: Metrics and tracking, fast experiments, acquisition, onboarding.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Retention, pricing and referral loops, SQL and data analysis, AI personalisation.

Starter project: Run two versions of a sign-up poster for an event and measure which gets more sign-ups.

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Keep these subjects

Any stream; Business, English

Routes in India

BBA, B.Com, BMS (CUET-UG, IPMAT, NPAT). Engineers often move into tech sales.

1. Phase 1, basics: How businesses buy, knowing the product and the ideal customer.
2. Phase 2, core: Finding leads, qualifying them, outreach by email and phone, discovery conversations.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Value selling, demos, handling objections, closing, managing a pipeline, AI for research.

Starter project: Find sponsors for a school event and track every conversation in a simple sheet.

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Keep these subjects

Any stream; Business, English

Routes in India

BBA, BMS, B.Com (CUET-UG, IPMAT, NPAT).

1. Phase 1, basics: What customer success is, product and industry knowledge.
2. Phase 2, core: Onboarding new customers, driving adoption, building relationships.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Health scores, renewals and growth, handling unhappy customers, sharing feedback with product teams, AI tools.

Starter project: Help a younger class adopt a new learning app and track how usage changes.

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Keep these subjects

Maths, Economics, Accounting

Routes in India

B.Com, BBA Finance, B.Sc Economics (CUET-UG, IPMAT); CA through ICAI (CA Foundation). CFA can follow later.

1. Phase 1, basics: Accounting (the three main statements), corporate finance ideas, reading annual reports.
2. Phase 2, core: Excel mastery, financial models, forecasting and budgeting, variance analysis.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Valuation, SQL and dashboards, clear business writing, AI in finance.

Starter project: Read a listed Indian company's annual report and build a simple three-year forecast.

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Keep these subjects

Maths, Economics

Routes in India

IPM (IPMAT, JIPMAT), B.Tech (JEE Main), B.Com or Economics (CUET-UG). Top firms mostly hire after an MBA (CAT) or from top undergraduate colleges.

1. Phase 1, basics: What consultants do, structured problem solving, business fundamentals.
2. Phase 2, core: Numbers and market sizing, research, building a recommendation.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Storyline slides, influencing senior people, managing projects, case interviews, AI in consulting.

Starter project: Estimate the size of the school stationery market in your city and present it in five slides.

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Keep these subjects

Any stream; Media, Art

Routes in India

B.Sc / BA Visual Communication, Mass Media or Film Studies (CUET-UG or college-level admission). A showreel matters more than the degree.

1. Phase 1, basics: The language of editing (cuts, pacing, rhythm), editing software and the timeline.
2. Phase 2, core: Cutting and story structure, sound, colour correction, titles and motion graphics.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Effects, export formats for each platform, client workflow, a showreel, AI editing tools.

Starter project: Edit a two-minute school event highlight video, once for YouTube and once as a vertical short.

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Keep these subjects

English plus Computer Science

Routes in India

B.Tech, BCA or B.Sc CS (JEE Main, CUET-UG) with strong writing; or BA English with serious tech self-study.

1. Phase 1, basics: How the two roles differ, technical literacy, clear writing.
2. Phase 2, core: Types of documentation, docs tools (Markdown, Git), writing code samples that work.
3. Phase 3, on the job: Community and public speaking, blogs and videos, measuring impact, a public portfolio, writing for AI products.

Starter project: Write a beginner's guide to a tool you know well and publish it on GitHub or a blog.

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