After graduation

After graduation: job, master's or government exam?

Most graduates drift onto one of three roads because friends took it or a coaching ad caught them. Each road suits a different person. Choose on purpose.

By Anuj Arora · Last verified: 9 Nov 2026

Three roads from one degree

Three roads after graduation and the main exams on each A bachelor's degree leads to three roads. Job: campus placement, off-campus hiring, internship to offer. Master's: CAT for MBA, GATE for M.Tech, IIT JAM for M.Sc, CUET PG for central universities, CLAT PG for LLM, and GRE, GMAT or IELTS for study abroad. Government: UPSC Civil Services, SSC CGL, bank PO exams, CDS and AFCAT for defence, and state public service commissions. Bachelor's degree Job earn and learn now Campus placement Off-campus hiring Internship to offer Start your own work Master's go deeper first CAT · MBA GATE · M.Tech IIT JAM · M.Sc CUET PG · central univs CLAT PG · LLM GRE · GMAT · abroad Government secure, competitive UPSC Civil Services SSC CGL Bank PO exams CDS · AFCAT State PSC exams
Roads can be combined: many people work first and take CAT or a government exam later.

How to choose

Answer three questions honestly before you pick a road.

  1. Do you need to earn now? If family finances need your income, take a job first. Every other road stays open.
  2. Does your target career demand a master's? Research, teaching in colleges, many engineering design roles and senior management usually do. Most private jobs do not.
  3. Can you give one to three focused years to one exam? Government exams reward long, steady preparation. If you can't commit that time, prepare part-time alongside a job.

What each exam opens

ExamConducted byOpens
CATOne IIM each year (IIM Indore for 2026)MBA at the IIMs and many other business schools
GATEIISc or one IIT each yearM.Tech and PhD admissions; many public-sector companies also recruit on GATE scores
IIT JAMOne IIT each yearM.Sc and integrated PhD at IITs and IISc
CUET PGNTAMaster's at central universities such as DU, JNU and BHU, plus TISS, IIMC and NFSU
CLAT PGConsortium of National Law UniversitiesLLM at National Law Universities
UPSC Civil ServicesUPSCIAS, IPS, IFS and other central services. Age 21–32 for general category, six attempts; final-year students can sit Prelims
SSC CGLStaff Selection CommissionGroup B and C posts in central ministries and departments; age limits vary by post, from 18 to 32
Bank POIBPS and SBIProbationary officer posts in public-sector banks
CDS · AFCATUPSC · Indian Air ForceOfficer entry into the Army, Navy and Air Force

Each state also runs its own public service commission exam for state services. Age relaxations apply for reserved categories in every government exam; read the notification for yours.

Give a government exam a deadline

Decide before you start how many attempts you will give it, and keep a fallback skill or job in view. Preparation without an end date is how good years quietly disappear.

Work first can make a better MBA

Many business schools value work experience at admission, and two or three years in a job also tell you what you want from an MBA. Taking CAT straight after graduation is not the only good timing.

Preparing for a long exam?

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Sources

  1. UPSC Civil Services 2026 eligibility: age 21–32 (general), six attempts, final-year students for Prelims
  2. SSC CGL 2026 eligibility: any bachelor's degree for most posts, age 18–32 by post
  3. CAT 2026 conducted by IIM Indore
  4. CUET PG 2026 by NTA: central universities, TISS, IIMC, NFSU
  5. Official sites: upsc.gov.in, ssc.gov.in, ibps.in, iimcat.ac.in, gate (organising IIT site), jam (organising IIT site), consortiumofnlus.ac.in, afcat.cdac.in