The stock market has been thriving for many years and is legitimately recognized for its strong and growing prospects. Apart from earning money, the market nowadays provides an array of career opportunities too. There are varieties of attractive roles from mathematical analysis to advisory roles in different market scenarios. It’s all a matter of choice! Students from numerous fields whether science, art, commerce, or other opt to initiate a fruitful career in the stock market.
And mind it! Stock market career isn’t limited to simply buying and selling of shares, as people normally think. It goes much beyond that and you can hunt for prominent career solutions.
You can either choose to be part of an institution or start working independently. Also, there are many organizations that nowadays provide certificate courses to enable you to achieve your stock market dream career. Are you interested in stocks? Here we take a closer look at the choices you have for establishing a career in this field.
Best Career Options: Stock Market India
Here are a handful of trending career options to pursue for entering the robust stock market world. We have explained each with an emphasis on the role, its basic requirements, the regulating authority and the overall scope. Choose the one that fits your needs.
1. Financial or Investment Advisor:
Becoming a registered financial or investment advisor is a lucrative career alternative for the people with a financial background. However, others can also get into this arena by fulfilling the required criteria, clearing the NISM certification.
| Role | Render specialized services to your clients such as guidance on wealth management, formulation of plans customized to an individual’s requirement, financial products advice and other related administration services |
| Requirements | • A graduate or post-graduate degree in finance or commerce • Or at least five years of work experience with a financial company • A degree in Chartered Financial Planner (CFP) • In case you have a post-graduate degree in finance, you may not need to have relevant work experience to apply for the license • You have to clear the NISM Investment Advisory certification exam |
| Authority | Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) |
| Scope | India is awash with a range of monetary products meant to cater to the growing income among its residents. However, due to insufficient knowledge, many are unavailable to make the best use of it. Investment advisors can work with banks, investment firms, or operate independently to fill in this gap effectively. |
2. Stockbroker:
While you think of stockbroking, how can we forget to add the name of one of the biggest stockbrokers in India. Yes, we are talking of Mr. Nitin Kamath, the founder of Zerodha, an engineer turned stockbroker, the man behind one of India’s top discount brokers. His inspiring journey can lay a strong foundation for all the aspiring newcomers out there.
| Role | Facilitates buying and selling of stock for its clients and communication with the exchanges. Provides research reports and act as relationship manager who support with the investment advice, portfolio management and asset planning services |
| Requirements | • Minimum of two years’ work experience working at a stock-broking firm or a firm specializing in securities services • For online stockbroker, you must provide a reliable online stock trading platform to the exchange for a review • Membership with either NSE or BSE |
| Authority | Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) |
| Scope | A stockbroker can be employed by various brokerage firms in India or work independently. They can also work in advisory or analyst role. Recently there has been a surge in this career option after the astounding success of discount brokers such as Zerodha and 5paisa in specific. |
Get your license from SEBI and thoroughly understand the market! The two basics of becoming a stockbroker in India.
3. Research Analyst:
Have you heard of Equity Research Analyst who analyses equities for traders and investors? By pursuing career in this area, you can start your own business (of course, that isn’t so easy) or grab a job with such a profile.
| Role | Assess data for an industry or a sector, review economic trends, propose investment ideas to the institution manager, formulate complete research reports and fiscal models, visit companies and attend industry conferences |
| Requirements | • A bachelor’s degree in finance or investment analysis • Or a degree in Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or Chartered Accountant (CA) • Or a degree • Relevant work experience and knowledgeable in accounting • For independent research analyst, the eligibility criteria are like an Investment Advisory |
| Authority | Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) |
| Scope | An individual can start as a research associate and gradually progress to a Vice President level at a firm or company, depending on their capability. Salaries are quite competitive, if you are lucky to grab a good offer. |
Further, having your stock market basics clear does help in building a good and successful career in this field.
4. Financial Manager:
As the name itself describes, a financial manager primarily manages the finances of a company. Keeping a close eye on the overall financial health of an organization, Finance Managers stay well-versed with the stock market trends and can guide through better investment opportunities.
| Role | Monitor economic details, prepare business activity reports and forecasts, supervision, educating their clients, evaluate company reports, budgeting, assessment of market trends and communicate with management to make appropriate decisions |
| Requirements | • Work experience of at least five to ten years • A degree in Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or Chartered Accountant (CA) • A Bachelor’s degree • Accounting and financial management skills |
| Authority | Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) |
| Scope | Options to work as treasurer, cash or credit managers, merchant bankers and so on. Employment avenues at entities such as multinational firms, trading businesses, banks, leasing companies or consultancies. |
5. Financial Algorithm Developer:
Presently, algorithm or algo trading is recognized widely across nations. On the technical side, if you have the qualification and expertise to design complex algorithms, becoming a Financial Algorithm Developer can be your ideal choice. Not directly a stock market related career, but big companies usually require a programmer or developer in the field of finance/investing like financial algorithm and Quant Developers.
| Role | Develop algorithmic trading, employ data to steer decision making, improve existing tools, testing of models, risk-management, enhance the performance of trading strategies, convey new features to clients |
| Requirements | • Relevant work experience • Bachelors or Master’s degree in computer science or engineering |
| Authority | Relevant University |
| Scope | The developed markets for many years now have inclined towards utilizing algorithmic trading on an extensive scale, due to its speed and volume management. This trend is increasing in the Indian markets as many trading platforms introducing the same and require algorithmic developers. |
Also, go through another interesting financial career option: CFA Certification: How to become Chartered Financial Analyst?
Stock Market Career: What to focus?
Stock Markets are dynamic! You see ups and downs, the stock prices rise and fall and recover again! This is an ongoing market cycle. More and more people are willing and wanting to invest in the stock market which in-turn has led to an increase in demand for qualified and skilled market operators. In recent times, we have seen a shift and rise in such employment and business opportunities. Therefore, stock market professionals are an integral part of the market.
No doubt, proper academic qualification and experience are required to grow in these zones. But, remember to keep adding to your stock market knowledge and stay in touch with different fundamental and technical points.
You may also like: Top 10 Stock Market Training Institutes in India
That’s not it! There are a lot more ways to build a good career in the stock investment field. Portfolio managers, hedge fund managers, mutual fund experts, etc. that stay connected to the share markets. If you wish to share any other interesting career option in the stock market, feel free to share your opinions and experiences thereon.
View Comments (1)
Quite insightful article on stock exchange career options, many people think it's only about brokers or mutual fund but you have given a whole new set of career options, it will be helpful to me to guide students as I am into getting more and more details about various courses and stock market is always very interesting.