HARSH REALITY of CS course | Darkest side of CS that nobody talks about | 2024 | Neha Patel

CS Neha Patel

21 Jun 202409:14

Summary

TLDRThe video script is a heartfelt discussion by Neha Patel, an AM Company Secretary, addressing the harsh realities of pursuing the CS (Company Secretary) course. She warns against the idealized promises often associated with the course, sharing her personal experience of the stark contrast between expectations and the actual professional landscape. The speaker emphasizes the competitive nature of the CS course, the persistent single-digit passing percentages, and the challenges faced by those who fail to clear it, leading to repeated attempts and a delay in career progression. She suggests an alternative, the ICAI's Certified Business Accountant course, for those stuck in their journey, highlighting its benefits in providing a deep understanding of business finance and compliance, along with practical training and job eligibility. The script also touches on the market's preference for LLB over CS, the corporate perspective of CS as a cost-bearing department, and the varying salary expectations for CS professionals.

Takeaways

😀 The speaker is Neha Patel, an I.M. Company Secretary, discussing the harsh realities of the CS (Company Secretary) course and its impact on career prospects.
📚 The speaker warns against the misconceptions about the benefits of the CS course, which she experienced after becoming a CS and finding the reality to be different from expectations.
🔢 The passing percentages for the CS course have remained single-digit since its establishment in 1968 by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), indicating high competition.
💼 The speaker suggests that despite the high competition, the ICSI maintains a strict standard for the course, which results in a significant number of students failing and having to retake the exams multiple times.
🔄 The speaker mentions the negative impact of repeated attempts on students, causing them to lose confidence and age without gaining substantial career progress.
🎓 For those who have cleared the CS intermediate or are graduates, the speaker recommends the Certified Business Accountant (CBA) course by Oxford School, which is a three-month online course focusing on business finance and compliance.
📈 The CBA course is designed to provide a deep understanding of business finance, compliance, and core processes, along with job placement assistance and skill development.
🏢 The speaker notes that companies often prefer candidates with an LLB (Bachelor of Laws) degree, indicating a preference for legal knowledge in addition to CS qualifications.
💼 The job market for CS is competitive, with many CS professionals also having LLB degrees and other qualifications, making it harder for those with only a CS qualification.
💰 The speaker highlights the varying salary expectations for CS professionals, which can range from as low as 3 lakhs to as high as 12 lakhs per annum, depending on the firm and market conditions.
🚀 The speaker advises students to clear other attempts first and to follow her videos and professors for guidance to become part of the single-digit passing percentage.

Q & A

What is the main message of the video script?
-The main message is to provide a harsh reality check about the Company Secretary (CS) course, explaining that the course may not lead to the positive outcomes as often portrayed and to consider alternative paths such as the Certified Business Accountant (CBA) course.
Why does the speaker discourage pursuing the CS course?
-The speaker discourages pursuing the CS course because they believe the actual life after becoming a CS is not as positive as often advertised, and they want to prevent others from facing the same disillusionment.
What is the role of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) according to the script?
-The ICSI is a statutory body established in 1968 that controls the passing percentages of the CS course, maintaining a strict level of authenticity and control over the competition.
What is the passing percentage trend of the CS course as mentioned in the script?
-The passing percentage of the CS course has remained in single digits from its establishment until 2024, indicating a highly competitive exam.
What is the impact of the strict passing percentage on CS course aspirants?
-The strict passing percentage leads to many students failing, causing them to doubt themselves, and resulting in them getting stuck in the course at an older age without significant earnings or a degree.
What alternative course is suggested in the script for those who are stuck in the CS course?
-The Certified Business Accountant (CBA) course provided by Oxford School is suggested as an alternative for those stuck in the CS course, offering a three-month online course with a focus on business finance and compliance.
What are the benefits of the CBA course as per the script?
-The CBA course offers a deep understanding of business finance, compliance, and core processes, along with skill development and job eligibility. It also includes a dedicated job portal and over 100 practice tests.
What is the current market situation for CS professionals as depicted in the script?
-The market for CS professionals is highly competitive with approximately 70,000 members and a preference for those with an LLB degree in addition to being a CS.
What is the speaker's view on the corporate perspective towards the CS department?
-The speaker believes that many corporations view the CS department as a cost-bearing department rather than a revenue-generating one, which affects the respect and value given to CS professionals within the company.
What salary range does the script mention for CS professionals?
-The script mentions a wide salary range for CS professionals, from as low as 3 lakhs to as high as 12 lakhs per annum, indicating a significant difference based on various factors including the company and the individual's qualifications.
What advice does the speaker give to those repeatedly failing the CS course?
-The speaker advises those repeatedly failing to switch over and clear other attempts first, and to follow guidance from mentors and professors to improve their chances of success.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Reality of Company Secretary Course

The speaker, Neha Patel, a professional and a Company Secretary, addresses the misconceptions about the Company Secretary course. She warns against the course based on her personal experience, stating that the reality of being a Company Secretary does not match the positive aspects often highlighted by professors and peers. She emphasizes the harsh truth about the course's difficulty, the strictness of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), and the high failure rates, suggesting that the ICSI maintains a high level of control over passing percentages. The speaker also mentions the struggle of many students who remain stuck in the course for years without achieving a degree or good earnings, and recommends the Certified Business Accountant course by Odin School as an alternative for those who have cleared intermediate or are graduates, providing a deep understanding of business finance and compliance.

05:02

🤔 The Market Perspective on Company Secretary and LLB

The speaker discusses the job market's preference for candidates with both Company Secretary and LLB qualifications, pointing out that the market is saturated with qualified Company Secretaries. She explains that while having a Company Secretary degree is beneficial, it's not a guarantee for a job and that additional qualifications and degrees are often preferred by employers. The speaker also touches on the perception of the Company Secretary role as a cost-bearing department rather than a revenue-generating one in many companies, which affects the respect and value given to the role. She highlights the wide range of salary expectations for Company Secretaries, from as low as INR 3 lakhs to INR 20 lakhs per annum, and advises viewers to consider their career path carefully, suggesting that clearing other attempts and following guidance can help achieve the desired single-digit passing percentage. The speaker concludes by encouraging viewers to be aware of the market realities and to adapt their skills accordingly.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡ICSE

The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) is an examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, a private board of school education in India. In the video, the speaker discusses the challenges and realities of pursuing the ICSE course, emphasizing the competitive nature of the exam and the high stakes involved for students.

💡Company Secretary

A Company Secretary (CS) is a professional who manages the legal and administrative affairs of a company. The video script mentions the speaker's background as a CS and uses it as a basis to discuss the realities of professional courses like the ICSE and the struggles faced by those who pursue them.

💡Competitive

The term 'competitive' refers to the nature of an environment where individuals or entities strive to outperform others. In the context of the video, it highlights the intense competition within the ICSE course and the professional courses like CS, where only a single-digit percentage of students pass, indicating a high level of difficulty.

💡Passing Percentage

Passing percentage is a metric that represents the proportion of students who successfully complete a course or exam. The script discusses the consistently low passing percentages in the ICSE and CS exams, suggesting a stringent and challenging educational environment.

💡Multiple Attempts

Multiple attempts refer to the process where students retake exams in an attempt to pass. The video mentions that due to the difficulty of the ICSE and CS exams, many students have to make multiple attempts, which can lead to frustration and a sense of failure.

💡Self-Doubt

Self-doubt is the feeling of uncertainty in one's own abilities or decisions. The script implies that the repeated failures in exams can lead to self-doubt among students, affecting their confidence and mental well-being.

💡Age Limit

An age limit is a restriction on the maximum age for a person to be eligible for a certain activity or qualification. The video script mentions that students who are stuck in the ICSE or CS courses for years, reaching the age of 26, 27, or 28, may feel the pressure of time and societal expectations.

💡CBAS

CBAS stands for Certified Business Accountant System, a course provided by the Oxford School. The speaker suggests CBAS as an alternative for those who have cleared the intermediate levels of CS or are graduates, offering a three-month online course that covers business finance and compliance, aiming to provide practical skills for the job market.

💡Job Portal

A job portal is an online platform that connects job seekers with employers. The video mentions a dedicated job portal associated with the CBAS course, which is designed to make students eligible for jobs in finance and accounts, providing them with practical tests and high-paying job opportunities.

💡Salary Expectations

Salary expectations refer to the anticipated income one hopes to earn from a job. The script discusses the varying salary ranges for qualified CS professionals, highlighting the disparity and the harsh reality that not all companies offer high salaries, contrary to popular belief.

💡Corporate Perspective

The corporate perspective refers to the viewpoint or approach taken by a company in its operations and decision-making. The video script touches on how some companies view the CS department as a cost-bearing department rather than a revenue-generating one, which can affect the respect and value accorded to CS professionals within the organization.

💡Market Reality

Market reality refers to the actual conditions and trends in a particular industry or job market. The speaker in the video addresses the market reality for CS professionals, where despite the competitive nature of the exams, the job market may not always align with the high expectations set by the rigorous course.

Highlights

The speaker discourages pursuing the CS course based on personal experience and market realities.

Initial expectations of the CS course were positive, but the reality after becoming a CS was different.

The speaker emphasizes the harsh truth about the CS course and its impact on one's career.

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has maintained a single-digit passing percentage since its establishment in 1968.

The high competition in the CS course leads to multiple attempts and failure, causing self-doubt among students.

The speaker suggests that the CS course is not a guaranteed path to a successful career in the industry.

The speaker introduces the Certified Business Accountant (CBA) course as an alternative for those stuck in the CS journey.

The CBA course is a three-month online course provided by Oxford School, focusing on business finance and compliance.

The CBA course includes skill development and job eligibility, with a dedicated job portal and practice tests.

The speaker mentions that many companies prefer candidates with an LLB degree over just a CS.

The market for CS is saturated, with companies not necessarily valuing the qualification as highly as before.

The speaker shares personal gratitude for having pursued an LLB degree, which has been beneficial in her career.

The speaker discusses the corporate perspective on the CS department as a cost-bearing rather than revenue-generating unit.

Some companies offer salaries as low as INR 20,000 per month to fully qualified CS, which is a stark reality of the market.

The speaker advises to consider other qualifications like an LLB alongside the CS to increase job prospects.

The curriculum of the CS course changes frequently, requiring continuous adaptation and learning.

The speaker concludes by encouraging students to make informed decisions and to seek guidance to avoid the hardships she faced.