For students who are interested in pursuing an MBA programme, it is important that they know exactly what specialization to opt for and how an MBA degree can be useful to them. Broadly, there are 7 MBA specializations. These are: Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Operations Management, International Business, Entrepreneurship and Information Technology.
The three specializations which Indian students have traditionally opted for are Finance, Marketing and HR. An MBA programme in Finance broadly imparts knowledge of financial management, investment analysis, banking and risk analysis; the one in Marketing concentrates on market research, brand management, sales strategy, advertising and product development and a specialization in Human Resources focuses on managing employee relations, talent development, organizational behavior, recruitment and training.
An MBA degree in International Technology rapidly became popular because of the immense scope of IT in today’s world and the avenues it opens up in the areas of technology management, data analysis, IT infrastructure and digital strategy.
International Business and Entrepreneurship programmes in MBA are also becoming popular because IB enables one to learn about global business environments, international marketing, cross-cultural management and trade policies and Entrepreneurship helps in acquiring the knowledge and skills to set up one’s own business or start-up.
Operations Management also has huge scope because it teaches supply chain management, logistics, quality control and project management.
An MBA degree is much sought after in India because unlike a candidate with simply a Bachelor’s degree, MBA graduates command higher starting salaries. Those who obtain their degrees from the more renowned and reputed institutes land better job opportunities and higher salaries. Apart from the enhanced salary potential, an MBA degree enhances essential skills such as leadership, problem-solving, decision-making, critical thinking and communication, which are prized by employers in every organization. Besides this, MBA programs include live projects, industry interactions and internships which provide much-needed practical exposure and increase a student’s knowledge of various industry sectors. MBA programmes also stay current and relevant with the changing business environment and students thus gain access to the latest industry knowledge, practices and trends.
Obtaining an MBA degree can fast-track career growth through imparting professionals with the knowledge and skills required for managerial roles. Besides this, pursuing an MBA degree helps expand a candidate’s professional network because it involves collaborations with industry professionals, faculty and peers. This is helpful for career advancement as well as entrepreneurial opportunities.
To conclude, an MBA degree provides the expertise to succeed in different fields, opens up promising career opportunities, fast-tracks professional advancement and provides the requisite resources and skills to compete in the business landscape.
