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Specialised vs general courses

Managing MBA choice

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by”, said Robert Frost.

Managing MBA choice


Gauri Chhabra

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by”, said Robert Frost. But what happens when both the roads are equally traveled by and offer similar opportunities? 

This dilemma is a reality for several MBA aspirants when it comes to choosing between specialised MBA courses or the regular one. With result of CAT out and students gearing up to select the right institute this is one of the major concerns voiced by students.    With several institutes offering specialisations in real estate, sports management, biosciences, electronic commerce, and health care the choice has become a tough one for MBA aspirants.

Here’s a comparative take on the two choices

A general MBA is a master’s degree that is earned after you have one or two years of graduate studies on business management theory and practice. It is a broad or general study on all aspects of management where in the second year, you can usually choose an area of business specialisation, such as human resources, marketing or international business. 

On the other hand, a specialised MBA, as its name suggests, provides more training in a specific industry or field. For example, you may specialise in programmes like Retail, Infrastructure, Banking, Insurance etc.

Which one is better?

Well, each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. Before choosing which one to go in for, you may dwell upon the following points:

Your undergraduate record: If you have a less than stellar undergraduate record, you can get in a specialised MBA programme as it is easier to shine in a niche programme. Moreover, if you wish to add business perspective to your current technical skills, specialised programme is the answer.

Focus: If you have already decided what sector you would like to go in for after getting your MBA degree, then enrolling for a specialised course makes sense as it provides you with a wealth of knowledge about one particular industry or sector. This way you would be able to meet the demands of a particular market straightaway after completing your degree. Students with a clear focus who are comfortable charting their own course may be the best candidates for specialised MBA programmes. 

The specialised programme is great, as long as you are clear what your career trajectory is. On the other hand, if you would like to test the waters, then go in for a general degree.

Goals: Much depends on your goals too. If your end goals are, increased earning potential and access to broad alumni networks, attending the best school possible, the regular MBA is usually the best course. 

On the other hand, if what is needed is subject-matter expertise in order to improve a specific business, or a nuanced program me to learn things that can be immediately implemented, go in for a specialised degree.

Work experience: If you have already been employed or run a small business and would like to go back to school to gain an in depth understanding of the domain you are in, specialisation is the best option. If you’re totally set on one type of job, then absolutely specialise — particularly if you have worked in that industry before. 

For instance for those who are already working in a retail chain, an MBA in Retail Management would always help. Specialisations grew out of a need to create job-ready, competent professionals who would be able to fulfill the needs of the organisation immediately. Thus, with such a qualifcation one is much more employable.

But if you are a career-changer, and you don’t know precisely where you want to go, specialisations can sometimes hurt rather than help. Moreover, if you are not comfortable breaking away from the pack or seeking out professional contacts in unconventional ways, the general degree would be a better option. Are these portable? Well, I think it depends on how you brand yourself. You can have the specialisation, let’s say in CSR, but you can also make sure your resume talks about more generic management skills. For instance, you can really emphasize all your CSR work on your resumes-and make it reflect what all you have been doing in CSR, whether you have been volunteering and doing some non-profit work as well; or was your internship focused on sustainability etc. Whether it is FMCG, or Banking, almost every sector is on the lookout for candidates who have CSR experience. In case of an economic downturn you can actually dovetail your CSR experience into other sectors. The recruiters are going to say “Come in as a marketer and do your job responsibly and remain ethical within the company’s values.” And finally… While looking at the MBA portfolio, you need to see whichever option you go in for, it should have legs. Ask yourself “Am I going in for something that aside from the qualification, might resonate for a prospective employer and help him spot me for his next vacancy, and, am I opting for a degree that positions mewell for the next 15 to 25 years in my career?” Once you choose your option with this question in mind, there is no looking back.

First Person

 Student’s take

Specialised MBA helps you hit the ground running — Aashima Verma

Some who plan to go through the specialised programmes say they are best for those who are clear about their future goals, and who are keen to chart their own path. Aashima Verma, a Bachelor of Commerce, who plans to pursue her MBA 

in Brand Management from Mudra Institute of Communication Ahmedabad (MICA), says, “I know what I want to do.  Although an MBA is increasingly becoming a clichéd option for a Commerce student, it still offers this hope of providing one with a unique degree if the specialisation is chosen correctly. 

I want to go for an MBA in Brand Management. This specialisation would add an extra edge to my education. I understand, it limits the scope of jobs you can apply for. But, it definitely makes you an expert of your field and I believe that the 21st Century demands the masters more than the Jack’s or the Jill’s of all trades. Also in the coming times, the corporates would demand the new hires to be able to hit the ground running and a specialised degree is their answer to Just in Time (JIT) recruiting. My degree would prepare me for a long haul”.

General MBA gives you a wider canvas —Shiraz Nagpal

Shiraz Nagpal, student of MBA 2nd semester, GNDU, however, chose to opt for a General MBA and wishes to get into the banking sector. He says, “Specialised MBA is the new kid on the block and is yet to prove its worth and has not yet established the kind of recruiting relationships that guarantees students high-paying jobs. With a specialised MBA, you narrow your skill set down to one industry and you are limited in terms of the different directions you can go with your career. On the other hand, if you choose a general MBA, you will acquire a much wider knowledge base because you are learning all aspects of management. I wish to go into the banking sector and I understand there would not be core finance jobs for me at the outset. Most of the banks hire for a marketing profile. A general MBA would give me a wider choice and would not limit my probability of getting a job. Also, in this age of frequent downturns, I do not want to run the risk of getting hamstrung by my specialty later in my career and wish to play safe”.

 Professional Speak

Confidence is the key — Milanpreet Chawla, Marketing Executive

Milanpreet Chawla, who pursued a General MBA in Marketing and is now working with Hungama Ltd. Mumbai, says, “It depends person to person. If you are very sure of your skill set and you know where you want to land up 10 years later, then opt for specialisation, if you are new to the scenario and want to test the waters before diving in head first, go for general MBA; study a bit of all subjects and once you know your inclinations, go for a career in that field. Since specialisations essentially lock you into one sector of the market, it is important to see what the trends are in the job market and talk to various recruiters and career placement counselors to get a better snapshot of the employment outlook. This will help you determine if the specialisation you are interested in is worth the time and additional money investment”.

 Faculty Speak

Essential to Go for general MBA in first year —Harinder Singh

Harinder Singh, MBA- Finance, Faculty Member for Mathematics in Bulls Eye, Chandigarh says, “Specialised MBA is one way that smaller schools have sought to revitalise their business programmes. Rather than simply selling a comparable degree, they have repackaged their courses to appeal to people interested in preparing for careers in discrete sectors. As such, they are able to differentiate themselves from the top-tier schools all the while providing something that could not necessarily be achieved in a broader, more corporation-centered programme. To the best of my understanding doing the general MBA in the first year, then opting for specialisation is better than the specialised course any day as a student gets the basic knowledge of every stream in the first year”.

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