Right MBA specialisation after CS course
Pervin Malhotra
Q. I am presently pursuing Company Secretary course. Which field should I specialise in MBA to boost my career chances? — Uday Acharya
A.A qualified Company Secretary (CS) can look for opportunities in the private and public sectors, financial institutions, banks, stock exchanges and even the Central Company Law Service. As you must perhaps be aware, Company Secretaries are also recognised by the government for appointment to superior posts. CS is one of the essential qualifications for recruitment to Grade I to IV in the Accounts Branch of the Company Law Service of the Department of Company Affairs.
A CS you are trained to double up as an in-house legal expert as well as a business manager capable of performing multiple functions, including taxation, finance, accounts, HRD, corporate law, commercial and general administration. In the present corporate environment, you can also function as a corporate development planner involved in identifying expansion opportunities, arranging collaborations, mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures.If you’re interested in working in the banking sector, finance, accounts, law and merchant banking are the portfolios you can target.MBA and law are two most popular higher study options chosen by CS professional to bolster their credentials.The first-year curriculum of an MBA programme covers the basic functional areas of finance and accounting, marketing, personnel and operations management. You will also learn the basic principles of economics, behavioral sciences, information technology and quantitative methods in the context of business management. This will lay the foundation for choosing your specialization. Given the role and ambit within which a CS functions in a corporate organisation, specialisations such as General Management and Finance would be better options. However, choose a specialisation based on your comfort level and interest in a particular area rather than follow a given “formula”.
Lead from the front
Q.I am doing a course in hotel management (first year). I am not very interested in operations. Can I expect a good career in the front office?
A. There certainly is. The front office is an important department of the hotel. Regardless of whether it’s a five-star property or a small boutique hotel, front office personnel are the first ones to interact with the guests. As far as the glam quotient is concerned the FO department has a definite edge when compared to F & B, kitchen or housekeeping.
Keeping in view the broad spectrum of functions, the FO Department’s work is sub-divided into reservation, reception, information and accounts. FO jobs offer an excellent vantage point to learn on the job and understand the working of the hospitality industry.
Moreover, since you have your finger in several different pies you could even use this position as a stepping-stone to get an entry into the advertising, PR, sales and management industry. I assume you have excellent communication skills – a key prerequisite for front office staff.
FInance is the lifeblood of management degree
Q. Having done my BSc, I’m sure I ‘m not cut out for sales or marketing. However, I’m not too sure what exactly comes under finance in an MBA programme. What are the prospects? — Sarthak Vats
A. Finance constitutes the lifeblood of any business. In fact, most managerial decisions have financial implications. Business organisations need to generate profits to sustain their operations and achieve growth. Hence, most organisations are driven by the bottom line. Consequently, it’s essential that all general managers and functional managers also understand the basic concepts and practices related to finance, accounting and control.
If you pursue your MBA with a Finance specialisation you’ll have ample opportunities in Corporate Finance (i.e. the finance department of various companies), Banking (Retail Banking, Corporate Banking and Investment Banking), Equity Research, Stockbroking, Mutual Funds Management, Insurance and Venture Capital.
A typical MBA Finance covers the following topics: Corporate Finance, International Finance, Investment Management and Financial Services. Other courses include Treasury & Forex (foreign exchange) Management, Merchant Banking and Financial Services, Equity Research & Analysis, Capital Markets, M & A etc.
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