How to Choose the Right MBA Specialization After CAT

By
Subham Har
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We understand that CAT as definitely the first milestone that everyone tries to clear but people usually forget what to do after that. It becomes very important to have a clear goal as to what you want to make out of your MBA. Hence, aspirants should be aware of all the possible specializations available while they pursue their MBA. This article will focus on How to Choose the Right MBA Specialization After CAT amongst a list of given option so that you can make the most out of your degree. Students tend to think that there are only 4 conventional specializations like Finance, Operations, Marketing and HR, but with growing demand and diversified needs, the horizon has expanded well beyond these.

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Why is Choosing the Right Specialization Important?

How important is to choose the right specialization after CAT? Can one not be flexible afterwards? Well, majority of the MBA grads are from the engineering background and have very little to no background knowledge in the business fields. MBA provides you with the gateway to switch your career towards the management side of any organization. However, switching fields becomes a challenge once you pass out of your MBA. Initial years might be little relaxed and flexible but having an inclination or goal in your mind before you begin your degree, sets you apart and allows you to have a focused preparation for that “dream job”. Despite all the lucrative perks and other benefits, if you do not feel right for a domain, it goes all in vain. Hence, remember that choosing the right specialisation will help you in both short term as well as long term to attain your goals and aspirations. Research and take the best decision for you!

Steps on How to Choose the Right MBA Specialization After CAT

1. Self-Assessment: Know Yourself

Before diving into knowing all the available specializations, it is important to have a self-introspect. Ask yourself the following questions to understand better :

  • What are your core strengths and weaknesses?
  • What kind of work environment do you feel like succeeding in?
  • Do you enjoy numbers more or want to be a subtle tech role due to your past expertise?

For instance, if you are comfortable with handling numbers and have developed analytical thinking, specializations like Finance or Business Analytics might suit you. On the other hand, if you are a people person and someone who wants to strategize and drive business heads, Marketing or HR could be your thing to pursue.

The job market is very demanding yet very dynamic. Demand for certain skills changes with time rapidly. Hence, understanding current industry trends can help you make an informed and wise decision. For example, with the rise of tech-savvy applications, fields like Data Analytics, Business Analytics, etc. are in demand and if you are interested in these fields, you should surely opt for these. Try speaking to certain industry professionals, talk to certain alums from tier 1 B-Schools or analyze job openings to understand what the market is demanding. Remember to balance this with your interests as chasing trends alone might lead to a mismatch which will remain a regret forever.

3. Evaluate Your Long-Term Goals

Ask yourself, where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years from now? While we understand that we cannot predict it very accurately but noting down your own goals and aspirations will help you gauge your interest and pick the right specialization. For example, if you feel like you would want yourself to become a CFO, Finance would be the specialization that you should look for. Similarly, if you want to solve problems for your clients from varied industries, Strategy and Consulting should be your priority. Remember to factor in your professional as well as personal growth objectives before making a decision.

4. Consider the Curriculum

Different specializations come with distinct subjects and have requirement of particular skill sets. Spend good amount of time to understand the curriculum of the MBA programs you are considering. For instance, Marketing specialisation might involve courses like consumer behaviour, branding and sales strategy. Similarly, Finance specialisation would focus more on investment analysis, financial modelling and corporate finance. Reviewing these details will help you identify what is best suited for you. As this will stay with for all the 2 years as well as your career post your MBA degree.

5. Consult Alumni and Current Students

One of the best ways to get some sort of insider knowledge is by talking to their alums and the current students of MBA programs. They can provide you with the firsthand insights into the challenges and opportunities that comes within a specialization. One of the best answers to How to Choose the Right MBA Specialization After CAT is:

Ask them about:

  • The quality of teaching and resources used
  • Internship opportunities and other career opportunities
  • Career trajectory after graduation

These perspectives can surely give you clarity beyond what other institutes and websites offer.

1. Marketing

  • Overview: This specialization will include topics like consumer behaviour, brand management, and sales & distribution strategies. It is often said that it is ideal for creative thinkers who enjoy communication and persuasion within the sales ecosystem.
  • Key Roles: After MBA, you can expect roles like Area Sales Manager, Brand Marketer, Digital Marketing Analyst to name a few.
  • Who Should Choose It: Candidates with strong interpersonal skills, creativity and an interest in strategizing ideas.

2. Finance

  • Overview: Finance usually deals with investment strategies, corporate finance, wealth management and risk management. It is a quant-heavy field that requires number crunching and a bit of excel knowledge.
  • Key Roles: A few roles post MBA in Finance include Investment Banker, Financial Analyst, Portfolio Manager to name a few
  • Who Should Choose It: Individuals with strong analytical skills and a knack for numbers and data.

3. Human Resources (HR)

  • Overview: This specialization is best-suited for candidates who are good at managing people, workplace dynamics and organizational behavior.
  • Key Roles: HR Manager, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Organizational Development Consultant are a few key roles which you can expect post MBA.
  • Who Should Choose It: Top skills include good listening skills and empathetic enough to understand people’s concern.

4. Operations and Supply Chain Management

  • Overview: Operations is all about streamlining processes, improving efficiency and managing logistics which helps in bringing down the overall cost of the firm.
  • Key Roles: Operations Manager, Supply Chain Analyst, Logistics Coordinator are a few key roles which one can expect. FMCGs are considered best for getting ground zero knowledge.
  • Who Should Choose It: Candidates who success in optimizing systems and processes should ideally opt for it.

5. Business Analytics

  • Overview: A tech-driven specialization which involves data to drive business decisions by providing key insights.
  • Key Roles: Data Scientist, Business Analyst, Data Analyst are a few key roles which you will be hired at post your completion of MBA.
  • Who Should Choose It: Those with an affinity for technology, data analysis will be a good fit.

6. Entrepreneurship

  • Overview: This specialization is not so common as the culture is just budding in India. It equips students to start and manage their own ventures going ahead in life.
  • Key Roles: Usually, consultants are the best start for entrepreneurs until you start your own startup.
  • Who Should Choose It: Visionaries with innovative ideas and the willingness to take certain risks might go for it.

7. International Business

  • Overview: Focuses on global market scenarios, cross-border trade and international business strategies.
  • Key Roles: Global Business Consultant, Finance Expert, etc. are a few key roles here.
  • Who Should Choose It: Those interested in travelling, learning about global markets and trends and are flexible with their day-to-day lives.

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Choosing MBA Specialisation

  1. Ignoring Your Interests: Do not choose a specialization solely based on industry trends.
  2. Underestimating the Curriculum: Not all MBA courses are the same. Better to always research the syllabus and teaching pedagogy.
  3. Lack of Research on Job Roles: Understand what roles a specialization will prepare you for and are enough job openings for the same.
  4. Following Peer Pressure: What works for others may not necessarily work for you always. Understand yourself better

Can You Switch Specializations Midway?

While some programs allow flexibility, switching specializations midway can be challenging. Better is to go for programs whose syllabus is generic in the first year and make you choose a specialisation in the second year. This will equip you with the right knowledge to make you an informed choice.

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