How to Choose Your MBA Specialization?

To have options for anything is always good. However, sometimes it can also cause confusion. For instance, if you are enrolling in an MBA program,  you may find yourself in a fix when you have to decide which specialization to pick.

The following are some of the top specializations in a MBA program:

• Finance
• Marketing
• Media Management
• Human Resource (HR) Management
• International Business
• Information Technology
• Retail Management
• Operations Management
• Supply Chain Management

So, which one should you choose? Well, it will help to consider the following factors when making that decision:

1. Goals: What’s the main reason you are doing MBA? Do you seek a high-paying corporate job or do you want to set up your own business? If it’s the former, then HR is a good option, and if the latter, then Finance is better.
2. Skills: It’s only wise to master something you are already good at. So, if you are good at crunching numbers, then Finance is a good specialization for you. However, if you are good at understanding human psychology and branding, then you can specialize in Marketing.
3. Career Plans: If you plan to work with the top MNCs, then you can pick Finance or HR as they are always looking to hire skilled MBA candidates with specialization in the same. However, if you are interested in working with startups and see what’s it’s like to grow a business from scratch, then you may have a better luck with Marketing.
4. Personal Interest and Passion: This is certainly an underrated factor that many MBA-aspirants ignore. Although you certainly want a lucrative career with a fat salary, you also want a sense of fulfilment. So, it’s important to pick a specialization which you are actually passionate about. After all, you will be spending a large portion of your life doing what you learned in your MBA program. So, if you like people management, get in HR, and if you are passionate about technology and how it can affect a business, then you can pick IT.

Decisions that affect your career are extremely important. Thus, take your time and make a decision only after thoughtful consideration. Good luck!

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