How to choose the Right MBA Specialization?

Have you heard of Herd Mentality?

Well, Herd mentality is the basic reason a person suffers from depression of choosing a specialization that does not go in sync with their desires and personality.

You might think why herd mentality is being discussed! The truth is- due to the market full of management people, people are now simply choosing specialization to hear say, whereas they must be choosing specialization after having a deal of thought, research, and assessment of one’s internal desires and external environment.

If you want to succeed after your MBA degree, here are some key points that you must keep in mind while choosing your MBA specialization:

1. Hard and smart work: Some may argue that choosing one specialization over another requires research and smart approach. However, it is wrong to assume a particular specialization is inferior to another. Every specialization has a target industry or commercial sector. To achieve that target, there is no alternative to hard work and perseverance.

2. Trend is mostly a fad: India had faced an information technology boom with students opting for computer related general and engineering courses for a shortcut to success. But currently the sector is edging towards a saturated stage with so many people with the same set of specializations. It has to be kept in mind that the whole process is sinusoidal. In management, Marketing or Finance is sought after the most, thanks to emerging retail companies or whopping investment banking salaries. However it is wiser to look at long-term goals instead of just following a trend.

3. Specific/Generalized: The question lies as to what sort of subject or job is most appealing to a particular individual. If broad spectrum stuff like general management and office administration interests you, it is wiser to go there and not follow the specialized ones. The specialization however narrows down the scope and gives more focused skills.

4. Course and Curriculum: Information is extremely crucial. At childhood, a lot of students make career decisions based on popular beliefs, parental desires or peer pressure from the society. Management gives a scope to exercise your own will and take a decision that you will most likely not regret.

5. Career path: Students are moving away from the tried and tested routes towards career development that usually begins with completing basic education and followed by joining a reputed company. Specialization empowers a person to exercise the gained knowledge and skill set to set up their own organizations where they are their own boss. Entrepreneurship has gathered momentum both in marketing and research areas.

6. Character traits: Every person has a varying personality that determines their dedication and interest towards their work. Someone may prefer to be on the move while others might prefer to be a regular working office employee. Some prefer the income compared to work satisfaction while the same might not stand true for the rest. While a segment prefers leadership skills others gain more satisfaction in teamwork. Assessing one’s strength and weakness is an effective tool to reach a conclusive career decision.

7. Research: The Internet is on the desk and palm of our hands with technology reaching superior heights. With 24×7 access to information databases, students should go through detailed information about the subjects, existing student profiles, and possible career outlays and growth plans.