A specialized concentration can elevate your MBA and make you more marketable to employers. But how do you choose the proper attention?
Start by considering your career goals. Think about the jobs you see yourself in and what skills they require. Consider your strengths as well. For example, if you’re tech-savvy and enjoy project management, an online MBA concentration in information systems could be the right fit for you.
Take Stock of Your Career Goals
As with any degree program, prospective students should examine their career goals to determine what skills will serve them best. For example, an MBA with a management concentration may be an excellent choice for those wanting to pursue leadership positions within their current companies or start their businesses. Alternatively, an MBA with a finance concentration could help prepare professionals to handle higher-level budgeting or investment tasks.
It is also helpful to speak with individuals who have already achieved the kind of career that you wish to pursue. These individuals can provide tips on which programs to choose and how to select the suitable online MBA concentrations for your goals. They may also share the tools they used to reach their long-term professional ambitions. Creating specific, measurable, actionable, and realistic plans is key. Doing so allows you to work backward more easily to understand how to achieve them.
Consider Your Strengths
Considering your strengths as a business professional is a critical step in choosing an MBA concentration. Think about subjects that come naturally to you, tasks you enjoy, and personality traits that make you unique in the workplace. Concentrations that capitalize on these strengths can help you succeed in future jobs.
For example, if you thrive in team-oriented environments, consider a management concentration. With this specialization, you can learn to manage teams and projects effectively from start to finish. You can also gain expertise in recruiting and hiring new talent, training and compensation, and human resource information systems.
Similarly, consider your weaknesses as a business professional. An MBA concentration that teaches you skills and strategies to overcome these weaknesses can strengthen your resume.
Explore a Niche
Choosing a concentration should be based on career goals and strengths. For example, an MBA with a concentration in project management can help you build skills to manage teams and deadlines. It can also help you create a more robust business foundation for advancing into organizational leadership roles. It’s also essential to consider your weaknesses because addressing them through graduate school can make you a more substantial business professional.
Narrowing your focus may be difficult, but it will help you stand out to employers in the job market and become more valuable to your company. If you aren’t sure what your ideal niche is, it can be helpful to research and test a few different options until you find one that makes sense for you. Be flexible when writing down – you can always go back and widen your focus if needed. This is why a general track MBA option can be helpful, as you can explore multiple concentrations before settling on a particular one.
Look at the Salary
While a larger paycheck won’t hurt anyone, choosing a particular concentration isn’t the only reason. Many MBA students want to boost their earning potential, and a specialized degree will likely help them.
While an MBA with a specialization will still build the same broad business skills as a general degree, the curriculum will include courses that address specific topics and industries. This enables students to customize their education and prepare for work in high-demand areas like consulting, healthcare management, real estate, and international business.
If you are still determining whether or not a specialized MBA is right for you, consider your career goals and strengths. An excellent place to start is by looking at the top MBA programs and identifying the ones that offer the specializations you are most interested in. Then, you can research how an MBA in that field will impact your salary and career path. You can also consider the strength of the business school’s faculty and alums in that field.