An MBA is a coveted degree. It gives a good picture of businesses around the world and the know-hows of business functions, while teaching general as well as people management skills. Moreover, an MBA specialization gives an edge over other candidates. It is a preferred course for further education especially for those who want to get better job opportunities in management and finance or those who want to advance their career with an added qualification. However, choosing an MBA with the right specialization can make or break your career opportunities. Here are a few things to consider before you choose your MBA specialization.

Consider your line of work

Ask yourself if doing a particular MBA specialization will help you achieve your career goal. Look at your work experience objectively and see if this specialization really adds to your possibilities of advancing in career or career options. For instance if you have always been in HR or employee engagement roles, it makes sense to have an MBA in HR rather than one in Systems or Finance.

Changing your line of work?

If you are looking at changing your line of work, that is once you see a possibility and opportunity for doing so, then adding an MBA in the relevant subject would be an ideal option. For instance, if you are in Finance and want to move to a general management or a role in HR, again MBA in general management or MBA in HR are the specializations to look out for.

Is it worth it?

This question is an important one because all said and done, an MBA is an expensive degree. So it makes sense to measure pros and cons and especially the returns on investment before taking up an MBA and choosing the relevant specialization. For instance if you are in a well-paying finance job and want to pursue a degree in HR, it is wise to compare salaries of both professionals before making your decision. Similarly for students, it would be ideal to look at something that would be a good investment in terms of career options where you want to work. Doing MBA in Systems and Information Technology can be very rewarding in a place well known for being an IT hub rather than an industrial area.

Are you interested enough?

If you are only thinking ROI and promotion and not going by your own interest, it’s unlikely that you can hold consistent interest for long. In the long run you will end up pursuing a career you don’t want. So before you choose your specialization introspect, speak to your near and dear ones or get some professional guidance. Go for it, only if you are interested enough.