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• October 15,2011

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Pointers to Choosing Ones Major

Pointers to Choosing Ones Major

I am always inundated by questions by b-school aspirants – ‘what should I tell if I am asked my specialisation’ and b-school freshers - ‘what specialization should I take’. Which speclialisation is the best? These are very difficult questions on one hand and the simplest of questions on the other.
The answers of these questions, boils down to why we are pursuing a b-school course. What are the objectives that have drawn us to such a course? As in everything else, I would like to have the answered first, before going further.
Needless to say, the objective could be varied
• Getting a safe and comfortable career
• Becoming an entrepreneur
• Be a millionaire
• To run the family business
• For some maybe a management guru
The objective for most, - most certainly is not because of
• Passion per se to be an MBA
• Or to do social service and be good use to community
• Or any other such
Such talks are at best fooling the person in front and at worst self-delusions – which is quite damaging. This is a high investment course and we don’t do this without a direct ROI. Sometimes children of well off parents do this course just to have a good time and some others they get ready for the marriage market. We are not talking about them – because they don’t need a Major – but for a fad.
Going back to the moot point – as the decision on the specialization depends upon the objective – there cannot be one fit all specialization. Also, the objectives also need to be dovetailed into the strengths and temperament [read adaptability] of an individual.
A few points:
• If you are doing for a good career – do what you think will get you a good job.
o Type of companies coming to campus
• Temperament – relevant for only 4 years
o Extrovert – Marketing
o Number Cruncher – Finance
o People’s Person – HR
o Quiet, focused guy – Systems
• These stereotypes are the worst myths.
o At best they are relevant for only 3-4 years
o But in reality –
 B-school is all about adaptability and multiple-skills. Must be well rounded to excel.
 Don’t specialisations to hide from courses. Take the tough ones, confront your comfort zones. Because those courses will give you the base to get into leadership positions
 Everyone needs to know everything – past 5 years in corporate world
 Marketing guys – need to do more number crunching and Finance guys need to cut deals.
o Take courses to earn knowledge but gain holistic knowledge before you leave
• Have a preferences – primarily based on the job you want from the campus. And the job you think you can get from the campus – especially if you are low risk guy.
• If you are a high self-confident and a risk taker – take the courses which will land you a desired career. Not a job. You may not get the desired job from campus – but they you are prepared to slog out outside / shift jobs and take the tough path
o Even in such a case, have a back-up plan. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
o In case you don’t the job you want for a few years – your holistic knowledge and adaptability will keep you positive for a few years.

So what are the pointers for course and specialization selection:
• MBA – is a course to make money. Need to go for ROI.
• Do a specialization that will give you the best chance for the best possible career for your talent
• Don’t get stuck up with fad value – what is good for others may not be good for you. Contextualise for yourself.
• Learn everything, gain holistic knowledge. One must be strong in fundamentals in all functional areas.
• B-school grads have to adaptable and be able to grasp anything and move ahead. Do create comfort zones. Will kill leadership role chances. Career will stagnate in 5-7 years. Or you will have to go back to the books then.
• If you really believe in some specialization – go for it. Go for a career and not a job. Even if market is down, companies for such job are less.
o But be prepared for a bad phase for 2-3 years
o If you stick around for sometime you will get your due