Why MBA after Engineering (B.Tech / B.E.) - Benefits, Scope, Career Option

Pursuing MBA after engineering courses has become a fairly popular trend these days. A large number of applicants with B.E. and B.Tech degrees and years of work experience opt for an MBA. So, the question that arises is what relevance does an MBA hold for engineering graduates and what can an MBA degree add to the highly technical skills of an engineer? To address this, let’s take a look at some of the possible reasons for this shift from engineering to MBA.

Benefits of MBA after Engineering Courses Like B.Tech and B.E.:

Every year, thousands of engineering graduates apply for admission in some of the top management institutes of the country. MBA admissions at every college are mostly dominated by students who come from an engineering background. There are several reasons and factors for the strength of B.Tech and B.E. graduates in MBA programmes that has been increasing persistently in the last decade.

Some of the factors that are responsible for engineering graduates deciding to opt for MBA (Masters in Business Administration) and PGDM (Post Graduate Diploma in Management) courses after completing their bachelor’s degree from the reputed B.Tech and B.E. colleges in India are given below.

Career Growth

At times, engineers may lose interest in the subject and decide to switch to management functions at the professional front. Another factor is that the starting salary of engineers is not much, and MBA seems a better option in terms of an attractive salary package. An engineering student’s average salary package is approx. Rs. 11 lakh but if they do an MBA, this can go up to Rs. 18 lakh and as you move up the corporate ladder, the number goes up. Also, an engineer who is in a technical role may want to move up the hierarchy and widen his career choice, so he/she can opt for an MBA which will facilitate an easy transition to a managerial role.

Cracking MBA Entrance Exams is 'Easy'

It is considered pretty easy for engineers to crack MBA entrance exams like CAT (Common Admission Test), XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test), SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test) etc. because a major chunk of these entrance exams comprises the Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude sections. Students study mathematics and such logical reasoning subjects during their engineering course and hence have an upper hand in these topics as compared to the students who come from a non engineering background.

Better Business Acumen

An MBA program offers more exposure to management related issues, something which is lacking in an engineering program. It is especially beneficial for those who want to run their own business someday or get into consulting. An MBA degree will further add strategic and qualitative skills to the already existing technical skills of an engineer, which will make him/her an asset for a prospective employer.

Lack of Interest in Technical Field

There may be people who are not really fond of computers or the technology domain. They probably pursued engineering because they were not clear regarding their interests and goals. So, they can rectify this by pursuing an MBA after engineering. This way, a lot of new avenues may open up for them and they can widen the horizon of job opportunities for themselves. After completing an MBA, these students can work in many sectors as several new doors open for them.

Personality Development

Many engineering graduates who opt for MBA get a chance to enhance their personality as well. As the MBA curriculum focuses so much on group discussions, projects, presentations and industrial visits, the engineers can hone their communication skills, develop leadership abilities and gain more confidence.

MBA provides students with the confidence to pursue their dreams and gives them a force to experiment and innovate. A management degree polishes the managerial skills of an individual, thus making them work towards the goal of the application with greater productivity and lesser cost. The course makes candidates acquainted with all the aspects of running a company. It grooms the person to serve the best to oneself – only then can he be an asset to an organisation.

Skipping the queue

Many MBA graduates usually start off their careers as managers rather than individual contributors. The number of entry-level agents or associates with an MBA degree is far less than those with just an undergraduate degree. The candidates who possess an MBA degree get to skip the queue of hierarchy and move on to mid-level and top-level roles in an organisation or company.

Opportunity to Meet Several Industry Insiders

An MBA allows candidates to work closely with leaders and industry professionals. Whether the candidate is looking for an internship, working on a project, or simply checking out employment opportunities, an MBA provides him/ her with the chance to interact with experts from the industry. The individual can also build a solid base and relations with future entrepreneurs and business managers.

Flexible Study Options

It happens quite often that a candidate wants to pursue a postgraduate degree while still keeping his/ her full-time job. An MBA provides this flexibility to candidates. Anyone can study for an MBA while continuing with their job. Many MBA colleges in India offer weekend or part-time MBA courses for working professionals. This way, the MBA aspirants are able to polish their skills while working and it also adds to their resume.

MBA Degree is Recognised Worldwide

An MBA is quite a common degree that is recognised all around the world. It shows that an individual has pursued a path well beyond their regular graduate studies and are well-versed in their chosen pool of subjects. MBA is quite compatible with the programmes of other degrees and will also offer options to pursue other degrees across the globe.

Apart from the usual specialisations, like finance or marketing, there are numerous other niche fields in which an MBA can be pursued. MBA specialisations are constantly increasing in all the business schools because of the huge demand for the course. Sports, Hospitality, Luxury, and Tourism are some areas where a surge of degree and job opportunities can be found in India. MBA is a great option to venture after a student has completed his/ her B.Tech.

Career and Scope of MBA after Engineering

An MBA post engineering will not only attract a high-paying job but will also open up a lot of new career avenues for the students. Listed below are some of the career options that will be available:

• Jobs in private as well as public sector
• In the banking sector
• As a financial analyst, in accounting and financial planning
• Senior management posts in HR, Sales and Marketing
• Self-employment opportunities

In light of the above, there is absolutely no harm in pursuing a different career path and learning additional skills. However, since it will be a shift from engineering to MBA, you need to be really sure if that’s what you want and if that shift is really required.