How can a MBA be helpful to an engineering graduate?? Is it ok to do mba soon after completing BE?

Hi Akshay



It really depends on the individual, their interests and their career goals. However getting an MBA degree after B.Tech. is always a plus point and its gives you extra edge to your technical skills. There are a lot of students who choose to go for MBA after engineering degree. Also, there are a lot of IITians who prefer to opt for MBA after completing their engineering.



Get A Business Approach With MBA After Engineering

An MBA program gives engineers more exposure to business and management related issues which lack in an engineering program. An MBA degree adds strategic & qualitative skills to students analytical capability, making them a perfect choice for any employer.



Furthermore, for those engineers who are planning to run their own business or to do consulting, an MBA makes sense. MBA will help in better understanding of the fundamentals of business that supplements the engineering and technical side. One becomes great in finding technical solution to the problem keeping the business principles in mind.



MBA for Faster Promotions

Getting faster promotions is one of the most important advantages of MBA after engineering. Having an MBA degree one can develop team leading & group management qualities, and hence those engineers having supplement of management can get faster promotions than those without an MBA.



MBA for Better Job Opportunities

Finding a job in this cut throat competition is really very tough in todays market. You have to stand out of crowd in order to get a satisfactory job. And having an MBA will help a candidate to do the same in the crowd of just engineers. So, getting a good job is another benefit of doing MBA after engineering degree.



Get Some Experience Before Applying for MBA

Engineers should get job experience in their field before going for MBA. This will help them analyzing the corporate environment, their interests, various business & management fields. And after having one -two years of experience they will have a better idea whether they want to pursue MBA or not, and if yes, then what should be the field they opt for. The fields can be of their own choice like HR, Finance, Marketing, IT etc. However, nowadays a lot of students prefer MBA in finance after engineering.



Engineers Having No Interest in Technical Field

There are a lot of engineers who are not actually interested in computers or technology. They just got into engineering by luck, by chance or because they were not clear about their interests & goals. This mistake can be overcome by opting for MBA after completing engineering. Students can save their career from ruining by going for desired field in MBA as it is open for graduates in all fields.



Engineers Having Deep Interest in Technical Field

And those students having deep interest in their core technical field should consider themselves lucky. They should opt for an advanced technical degree (M.Tech. or MS) if they are interested in doing research work in core technology.



Finally, it is clear that doing an MBA after engineering is always advantageous for students. However personal goals & interests always matter. Hope this post helps you in moving your career in the right direction. Choose the path that will differentiate you in the competition and aligns with your goals and desires. All the best!

Hello Akshay,

I tend to see it this way, where there are two sets of engineers who pursue an MBA after engineering:

1. Those who sign-up for an MBA program right after completing BE.
2. Those who go on to work in their desired field for a couple of years after graduation, then sign-up for an MBA program.

The 1st category of people aren’t actually doing the right thing; i.e., pursuing a Management degree in close succession to an Engineering.

Management degrees ideally augment one’s career & professional growth prospects, only when they are learned in an experiential way. So if an Engineer with 5 years of work-ex looks for an MBA, his learning outcome would be much higher than a fresher, as his 5 years would’ve given him a roundabout perspective of business, leadership & management.

People choose to do MBA post engineering primarily because of peer pressure, when they compete for growth in a Pyramid shaped org structure where, as you approach the top you have limited seats!

The notion is, with an MBA degree, you can now outweigh (or compete in equal standing) with peers for the next level.

It’s also a notion that with an MBA degree, managerial opportunities (people management) comes your way as some sort of qualification.

While these sort of thinking aren’t wrong, in my view, aiming for a management program should be done with a long term view instead of getting the next promotion or getting to manage junior engineers (which one would anyway attain if he’s good at his job).

What I mean by the long term is - the real value created for oneself in the next 10 - 15 years horizon. What are these values? Let’s see some of them with examples:

1. If you’re getting into an IIM or ISB, then an MBA post engineering is surely going open many more lucrative doors. This could be in the form of campus placements in some of the best companies, enabling a fast track career trail.
2. If you’re getting into one of the I've League colleges, then it suddenly puts you into the world map! With the same set of opportunities as with IIMs or ISBs of the world.

However, I feel it’s not just about getting lucrative campus offers with great companies that should motivate you in pursuing an MBA.

I clearly am gonna suggest a third alternative here, doing Executive Programs based on Immersion/Experiential learning mode.

Usually, these programs focus on Leadership & General Management, instead of functionally oriented MBA. That’s what can put you in a never-ending trajectory in the long run as companies eventually want Leaders with hands-on perspectives than management grads.

Also, another great advantage with these programs is that you are part of a class that represents diverse background & experience, that collective learning is so rich for self-development & contribution.

And the real value, in the long run, is the power of your network. An executive program gets you sitting next to a CXO level guy, that can go beyond opening doors! Opening a whole new world of opportunities!

Colleges such as INSEAD (Instead Leadership Programme for Senior Indian Executives), Harvard, Wharton, etc., are queuing up on Indian shores for filling up their Leadership programs. That also lets you to simultaneously continue with your current job!

There’s no disadvantage of doing a management degree, hence not covering it in my answer!

Hope you found my perspective useful?

Hi Akshay,

If you would like to do your graduation in MBA after the BTech but at present 95% jobs are  based on BTech and only 5% on MBA according to placements analysis , but if really want to do your MBA then do in the top colleges select the same branch which you have completed in your BTech (or)

If you would like to do your MBA in normal colleges then do MBA(open MBA) along with your job it will be helpful during the placements of your MBA will add weightage  to your resume

I hope this information is helpful

All the best