Top Courses after MBA to give your Career that Boost

MBA courses overview 

As mentioned earlier, the full form of an MBA is Masters of Business Administration. Admission in MBA courses is Entrance Exams based on either university or national level. MBA programs may be part-time, full-time, online, distance or correspondence mode. The core subjects for the MBA course include Accounting and Financial Management, Business, Economics, Corporate Finance, Human Resource Management, Supply Chain Management, etc. 

Undoubtedly, MBA courses are expensive. The average fees for such courses may range between INR 2,00,000 to INR 27,00,000. Mainly, the fee structure is influenced by the university or college. It is the most popular post-graduation course in India and abroad. MBA degree has become a necessity for most managerial-level jobs across India. Hence, it is opted by graduates belonging to every stream. Some important points about MBA courses are: 

• For instance, this course can be opted by graduates in B.Sc., B.Com, B.A. or B.Tech. 
• A regular MBA or Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) is generally a two-year course divided into four to six semesters. 
• However, some private universities also offer a one-year PGDM course. 
• MBA courses are available in different modes: online, full-time, part-time, or distance education so that everyone can choose according to their convenience. 
• However, the full-time MBA courses are the most valuable. It includes theory and practical classes, projects, internships and placements. 

• To apply for full-time MBA courses, experienced and fresh graduates both can apply. Contrary to this, Executive MBA courses are favourable for candidates with more than five years of work experience. 

MBA courses eligibility criteria 

The basic eligibility criteria for MBA courses is as below: 

• Students who have completed their graduation or are in the final year of graduation can apply. 
• If you are a final year graduate, you can also apply for MBA courses, but you have to present the proof of graduation within a specified duration. 

• Graduates from any discipline or equivalent course from a recognized university can apply for MBA courses. 
• The candidates must score a minimum of 50% in their graduation. However, reputed colleges prefer 60% marks in graduation. 
• Students belonging to the reserved categories like OBC, SC and ST get a 5% relaxation in the qualifying marks. 

MBA courses admission 

The process of admission in MBA is based on Entrance Exams. These tests can fit in either of the following four categories: 

• National Level Test conducted by an apex testing body for the admission on reputed colleges across India. For instance, CAT, MAT or CMAT. 
• State-level tests are conducted at the state level by a similar testing body on behalf of the participating colleges—for instance, OJEE, KMAT or APICET. 
• Some B-schools also conduct entrance exams for admission in MBA courses. For instance, IIFT, XAT, NMAT or IBSAT. 
• In addition, some universities conduct entrance exams for admission in MBA courses. For instance, KIITEE, HPU MAT, etc. 

MBA Entrance Exams 

Admission to MBA courses requires students to qualify for entrance exams such as CAT or MAT. As mentioned above, these tests are conducted at a national level. So, they are generally difficult. 

• CAT: It stands for Common Admission Test (CAT). It is essential to get admission to two-year MBA courses at 20 IIMs across India. Usually, CAT is held in November, and the registration process begins in July. In addition, there are eligibility criteria for the entrance exam. Students belonging to the general category must score a minimum of 50% in graduation (any stream). However, there is a relaxation of 5% marks for the students belonging to the reserved categories like OBC, SC and ST. 
• MAT: It is a national level entrance exam, and it stands for Management Aptitude Test. It is conducted in four sessions per year – February, May, September and December. To appear for the exam, candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. Also, there is no upper age limit to appear for the exam. So, it is advantageous over CAT. 

MBA Courses subjects 

Different specialization courses have different subjects and syllabi. However, some common topics are discussed below: 

• Financial Management: This is the basic subject you will learn while pursuing an MBA degree. In this, an overall idea of the budget and funds of the company is given. You will learn about financial ratios, debt ratios and market ratios. 
• Human Resource Management: It will help you learn how to manage a team and current labour policies that protect the workers’ rights in the company. 
• Customer Relationship Management: In this, you will learn how to attract potential customers into buying your products and services. 
• Marketing Research: This will help you learn how to gather data from potential customers and clients. Further, you will learn how to use the data for the company’s growth. 
• Operation Management: In this, you will learn how to address the concerns in business operations such as quality, productivity and more. 

Types of MBA courses 

There are different types of MBA courses for students belonging to different fields. The details of them are listed below: 

• Full-time MBA 
• Executive MBA 
• Online MBA 

• Distance MBA 
• MBA abroad 
• Integrated MBA 
• One-year MBA 

Full-time MBA courses 

A full-time MBA is a two-year professional degree course. This is most valuable among all the MBA courses as it provides students with detailed curriculum exposure. It includes projects, internships and placements that adds value. Admission is an MBA Entrance Exam based conducted at the national or state level. Some of the top MBA Entrance Exams include CAT, MAT, XAT and GMAT. Specialization in MBA courses is available, including MBA in Marketing, MBA in Finance, MBA in HR, etc. The average fees range from INR 2,00,000 to INR 30,00,000 per year, depending upon the college. 

Part-time MBA courses (Executive MBA) 

It is a part-time MBA course of one-year duration, ideal for working professionals. It is ideal for educating job seekers and entrepreneurs. 

One year MBA courses 

It is favourable for working individuals who want an MBA degree while working. To enrol for one year MBA courses, the candidates must score 650 or above in GMAT or GRE. Some colleges in India, like ISB Hyderabad, offer one-year MBA courses to applicants with two years or above of working experience. The fee structure is generally on the higher side. So, a few candidates can apply. 

Online MBA courses 

Online MBA is much different from distance MBA. In this, there is no need to attend classroom lectures. The eligibility criteria for online MBA courses are a minimum of 50% marks in graduation (any stream). Some top UGC-recognized universities offer courses like NIBM Pune, Amity Noida, Jaipur National University and the like. 

MBA distance courses 

It is a good option for students who cannot enrol for the regular MBA degree. It is a two-year correspondence/distance course. The eligibility criteria for the course are securing a minimum of 50% marks in graduation (any stream). Also, a minimum of 50% marks in 10+2 is required. In addition, a minimum work experience is needed with qualifying marks in MBA entrance exams such as CAT, MAT or XAT. 

Career and Scope after MBA specialization courses 

Master of Business Administration has a wide range of specialization courses, including MBA in Finance, MBA in HR, MBA in Supply Chain Management, MBA in Banking and Finance, etc. 

MBA in General Management 

It is a two-year duration course aiming to train students to plan, create, and manage resources. The admission for this specialization is an entrance exam based on CAT or MAT. The subjects include managerial economics, human resource management, finance, corporate environment, etc. The average fees range from INR 30,000 to INR 2,50,000. It primarily focuses on operation management as it is an important part of the company. It deals to make sure that the production is carried out cost-effectively, and at the same time, it should meet the expectations of consumers. Some of the job opportunities are: 

• Operation Executives 
• Areas Operation Manager 

• Operation Manager 
• General Operation Manager 
• Manufacturing Consulting Manager 
• Plant Manager 
• Operation Research Analyst 

The average salary of an MBA in Operation Management is INR 3,00,000 to INR 15,00,000 per annum. 

MBA in Finance 

This one is also a two-year PG course. Likewise, it is entrance exam based. The subjects include financial accounting, financial management, financial marketing, etc. The average course fees range from INR 3,00,000 to INR 8,00,000. The scope of my career after MBA in Finance is good. So, investing in an MBA in Finance is an economical idea. The curriculum prepares a student for a career in accounting, financial planning, banking, etc. Typically, the course of study includes financial modelling, global economics, stock market pitch projects, real estate investment and investment strategies. A list of career opportunities after an MBA in Finance is as below: 

• Investment Banker 
• Accounting Manager 

• Financial Analyst 
• Credit Manager 
• Insurance and Risk Manager 
• Corporate Controller 
• Cash Manager 

• Credit Risk Manager 
• Investment Portfolio Manager 
• Asset Manager 

Without a doubt, most companies offer attractive salary packages to graduates belonging to MBA in Finance. In addition, the payment increases with the increase inexperience. Initially, they can earn as much as INR 3,00,000 to INR 4,00,000 per annum, increasing with skills and experiences. 

MBA in Sales and Marketing 

Generally, it is a two-year program that prepares students for a career in marketing. The course offer jobs in both executive as well as managerial posts. The curriculum mainly focuses on Marketing Management, Operation Management, Digital Marketing, Social Media Marketing, and more. 

Students who pursue an MBA in Marketing as post-graduation have a spectrum of job opportunities awaiting them. The demand for graduates belonging to this section is high. The course focuses mainly on accounting, advertising, consumer behaviour, etc. In turn, this helps the students to develop leadership and executive qualities throughout the curriculum. Some job opportunities are: 

• Analytical Marketing 
• Product and Brand Management 
• Retail Management 

• Public Relations Management Advertising and Promotion Marketing 
• Customer Relationship Marketing 
• Market Search Analyst 
• Media Planner 
• Logistic Head 

• Online Marketing 
• Social Media Manager 
• Business Development 
• Quality Assurance Head 

Usually, the earning potential is high. An individual holding an MBA degree in Marketing can easily earn INR 3,00,000 to INR 20,00,000 per annum. 

List of top careers after MBA

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

It is a globally- recognized professional degree that measures and certifies the competence and integrity of financial analysts. This course has become one of the most opted courses post MBA courses. So, to become a certified analyst, one has to clear all the three levels of this course, i.e. Equity Investment, Business Ethics, Corporate Finance, Portfolio Management, Alternative Investments, etc., are some of the major areas. Although the exam is quite difficult to clear but in the end is also one of the most respected designations in finance and is widely considered to be the gold standard in the field of investment analysis. Upon completing the course, you can find job opportunities in areas like Financial Strategist, Analyst, Consultant, Portfolio Manager, etc. I would recommend this is one of the best courses after MBA.

Project Management Professional (PMP)

It is a well-recognized benchmark for project managers. It requires the experience, education, skill, and competency to lead and direct the projects. It has various benefits, including high market value increased credibility, and if you are really good and efficient in your work, you can surely expect higher pay. The eligibility criteria for this certification are-

• 4-year long course, 3 years of experience in leading projects, 35 hours of project management education/training.
• High school diploma/associate degree, 5-years’ experience of managing projects, and 35 hours of management/education.

PMP certification opens your doors to many different careers. Here are a few of the career choices that PMP certified professionals can make:

• Associate Project Manager: It is a position where you work with other project managers to oversee the projects.
• Assistant Project Manager: This is another entry-level position where you get the opportunity to work side-by-side with skilled project managers to help accomplish the tasks and learn about project management.
• Contract Project Manager: Here you won’t be having the same responsibilities as that of a full-time project manager. You have to apply your skills to new situations and learn to work with strangers.
• Business Project Manager: It is a business position where you have to work with clients, consult with other business projects, or work with company infrastructure.
• Information Technology (IT) Project Manager: Here you have to work with servers, computers, and entire networking systems, including maintaining and building computer systems.
• Construction Project Manager: When working as a Project Manager in the construction business, you are expected to supervise the construction projects.
• Project Coordinator: This position focuses on doing lighter tasks like -planning and organization in assisting the main project managers.
• Product Manager: In this position, you are required to focus on a specific product including manufacturing, promotion, and pricing.
• Software Project Manager: This position is almost the same as compared to the IT project manager, but here it deals specifically with updating the software. You need to supervise the development and improvement of existing and new software in this position.

Many MBA professionals choose PMP as courses after MBA.
To obtain a degree, an individual needs to clear an exam that assesses knowledge on various domains like Monitoring and Controlling, Initiating, Closing, etc. In the end, even qualifying for the PMP exam is an achievement itself!

Financial Risk Manager (FRM)

It is a globally recognized standard for those who manage risk and a professional designation awarded by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) to candidates on completing this program. With the drastic changes happening every day worldwide, there is always a need for a professional who can manage money, risk, and investment with up-to-date knowledge and fill that gap. Anyone with specialized knowledge and skills in financial risk management can connect with the world’s prominent financial risk management professionals. As far as career opportunities are concerned, there are many options in Risk Management, Trading, Structuring, Modeling, etc. FRM holders can hold positions such as Chief Risk Officer, Senior Risk Analyst, Head of Operational Risk, Investment Risk Management, to name a few. It is a great value addition to your skills, credentials, and resume. There are no minimum eligibility requirements to appear for an FRM exam. However, to be certified as a Financial Risk Manager, you need to have-

• A passing score in the FRM examination
• Active fellow membership in GARP
• A minimum of two years’ experience in the area of financial risk management or another related field including, but not limited to, trading, portfolio management, academic or industry research, economics, auditing, risk consulting, and/or risk technology

Here are a few of the many roles in financial risk that FRMs are being hired for:

• Credit Risk – The risk that a debtor does not pay you back. There are loans and bonds worth several trillion dollars out there and someone is crunching the numbers and calculating the risk of the issuers. Being a credit analyst is a perfect role for an FRM.
• Liquidity Risk –When you have billions of creditors and debtors with various credit risks, multiple loan maturities, etc., this can get rather complicated. Then an FRM is the best option to go to.
• Operational Risk – These are risks arising from a company’s day-to-day operations. An operational risk analyst would combine, analyze, and monitor these risks and coordinate with various people to manage them.
• Model Risk – Banks and other corporations prepare various models to better represent their current situation and to simulate future situations. Just having these models (which are approximations of reality), can introduce worries which are called model risk. FRMs are well suited to manage such models.
• Portfolio Risk – A collection of unique assets can really add to the difficulty of the overall risk profile of investments. These assets react in different ways to different events and can increase or decrease the risk depending on their connections. It can all become a bit complex and this is when you need someone to create a better picture of the portfolio level risk.
• Fixed Income Risk – The risks are inherited in fixed income products like government and corporate bonds. Such assets are sensitive to credit events which can affect the risk of the issuer as well as interest rate movements.
• Derivatives Risk – These are assets that derive their value from other assets. Their risk profile, therefore, can have traits that make them very valuable for prevarication or risking. Either way, you need someone to calculate and manage the risk.
• Commodity Risk – Companies trading in commodities or using these commodities for their core business operations and hence would keep an eye on commodity risks. For example, airlines are totally dependent on oil pricing and automobile manufacturers are probably concerned about iron ore prices as well.
• Market Risk – This is the risk emanating from the market that a company operates in. For example, eCommerce is a market risk for brick and mortar stores because it is drastically restructuring the retail market itself.
• Regulatory Risk – This is not just about following all the written guidelines, but there is a fair bit of measurable manipulating too. For example, banks have to comply with a number of different financial stability ratios imposed by regulators like capital adequacy or sectoral exposures caps, etc.

Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications (PGDCA)

Are you a techy freak who would love to work in the IT or software industries? Then this is the exact course for you.

This post-MBA course is designed for students interested in computer applications in different fields like banking, accounting, and insurance. It provides students with professional knowledge of this course. It also provides specialization in computer science with technical, professional, and communications skills. Lastly, it also trains students to become future IT professionals.

For the eligibility of this course to get enrolled in it, you need to have the following credentials in place-

• Any Bachelor’s course degree of minimum 3-year duration from a recognized University
• Mathematics is one of the subjects at 10+2 level or Graduation level.

PGDCA is one of the best courses after an MBA.

Post this degree. You need not worry about the job. You can work in any company with multiple role options such as software engineer, computer machinist, application expert, mobile developer, system analyst, system engineer, support engineer, database engineer, network engineer, and much more.
The average salary offered to the professionals on completing this course ranges between 2 lakhs to 10 lakhs annually, which increases with experience and expertise. Various multinational organizations such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), National HCL, HP, Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba, Instruments, Vodafone, etc., hire such professionals.

Data Science

Confused about being a data scientist? LinkedIn listed data scientists as the most promising job in 2017 and 2018.

This field is evolving as one of the most promising and in-demand career paths for skilled professionals. Today, successful data professionals understand that they must move ahead with the traditional skills of analyzing large amounts of data, data mining, and programming skills. To uncover useful intelligence for their organizations, data scientists must master the full range of the data science life cycle and possess a level of flexibility and understanding to maximize returns at each phase of the process.

Data science professionals are rewarded for their highly technical skillset with competitive salaries and great job opportunities at big and small companies in most industries. With over 4,500 open positions listed on Glassdoor, data science professionals with the appropriate experience and education have the opportunity to make their mark in some of the most forward-thinking companies in the world.
The eligibility criteria to enrol in this course is to have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent. The starting package post this course ranges annually from 2 lakhs to 8 lakhs.
Data Science is now in demand for career options and creating demand for skilled professionals to consider Data Science as an exciting course after MBA.

Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA)

The CRMA is another mark of professional division for internal audit practitioners. Earning the CRMA degree will assist you in showcasing your ability to:

• Provide a guarantee on core business processes in risk management and governance.
• Educate the organization and the audit committee on risk and conceptualization on risk management.
• Focus on planned organizational risks.
• Add worth to your organization.

CRMA candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements for education, character, work experience, and ID. Before a candidate application can be approved, ALL documentation (proof of education, character reference, and identification) must be received and approved by that institution.

CIA Part 1
The candidate must have completed the required necessities and passed Part 1 of the CIA exam. This can be done before, during, or after the CRMA exam but must be completed before granting the certification.

Education
Candidates must hold an Associate’s degree or higher to be approved into one of The IIA’s certification programs. Common equivalents are a Foundation Degree, Diploma of Higher Education, Higher National Diploma, or three A-level certificates with a grade of C or higher.

Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)

It is a program that provides you with the ability to understand and evaluate production and inventory activities within a company’s global operations and effectively manage global supply chain activities.
This certification enhances the professional value of an individual, increases their earning potential, and provides a career advantage over peers. One can learn new terminologies, concepts, and strategies related to various knowledge areas like procurement and supplier planning, demand management, MRP, capacity requirements planning, sales and operations planning, master scheduling, performance measurements, supplier relationships, etc.
As far as the eligibility criteria to enter this specific course, there are no prerequisites in terms of either qualifications or experience. Anyone with a passion for the internal supply chain can opt for CPIM.

You won’t regret doing this course in any such way as it will only enhance your career prospects even more. The job opportunities this course provides are immense such as –

• Supply chain manager
• Supply chain analyst
• Inventory manager
• Materials manager
• Purchasing manager
• ERP consultant
• SAP consultant

Doctor of Business Management

A DBA is the highest academic degree in management education which acknowledges a student’s extensive skills and knowledge within the business industry. The degree is a follow-up to an MBA, and many DBA programs require several years of management experience for admission. These courses help acquire information on the latest research and theories in business.

DBA generally lasts for three to six years. Unlike a PhD degree in management, a DBA is focused on practically-oriented research instead of theoretical research.

With this degree in your hand, you have many job opportunities options such as-

• The most obvious career path for DBA graduate is Corporate Executive
• Consultant
• Economist
• Professor
• Entrepreneur
• Director of Human Resources
• Government Employee
• Logistician
• Assistant manager
• Administration manager
• Business administrative executive

The recruiting companies are various universities, the banking sector, MNCs, and the administrative sector with a job package of 4 lakhs to 8 lakhs.

Final Thoughts

Most of these courses require you to invest your time and finances, so it would be better if you plan out your career goals way before and see if any of these courses align with your long-term planning.

Lastly, suppose you go for these courses. In that case, you need to have concerted determination to fulfil the various requirements as the courses after MBA demand and carry forward your plans for the future.

If you still think none of these options is where your interests lie, you can always turn to education as a career option. The world will never be in shortage of good teachers who are willing to educate the next generation.

Chegg is an education-based company the main aim is to help students build their careers. It is one of the best options of the online earning website for students professionals who have expertise in any subject matter like- accounts, psychology, Computer Science, and many more.