How to Choose between a Regular MBA Program and an HR Specialization Program

If you are someone who is looking forward to pursue an MBA, you must have heard about the
regular MBA programs and the niche offering made by instututions such as XLRI HR, TISS, or IIM
K-LSM(Labour Science Management) starting this year onwards.
A lot of students are under the impression that the specialization does NOT matter as long as
you are joining any of the stalwarts institution including the XLRI HR program or TISS MA in
Human Resources etc. We are driven by the brand name so much that often we fail to analyse
whether one would succeed in a particular field over a long period.
Hence, it is important to choose wisely between a HR specialisation and a regular MBA
program.
1. HR vs Other Domains in an MBA
The criteria for joining an HR program cannot be reduced to whether one has people skills or
not. One should look at the various roles and responsibilities that are undertaken by the
graduates in each field.
Both HR and Marketing program require you to possess strong communication skills; however,
comparing the role of a HR department and an Area Sales Manager would be akin to comparing
apples to oranges.
2. On average, HR Salaries might be lower than Other Functions
Salaries of most departments have a strong variable component which is usually measured on a
year on year basis. This provides them a huge margin in terms of incentive.
Though the HR professionals also carry a measurable target; however, it is not as high as the
other functions. While the Marketing and Finance functions are rewarded with high incentives,
these functions also entail a huge risk factor
3. Growth in an Organization
In other fields, there are various avenues for growth, but the HR professionals are constrained
in a way because it takes longer period to reach the top management position. You would also
usually find a CEO from domains such as Marketing, Finance or Operations.
Other roles have a direct impact on both the top-line and the bottom-line revenues of a
company; however it is difficult to chart out the same for the HR domain.
4. HR provides a good Work-Life Balance
Since a HR professional does not directly drive the monthly or the yearly targets for a company,
thus, this function carries a comparatively lower stress level. However, this does not necessarily
imply that HR department also has lower workload. The working hours in the HR department
are usually fixed whereas, it is not the same for other fields.
The end of the month is usually a time of high intensity for other fields since it’s the culmination
of all your efforts.

Summing it up, simply choosing a HR program based on the prestige of an institution is a very
skewed plan and the choice might be an incorrect one. It is important to weigh all your options
and look at long term career prospects and their alignment with one’s interest and skillset to
finally arrive at a conclusion.
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