1(Engineer) + 1 (MBA) =11

Brijesh Shirodkar

Brijesh Shirodkar has completed his engineering from Mumbai University in Computers. He is an MBA from NITIE, Mumbai. After his engineering, he was working as an ERP consultant for Ness Technologies. Currently he is a Senior Business Analyst at Cognizant. He enjoys dealing with student issues.He has a flair for writing and has received accolades for the same during his engineering and MBA days.

These are good times for being an engineer. It is not just the IT behemoths but manufacturing industries have also started gobbling graduate engineers across the country. Moreover these are fantastic times for being an MBA. Shooting Pay packets, diverse work profiles and exciting career growth is served on a platter here. So if we put 1 and 1 together, is an MBA for an Engineer the ultimate combination for an exciting career?  Let’s find out.

An Engineering degree infuses technical concepts and with it mathematical, logical and analytical skills. An MBA degree inculcates business acumen. Organizations hunt for professionals with such a killer combination because not only are they able to conceptualize solutions to business problems but are also able to deliver them feasibly.

Engineer-MBAs can tap into this vast demand. Their MBA degree can pole vault them from operational jobs to more exciting and monetarily rewarding positions. Companies are more comfortable to hand over strategic positions to people who are well versed in the technical aspects of their business operations e.g. between two equally competent candidates an IT company will most likely choose a Computers Engineer than a non engineering candidate, to head its Marketing department.

Prolific job profiles are available in almost all functions. In Supply Chain and Operations’ profiles MBAs can edge out competitors through lean and efficient management of distribution networks, logistics, plant operations and quality. Mechanical and Production Engineers will find this to be their comfort zone. In Marketing you can scheme out product and service plans for segmenting markets, positioning products and targeting customers to become market leaders. Engineers from all specializations enjoying field work and traveling can succeed in marketing teams of their industry. In corporate finance you can convert the shareholders massive funds into fruitful returns through prudent project financing and treasury handling. You can make people your strongest asset through Human Resources development. Engineers having strong people skills will feel an affinity to grow in HR Departments. Business Analysts, Business Development Managers and Project managers are the profiles on offer for IT managers.

There are many engineers who are disillusioned with the existing and future scope for growth in their respective industries. An MBA for them will be the Noah’s Ark to Cash rich industries like Banking, Insurance and Equity research. For people who have spent few years in their preferred areas of work but now feel stifled for growth, through an MBA you can jump to consulting firms.

The holistic view of business taken by MBAs stands them in good stead when they have to adapt as per business dynamics and move seamlessly across functions. As industry evolves some functions become more critical than others. Few years back, operations were the most critical function for FMCGs. With the advent of outsourcing, now marketing has become more critical for survival. As public money gets pumped into company coffers, finance will go on to become more important. The MBA degree equips engineers to adapt to these changes and continue climbing the ladders in their careers.

Ending on a lighter note, irrespective of career growth, an MBA will definitely add stars to an engineer’s matrimonial resume.