An MBA with Dual Specialization – A smart choice!

Do you know that according to a leading survey by LinkedIn, 83% of Indian recruiters are on the lookout for candidates who possess higher skills than their job titles or education level?

So, what does it take to grab the attention of these 83% of recruiters? Well, it’s easy because, as the job market is becoming highly competitive, choosing a promising professional degree programme is extremely important to ensure a successful career. Considered one of the most coveted and prestigious degree programmes, the MBA has gained massive popularity. An MBA degree from a reputed business school can bring you loads of benefits.

While it is true that an MBA degree can provide wings to your career, choosing the right specialization can be extremely important and difficult. But then, the availability of so many specializations can overwhelm and confuse the aspirants. Well, what if you were told that you could choose two different specializations for your MBA program and the same weightage will be given to each specialization?

Yes, a dual specialization program offers you that option. A dual specialization program lets you choose two distinct specializations during the same tenure of an MBA program. The business world is such that the more versatile you are, the better the opportunities you are likely to come across. An MBA with dual specialization program helps you avail this advantage. Such courses offer an appropriate amalgamation of theoretical knowledge, practical exposure, and personality development.

Here are some of the most sough-after dual specializations offered in the MBA programme by JAIN CMS Business School:

• Marketing and Finance
• Marketing and Human Resources Management
• Finance and Human Resources Management
• Finance and Business Analytics
• Marketing and Business Analytics
• Human Resource Management and Business Analytics
• Marketing and Logistics & Supply Chain Management
• Marketing and Entrepreneurship & New Venture Creation
• Finance and Entrepreneurship & New Venture Creation
• HRM and Entrepreneurship & New Venture Creation
• Aviation Management and Logistic & Supply Chain Management
• Aviation Management and Marketing
• Aviation Management and Human Resource Management

Reasons that make MBA dual specialization courses a smart choice

• Helps keep up with the market trends: The market dynamics change constantly. The more versatile and knowledgeable you are the better are your chances of staying connected with the latest trends. The market inclinations are unpredictable, so having a dual specialization is always regarded as an advantage. The dual specialization offers diversity and security to remain updated with changing job market trends.
• Time and cost-effectiveness: When you obtain an MBA with a dual specialization, it is just like getting two postgraduate degrees by spending money and time on one. It affords the benefits of two-degree courses rolled into one and offers a wholesome curriculum.
• An advantage over others: The current job market requires people who possess multitasking abilities. The demand for employees who can fit into diverse roles with the required competence is massive. An MBA degree with dual specialization addresses this demand-supply gap. When you acquire a dual specialization you ultimately become the preferred choice over the ones who specialize in a single domain or sector.
• A wide range of opportunities: When you opt for a dual specialization program you can explore more career options. Such an MBA helps students to develop two areas of expertise through its curriculum, and thus improves the chances of getting hired by increasing the employability percentage. Once you complete your course you may work simultaneously in two areas for a company or choose between two entirely different sectors. It opens doors to more career choices in different sectors and industries.
• Helps expand the horizon of knowledge: An MBA with dual specialization helps you develop a broader vision that leads to added knowledge and experience. A student gets to learn about more than one domain concurrently. A dual specialization program is usually designed to provide students a vast and detailed knowledge in two domains. Students opting for such programs end up gaining more knowledge than their counterparts.
• The option of career shift: The best part about these dual specialization programs is that they let you change your domain, industry, and profession throughout your working life. It is not so uncommon for a person to feel the need for change due to things being monotonous or lack of interest and when a person feels this need professionally, an MBA with dual specialization can make the process of career shift smooth.

Benefits of MBA dual specialization courses over single specialization courses

An MBA has always been a great investment for anyone who wants to advance their career in the corporate world. Then how does MBA dual specialisation make anything better than the conventional forms of MBA? Well, it does make a lot of difference because it exposes you not just to one business domain but two at the same time, thereby paving the way for better career opportunities. Let’s see how MBA dual specialisation courses are beneficial over single specialisations!

To meet the market demands: We are very well aware of how the market is evolving every day, and with that being said, it is implied that having knowledge in more than just one industry is going to boost your career like no other. As the market for one industry can become obsolete, having an MBA with a dual specialisation helps you overcome the insecurities and move seamlessly to another industry.

• High-in-demand: The MBA dual specialisation course will allow you to develop more skills than a single specialisation course, something that is currently in high demand across all industries. Imagine you have opted for a specialisation in both marketing and human resources; this allows you to have the skills of both a marketing and human resources manager, thereby increasing your value in the organisation.
• Job Security: If you have a degree in dual specialisation, it doubles your chances of employment and also provides you with financial security in case opportunities are declining in any one of the sectors. Therefore, choosing two specialties enables you to benefit from the best of both industries.
• Lucrative Opportunities: Since there is a critical deficiency of skilled manpower across all industries, an MBA with dual specialisation will offer a varied range of alternatives for career advancement. Students will now have enhanced knowledge bandwidth and increased career opportunities because of the dual specialisation inside a single programme. To put it into simple words, having two specialisations increases your chance of landing more jobs.
• Career Shift: Growth opportunities are unlimited once you have applied for an MBA with a vertical specialisation. It has been observed that students with a dual specialisation are better able to perform and thrive in a range of duties connected to their jobs. This approach broadens the career spectrum for budding young professionals.

Career paths, and the impact of MBA dual specialization on salary and earning potential across different industries and domains

(Credits: AmbitonBox & Glassdoor)

Comparison of dual specialization courses offered by different business schools

MBA dual specialisation programmes differ at different business schools; however, one must consider various factors before choosing the institution they want to pursue their dream degree from. Let’s check out the leading factors that can influence your decision:

• Programme Structure: Different business schools may offer dual specialisation courses in different ways. However, you must choose business schools that have a customised curriculum and programme structure that provide technical and practical exposure to the corporate world. Moreover, you must also look out for those institutions that offer more flexibility in course selection, allowing students to tailor their studies to their specific interests.
• Faculty Expertise: The outcome of your knowledge and skill development largely depends on the type of faculty you are often exposed to. Therefore, one must pursue their MBA dual specialisations at leading business schools that have expert faculty on board who can shape the future corporate leaders of the world.
• Industry Connections: What is the point of attending a business school if it doesn’t give you access to the best industry connections and partnerships?

No, right? Therefore, you must consider those business schools that can provide great opportunities for networking, internships, and job placement after graduation.

• Reputation and Rankings: Last but not least, you must always keep in mind the overall reputation and ranking of the business school, as this can impact the perceived value of the degree. You can do this by looking out for schools with strong accreditations, such as the National Board of Accreditation, and high rankings, such as those from the National Institute of Ranking Framework - Ministry of HRD, and the Government of India, that will give weight to your degree programme and influence your career path in the future!

Real-world case studies of MBA graduates with dual specialization and their career paths

An MBA with dual specialisation allows students to focus on not just one business domain but on two, such as marketing and finance, supply chain and entrepreneurship, etc. This dual specialisation programme also helps budding professionals become more versatile and well-rounded, thereby paving the way for a wider range of career opportunities.

We have collated a few real-life case studies where MBA graduates had dual specialisations and are leading successful careers in various industries. Here are a few real-world case studies:

• Sundar Pichai: Currently the CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he pursued a dual specialisation in business strategy and operations management. He had previously worked at McKinsey & Company and is currently working as the CEO of Google and its parent company, Alphabet.
• Rajat Gupta: Rajat Gupta has pursued his MBA with dual specialisation in finance and management from Harvard Business School. He joined McKinsey & Company after his MBA graduation, where he became the first Indian-born CEO. He has also served as a board member of several companies, including Procter & Gamble, Goldman Sachs, and American Airlines.
• Richa Kar: Richa Kar is an Indian entrepreneur who has founded India’s leading online lingerie retailer company, ‘Zivame’. He has completed his MBA with a specialisation in marketing and operations management.

There are many potential career paths that MBA graduates with dual specialisations can pursue:

• Consulting: Consulting is a great career scope for MBA graduates who want to leverage their skills and knowledge in multiple business areas such as processes, operations, and strategies. For example, a graduate with dual specialisations in finance and marketing will be able to work as a marketing consultant for a financial services company.
• Supply Chain and Entrepreneurship: MBA graduates with dual specialisations can pursue varied management roles in different industries. For example, a graduate with specialisations in entrepreneurship and supply chain management can work as a supply chain manager for a startup company.
• Human Resources and Entrepreneurship: Those who have MBA dual specialisations in human resources and entrepreneurship can take up leadership roles as HR managers in new ventures or startup companies.

Ultimately, the career paths available to MBA graduates with dual specialisations will nurture the skills and knowledge of professionals well-suited for a range of roles and industries.

How MBA dual specialization courses prepare students for leadership roles in a business

MBA dual specialisation courses are specifically designed to equip emerging young professionals with adequate knowledge and skills to take on leadership roles in the business world. Since the courses cover a wide range of subjects, such as human resources, finance, marketing, operations management, etc., it helps the students develop a well-rounded understanding of the business world and its various functions. For example, a student who opts for a dual specialisation in marketing and operations can become a manager for both domains, thereby taking up important leadership positions in a corporate setting.

Now, let us understand how an MBA dual specialisation course can prepare students for leadership roles in a business:

• Focus on leadership and management: The dual specialisation courses emphasise more management and leadership skills, thereby helping the young professionals learn how to motivate and manage teams, delegate tasks, and make tough, informed decisions. This ability will thus equip them to take on important leadership roles in organisations.
• Practical learning: A lot of MBA dual specialisation courses provide ample practical learning opportunities, such as industrial visits, corporate internships, and case studies. By exposing the students to dual practical settings, it helps them implement the classroom knowledge in real-world business scenarios. It also gives them hands-on experience, which is valuable when seeking leadership roles.
• Exposure to diverse business functions: An MBA dual specialisation course exposes the students to multiple business functions, which allows them to understand the mechanisms of different departments and how they work in sync to achieve common business goals. By doing this, they learn to lead teams efficiently and, as a result, can become good team leaders and strategic decision-makers.
• Better networking opportunities: Access to dual industries allows the students to build diverse networks with alumni, peers, mentors, trainers, etc. from not just one sector but from two sectors, thereby expanding their career advancement opportunities.

Skills and knowledge gained through MBA dual specialization courses

An MBA dual specialisation programme is specifically structured to provide the students with in-depth knowledge and skills to advance their careers at twice the speed of any other conventional format of the programme.

We have listed the specific skills and knowledge that one can gain and develop throughout their journey in MBA dual specialisation courses:

• Leadership and Management: You will be able to develop and implement effective business strategies, such as devising an expansion or growth plan for an organisation. Moreover, you will also be able to lead and manage large teams and make critical decisions for the organisation, such as resource allocation or investment opportunities.
• Finance and Accounting: You will learn to analyse the financial statements required to identify areas for improvement for the organisation. The curriculum will also develop your abilities to create the financial forecasts needed to guide budgeting and resource allocation decisions. The course will also aid you in making uniform financial decisions that are in sync with the organisation’s goals and objectives.
• Marketing and Sales: An MBA dual specialisation course will help you develop knowledge and skills to understand consumer behaviour, conduct market research to identify target customer segments and preferences, and develop crucial marketing and sales strategies aimed at increasing the revenue and growth of the organisation.
  Operations and Supply Chain Management: An MBA dual specialisation involving logistics, operations, and supply chain management allows students to grasp the relevant concepts needed to analyse and improvise supply chain performances. The individuals will also learn to design and implement effective processes and strategies to optimise the flow of goods and services from suppliers to consumers.
• Human Resource Management: Any MBA dual specialisation course consisting of the involvement of human resources will help individuals recruit and retain talented employees, develop efficient HR policies and strategies, introduce effective employee welfare plans, resolve conflict, and improve the overall employee productivity of an organisation.
• Business Analytics: MBA dual specialisation programmes can provide a strong foundation for developing business analytics skills, such as technical skills in quantitative methods and data analysis and significant strategic thinking skills for making sound business decisions.

Advantages of obtaining MBA dual specialization from specific business schools

JAIN (Deemed-to-Be-University) CMS business school has been nurturing the future leaders of the corporate world with its well-crafted MBA programmes that are accredited by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) and the University Grants Commission (UGC). We believe that the key to becoming the refined leader of tomorrow lies in developing important skills and knowledge through an updated curriculum that allows the students to explore their strengths and utilise them to reach their end goal and destination.

JAIN CMS business school’s dual specialisation MBA programmes come with their own unique share of advantages, as listed below:

• Exposure to unique and specialised knowledge: Our business school is known for its structured and balanced curriculum that imparts world-class knowledge and skills to the pursuers of the degree who are keen to gain in-depth knowledge in two different areas of business.
• Beat the crowd: When everyone is focusing on developing their business acumen in just one sector, you can get a competitive edge over others by opting for a programme that offers a dual scope of learning.
• Diverse networking Opportunities: We are home to a strong alumni network who have proven that the sky is definitely the limit for themselves! Therefore, getting an MBA dual specialisation from JAIN’s CMS b-school will help you get connected with these alumni and tap the best of the opportunities in the future.
• Brand Recognition: Top business schools have a strong reputation in the business world, and JAIN’s CMS B-school is no exception, as it has consistently been ranked on different forums and platforms as a leading business school in India, South India, and Karnataka. Therefore, earning an MBA with dual specialisation from a reputable institution like JAIN’s can increase a student's marketability to potential employers.

Career counselling and guidance for MBA dual specialization students

We understand that the MBA itself can be a very arduous journey for any professional, and on top of that, a dual specialisation can make it a lot more demanding for young students. Therefore, here are some tips in the form of career counselling and guidance for MBA dual specialisation students that will help them make informed decisions about their career paths and prepare them for the job market.

• Maintain synchrony between your specialisations and your career path: You must choose a career path that helps you align with your dual specialisation course. For instance, if you are opting for a dual specialisation in finance and operations, you must consider developing your knowledge and skillset in accordance with that so that you can take up roles such as operations head or financial analyst. As both of these roles require expertise, it will help you enhance your job prospects.
• Build strong network connections: We all know how networking is a crucial component for career success. Therefore, you must attend industry events, join professional groups, and connect with alumni to expand your network. For example, if you are interested in expanding your career prospects in human resources, you can join conferences, learning sessions, or related work groups across different platforms, such as LinkedIn.
• Focus on developing
•  soft skills: Employers give a lot of importance to professionals who possess soft skills such as leadership, communication, and teamwork abilities. Focus on developing these skills through group projects, internships, and volunteer work. For instance, if you are interested in pursuing a marketing role, you must focus on developing your communication skills by participating in public speaking events, speaking extempore, or writing articles on marketing topics.
• Gain Practical Experience: Since a lot of employers are in search of professionals who have practical experience, you must apply for internships, co-op programmes, volunteering, or part-time jobs in your desired field to gain practical experience. For example, if you are interested in taking up roles in the business consulting field, you can start working as an intern or in temporary roles for consulting companies to get that desirable hands-on experience!
• Go for Additional Certifications: One may undermine this concept, but having additional certifications can actually expand your job prospects and demonstrate your expertise in a particular area. For instance, if you are opting for your MBA dual specialisation in marketing and data analytics, having a certificate in Google Analytics or Hootsuite can demonstrate your proficiency in these tools, thereby giving you an extra edge over others.

MBA dual specialization courses in emerging and niche industries

As the market is constantly evolving, we too are witnessing a gradual increase in MBA dual specialisation courses in niche and emerging industries. These courses offer students the opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills, and expertise in growing industries such as business analytics, digital marketing, aviation management, data analytics, entrepreneurship, etc. The advantage of pursuing an MBA dual specialisation in a niche or emerging industry is that it helps the students stand out in the job market and grab the best and most promising career opportunities in relevant fields. We have listed some of the dual specialisation courses that are gaining momentum in emerging and niche industries.

• Finance and Business Analytics
• Human Resource Management and Business Analytics
• Marketing and Business Analytics
• Digital Marketing and E-Commerce
• Marketing and Entrepreneurship & New Venture Creation
• Finance and Entrepreneurship & New Venture Creation
• HRM and Entrepreneurship & New Venture Creation
• Aviation Management and Logistic & Supply Chain Management
• Aviation Management and Marketing
• Aviation Management and Human Resource Management

Way Forward!

The trend of dual specialization was not so common until a few years ago, but the need for versatility and core domain knowledge brought it into existence or rather made it popular among the masses. Such a program offers a combination of two courses that complement each other appropriately and transforms the students into proficient working professionals who are familiar with more than one domain. So, if you are ambitious about making a mark in the world of business, then you must consider a dual specialization.

Secure an MBA degree from CMS Business School, JAIN (Deemed-to-be University)

CMS Business School, JAIN (Deemed-to-be University) offers the best dual specialization MBA programs that are designed to provide academic excellence and holistic growth to students to make them industry-ready. The program aims to provide an understanding of rapidly changing market trends by offering the required skills and knowledge to its students.