MBA stereotypes: What specialisation is right for you?
âI think MBA in HR is good for girls only. At least, thatâs what my dad says!â says a young IT professional, who plans to pursue MBA but is unsure about what specialisation to choose.
All I could do is stare at the fellow. âHow can someone be so sexist,â I thought.
But hey, thatâs stereotypes. And stereotyping is the favourite pastime for generations of Indians. âYou love to talk. Go for Marketingâ or âYou are too quiet. Finance is perfect for youâ â these some of the typical statements we come across a thousand times while trying to choose our MBA specialisations.
So this time, we at Shiksha.com, decided to take shot at such stereotypes and list down some of the traditional characterisations associated with MBA specialisations.
Do you fit the bill?
| What people say about you |
What you think of yourself |
| Youâre quite talkative |
People love to hear me talk |
| Can talk nonstop on any topic |
Smooth talker |
| He loves travelling |
Adventurous |
| You create a lasting impression on people |
Love to influence people (read brainwashing) |
Stereotype 1: If any friend, family member or distant cousin has used any of the above phrases for you, Sales & Marketing is the perfect specialisation for you. Donât ask why. Itâs what the world is saying!
| What people say about you |
What you think of yourself |
| He doesnât talk much |
Serious personality |
| Eye for detail (He just found out a chilli pepper in a bag full of beans. How clever!) |
Natural aptitude for maths and numbers |
| Likes to read |
Love analysis |
| Money-minded |
Keeping track of accounts |
Stereotype 2: MBA in Finance is the way for you. A nice desk, laptop, spreadsheets, paperwork with accounts and numbers â the lifestyle will suit you perfectly.
| What people say about you |
What you think of yourself |
| Why are your prying/eavesdropping |
Inquisitive nature |
| Suffers from OCD (Obsessive Cleanliness Disorder) |
Like things organised |
| Can think on his feet / reasonable person |
Logical aptitude |
Stereotype 3: Organisational skills are a perfect fit for MBA in Operations. If you can line up the dishes on the dishwasher with precision, your relatives and partner will encourage you to take up operations.
| What people say about you |
What you think of yourself |
| Youâre too shy |
Donât believe in unnecessary banter |
| Always comes back home on time; spends time with family and kid (How nice!) |
Believe in maintaining work-family balance |
| Isnât so laidback |
Like to analyse a situation before taking action |
| Youâre a girl |
I am a girl |
Stereotype 4: All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy. All play and no work, makes Jack an HR manager. Want to maximise fun and reap company profits? Become an HR professional.
| What people say about you |
What you think of yourself |
| Why do you watch advertisements so much |
Creative ads are fun |
| Man, he/sheâs a computer geek |
âNerdâ is the new cool |
| Spends the longest time on Facebook |
Researching on the web |
Stereotype 5: Internet surfing can be actual work! No kidding. You get paid to surf the web. Just pursue online marketing and communication management. Parfait for you. (Donât know what Parfait means? Just Google it.)
| What people say about you |
What you think of yourself |
| He pursued BTech/BE |
Did BTech/BE |
| Working in a software firm |
Working in a software firm |
| He loves to tinkle with hardware and software |
Like programming but want to do other things in life |
Stereotype 6: Have a degree in IT engineering? Clueless about future. Donât worry! Enrol in MBA in IT/ITES â Direct transfer from engineer to manager. What more? You even get to boss the engineers.
Claimers & disclaimers: Okay, time to be serious. Yes, characterisations exist but there are exceptions too. The above descriptions are what some of us tend to say, but not always believe. Marketing managers can be shy and finance personnel can be fun.
And ladies, donât believe all the nonsense! Go conquer the world.
Have you read MBA stereotypes: How to match B-School grads and their colleges or 6 ways to spot a budding entrepreneur in an MBA class? Go, read it now.
