A student asked: ‘I have completed MBA (Finance) and like to pursue CA. Is it good choice or better to go for a job with MBA? Please guide me.’

Answer: I would suggest you go for a job now. It is very common to see Chartered Accountants (CAs) going for an MBA. Such CA + MBAs have been well accepted by industry in view of the unique skills that this combination creates in the students. However if you are already an MBA, since the time frame completing the CA is uncertain it will delay your entry into the job market. Thereafter you may have to look for a job as a CA since most MBA jobs are acquired on the campus.

Considering all these issues, you may take up a job, work for a few years and then go for a CA. That would fetch you in upgrading skills and growth in your existing career. It is also a wise step to take up a job after a long haul of education. Also think of your parents / family priorities, cost of further education and job market fluctuations.

Moreover, CA may not fetch or add much to you as you are specialised in MBA (Finance). Many of the opportunities that are available for Chartered Accountants in corporate companies may also suitable for MBA Finance candidates.

Job opportunities for MBA candidates in various functions such as marketing, finance, HR etc depend on the economic conditions and these change year to year. Specialization should be based on many other factors and not just job opportunities. Some of these are:

1. The personal qualities, knowledge and skills you want to use in your work.
2. The purpose to which you want to apply yourself.
3. Your personal value system and beliefs.
4. The type of work environment and organizational structure you want.
5. The salary you hope to receive.
6. Your desired relationship between your work life and your personal life.

For example marketing jobs require a lot of travel and involve irregular timings. You should be clear whether you are comfortable in such a situations. If however you like desk based analysis or research jobs you may prefer finance or HR.

Before thinking about any good job, you need to complete the course with good subject knowledge and skill set. The skills needed to complete an MBA program successfully are not different from those needed to perform in any managerial job. To compete and win you need many skills. The first step is to decide which skills you already have and classify them as your strong and weak ones. You should strive to strengthen your strong skills and work towards improving the weak areas. At various stages of your study and working life different skills will be required and you will be required to use them for success in the classroom or job. Some of these skills are listed below:

1. Ability to Communicate
2. Flexibility
3. Intelligence
4. Interpersonal Skills
5. Self-confidence
6. Self-knowledge
7. Willingness to Accept Responsibility
8. Ability to Handle Conflict
9. Initiative
10. Competitiveness
11. Leadership
12. Goal Achievement
13. High Energy
14. Analytical Skills
15. Imagination
16. Direction / Focus