Exploring Career Paths in HR: What Opportunities Await After an MBA in Strategic Management?

I'm currently reviewing my career and would like to consider available options.

My first degree was a BSc in Industrial Economics. I've been working in HR since I graduated 10 years ago. I'm currently working for a Fortune 500 company with international operations in more than 30 countries and over 20,000 employees.

I've covered various areas of HR such as HR planning, recruitment, development, remuneration, industrial relations, and HRIS. I have worked for subsidiaries of different sizes and industries. My current assignment is with the Corporate office in the area of HRD. I have also been assessed as an HR Professional by an international consultant and am qualified to be at the Staff level, specializing in job design/analysis.

I intend to pursue my postgrad in MBA, specializing in Strategic Management soon.

I would like to know if anyone has any ideas on my career options, especially after my MBA.

Thanks.

Career Change

Based on your brief:

- BSc in Industrial Economics
- 10 years in HR, with a wide range of experience
- Certified in Job Design/Analysis

Based on your technical qualifications and experience, your skills/knowledge/abilities could be outlined as:

- Reading of the business/economic situation
- Recruitment/selection
- Employee development
- Reward systems
- Employee relations
- Health/safety management
- Compensation management
- Personnel administration
- Etc.

Your plan for completing a 2-year degree in strategic management would add value in terms of additional skills/knowledge/capabilities in:

- Reading of economic conditions/impact on business
- Reading of political conditions/impact on business
- Reading of technology changes/impact on business
- Reading of social changes/impact on business
- Changes in organization strategies
- Strategic planning and management
- Resources impact on organization strategies
- Strategic HR role in strategic management
- Etc.

If you combine the elements in [1], [2], and [3], it would help you to gain the substantial potential in:

- Strategic thinking capability
- Business/culture awareness
- Strategically locating HR in the organization
- Managing HR in a changing economy/business
- Adding value through people development
- Managing strategic service delivery
- Etc.

Which, when combined with the below-listed solution orientation:

- Problem-solving
- Adaptability
- Flexibility
- Making judgments
- Making decisions
- Critical/analytical thinking
- Oral communication
- Written communication

Personal abilities:

- Endurance
- Initiative
- Self-reliance
- Continuous learning
- Achievement motivation

You can create a strategist role for yourself, contributing to long-term/strategic organizational issues like:

- Vision & HR Strategy Development
- Strategic planning
- Strategic management of resources
- HR Strategy planning
- HR planning
- Manpower planning
- HR auditing
- Human capital management
- Human capital assessment
- Organization alignment
- Organization communication strategy
- Etc.

You still have to complete an MBA in strategic management subject to your aptitude, your passion, available opportunities, etc. You must also develop the skills:

- To plan the solution to the problems
- To implement the planned solutions

In career planning, you have to place your position/role as a strategist who can help the organization meet the changing needs of the business. On completing your MBA, with your background already loaded with sound experience, you should spend time with leading consulting groups like Gartner, Pricewaterhouse, KPMG, etc., and gain strong exposure for at least 3 years before deciding on the next move.

In career planning:

- Keep options as wide as you can manage
- Balance between visual positions and the money you want to earn
- If you are planning for a consultant career, keep a wide base initially to increase your earning opportunity
- Opportunities don't come to you; they pass by, and you need to stretch out/grab your chances.

Hope this is useful to you.

Regards,

Leo Lingham

Thank you, Leo.

Since I've just moved to the Corporate HRD a few months back, I might stay around for maybe 2 more years, until I complete my MBA. I was thinking that my next move could either be to Corporate Strategic Planning or HR Planning for a business sector of choice. Both will provide strategic role experience, except that in the latter, it's more focused on a particular business that is competing globally.

Good day.

I would be graduating with an MBA in HR in 2007. I am looking forward to a career path in international HR, specifically in handling expatriates and similar situations. Could you please help me with this query? Also, are there any additional qualifications needed alongside an MBA degree?

Hi Leo,

I am a 2007 pass out. I did an MBA in HR and am currently working as an HR executive. I am interested in pursuing additional courses. Could you kindly guide me on this matter?

Ritu