Is an MBA Essential for HR Success, or Are Diverse Backgrounds Just as Valuable?

Hi all,

Can anyone suggest whether an MBA qualification is of utmost importance to become an HR professional? If so, in what way does the degree help?

Nowadays, there is a perception in many large IT organizations that only candidates from very reputable institutions like IIM, Symbiosis, and those who have completed their MBAs through regular programs are more valuable and knowledgeable than candidates who have not undergone any specialized courses in Human Resources or those who have completed their MBA through correspondence. Is this a real fact?

I have attended two to three conferences and found that many senior HR executives and managers are not necessarily from an HR specialized background but are performing really well. Even in a reputable organization, I found that the senior HR manager is not from an HR background but from an operations background with an engineering degree.

Then, how valuable is an MBA in HR now? What is the exact difference between these types of candidates? Can anyone share their thoughts on this, which will be really helpful in recruiting the right talent for the HR department?

Thanks in Advance,

Rathi.

Hi,

It is a general belief that a qualified person is supposed to be more knowledgeable in the subject than an unqualified person. Accordingly, from the stage of advertisement to appointment, qualified persons like an MBA have an edge over the non-MBA persons.

Once you are on the job, your skills and effectiveness are observed, and you get your placement in due course of time. It is for this reason that many persons who are working in the organization but have no formal qualifications move into other positions because of their aptitude, skill, or efficiency. This stage comes after you have worked in a company for some years, and your work has been seen by persons who are decision-makers.

To understand it in simple words, an MBA in HR for a newcomer is like a passport to travel, and knowledge of work, skill, and competence is like a visa for acceptability in a profession.

Cyril