Is an MBA in Finance After B Tech a Mistake for Teaching Careers? Seeking Advice on Next Steps

Hello, I am observing something very weird in the job market in the field of Academics. A very talented and intelligent friend of mine is looking for a job in the field of academics. He has an MBA and a B Tech degree. Normally, many counselors suggest taking up finance after engineering. However, the entire scenario seems to be different when it comes to academics. Wherever he goes for the interview, he is asked questions at the B.Com level. Now, what I mean to say is that if he is very clear with Financial Management, why are people concentrating on the part that he is not aware of rather than what he is an expert at?

Is pursuing an MBA in finance after B Tech a wrong decision?

How should he proceed? He is passionate about the teaching field. Please suggest.

Choosing the Right Path in Academia

It all depends on where he is trying to teach. If academia is his passion, then why did he not pursue a Master's in Education and then go on to teach engineering? If he likes to teach management subjects, then he should aim to teach in an institution catering to MBA students. However, if he has to teach B.Com students, then institutions would be asking questions relevant to that course. As the saying goes, "It's horses for courses."

Have a lovely day.

Regards,
Simhan
A retired academic in the UK.

Thank you so very much for replying, Sir. He is applying to MBA colleges. However, he is being asked basic audit questions. Why? Kindly suggest how to proceed.

Sorry, Monica, I do not know the situation in India. Does he have any work experience? If he has no work experience, then I suggest that he work in any industry for a couple of years and then reflect on how his MBA knowledge can be utilized before going to teach. There is nothing worse than being taught by an inexperienced management tutor.

Have a lovely day.

Regards,
Simhan

He has one and a half years of experience in the field of operations (engineering), and then he did his MBA. Should he first opt for industry experience in finance and then go for teaching?

He should try teaching Operations Management. That's what I taught. Then, when an opportunity arises within the institution, indicate that he is well-versed in finance too and then try.

He must have studied Operations Management in his core subjects. Then, he should try to gain some experience in Finance or Marketing before starting to teach. Mere book knowledge is not sufficient to teach effectively.

Thank you, sir, for your wise advice. One more question I would like to ask. There are vacancies in the finance department in KPOs. Will it be good enough to start with KPOs and then enter academics? This year he will be applying for the NET exam to pursue a Ph.D. too. I seriously don't want his talent to be wasted—an extremely intelligent and ambitious person looking for a good platform to start with.

Ok Sir, not a problem. I appreciate your time and help. I will ask him to gain good experience in the industry and then transition into the field of academics. I believe that once he is enrolled in a Ph.D. program, he will have ample opportunities in teaching. Thank you once again. If you have any other ideas on how to proceed, please reply.

Hi Monica, I hope I am not late in replying. Your friend needs to do a self-assessment to determine his true interests. Was his decision to pursue an MBA in Finance due to his lack of interest in Operations? If so, why did he initially choose Finance? Was it because he perceived abundant opportunities in Finance post-MBA, or did he aspire to delve deeper into the subject, conduct research, and eventually teach Finance? I do not oppose individuals pursuing an MBA after B Tech, as I have done the same and have no regrets. I commend your friend for expressing a desire to teach, as there is a need for bright individuals to educate in B Schools in India, despite a lack of interest.

To address your questions:

1. It is not negative to pursue an MBA after B Tech; it is an individual's decision.

2. It is advisable to gain industry experience before transitioning to teaching in a B School, particularly teaching MBAs.

3. Finance expertise is valuable across industries and can enhance a person's skills if they intend to share their knowledge and experiences as a Finance professional. Whether in KPOs, Manufacturing, or IT, the fundamental finance functions remain consistent.

4. Obtaining a PhD from a reputable institution before pursuing a teaching career demonstrates a serious commitment to academia.

Best regards,

Sree

Thank you so much for your guidance. He is in finance because he really loves this subject and wants to gain in-depth knowledge in the same. I guess gaining industry experience, doing a Ph.D. simultaneously, and then going into teaching would be a wise thing to do. I hope you agree with me. Is there any other way that we can guide him? Once again, thank you so much.

Hi Monica, that's right. Getting exposure in the industry always helps in teaching. From my personal experience, I have seen that teachers with at least a short stint of industrial experience share better knowledge with students than those who directly enter academics. An optimum period of experience would be 3-5 years; meanwhile, he can pursue a PhD part-time. However, it is better to do a full-time PhD if the subject is of great interest. It would also be helpful in clearing UGC NET, as the subject is covered deeply in the NET curriculum. Pursuing a PhD overseas is also a good option; as a general trend, I see more weightage attached to a degree from overseas, with exceptions being IIM and XLRI.

All the best.

Regards, Sree

Doing an MBA after BTech is not completely the right decision. It has some advantages and disadvantages. It's like two sides of a coin; the advantage is a BTech with an MBA candidate will have multiple talents. Such candidates are highly required in the IT field where they can utilize their managerial and IT skills.

As far as academics are concerned, the disadvantage lies in the interviews where questions are asked from the root level to assess the candidate's effectiveness. This is a common practice in every college. My suggestion is to advise your friend to transition from an academic field to a managerial job, specifically in IT if they are interested in pursuing a job in teaching. Alternatively, if teaching is the sole interest, they could consider teaching BTech subjects to BTech students.

I hope this helps!

Thank you for your guidance. He has started looking for a decent enough job in a KPO and other industries too. Crossing my fingers that he does well.

Dear Monica,

Knowledge or additional qualifications in any field are never a blunder. Knowledge and additional qualifications of any kind enhance a person's wisdom and become valuable tools for them one day. At every stage of employment, there comes a time when the need for enhancing knowledge in different fields of activity is felt. In most cases, technocrats show failure when it comes to managing the affairs of their team effectively and giving justice to their profile.

Therefore, pursuing an MBA after a B.Tech degree definitely provides the right blend of technology and management.

The advice given by counselors is based on understanding one's mind. Your friend must have shown some signs of disappointment to their counselors, indicating what interviewers were looking for. That is why the counselors suggested taking up finance after engineering. However, this advice cannot be considered psychological.

Your friend should remember, "where there is a will, there is a way." They also need to understand that job satisfaction and success in a career lie in following their passion. Therefore, they should determine what they truly aspire to be in their career and focus on that field. Any additional qualification, such as a Ph.D., would further enhance their expertise.

Hence, your friend should not be discouraged. If interviewers ask questions at a B.Com level, it reflects their own limitations and lack of understanding of technical or academic job requirements. Your friend can consider them as a "square peg in a round hole." Additionally, it is unrealistic to expect HR or finance professionals to be familiar with engineering terminology. Moreover, working in an office environment is vastly different from working in academia, each requiring distinct skills and attributes.

Therefore, advise your friend not to be disheartened, to be patient, not to get distracted by others, and to continue searching for the right job that aligns with their mental satisfaction. Success will come their way soon.

Best regards,

PS Dhingra
Vigilance & Transformation Management Consultant
Dhingra Group of Management & Educational Consultants
New Delhi

In my view, no knowledge is bad knowledge. Doing an MBA after B.Tech is a good combination and is useful provided there is clarity about the application of the knowledge gained in the two courses. Of course, simply acquiring a degree for the sake of a degree is not right, which now happens to be a practice with most youngsters.

Regards,
Prof. M.L. Bhargava

Qualifications for a Successful Teaching Career

To be successful as a teacher, a person should have solid subject content knowledge, be well-versed in the latest trends and practices, possess communication and presentation skills, as well as experience and recognized qualifications. Has he completed an MBA from AICTE-approved colleges or universities, or an Autonomous program?

Kindly verify all that I have stated. He needs to choose his own field of specialization, but the subject chosen must be within the academic framework.

Best of luck to him, and regards to you.

Regards,
D. M. Marathe

@Mr. Bhargava,

Sir, it's not about getting a degree for the sake of obtaining one. Had it been a scenario like earning or securing a job, we would have never shown this level of concern. However, in this case, it's about someone's interest and passion. As you are a professor well aware of the Indian scenario, kindly present your opinion.

Hi, as suggested by our seniors, I would also recommend the same approach. First, ask your friend to gain some practical exposure before focusing on academics. Personally, I had 3 years of HR experience before entering this field.

Practical exposure is extremely beneficial for teaching, making the learning experience more realistic and useful for students. After gaining a few years of practical experience, your friend can consider starting as a lecturer, and then nothing can hinder their progress.

Best Wishes,

Hi,

We need to come out from this mindset. Pursuing an MBA straight after graduation is not at all a good idea.

Monica,

As Head of Training at Reliance Retail, I had 160+ trainers in the team. Quite a few of them were BTechs, and some were BTech + MBA! Initially, I too was intrigued as to why they had shifted to training. After interacting with them, I realized that they were actually passionate about training/teaching and saw it as their calling. The engineering background coupled with an MBA made them excellent faculty—logical, process-oriented, etc. In fact, some of them were pursuing ASTD/ISTD certifications to grow further in this field. So, it may not be unusual that your friend is inclined to teach Finance.

And now, something closer to home—I am sharing something personal—my son, who has just completed Mechanical Engineering, has decided that he does not want to be in the field of engineering and actually wants to do his MBA and probably teach management! So, in a sense, your friend's dilemma resonates with me.

As one of the members has suggested, your friend should pick up some work experience in finance, and I'm sure, sooner than later, he will get an opportunity to teach.

All the best,

Regards,
Sumant Khare

Nvision Learning and Development

http://www.nvisionlnd.com

Hi Mr. Khare,

I am truly grateful, sir, that you have understood the passion for pursuing a career in academics. I am confident that wherever and whenever he finds his platform, he will excel. Thank you once again, sir. Your suggestion is appreciated and will be implemented.

I agree with most of the advice given by fellow CiteHR members. I feel there is a very pressing need for faculties with industry experience for MBA students. The more industry experience, the better it would be. Unfortunately, very few managers turn to faculty for MBAs. The reason being they are reluctant to this kind of change, earnings are less compared to industry, and academia is also not very keen on accepting people from the industry.

Regarding Interview Questions

In any job interview, one has to face all kinds of questions, and they may be relevant or irrelevant. A wrong answer or no answer to a particular question will not necessarily decide the outcome of the interview. From my experience, many highly educated candidates lack knowledge of the basics of their subject. For example, an MBA may know how to analyze and interpret the final accounts of a company but may stumble on a question about how to arrive at final accounts involving JEs, JVs, Ledgers, Ledger Balances, Trial Balances, and Finalization. As a master in a particular subject, interviewers will expect you to know the basics well.

Thanks & Regards

Hello, I am observing something very weird in the job market in the field of Academics. A very talented and intelligent friend of mine is looking for a job in the field of academics. He is an MBA-BTech. Normally, many counselors suggest taking up finance after engineering. But the entire scenario seems to be different when it comes to academics. Wherever he goes for the interview, he is asked B.Com level questions. Now, what I mean to say is that if he is very clear with financial management, why are people concentrating on the part that he is not aware of rather than what he is an expert at?

Is pursuing an MBA in finance after BTech a wrong decision? How should he proceed? He is passionate about the teaching field. Please suggest.

Very true. This is why it is always better to get some industry knowledge before going to academics.

If he has a passion for teaching and clarity on subjects, he can prove to be very useful in teaching Industrial Economics and Management, which is a very important topic for all branches of engineering. Knowledge of this subject and its proper assimilation is crucial for all engineering students.

If he is keen on entering the teaching field for MBA institutions, then here is my advice for him:

1. Gain industry experience of at least 3 years in the finance field.
2. While working, pursue the CFA-US certification.
3. Obtain all NCFM certificates and other finance-related certifications.

This background will not only help him gain admission to reputable MBA institutes but also enhance his confidence level.

Regards,
Ashwini
HR Consultant

The Dilemma of Pursuing an MBA After Engineering

Now, this is interesting... Why did your friend take an MBA after Engineering? If he was that interested in pursuing an MBA, he could have obtained a degree in B.Com, BBA, or BBM, and at least allowed other students to study Engineering. This is what is happening in our country – Engineering students transitioning to MBA. Don't you guys understand that these are two separate fields?

It is essential for everyone to recognize that the world is moving towards a stage of high specialization. I urge all readers of this note to focus on their core field rather than switching career paths after graduation.

Now, let's consider the case study here, as it greatly reflects the old Hindi proverb "Na Iss Paar, Na Uss Paar"...

Does anyone agree?

I am sorry to state that your view is not right, though I agree that a student is deprived of an engineering seat. There is nothing wrong with an engineer doing a management course. I did a Master's in Management after working as an Engineer for 20 years and then took up teaching. You will find that most (if not all) teachers teaching Operations Management (a vital field for any organization), and also authors of books on that subject, have an engineering background. However, if one wanted to teach Finance, and that's his/her passion, then doing an engineering degree is a waste of time and a loss of a place for a willing engineer.

Have a lovely day.

Regards,
Simhan

Agreed, Simhan. I definitely agree with, "However, if one wanted to teach Finance and that's his/her passion, then doing an engineering degree is a waste of time and a loss of a place for a willing engineer."

Mustafa

Success in academics depends on interest, different styles of teaching, and relating academics with industrial applications. The person must demonstrate this by using computer software applications. Today, the demand is for e-learning. They should have qualifications (MBA from an AICTE-approved university) and related experience.

Best of luck.

@Mr. Bhargava and Ashwini, thank you for your valuable suggestions. I will surely ask him to do the same. @Mr. Simhan, thank you, sir, for supporting the right and positive thought. I know my friend will do well in life, and now, after your response, faith in his potential seems to have become stronger.

Regards

Combining B.Tech with an MBA in Finance: A Mismatch?

A combination of B.Tech with an MBA in Finance is not a good match at all. If your friend is interested, let him teach marketing subjects or anything related to operations management in any of the mediocre management colleges to begin with. Teaching is an art; you can be a good teacher only when you have the passion in you. I am the placement manager in one of the international B schools, and I have come across cases like these.

I suggest that counselors need to clearly understand that if any engineering graduate wants to pursue an MBA in Finance, it should not be suggested. The best options would be marketing, HR, or IT based on their engineering specialization. Teaching finance is an absolute no-no. Also, getting into finance in a KPO will not help because you need to have the basic concepts of accounting, which are not taught in your MBA program. I would definitely suggest that he can get into marketing if he is a go-getter and aggressive.

I hope this is convincing, and do revert for any clarifications.

Regards,
Geetha

Thank you for your reply. Many of our good faculty are from the same background, and trust me, they are doing well. It is they who have encouraged him. I am not trying to retaliate with you; rather, I am putting down my opinion. Although he does not belong to a commerce background, he has a good knowledge of the financial market. He is also planning to pursue his Ph.D. However, I will try to explain your point to him as well.

Thanks once again.

Hi Monica, I believe all of us here have the right to present our views and comments as this is an open forum. But it seems as if the comment I posted has been taken personally on your side. Let us all be professionals and respect the very fact for which such forums exist. I do apologize if I have hurt your sentiments in any way, but I will still stand by what I have commented earlier as it is my view, and I believe that I deserve the total right to express my views as a free man in a free world. I do hope that anyone else reading this comment would understand the point I am trying to emphasize here.

As regards your friend, I do not have anything personal against him and would encourage him in any way possible. I understand the confused state he might be in as I have been through such a state when I moved from Pure Sciences to a Pure Commerce Stream.

Also, if you look at the posted comments as given above, you will see that a lot of the forum members have mentioned that it might not have been a good choice. I do not comment on them, but then, if your friend is interested in Academics, he can still go for a Master's in Engg, with OPS Management as a core subject or else, like one of the members has commented, he can opt for any core subject such as OPS Research or SCM that he might have had a liking towards.

Finance-related subjects are fun to teach and learn, but again, a basic understanding of how and what the difference in the way Finance works in an Organizational Environment and the way we learn at Schools, Colleges, or other places needs to be understood, especially if your friend is interested in teaching at any B-School.

Regards, Mustafa Corporate Trainer - Human Efficiencies and Development.

Good morning,

I am glad that my friend got placed in a very good company as a business research analyst. I hope experience in this field would be beneficial for his dream of going into the academic field.

Congratulations! I feel your friend has got a great break. Advise him to not only concentrate on research and analysis but also on business process and operations. All the best.