I am an HR manager with a Bachelor of Business majoring in HR
I am an HR manager with a Bachelor of Business majoring in HR. I want to do some more study to advance my career prospects. Would it be best to do a Master of HR or an MBA? How do I decide which university is best?
This will depend on whether you want to stay in HR-related roles or apply for more general management positions. If you wish to progress in HR roles, it may be best to complete a Master of HR or related course. Check that you are not repeating the same work you covered in your undergraduate degree and expand your thinking by studying at a different institution or by including new subject areas. If you want to leave your options open, you could do an HR major in an MBA and cover all bases.
If you want to rise up through the management ranks, an MBA may be the best bet. Make sure you choose a broad range of subject areas, even if it is a bit challenging! Good subjects include: basic accounting and finance; law; management; marketing; project management plus subjects which build on your knowledge in more familiar areas.
Remember, whatever study you undertake, a potential employer will be looking at you as a ‘package’. You can have a list of qualifications, but without suitable skills and experience you won’t get the job. There is really no ‘best’ university, so it’s a matter of finding the course that best fits your own career and personal needs.
When choosing a course you may wish to consider:
• Personal objectives. What do you hope to gain from your study?
• Impact on family commitments. You will need to have the support of your family, especially if you are working and studying at the same time.
• Flexibility of study options, subject choice and location. There are many study options: full-time, part-time, evening, distance education, online and mixed-mode. Some courses offer a broad subject choice, some have many compulsory subjects, and some have specialist streams.
• Reputation and program quality. Recent graduates’opinions of their overall satisfaction and reception in the marketplace are very useful.
• Cost. Prices range from about $14,000 to $88,000, so you need to look at those which you believe offer value for money.
You then need to gather as much information as you can about the alternatives. This is a big decision in terms of time and money so don’t rush. Do your homework and then enjoy!
By Victoria O’Connor, MBA Connect. Tel: 02 6687 5112 or email [email protected].
