Technology and digitisation are redefining traditional job roles in MBA. The future will be automated but at the same time it will create new job roles, says Dr Pratima Sheorey

MBA is one of the most popular postgraduate programmes among students because it offers a broad range of rewarding career opportunities. The choice of career usually depends on your professional interest and type of specialisation you have taken up during MBA. Technology and digitisation are also redefining the traditional job roles in MBA.  The future jobs will be automated and machine-powered but at the same time create new job roles such as digital evangelist, experience and engagement managers and many others.

While the salary package and growth prospects differ from one industry to another, the following jobs are known to offer an excellent pay scale after MBA:

• Marketing Manager

Marketing managers are expected to formulate and execute a marketing strategy to promote a company’s products and services. They monitor and analyse market trends, identify target markets, understand customers’ expectations, study competitors’ marketing tactics and develop sales/marketing campaigns. You can also choose niche marketing management careers such as consumer behaviour, digital marketing, rural marketing, retail marketing, brand management or media planning, all of which pay very well.

• Financial Manager

Every organisation needs a dedicated financial manager to handle its financial activities, decisions and portfolio. Financial managers keep track of financial transactions, manage assets and investments, prepare financial reports, forecast budgets, maintain relationships with financial institutions, assist in mergers and acquisitions and ensure that the finance department meets regulatory compliances. You can earn even more handsomely by opting for more specialised roles such as risk managers, insurance managers, treasurers, investment banker, project finance managers, etc. in the financial management field.

Fintech is another booming sector in the financial management industry. Technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain are disrupting financial services for better and adding a new dimension to financial jobs. Some of the career opportunities created by fintech are blockchain developer, data specialist, financial analyst and quantitative analyst among many others.

• Business Analyst

Business analysts bridge the gap between an organisation’s business objectives and information technology capabilities. They gather customer requirements and identify both functional and technical requirements of a company/project/program to outline problems, opportunities and solutions. They also interact with various other departments of the organisation to develop efficient business process models and workflow analysis. Basically, business analysts are a vital communication link between customers, organisation and all other stakeholders for running operations smoothly.

• Human Resources Manager

Human resource managers have the accountability to manage employees of the company and look after their welfare. This job comprises several duties such as recruitment, onboarding, training, payroll, labour relations, employee policies, performance appraisals and employee exits. You can choose to become a human resource generalist or specialist. As a generalist, you are responsible for end-to-end human resource functions. As a specialist, you can focus on pursuing a specific area such as employee training and development, human resource information systems (HRIS), human resource analytics, compensation and benefits, change management, labour compliance manager and others. Both generalists and specialists get competitive salary packages.

• Operations Manager

Operations managers play a vital role in e-commerce, telecommunication, logistics, financial services, construction and manufacturing companies. They oversee end-to-end processes right from the procurement of raw materials from suppliers to last-mile delivery to customers and even reverse logistics. They ensure that all processes work in an integrated manner to optimise resource allocation, improve efficiency and increase profitability.

• Management Consultant

Management consultants can work independently or get hired by top management consulting firms. They provide a broad spectrum of services ranging from finance and marketing to human resources and legal advisory. They work closely with top management to solve a specific problem by analysing the root cause, finding long-term sustainable solutions and improving the overall performance of the company. The consultancy usually lasts from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the complexity of the issue.

The above-listed job roles can put you on a fast-track career path and earn you even more money as you gain more experience.

The writer is Director, Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development, Pune