Earning your MBA is your pathway to a career in a leadership role, but as the degree becomes increasingly popular, many employers want to recruit candidates with a specialized skill set. You can set yourself apart from your graduating cohort by getting more out of your degree through a double degree option, earning international experience, or specializing your degree. Before you embark on your MBA, research the companies you want to work for and the roles you want to fill. Find out how executives with your dream job got where they are today and what employers expect from graduates.
Double Degree with MFin
If you are planning a career in finance, investment management, equity and fixed income analysis, or as a treasurer, consider completing a double degree MBA/MFin. Finance jobs require greater technical knowledge, but you may limit your opportunities to take on leadership roles without the MBA. You can earn both at the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics in Toronto, where they offer part-time alternate weekends programs that are suitable for busy professionals. There are 12-graduate level courses required by the MFin, including preparation for the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) exams, in addition to the school’s Integrated Core Program (the 8-core business courses) and a research consulting project.
Specialization
In most programs, you can earn a general education in business administration or you can specialize your degree through your electives. Common areas of specialization include:
- Accounting
- Supply Chain Management
- Marketing
- Operations Management
- Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources
- Strategic Management
- Finance
- International Business Management
Specialization is a great way to match your education to your career goals, especially if you are heading into an industry that requires a deeper level of technical knowledge such as finance.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
If you’re drawn to the startup culture, either as someone who wants to launch their own business or work for a growing company, take a specialization in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. MBAs are not just for individuals who want to excel in a career at established firms, they provide an education in business theory that any entrepreneur should possess before they launch their business. Not only can you earn an MBA in Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics, but they offer a number of resources to help you launch your idea, including opportunities to work at startup incubators like Communitech and LaunchPad.
International Experience
Canadian employers are beginning to recognize the value of international experience, especially as more Canadian companies do business across borders. An international study experience will familiarize you with business etiquette in another country and the challenges and opportunities facing its economy. You can also visit Lazaridismba.ca to learn about International Summer School, offered through leading European business schools Essam (Denmark) and Euromed (France).
If you already have work experience in your field and you’re earning a higher degree to enter a leadership role, specialize your MBA, earn an MFin, or take a summer semester to study abroad and learn about business norms in foreign markets. It’s up to you to become a more competitive candidate and the right program will offer you plenty of opportunities to do so.