Hi,

Thanks for writing to Career guide.

MBA Marketing is a conventional course and is best suited if you are interested in pursuing a degree in marketing and are looking for jobs in Marketing sector. With this specialisation, you can almost get any job in Marketing based in India. However as you gain some international experience through job assignments in your career, you may be offered any international marketing roles as well.

MBA International Business is in recent trends and is ideally suited for someone looking for setting up their business at international level. Ideally, if you are willing to be an entrepreneur and are interested in setting up your business in India and outside Indian territory, this subject will be of a great help in understanding the diversity in international market. In addition to that, if you are aspiring for a consulting role or are interested in international job opportunities this should be an ideal option for you.

But beyond this, you should also understand that employers really don't give weightage to your specialisation, whether it is international business or general business management. Even students pursuing general business management are offered international business assignments. So this is only for those set of students who are truly interested in understanding the international markets and their functions. So, in what I have seen, though International business may equip you with knowledge of business at international level it is still fine to carry with a regular general MBA or an MBA with an elective of your choice. So, the choice is yours. Good luck.

Dear Aspirant,

Thanks for putting up your career query at www.careerguide.com!

Choosing a specialization in MBA should be based on your skills and your interest.

My colleague has very well explained the difference between marketing and IB. Both specializations have its merits abd dmerits.

After having Marketing as specialization, there is vast opportunities to work in marketing domain as marketing is core part of any business. Core skills required for marketing professionals:
Market research
Market analysis and set marketing targets
Develop marketing plan/operational plan
Designing marketing strategies inline with company's policies, and mission
Manage team and execution of the plan
Networking and linkages with stakeholders
Relationship with customer/ customer care
Sales management
Product distribution chain
Order management
Communication skills
Ability to work under pressure and achieve targets

IB has limited career opportunities compared to marketing. With IB specialization you will get opportunities in MNC, Indian companies seeking business in other countries, import/export companies.
Core skills required for IB professional:

Understand business trade and its laws in respective countries
Understand business/ company policies
Ability to deal with Govt representatives
Negotiation skills and very good presentation skills
Communication skills
Develop business plan and skills to set up and operate business
Manage people from different countries
Understanding of supply chain management
Problem-solving and critical thinking abilities
Cultural sensitivity - When conducting business internationally, you must be able to understand cultural norms and practices of people where your company works. You should speak more than one language and should be well versed with other compititors.

I request you to match your skills and interest with the skills required for the specific specialization and then choose the most appropriate specialization for your career.

Hope this information is useful. Feel free to write back if you have queries.

Best Wishes for your career,
Apurva kumar Pandya, PhD

Dear Aspirant,

Choosing between Marketing and International Business should be based on what would you like to do your whole career.

Marketing requires lot of travelling while International Business is about procedures, laws, processes as well little bit of travelling.

Marketing people warn more than IB people. Marketing is never is dependent on laws, but IB is dependent on laws of countries.

There is no defined best career in the world, because career is for you, you are not for career.

I would suggest:

1. Talk to your faculties for more advice
2. Speak to industry experts of Marketing and IB
3. Read more about these fields on internet.

Best wishes