Why pursue an MBA in HR? – Benefits, career growth & opportunities

MBA is one of the best options for graduates and professionals. It prepares students for managerial roles, shapes skills that help deal with work pressure, develop an attitude toward problem-solving and find innovative ways of doing a job. There are different domains in which one can pursue MBA like finance, marketing, human resource management, data science, business analytics, and more. In this blog, we discuss in detail about an MBA in Human Resource Management.

An MBA in Human Resources, as the name implies, deals with the human element of an organization. It includes recruiting, staffing, and managing the workforce. Some popular job titles in this field include HR managers, compensation managers, and consultants. We’ll go over a more detailed list later in the article.

An MBA in Human Resources can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this field. You’ll learn about topics such as employment law, labor relations, and organizational behavior. You’ll also gain experience in areas such as recruiting, training, and development.

If you’re interested in a career in human resources, an MBA can be a great way to get started. With the right skills and experience, you can have a rewarding career in this field.

Here are some of the job profiles that you can pursue after completing an MBA in Human Resources:

• HR Manager
• Compensation Manager
• Training and Development Manager
• Recruiter
• Employee Relations Manager
• Organizational Development Consultant
• Talent Acquisition Manager
• Diversity and Inclusion Manager
• Learning and Development Manager
• Total Rewards Manager

Scope in the Human Resource Management

MBA in human resource  management is about managing companies’ workforce effectively and efficiently. HR professionals work as the bridge between employees and the company. They are responsible for hiring the best candidates for their company, negotiating salaries, providing training and taking care of employees’ welfare. HR professional requirement is in every industry, whether it is an IT-intensive industry or an FMCG. Every company requires HR professionals to manage their workforce.

Many companies are outsourcing their HR functions to specialized HR consultancies. This opens up a new avenue for HR professionals, allowing them to work across different industries and functions.

Importance of HRM in business

HR is the bloodline of any organization. Every organization has unique rules, regulations, policies and procedures for its employees, and the HR professional undertakes the proper implementation of them. Following are the roles and responsibilities an HR professional undertakes in an organization.

Recruiting

HR professionals understand the organization and its required kind of workforce. They are responsible for hiring the right candidates based on the needs of the organization. It is their duty to post job requirements on various job portals and ensure they fill vacant positions in the organization.

Training & development 

One of the critical roles of the HR department is to provide continuous training and conduct seminars for the employee’s education and development. HR professionals play a key role in helping employees develop their careers. Sometimes, they need to take that extra effort to allocate budgets for the benefit of employees’ growth and development.

Payroll management

It is an important work which an HR professional has to carry out on a regular basis. They are responsible for the calculations of salary to be paid, bonus and expenses reimbursement.

Maintaining employee’s database

They must maintain an employee database with all their necessary information.  These records aid businesses in pinpointing skills deficiencies, which can be beneficial during hiring, examining demographic data, and adhering to relevant laws. By meticulously maintaining employee records, HR can gain an accurate understanding of resource distribution and utilization. Additionally, it supports the evaluation of productivity at the individual, departmental, and organizational levels.

Improving work culture

The workplace atmosphere significantly impacts employees’ performance. It is the responsibility of Human Resources to cultivate a feeling of safety and comfort, which can notably enhance productivity among employees. It’s critical to establish a transparent culture that encourages employees to openly discuss their concerns. To uphold a positive organizational culture, HR routinely organizes company events and team outings. Such practices elevate the organization’s overall brand perception and foster a positive spirit within the company.

Designing and updating policies

They design employee welfare and development policies. From time to time, they keep on updating these policies as per the requirement of the organization and the workforce.

Who should pursue an MBA in HR?

An MBA in HR will provide in-depth knowledge regarding human resource management. If you enjoy interacting with people and want to learn about human behavior, this is the best option for you. The person with the following skills and qualities best fits the HR professional role.

Effective communication

Excellent communication skills are a must, as they have to communicate with employees and different stakeholders on a regular basis. They can easily bridge the gap between the organization and its employees with efficient communication.

Decision-making skills

Decision-making plays a vital role in recruitment, necessitating the ability to determine if a candidate aligns well with a given role. Beyond the process of hiring new team members, HR also makes numerous pivotal decisions related to the welfare of current employees, thereby demanding astute decision-making capabilities.

Negotiation skills

HR professionals are frequently involved in salary negotiations, and possessing these skills are essential to achieve a desired result. Good negotiating skills allow HR professionals to execute their job more efficiently.

Emotional intelligence

The capability to deal with emotional and difficult situations. If you are someone that avoids such scenarios, this will not be the best career choice. A person with high emotional intelligence and confidence to deal with critical situations will be benefited by pursuing an MBA in HR.

Why should you pursue an MBA in HR?

The scope of an MBA in HR is enormous, and its curriculum is designed to impart in-depth knowledge and training that will provide an edge in the industry. Let’s look into the reasons why one should pursue an MBA in HR.

Extensive HR curriculum: The human resource curriculum is vast. It covers labor legislation and strategies that an HR professional will require to carry on duties. The comprehensive curriculum provides in-depth knowledge and practical training to help deal with real-life situations. 

Fine-tune managerial skills: The MBA HR programme helps to develop organizational skills needed for managing human resources. It develops skills to work under pressure, deal with problems, and provide innovative solutions.

Learn leadership qualities: HR professionals are the leaders who understand the needs of the employees and create a friendly work environment that boosts productivity and efficiency. The MBA HR programme develops leadership and interpersonal skills that help professionals carry out their tasks effectively.

Grasp on organizational psychology: HR professionals’ work scope is extensive. It includes understanding the organization’s structure and its goals. They understand the psychology of the business and the aim behind the projects and brands and help streamline it with the workforce. 

Job stability: there will always be the need for an HR professional irrespective of the industry. Every industry deals with humans, and for its management, it needs HR professionals.

Career development opportunities: MBA in HR will open a wide range of career options. One can work as an HR executive, HR manager etc. An MBA in HR will add bonus points to the resume. It will help in getting ahead of other applicants for the job opportunities.  

Higher salary: Compared to a non-MBA candidate, an applicant with an MBA in HR will be more likely to get paid higher. Moreover, the HR professionals with the right experience and skills are generally highly paid company employees. After getting sufficient work experience and applying for international HR opportunities, these positions are well paid in the industry. 

HR jobs for MBA candidates

After an MBA in HR, many job avenues will open up for candidates. Following are the major job roles.

Human Resource Manager

The primary role of this position is to lead and direct the working of the organization’s Human Resource department. They oversee whether all HR operations are being executed in the right manner. The average salary of a human resource manager in India is INR 8 LPA.

Human Resource Consultants

They are generally experts in the field and are from outside the organizations. They are hired to provide suggestions and expert advice to the organization’s management. The average salary of a Human Resource Consultant in India is INR 5 LPA.

International HR Associate

They are also known as Global human resource professionals. They are professionals that help people find jobs in different countries and help them relocate abroad. The average salary of an International HR Associate is INR 10 LPA.

Human Resource Generalist

This job profile takes care about day-to-day working of the human resource department. They deal with employees’ issues and try to solve them promptly. It is an entry-level job profile. The average salary of a Human Resource Generalist in India is 8 LPA.

Employee Relations Manager

They work as the mediator between the organization and the employees. They fill the gap and act as a bridge. They listen to the employees’ issues and complaints and resolve them in the best possible manner. They have the best interest of the organization and employees. The average salary of an Employee Relations Manager is INR 9.5 LPA.

HR Manager Compliance

There are many laws and regulations enacted by the government that are required to comply with the companies’ laws. There are labor laws according to which the department shall design the policies. The compliance manager takes care of observing the implementation of such laws. The average salary of a HR Manager Compliance is INR 6 LPA.

Core subjects in MBA HRM curriculum

• Industrial Relations and Labour Legislations
• Business Environment
• Human Resource Management
• Strategic Management
• Human Capital Management and HR Audit
• Human Resource Development and Planning
• Human Resource Information System
• One can choose the subject of their interest from the following elective subjects:
• Advertising Management
• Training and Development
• International Human Resource Management 
• Advanced Manpower Planning 
• Organizational Change and Development
• Human Resource Management in Service Sector
• HR Issues in Mergers and Acquisitions

Note: The subjects may vary depending on program and university

Read more: MBA in HRM course curriculum

Gain HR skills with an online MBA through Online Manipal

You can enhance your resume and add required skills at your convenience by joining an online MBA in human resource management from Manipal University Jaipur. It is also the best option for working professionals who want to pursue their MBA while still working. Once you enroll for the online MBA program on Online Manipal, you get access to live and recorded classes, and thus you will not miss any important lectures. Manipal University Jaipur has high-qualified and expert professors who provide quality education that will help upskill your career.

Conclusion

Managing an organization’s human resources is not that easy. It is one of the most challenging jobs because of the involvement of the human factor, which is in most cases unpredictable. An MBA in HR develops all desired skills that one will need to perform the work of human resource management. The requirement of HR professionals is in every industry. Where there is a human, companies will need HR professionals for effective management.

There are international opportunities for MBA in HR. One can get desired work experience and apply for global opportunities. It even provides work independently. A professional can work as a freelancer and cater his services to different clients. An MBA in HR will not only give you an advantage for your career, but it will help in your personal growth. It develops good communication skills, interpersonal skills, leadership qualities and proper management. All these qualities will be beneficial in other aspects of life.