If you’re oscillating between the decision of an MBA or an M. Tech, here’s what you haven’t thought about before. Shakespeare once said, and very true so – “to be, or not to be, that is the question." That was the Elizabethan Era. However, today the same question is somewhat differently phrased – “to do, or not to do, and more importantly, what to do?”.

In an ever advancing world, new technology is soon outdated, and keeping up with this evolution is quite a race. Whether you’re in the last semester of engineering or you have already graduated, the question of ‘what do I do next?’ is always a haunting presence. The fork in the road leads either left or right and any turn could be your next big adventure. But how do you be sure of your choice?Here’s one more piece of commentary, but not with the same pros and cons that you’ve read or heard before.

For an engineering student, the question of whether to pursue an MBA or an M. Tech attracts various arguments. While opinions may fluctuate from Google to Sharmaji ka beta, the real answer lies within you. No, we’re not suggesting you take on a meditative approach, but there’s no harm in a little introspection.

What do you enjoy the most about engineering? Do you see yourself developing and innovating products at a grassroots level, or would you like to have a more holistic approach at your workplace? And of course, where do you see yourself in the coming years? Both these postgraduate courses lead on to promising career prospects and well-paying jobs. While an MBA will open up new doors for business studies and hone your managerial skills, the M. Tech programme will nurture and fine-tune your technical skills.

Is An MBA For Me?

An MBA is currently the more popular choice for freshly graduated engineers and is also a favorite amongst the parents. But why should you choose an MBA programme? For a lot of engineers, technical matters can be less appealing. They’re more interested in a macro role in technology and innovation. An MBA prepares you for just that. Your studies won’t include technical factors that you learned in the engineering years. Instead, you’ll be introduced to a whole new area of study, which is business management. This course will help you acquire and polish general managerial qualities, preparing you to lead projects in sales, marketing, IT processes, consulting and consumer service management. It is said that the combination of an engineer with an MBA degree is lethal in the corporate sector. With a widened sense of business perspective and broader scope of growth, an MBA will push you up the corporate ladder. You’ll find yourself making management decisions and overlooking projects in the company. As an MBA graduate, you’ll have a more holistic view of your company, its products, and functions. So, said simply, you’ll be leading the project and be part of the product team but won’t physically design it. Your role will be more administrative, to ensure the smooth sailing of the projects and also taking it from its innovation stages to the market.

Who Should Pursue M. Tech Then?

As comical as it may sound, if you’re Raju Rastogi from 3 idiots, with an unending love for the mechanisms of engineering, then you should pursue M. Tech. An M. Tech degree takes you up a notch in understanding and implementing the concepts of engineering. If you’re indeed smitten by the tech bug, you’ll enjoy the in-depth specialization this approach will give you. It is an extension of what you’ve learned in the past years with more research and prepares you to implement these on real-time projects. As a more technically advanced engineer, you will be the go-to person for all things tech and you will also play a first-hand role in designing products. Most research and R&D facilities are hungry for engineers with great technical skills and a zeal for innovation. You will contribute to the company by creating and innovating new products. Put simply, you will design and work on the product first hand and will also have a say in the technical aspects and composition of it. Your role will be more technical and you’ll physically be involved from scratch in ideating, planning and design the product. What’s even better is that you’ll be a master in your chosen specialization and can further go on to pursue a Ph.D. in the coming years.

How Do You Compare The Two Courses?

To be fair, it is pointless to compare an MBA and an M. Tech. Both of these approaches add to your engineering degree but help you take on separate roles in the industry. Your choice should be based on your interests, capabilities and your career goals. If you see yourself innovating and developing ideas into successful products and having an important and technical role in doing so, an M. Tech will garnish your skills and teach you how to correctly implement them. As for an MBA graduate, you’ll be responsible for overlooking the project and foresee a future of the product with the aspects of operations, consumer service, sales, marketing, etc. Imagine Walter White and Jesse Pinkman (from Breaking Bad) in the same situation. Walter White is more technically sound. He enjoys the art of innovating and creating the best and most perfect product in the market and is more involved with its technical aspects. Jesse Pinkman, on the other hand, has learned the ways of the market, knows the product well and works to get the product to the right places for maximum sales. Could you see it any other way? Some students prefer to take a few years and experience the tides of the industry before choosing what they want to do. It could be an ideal decision if you’re still unsure to put yourself in positions that will let you explore familiar grounds. A lot of students also do this to figure out a specialization they would like to pursue. Taking up a job after engineering can prove to be the best tiebreaker and will let you get a hands-on experience of what you’re up for.

What’s The Need Of The Hour?

The industry is ever-changing but while there is a need for more advance innovation, there is also a need to manage all the technology and supply it to the necessary markets. While the herd may pull you in many directions, ask yourself where you see yourself in the coming years – as a master creator, advancing the industry with groundbreaking research and technology or as the leader of a ship, taking in a leadership role of leading the technology in the right direction.