MBA vs MIM

 

­Ravi_Rathore
Great question. Keeping things simple..

Masters in Management(MIM) is a general management business program designed for recent graduates and young professionals who want to pursue entry-level opportunities in business roles /consulting. The ideal experience at the time of applying should be between 0-2 years.

In an MBA, the average experience is higher- around 4-6 years depending on the school. As a result, the recruitment positions are also relatively senior compared to opportunities after MiM.

I will list 3 scenarios in which case it makes good sense to pursue an MiM program:

1. You wish to work abroad

If you are a recent graduate(0-2 years since undergrad) looking to work internationally, it makes sense to pursue a MiM program, especially if your current degree is lesser-known outside of your home country and you would currently not be able to find international job opportunities.

2. You wish to pivot to Business management or consulting roles

If you are in an engineering/nonbusiness role currently and wish to pivot to more business centric roles, MiM programs can be a good pathway. As MiM degrees are gaining popularity, they are feeding into lucrative entry-level business management roles more than ever, especially in Europe.

If you are looking to change domain, an alternative to the foreign MiM programs will be the Indian PGDMs (popularly known as 2 year MBAs from IIMs/XLRI etc. with CAT score being a major criterion). I am sure you are already aware of these.

3. You currently face a lack of employment opportunities, even in the local job market
If networking is not one of your strong suits and you find yourself lacking in professional connections and job opportunities, enrolling in a high-ranking MiM program (or PGDM) could assist you in redefining your professional image.

Here are some alternate scenarios in which case it would NOT MAKE GOOD SENSE to pursue a Masters in Management program.

1. You have a job (or an opportunity on hand) that you really like and maybe one that also gives you the option of international mobility

I worked as an engineer at a job that gave me the opportunity to expatriate – twice! With some patience and thoughtful planning, I chalked my journey to getting admits to prestigious MBA programs leveraging my international experience. If you have a job that can enhance your resume and you stick with it for a few years, the odds of gaining acceptance to a top-tier MBA program improve.

2. You want an MBA at some point

If you are proactive in making the most of the available opportunities at present and have an inclination in the back of your mind to pursue an MBA at some point, it may not be wise to jump on the MiM bandwagon at this stage. In another 2 years you might as well build a competitive profile for top MBA programs.

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Best wishes
Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alum, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
Founder, MBAGuideConsulting 
LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/| Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com­
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MBA in generally has a better emplyment outcome, but MiM requires less work experience, giving you earlier chance to earn money (Time value of money)

Ravi_Rathore:

Beyond the posts above, consider that MiM programs are generally viewed as less "valuable" (though they are gaining prestige) than the MBA, so they are also less competitive as a whole.

If you have specific questions, ask away here.