There is no front-runner between an MBA degree and a professional certification. In the end, it all comes down to what is best for the individual. However, if you’re an early bird where finance is not an issue then one can consider an MBA degree. But if you’re looking to advance in your human resources career then probably an online professional certification is an ideal choice.

MBA Vs Professional certification

•    An MBA degree

Formal education or an academic qualification provides the candidate with an academic discipline with a research focus. And amidst the current race in the ongoing job market, how well will an MBA cater to the needs of the industry?  Having an MBA degree will contribute towards the learner’s knowledge in different subjects, however, this will not help you build skills in areas like finance, marketing, operations, and human resources and so on. Please be aware that formal education does not certify your competency level or formal practical knowledge; the only thing it certifies is that the candidate has successfully gained theory knowledge behind the practice.
If you have an undergraduate degree in human resource of management, an MBA might be an ideal choice in an educational portfolio. And this can help propel towards the C-level status.

Due to global trends of unemployment, human resources are seen as a career that has hit the joblessness. The trend of unemployed HR professionals seems to be the ones who had a college degree in human resources and not the ones with a professional HR certification.

•    Professional HR Certification

The main difference between an MBA degree and professional HR certification is probably the practical knowledge that a certification program must offer. Having certifications give you the opportunity to apply HR principles into real-life scenarios to better improve one’s career growth.
For an HR professional looking to start off their career, maybe an MBA might seem to look like a solid career move. But industry experts today are more focused on professionals with the latest skillset. No company would like to hire candidates that are less competent and have no updated skillset.

To be specific, an HR certification is ideal for those who are actively working in the HR domain and are looking for ways to enhance their skillset. With the emergence of technology, the job roles in this division have also changed. Employers are now more focused on candidates who are great with strategy building and have in-depth knowledge of the recent technologies and how they function. If you’re looking for a steady job career and security, then upgrading yourself every now and then is a great career choice.

As per research, it is said that 40% of the job requirement preferred candidates with a professional HR certification. And 28% of jobs preferred an MBA graduate.

The choice is yours today. Obtaining an MBA might help you land your first job, but learning through online certification will keep you future-ready.