Recently, a reader asked me about the value of returning to school to earn a master’s in business administration — an MBA.
If you have been thinking about going back to school, there are some definite pluses. Although getting a degree is expensive and time-consuming, your degree can never be taken away no matter what changes the workplace brings.
Before starting an MBA program, be sure you are furthering your education for the right reasons and not simply because that’s what the business market dictates.
Continuous learning, especially in your field of expertise, helps increase your skills, particularly critical-thinking skills, and adds weight to your resume in a competitive marketplace. Even those with long employment histories benefit from keeping their skills updated.
Can an MBA help my career?
Marie Bergeron, director of Rice University’s MBA Career Center, says “In C-level positions (those positions in a company with titles that start with ‘chief’), business often dictates that you have management, human-resource, finance and marketing-related courses. These are areas in which you likely would have functional oversight. An MBA would help you develop a fundamental understanding of these areas that you would not receive from a single, focused degree.”
Bergeron suggests if you are employed presently, a good way to determine if your company values an MBA is to find out who among your top management team has an MBA. The executive leadership team will tend to hire the same level of leadership learning pattern.
Keep realistic expectations about what an MBA will do for your career. Do not expect the degree to guarantee you a management position, particularly if your employer does not value having an MBA degree.
If your employer does not recognize the significance of an MBA, be prepared to start a job search. An MBA is not a silver bullet — it is up to you to make the most of it by networking and marketing your skills.
I like the way Bergeron describes acquiring an MBA. She says getting an MBA should be viewed as a process rather than a means to the end. The process is filled with learning new skills, studying methodologies and discussing industries that provide employment opportunities.
Along with this process comes the opportunity to network with fellow students, an area that people often overlook, failing to realize the power of communicating with one another. Affinity groups are good examples of active networking and can help in providing career opportunities.
If you have an MBA, how has it helped you in your career path?
