As you just might have realized, there is no one correct answer that applies to
everyone. Career goals, personal circumstances, and occupational requirements
are some of the major factors to take into consideration. And with so many
different scenarios for each individual, you need to be in charge of your own
reasoning. Deciding on getting an MBA is no easy task unless you have lots of
extra time and no worries about money. You could consider it as a possible
investment in a new business, the business of selling a commodity - you.
Interested? Read on. There are several potential advantages in getting an MBA:
Recognition as someone with the potential to learn at higher levels
Self-satisfaction knowing that you had the abilities to earn a higher college
degree Provides a good background in managing responsibilities that cross
national borders (especially MBAs with an international focus) Gain enhanced
strategic thinking and managerial effectiveness Higher pay than someone with
less education (e.g. Management Consulting Salary Survey) More upward job
opportunities, especially management positions Larger professional network
through faculty, fellow students, and others you meet while in an MBA program
More jobs to choose from, including specific jobs for people with MBAs (e.g.
Career Central for MBAs, MBA Job Opportunities at The Gap, and MBA Recruiting at
Northwest Airlines) There are even some potential disadvantages in getting an
MBA: You may be considered by some companies, usually the smaller ones, as too
"expensive" Sometimes the person hiring may see you as a threat to
their position You believe that you will accumulate too much debt because of
tuition while an MBA is not required for your career goals Emphasis on the MBA
might not be worth as much as, or can even be equal to, years of experience to
some employers An MBA does help if you want to improve your strategic-thinking
skills, develop your leadership abilities, and foster managerial effectiveness.
Every business needs a manager, whether it is a non-profit organization, a
university, or a startup. So even if you are, say, a civil engineer for a
government engineering department or a salaried artist at a museum, you can use
your technical knowledge and gain a business background to be managers of your
company. And if you are an entrepreneur, having an MBA may get you to focus
better. To help you in deciding whether or not an MBA is something you should
pursue, you should talk to others. A great person to start with is a college
advisor. Consulting with more advisors and professors would be beneficial since
you will be able to get a better balance of opinions. You should also contact
potential employers and find out if the positions you are seeking require an MBA
for initial hiring or if working and then getting an MBA is better. One question
that not everyone considers, although possibly important, is asking a potential
employer if MBAs from only the top business schools are considered worthy. If
you are currently working, you might want to inquire with your present manager,
potential managers, and/or the human resources department to find out what an
MBA can do for you at your company. You don't have to have an undergraduate
business degree to pursue an MBA. And with the increase in degrees offered
through distance learning and part-time programs, you probably won't need to
give up your day job either. So if you're seeking a career transition to more
managerial tasks and higher pay, looking to pursue an academic career, or
wanting to be productive when unemployed, an MBA might just help.