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Aug 11, 2015
Should you get an MBA
Do you need an MBA? For many of you out there, this may seem like a crazy question and I can understand why. We have been taught that the MBA is the gold standard for education in the business world. Honestly, in many settings this still holds true, but there are a lot of situations where earning an MBA may not be the best option. Ultimately, this decision is up to you, but let me walk you through a few scenarios and give you some food for thought.
Scenario #1: You are Looking for the Next Step
You have finished your undergraduate education and your heart is set on a career in the business world. However, the industry is huge and competition is fierce. You will need every advantage and edge to set yourself ahead of the pack. To a certain extent and MBA can do this, however there are also a lot of other ways to make your resume stand out. The best advice that I can offer you is to take an honest look at your skillset and see what is holding you back. If you feel that your educational qualifications are lacking and keeping you from the position that you are after, then go for the MBA. However, if you decide that you need to improve your professional skills and spend some time in the industry first, then that may be a better route to take. There is no single right decision to make. It all depends on your circumstances.
Scenario #2: You are Transitioning Careers
A lot of MBA candidates are professionals who have decided to transition into a different field. MBA degrees are incredibly flexible and there are many avenues that they can help you move into. However, there is one major consideration that you have to take into account. Does your new career path involve a business intensive skillset? Very often I talk to people who think MBAs are a catchall degree. They are not. If you are not planning on going into an area where an MBA will help you, your time is better spent elsewhere. Even worse, I have come across people who pursue an MBA because they simply do not know what else to do and they are hoping that it will open doors later on. While an MBA does open some doors, you have to ask yourself if these are doors that you are interested in entering. By all means, go after an MBA if you have a plan and a direction, but if you do not an MBA is a very expensive gamble of your time and money.
Scenario #3: You Want to Pad your Resume:
I will be blunt. This is one of the absolute worst reasons to get an MBA. Your resume is important and advanced educational credentials can be impressive, but an MBA is not magic. The most important thing for you to do is to build your professional skillset. More than anything else, a solid business foundation and a proven track record are what will put your resume ahead. Yes, education is a big part of this and I am in no ways saying that an MBA is unimpressive, but it will not carry your resume alone.
Undoubtedly, most of you reading this site are interested in getting an MBA. An MBA from a solid school is a great way to get ahead in the business industry. However, keep in mind their limitations, and more than anything else, never lose track of what your personal goals are.
Scenario #1: You are Looking for the Next Step
You have finished your undergraduate education and your heart is set on a career in the business world. However, the industry is huge and competition is fierce. You will need every advantage and edge to set yourself ahead of the pack. To a certain extent and MBA can do this, however there are also a lot of other ways to make your resume stand out. The best advice that I can offer you is to take an honest look at your skillset and see what is holding you back. If you feel that your educational qualifications are lacking and keeping you from the position that you are after, then go for the MBA. However, if you decide that you need to improve your professional skills and spend some time in the industry first, then that may be a better route to take. There is no single right decision to make. It all depends on your circumstances.
Scenario #2: You are Transitioning Careers
A lot of MBA candidates are professionals who have decided to transition into a different field. MBA degrees are incredibly flexible and there are many avenues that they can help you move into. However, there is one major consideration that you have to take into account. Does your new career path involve a business intensive skillset? Very often I talk to people who think MBAs are a catchall degree. They are not. If you are not planning on going into an area where an MBA will help you, your time is better spent elsewhere. Even worse, I have come across people who pursue an MBA because they simply do not know what else to do and they are hoping that it will open doors later on. While an MBA does open some doors, you have to ask yourself if these are doors that you are interested in entering. By all means, go after an MBA if you have a plan and a direction, but if you do not an MBA is a very expensive gamble of your time and money.
Scenario #3: You Want to Pad your Resume:
I will be blunt. This is one of the absolute worst reasons to get an MBA. Your resume is important and advanced educational credentials can be impressive, but an MBA is not magic. The most important thing for you to do is to build your professional skillset. More than anything else, a solid business foundation and a proven track record are what will put your resume ahead. Yes, education is a big part of this and I am in no ways saying that an MBA is unimpressive, but it will not carry your resume alone.
Undoubtedly, most of you reading this site are interested in getting an MBA. An MBA from a solid school is a great way to get ahead in the business industry. However, keep in mind their limitations, and more than anything else, never lose track of what your personal goals are.
