Once You’re In The Job Does Anyone Really Care If You Have a MBA?
Do you have what it takes to compete when you are on the job? With jobless rates still distressingly high, it seems like you will never face a bigger hurdle than getting hired. The truth of the matter is that once you have a job, you have to shine every day. We’ve all heard that an MBA gets you a foot in the door, but what else does it do? The truth is that that particular certification can be a mixed bag after it helps you get your foot in the door.
Name Recognition
If you have an MBA, Business Insider states that it should be from a great school. An MBA is a document that proves that you had an experience, and the thing to remember is that the institutions offering MBAs are not necessarily created equal. For example, an MBA from one of the top three schools, these being Harvard, Stanford and the University of Pennsylvania, is going to be more impressive and give you more recognition than certification from another university.
Career Disruption
On the other hand, it is also important to remember that unless you get your MBA early, you are looking at something that might represent some serious career disruption. Most people take around two years to get their MBA, and during this time, a lot can change. In the day to day running of a compnay or firm, you may find that you are falling behind because you have missed out on some important developments. An MBA is all about teaching you to manage and lead, but it cannot always tell you what the newest and best apps and resources are for your chosen field.
Pattern Recognition
The tag line for a number of MBA programs is that they turn out leaders. One thing that leaders do is recognize patterns and move forward with figuring out what they mean. When you are enrolled in an MBA course, the first and foremost thing that you are taught is how to identify patterns, whether they pertain to cash flow, problem employees, poor company morale or a destructive corporate culture. You will be given the language and the tools to deal with recognizing these patterns and disrupting them.
Networking
There’s an old saying that it is not what you know, but who you know, and an MBA can help that. While The Economist cautions that an MBA that puts you in touch with national and international contacts is not something you need if you want to work in your home town, you will discover that it may be perfect if you want to work in a larger arena. If you are someone who has ambitions that span the country or even the globe, the right MBA program can make a huge difference to your goals.
Whether you are thinking about entering an MBA program or you are already enrolled, it is essential for you to think about what it is going to do for you. An MBA is worth exactly what you put in to it, so make sure that you consider where you are going to get it and what you can do with it. There are both advantages and disadvantages to having an MBA.