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MBA…….and the like
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mikewsmithFree Member
The short story
I have been doing OK in the UK working for 1 company for the last 7 years CV looks good but there are no letters following my name. I’ve been working in planning, engineering, strategy areas and looking at government/policy jobs or manufacturing/production improvements areas.
Would an MBA help?
I have a couple of options in Tasmania or Melbourne both allowing for entry via the Graduate Cert (1st 1/2 of MBA) then following it on with the full thing.
How much is it worth? Is there much difference in the reputation of the provider (ie value of the qualification?)
Looking for some honest answers here as I already have the cynics answers
xiphonFree MemberI’ve hit the glass ceiling a bit sooner than expected, but that’s down to a change of direction within IT.
After speaking to many managers (actually doing the recruiting), they say it’s equally frustrating from their side – my skills are in demand – but due to the requirement of a Degree, HR filter me out long before it reaches their desk.
mikewsmithFree Membermy thoughts exactly….
as a second question to lob in anyone done the GMAT test thingy
Fresh Goods Friday 696: The Middling Edition
Latest Singletrack VideosFresh Goods Friday 696: The Middlin...surferFree MemberI recall when I graduated the letters after my name (at that age) made a massive difference. As you get older it gets a bit less relevant.
I did a post grad cert and diploma on the way to doing an MBA but stalled at that point.
I am 47 with a huge amount of experience so I suspect adding MBA after my name would have only a minimal benefit plus do I want the high fying position that qualification would indicate?Having said all that if you dont have a degree then an MBA is better and probably a similar amount of work, costly though. Recommend the OU route.
Ecky-ThumpFree MemberI second the OU route suggestion, my missus did this and it has served her well. Their MBA is well respected.
mogrimFull MemberHow much is it worth? Is there much difference in the reputation of the provider (ie value of the qualification?)
According to a friend who did one: yes. At least between top-tier and less respected MBAs, I’m not sure how much difference there is between one top-tier and another.
I’ve been looking into them, but they’re not massively useful in the IT industry (at least in the more technical side of it).
twiglet_monsterFree MemberMike
So what if there aren’t letters after your name? You’re implying you believe that might be holding you back from getting what you want. Is that true?
It’s not clear what you actually want from your career and thus what use an MBA would be.
Forgive me for avoiding the question – just trying to understand what the question is!
TM
damo2576Free MemberI’ve done one and would say it depends!
1. Has to be at a good school imo to have any benefit in terms of people being attracted to your CV
2. That’s not to say other MBAs don’t have benefits – they all vary immensely so you need to pick one that suits what you want to do, focus on softer side? More on stats? Or entrepreneurship? etc
3. If you’re half smart nothing on an MBA is hard. What is hard is the sheer breadth of learning, its hard to be good at all the subjects covered. Me and my cohorts joked it was like taking 20 A levels at once.damo2576Free MemberAlso if you can’t take the time out look for Executive MBAs which are basically part time, ie a few days every couple of weeks over 2 years
igmFull MemberMSc in Project Management from Lancaster Business School here. Did it Full Time Away, which means you do it full time but hold down a job at the same time. Not for the faint hearted but I completed in 15 months.
Have a look at the reputation of the school as it makes a difference to the value of the degree.
donsimonFree MemberAlan Sugar ain’t got no bladdy MBA
But he doesn’t have to deal with HR departments, does he? 😉
To me it seems a very expensive way of getting someone to read your CV.
I’d follow the line of it depending on the school. I know someone who was thinking about redoing an MBA in a reputable school as the first one didn’t carry any weight. He now has his own business.mikewsmithFree MemberTwiglet Monster
I’ve just left a long term employment where I was doing well having got in and worked hard.
Now I’m in Oz starting from the outside again. I know when I get through the door and to an interview I can do well but as Xiphon said it’s getting past the HR filter thats the hardest bit. Been looking at KPMG and the like over here that have work that I could transfer into but I know that I stand no chance in the automated application process when all I can tick for highest academic as high school.
A recruitment consultant suggested it along with a couple of other people so I’m having a look, and as I’m currently working more on my cornering and endurance on the bike I might be able to fit one in…
teefFree MemberHe now has his own business.
Precisely – the MBA didn’t help (or hinder) at all
damo2576Free MemberPrecisely – the MBA didn’t help (or hinder) at all
If you had an MBA you’d realise you’re unable to deduce that from the information given!
twiglet_monsterFree MemberMike
Thanks for the background.
Yes, you’re right in that the letters can get you in the door for the interview, although in my experience it’s what you do in the interview (and all your prior experience etc) that really counts and gets you the job.
My MBA was life changing – as with most things you get out what you put in. It can be so much more than the process of obtaining the letters and my view is its very effective if you’ve had a limited (but nonetheless successful) exposure to how businesses work.
MBAs tend to be pretty general (with specialisms) so it maybe that a more technical type of higher education might get you better results.
The other option (which I suspect you’ll have considered) is to bypass the HR problem completely. Go in a more junior level and work your way up. With fewer responsibilities you’ll have more time to work on the cornering and endurance too!
Good luck
TM
teamhurtmoreFree MemberThere is a lot of BS witten about MBAs and their value on both sides, so treat all arguments with caution (a skill some courses may teach)!
Of all the valid reasons to do an MBA, the “it will help me get and interview/job” is IMO the weakest. It may well be true, but it is a very expensive and time consuming way to do this.
The best reason for doing an MBA is to have a genuine interest in what you are going to be taught, a real desire to do the incredible amount of hard work and a passion to learn not just from the profs but equally/more importantly from the other students.
In my experience, I would say that the majority of my fellow MBAs followed the first line of argument. But without exception the students who were awarded distinctions and did best afterwards followed the latter. I couldn’t help feeling that many people on my course were simple wasting their money.
To learn from others and to apply the disciplines from other subjects is very valuable. I have never worked in manufacturing or in a factory but I probably learned more from subjects such as Productions and Operations Management as from the courses that were directly relevant to my work. Again in my experience, the IT courses focused on the strategic element of IT. Very interesting, but like most things, very frustrating to see how little of this happens in practice.
Its a big time commitment, so make sure your lifestyle will support it especially the first 7 weeks. Make it through that and you should be ok!
mikewsmithFree MemberCheers Twiglet Monster, the interview part is only part of it and mostly I was hoping to learn stuff. That was really my key question and the answer seems positive, my only real exposure to those with MBA’s has been directors and arse kissing idiots who couldn’t manage their way out of a wet paper bag.
Going to have a serious think and chat with the Uni maybe looking at one specialising in Maritime Logistics.
Cheers for the advice
chewkwFree MemberIf you do it in order to tick the box then yes.
If you do it to get a proper job then no because a company that filters out applicants just because they do not tick the box simply does not know how to hire the right people.
To compensate for lacking MBA you need to be extremely good at writing your CV to draw out your skill set.
Oh ya … forget about those institution that boost about how good they are because those are just marketing hype.
TooTallFree MemberWhy not look for a Masters you are actually interested in? It will still give you the post-noms you desire but you’ll enjoy it / find it easier to study and perhaps importantly, most are far cheaper than the MBAs around.
oddjobFree Memberwhat about putting more effort into networking and try to get around the HR department altogether?
I did an MBA a few years ago full time as a bit of a year out from the rat race and a chance to change career a bit. I enjoyed it and it has paid for itself. There is a huge difference between top tier schools such as LBS, INSEAD etc and the also rans both in terms of the cost and the potential earnings. Make sure that the market you are trying to get into understands what you have done – don’t do a weird UK qualification and try to use it in Australia or vice versa
Farmer_JohnFree MemberI’d echo what damo2576 wrote above.
An MBA can be a useful tool, particularly in the early years of your career (5 to 10 years in). That said, if you are in an environment where you can learn the mechanics of how lead / run an organisation, first-hand experience can be just as useful.
There are definitely some things to watch out for; the fees for the full time courses being the most obvious one – you are looking at ponying up £40K+ in fees for a good school as well as the opportunity cost of taking 18 to 24 months out of work – which for many people represents an investment of at least £150K.
MBAs can teach you a lot, but I’m not 100% convinced that the huge effort they demand wouldn’t produce the same career changing results if it was applied in an existing role / company – if you look at the salaries 8-10 years after graduating the figures aren’t markedly different to high flyers who haven’t done MBAs.
If you are looking at part time / distance learning the OU MBA is definitely worth a look – I’ve heard consistently good things about the quality of materials and teaching.
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