MBA Career Opportunities
Today, many people are considering continuing their education beyond the four-year college path. The economic crisis has prompted some to consider what an MBA (Master of Business Administration) will offer them in the way of career options and a competitive edge in the job market.
In many cases, getting an MBA degree can help you achieve a promotion, a higher salary, or a better career.
Many find the MBA career path to be rewarding and worth the investment of time and money. According to Fortune on CNNMoney.com, the top five MBA employers for 2009 are Google, McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company, Goldman Sachs Group, and Apple, showing that technology and finance jobs are prime for the MBA career path.
The MBA Career Path
Keep in mind that often you need career experience first before you will be admitted to an MBA program. Just as most MBA programs want career experience, so do most jobs. Education is your preparation to excel in your industry, but working in the industry (the application) is equally important. Unfortunately, once you start a full-time career and decide you want to pursue your MBA, you then have the challenge of balancing work and education and often family responsibilities as well.
No one ever said MBA career paths were easy. In addition to your advanced knowledge, that is why MBA career opportunities are better – your effort, sacrifice, and achievement should be rewarded. In some cases employers will encourage you to pursue your MBA and even offer financing. Still, some people pay their own way taking classes at night or even quitting their job altogether in order to return to school full-time.
Careers Guaranteed After MBA?
MBA career opportunities may be of a higher caliber than those available to people with only a bachelor’s degree, however, that is only when the opportunities EXIST. It has been often debated whether investing in higher education during difficult economic times is a good or a bad idea.
Earning a degree is no guarantee of a job offer and if you’ve put yourself into debt with student loans, you may find yourself struggling to pay them while still struggling to find a job. At the same time, it has often been said that no one can take your education away from you. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the more education you have, the less chance you will find yourself unemployed.
Your Career Success After the MBA
Your career after MBA graduation depends a lot on what you choose to do. Factors such the company you work for and for how long you remain there; the geographic location of your employer; and the stability of your industry all affect where your career will take you.
Don’t discount keeping up with current trends in your industry, networking within your field, and having good interpersonal relationships on the job. The MBA may provide the springboard to your career dreams, but any successful career requires much more than a degree alone.
Lynn Mattoon is a Content Editor & Career Writer for Financialjobbank.com and Techcareers.com, Beyond.com career communities. You can follow her on Twitter at BeyondCareers.
