Distance Learning MBA -
Discussion
At 42 and as a finance interim coming to the end of another contract i'm considering an MBA but it would have to be distance learning and modular probably at Leeds Business School where I did my degree erm....20 years ago!
has anyone done a distance learning MBA? doe sit lose some value versus s full time course?
I think if my next assisgnment is another interim position I will keep a diary as this last one has had its moments!
has anyone done a distance learning MBA? doe sit lose some value versus s full time course?
I think if my next assisgnment is another interim position I will keep a diary as this last one has had its moments!
to be honest I've done it since 2007 and its getting tiresome. I want to go the other way and find a business and go career - my wife would too.
I'm stressed at the moment as the search for the next paycheck is a daunting one but the market is picking up.
linkedin works well if you invest a bit of time in at and I search the finance job boards daily. the premium for interims in terms of salary is still there I probably earn 3-5k more but I don't get bonuses or benefits, training sometimes or job security obviously.
the issue I have now is potential recruiters look at my CV and think interim only so discount me automatically for perm roles which is very frustrating.
I'm back on the market now and about to play the game once more
I'm stressed at the moment as the search for the next paycheck is a daunting one but the market is picking up.
linkedin works well if you invest a bit of time in at and I search the finance job boards daily. the premium for interims in terms of salary is still there I probably earn 3-5k more but I don't get bonuses or benefits, training sometimes or job security obviously.
the issue I have now is potential recruiters look at my CV and think interim only so discount me automatically for perm roles which is very frustrating.
I'm back on the market now and about to play the game once more
Nom de ploom said:
the issue I have now is potential recruiters look at my CV and think interim only so discount me automatically for perm roles which is very frustrating.
That can be partially remedied through the words you use in the opening statement on your CV and on any cover letter/note to the recruiter/hiring manager.Good luck!
CaptainSlow said:
I'm permie finance and am considering enrolling on one, I need to be quick as the deadline is the end of the month.
As an aside, what is interim finance like? How easy is it to find new contracts and where do you look etc?
As a qualified accountant who's also completed an MBA my only advice to you (and the OP) is to think carefully about what you're aiming to get - or believe you'll get - from an MBA. I did mine quite a few years ago and if I'm honest I'd say the incremental benefit I got from doing the course was much less than those in non-finance disciplines such as engineering, marketing, etc. I'm certainly not saying an MBA is a waste of time (and money if you have to fund it yourself!) but as an accountant you already have a very good business qualification and although an MBA is more broad-based it's still a business qualification; therefore, the question to ask is do you really need two as it's a fairly large commitment to undertake (especially if you're also holding down a relatively senior job). Not meaning to sound negative about an MBA, just my two penneth... As an aside, what is interim finance like? How easy is it to find new contracts and where do you look etc?
I am a qualified accountant too and I am currently doing a DL MBA.
I personally think the course, be it full time or pt, is too basic and general. My CIMA exams were more taxing, no pun intended.
That said I think it will pay dividend in a few years when I head into a director role. It will help land those jobs...
When I was at Schroders, my boss, the head of fund accounting got his position due to his mba. He was a public sector job but still got the position in financial services as the interviewers were hugely impressed! It gave him the edge.
I think I would rather have it than not... I believe one day it will be worth it.
I personally think the course, be it full time or pt, is too basic and general. My CIMA exams were more taxing, no pun intended.
That said I think it will pay dividend in a few years when I head into a director role. It will help land those jobs...
When I was at Schroders, my boss, the head of fund accounting got his position due to his mba. He was a public sector job but still got the position in financial services as the interviewers were hugely impressed! It gave him the edge.
I think I would rather have it than not... I believe one day it will be worth it.
Lostprophet said:
I personally think the course, be it full time or pt, is too basic and general. My CIMA exams were more taxing, no pun intended.
I've done both CIMA and an MBA and it's an interesting comparison. The big challenge of CIMA for me was the vast quantity of factual information, once you got it learned you can pick up the first few marks in the exam as a pretty mechanical exercise, especially in the early stages of the course.With an MBA a lot of the studying is about understanding concepts without detail to memorise. But the questions and assignments are far more open ended. The challenge is applying what you've learnt to a real example or case study, when the temptation is to either regurgitate theory and ignore the details of the case or analyse the details and ignore the theory altogether.
A model aircraft devotee who also did both made an interesting analogy. CIMA is like making an extremely complicated kit into a good model of whatever is on the picture on the box. The MBA is like getting a simpler kit, converting it into a different version and adding a load of detail Airfix never thought of.
As for the difference between distance learning and full time, employers aren't really bothered, my certificate doesn't even say how I did the course, but the lecturers agreed there is a difference in the way students approach things. It isn't a question of being better or worse, but full time students tend to develop a deeper understating of the concepts while part timers are stronger on connecting the individual subjects to each other and the outside world.
What employers are interested in is where you did the MBA. Make sure it's an accredited school, preferably one with more than one accreditation.
Nom de ploom said:
to be honest I've done it since 2007 and its getting tiresome. I want to go the other way and find a business and go career - my wife would too.
OK thanks, you've pretty much confirmed my concerns.I thought doing the MBA would be something I'd enjoy and also a chance to meet like minded people. However, the distance learning element negates most of this and I suspect I'd struggle with the more conceptual subjects, I did a BABA first degree and outside the Finance, Economics and Statistics subjects I thought the rest were a waste of time and mostly made up baloney. I've found a part-time LLM International and Commercial Law course that would be good fit for my current role, I may investigate this.
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