Discussion
Had many friends/family members do MBA's from a variety of institutions. Some can be considered the best you can get (LBS, INSEAD) and some you could consider to be fairly average (Cardiff Business School). BTW not knocking Cardiff Business School because I went there for University, but the MBA course is nothing to write home about.
From my observations it would seem you get the best bang for buck from the MBA degree if your in the 25-35 yr bracket, have some work experience, and have a plan of what you want to get out of the course. Too many people go into doing an MBA because that is what seems like a good thing to do. Also consider that most multinationals are not on the look out for newly MBA qualified individuals as they were prior to the crash.
Personal circumstances are the key to how useful a degree like this will be for you. The main thing is that your thinking about ways in which you can advance yourself, most people don't bother and just plod along for years on end.
I have an ACMA background and have been working in the City for over 10yrs. MBA hires in my industry (Financial Services) are no way near what they used to be. From personal experience, I have found that sometimes making the right job move can do wonders for your career.
From my observations it would seem you get the best bang for buck from the MBA degree if your in the 25-35 yr bracket, have some work experience, and have a plan of what you want to get out of the course. Too many people go into doing an MBA because that is what seems like a good thing to do. Also consider that most multinationals are not on the look out for newly MBA qualified individuals as they were prior to the crash.
Personal circumstances are the key to how useful a degree like this will be for you. The main thing is that your thinking about ways in which you can advance yourself, most people don't bother and just plod along for years on end.
I have an ACMA background and have been working in the City for over 10yrs. MBA hires in my industry (Financial Services) are no way near what they used to be. From personal experience, I have found that sometimes making the right job move can do wonders for your career.
Hi Lostprophet,
I'm actually in the middle of an MBA so can't tell what it will be like career prospect wise just yet but can tell you want it is like now. I am doing it part time and working at the same time; it's very hard work but I've met some great people, learnt a great deal and crucially get to apply it at work almost straightaway. I spent a while looking at all the business schools in London and the South East so know most of them quite well.
If you want to talk about it a bit more then feel free to PM me or we could meet up for a coffee if you are London based. Be prepared so a lot of work though!
I'm actually in the middle of an MBA so can't tell what it will be like career prospect wise just yet but can tell you want it is like now. I am doing it part time and working at the same time; it's very hard work but I've met some great people, learnt a great deal and crucially get to apply it at work almost straightaway. I spent a while looking at all the business schools in London and the South East so know most of them quite well.
If you want to talk about it a bit more then feel free to PM me or we could meet up for a coffee if you are London based. Be prepared so a lot of work though!
Im doing an MSc finance and investment (part time in the evenings) at CASS business school, it shares alot of the structure with the MBA course and we have shared modules etc. We had an elective in singapore with Harvard MBA.
Havent finished yet got a few months to go so cant comment on job prospects yet but it is ALOT of work in what i used to consider my free time.
happy to meet and chat about it as the MSc might suit you better than the MBA
Havent finished yet got a few months to go so cant comment on job prospects yet but it is ALOT of work in what i used to consider my free time.
happy to meet and chat about it as the MSc might suit you better than the MBA
I have 3 months left of my 3 year MBA at WBS, only 20,000 word disertation to do !
My thoughts so far as that I have really enjoyed the experience, but as someone has mentioned, its a lot of work.(roughly 14 hours a week) So working full time and with 3 young children, it is a challange.
I'm in the lucky position that my company have paid for the 3 years.
With MBA's if your doing it to go job hunting after its all about where you did it and league tables
happy to answer any questions
Good luck
Cheers
Michael
My thoughts so far as that I have really enjoyed the experience, but as someone has mentioned, its a lot of work.(roughly 14 hours a week) So working full time and with 3 young children, it is a challange.
I'm in the lucky position that my company have paid for the 3 years.
With MBA's if your doing it to go job hunting after its all about where you did it and league tables
happy to answer any questions
Good luck
Cheers
Michael
michael_JCWS said:
happy to answer any questions
Hi Michael. It's something I'm starting to look at and WBS would be on my list. Did you take the executive course and 'attend' remotely? If so, do you feel you missed out on anything by not being in a physical classroom. Thinking along the lines of building relationships / networks with classmates etc.
Also, what was the entry procedure like? It's not cheap (for your employer..!) so is there much competition for places?
Many thanks!
Hi All,
Firstly a big thank you to all that have replied. I sincerely do appreciate it.
I will be in touch shortly.
I was thinking about Lancaster Uni but now that you mention Warwick I am quite keen on the idea. It will be much closer too for travelling.
It definitely is worth an investigation.
I feel my CV lacks a top class uni and even though I am qualified as an accountant I feel I would like to have a top uni on it. I am going to look into WBS and probably apply.
I need to run the costs by my employers, they may not sponsor me. In which case I will have to self-fund. This is fine as I will not be tied into the company when I complete the MBA. I would prefer them to pay, or part pay and then tie me into the firm for a year post MBA.
Firstly a big thank you to all that have replied. I sincerely do appreciate it.
I will be in touch shortly.
I was thinking about Lancaster Uni but now that you mention Warwick I am quite keen on the idea. It will be much closer too for travelling.
It definitely is worth an investigation.
I feel my CV lacks a top class uni and even though I am qualified as an accountant I feel I would like to have a top uni on it. I am going to look into WBS and probably apply.
I need to run the costs by my employers, they may not sponsor me. In which case I will have to self-fund. This is fine as I will not be tied into the company when I complete the MBA. I would prefer them to pay, or part pay and then tie me into the firm for a year post MBA.
onedsla said:
michael_JCWS said:
happy to answer any questions
Hi Michael. It's something I'm starting to look at and WBS would be on my list. Did you take the executive course and 'attend' remotely? If so, do you feel you missed out on anything by not being in a physical classroom. Thinking along the lines of building relationships / networks with classmates etc.
Also, what was the entry procedure like? It's not cheap (for your employer..!) so is there much competition for places?
Many thanks!
I spend quite a few weekends in lectures (maybe once every 8 weeks) Normally at WBS, but I have been to Prague, Budapest, Rome,Dubai, but I think this is an arrangement my employer has rather than WBS. I must admit I have been quite surprised how good the on line tools are, I guess why Warwick is rated, currently in the top 10 worldwide for DL. I think its currently 3rd in the UK.
As you point out the downside of DL is you don't get that integration as much with other people, I think the networking side would be invaluable if you had left employment and you were looking for something post MBA, put given I have a job and a family to fit round the MBA, the weekends and online community work well for me.
I did not have to go through the GMAT process, but had to get exec sponsorship in my company to get on, given the ~£30K outlay.
Cheers
Michael
Dr Jekyll said:
OU Has a pretty good reputation.
It holds triple accreditation which a lot of Business schools cannot claim to have.I'm doing a full-time MBA starting in September in Swansea after 16 years in the forces. I'm looking forward to it. I'll have done 2 BSc(Hons) distance learning whilst in the forces and deployed on operations so I'm not overly worried about the workload to be honest. It'll take a while to adapt to the civvy mentality though!
I'm currently on a placement week in the Uni where I'm just about to finish my current BSc(Hons) and I'm surprised at the lack of zeal and alacrity displayed by 95% of the final year students. I've obviously got a different work ethic...
Haggleburyfinius said:
Any entrepreneurs on here done an MBA?
I'm a long time out of education and find my businesses not that challenging, intellectually.
Have been thinking of doing an MBA to help with long term expansion plans as well as stimulate me mentally.
Any advice?
An MBA is but one route (a good one obviously) to improved knowledge and competence if that is your principal aim. From your post however, my first reaction was to ask if you are a member of the IoD? This may provide the stimulus and networking opportunities you seek in order to both improve knowledge at the same time as creating opportunities for business development. Good luck!I'm a long time out of education and find my businesses not that challenging, intellectually.
Have been thinking of doing an MBA to help with long term expansion plans as well as stimulate me mentally.
Any advice?
z4chris99 said:
Pferdestarke said:
What's the consensus on The OU MBA?
the whole point of an MBA is go to a good name school He said that the OU MBA is very highly regarded. As someone else has mentioned it is triple accredited which many aren't. It is a lot cheaper than most as well, although not the cheapest you can find.
I don't have a BA/BSc degree so will have to do the Prof Certificate in Management first, or do a degree.
944fan said:
I've been looking into the OU MBA as well. My father in law used to be Vice Chancellor of a London university so knows a thing or two about it.
He said that the OU MBA is very highly regarded. As someone else has mentioned it is triple accredited which many aren't. It is a lot cheaper than most as well, although not the cheapest you can find.
I don't have a BA/BSc degree so will have to do the Prof Certificate in Management first, or do a degree.
What does triple accredited mean?He said that the OU MBA is very highly regarded. As someone else has mentioned it is triple accredited which many aren't. It is a lot cheaper than most as well, although not the cheapest you can find.
I don't have a BA/BSc degree so will have to do the Prof Certificate in Management first, or do a degree.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff