Ever done an MBA?
Discussion
I have.
I felt it has benefited me indirectly (I don't think the qualification itself has helped but the fact that I knew more and could contribute a wider range of ideas to situations I was in has helped raise my profile and get myself noticed where I have been working).
I'd suggest doing one at a university where you attend lectures rather than through distance learning (even if the institution is less prestigious) - a lot of what I got from the course I did was from the other students and sharing experiences, rather than the formal tuition.
I felt it has benefited me indirectly (I don't think the qualification itself has helped but the fact that I knew more and could contribute a wider range of ideas to situations I was in has helped raise my profile and get myself noticed where I have been working).
I'd suggest doing one at a university where you attend lectures rather than through distance learning (even if the institution is less prestigious) - a lot of what I got from the course I did was from the other students and sharing experiences, rather than the formal tuition.
I have too.
Without a doubt it was one of the best decisions I've made in my life. I did quite well in my undergraduate degree, but it was a science-based subject and I wanted to get a business related qualification so that I could give myself an edge when applying for business-specific jobs.
In my experience, if the sort of job that you are aiming for typically take on the Oxbridge graduate crew (or red brick institutions), and you're not one of 'them', then an MBA or masters puts you on a similar playing field.
I agree with the previous post that attending lectures is key and distance learning won't afford you the benefits that face-to-face learning will provide.
I would suggest you look carefully into what qualifications are required for the job/s that you are interested in and take it from there. It is hard work (mine was a 2 year course condensed into 1 full year i.e. no holidays) and it can be very expensive. I was quoted £15k to study at LSE.
Overall, I firmly believe that I'm not where I am today without my MBA. Do it.
Without a doubt it was one of the best decisions I've made in my life. I did quite well in my undergraduate degree, but it was a science-based subject and I wanted to get a business related qualification so that I could give myself an edge when applying for business-specific jobs.
In my experience, if the sort of job that you are aiming for typically take on the Oxbridge graduate crew (or red brick institutions), and you're not one of 'them', then an MBA or masters puts you on a similar playing field.
I agree with the previous post that attending lectures is key and distance learning won't afford you the benefits that face-to-face learning will provide.
I would suggest you look carefully into what qualifications are required for the job/s that you are interested in and take it from there. It is hard work (mine was a 2 year course condensed into 1 full year i.e. no holidays) and it can be very expensive. I was quoted £15k to study at LSE.
Overall, I firmly believe that I'm not where I am today without my MBA. Do it.
I'm currently studying an EMBA at Cass and, while I can't tell you how my career will end up once it's done, the opportunities I can see on the horizon are incredible.
I would reiterate that the best MBAs aren't distance learning. A large part of it is meeting similarly ambitious people, making friends, enlarging your network and learning from them.
In fact I would go so far as saying that the best MBAs in the world are solely the best because of the students they attract. What they'll teach you is broadly the same at any MBA but the higher ranked ones are more likely to have attracted the sharpest students and hence your learning experience will be better. It's almost a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Take a look at the FT rankings, while I used to think the statistics were made up (100%+ salary increase) I'm not so sure now. They're also very expensive (LBS is £50k+ if I remember right) so I'm not sure how much of a limiting factor that is to you.
I would reiterate that the best MBAs aren't distance learning. A large part of it is meeting similarly ambitious people, making friends, enlarging your network and learning from them.
In fact I would go so far as saying that the best MBAs in the world are solely the best because of the students they attract. What they'll teach you is broadly the same at any MBA but the higher ranked ones are more likely to have attracted the sharpest students and hence your learning experience will be better. It's almost a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Take a look at the FT rankings, while I used to think the statistics were made up (100%+ salary increase) I'm not so sure now. They're also very expensive (LBS is £50k+ if I remember right) so I'm not sure how much of a limiting factor that is to you.
Fume troll said:
Number 8 said:
Overall, I firmly believe that I'm not where I am today without my MBA.
Sorry 
Cheers,
FT (Doing and MBA on the OU....slowly)
Good luck with your studies FT
cuprabob said:
The real benefit is meeting the other people on the course and sharing ideas opinions.
Not done one myself but my experience of people with MBA's is that they are networking freaks! I used to go out with a girl that went to INSEAD and have a completely unrelated friend that went there too....they both just networked like absolutely crazy. The ex GF told me that when INSEAD select applications each year they make sure people are from very diverse backgrounds and also limit the number of people on each course of the same nationality. I know she got at least one job by looking up a firm she wanted to work for on the INSEAD alumni site...found someone at the firm from ISNEAD and got a job!Just looked up the ex GF on LinkedIn...she has 253 connections! No one knows that many people that well....
So did all the people above who did the lecture based MBAs take a job break to do it? I'd quite like to get an MBA under my belt but it would need to be self funded. I can't see any way in which I could save enough money to live on for a year while I was studying and also pay the course fees. I'm not sure if there's any other way of doing a lecture based MBA or whether my only option would be distance learning which I could attempt while still being in full time employment?
Trevelyan said:
So did all the people above who did the lecture based MBAs take a job break to do it? I'd quite like to get an MBA under my belt but it would need to be self funded. I can't see any way in which I could save enough money to live on for a year while I was studying and also pay the course fees. I'm not sure if there's any other way of doing a lecture based MBA or whether my only option would be distance learning which I could attempt while still being in full time employment?
I done mine at evening class a couple of nights a week, funded by the company I worked for at the time.cuprabob said:
Trevelyan said:
So did all the people above who did the lecture based MBAs take a job break to do it? I'd quite like to get an MBA under my belt but it would need to be self funded. I can't see any way in which I could save enough money to live on for a year while I was studying and also pay the course fees. I'm not sure if there's any other way of doing a lecture based MBA or whether my only option would be distance learning which I could attempt while still being in full time employment?
I done mine at evening class a couple of nights a week, funded by the company I worked for at the time.I've never met anyone with an MBA from a decent place (Harvard/Stanford etc, Insead, LSE, Oxford, Manchester, Warwick, Henley etc - there are others) that wasn't very well paid and senior. A lot of the McKinsey folks I've met have MBAs and have used it to get the job - along with experience.
My wife has an MBA from Henley and its helped her career, one of my good friends paid to do an MBA at Harvard and he's very senior in an IT Software Vendor (but not massively well paid - gets by :-)).
I don't have one and sort of regret, it but very few of my colleagues or bosses have one (Big 5 Global IT Services company) and its not hurt us. If you are younger, it gives you an edge, but to be honest these days I think LinkedIn helps as much with networking for the next role/job.
If you want a career in general management at a strategic level it will be worth it, but pay extra for a decent place.
Finally - the controversal bit. Not sure a OU/ex-poly MBA is that worth it. I have met a few OU MBAs in basic IT roles.
Apologies for spelling
My wife has an MBA from Henley and its helped her career, one of my good friends paid to do an MBA at Harvard and he's very senior in an IT Software Vendor (but not massively well paid - gets by :-)).
I don't have one and sort of regret, it but very few of my colleagues or bosses have one (Big 5 Global IT Services company) and its not hurt us. If you are younger, it gives you an edge, but to be honest these days I think LinkedIn helps as much with networking for the next role/job.
If you want a career in general management at a strategic level it will be worth it, but pay extra for a decent place.
Finally - the controversal bit. Not sure a OU/ex-poly MBA is that worth it. I have met a few OU MBAs in basic IT roles.
Apologies for spelling
Some of the ex poly MBAs are a bit dubious, the test is whether they are accredited by someone like the Association of MBAs.
There's nothing wrong with an OU MBA though.
It's the management experience that gets the senior roles and business schools tend to check for this when you apply, so it's difficult to tell how much difference the MBA made.
There's nothing wrong with an OU MBA though.
It's the management experience that gets the senior roles and business schools tend to check for this when you apply, so it's difficult to tell how much difference the MBA made.
It seems in some industries (consulting, for example) an MBA a semi prerequisite for moving up the ladder.
I'm considering doing one 3-4 years after graduating, but I think it's only worth it if you go to somewhere good (HBS and other Ivy League, LBS, Said, Judge etc.). And only if someone else will pay...
I'm considering doing one 3-4 years after graduating, but I think it's only worth it if you go to somewhere good (HBS and other Ivy League, LBS, Said, Judge etc.). And only if someone else will pay...
I did one six years ago, well worth it! A combination of what of I learnt and that fact that I had an MBA, certainly opened doors and progressed my career. Also made same good friends along the way.
Sold my Porsche to fund it, I would echo the comment of choosing your course carefully, make sure it is AMBA accredited. The most common question after 'I see you have an MBA' is 'Where did you study?'.
Also don't under estimate the workload, it was worth it though!
Sold my Porsche to fund it, I would echo the comment of choosing your course carefully, make sure it is AMBA accredited. The most common question after 'I see you have an MBA' is 'Where did you study?'.
Also don't under estimate the workload, it was worth it though!
I've got an MBA from INSEAD and worked with a wide range of people - some with MBA's and some without. My view is that MBA's can help, but people who are going to be successful will usually be successful with or without the qualification. Naturally most people with MBA's from good schools are successful, as the entry requirements are very tough - meaning that these people already stand-out from their peers even before doing the MBA.
My view is that an MBA can be useful in certain circumstances, but it's dangerous and false to assume this will in any way substitute for market/industry specific skills, real hands-on business/management experience or indeed natural talent.
Suffolk
My view is that an MBA can be useful in certain circumstances, but it's dangerous and false to assume this will in any way substitute for market/industry specific skills, real hands-on business/management experience or indeed natural talent.
Suffolk
Far as I know, an MBA is well worth it! I don't have an MBA (yet)but I've spoken to a lot of people who do and they feel they're better off after having done an MBA - in terms of job and pay. In fact, you should watch this panel discussion/ read the story on the BusinessBecause website about five people who did MBA from some of the top B-schools, and where they are placed since then. It'll be a great read and will be very very useful. You can follow this link http://www.businessbecause.com/mba-admissions/when... Thanks! 
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff