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Does Having An MBA Really Help?

Intel Unit

Intel Unit

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I really want to know. I want to eventually go full time with my entrepreneurial pursuits and thinking finishing up the MBA program I was in would be beneficial. As far as consulting, business analysis, and project management are concerned, is getting an MBA really worth it?
 
it meant about 14k more for me to start and more movement up the corporate ladder. Now I am going for my Six Sigma certification. For those of you that don't know what it is. Google it and than look at the job market.
 
Check out websites like Poetsandquants, businessweek mba, economist mba for more information...

I think in general MBAs from the 'mid tier' schools are losing value bc of saturation of the degree, etc... however schools like cheap online mba programs and the top 20-30 mba programs are retaining much of their value...

Like poster said above, if you want to start your own business (depending on the business) you may not need the bschool network, however in the corporate world it's another way to weed people out...

Just ensure if you're gonna bother you go to a top 20-30 program or do a cheap online mba... the schools inbetween don't have that much value... just do your research on your own... There are part-time options, etc depending on what u want...
 
coolnmellow said:
it meant about 14k more for me to start and more movement up the corporate ladder. Now I am going for my Six Sigma certification. For those of you that don't know what it is. Google it and than look at the job market.
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I've got an MBA but dont have the personality to be a corporate executive. They also need to teach you that you need to be cut throat and an callous to the people that work for you in order to make it too the top. Its been my experience and is just not in my personality so think about that.

I've decided to focus on my technology skills now.
 
mc2 said:
I've got an MBA but dont have the personality to be a corporate executive. They also need to teach you that you need to be cut throat and an callous to the people that work for you in order to make it too the top.
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mc2 said:
Its been my experience and is just not in my personality so think about that.

I've decided to focus on my technology skills now.
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This is so true.
 
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Depends.

Like others have said, it' all about your goals and where you are today. I had a chance to go full time while my company paid me and for me to do so. I also knew I had a GREAT gig awaiting me after I finished. It was imperative for me to get mine for career advancement.

Some well heeled organizations won't give you a second look if you don't have one from a top 10 institution when attempting to get into Senior Leadership. Others, don't care. My biggest benefit other than the great education, is the network I got out of it. Yes, the network. That in itself Has been worth its weight in gold.
 
I got a $23k increase in pay, and am on track for another $15k increase over the next 2 years.
 
I already have one (been procrastinating a lot), but I'll let you know by the end of the year...
 
Don't just get a general MBA, you have to specialize now.

My MBA has been instrumental in my success thus far in healthcare (my specialty)

Also, if you don't have business background or any managerial background, don't expect to go get and MBA then get a 6fig job out the gate once you graduate. (unless you goto harvard, and you'll end up with a consulting gig which is minimum of 80hrs a week but pays 150k/yr)

That may have worked 10 years ago but now, the MBA is only supplemental to your expierience, not the other way around.

As someone stated the business world is very competitive, one of the 48 laws of power is, to take credit for other peoples work. Prior to getting my MBA I was used to saying "we did this" "We did that" ,,,, people(hiring managers) don't want to here you saying "we" , they want to here you say "I"

Which brings up another point, if you get your MBA without any functional experience (at least 5 years of solid work history) don't get it online.. PLEASE.

In my position, I interview people for managerial level positions, and we basically toss all non AACSB accredited schools out. We get so many people who graduate from undergrad and go str8 online... what a waste of money at an entry level, it's better to just work.. then get tuition reimbursement as most major companies will do that.. then jump right into an MBA..

OR work hard, and go to a top 25 BSchool..The business world is full of elitist, if you didn't goto a top school they won't take you seriously.

At the end of the day, I loved the MBA program and I would not be where I would be without the MBA professionally.

Also, if you run a business (which I also do, and did prior to getting the MBA), you will learn a lot about strategy, finance, marketing which you can* learn in your business world, but after getting the MBA I was also able to take my business from earning around 50k per year in sales/revenue to well over 250k in sales/revenue based on philosophies I learned in BSchool.
 
NCPlaya said:
Don't just get a general MBA, you have to specialize now.

My MBA has been instrumental in my success thus far in healthcare (my specialty)

Also, if you don't have business background or any managerial background, don't expect to go get and MBA then get a 6fig job out the gate once you graduate. (unless you goto harvard, and you'll end up with a consulting gig which is minimum of 80hrs a week but pays 150k/yr)

That may have worked 10 years ago but now, the MBA is only supplemental to your expierience, not the other way around.

As someone stated the business world is very competitive, one of the 48 laws of power is, to take credit for other peoples work. Prior to getting my MBA I was used to saying "we did this" "We did that" ,,,, people(hiring managers) don't want to here you saying "we" , they want to here you say "I"

Which brings up another point, if you get your MBA without any functional experience (at least 5 years of solid work history) don't get it online.. PLEASE.

In my position, I interview people for managerial level positions, and we basically toss all non AACSB accredited schools out. We get so many people who graduate from undergrad and go str8 online... what a waste of money at an entry level, it's better to just work.. then get tuition reimbursement as most major companies will do that.. then jump right into an MBA..

OR work hard, and go to a top 25 BSchool..The business world is full of elitist, if you didn't goto a top school they won't take you seriously.

At the end of the day, I loved the MBA program and I would not be where I would be without the MBA professionally.

Also, if you run a business (which I also do, and did prior to getting the MBA), you will learn a lot about strategy, finance, marketing which you can* learn in your business world, but after getting the MBA I was also able to take my business from earning around 50k per year in sales/revenue to well over 250k in sales/revenue based on philosophies I learned in BSchool.
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Good info. What kind of business did you own? You gave up 250k in sales to work for someone else? Obvious question is why?
 
I still own my business. I love the corporate world, and the entrepreneur world. Some of my close friends tell me I'm crazy, but it's a good feeling going to work in a suit and tie, and having people call me mr... Ego thing? Maybe.. I grew up in a majority white area where people referred to me as a lot worse then Mr... so now that they call me mister, it makes me feel better:yes: At any rate, some of my collegues play golf or invest in the stock market for a hobby.. for me it’s running my business, flying rc planes and riding moutnain bikes.

I run a distribution company started selling on ebay, still do, but now I also distribute items to local shops. I lease a 10,000sqft warehouse in the US, this year I’m looking to expand to UK so I can penetrate their market much easier.

I also broker truckloads of stock lots to other countries… stock lot is something like wall paper, fabric, toys, etc. The same way biglots get’s their goods, I employ similar tactics to get goods to broker overseas.

My wife is a Nurse, so we’ll likely start up a SNF (skilled nursing facility) within the coming years, once we do that I might leave my “j-o-b” at the hospital to help build her company.
 
few more tips

1) Get GOOD at finance! So many people get their MBA then they suck when I ask them basic financial questions. You don't have to be a CFA, but c'mon finance is the language of business, if I ask you something as simple as what's in a P&L, and I ask for basic ratios.. you better be able to tell me. That will set you apart from the majority of people who shy away from the financial side.

2) Join the National Black MBA Association. I got my first job at a NBMBAA conference.

3) Join other professional organizations and don't just network to get a job.. network to get the job, netowrk while you're in the job.. inthis market you can't expect that job to be there forever..in the even your position gets cut, if you have done a good job networking you can have a job in a relative short time. The best way to do this is by helping people. I tell recent grads all the tims that they need to spend time helping other managers at their organization.. may have to stay late, or do jobs that are outside of your job description.. trust me.. people take notice.
 
NCPlaya said:
few more tips

1) Get GOOD at finance! So many people get their MBA then they suck when I ask them basic financial questions. You don't have to be a CFA, but c'mon finance is the language of business, if I ask you something as simple as what's in a P&L, and I ask for basic ratios.. you better be able to tell me. That will set you apart from the majority of people who shy away from the financial side.

2) Join the National Black MBA Association. I got my first job at a NBMBAA conference.

3) Join other professional organizations and don't just network to get a job.. network to get the job, netowrk while you're in the job.. inthis market you can't expect that job to be there forever..in the even your position gets cut, if you have done a good job networking you can have a job in a relative short time. The best way to do this is by helping people. I tell recent grads all the tims that they need to spend time helping other managers at their organization.. may have to stay late, or do jobs that are outside of your job description.. trust me.. people take notice.
Click to expand...

You're dropping some great jewels in here. Thanks brugh:yes:
 
NCPlaya said:
Don't just get a general MBA, you have to specialize now.

My MBA has been instrumental in my success thus far in healthcare (my specialty)

Also, if you don't have business background or any managerial background, don't expect to go get and MBA then get a 6fig job out the gate once you graduate. (unless you goto harvard, and you'll end up with a consulting gig which is minimum of 80hrs a week but pays 150k/yr)

That may have worked 10 years ago but now, the MBA is only supplemental to your expierience, not the other way around.

As someone stated the business world is very competitive, one of the 48 laws of power is, to take credit for other peoples work. Prior to getting my MBA I was used to saying "we did this" "We did that" ,,,, people(hiring managers) don't want to here you saying "we" , they want to here you say "I"

Which brings up another point, if you get your MBA without any functional experience (at least 5 years of solid work history) don't get it online.. PLEASE.

In my position, I interview people for managerial level positions, and we basically toss all non AACSB accredited schools out. We get so many people who graduate from undergrad and go str8 online... what a waste of money at an entry level, it's better to just work.. then get tuition reimbursement as most major companies will do that.. then jump right into an MBA..

OR work hard, and go to a top 25 BSchool..The business world is full of elitist, if you didn't goto a top school they won't take you seriously.

At the end of the day, I loved the MBA program and I would not be where I would be without the MBA professionally.

Also, if you run a business (which I also do, and did prior to getting the MBA), you will learn a lot about strategy, finance, marketing which you can* learn in your business world, but after getting the MBA I was also able to take my business from earning around 50k per year in sales/revenue to well over 250k in sales/revenue based on philosophies I learned in BSchool.
Click to expand...

This is really great I advice. Thanks.
 
NCPlaya said:
few more tips

1) Get GOOD at finance! So many people get their MBA then they suck when I ask them basic financial questions. You don't have to be a CFA, but c'mon finance is the language of business, if I ask you something as simple as what's in a P&L, and I ask for basic ratios.. you better be able to tell me. That will set you apart from the majority of people who shy away from the financial side.

2) Join the National Black MBA Association. I got my first job at a NBMBAA conference.

3) Join other professional organizations and don't just network to get a job.. network to get the job, netowrk while you're in the job.. inthis market you can't expect that job to be there forever..in the even your position gets cut, if you have done a good job networking you can have a job in a relative short time. The best way to do this is by helping people. I tell recent grads all the tims that they need to spend time helping other managers at their organization.. may have to stay late, or do jobs that are outside of your job description.. trust me.. people take notice.
Click to expand...

More great advice. Thanks again.
 
NCPlaya said:
I still own my business. I love the corporate world, and the entrepreneur world. Some of my close friends tell me I'm crazy, but it's a good feeling going to work in a suit and tie, and having people call me mr... Ego thing? Maybe.. I grew up in a majority white area where people referred to me as a lot worse then Mr... so now that they call me mister, it makes me feel better:yes: At any rate, some of my collegues play golf or invest in the stock market for a hobby.. for me it’s running my business, flying rc planes and riding moutnain bikes.

I run a distribution company started selling on ebay, still do, but now I also distribute items to local shops. I lease a 10,000sqft warehouse in the US, this year I’m looking to expand to UK so I can penetrate their market much easier.

I also broker truckloads of stock lots to other countries… stock lot is something like wall paper, fabric, toys, etc. The same way biglots get’s their goods, I employ similar tactics to get goods to broker overseas.

My wife is a Nurse, so we’ll likely start up a SNF (skilled nursing facility) within the coming years, once we do that I might leave my “j-o-b” at the hospital to help build her company.
Click to expand...

Great post. A friend with a finance background did something similar and helped his wife build her medical practice/business. Now it's doing well, and it's actually their flagship business. Good luck!
 

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