Articles

Should I begin my career or earn an MBA?

2009-04-01

Many students find themselves at an impasse after earning their undergraduate degree. You, too, may have asked yourself: should I continue my education or enter the work world immediately? On the one hand, earning an MBA almost always opens the door to a better job, better pay and more respect. But on the other hand, work experience prior to enrolling in graduate school often proves invaluable. So what should you do? The answer to that question is notoriously elusive, as it is not the same for each person - and only you can answer it properly. Making the right choice relies on several important factors:

• Your short term and long term goals
• The prospects in the job market of your choice
• Your priorities for time commitment
• Cost vs. Benefits

For any important decision, having a clear goal and direction in your life will help you put your choices in perspective. Many students enter an MBA program immediately after earning their undergraduate degrees simply because they feel pressured to fit a certain norm. Other times, a student feels he or she may not have the opportunity to return to school, especially after becoming involved in a career or starting a family. While these may be valid concerns, it is best to keep the alternative arguments in mind as well.

True, completing an MBA program does make you more marketable - as long as you want to go into business. Few students who have spent the last four years devoted to their studies have hands-on experience in the business world. Working for a few years can help solidify your choice to pursue a career in management or business.

It is also important to consider how an MBA will prove beneficial at your particular point in your career. Entering graduate school to earn an MBA is an excellent way to network with other professionals in your field and hone a specific skill set. MBAs also typically earn higher salaries than those without graduate degrees as well. However, senior and executive level positions also require that a candidate has a certain amount of work experience as well. In fact, some colleges even require students to work for a year or more before enrolling.

One prudent route that students often take is part-time enrollment or distance learning. Part-time MBA students gain the benefit of furthering their education without putting their career on hold. And with the added convenience that technology affords, reaping the benefits of an MBA while gaining valuable experience in the working world is even easier. The main challenge of earning an MBA part-time is balancing work with study. However, driven and motivated students with a penchant for management skills and organizational behavior achieve this easily. Proving that you are able to earn an advanced degree while remaining an effective employee proves to prospective employers that you are driven and motivated.

In order to find the best MBA programs, the current best practice is to consult a specialist site such as mbas.com. At mbas.com, you can compare and contrast all the top programs available for part-time study and distance learning. Instead of being limited to the programs offered locally, you can expand your horizons to all the excellent schools offering online programs across the globe. Part-time MBA programs are quickly becoming a way for students to enjoy the best of both worlds.