Articles

How MBAS Have Secured Jobs In This Turbulent Economy

2011-04-23

In this turbulent economy, it is more important than ever to stand out from other job seekers. People who earn MBAs will find that their specialized education sets them above other job seekers. Earning an MBA will open many more doors in your career path regardless of the current state of the economy. Most businesses recognize the value an MBA can add to their organization and that credential will move you to the top of the pool. The value of an MBA is not only the extensive business education, but also the connections you develop through your program to your classmates and the alumni association. Nobody has ever suffered failure from having too many connections in a turbulent economy. In fact, having a network of similarly driven and highly credentialed professionals to tap into can be a real boon during rough economic times. The knowledge and network gained through completing an MBA program can be leveraged by a creative person into a unique business plan.

Those with MBAs find more security when the economy turns sour. People holding advanced degrees have had an unemployment rate of about 4% through this latest turbulent economy compared with nearly 10% unemployment for the population overall over the past 18 months. Even in a slow economy an MBA will give you job security. A quick look at job boards will also reveal that there are many jobs that require an MBA. MBA graduates can also expect to command a very healthy salary. Starting salaries for new MBA graduates routinely start over $100,000. Compare that with new graduates who possess only a bachelor's degree. The average starting salary for people who only earned a BS or a BA is about $40,000 and much less with only a high school diploma or GED.

In a turbulent economy, any measure of stability will grant peace of mind to weather out the tough times. Of course the smart choice is to use this down time to position oneself to jump in and take advantage on the economic upswing. Most students currently at the beginning of MBA programs have put their education and careers on a time table that will allow them to re-enter the economy better qualified, better prepared, and better connected right when the economy is more likely to be experiencing an upswing.

If you find turbulent economy is hampering your career development, then maybe now is the time to start looking for the right MBA program. A specialized MBA program will allow you to take your stalled career into a down economy and come out in the recovery with the tools you need to allow your career to take off.