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Argument: MBA significantly improves job/career/salary prospects

Issue Report: MBA

Support

Cathy Dove, Associate Dean of Johnson School of Cornell University. “Con: Many happy returns.” BusinessWeek.com: “No single opportunity can so dramatically alter an individual’s career path or earning potential like an MBA. In less than two years, a student can obtain the knowledge, skills, perspective, and networks that otherwise would take a lifetime to acquire.”

“Pros and cons of joining an MBA program school.” Mumbaissez.com: “In case of individuals looking for corporate jobs, association with MBA Program Schools puts them in an advantageous spot in ways more than one. They have better networks, the resumes bear more weight and best of all better salaries can be expected to be drawn too.”

Dr. Ranee Kaur Banerjee. “Top 10 reasons to get an MBA.” Bright Hub. June 8th, 2010: “#10: “I want to earn more than I’m earning right now”

I wouldn’t say this reason should suffice on its own, but whether they want to admit it or not, the desire to command more money in the human resource market is the primary motive for many executives who enter an MBA program. And why not?

You’re working hard and you basically like your job yet you’re not satisfied that your salary matches the effort you put in to your work-day. You see others doing much the same things you do but earning more because they have an MBA on their resume and you don’t. If you think you have the potential and if you’re not afraid to put in the time and the sleepless nights, that MBA may just add some dollars to those numbers on your paycheck.

  1. 9:”An MBA will help me get that promotion I want so much”

Again, this is a slightly short-sighted reason to put yourself through the grind of getting the MBA, but even if that’s the only reason that you can honestly think of, I’d say go for it! You may set out with a limited gain motive, but you’ll end up learning things that will stand you in good stead in the long term.

Your employer will benefit from your new expertise and your interest in applying that knowledge to your job and you are therefore more likely to get that promotion.

A caveat: it is not the MBA that will get you the career advancement, it’s what you do with it and how you use it to your benefit.”

Brian Bohrnstedt, Graduate of Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania at age 35, Director of Strategic Pricing for Accuride Corporation: “in my case, again it was definitely worth it [to get an MBA]. I can’t overstate the benefit that it brought me in my professional career. It’s just been outstanding.”[1]