MBA Careers

This page has been produced by an MBA

to help people make informed MBA study choices

and as a resource for MBAs changing career

Successful careers and the MBA: A Perfect Match  

What is an MBA?

What can the MBA do for your career?

Is an MBA worth the investment?

Benefits - what you will gain

What makes a successful MBA

What do employers value

How would an MBA fit into your career path?

Aspects to consider when choosing a business school

MBA Content

The MBA Admission Process

Choices of study

Case study of an MBA Career Consultant

MBA Career Management  ...  Eight Strategic Steps

Selected MBA Resources

What is an MBA?

MBA stands for Master of Business Administration – a high calibre postgraduate degree that is a global recognition of your management excellence.  Firmly established as a world-leading business qualification, the MBA´s appeal that transcends international borders.  

The MBA facts are undoubtedly impressive - each year more than 100,000 MBA graduates enter the business world. Recruiters from the world’s leading Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 corporations search business schools for their future senior executives.

What can the MBA do for my career? 

The MBA can be a life-changing experience for a diverse range of multinational students. Recognised by students and employers as a high quality study programme, the MBA can provide the leverage to open up superb career opportunities in an intensely competitive, increasingly global business marketplace.

While students use the MBA as a stepping-stone on their previous career path, others view it as a chance to think about their future and change career direction.

A milestone in the career of any business professional, the MBA is certain to enhance your salary and promotion prospects in a crowded job market.

Is an MBA worth the investment?

Taking time out to study full-time can be costly in terms of time, finance and the disruption to your career. Before embarking on studying towards an MBA it is important to have a realistic idea of what to expect and how much commitment is necessary.

Fortunately, many of the leading business schools have designed programmes to fit around people´s busy professional and private lives – enabling them to continue working and earning while studying for their MBA.

Whilst most MBAs are completely satisfied with their achievements, there is a significant minority of multi-talented, capable people who end up unhappy. The reasons are as varied as the people themselves and include separation from family and friends, pressure to attend business school from employers, and career choices that do not require the MBA degree.

Benefits - what you will gain

The MBA experience, with its focus on teamwork and shared multinational experiences, enables you to work with the multi-talented people to deliver the very best results in challenging, complex and  continuously changing environments.

An MBA can change how you look at things; for example, the financial considerations of implementing change might be an aspect of management you might not have been previously exposed to and so you would gain new methods for analysis and strategic decision making – resulting in less reliance on colleagues

MBA´s gain a competitive edge in the job market.  MBA graduates are valued by employers as the very process of undertaking the MBA demonstrates both their intellectual abilities, and their sheer determination to make it through to the end of a demanding study schedule

Whether you specialize or pursue a general MBA, an MBA is a perfect choice if your aim is to secure a top management position. Past experience indicates that MBAs tend to move up the promotion ladder faster and on average earn far more than those without the qualification. It is a well known fact that MBAs are in high demand by top companies world-wide.

At the present time, there is an increasing worldwide demand for MBAs, with  almost all the top business schools reporting a 100% increase in recruitment in 2005 compared to 2004.

What makes a successful MBA

·      Talented individuals with strong academic and professional backgrounds

·      Well motivated high-achievers, committed to excellence in their chosen careers

·      Culturally diverse with an international approach to business

·      Communicative team players, interested in seeing things from other viewpoints

·      Tenacious, creative, intuitive – with an ability to think outside the box

·      Methodical and organised, with an ability to manage time effectively

·      Able to see the financial and strategic impacts on an organization as a whole

 What do employers value

Recruiters and employers seek MBAs with a track record of outstanding achievement – academically and in the workplace environment.

Candidates likely to succeed are the ones who display the right attributes and competencies in terms of problem-solving and analytical ability, leadership, initiative,

and team skills - in essence the personality and character attributes to deliver groundbreaking solutions.

Increasingly, employers are searching for MBAs with the ability to hit the ground running by contributing from day one in fast-paced, ever-changing, intensely competitive and increasingly globalised markets – able to bring something unique and deliver results

How would an MBA fit into your career path?

Gaining an MBA can be a richly rewarding and life-changing experience. Not surprisingly, many newly qualified MBAs change career path, companies, industries and even continents - often deciding to embark on something completely unexpected and totally different.

So, if you´re ready for fresh challenges and that once-in-a-lifetime experience, the MBA is most definitely a step in the right direction.  Have you ever met an MBA who has regretted the experience?

Aspects to consider when choosing an MBA Business School

We would suggest that you research the following topics:

·      How international is the school?

·      Is the school ranked?  Check with AACSB, AMBA, EFMD, EMBAC and GMAC

·      What courses are on offer?

·      What opportunities are there for internships, study abroad, etc?

·      What are the areas of strength of the school, for example, finance vs strategy?

·      Which corporate organizations recruit in that school?

·      What is the school culture like?

·      Will the course materials be first class? 

·      How many students are in a class and what is the student/lecturer ratio?

·      Does the school offer exchange programmes with other schools?

·      How is the programme delivered, i.e. flexible distance learning, tutor marked

       assignments, online, lectures, case studies, residential weeks?

·      What level of individual support is provided?

MBA Content

The typical MBA program is made up of some of the following subjects:

Finance

Strategy

Marketing

E-commerce

Business Law

Information Technology

Knowledge Management

Operations management

Organisational Behaviour

Human Resource Management

Creativity, Innovation and Change

In response to employer demand, some busines schools are introducing soft management skills within their MBA courses, combined with live consulting assignments with real clients to help to develop the leadership and personal skills of their MBAs

The MBA Admission Process

The tougher the selection process, the more likely you are to meet and work with interesting people. In the top schools, the mix of students will be multinational – providing opportunities to extend your international perspective as you exchange ideas and practice with managers worldwide.  Joining a business school can offer excellent networking opportunities that go well beyond the study programme – particularly if the school has an MBA Alumni network

To ensure your application is absolutely perfect, consider investing in hiring an Admissions Careers Consultant to advise you on your best personal strategy to gain admission and guide you towards the business school most suited to your needs.  Your consultant can also proof read your essays and assignments.

You might also consider undertaking the Graduate Management Admission Test® (GMAT®). This a standardized assessment that helps business schools assess the qualifications of applicants for advanced study in business and management. Schools use the test as one predictor of academic performance in an MBA program or in other graduate management programs.  The GMAT® exam measures basic verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills that you have developed over a long period of time in your education and work.

Choices of study

It is vitally important to consider how you learn best – your preferred learning style. Some people learn well if given a book and left to figure things out for themselves, but with a personal tutor and classmates readily available to refer to when help is needed.  Conversely, others need the constant interaction of being in class.

Case study of an MBA Career Consultant

Helga Edge, Principal Consultant at A Perfect CV: 

 “I wanted an MBA to enhance my established career consultancy, but with three children and a full-time business I was almost at full capacity

“A full-time MBA program was impossible in my situation, so I opted for a distance learning MBA degree with a lot of opportunity for self-study at times to suit my work and personal life.  It enabled me to get the degree within a few years, while maintaining my business — an important consideration in a market which relied on servicing existing as well as new clients

“The MBA helped me learn how to do things in a more structured, planned and organized way, broadened my skills and had a positive impact on every aspect of running the business. 

“I specialised in HR Management as this was directly related to helping people make informed career choices, understanding every single type of job role when writing CVs and Resumes, advising on interview skills, networking and job search strategies. 

"Moreover, the MBA has improved A Perfect CV´s credibility and attracted organisations of all sizes and markets requiring outplacement services

"In essence, the MBA program provided a solid grounding in the tools, techniques and skills required to effectively manage a business – skills I have been able to pass on to A Perfect CV´s clients when seeking solutions to business problems

“I have every confidence in recommend an MBA study programme to people who are looking to develop their professional skill set, improve their career prospects, enhance income potential and prepare for a career change.”

MBA Career Management

Congratulations!  The assessments, tutorials, residential schools and examinations are now over - you´ve achieved your goal and we can hear the relief!   Well done! 

The time to collect the dividends for all your hard work has arrived.  But, if like so many other MBAs you are feeling a little shell shocked, short of time and not sure which way to turn, then we are here to take the strain and ensure you realize your goals

As MBAs ourselves we understand only too well your desire to use the MBA tools and techniques, and your drive  to have your potential recognized and rewarded

Just like any project, to realise your career goals you need to develop, implement and closely monitor the performance of your plan. 

We offer a Career Management Package designed specifically for MBAs and delivered by MBAs comprising Eight Strategic Steps . .

1.  Personal consultation to get to know you, your career and objectives

2.  Identify your career aspirations, strengths, skills and environmental preferences

3.  Provide guidance on creating and launching your personal career plan

4.  Review, edit or rewrite your existing CV to match your skills to the job market

5.  Appraise and advise on the most interesting and appropriate job vacancies

6.  Write interview winning `advert response´ and `speculative letters´

7.  Help you prepare for interviews

8.  Discuss and advise on selecting the best job offers

If you need help changing and managing your career

please send an email for a free personal consultation

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