For those who have already entered the workforce, the decision to go back to school to acquire more academic credentials can be a difficult one.
Even when studying part-time, pursuing a graduate degree takes an immense amount of time and energy, and even people who feel stuck in their careers and unable to advance up the corporate ladder often balk at the investment of time and resources going back to school involves.
But the truth is that, when upgrading to a degree like the MBA, this investment will pay for itself many times over. If you are curious about getting your MBA but worried about whether or not it makes sense to do so, here are three ways an MBA can jump-start your career.
1: An MBA Provides You With Solid Marketing Skills and Knowledge
While marketing can sometimes seem like a matter of intuition and guts, the truth is that marketing experts are not born, but made. In order to be effective at marketing in both the domestic economy and internationally, you need to have concrete skills and an extensive knowledge base.
One of the reasons why the marketing specialization stream in the MBA is so popular is because effective marketing is at the core of any solid business plan. If you aren’t getting the word out to your customers and clients about your products and services — or, even worse, if they are receiving the wrong information — you aren’t going to be in business much longer.
For this reason, being able to market yourself as someone who has formal, proven knowledge of marketing strategies and techniques can have a huge impact on your career prospects. If you want to know more about what a marketing specialization looks like, you can read more about how the marketing MBA prepares you for the workplace here.
2: An MBA Provides You With Valuable Contacts
We’ve all heard the old cliché that says that “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” While this isn’t exactly true (if you don’t have the knowledge base you need to perform well, the best contact list in the world won’t help you), it is a lot easier to get into the marketing world if you have contacts that can help you.
One of the key things an MBA offers is the opportunity to spend time rubbing shoulders with experienced business leaders who can offer you advice and introductions to people who can get you that all-important first interview.
3: An MBA Improves Your Credibility and Earning Potential
No matter how you look at it, the world of marketing is a world of spin, and marketers tend to be fairly good at present their resumes and credentials in the best possible light. One of the best things about an MBA from a recognized institution is that it provides concrete evidence that you have put your time in and developed skills that are essential for marketing success.
This is why, on average, MBA holders earn significantly more than those without MBAs, even when working in similar fields. Walking into an interview with recognized credentials improves your credibility, which makes it more likely that your employer will offer you better compensation.
Taking time away from your career and life may seem risky, but the evidence for the benefits of an MBA is overwhelming. Between the skills, contacts, and credentials you receive with this degree, it is more than worth the time and money you will invest in getting it.
