When it comes to the competitive world of business, people are always looking for the best ways to get ahead. However, it can be difficult sometimes to recognize the right route to take to ensure your future success.
One of the best things you can do is develop the skills and qualities that most hiring managers seek in potential employees, and that most employers look for in those who are to be given opportunities for promotion.
While the idea of going back to school might not appeal to everyone, here are four specific reasons why earning your Masters in Business Administration, or an MBA, could very well be your ticket to future success.
1) Career Advancement Opportunities
Because of the administrative nature of the MBA, the majority of employers will look to those who have the qualification when they are hoping to fill higher positions in a company. In fact, according to a survey done by the Executive MBA Council, around 40% of students who responded indicated that they received a promotion while they were still earning their degree.
Those looking to be their own boss by going into business for themselves should absolutely consider going for their MBA as well. Running a business is no joke and requires that you be well versed in areas like accounting, administration, and communication. These are the tools that you will gain through an MBA program. Depending upon your concentration, you stand to gain industry specific skills that can only prove useful in your future career.
Also, as far as the numbers are concerned, a study performed by the National Association of Colleges and Employers showed that graduates from MBA programs were set to earn upwards of $25,000 more in starting salary than those who only have a bachelors in business.
2) Be Taken More Seriously
When it comes to your professional reputation, you want to be taken seriously. However, this doesn’t always come automatically in the workplace, especially if you are younger and just getting your career off the ground.
Young professionals and seasoned businessmen and women alike are always looking to command a certain level of respect amongst their peers and superiors. For better or for worse, one of the best ways to accomplish this is to earn advanced degrees.
Adding “MBA” to your resume instantly boosts your credibility with almost everyone who reads it. This is because it is widely accepted that those with an MBA have received education in such skills as leadership, ethics, communication, and entrepreneurship, just to name a few. These are, of course, all necessary and desirable qualities in any employee.
Essentially, most employers know what to expect from a candidate with an MBA. They know that he or she is capable of advancing interdepartmental relations and communication and they can be depended upon to step into a managerial position. Overall, the degree carries certain expectations, and those expectations go a long way to boosting a candidate’s credibility.
3) Online Education Makes it Easy
As with any advanced degree program, it is important to recognize that not all programs are going to offer the same benefits or recognition as others. Furthermore, as far as affordability is concerned, some universities are much more expensive to attend than others. Finding the program that offers the right balance between clout and cost is critical if you hope to get the best possible ROI for your MBA.
Online education might just be the right fit for someone looking to strike that balance. Almost every university now offers programs that are either completely or mostly done online. Because of the nature of online education, you are more than likely to find a bargain depending on the university.
For example, Suffolk University Online carries both the name recognition of one of the top universities in the country, and the affordability of an accredited online program. Also, depending on your previous level of education, you could be looking at completing your degree in as little as 24 months.
4) Build Your Professional Network
Simply put, you can never have a professional network that is too small. Connections are how most people advance in their careers, and the ones you make while earning your MBA can prove to be the most valuable.
Furthermore, with nine out of ten employers admitting that they would rather hire someone who graduated from the same university that they attended, where you earn your MBA could end up making all the difference in the world.
