Going after that MBA might be worthwhile…

April 23, 2007 · Filed Under For the love of HR 

…in a few years.

And I really hate to make blanket statements like that because all of the MBA guys and gals I know are swell and they work great together. That doesn’t mean though that I haven’t talked to a lot of dweebs coming fresh out of MBA’s not knowing anything about working at the executive level. At some point, I almost want to question if they actually knew the whole point of getting an MBA was to move up or move out?

A MBA is a great concept and if these changes are adopted widely, it could do a lot to bolster confidence. The best part about a MBA is that it compresses time in a high pressure, deadline sensitive world. If you come out of that program having worked with 10-15 different teams, those are a lot of different personalities you’ve been forced to cope with. And from the hiring side, that’s pretty exciting. I feel confident hiring from a program that teaches these skills than the alternative.

Ultimately, this problem points back to poor undergraduate work which could point back to poor high school work and so on. What some educators have called “slippage” in the curriculum: not being able to teach kids the same things they used to because it isn’t getting covered earlier. Is the MBA or Masters going to become the bachelor degree of today? It already is in some Engineering and Scientific fields.

And well, that is a different post altogether.

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Comments

4 Responses to “Going after that MBA might be worthwhile…”

  1. Lee on May 22nd, 2007 6:42 pm

    Do you all do ANYTHING ELSE on this site besides criticize people who are just trying to make a living?

    We’re all self-absorbed and unloyal, we’re “job hoppers,” we’re getting degrees but still are stupid, etc., etc. Nothing but negativity.

    It’s a shame because I think we could all use some good, constructive, and knowledgeable advice about advancing our careers.

    Instead you choose to take shots at people for trying to better themselves and their lives the best way they know how.

    Tell me this…if you know so much better about the keys to success in life, why haven’t I seen you on Oprah? NY Times? Or even a trade mag or two?

    News flash: Just because you have a blog doesn’t make you an expert. Stop frontin…

    [Reply]

  2. Your HR Guy on May 22nd, 2007 9:05 pm

    Lee,

    Are you disputing anything here? This is good advice, constructive at that. MBA Schools turn out candidates for Fortune 50 companies and nothing else at this point. People looking to get a step up shouldn’t always look to an MBA as the answer, especially for anything outside of those huge companies.

    That seems pretty knowledgeable to me, especially in light of these recent studies.

    With the exception of yourself, nobody has ever cited me as an expert. You’re right, I just have a blog. But to say I am not positive is straight bullocks. Look at my last ten posts. Very little unwarranted negativity.

    Lance

    [Reply]

  3. Chris on June 1st, 2007 2:46 pm

    I tend to agree. Getting an MBA has lost its real meaning, largely thanks to all of these online, for-profit, do-it-yourself MBA programs that have sprung up in recent years. They aren’t teaching skills, they are only taking money. I know because I am the product of one of them. I came out of the program and quickly found out that I was woefully unprepared, and it didn’t even raise my salary that much. I just hope that it will make a difference over the years enough to justify the student loans I am now saddled with. Still, it cuts like glass every month when I write that check to Sallie Mae.

    That said let’s also remember two important facts here. People are getting MBAs and masters in general because they see it as the only way to keep their salaries in line with inflation and increasing cost of living. The other is that because companies are failing to train their people these days, people are going outside to get management training when they should be getting it inside.

    So I think that we have to understand on both sides that staying competitive requires movement on both sides. Companies needs to start reinvesting in their staff and employees need to learn what it means to be truly competitive, and it’s not just adding some letters after your name.

    Wow, maybe I learned something in my MBA program after all!

    [Reply]

  4. Bachelor Degree on September 15th, 2007 9:35 am

    Hi from Seatle, Nice blog posting about fter that MBA might be worthwhile… | YourHRGuy.com. I would have to agree with you on this one. I am going to look more into bachelor degree. This Saturday I have time.

    [Reply]

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