Should you go for that MBA or not?

[sundaymorningstaple]

http://www.bnet.com/blog/penelope-trunk ... -money/152

Lot of truth in this POV. Guess that's why they say MBA are a dime a dozen in Singapore and won't get you to far when getting a job here.

[hellind]

It’s pointless after a certain age.

I was planning to polish my academic qualifications after a few years. I still think some additional qualifications does help.

Whether it is worth the money is a question.

[elguapo]

I love some of the comments on the peice;

What an MBA informs an prospective employer is that this guy or gal in front of has the drive and determination to excel in a business environment. Earning an MBA is trough. It is meant to be to prove that one may have what it takes to become in the future a CEO, CIO, CFO, etc. Actually an MBA does not cost $150,000 dollars. I don't know where she got that figure unless she is taking into account opportunity cost.

Going to school isn't a business environment, if you want to prove your ability in a business environment you get yourself into a business environment. MBA's cost far too much for what they offer, esp if they are aim at people futher into their careers. Taking two years out of a well paying job is a huge cost that anyone with business sense would factor into it. If that comment is reflective of the ability of your average MBA grad, well, they have been ripped off.

[Mad Scientist]

I got my first degree from the University of Hard Knocks at the age of 18

and my second at the University of U NEVER STUDY at the age of 24.

I turn out to be alright , run a business , sold it and now taking my REAL DEGREE in Medical Science. Completing next year.

I think MBA is not important, what is important is your drive to succeed and hunger for success. If there is fire in your belly, come what may you will succeed.

Anyway what do I know and this is my half cent worth

[Nath21]

Ask someone whio has completed an MBA how useful they are even they will admit only a few of the many units they complete are useful.

Then there are the recent grads that roll into MBAs before completing a job which makes them almost unhirable because they know everything but have never done anything. So again MBA is only useful after completing some work experience and wanting to polish or take a fresh look at your own skills set.
Consider also that a MBA is like a sword you live and die by it because its on your resume. If you use an mba to get a job then the employer is going to expect a higher standard especially around time management and organisation. I recently sacked an employee with a mba because they used it as their key selling point in the cv and they coundn't organise a chook raffle or themselves let alone other staff.
Then you get mbas from some schools that are not worth the paper they are printed on. Having talked to a few people who have completed mbas from both good and bad schools they all say that its important its from a recognised school and that the biggest benefit is who you associate with and the contacts you make during your time completing a mba.

[ksl]

Expensive party time and not at all good value for the majority. Not needed to be good at business or anything that i can think of. One is either excellent, very good, good, average, or poor and you can find that out through practical experience, and a couple of hrs in a library, though admitting the truth really is the hardest of all.

[revhappy]

Well, MBA and MS are easiest ways to get a foot in the door for hoardes of Indians and Chinese to the land of milk and honey

Without them MBA wouldnt have been half as popular especially the non ivy league ones.

[ChrisCH]

I think the article is rubbish. It frankly sounds like it was written by a guy who was bitter for not getting that admission he was hoping for.

It is true - an MBA alone does not make an entrepreneur or a good manager. I have done one part-time next to a demanding, "good" job. This alone got me later into interviews - it shows your perseverance and that you are not exactly work-shy. It is true - I learned nothing in my course that I could not have learned on my own with a big pile of books... but that is not exactly the point. I have a technical background in software and moved more and more into business and marketing related roles. Getting a good overview on business and finance does help. And an MBA is simply a badge that proves that you did in fact read that pile of books

So I do not agree that you need to go to a top ten school (unless you absilutely need to end up in one of the top consultancies) and I do not agree that it was not worth the money... you only need to have realistic expectations what it can do for you.

[robert137]

Nanyang MBA student on studying in Singapore http://www.businessbecause.com/business ... ng-mba.htm

[Eau2011]

I think the article is rubbish. It frankly sounds like it was written by a guy who was bitter for not getting that admission he was hoping for.

It is true - an MBA alone does not make an entrepreneur or a good manager. I have done one part-time next to a demanding, "good" job. This alone got me later into interviews - it shows your perseverance and that you are not exactly work-shy. It is true - I learned nothing in my course that I could not have learned on my own with a big pile of books... but that is not exactly the point. I have a technical background in software and moved more and more into business and marketing related roles. Getting a good overview on business and finance does help. And an MBA is simply a badge that proves that you did in fact read that pile of books

So I do not agree that you need to go to a top ten school (unless you absilutely need to end up in one of the top consultancies) and I do not agree that it was not worth the money... you only need to have realistic expectations what it can do for you.

My MBA was funded by the company, I was working while studying in the evenings and weekends.

Mine was not a top ten, either.

I'm a housewife now after having worked for many years, one of us has to make a comprise in a family life, in this case, it's me.

[JonOfArimathea]

I see a good MBA as a 'knowledge accelerator' in terms of gaining a wider context of business knowledge for someone who doesn't have access to the experience that would provide the same context.

That said, it is no substitute whatsoever for actual experience and also for understanding more esoteric (but just as important) things in the business world such as politics, culture, leadership etc. which you can only learn by practise, hard work and getting things wrong from time to time.

I can't speak for Singapore specifically, but in Australia it seems as though every 25-30 year old is trying to get themselves on an MBA course (preferably employer funded). My own experience is that I see the people who stuck with their employers, who gained some respect and then got access to the good learning and management opportunities, doing better and achieving more than the MBAs.

It may well be that if you want to go into some types of consulting organisation it helps. Likewise the social network aspect (if you do a permanent MBA at a 'good' school) is potentially also very valuable.

People need to understand what it is, rather than see it as an automatic ticket or right-of-entry into the inner circle, which it is not.

[gocanucks]

personally, i think the matter of whether you have an mba or not is not as important as the reason why you are doing the mba.

some people simply do mba because they believe it will lead them to more money. then, when they finish, they take it for granted that more money should be offered to them, and usually carry around an arrogant attitude. these are the people who fuel the bad reputation for mbas. these are the ones simply thinking.."hmm...if i take an mba, I'll stand out in the crowd"

however, other people are really interested in what they do, and they take the mba as a ways to improve their knowledge, and to really gain a deeper knowledge of their interest. for these people, they follow interest first, not money (though usually, if you follow your interests passionately, the money will come eventually). i personally believe that these are the people who end up "standing out in the crowd" as not only do they have a passion, but they also have deeper knowledge.

[sundaymorningstaple]

^^^^

+1 Spot On!

[Miss Swan]

Kudos to gocanucks' comments! I am in 100% agreement. I've got a girlfriend who keeps asking me whether she should do an MBA because she doesn't want to be 'left out of the rat race' and I just think it's a very silly reason to do an MBA.

And honestly, working in a HR related environment, I can't say that MBA automatically gives you that extra 1 grand to your salary. I can only speak for the companies I've worked for, but I just feel that the hiring manager will go, "oh an MBA, well that's nice" and end of story. Doesn't guarantee one the managerial position or that nice salary increment.

[Miss Swan]

If anything, people go for an MBA more for the networking benefits than anything else. And perhaps an insight into leadership and management.

And yes, like what JonOfArimathea， there might be some value seen if you're working in the consulting industry. My girlfriend works in the backend section of ANZ, and frankly I don't think the MBA is going to bring her anywhere, unless she plans to become a consultant.