[mikenuts]

I am 23 years old and i am weighing my options. Will the MBA really help that much with my career? As of now i work in sales for a national electronics distributor. My company offered to pay most if not all my tuition if i chose to pursue my MBA.

What are your opinions?

[mikenuts]

please explain your answers as well

[bronch]

The question I would ask... Is it necessary? Depends on what you want to do and where you want to be. I think if you want to stay in the corporate world and move up the management ladder, yes it's probably necessary and I think more education is always worth it. A 4 year degree today, is almost like a HS degree was, not too long ago. So many people have them... Just my opinion though.

[mikenuts]

I have been in the corporate world for a year and a half now. Should i wait till i have more work experience...or the sooner the better?

[mikenuts]

bump?

[nightkhan]

I think as far as when you should take it, that's up to you, whether you feel ready for it now, or you feel like getting some solid work time put in. Some of my friends worked for a year or 2 and felt ready for it and did executive programs while working. But they felt they were ready. I've heard of lots of top executives who didn't start until their 30's.

I agree with Bronch, a 4 year degree is too common now. Everyone has a 4 yr college degree. Now it's PhD's and Masters and MBAs to distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack.

Here's an interesting link as well in terms of pay grades for different types of degrees you have:

http://www.indeed.com/salary?cat=deg...3=Ph.D.&q4=MBA

[ward]

passing up on free education would be silly


the extra degee will make you worth more to your current CO and to any CO you work for in the future, plus there may be some hot ass in class with you.

[bronch]

Originally Posted by mikenuts

I have been in the corporate world for a year and a half now. Should i wait till i have more work experience...or the sooner the better?

I don't know how old you are, but if they're offering...And you're in tune with it, I would do it sooner rather than later. The longer you wait and older you get, the responsibilities start piling up. Suddenly, you don't don't feel like going back to school, or you have small children running around, or you're really into the golf game, whatever. Besides, you can't predict the future of your company and no one says you're married to your present company for life anyway... Even if they pay for school. They can't take away your education.

[Nikki]

If it's free do it! You will have more career opportunities and I don't know about you but I feel so enriched from learning new things.

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by mikenuts

I am 23 years old and i am weighing my options. Will the MBA really help that much with my career? As of now i work in sales for a national electronics distributor. My company offered to pay most if not all my tuition if i chose to pursue my MBA.

What are your opinions?

It really depends on what you want to focus on in your career. I know plenty of people who got MBA's and didn't nothing with them because they made poor career choices. The biggest benefit of an MBA is the networking you're able to establish but unless you go to a top-level school, even that won't help you much.

Most people who go to a Harvard, Yale, Columbia, etc. to get an MBA are really going there to make contacts that can help them get six-figure job when they graduate.

Another thing to keep in mind is MBA's class work is very general (by that I means your not focusing on any one thing like you would say for a Masters in Accounting or Information Systems, etc) and deals heavily in higher-level concepts. If you are not working in an environment where you get to apply and continually use the concepts you are learning, you will quickly forget them and the degree becomes useless.

If you really want an MBA, I would wait a couple of years and get more work experience before you start the course work. It will be alot more meaningful to you at that point and things will make more sense.

[mikenuts]

thanks for the input guys. I'm looking at accelerated programs now. Looks like most can be completed within 2 years with night classes.

[ShinBalNom]

I voted NO... but it really depends where you are in life. If you already have a steady job that would pay for your education, why the heck not. Its free and you get a 'boost' in your career. But know that it does come with consequences... such as:

cons:
1) late night classes
2) and studying after those late night classes,
3) waking up 5hrs for work after studying and late night classes,
4) and lastly,... exams, exams, and exams.

Pros:
1) get to meet some hot naive college chicks again.
2) did I mention hot chicks?!?!?
3) possible raise after 2 years of studying.

BUT... if it's free, I say go for it. You only live once. Make the best of it and try everything you can to make yourself better. Sky is the limit.

EDIT: I agree with Matsarge... go for a concentrated field.

That'll be 10% of your next pay check for counseling fees. :rocks:

[mikenuts]

Originally Posted by matsarge

It really depends on what you want to focus on in your career. I know plenty of people who got MBA's and didn't nothing with them because they made poor career choices. The biggest benefit of an MBA is the networking you're able to establish but unless you go to a top-level school, even that won't help you much.

Most people who go to a Harvard, Yale, Columbia, etc. to get an MBA are really going there to make contacts that can help them get six-figure job when they graduate.

Another thing to keep in mind is MBA's class work is very general (by that I means your not focusing on any one thing like you would say for a Masters in Accounting or Information Systems, etc) and deals heavily in higher-level concepts. If you are not working in an environment where you get to apply and continually use the concepts you are learning, you will quickly forget them and the degree becomes useless.

If you really want an MBA, I would wait a couple of years and get more work experience before you start the course work. It will be alot more meaningful to you at that point and things will make more sense.

I feel as though i should wait a little longer. But, the oppurtunity to have it financed by my company is extremely tempting.

tough choice

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by mikenuts

I feel as though i should wait a little longer. But, the oppurtunity to have it financed by my company is extremely tempting.

tough choice

If they'll pay for it now, they'll pay for it later. Make sure they are following IRS guidelines for tuition reimbursements or you'll end up with that money hitting your gross income and getting taxed for it.

[Scarabeo]

I have an MBA - it was a hard program but it paid off in the end..I got job offers I never would have received without the degree. Doing it part-time will not be easy but given that it will paid for, by all means go for it. Good luck!

[DFW_M]

I had the same decission to make, and I decided not to go for it.
OK, there are a few different options here. In my case, I am in engineering industry for past 10 years, doing pure tech work (currently typing from HKG on my way to China). My future plan is to get out from this specific line of work and go into the management. Options: a) Wait for the opening, and hope I am next; b) Wait for the opening, get an MBA (company would pay for it), and have (MAYBE) better chances; c) go other way about it.
For me, the option is -- C. Now, if you have the same dilema -- being in the sales distribution work (tech or not) and want to be more management/business oriented, you should get the advice from your management on what would be the best option -- be honest with them.
The MBA program in the USA generally has three options -- regular MBA with the kids going directly from the undergrad to the program. Next is usually called the Professional MBA which is generally the same progam as the first one, but in the evenings, time-tailored toward the professionals. Finally, the most advanced one is usually called the Executive MBA -- in the range of $60k+ for the program and will be at the different level -- less theory crap, more practical work. But the last one usually requires you to have about 7+ years of experience or managerial work. I almost got into theat one, but chose already mentioned option C from the above.

My option C in this case is to do the Expat program in India and start a group over there, train them and manage them -- gives me and my family the opportunity to experience a new culture and gives me necessary management experience.

The bottom line is -- talk to your management, their job is to recognize your needs and guide you into the right direction. If they cannot advise you or refuse to do it, or just say -- "Go do your job I'm paying you to do", then they do not deserve to be the managers. Be open with them, and tell them what you want. But do not rush it.

As for the MBA or any other degree -- it is always good to have extras, especially if the company wants to invest into you.

Good luck.

EDIT: Ah, one more thing -- the worst perception about getting an MBA would be that you would automatically get the salary bump or the promotion upon graduation. Really not guaranteed. In the company where I work, sometimes they discourage (technical) people from getting an MBA because of that. MBA would give you some valuable knowledge but may be completely unnecessary for what you want to achieve.

[txusa03]

everything you can add to your resume helps and if the education is free and you are still young, go for it.

[Ninjaneer]

Really good points from everyone so I won't repeat them. I'll add that you need to be real familiar with your company's reimbursement policy. Some policies state that you must, upon completion of your degree, stay with them for an extra year (unless you're laid off - ie. involuntarily departure cases don't count) or you'll be held liable to pay back what they reimbursed you. My company does this but only for reimbursements that occurred within the past year, so worst case scenario I'd have a year's worth of tuition to pay back.

With this in mind, and if this is your company's policy, ask yourself if you enjoy your current work and plan to stick with them and won't be affected. If not, hold off till you get a new job and your next employer can pay for it while you stay there for the right amount of time.

Another thing: not all companies reimburse the Executive MBA (the fast-paced and more costly one).

[mikenuts]

I spoke briefly to the HR dept about the reimbursement policy. Theaccelerated program i was looking at will consist of 10 classes. Each class meets 4 hours a week for 5 weeks. The preperation time is estimated to be at least 20 hours of out of class work.

My company has a policy of 1 year retention after the mba is completed. I do enjoy my current position but, i want to take every oppurtunity i can to advance myself within the compny.

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by mikenuts

I spoke briefly to the HR dept about the reimbursement policy. Theaccelerated program i was looking at will consist of 10 classes. Each class meets 4 hours a week for 5 weeks. The preperation time is estimated to be at least 20 hours of out of class work.

My company has a policy of 1 year retention after the mba is completed. I do enjoy my current position but, i want to take every oppurtunity i can to advance myself within the compny.

If you're going to move forward at some point, don't do any graduate level degree on an "accelerated" program. You're just short-changing yourself.

Look at it from this perspective, 4 hrs. a week for 5 weeks is 20 hrs. of class time per class. At 10 class, that's 200 hrs. of total classtime.

With my masters I had 3 hrs. per week for 12-13 weeks for 36-39 hrs. of class time. At 16 classes, that was 570+ hrs. of classtime. Even at 10 classes, I had 360+ hrs. of classtime. Even working full-time and handling other committments, I got done in 2 yrs.(that's taking max. hrs in summer as well). Add in "out of class" time and you can double or triple those numbers.

By doing an accelerated program, the classes are structured to only cover the main points because there's no time to dig into other things and really expand your knowledge. From a cost standpoint, most accelerated programs cost as much as the standard programs and you're only getting half the "face-time" with professors and fellow students.

Getting a graduate degree is not about doing it quick, it's doing it right and really gaining advanced-level knowledge in subjects. Do a typical program that's goes normal semester times, you'll thank yourself later for taking the extra time.

[mikenuts]

Originally Posted by matsarge

If you're going to move forward at some point, don't do any graduate level degree on an "accelerated" program. You're just short-changing yourself.

Look at it from this perspective, 4 hrs. a week for 5 weeks is 20 hrs. of class time per class. At 10 class, that's 200 hrs. of total classtime.

With my masters I had 3 hrs. per week for 12-13 weeks for 36-39 hrs. of class time. At 16 classes, that was 570+ hrs. of classtime. Even at 10 classes, I had 360+ hrs. of classtime. Even working full-time and handling other committments, I got done in 2 yrs.(that's taking max. hrs in summer as well).

By doing an accelerated program, the classes are structured to only cover the main points because there's no time to dig into other things and really expand your knowledge. From a cost standpoint, most accelerated programs cost as much as the standard programs and you're only getting half the "face-time" with professors and fellow students.

Getting a graduate degree is not about doing it quick, it's doing it right and really gaining advanced-level knowledge in subjects. Do a typical program that's goes normal semester times, you'll thank yourself later for taking the extra time.

thanks for the info. I plan on having a meeting with my bosses to see what they think i should do as well.

[Asiann]

Look amoung your peers of the company you are going to work for. Do they even require a masters degree to get ahead? My wife has a masters in PA and there were times when she was overqualified for positions. So you kinda have to know what you want to do and make a strategic plan in getting it done. If you have the time to do it now then do so because like eveyone says it does get harder once tou get married and start to have children. Much easier when you are younger and have no comittments.