While many of us think about the challenges of looking for work in terms of recent college graduates, the quest to find satisfying employment can affect seasoned working professionals as well. It is not uncommon for people with years — if not decades — of work experience to want to explore new career options.
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is now one of the most popular graduate degrees in the United States. This comes as no surprise given its well-earned reputation as one of the best ways to gain remunerative, challenging and secure employment. For working professionals with entrepreneurial aspirations, the online MBA with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship program from the University of West Florida (UWF) may be especially appealing. The practical experience and first-hand professional knowledge students gain are assets that significantly add value to the degree — and to a student’s business ventures.
Career Planning
Even professionals working in jobs they love for companies they respect may be unsatisfied with continuing in their existing role with their current employer. One of the most common reasons people pursue an MBA is the desire to get a promotion and ensure that their career is following the right trajectory. Pursuing an MBA signals to employers that an employee is serious about expanding managerial skills and stepping into more leadership-oriented roles. In fact, some employers offer funding assistance for employees pursuing advanced education. Educational assistance and tuition reimbursement are increasingly common components of compensation packages and sign-on incentives.
A professional MBA can also be a helpful tool when negotiating salary and work benefits. Increasing one’s business acumen can improve performance and add value for employers and may therefore help ensure long-term employment. Plus, employers value the flexible, versatile skillset that students gain from the comprehensive education afforded by an MBA in entrepreneurship.
New Employment Opportunities
Looking for new job opportunities can be taxing, even for executives with years of work experience. An online MBA program gives students a generalized business education that touches on all the essential managerial skills of value to employers in a variety of organizations. The advanced degree can give job seekers an edge over others in their field, or it can even help candidates move into a new field entirely.
For those with an entrepreneurial spirit, an MBA provides a solid foundation for building a business from the ground up. This is one of many reasons why a working professional may choose to enroll in a specialized MBA in Entrepreneurship such as the one offered fully online by UWF. Coursework in this program covers everything from organizational behavior and managerial accounting to business analytics and venture development, preparing students for the myriad roles and responsibilities of the entrepreneur.
Networking Opportunities
There are few elements that fuel creative thinking and energize the mind as much as meeting other individuals who value intellectual curiosity and share a desire to expand their skill sets. Online MBA programs attract both students and professors from a wide range of fields and backgrounds who are bright, ambitious, leadership-oriented and business savvy. Professors and fellow students can be a valuable resource to call on whether seeking advice on challenges at work, looking for new employment opportunities or preparing for getting a new business going.
Personal Growth
Sometimes the decision to go back to school can have a much more personal dimension. Doing the same work for years can lead to a sense of stagnation and a thirst for new challenges. Furthering one’s education can be a fulfilling way to refuel creative energy and passion for a career by fostering a sense of accomplishment.
An Education That Works for You
One of the most attractive aspects of an online MBA is that the educational model caters to the needs of the working professional. Pursuing an MBA online offers those with demanding full-time jobs the flexibility to fit classes into their busy personal and professional lives. Convenience and flexibility are important benefits of online learning.
The best way to help ensure stable, financially rewarding work is for people to make themselves indispensable to employers and investors alike. An MBA can help seasoned employees gain valuable skills and experiences that will help them outshine the competition, whether as an employee or as a business owner.
Learn more about UWF’s online MBA with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship program.
