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 also 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 professional MBA has become the most popular graduate degree 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 seasoned professionals, a professional MBA or online MBA can be especially appealing because practical experience and first-hand knowledge of the business world are assets that significantly add value to the degree.
Career Planning
Even working professionals in positions they love for a company they respect may be unsatisfied with resting on their laurels. One of the most common reasons people pursue a professional MBA is the desire to get a promotion and ensure that their career is following the right trajectory. Pursuing an MBA signals to your employer that you are serious about expanding your managerial skills and stepping into more leadership roles. In fact, some employers offer funding assistance for employees pursuing advanced education.
A professional MBA can also be a helpful tool when negotiating salary and work benefits. Increasing your business acumen can correspondingly increase your value to your employer and may therefore help ensure long-term employment.
New Employment Opportunities
Looking for new job opportunities can be taxing even for executives with years of work experience. An MBA or 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. A professional MBA 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 can also provide a solid foundation on which to build his or her own business. Some MBA programs offer an emphasis in entrepreneurship.
Networking Opportunities
There are few things 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. Both online and full-time MBA programs attract both students and professors from a wide range of fields and backgrounds who are bright, ambitious, leadership-oriented and business savvy. Your professors and fellow students can be a valuable resource to call on whether you need advice on how to deal with a challenge at work or are looking for new employment opportunities.
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 your education can be a fulfilling way to refuel your creative energy and your passion for your career by fostering a sense of accomplishment.
An Education That Works for You
One of the most attractive aspects of a professional MBA is that they cater to the needs of the working professional. Many universities offer part-time or online courses. Pursuing an MBA online offers those with demanding full-time jobs the flexibility to fit classes into their busy personal and professional lives.
The best way to help ensure stable, financially rewarding work is for people to make themselves indispensable to employers. An MBA can help seasoned employees gain valuable skills and experiences that will help them outshine the competition.
Learn more about UWF online MBA in Entrepreneurship program..
Sources:
Investopedia: When Is an MBA Worth It?
The Huffington Post: EMBA vs MBA: The 6 Things You Need to Know Before Deciding
Fortune: Why the MBA Has Become the Most Popular Master’s Degree in the U.S.
