What an MBA offers beyond a qualification
People have never been resourced to upskill than in 2018. Beyond traditional tertiary education, there is a myriad of ways to improve your skillset, from workshops and seminars to online providers like Udemy, which offer short courses in specific areas. There are co-working spaces for meeting fellow creatives and video tutorials to master software programs, while mentoring incubators are becoming more common by the day.
So why then, with all these options available, would a person commit the time, effort and money towards a Master of Business Administration (MBA)? Sure, it looks great on your CV but are there are any other tangible advantages?
It’s a complicated question. Identifying what you’re hoping to get out of an MBA is key to finding the right answer but on a general level, there are several benefits of studying an MBA outside of the piece of paper.
Exposure to talented, ambitious people
While the demographic of MBA students has shifted slightly in recent years (there are more young people pursuing the qualification), this hasn’t changed the type of individuals it attracts; driven professionals with an appetite for learning, hard work and getting the most out of themselves. Regardless of each student’s circumstances, they will undoubtedly be ambitious, and this is a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and bounce ideas off them. Who knows, you might learn something new.
Hone your soft skills
One of the great things about studying an MBA is that there is significant placed on enterprise or ‘soft’ skills. Leadership, communication, problem solving, critical thinking – these are the types of abilities that fall under this category, and are often the skills that employers lament are missing in university graduates applying for entry-level roles. You can have all the technical knowledge in the world but unless you complement it with a soft skillset, you’ll struggle to reach your full potential professionally.
Freshen up mentally
It is common for people to take up an MBA in their 40s and 50s as they aspire towards higher-end management positions. While this is an obvious benefit in its own right, for those who choose to cut back on hours or take a break completely from their regular job, it can be advantageous to reboot and focus their energy on something different. Many MBA students haven’t been in a formal education environment for years when they return to study, which can be an invigorating.
Useful Links:
The Good MBA Guide allows you to explore, compare and enquire to more than 100 MBA and related executive programs from over 50 education providers. 