Calling all MBA and PHD holders (FAQ)

abterror

24 Jan 08, 00:39

Hi guys,

I was thinking about to take up a MBA course in these couple of years.
However, i would like to seek your opinion of these issues.

1) Is there a demand for for MBA in the market right now? If so what are the prospect for MBA holders.
If so, will it benefit a fresh person or it will most likely to benefit one which has more work experience.
So where will the fresh one usually be allocated should they get employed.

2)Is there any traits in a person that will benefit from it?
Should they be like knowledgeable, good communication skill, good network etc? Sometimes a person who is fresh may not be able to excel better than one who had exposal.
Should we prepared ourself to possess leadership skill and need to do a lot of self studies before we actually start the course?

Any tip on what we should do before we are considered rdy to embark on this path?

Jem777

24 Jan 08, 00:43

Concentration for your MBA? I'd say every piece of paper helps.

Jem777

24 Jan 08, 00:45

Double post

abterror

24 Jan 08, 00:48

Originally posted by Jem777:
Concentration for your MBA? I'd say every piece of paper helps.

What i heard is you will be attached to various companies to do a lot of research for 1 year.
In the end you will be require to file a report on the findings and thus your attitude and finding will be the result which you get.
However i am not sure if i am ready mentally to take up such a course.
I was wondering should i wait till i get into a managerial position before i take up the course so as to be mentally prepare or is it ok to take up even when you are in a non managerial post.

Will obtaining the MBA at a lvl where u lack managerial post pose a problem should you want to use your MBA to seek for a job.

Because once you are MBA qualified, they might at least demand a min few years of managerial skills.

Jem777

24 Jan 08, 00:53

Originally posted by abterror:
What i heard is you will be attached to various companies to do a lot of research for 1 year.
In the end you will be require to file a report on the findings and thus your attitude and finding will be the result which you get.
However i am not sure if i am ready mentally to take up such a course.
I was wondering should i wait till i get into a managerial position before i take up the course so as to be mentally prepare or is it ok to take up even when you are in a non managerial post.

Will obtaining the MBA at a lvl where u lack managerial post pose a problem should you want to use your MBA to seek for a job.

Because once you are MBA qualified, they might at least demand a min few years of managerial skills.

I thought thesis and research papers were pretty common when taking your masters (I think you might have an option of doing a thesis/research or taking a test). How much work experience do you have now? Why would it post a problem? It should be an advantage I thought.

abterror

24 Jan 08, 01:09

Originally posted by Jem777:
I thought thesis and research papers were pretty common when taking your masters (I think you might have an option of doing a thesis/research or taking a test). How much work experience do you have now? Why would it post a problem? It should be an advantage I thought.

Personally, i think i do not have a lot of exposual in in terms of a managerial lvl.
The only idea i have is there will only be a research needed to be done in order to determine how well you score.
I beileve there should be some min requirement in us in order to be mentally prepared for this. eg participate in project or problem solving in a stragetic lvl.

After you grad, most likely you will embark on some position from manager , VP or even deputy directors or researchers.

For certain high position, the companies might require you to have some exposual to supervision and leading a team of ppl.
Hence should you only have the qualification and without the experience.
It may in the end cause a threat in your career life.

I would also like to get more infomation from ppl who has knowledge about this area so i can make a correct decision if i am suitable for this path.

What is the point of wasting your money and time when there is little demand in the market.

geodome

24 Jan 08, 03:08

Personally, I think MBA is useful if you are doing an MBA at a top business school such as INSEAD or Chicago Graduate School of Business or Tanaka. You should see the swarm of recruiters to these business schools.

Jem777

24 Jan 08, 11:27

Originally posted by geodome:
Personally, I think MBA is useful if you are doing an MBA at a top business school such as INSEAD or Chicago Graduate School of Business or Tanaka. You should see the swarm of recruiters to these business schools.

Prussssssss one. The main advantage of doing any degree at a top school would be the connections that you make.

dxdx

24 Jan 08, 11:36

i would say in one way or another, a mba still benefits you be it in the short term or long term.

the advantages being:
1. extra salary
2. network
3. soft skills
4. more experience (debatable tho)

FireIce

24 Jan 08, 13:36

now every tom dick harry oso taking MBA
making its value drop....
oversupply...

dangerboi

24 Jan 08, 15:33

Take a simple look into Singapore:

How many companies are there? How many are family businesses? Do you think some one would allow you to take on the role as the director by the mere fact that you have a MBA. Most directors are the owners of the companies/

I'd advise you that the most people would only achieve a GM position and for multi-national companies, you could be a director but it depends on your luck.

Either way if you've no luck, you are doomed

FireIce

24 Jan 08, 15:36

yday someone told me something quite interesting

luck = preparation meets opportunity

onlooker123

24 Jan 08, 21:46

abterror,

what are your current qualifications? are you working already?

Doesn't mean u get an MBA, the path is golden. Also crucially depends where the MBA is from leh.

bryanw

24 Jan 08, 21:58

if frm monash?

onlooker123

24 Jan 08, 22:02

I'm not familiar with Monash MBAs sorry.

Jem777

24 Jan 08, 22:09

Originally posted by bryanw:
if frm monash?

Melbourne business school for the win! But then again Monash does have a great business school. I'm impartial to Monash.

abterror

3 Feb 08, 11:49

Originally posted by onlooker123:

abterror,

what are your current qualifications? are you working already?

Doesn't mean u get an MBA, the path is golden. Also crucially depends where the MBA is from leh.

Currently, i have a degree in business and management studies specialise in marketing. So far, what i have seen is that, it is already a very common thing to possess degree, and sometimes it is "tough" to seek a good job. As the higher you go, the less position there is available for you.

I had a friend working in SMU, so he was asking me to join him in getting an MBA as it helps in the future, In which degree holders my stop at a manager lvl whereas MBA may hit anywhere from GM to dircector lvl.

He has told me all the beauty of MBA, but personally i ponder is there such a market. and what kind of ppl will actually benefit from it. And what kind of course will there be a demand.