Article Title: Can MBA Degree Guarantee Career Success?
Author Byline: Practical Tips for Young Urban Professionals
Author Website: http://youngurbanprofessionals.net

In part, it may or can contribute to a successful career, but never a guarantee. However, if you want to grab the opportunities below, you might want to consider getting an MBA degree.

The demand for marketing, advertising, promotions and public relations managers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012. -U.S. Department of Labor’s 2004-05 Occupational Outlook Handbook

The MBA Advantage

For those of us who are pursuing careers in these fields, this is a good time to consider an MBA degree. While, as I asserted, MBA degree is no guarantee, it can however give you an edge over other employees or candidates for managerial positions. In fact, some companies would require managerial candidates to get a graduate degree to qualify for a management office.

“Why would I spend my time in the university again? I have already put on 5 years of my life in college, and then you expect me to put on another three in graduate studies? That is too much! It’s time to earn my way through my career, besides work experience is much more important than an MBA degree!”

Sound familiar?

Many young professionals, I noticed, tend to shun pursuing graduate degrees or higher education beyond college. Some would even contend that it is a waste of time and money. Further; they aver that you can succeed without a MBA strap on your shoulders. I agree partly, because a degree is only one of many contributing factors in career success. I have already made that assertion earlier. On the other hand, I disagreed on the former contentions. Graduate degrees, an MBA for example, have their own merits, and would prove to be an advantage if you are vying for a managerial position.

During my stint as Corporate HR Manager, I have interviewed more than a thousand candidates for specialist, supervisory, managerial, and executive positions. I have noticed, roughly, only 1 out of 10 candidates has a Master’s degree or is pursuing a graduate program. My stats show that whenever I short list one of these candidates against two others who are not in their category, 99% of the time, the CEO or COO will prefer the former.

What does this implies?

Young urban professionals with Master’s degrees or pursuing graduate education are:

* Viewed to have more potential for promotion to leadership or managerial positions than other candidates. Which can easily be translated to savings and profits on the cost of staff hiring and training;
* Considered as forward-looking professionals. They step ahead of their peers, innovative, creative, and are visionaries;
* Considered as good and well-informed business decision makers. They value statistics, careful studies, and planning while taking calculated risks;
* Found to be aggressive and tenacious in any undertakings. Getting an MBA, for example, is a result of hardwork and perseverance in itself because of stiffer requirements than a bachelor’s degree;
* Serious about their career growth.

Here are your quick takes:

* If you are not fending for your own family, meaning you can afford to pursue a graduate program on a full-time basis –enroll today and get that MBA or graduate degree of your choice. Sometimes, a job can wait a little longer. An investment on graduate degree today can mean more and better job opportunities and offers in the future;
* If you are being offered a job, do not just negotiate about the salary and benefits package, include time allotment or scholarship fund for a graduate program;
* If pursuing graduate studies in-campus is not feasible, try online graduate courses or any other similar on line universities. By all means , get that master’s degree;
* Do not put-off pursuing graduate education in the latter years of your career, for by then you might not need it. You need it today!

Again, can MBA or a graduate degree guarantee career success?

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

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