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MBA
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This may be the wrong forum for this, but I just wanted some professional opinions.
I work for a small construction company and wear many hats. I am not formally trained in HR, but have all HR respon
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Forums » Topic Forums » HR Career Forum » MBA
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MBA
posted at 8/13/2008 5:35 AM EDT
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Posts: 64
First: 4/18/2002 Last: 7/16/2010 |
This may be the wrong forum for this, but I just wanted some professional opinions.
I work for a small construction company and wear many hats. I am not formally trained in HR, but have all HR responsibilities as well as many accounting, payroll, insurance, marketing, and day-to-day management responsibilities. I've been considering getting an MBA for a couple years now but I am not sure if I should go forward with it. Any opinions or suggestions? |
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MBA
posted at 8/13/2008 6:12 AM EDT
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Posts: 2146
First: 2/15/2006 Last: 9/14/2011 |
Just some brainstorming here --
Do you want to stay with your current company? Will they view an MBA as valuable? Will the value of the MBA be worth what it will cost to get -- both in respect to time it takes and money it costs? Will your salary level increase to offset those costs? Will your current employer pay for any of the costs? Will they allow you time to study? Is the MBA program at a well respected university? Have you looked at other Masters programs that are more specialized (like a masters in HR instead)? Are there more industry accepted certifications (such as the PHR, CEBS, CCP, CMS, CPP, etc) that would be worth more overall than a Masters? Do you eventually want to focus on one area (especially in a large company) or do you like being over a bunch of different areas (especially in a small company)? I have a bachelors and a few certifications and can honestly say that a Masters would not get me any farther than I already am...between education and experience. But then again I am not looking to go to a large company or continue moving up the career ladder. So take my questions for what they are worth -- that is brainstorming! |
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MBA
posted at 8/13/2008 6:47 AM EDT
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Posts: 3870
First: 2/12/2002 Last: 11/2/2009 |
rrupert nails it in the last paragraph by in essence asking what you plan to do in your career.
If you're going to stay where you are, the MBA probably won't help. A solid MBA program will provide you with business fundamentals in multiple discplines (finance, accounting, management, marketing) as well as strategy development and execution. From what you describe of your current position, that knowledge likely wouldn't get used. But if you plan on moving up to larger companies, the MBA could be a very good credential to get you there. If that's the case, the observation rrupert makes that the quality of the program is critical. For good evaluations of what makes MBA programs good and why, check out MBA school surveys such as those done by US News and World Report and the Wall Street Journal. |
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MBA
posted at 8/13/2008 8:37 AM EDT
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Posts: 2146
First: 2/15/2006 Last: 9/14/2011 |
One thing I would caution against is allowing the Career Center at the university to influence you with their statistics of what grads with MBAs are making. I have found lately that a lot are majorly overselling salaries once finished because people who finished in 06 and 07 (when the economy was better) came out and received much higher offers than most of those coming out now. In my opinion,their goal is to sell you on their program.
I would also see if you can find recent alumni and see what kind of jobs/level/salaries they came out with. www.payscale.com does allow you to put in some details on experience and education. I suggest running your scenario both with and without an MBA and seeing how much a difference there is. The good thing about that site is that it gathers data from those who use it specifically, so sometimes you can find a really good match to your education and experience. |
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MBA
posted at 8/13/2008 12:59 PM EDT
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Posts: 159
First: 1/31/2008 Last: 9/17/2008 |
I have a MBA and it has served me quite well. Mine is in Operations though and not in HR. I have no accredited university or college training in HR, I learned it on the job and through other professional development opportunities.
With that said I tend to agree with the others. Why do you want to get a MBA and what do you want to use it for? Their are a myriad of Graduate programs out there and you should find one that is appropriate for your career goals. If all you want is training in HR there are other ways of attaining that besides Grad school. A Graduate degree should compliment and/or support your career path. while I have no objection to education for the sake of education, you seem more interested in education to augment a career. I also would advise caution when speaking to a colleges admissions department about Graduate programs. The reality of life is often times a great distance from what an admissions office will tell you. I have a MBA working for me as a clerk. He drank the college kool-aid and immediately after completing his under grad went into a MBA program. He has no workplace experience. He has shared with me, as have others, that the admissions office gave him the drink of increased earnings immediately as a result of the MBA. While eventually it will come together for him he currently makes $14 an hour in a non-exempt clerical role. He tells me many of his classmates are in solid middle management positions paying substantially more; they had good experience backgrounds. Don't be discouraged, I am a big believer in education and will support anyone pursuing it. Just be careful and make smart informed decisions that involve multiple sources of information. Good luck. |
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MBA
posted at 8/13/2008 1:07 PM EDT
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Posts: 64
First: 4/18/2002 Last: 7/16/2010 |
I have thought of many of the issues you all have brought up.
I know exactly what an MBA will and will NOT do to my pay, and I am not being sold by anyone (yet). I already have considerable experience that would supplement an advanced degree. I was really just wondering if anyone could say that an MBA helps with actually running a company, or if it's just a piece of paper that's supposed to get you more money. Thanks for all the thoughts. Still weighing my options. |
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MBA
posted at 8/13/2008 4:05 PM EDT
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Posts: 3870
First: 2/12/2002 Last: 11/2/2009 |
I think you're looking for a very simplistic answer to a rather complex question. And there is no such answer.
It's a piece of paper that has helped me make a very good living. It gave me an appreciation for other business functions and allowed me to integrate my activities as an HR leader with leaders in other disciplines. I got a lot of insight into IT and what it could and couldn't do. Even though I had years of leadership experience, I still learned a number of new approaches to managing people. Amongst a lot of other things, I learned about a lot of "gotchas" to avoid. And I learned how to gather business data, analyze it, develop solutions to business problems, create business strategies and increase business profits. So if knowledge like that would be of use to you, then get an MBA. If things are just hunky dory at Joe's Construction Company, won't ever change and everyone is making oodles of money, then it won't help you. |
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MBA
posted at 8/14/2008 4:34 AM EDT
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Posts: 159
First: 1/31/2008 Last: 9/17/2008 |
Your second comment is very telling to me and as such I would recommend delaying Graduate School. There appears to be a fundamental misunderstanding of what a Graduate degree does. The degree no more helps run a company than it does help an individual make more money. The factors involved in those two things are individual skills, individual experience, individual "work ethic" and of course the education. A MBA is simply an advanced tool that teaches you how to use mnore advanced tools.
It is up to the individual to put all of those pieces together and make it work. Simply having an MBA (which is why when and where you get it is as imnportant as having it)won't run your company any better nor will it make you more money. Anyone who tells you differently has another agenda. |
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MBA
posted at 8/14/2008 5:19 AM EDT
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Posts: 64
First: 4/18/2002 Last: 7/16/2010 |
I think I did actually get an answer...
I think the years of experience I have are very valuable, but I feel I have used all the tools that common sense and experience have taught me and I need something more to draw upon. Nork's response leads me to believe that there are advanced ideas and practices that you gain from the degree - "gotchas" to avoid, different management methods and practices, etc. Perhaps I just wanted to know if anyone felt like the MBA education just felt like more of the same or if it offered new points of view. |
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MBA
posted at 8/18/2008 9:14 AM EDT
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Posts: 237
First: 7/10/2007 Last: 8/31/2011 |
Our esteemed sr. colleague (HR Pro) knows his stuff. Cant tell you how many resumes Ive seen with MA, MS or MBA on them and only fast food work experience. The sad fact is that a masters degree without relevant work experience doesnt buy you any points over and BA when applying for entry level positions. Some employers are actually skeptical of hiring such a person. The difference come down the road when youve got 10+ years experience under you belt and youre looking at Director or V-P level positions. |
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