The Major Benefits of an MBA in Today’s Job Market

The Major Benefits of an MBA in Today’s Job Market

July 22, 2010

It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that right now is a bad time to be deciding on a career path. Industries across the board have suffered layoffs and even bankruptcy due to our failing economy. For the student intent on choosing a viable profession, this makes the employment opportunity landscape look pretty bleak and there is even more pressure to choose correctly (rather than pursuing a subject of interest or passion). However, there are a few professions that continue to hold strong and even seem to be expanding despite the financial setbacks facing the global economy. And one of the best ways to ensure that your job options are flexible enough to take advantage of one or all of these fields is to work towards an online MBA.

The best thing about a Masters of Business Administration is that it is so versatile. While most degrees specialize in a particular field, an MBA will allow you access not only to a wide range of industries (literally any type of business you can imagine, from food service to corporate offices to government contracting), but also to an assortment of job possibilities within those sectors. The MBA is, first and foremost, a degree in management. So it will prepare you to lead a team of otherwise specialized individuals. However, where you choose to implement your skills is entirely up to you. You can certainly become a product manager or something similar, but you may also be interested in working in human resources, public relations, financial analysis, or corporate administration (since your education will no doubt include such diverse topics as resource management, communications, and advanced mathematics).

In addition, you don’t have to start out in business in order to enter an MBA program. A bachelors degree in any field can turn into a business degree because every industry requires people who have knowledge of the way business works. So if you’re interested in fashion, you may start with a BFA in design and shoot for an MBA as a way to begin managing retail stores, heading up a purchasing department, or even promoting your own line (rather than manning the register and stocking sweaters). Or if your music degree didn’t turn into a job opportunity with the New York Philharmonic as planned, perhaps earning an MBA in order to oversee a music store or become an executive at a record label is a better option. You could even start your own company if you use your time in school to form a sound business plan.

The point is, a business degree can take you places you never dreamed of. It can allow you to pursue an interest in any field and your job opportunities could range from creative to technical (or include some of both). You may end up leading a small team or an entire company, or you can finally realize your goal of shirking the job search entirely in favor of starting your own business and being the boss. Whatever the case, you simply can’t go wrong with a degree in business during an economic downturn. It will offer you the widest range of possibilities when searching for a job.

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