The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
The $15,000 piece of paper
ryuprecht
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
In a nutshell:
When I got my promotion last summer, my new boss said that I needed to look into going back to school for my MBA. She made it very clear that I was not going to be able to move any higher with this company without a masters degree, because for some stupid reason they won't accept "or x years of experience".
Well, here I am one year later and my boss is leaving. They've short-listed me against three other candidates for the job, and it's been made clear that they are assuming that I will complete my MBA within 2 years if I want this job. So now I have to look into an online degree program.
So the question is, how useful is this? I talked to a counselor at the school (National University) and she tells me that I'm pretty much buying a piece of paper with my name on it, since the classes are easy and my BS degree was likely a lot harder to get (I went to a pretty good school for my BS). I don't really give a shit myself, but it could mean more money. It could also mean that I have to work harder. I hate having to make this choice.
Thoughts?
When I got my promotion last summer, my new boss said that I needed to look into going back to school for my MBA. She made it very clear that I was not going to be able to move any higher with this company without a masters degree, because for some stupid reason they won't accept "or x years of experience".
Well, here I am one year later and my boss is leaving. They've short-listed me against three other candidates for the job, and it's been made clear that they are assuming that I will complete my MBA within 2 years if I want this job. So now I have to look into an online degree program.
So the question is, how useful is this? I talked to a counselor at the school (National University) and she tells me that I'm pretty much buying a piece of paper with my name on it, since the classes are easy and my BS degree was likely a lot harder to get (I went to a pretty good school for my BS). I don't really give a shit myself, but it could mean more money. It could also mean that I have to work harder. I hate having to make this choice.
Thoughts?
ryuprecht on
0
Posts
If you can go without, don't get your MBA. If you love your job and want to work your way up the ladder, go for it.
Push for it - things get easier as you get higher to the top, more people to do things for you, and the work itself is not really that intensive, it's about co-ordination and social networks rather than nitty gritty details. You have more things you are responsible for, but you don't have to get your hands nearly as dirty.
So go do it. Taking the short road at this point would fuck you really really hard when maybe you just want to relax and get a backrub.
You should look into "Executive MBA" (weekend MBA) programs for professionals, though. They're catered to people like you, and most good business schools have something like this. I'm not sure if there's a good school in your area, but I imagine an MBA from a "brick-and-mortar" would look better than an online degree, especially if you change jobs. The fact that the lady didn't try to tell you what you'd gain from the degree makes me suspicious. However, I'm not at all a business person, and I'm just relating what my friends say. Take that as you will.
If not, there's another strategy... leave this company for a larger one with a tuition reimbursement program, get your MBA and further experience outside of the company, and then float your resume back over to them.
It is unfair to you for them to tell you, "You need X piece of paper to qualify for this role, no matter your experience." and then not help you get there. It also shows a lack of commitment to you on their behalf.
In your case I would say go for it (is the company going to reimburse you for the classes?) - it sounds like it will help you and it can't really hurt. However, based on my personal experiences, I think that MBAs are overvalued and not a necessity the way some people treat them. Also, getting an MBA can't make a person a great manager, but it can make a shitty manager think that they're great - this is a bad situation. YMMV for all of this.
I'm very sharp in this field. Easily the best at my level and at least one level above.
I have 497 employees that work for me now, the promotion would give me about 900 employees.
My employer only reimburses $1k per year for tuition.
I could do the Executive MBA program at the good B-school around here, but it would cost me $50K and kill my time with my family. Or I could do the cheapy one with my hands tied behind my back. My employer doesn't care whether it's a real one or not.
If I ever left the company, I may not even put the MBA on my resume, I might be embarassed.
Plan? No. But I've learned that planning is just masturbation. All my plans go to shit at some point.
I have definitely considered that. Here's a question though to anyone willing to answer:
What is the reputation associated with an online-type degree? I personally put no stock in them, but then again, I'm a pompous snob who is accused of looking down my nose at people all the time. My organization seems to put value on them, but they may just be fucktards.
For the record, I have an easy job that pays me good money with great benefits, so it's not like I NEED to leave or anything. I'm pretty blessed as far as that goes.
If you put no stock in an on-line degree why do you want one? If you're going to do it at least get it done at a good institution so should you choose to leave this company, or this company folds, you will have something to fall back on. An MBA from a good school is something quite nice to fall back on in the event of the unforseen.
Shogun Streams Vidya
It's not like this is the only company to require an MBA when reaching a certain position... almost all the good ones do. Think of this as an investment in your future.... quit being a baby about it and just get into an on-line program at the nearest state school... it shouldn't cost you 50k if you get in-state tuition.
They're shit. They're useful only for a job that utilizes them as a placeholder for promotions. They are essentially meaningless as far as getting a new job that would require an MBA. Why? Because you're going to be competing with someone else who also has an MBA, but most likely from a real school.
I'm going to a real school for an MBA -- it's 3+ years, 54 credit hours, capstone projects & all. It is not easy, but I am learning a shitload of stuff. This is what people mean when they mean a "good mba" vs. a "piece of paper." You can buy all of the certifications and quickie degrees you want, but when you're trying to convince someone to actually pay you for your skills, they're absolutely going to check out where your qualifications came from.
You're not going full-time, right?
it's not the kind of program that you get because your job says "we'll give you a promotion if you get an mba. we don't care which one." it's the kind of program for those who actually want to learn about business and management. But it's more representative of a real masters program. There isn't a daytime program, though, so there are no "full-time students" in the program, which is nice -- no competing with people who just study all day