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This is reasoning that I've heard from MBAs themselves (I don't have an MBA myself, so would welcome any thoughts from actual MBA holders). The value of an MBA

by wenc 6y ago

This is reasoning that I've heard from MBAs themselves (I don't have an MBA myself, so would welcome any thoughts from actual MBA holders). The value of an MBA is in signaling, networking and knowledge, roughly in that order. In late career, assuming you're doing well-enough that you'd want to pursue an MBA, you'd already have amassed quite a bit of business knowledge from the school of hard knocks, that likely exceeds the theory b-schools can teach (although they can definitely still fill in knowledge gaps say in finance or strategy etc.). The marginal value of the theory is even less if you majored in business in college -- the difference between a BBA and an MBA in terms of coursework is generally not substantial. In late career, your experience and success (in different roles) is a generally stronger signal than credentials. In late career, you'd have developed a fairly good network unless you're looking to pivot to a totally different field or industry.

ghaff 6y ago
At the time I got mine, it was sort of a necessary stamp to switch from the engineering I was doing in the oil business to a different role in the computer business. But a long time ago. So maybe signaling, definitely credentialing, some knowledge. For those looking to switch from fairly pedestrian post-liberal arts jobs, the MBA was huge in many cases. The networking effect has never been big for me. I'm fine with having gotten an MBA. Degrees like the one I got were less expensive in those days and it landed me in a good place. But TBH, my undergrad (from a good school) has probably opened more doors than my MBA ever did. (Had I gone into finance, the situation might have been different.)
maroonblazer 6y ago
I got my MBA mid-career but my undergrad was in music and I switched careers 10 yrs out of college. So, while I'd amassed a healthy amount of business knowledge, the MBA taught me things I'd not learned on the job. That said, for many in my MBA cohort who had majored in business in undergrad, most I talked to said they weren't learning anything they didn't already know, save perhaps how to use their financial calculators in novel ways. Lends credence to the 'signaling' of an MBA, more than anything else.

by wenc 6y ago

ghaff 6y ago

At the time I got mine, it was sort of a necessary stamp to switch from the engineering I was doing in the oil business to a different role in the computer business. But a long time ago. So maybe signaling, definitely credentialing, some knowledge. For those looking to switch from fairly pedestrian post-liberal arts jobs, the MBA was huge in many cases. The networking effect has never been big for me. I'm fine with having gotten an MBA. Degrees like the one I got were less expensive in those days and it landed me in a good place. But TBH, my undergrad (from a good school) has probably opened more doors than my MBA ever did. (Had I gone into finance, the situation might have been different.)

maroonblazer 6y ago

I got my MBA mid-career but my undergrad was in music and I switched careers 10 yrs out of college. So, while I'd amassed a healthy amount of business knowledge, the MBA taught me things I'd not learned on the job. That said, for many in my MBA cohort who had majored in business in undergrad, most I talked to said they weren't learning anything they didn't already know, save perhaps how to use their financial calculators in novel ways. Lends credence to the 'signaling' of an MBA, more than anything else.