Mba Graduates Find Excitement, Staying-Power In Alternate Career Paths

According to CIO, two of the top job requests on its employment Web site desire candidates with a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) combined with credentials in either computer science or information technology. And the demand for hybrid professionals certainly doesn’t end there. The traditional route to big business, finance, and banking usually ran through MBA programs. Today, MBAs are beginning to rethink their career paths.

The Intrinsic Interdisciplinary Nature of Business
MBA graduates have long been accustomed to leaving graduate school for traditional roles in finance–such as banking or financial planning. In light of today’s ever-changing economic and financial landscape, many MBAs are not following tradition. Because business principles apply across industries, many MBAs are eschewing customary career tracks for new challenges in technology, consulting, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit organizations.

MBA programs typically expose graduates to all aspects of business, so graduates can master the “soft skills” that are critical for success across industries, such as client orientation, presentation skills, and communication talents. This diverse training in leadership and resource management is generally needed in all industries, not just finance–which has become paramount in light of the economic slowdown.

For example, information technology workers in particular are considering grad school in order to earn the management acumen that can translate into better career opportunities. In today’s economy, specializing in one more than one particular niche may be the best educational path to take.

Some Real Life Examples
The Wall Street Journal cites a Robert W. Baird & Co. investment bank recruiting survey that reveals a 50 percent increase in interest at the M.B.A. level over 2007. Finance and risk management are a couple of the primary industries that benefits from MBAs looking to enter other fields, particularly at the mid- and small-scale organizational level. Other statistics of note include:

•    Middle-market M&A investment bank Harris Williams & Co. has seen a 30 to 35 percent increase in applications from MBA students
•    Consulting firm Bain & Co. reports applications at the MBA level have increased 10 to 15 percent
•    Less than 50 percent of graduates at New York University’s Stern School of Business and University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School enter the finance industry

While MBAs may willingly enter alternative career paths, many are now veering of the common path out of necessity. Smart candidates can get themselves through a bear market by earning as much wide-ranging experience as possible and then make that experience work for them in a new position.

Mixing Business and Passion
If you are considering enrolling in an MBA program, you may want to consider the following:
•    Spend some time priming for your MBA in a job that has some similarities to career tracks of interest
•    Focus primarily on the MBA and internship
•    After your schooling, enter your industry of choice: learn about successful start-ups and build relationships with other professionals
•    After you’re established, start a company, capitalizing on prior networks, resources and relationships

The bottom line is that as MBAs continue to branch off into uncharted territories, new doors of opportunity and advancement should continue to open. While you may not be able to rush into positions at venture capital firms or Wall Street, positions in consulting, corporate finance, and private equity firms should continue to be available.

Keep in mind that the MBA program is typically demanding in and of itself, and is not the type of curriculum to enter into lightly. But if you have prior experience in an industry, adding an MBA can be a way to maximize your potential.

Should I do my graduate school in MBA Masters of Business Administration?

Hello,

I am trying to decide if I should pursue an MBA degree and I need some advise or idea from some experienced people out there. I have a bachelor degree in Computers and I am trying to decide if I should go for an MBA. I am 27 years and I feel like IT jobs are not as enjoying as I thought. I couldnt find the job in that field that I enjoy. Now I am doing my masters in Telecommunications but I dont know if I should transfer to the MBA program. If I do transfer do you recommend I go full time or part time. Please help me or tell me where or who can help me figure it out. Thanks alot.

Also is there a place where I can go to that can help me figure out what I like and what I enjoy and what I should do in my life and with my future?

Online Business Degree Programs

With the advent of Internet modern businesses are facing an ever increasing competition, as buyers and producers/ sellers can now connect with each other even from the remotest part of the world. Thereby, pursuing business degree is very beneficial for a long-term and successful career. These kinds of degree programs are now so popular that not only high school graduates but a huge number of working professionals are also pursing such courses. In fact to meet this demand, several universities are now offering online degree programs in Business. With these online business degree programs you can easily master in several aspects of business such as, statistics, finance, economics, human resource, e entrepreneurship, business ethics, marketing, accounting, public administration and e-commerce.

Online Degrees:

There are several business degree programs including bachelors and master’s degree in business as well as degree or certification programs in specialized aspects of business. These include:

Master of Business Administration (MBA): It is an advanced degree for specially designed for working professionals who are seeking opportunities to gain expertise in business administration and management. Specialization options in MBA include marketing, human resource, finance and accounts, tech management and public administration etc. There are ample job opportunities in government and non-profit organizations as well as in corporate sectors.

Entrepreneurship: A career as an entrepreneur is both promising and rewarding. This type of degree program helps you to learn the various factors essential for creating a business plan, information about human resource management, knowledge of finance management and accounting, and other business related issues. It also helps to create customer oriented financial awareness and a firm social networking.

Human Resources: This degree program provides training on several organization workplace issues such as payroll, schedules, recruitment, training and office safety. It also helps you to learn the fundamentals for working through conflicts as well as to find solutions for the various office problems and crises.

Accounting: This particular profession has a variety of specializations including budget analysis, auditing, tax filing or financial planning. However the main job responsibilities of an accountant are scrutinizing and arranging the expenditure of the company and its individuals.

Project management: This program enables you to learn the skills and knowledge essential for supervising and managing group projects. These skills include making schedules for given projects, assigning responsibilities to the team members, preparing detailed progress reports, creating budget, and directing the team members. There are a number of job opportunities for project managers in several companies and also in other non-profit agencies.

Healthcare Management: The course content of this kind of program includes Health Services Administration, Health Sciences, Public Health, Long-term Care Administration, Public Administration, and Business Administration etc. This program is very beneficial for both fresher interested in healthcare industry as well as for existing healthcare managers in order to achieve advancement in their career.

You can find a comprehensive directory of online colleges and universities offering several business degree programs at TopEducationGuide.com

WANTED: More Women in Executive MBA Programs

How can Wall Street get itself out of the current financial crisis? They can start by putting more women at the helm. According to the latest research, companies with female board members traditionally outperform those without, and 80 percent of purchasing decisions in the U.S. are made by women.

If this is true, why aren’t more qualified women attaining business leadership positions? To date, only 15.7 percent of Fortune 500 corporate officers are women.

This may be partly due to the dismal enrollment among women in Executive MBA (EMBA) programs. So business schools are actively courting women, by addressing some of the stumbling blocks that have traditionally kept women from pursuing the degree.

The Work/Life Balance
The Wall Street Journal reports that the nation’s EMBA programs are only comprised of 20 percent females. EMBA courses generally run full days on weekends, to accommodate those anxious to complete degrees while managing full-time work schedules. For many women who see weekends as family time, the EMBA is fairly unappealing.

It’s a work/life balance that women are increasingly seeking and, perhaps mistakenly, believing that EMBA programs and the corporate fast track won’t offer. However, the EMBA may offer more of such a balance than traditional programs, because it can prepare women for career advancement more quickly, without causing them to lose ground at work.

Other reasons many women cite for shunning EMBA programs include: difficulty finding money to cover the cost of the program, the perception that the glass ceiling may keep real advancement at bay, a lack of female role models, a lack of encouragement from peers, family or employers, as well as a lack of confidence in their own math skills.

What Women Have, B-Schools Want
Universally, businesses and business schools alike agree that a diverse population of men and women is extremely valuable. This diversity can enhance fellow students’ experiences by increasing the pool of skills and ideas available, enabling greater networking opportunities, leveling the playing field in the workplace, and producing qualified candidates who may be more likely to identify with businesses’ intended consumers.

Traditionally, the “feminine” traits of emotional engagement, altruism, and cooperation have been perceived as weak and therefore less valuable in the profit-and-loss corporate world. Yet it’s these traits that, in a struggling economy, are vital to finding and building relationships with customers.

Because it pays to draw women to EMBA programs, many business schools are making themselves more attractive. They’re recruiting more female faculty, featuring more women in advertising materials, offering flexibility through online courses, and trying to make more EMBA scholarships available.

A Return on Your EMBA Investment
There are numerous reasons why it can pay to earn an EMBA, not the least of which is that it can enhance your ability to identify with and court clients. The MBA credential offers a boost to your confidence and credibility with colleagues, which can ensure others that you have the expertise needed to take on more responsibility.

Not to mention the salary boost. The Executive MBA Council says that in 2007, students surveyed reported a 21 percent salary increase after completing their EMBA, and 43 percent of students received promotions while still enrolled in their EMBA programs.

An EMBA can provide you with numerous valuable tools, including the know-how to assess risk, harvest innovative ideas, forecast market behavior, and effectively market products. Plus, those female entrepreneurs looking for investment capital or angel funding may likely find that investors are far more receptive to those backed by an MBA education.

So while the sacrifice of time and money may at first seem overwhelming, EMBA programs are becoming more and more accessible and attractive than they’ve ever been, and with the return on investment this degree provides, now might be just the right time to look into it.

which is the best online university for business and accounting?

i am from outside us n canada and it looks worthwhile for me to get a graduate online degree and then transfer my self to a regular uni for my masters and then apply for visa n secondly $$$ are of real value to me

are accreted online schools such as capella and walden universitys respected in the business world?

I am looking for a PhD program that would fit my busy workday; I have been pondering the loads of online. Universities that are available. Two things concern me first is the cost of these institutions which are high and also the reputation of these schools. Although some are accredited by one of the 6 recognized accreditation institutions, I wanted some opinion on the way these degrees are seen in the business and education communities, any help would be great help.

Getting Through the Top MBA Programs with MBA Application Essays

Getting a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree is one sure way to upgrade your skills in the field of management, finance, and business and advance in your career.  However, getting admitted into your desired program in not an simple process.  The admissions panel of the business schools offering the MBA programs ensures that every applicant that will be being accepted to their program is one of the best and very much suited to take the course.  Thus, admission to MBA programs is one of the most competitive in terms of the selection process.

MBA degree admissions requirements

The different admissions criteria may vary from one school to another, but there is still a general admission criteria for all.  One of the most vital requirements for admission is the the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score. Other criteria include the performance of the student in his ir gr college degree as reflected through the transcript of records.  Work experience is not a requirement in some schools but is considered a definite plus.  Applicants are also assessed by the  admissions panel through their MBA application esssays.  The essay will show whether or not the personality of the applicant is suited to fit into the program.  In essence, these application requirements will be used by the admission committee to know if they have the basic skills to be successful in the MBA program.  Vital skills include analytical, mathematical, and interpersonal skills.

Your goal based on your preferred school

Aside from the basic skills expected from an MBA student, specific business schools usually have preferences on the individual personality and characteristics of the students.  This may be based on the vision and mission of the school, its image, or the general culture of the student populace.  It is therefore important that the prospective student, as much as possible, will be able show through the submitted requirements that he or she deserves the coveted spot.  So before the applicant prepares the requirements and writes several copies of MBA application essays, it would be best if he or she already has preferred schools in mind.  The choice can be based on the offered degree programs and their reputation for academic excellence.

Factors in choosing a school

The reputation of the school can be considered as the most important deciding factor.  The school with the best reputation  always lands on top of the choice list   According to the 2008 Best MBA Program of BusinessWeek, the top MBA degree programs are those offered by Harvard Business School of Harvard University, Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University, and the University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business.  To preserve the good reputation, these schools are also known for their competitive selection process.  So prior to applying, applicants must assess their needs and goals to see if these schools have MBA programs that best fit their personalities and preferences.

Making yourself look suitable for applying into the top schools may entail a lot of work, even if you have a good transcript of records and GMAT score.  But you can make it easier by preparing for your personal interview and application essay.   The best way to do this is to gather samples you can find online or from friends who had done their personal statements for MBA.  You essay is your way to properly express yourself to the admissions committee by showing the qualities that you have beyond the expected skills of an MBA student.

How do I find a tutor for my online graduate degree business classes?

Taking a class (Corporate Enterprise Management in a Complex Global Setting) and I think I may need a tutor for a little help and guidance. I live in San Antonio, TX– instructor is located in Missouri. I work during the day–so I’m not able to call and converse with instructors for questions. I know I can email them–but it takes anywhere from 3-7 days to get a reply sometimes and gaining understanding is kind of hard through emails… Help!!!

Pursuing an MBA Business Degree Economics Can Increase Your Marketability

The recent downturn in the economy has many people playing armchair quarterback over decisions made by the Federal Reserve during the last few years. These guys are supposed to be geniuses when it comes to economics, right? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize that there may have been errors in judgment regarding interest rates and home financing. Think you could do better than Bernanke or Greenspan? Don’t even think about being considered for such a high ranking position until you have an MBA Business Economics Degree.

An MBA Business Economics Degree goes beyond basic economics. The person in charge of making decisions regarding one of the strongest economies in the world will be required to have knowledge and expertise in the following areas: monetary policy, advanced economic theories like macro and micro economics, international markets and foreign trading, an understanding of leading economic indicators, – just to name a few. This person would need to be able to analyze economic issues quickly and accurately, as well as be able to assess and consider alternative economic policies to help achieve stability in a tumultuous economy.

Still want to pursue your dream of chairing the Federal Reserve? Then you definitely want to start looking at schools that have serious MBA Business Economics programs. There are several institutions of higher learning that offer such a degree program. Take the time to investigate several of them and the coursework they offer to ensure that their curriculum is in line with your career goals. In addition to accounting and finance coursework, they should offer courses that cover trade and finance theory, past and current trade issues, international economic organizations and their agreements and impacts on the world economy, econometrics and statistics.

The program should also offer hands-on experiences which will allow you to experience real world obstacles and challenges in the world of business and finance. It should provide opportunities for you to work with companies that will teach about corporate mergers and acquisitions, supply chain management and product development. By the time you are finished obtaining your degree, you will have knowledge and expertise in all of these areas, along with managerial skills and a firm knowledge and understanding of business ethics and economic practices and theory.

If you decide you want to focus on a particular area of economics, look for MBA programs that offer areas of specialized interest, such as the study of poverty economics, which deals with the effect that poverty has on overall economic stability or economic crime investigation and management, which prepares graduates to deal with economic fraud and corporate crime. These types of specialized programs make an MBA graduate highly marketable.

If the Federal Reserve is not high on your priority list once you have finished obtaining the MBA business economics degree, start looking in areas such as economics research in both the government and private sectors. Most advanced degree holders will find themselves in high demand for upper management positions in both the government and private sectors, as well as with non-profit organizations. A person may also decide to pursue an academic career by becoming an Economics Professor at a university.

MBA Business economics graduates are ahead of the curve in terms of earning potential too, with starting salaries around 75,000 per year, depending on the area of study.

When all is said and done, obtaining an advanced degree can definitely help your career, especially if you really do aspire to helping set economic policy on a federal or global level. An MBA Business Economics degree will set you on the right path by giving you knowledge and expertise regarding economic practices, theories and issues that can have a great impact on a corporation’s bottom line. And who knows? Maybe your expertise will eventually put you in line for Bernanke’s seat as Chairman of the Federal Reserve. After all, knowledge is power.

The Best Business Schools Should Offer Online Graduate Programs in Sales and Sales Certificates

www.nsusales.com Michael Fields, Ph.D., the dean of the Huizenga Business School and the visionary behind the Huizenga Sales Institute, identified the corporate need for employees with genuine sales training. Unfortunately, there are very few graduates that are prepared enough to actually “make sales.” Fields decided that graduates from the Huizenga Business School need to be prepared with extensive sales training and education. The Huizenga Sales Institute resources are in place to give their students every advantage in learning the skills needed to make an impact and drive revenue to their firms and businesses. The Huizenga Business School offers innovative educational programs—both online and on campus—including its new sales training and MBA programs in Sales and Sales Management. Both of the Master’s in Business Administration programs can be completed in only 18 months. Sales certificates can also be obtained from the Huizenga Business School—one of Florida’s best graduate business schools. One advantage of the certificates is that they can be acquired while working toward your MBA degree. The Huizenga Sales Institute is an 8200 sq. ft. state-of-the-art training facility allows students to receive an advanced sales education and training. To learn more about Dean Michael Fields and the Huizenga Sales Institute please visit: www.nsusales.com