Last Updated on November 30, 2022 by MBA Gateway Team
Online or on-campus, going back to school for your MBA is a big step. It’s a smart move to learn everything you can before committing to a program… call it your biggest and best business decision.
5 Questions to Ask Yourself before Going to Back to School for MBA
It’s healthy to consider what your chosen career field has to offer in the years to come. Before deciding on your plan of action, ask yourself:
What do I want to do?
Where do I see myself in 5, 10, 15 years?
What skills and knowledge do I already possess?
Where do I lack the skills, background, or credentials I need to meet my career goals?
What’s the best way to develop new skills or advance existing ones?
The answers will give you a better sense on what direction you want to take your career.
RECHARGE YOUR CAREER
Staying relevant in the workplace is a necessity in any industry. In today’s fast-paced professional world, that can be a trick. Here are insights on how education can help you recharge your career – or take it a different direction altogether.
Speaking of Career Change…
The career many professionals entered 10 to 20 years ago almost certainly has changed over the years. It might not even exist anymore due to technological advances. On the other hand, many of today’s fastest growing career fields weren’t around 10 to 20 years ago—think social media or SEO consulting.
These advances, specifically in mobile technology, have also freed us from geographical limitations, in- cluding working remotely … or taking online classes. In fact, with the tremendous improvement in access to quality, flexible higher education through online learning, working adults no longer have to choose be- tween a career and a quality higher education. They can pursue both at the same time.
Training Certifications Versus College Degrees
From internal workshops and weekend seminars to one-off courses at local schools, training can help you build the skills necessary to take advantage of immedi- ate opportunities or needs in the marketplace. It teach- es you what you need to know now. It’s an option best suited for entry-level or intermediate-level positions.
For mid- to late-career professionals looking for ad- vancement or those with minimal formal higher ed- ucation, a university program is likely a better choice. It’s an employer-pleasing credential. And it provides for long-lasting educational change—helping you develop the ability to adapt to and lead change, cre- ate new value for an organization, and apply critical thinking skills to future possibilities or problems. On- line or on campus, college programs offer the kinds of skills that will serve you for a lifetime.
Show, Don’t Tell
As you re-enter the workforce or seek to change ca- reers, your new degree or certificate will be far more valuable to an existing or prospective employer if you can demonstrate how you’ve been able to apply what you’ve learned to solve real business challenges. (This is actually a fundamental part of graduate degree pro- grams at Post University to help adult learners develop the skills and knowledge pertinent to their world today.)
A college education—online or on campus—can also help you expand and develop your network: from LinkedIn to online Meetup groups to networking events to your university network of fellow students, faculty, and alumni.
Lifelong Learning
Keep learning, whether you pursue formal higher ed- ucation or develop new skills and build on existing ones through less formal means. In the ever-chang- ing job market, it’s crucial to stay current with your knowledge and skills to prove your worth in your po- sition and field.
Look for opportunities to expand your knowl- edge base and don’t assume that just because you’ve done something the same way for years that it’s the best way to continue doing it today.
