[quote=bearishgurl]
. . . did they actually obtain jobs with their MBA degrees (or raises at work commensurate with possessing an MBA)? How old were they when they graduated with an MBA? How old when they got a promotion at work due to the new degree? Did any have to relocate in order to land employment utilizing their *new* degree?
I don’t personally qualify for MBA candidacy but was just wondering if going to all this trouble (and cost) at this late date was actually worth it for them . . . monetarily . . . because IMO, that’s really the ONLY consideration when you are nearing the end of your working life and preparing for retirement.[/quote]
Ok… Here’s the rundown…
Very good friend, my age, had an undergrad from Penn in asian studies… spent 6 years working in Japan and China (speaks mandarin and japanese). Came back to US and found it hard to get career level jobs. Got her MBA from Columbia – she was in late 20’s at this time. Got a marketing job right away that paid very well.
coworker engineer type, purdue engineering degree, hardware design job, quits and goes to Northwestern in his late 20’s. Now works for Pimco in his early 30’s. It paid off financially.
coworker engineer type, UCSD com sci degree. Trouble breaking into management track at work – gets his MBA at UCSD’s weekend program in his late 20’s, still working for our employer, got promotion and does program management now.
My sister – worked for a defense contractor and hit a HARD glass ceiling at about age 29. Gets her MBA and has employer pay tuition. A year into the program she successfully transfered to the group she’d been blocked from and became only woman in the group. (crashed the glass ceiling.) Worked for them for obligated amount of time (they required a certain number of years post graduation as terms of tuition reimbursement.) Then chucks it all and gets her teaching credential. Has been a teacher for almost 20 years now. She would argue that some of the skills learned in her MBA were applicable in the classroom.
And the one who’s starting and moving on campus – he’s in his late 20’s. Not sure what he’ll do with it when he’s out.
As you can see – they all had 5+ years of post college work experience and went back before or around age 30.
Another example with a twist… family member in his early 50’s who had an MBA – gets his PhD in business. He’s a road warrier consultant – so it did raise his hourly rate. But it was done more for other reasons… life goal was to get a PhD. Didn’t take out student loans.
The first examples- they were all young enough to have a career impact. I agree that if you go back to grad school late in life, you’re not going to have a career impact.
