When is the right time to go for distance MBA?

By Sahil Raza

 

People often work for new degrees on a very time-intensive scale. However, if one moves too quickly, s/he might not be ready for the programs available in the top-ranked B-schools. And if you leave it too late, you may have wasted years that could have been spent moving up your career ladder. So, what’s the right answer? When exactly is the right or indeed the best time to get an MBA?

Primarily, Why go for an MBA Degree?

1.Professionals are happy with their current job, but it would take a while to rise up the ranks. An MBA at this point would affect this rise in a couple of years.

2.In other cases, they are not happy with their current role or want a promotion in their current job. In such situations, an MBA is what they are looking for because it does not require any prior subject knowledge, and the opportunities after an MBA make them consider the MBA specialisation more than anything else. So, it is a way to switch and make a new career path altogether.

We look at MBA programs for 'Sure career growth'. This can be in Salary, Work Profile, etc. Though MBA after close to 2 years of experience is an ideal thing, when you need growth in your career now, why wait for two years after your graduation and before thinking of MBA?

Leaving aside a few exceptions, the best time to go for an MBA is not directly after college. Today, an MBA does not come with the employment guarantee, like it once did – even if it is from one of the top business schools. Hiring managers are only interested in those MBA candidates who have extensive professional experience. It does not make sense to get an MBA if you cannot get a job afterward.

Therefore, it is important to wait a few years before applying for your MBA. Rather when you apply for a distance MBA, it gives you an opportunity to learn while you earn and not to have a gap in your career. So, you do not compromise your career growth, and you even stay up to date in your job.  There are several reasons for this:

While working you know exactly which specialisation you need -

Along with practical experience, you get a better idea of unique industry-focused learning. Only by really experiencing it, you will be able to see if a particular course is right for you. Follow those who have been working in the same industry you are planning to go for. You might be inspired, or you might decide that an MBA is not what you need; alternatively, you might simply shift your interest to a different program from the one you originally had your eyes on. Find a course that is the right fit for you at the right time in your career.

Leadership potential is what everyone looks for -

The most in-demand qualification that MBA programs want to see is prior experience in leadership, and that is not easy for students to have in their profile until they have been working for a few years. The ample amount of practical experience makes you industry-ready for leadership, but a proper course of MBA sharpens your leadership skills. Remember, all the CEOs out there with great leadership tactics have an MBA degree.

Be sure before opting for an MBA degree as a career path -

Usually, after graduating, you do not have clarity on which MBA specialisation you want to opt for. However, once you start working, you get the hang of what exactly you need for your career. Also, you do not want to lose on the work experience. 

Well we can say the best time to do a MBA will be when you have at least 2 years of work experience, but you should do a distance MBA when you think you are ready for it, you understand the industry domains, and can utilize the experience to learn the new modules and concepts taught in class. This will give you confidence and growth in the company.

Realistically speaking, there is no best time to do an MBA, people have completed MBA courses without any experience, while other do so with 5–6 years of work experience in their profile. So if you think, your growth has stopped in your industry and you need a boost or a domain change, just go for it. It is not too late or early to learn.

All the best!

About the Author:

Sahil Raza is a writer and educational counsellor in management studies. Sahil has over 8 years of experience in the education sector and he is Chief Education Officer at Talentedge.