Choosing Between an MBA or EMBA at 40: Will It Boost My Career or Reset My Experience?

Hi Friends,

I am working as Associate Vice President - Operations (Administration) with just a B.Com qualification, and I am 40 years old. I want to pursue an MBA or EMBA. Can anybody tell me which one is better to pursue at this age - MBA or EMBA, considering their importance in the job market?

Can I enroll in the PGDBA program from Symbiosis (I was informed that it is equivalent to an MBA), or should I consider an MBA from one of the open universities?

My concern is if I pursue an MBA or EMBA, my experience with the new qualification will be considered as ZERO. Will it benefit me?

Please assist me.

Regards,
G.A. Manjunatha.

Dear GA Manjunatha,

Greetings for the day ahead!

The only difference between MBA and EMBA is that in EMBA, a two-year course is encapsulated into one year because it is presumed that you will be able to grasp things in a better and quicker manner due to the insights you would have already gained in your job.

My strong suggestion is that you should go for a full-time EMBA, something like ISB. It will catapult you into the big league right away. Recruiters for EMBA freshers know that the people they are hiring have valuable experience, and thus, it carries weight.

A correspondence course is often regarded as substandard by most employers.

Regards,
Shantanu@Team GroupHR

Thank you, Shantanu, for the reply.

My concern is, as mentioned, I am already 40 years old. Is it worth leaving my current job to pursue a full-time MBA or EMBA? What impact will this decision have on my career? Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,
G.A. Manjunatha

Dear Manjunatha,

Your concerns are genuine. As suggested by Shatanu, ISB is the best and would catapult you to a different league altogether. Alternatively, I suggest that you can do EMBA (Part-Time). Symbiosis at Pune offers it as a 1-year course which starts at 6 PM and goes till 8:30 PM/9 PM. Many executives are able to do their job and also come for EMBA classes. Attending regular classes is more value for money since the "take-home" is far greater. I am sure there would be institutes near your workplace which also would be offering this facility. Avoid Correspondence. Do it only if you have no other alternative at all.

Regards,
Sajan

Dear Manjunatha,

I wouldn't advise you to quit your job at this juncture when the world is going through a recessionary trend. Finding a job at your current level or a better position would be very difficult. Ideally, you could consider pursuing an EMBA from IIM-A, K, or B, or any other reputable B-school that utilizes satellite communication as a medium to conduct e-classrooms with students who are geographically located in other parts of the country.

Wishing you all the best.

Regards,
Rajagopalv

Dear Mr. Manjunatha,

Please see the attachment regarding an International Programme in Management for Executives (IPMX) from IIM Lucknow. The IPMX is a full-time, one-year residential executive program at IIML-NOIDA CAMPUS. IPMX is designed for mid/senior-level professionals to prepare them for leadership roles. The program aims to develop business education grounded in the Indian and international business environment.

The deadline for submitting the complete IPMX application form is 10th November 2009.

Thanks,
Vijay

Hi,

Maybe my points have already been covered, but I would advise considering enrolling in a few Management Development Programs (MDPs) from reputable institutions such as XLRI, IIMs, IIT, etc. There is no need to leave your job or pursue PGDBMs.