Feeling Stuck After Your MBA? Exploring Next Steps for Career Growth and Opportunities

The Changing Value of an MBA

A few years back, much like in previous years for the engineering sector, an MBA (Master of Business Administration) was synonymous with a respected, well-paying job in a large organization. Not to mention the respect and status it conferred in society at large. However, over the last few years, an MBA degree or certification has lost its guaranteed appeal. It no longer ensures a decent, well-paying job, fundamentally.

Factors Affecting MBA Value

Nowadays, employers also want to know where you completed your MBA, your specialization, and the subjects covered during your curriculum. This is due to the proliferation of low-quality institutions offering what they call an MBA, where students simply spend two years and a lot of money without truly gaining the necessary knowledge or experience.

What to Do After an MBA?

So, what should you do after obtaining an MBA from a school and not really finding a job that you like or that pays well? There are many options and courses available after an MBA to enhance your qualifications. Most of these are recognized by organizations and managers, providing growth opportunities for many of us who are stuck with what feels like a useless piece of paper called an MBA degree.

Exploring Post-MBA Career Enhancement Options

🎓 After completing an MBA in Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Operations, or Logistics and facing challenges in securing a desired job, there are various avenues to enhance your qualifications and career prospects. Here are some specialized paths you can consider based on your MBA specialization:

MBA in Finance:
- Consider obtaining a CFA® Charter to enhance your global finance expertise and career opportunities.
- For MBA Finance graduates with an accounting background, pursuing certifications like CPA, ACCA, or CMA can further boost your credentials and open doors to international opportunities.

MBA in Marketing:
- Embrace the digital era by exploring courses in Digital Marketing to capitalize on the growing importance of online marketing strategies.
- Hands-on Digital Marketing Courses post-MBA can equip you with the necessary skills for a career in the digital landscape.

MBA in Human Resources:
- Pursue certifications from globally recognized bodies such as SHRM and HRCI to deepen your HR knowledge and skills, enhancing your credibility in the industry.

MBA in Operations:
- Focus on refining your general business management skills acquired during your MBA program to adapt to the evolving Operations Management sector.
- Gain practical experience to complement your degree and increase your chances of securing desired roles.

MBA in Logistics & Supply Chain Management:
- If the specialized nature of Logistics & Supply Chain Management becomes limiting, consider transitioning to related fields like Business Analytics or Data Engineering.
- Upskill in data organizing tools such as Hadoop, Scala, or Spark to qualify for roles like Data Scientist or Data Engineer, leveraging your business acumen.

By strategically pursuing additional certifications, courses, or skill development in alignment with your MBA specialization, you can enhance your marketability and unlock new career opportunities beyond the traditional scope of your degree.