Car running strong like bull

B6/7 S4/RS4
#21

Ultimately, there are still a few C level execs and Sr. VPs that don’t necessarily look at academic credentials when hiring. However, 1) they are rare 2) recruiting agencies won’t even put your name forward without those credentials, even if the senior execs would be willing to consider you with the credentials. So in the end, it’s a numbers game. There are very few executive level jobs already. Of those few, 80+% are secured through networking (doesn’t go through a hiring process). So of those remaining 20%, maybe 5% of those are the types that don’t look for academic degrees but the remaining 95% do. It’s basically trying to increase your odds.

The networking aspect of the EMBA is another plus to try and get into that 80% of jobs that aren’t actually advertised.

My industry is IT Operations. Ultimately, that spans every and all sector (even though each sector will claim they’re completely different and that you can’t be in IT Operations for their sector without prior experience in that sector, which is complete BS yet again).

It’s all BS and you can sit quietly unemployed or working with a ceiling over your head while trying to fight the bullshit system or bite the bullet, get the freaking degree everyone wants you to have (which is a total cash grab, from the GMAT testing to the schools themselves) and move on to greener pastures with the higher salaries and positions.

I’ve finally gotten to a point in my life where I can pay for this myself so I’m applying. Will I enjoy it? No. Will it mean I’ll have no life for 18 months if I get accepted? Absolutely (it’s about 30 hours of work per week in addition to my regular 40-45 hour work week). Will it open new doors? That’s the plan. I have 20 years of work experience, 14 in management and senior management and it’s still not enough to get my foot in the door of those high end positions, even though I could excel at all of them (IT Director and VP roles).

So that’s why I’m doing it.

Wow, this thread went off topic! lol

#22

Not really off topic because if MBA = job = $$$ = stage 3 built motor sprint blue monster wagon to watch at Cayuga :slight_smile:

#23

Executive MBA is different from a normal MBA. Unless he is saying E stands for evening, than yes, go for it.

I did my MBA at UW in 2009 – loved every minute – and it was worth every penny. Executive MBA is not a resume builder. More of a networking thing that companies will pay for…

#24

It is an Executive MBA, I still won’t learn much, it still adds to my resume (main reason I’m doing it) and it’ll help me build a network as well.

#25

[quote=“notarmed,post:23,topic:5244”]
Hmmm… so I can have my company pay for an executive MBA if I want through University of Florida.

What are the beits from your perspective?

(Edit: spelling)

(Edit 2: The website will not let me type b e n e f i t s. Watch: benefits)

#26

Not the case. Not sure where you work. Maybe you have been out of the corporate world workforce or own a small business?

#27

[quote=“Datadatum,post:25,topic:5244”]

The absolute b e n e f i t s in my opinion:

  • Opens doors to new opportunities where you wouldn’t otherwise have been considered due to your competition having Business Masters degrees, or opportunities because your competition doesn’t have those and you do.
  • Opens doors due to creating a new network of other senior management or soon to be senior management people

Relative b e n e f i t s:

  • Depending on your work experience, some concepts you may not have had exposure to. Be it financial management, leadership training, risk management, etc. (many different facets). For those concepts that you’re not as strong in or just have limited experience in, you can get some good education out of it and learn very useful stuff.

Personally, I’ve been around the block quite a bit and although I do think I’ll be learning some things, I don’t think I’ll be learning as much as the average EMBA student.

That said, the biggest difference between an EMBA and an MBA is that EMBAs are geared to people who already have established careers and can bring their personal experience to the table and share it with you through the 30-50% group work (percentage depends on the school) in addition to the professor led classes and course work. So ultimately, I will most likely learn about other people’s industries. Which for me is actually quite useful as IT spans all industries.

Also, EMBAs are not easy to say the least. Lots of reading and essay/project writing and presenting with very short deadlines (sometimes only a couple days). Everyone I’ve spoken to that has finished their EMBA has said it was tough (including the ones I know are super hard workers). MBAs aren’t easy either so I’m not saying EMBAs are tougher, they’re just different. And remember, you’ll most likely be working at the same time. I don’t know how tough your job is but mine is mentally exhausting so time management is a huge priority. Everyone I’ve spoken to had to pick some activities to remove from their daily lives to make time for the program.

For students that have spouses, they typically ask for the spouse to attend the briefing sessions to make sure they understand the heavy toll it has on a relationship and family life.

That said, if your workplace is offering to pay for it on your behalf, I’d jump on the opportunity. The younger you are, the more energy you’ll have and the more use you’ll get out of it (both at your current job and any future jobs). I wish I had done mine sooner but I needed to come up with the money first. It pains me to spend $100k on it but that’s life (can you imagine the mods for that kind of money lol).

#28

Just look at the average age of emba applicants. Twighlight participants.

Much different experience.

#29

[quote=“Axel,post:27,topic:5244”]
Thanks - I appreciate your outline of b e n e f i t s and personal views.

(LOL - what is up with deleting “n e f” out of the word?)

As for the cost:ben-efit ratio, it sounds like you have clearly evaluated your options. The IT Ops in my company ($70B in sales) sucks beyond belief. It is a continuous rotation of centralizing and decentralizing, with layoffs each time. It is so ineffective, my group has gone rogue so that they can’t fuck up the data analytics that we need to do our jobs.

#30

[quote=“Axel,post:27,topic:5244”]

If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you? I did the evening program at uw on purpose so I could work and maintain family life. Pm me if you want, be glad to.

#31

LOL - that would probably be me. Only 43, but the average age at UF is 37.

I do feel I have a boatload of hard earned experience that trumps bullshitters all day long. Probably one of the big reasons why I look down so much at MBAs…

#32

Sounds like you are jealous of those willing to drop it all and go back to school.

#33

Don’t believe me and prove me wrong, seriously. This is just my opinion from first hand experience. (I almost went emba) not every school is the same.

#34

[quote=“notarmed,post:32,topic:5244”]
LOL - Not jealous at all, but very cynical that it would add real value. I appreciate the challenge in your follow-up post!

And apologies to Axel for polluting his [russian accent] strong like bull [/russian accent] thread!

#35

I don’t think age is too much a factor (although the older you get the less energy you have, as a rule of thumb even if some 60 years have the energy of 20 year olds, it’s not common). Let’s just say I’m at the EMBA age with 20 years of work experience :slight_smile: For me it’s more that my job is extremely demanding and I’m seriously brain dead at the end of my work day. That said, I’m a contractor at the moment so my job can change quickly. But for now, it is what it is.

#36

I think notarmed thinks you’re talking about getting the degree so you can go and join a men’s mba club and polish your school pin and drink scotch with other mbas.

Nope. Its simple…it is to meet a prerequisite for employment consideration.

I also don’t think notarmed has answered yet whether or not he works in a large corporation or in a small or privately owned business. I think that will tell a story. I am betting the latter…ie he hasn’t run into what axel is talking about.

#37

I worked in the corporate world for 10 years, I understand the need to gain a pedigree. They offered to pay for some of my mba tuition while I lived in L.A. (and go to a local school), but I said no thanks.

I wanted out of that world, and now I work for a small private equity firm.

#38

Interesting… Sorry, I think you are stereotyping to the nth degree… I am fortunate to work for a company who believes strongly in continuing education, as I do as well… They were willing to cover all the expenses which amounted to about 100K for me to get an MBA and like others have said ultimately it is somewhat of a prerequisite for Director level+ jobs… Did I learn a ton, nope… I can however tell you it was the best long term financial decision I made as it has paid off very well for me and most others that I know who have one… Not trying to attack your view point datadatum but instead provide another perspective…

Axel, Car looks great… Go for the MBA/EMBA you won’t regret it in the long run IMO…

#39

in this thread, you have bashed Axel for talking about getting an EMBA…you have called datadatum ‘jealous’ of people with an MBA (hilarious)…you have claimed an EMBA is for ‘networking’ not for resume enhancement…all of which are either fucking rude, or dead wrong.

If axel gets the degree, he will have more job opportunities. Simple. You’re just wrong.

#40

We need an MBA/continuing education thread!

Completely agree with what’s been said on the pro-MBA side. That degree is likely critical just to get your foot in the door at a lot of places. Is it completely rational? Not really, as employers are no doubt siphoning off perfectly competent candidates. But that’s just the way it works in the corporate world. Maybe 20 years from now an MBA won’t be as important (which I think will probably be the trend).

Same goes for my industry. The large corporate law firms look at two main things when considering first-year associates: (1) the ranking of the law school the student attends, and (2) whether the student made law review. In reality, neither of those measures are great predictors of attorney competence. But that’s just the way those firms operate, and law students are well aware of what they need to accomplish to get their foot in the door.