You think a MBA is still worth it?

2013-12-20T12:23:21-05:00

For this interesting article on Forbes.com. The article was written by COL (ret) David Sutherland and compares MBA graduates with the lessons taught to NCOs.

So are MBAs still worth all the time and money or should NCOs that are transitioning out of the service do a better job to show they not only have the same skills as a recent MBA graduate but has practiced those skills in some of the toughest proving grounds.

Hiring MBAs? You Should Be Looking at NCOs

This article is by Col. David Sutherland (Ret.), who commanded a combat brigade in Iraq, has served as special assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and is co-founder and chairman of...

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2013 12:25 PM

2013-12-20T12:25:21-05:00

No you do not need them. What is the difference really and we can save money. a win, win.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2013 1:30 PM

2013-12-20T13:30:27-05:00

<p>SGT Keen, I completely agree with this article . . . an experienced NCO is every bit as good a manager as a freshly minted MBA, probably better,</p><p>                                                          <strong>BUT</strong></p><p>Most of the companies looking to hire an MBA <strong><u>require</u></strong> that degree to even consider you.  My recommendation is to get the MBA so you get the interview than blow them away with your level of experience.  I have multiple degrees, including an MBA that I earned as a SSG, and I am working on a second masters (yes, TA and Post 9/11 GI Bill are nice).  Why do I keep taking courses?  Because the pieces of paper with fancy water marks and seals get you in the door; what you do when you get on the other side is up to you.  And remember, ALL knowledge is useful.</p>

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Dec 20 at 2013 1:37 PM

2013-12-20T13:37:14-05:00

Have to go with the CPT on this one. The advantage is that the real world experience will do you in good stead when going through the classes. There are things that you will be exposed to while achieving your MBA that will finish filling in holes in your knowledge. Additionally, the number of "Ah Ha!!!" moments I've had while sitting in class going over theory and relating it to practice as an NCO/Warrant has been amazing.<div><br></div>

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2013 1:56 PM

2013-12-20T13:56:12-05:00

Great article!  Being a hardened and effective NCO or SNCO is good enough but having a MBA on top of it makes you even better.  It's worth the time and money if a company is looking for an employee with an MBA, an NCO with it should be chosen over a recent graduate with no experience yet zero military service.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2013 1:56 PM

2013-12-20T13:56:58-05:00

I just got my MAFM (Masters in Accounting and Financial Management) for FREE thanks to GI Bill and tuition assistance.

Based on my Experience as a federal employee and U.S. Army Reservist, I am 100% certain that an MBA will give you a competitive advantage over the average citizen and veterans (especially if it is FREE).

My advice is to select an MBA based on the curriculum that haves classes that will give you an edge in the career field that you are seeking and list those classes in your resume.

I have known people that get “BS” MBA to check the block with a bunch of worthless classes. For those I will say that it is a waste of time and money

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2014 6:06 PM

2014-01-03T18:06:58-05:00

There is no substitute for a quality MBA. I have an MBA in Healthcare and there are things that I learned in those two years that I never would have learned on the job or as a "supervisor". <div><br></div><div>Another benefit to a quality MBA program is the networking. There is a reason a Harvard MBA costs $100K. Just like quality Law Schools, they pay for themselves when you get into the "right" companies. A combination of quality education and on the job experience is priceless, but one without the other brings in the question of quality OJT. Can we really put that much stock in an individual who achieved a certain rank and think they are all created equally? I don't think so. </div><div><br></div><div>Many of the things I have learned in the Army (which I thought the Army developed) came from decades of proven civilian business practices. An MBA is still the premier business graduate program in the world. </div>

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2014 10:47 PM

2014-04-06T22:47:17-04:00

While I do agree with some of the points in this article (about experience), I do not think that all the skills and experiences learned as an NCO will equate to the skills and knowledge gained from earning an MBA. Never in my 14 years in the Army have I had to conduct any type of quantitative analysis for profit maximization, conduct marginal analysis to determine optimum output levels, build a marketing strategy and a corresponding marketing plan, calculate present values and future values of investments and their alternatives, or had to analyze market structures to find the optimal pricing strategy based on market characteristics. I am just shy of being 1/2 way done with my MBA, and there is no NCO equivalent experience that will teach you these topics; topics that will be very applicable in the business world. You don't need to go to a top-10 school to learn these things either.

Being an NCO teaches you how to interact with people. More accurately (or hopefully) it teaches you how to motivate and lead people to accomplish tasks (the mission). This will be very useful in the corporate world, especially as a manager. Being an NCO also teaches you how to effectively manage time. Time management is not a topic covered that has been covered so far in my MBA program (although I think my Project Management course may get into it). I don't think it is very wise to rely simply on the fact that someone was an NCO when they transition into the civilian job market. Yes, we learn valuable leader skills, but that does not replace the knowledge gained from a formal education. Being an NCO and having an MBA will supplement each other when it comes to being a manager in the civilian job sectors, but I do not see these as being interchangeable.