Staying ahead of the pack: Why you should be studying an MBA
There are plenty of ways to upskill. You can take short courses online to sharpen up on a specific area of your job description or opt to improve in broader areas like leadership and prioritisation. You might even want to seek out a mentor — someone in your line of work that you look up to and can learn from.
These are all excellent strategies but for the truly ambitious with executive aspirations or for current executives that want to create strategic advantage in their companies, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) is the logical next step.
In addition to executives wanting to stay abreast of the latest leadership models, this qualification has long been recognised as a natural progression for employees in middle management looking to work their way up the corporate ladder. In many cases, it is a box you simply must tick to secure a high-up executive leadership role.
It is also an increasingly popular option for entrepreneurs and small business owners who are looking to learn how to run an organisation, which is a no-brainer considering many start-ups are founded by people with a great idea but no tertiary qualifications or corporate experience. An MBA will add shine to your CV, increase your earning potential, introduce you to like-minded people and put you in demand with recruiters — Griffith University can help get you there.
Bolster your résumé
An MBA is a worthwhile addition to anybody’s CV. It demonstrates commitment to bettering yourself regardless of where you’re at in your career, and an ability to see something through. If you’re not convinced, think about what Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, Nike Co-Founder Phil Knight and Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi all have in common. That’s right, an MBA.
Show me the money
The financial benefits are substantial. According to the 2018 Graduate Outcomes Survey, the median salary for postgraduates employed full time within the first four months was $83,300 compared with $61,000 for undergraduates over the same period. However, when you delve into business and management salaries from the same report, the gap is even more dramatic, with earning for those who’ve completed postgraduate coursework ($108,000) eclipsing undergrads ($60,000).
Connect with your peers
Studying an MBA is challenging but has the potential to be extremely rewarding. You will be exposed to driven individuals from an array of backgrounds with varying areas of expertise, which is a major aspect of the MBA experience — not only are you learning from the program facilitator, but also your fellow pupils.
The MBA environment is great for networking too. It’s not out of the realms of possibility that you’ll cross paths with other students in the future, so it’s an opportunity to get to know them and what makes them tick. Who knows, you might end up connecting with them on a professional level.
The numbers stack up
It’s a great time to be studying an MBA. The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAC) revealed the results of its 2018 Corporate Recruiters Survey (released in June), which showed that 90 per cent of respondents in Asia-Pacific were planning on hiring MBA grads last year. Any way you slice it, the demand is evident.
Consider an MBA with Griffith University
If you've decided to take the path towards executive leadershipor if you’re in executive leadership already, Griffith University offers a highly relevant online MBA program centred on three core values: responsible leadership, sustainable business practices and an Asia-Pacific perspective.
Griffith University can connect you to a network of like-minded professionals and offers you the opportunity to study one accelerated subject every six weeks so you can graduate sooner and fast-track your next career moveor start creating a strategic boost for your company.
While there are many ways to boost your career prospects and stay ahead of the pack, pursuing an MBA at Griffith University is your best bet if you have your sights set on a top-line executive role.
Griffith is a leading provider of online education in Australia. Their Master of Business Administration online program will equip you with invaluable tools and techniques that are essential to making effective management, strategy and leadership in a range of positions, organisations and industries.