Pursuing and completing an MBA is an achievement in itself. Not everyone is cut out for the fast-paced and dynamic challenges that an MBA provides.
However, if you want to push things to the next level, you need to work and gain real-world experience while doing the MBA. The schedule will be hectic, but the increase in value of the MBA is immeasurable. Here are some of the benefits of pursuing an MBA while working.
Learning how to cope
There is a saying that states that if you do more, you can do more. What it comes down to is time management. An MBA on its own is very time-consuming, but when you add a job with normal working hours to the mix, it is easy to conclude that it is not possible.
The MBA graduates who had jobs while studying will strongly disagree. While working under pressure, your mind goes into super time-management mode and prioritizes everything.
This is made slightly easier if the entire degree is hosted online. Carroll University is such an institution that offers a 100% online MBA in business analytics which focuses on data analysis to help businesses solve problems by using the available data. For more information, you can visit https://online.carrollu.edu/mba-business-analytics/.
Getting better offers
When you walk into a job with only a degree, you can expect an entry-level salary. When you have worked for a couple of years and up your skills by increasing your credentials, then that initial offer suddenly looks much better.
The difference between someone with an MBA and someone with an MBA and work experience is that the latter has proven their worth. The experience that was built up over the years counts for a lot. When you go straight for an MBA, then you might end up graduating, but it will all still be theoretical.
Knowing what to expect
People who have worked a couple of years will have probably come across several challenges during their time at the job. As soon as they enroll for an MBA, they have a much better idea of what they want to learn from the experience.
There is a sense of focus that can only be gained when there have been some issues that needed to be resolved. Whatever they learn can then be implemented at work immediately. Thus they start reaping the benefits of the degree long before they have graduated.
Staying ahead of your peers
Doing an undergrad degree and an MBA have their own sets of experience. When you are at college, busy with your undergrad degree, the playing fields are level. When you get a job and start with your MBA, things are not as level as before.
You will be studying with candidates who have work experience and those who do not. The former group will end up having the edge above the rest, seeing that they know how the job market looks like and they have already started to build a reputation. Their mark on the corporate world has already been established. The MBA will only make that mark grow bigger.
Life experience and stress relief
The corporate world can be very cutthroat and when you are new to it all, it can be stressful and cause anxiety. After a while, you get used to the pressure and start to develop coping skills. Those skills can then be transferred directly into an MBA.
The difference between the workers and the full-time students is almost tangible. Those who are busy with work and studies, just know how to deal with the stresses of the degree better.