Pursuing_a_Mba_Is_Worth_the_Time_and_Effort

Pursuing a MBA is Worth the Time and Effort Paige Hearn MGT/521 November 30, 2009 Jason Miller Pursuing a MBA is Worth the Time and Effort To pursue a MBA during an economic crisis may seem strange to some, but for those of us trying to make a bad situation better, it is the logical choice. Given the current unemployment rate with a grim future at best, one might ask if it is worth the time and effort to pursue a graduate degree. Finding and keeping a career has become more difficult as companies cut back and layoff workers. Choosing a career is more than filling out an application, interviewing, and starting work the next day. Besides possessing real-world experience, more companies are looking for the education to back it up. My past education, job and life experience, and personality type, proves that I am a perfect candidate for obtaining my MBA with an emphasis in human resources and that it is well worth the time and effort to invest. Unemployment is at an all-time high of 9.8% and climbing (Rosato, 2009) and I am one of those statistics. I hold a Bachelor’s degree that is not currently utilized for its intended purpose. Although I own a business, my current degree is neither necessary in the operation of day-to-day affairs, nor is it useful in the skills used. After taking the Jungian 16-Type Personality Self-Assessment test, I find that the results favorably support my choice of an MBA with an emphasis on human resources in conjunction with my bachelor’s degree and teaching experience. My score is an INFP, which translates that I am an introvert, intuitive, feeling, and perceiving (Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007). I consider these qualities to be an advantage in my career choice as I want to work with people in human resources and in the employ education and training. Today’s employment market is fast becoming a competition of education and “soft skills.” These skills include communication, interpersonal, time management, teamwork and cooperation, motivating subordinates, conflict management, leadership, etc. Corporate America has found that soft skills are “an indispensable requirement” (Sharma, 2009) in the workforce and gives the applicant a desirable advantage when combined with higher education. By earning my MBA, I will increase my opportunities of finding a higher paying job, therefore, challenging my personal goals and making a better way of life for my family. So why should I spend the time and effort involved in furthering my education' The answer to this is simple. Employers are looking for employees who have that competitive edge over other applicants (Sharma, 2009). MBA degree holders significantly out-perform non-MBA’s in such areas as the ability to plan and organize, problem-solving, taking the initiative, accepting personal responsibility, and obtaining results (Ariss & Timmins, 1989). These qualities can make one applicant more desirable than another and I possess all these abilities and have used them in my teaching career as well as my business. This is why I believe that my time and effort are an investment in my future and not a waste. My family has struggled financially over the last several years with hardships of illness, death, and lack of income. The small price of furthering my education with a graduate degree to help secure my family’s future is a need and a personal desire. References Ariss, S., & Timmins, S. (1989). Employee Education and Job Performance: Does Education Matter'. Public Personnel Management, 18(1), 1. Retrieved from Public Administration Abstracts database. Pearson Prentice Hall. (2007). . Retrieved from http://www.pearson.com Rosato, D. (2009). Your Job. (Cover story). Money, 38(12), 74-75. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database. Sharma, M. (2009). How Important Are Soft Skills from the Recruiter's Perspective. ICFAI Journal of Soft Skills, 3(2), 19-28. Retrieved from Business Source Complete database.