Should I do an MBA?

An MBA, or Master of Business Administration, is a course designed to teach students about business and management techniques, such as finance, accounting, statistics and marketing. Having an MBA on your CV will give you access to jobs with a higher salary, and is a clear indication that you are a hard working, committed individual. Some studies have shown that employees with an MBA can earn up to 50% more than those without the qualification. You should usually only consider taking an MBA course if you have prior work experience, with 2 years being an often quoted figure. It may be possible to do an MBA straight after graduation, but this is unusual and will not stand you in such good stead in the future, as most employers like to see a combination of previous experience and an MBA. A common piece of advice is to do an MBA because you are interested in the course material, and want to learn and expand your own horizons, not because you want a pay rise. Remember that you are not going to step out of university with an MBA and walk straight into the post of managing director. If you are prepared to take the time out of your career, work hard and learn new skills, and then continue to work hard when you get back to the business world, an MBA could make a world of difference. If you just want to take some time out and relive your college days, the chances are a new qualification won’t help you as much as you may like.