RVAbrendan Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Hey ES brethren, I need a little professional advice. I graduated with a B.S. in Marketing roughly a year ago. I've landed an 'OK' job, but have found that 'marketing' jobs are tough to come by, as many of them are simply sales (which I've done, but not really trying to get back in that route). Bottom line, I feel like the job market in general is incredibly saturated, and marketing jobs are some of the first to go in bad economic times. I'm interested in furthering my education. What would compliment a marketing undergrad degree? Maybe something in the business core like accounting or economics? I've always enjoyed history, but don't want to teach it. I'm just a little unsure of where to go, or if I should at all... I'm not completely sure what I want out of a career in my lifetime...I've always wanted to work in music in some facet...and realize that interning is key...but I'd feel comfortable with graduate education, just in case. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance...:logo: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckus Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 I'm not completely sure what I want out of a career in my lifetime...I've always wanted to work in music in some facet...and realize that interning is key...but I'd feel comfortable with graduate education, just in case. I am no expert in any of this, so below is just my opinion. What specific type of job do you want to get after you have an MBA? If you can't answer that, then don't get one right now. Above you say you don't know what you want for a career. I would find that out first. What do you want to do? Figure that out, then move forward. You have so much time to get an MBA. I think most people do it in their late 20s, early 30s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD_washingtonredskins Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 I agree...I think some people are treating masters degrees like something to do while they figure things out. It's a lot of money to spend when you're not sure you're going to apply it to something that will make you money for the next 20+ years. Get some work experience...from everyone I've talked to, those who went back to school after a few years of working got a lot more out of their advanced degrees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyholetsgogrant Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 MBA careers special Stalled Five years on, life hasn't turned out as planned for many business-school alumni May 25th 2010 When Greg Morris* graduated from Michigan State University five years ago, he assumed his MBA would lead to prompt bonuses, pay increases and promotions. But after five years as a commodity manager for an Arizona-based Fortune 500 company he has relatively little to cheer. He did become a team leader, bringing some extra responsibilities and a little more cash, but pay generally remained flat and he sits at the same desk he started with. “If there’s a corporate ladder around, I don’t see it,” Mr Morris says. Such grumbles are common. As economies totter into post-recession recovery, work prospects are not what MBAs had envisioned when first entering business school. According a survey by the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), fewer than half of the world’s MBA alumni say they are satisfied with their careers. Dave Wilson, GMAC’s president, says that whereas MBAs used to gauge their success by their bonus, pay rise or promotions, if today's MBA is employed and stimulated by what he does, then he is “doing very well”. For those graduating five years ago the goal was to make a six-figure salary within 12 months. But many never made it. For those graduating five years ago the goal was to make a six-figure salary within 12 months. But many never made it. Mr Morris’s company, like others, imposed a mandatory 10% pay cut last year along with mandatory days off, without pay. Yet most at the company chose to work those days, regardless, without open complaint, lest they be chopped. Some are applying for alternative work. But now they must compete with newly graduated MBAs, who seem to be having an easier time of it. GMAC reports that last year 84% of MBAs had already found a job by the time they graduated. Not only that, the market is also clogged up with those without MBAs. One Atlanta recruiter reported that within hours of posting a commodity manager job, 400 applicants had applied. Most lacked the MBA requested. Source: Economist http://www.economist.com/node/16103437?story_id=16103437 In the past it was common for firms to indulge in large-scale recruitment programmes: hoovering up the most talented students from business schools en masse, often for indeterminate roles. Such behaviour is increasingly rare. Instead firms are returning to the basics, hiring MBAs only when specific positions need to be filled. This means that being among the best in class is no longer enough to guarantee a job. Firms are more interested than they once were in candidates' particular skills and past experience. This also means that business students are competing closely with skilled and experienced non-MBAs too. This result is that the MBA—so long the natural choice for those looking to switch careers—is no longer seen as an instant ticket to a new vocation. Derek Walker, head of the careers service at Oxford's Saïd Business School, says that students who are graduating this year will have to show much more patience than their predecessors did. In the past MBAs could hope for what he calls the "classic triple jump": a change in function, role and location. Now students may have to accept that they will change only one of the three. Attaining the other two changes may instead depend on proving oneself for several years within a chosen firm. Source: Economist http://www.economist.com/node/16136206 ------------------------------------------------------------------ MBA's are becoming a thing of the past. The days of making 6 figures with a MBA are going away. The economy is simply not generating the jobs necessary to support them. Not to mention the job market is becoming clogged with them. If I am not mistaken the failed times square bomber had an MBA and fell on hard times, thus making him turn to extremism...Not to say everyone that fell on hard times with an MBA would blow **** up :pfft:. Also, the manager of the car dealership I bought my Hyundai from had an MBA. Hardly a sexy job when having that much education. I say get steady career and get a MBA part time. Also, see if your employer will pay for some of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RVAbrendan Posted August 19, 2010 Author Share Posted August 19, 2010 Yeah, I've heard rumors of an MBA's values diminishing, but I've also realized that so many more people have a bachelors degree. I've been working for about 8 years, and even have a job now in my field that I studied. I know I'd love to work in entertainment, more specifically, music. Now, whether that be a record label, a studio, or what have you, I realize interning and knowing people is ESSENTIAL. But at the same time, perhaps I'd like to go into business for myself or maybe even turn to something else completely unrelated. I'm just afraid a marketing degree on itself doesn't stand very strong, which is why I was considering an accounting MBA, or something of the sort. It's certainly a tough time with few options available...I guess I just want to make myself as marketable to as many types of companies as possible in order to give myself plenty of options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peeping Wizard Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 The key to grad school is to not treat it like your ticket to the good life. It's a supplement to your education but you need to have a plan in place with or without it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elessar78 Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 I am no expert in any of this, so below is just my opinion.What specific type of job do you want to get after you have an MBA? If you can't answer that, then don't get one right now. Above you say you don't know what you want for a career. I would find that out first. What do you want to do? Figure that out, then move forward. You have so much time to get an MBA. I think most people do it in their late 20s, early 30s. I agree...I think some people are treating masters degrees like something to do while they figure things out. It's a lot of money to spend when you're not sure you're going to apply it to something that will make you money for the next 20+ years. Get some work experience...from everyone I've talked to, those who went back to school after a few years of working got a lot more out of their advanced degrees. I understand what both of you are trying to say, but I don't completely agree. Many of us went to college with no idea of what we wanted to do (I'm an exception, because I'm working in the field I went to college for and knew going in that's what I wanted to study, so it's weird for me to say this). Or studied one thing but circumstance led us to another field. Happens all the time. Many people in law school or med school find out it's not for them—and they tend to be pretty head strong before hand. Take my sister for example, knew she wanted to get her MBA and graduated from a good school. Went to work for some high profile firms/had some nice titles but pretty much hated it. Her husband, got his part time, worked for some defense contractors but is now a real estate agent. The lesson is just that you never know where life will lead. Just like college, it isn't necessarily because you can only do well in life if you have a BS. Many people have proven the contrary. But more so, having the degree gives you better options than without. A lot of people with only HS diplomas struggle, especially in a down economy. I don't think it's a waste if he gets his Masters in, say, Econ even if he's not clear on what he wants to do on the other side. I'm in the field I wanted to be in when I was 18, but at 32 I no longer like being in it. I do agree with TD in that he should get more work experience before he goes for the MBA. If you're always waiting until you're 100% sure of the direction before pulling the trigger, you may be missing out on "just get it done." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elessar78 Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Re: The Economist article. Ever read Outliers? It's unfortunate timing. Arguably, a kid getting his MBA now or in the next year could graduate into a robust job market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD_washingtonredskins Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 I do agree with TD in that he should get more work experience before he goes for the MBA. If you're always waiting until you're 100% sure of the direction before pulling the trigger, you may be missing out on "just get it done." I see your point and agree with what you wrote above (and that's what I really meant). I didn't mean to imply that he should wait until he was POSITIVE, but just give it a little more time. There's no need to get a Masters degree this soon after getting a Bachelors degree. In fact, he could find that waiting a few years clarifies what he likes doing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elessar78 Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 I'm looking into an MBA myself right now, so that's where I'm coming from. BTW, Pitt's MBA program gets a FAIL right now because I've requested two packets for info for certain programs and have yet to get them. It's been 3 weeks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pick6 Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 I am starting at GWU part-time on the 30th and continue my analyst career. One reason is to help me not hit a ceiling in my career, but also because I knew I wanted a MBA since undergrad. I love the atomsphere of a business school and the class discussion, but is what I am really interested in. It is going to be a lot of work for 36-months, so I had to make sure it was what I really wanted to do, because if I was doing it for the wrong reasons it wouldn't turn out well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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