Recruiters Prefer Full-Time MBA Programs
One of the first questions that anyone pursuing an MBA degree runs up against is what kind of program they should enroll in: full-time, part-time, or EMBA?
Each one of these options has its strengths. The answer to the ‘which program?’ question depends on who is making the choice and what their reasons for getting an MBA are.
But if you ask corporate recruiters for their opinion on MBA programs, their answer is unequivocal: they strongly prefer full-time graduates.
The internship component of full-time programs is a large part of the reason for this. Full-time MBA students almost always take a paid summer internship during the summer between their first and second year of classes. These internships are valuable to students and employers alike. Students get a chance to put classroom knowledge to work, and to get a taste of what it is really like to work in a particular field or industry. Employers get a chance to size up prospective hires – in fact, career services officers at b-schools across the country have said that a growing proportion of graduates’ job offers stem from such internships.
Even companies that do not hire MBA interns value the experience that full-time students gain through internships and the recent, targeted employer recommendations they are able to give. That’s one reason why major corporations scout for management talent through the career services offices of the top b-schools.
Career goals should be the main factor that b-school applicants consider when they make the ‘which program?’ choice.
Part-time programs are a suitable choice for people who are happy with their present employer and hoping to move up in the same company. They can also be a good option for people who want an MBA education to plan and start their own business.
EMBA degrees are, of course, meant for mid-career professionals who are already on the management track at their current employer and who plan to stay there. Typically, career services are neither expected by EMBA students nor provided by EMBA programs.
But people who want to change employers or industries are much better served by enrolling in a full-time, two-year MBA program. Their internship will give them the relevant work experience they need to convince prospective employers that they can perform at the management level. They will also benefit from the alumni network they plug in to and the superior career services support that top b-schools provide to full-time students.
This advice is not always what prospective MBAs want to hear. The cost of attending business school for two years, full time, is daunting, as is the prospect of possibly having to move to another city to attend b-school. But the fact that someone is willing to do those things to gain a management education is seen as a sign of career commitment by many employers. Keep in mind, too, that full-time program graduates have better job prospects and receive higher salary offers than part-time grads typically do. That difference should, in a few short years, compensate you for the sacrifices you make to attend school full-time.
Each one of these options has its strengths. The answer to the ‘which program?’ question depends on who is making the choice and what their reasons for getting an MBA are.
But if you ask corporate recruiters for their opinion on MBA programs, their answer is unequivocal: they strongly prefer full-time graduates.
The internship component of full-time programs is a large part of the reason for this. Full-time MBA students almost always take a paid summer internship during the summer between their first and second year of classes. These internships are valuable to students and employers alike. Students get a chance to put classroom knowledge to work, and to get a taste of what it is really like to work in a particular field or industry. Employers get a chance to size up prospective hires – in fact, career services officers at b-schools across the country have said that a growing proportion of graduates’ job offers stem from such internships.
Even companies that do not hire MBA interns value the experience that full-time students gain through internships and the recent, targeted employer recommendations they are able to give. That’s one reason why major corporations scout for management talent through the career services offices of the top b-schools.
Career goals should be the main factor that b-school applicants consider when they make the ‘which program?’ choice.
Part-time programs are a suitable choice for people who are happy with their present employer and hoping to move up in the same company. They can also be a good option for people who want an MBA education to plan and start their own business.
EMBA degrees are, of course, meant for mid-career professionals who are already on the management track at their current employer and who plan to stay there. Typically, career services are neither expected by EMBA students nor provided by EMBA programs.
But people who want to change employers or industries are much better served by enrolling in a full-time, two-year MBA program. Their internship will give them the relevant work experience they need to convince prospective employers that they can perform at the management level. They will also benefit from the alumni network they plug in to and the superior career services support that top b-schools provide to full-time students.
This advice is not always what prospective MBAs want to hear. The cost of attending business school for two years, full time, is daunting, as is the prospect of possibly having to move to another city to attend b-school. But the fact that someone is willing to do those things to gain a management education is seen as a sign of career commitment by many employers. Keep in mind, too, that full-time program graduates have better job prospects and receive higher salary offers than part-time grads typically do. That difference should, in a few short years, compensate you for the sacrifices you make to attend school full-time.
posted by AllStarEssays at 12:19 PM
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