You need an MBA. You can forget all those blogs written in 2011 that tell you that an MBA is a waste of time; you can ignore stories about billionaires like Kylie Jenner and Bill Gates who don’t even have bachelor’s degrees. The truth is that if you want to see career success fast, you need proof that you are qualified for advanced positions, and an MBA functions like a Golden Ticket to management and beyond.
Still, graduate-level education can be intimidating. Though you might admit that earning an MBA is the right career choice, you might also drag your feet. If you find yourself indulging in any of the following procrastination techniques, you should stop what you’re doing and apply for an MBA — it’s that simple.
Believing You Have the Perfect Job
You don’t need to get an MBA because you already have the perfect job. You have plenty of evidence of this: higher-than-average pay, excellent benefits, a balanced boss, friendly coworkers, a workspace that isn’t too cold, etc. Today, you have the best job imaginable — but what about tomorrow?
Work situations change quickly; all it takes is one difference in leadership for your job to become unrecognizable. Thus, you should start preparing for even better jobs by improving your qualifications in an MBA program. The sooner you earn your credential, the sooner you will be prepared to mobilize when big changes ruin your perfect job.
Hopping From Job to Job
Job hopping is the new normal. Contrary to older generations, who found that staying loyal to one employer brought them outstanding benefits and pay, millennials and younger generations must jump from employer to employer to find the positions and perks they crave.
However, job hopping can only get you so far. Ideally, you will only hop to roles that are better than what you currently experience, but eventually you will meet resistance — usually when you try to hop into higher-level employment. To reach those coveted director and executive positions, you will need to prove your abilities on paper, which requires either a lifetime of experience or a few educational credentials, like an MBA.
Daydreaming About Starting a Business
Plenty of workers like to imagine that their next jobs won’t be another subservient employment role but rather top-dog at their own business. You might spend minutes here and there fantasizing about business names and strategies, great successes and creative business maneuvers. Yet, if you don’t have much experience in leadership positions, you probably won’t build the thriving business of your dreams.
Not only does an MBA enhance your credentials for employment opportunities, but the degree is also structured to assist would-be entrepreneurs in obtaining the skills they need to run businesses successfully. Thus, instead of wasting your time on imagination, you can make your dreams come true by taking action in an MBA program.
Studying for the GMAT
Maybe you already accept the importance of an MBA on your business career. However, you know that the school you attend matters, so you are committed to making your application materials as perfect as possible. To that end, you have been studying for the GMAT, the business school entrance exam, for what feels like years.
In truth, you don’t need to take the GMAT to get into a good business school. Increasingly, MBA programs require no GMAT scores for enrollment, especially if you have a few years of real-world business experience under your belt. You can apply for a GMAT waiver at many other programs, so you don’t have to waste any more time studying for this inconsequential test.
Attending Conferences and Professional Events
One of the best ways to boost your career without doing actual work is attending industry conferences or events. These affairs bring top professionals in your industry into the same space, where you can meet them, learn from them and otherwise add them to your professional network. Networking can never truly be considered a waste of time — but all the effort that goes with attending conferences, like traveling and attending seminars, certainly isn’t as productive as possible.
Still, there are other networking opportunities that do more for your career — like earning an MBA. Students in MBA programs are eager to make connections with their peers and professors, and you can be sure that anyone pursuing an MBA is likely to be an important mover-and-shaker later in their careers. Thus, you can take big steps in your career and improve your network by earning an MBA.
