Ask the expert: Why do I need work experience?
Dear Prospective MBA,
You are correct in saying that the MBA is somewhat unusual among postgraduate qualifications in generally demanding that students already have some experience in the area it professes to teach (management and business).
Most notably, the two professions of law and medicine do not require this, instead including large amounts of “on-the-job” learning as part of the teaching process. (Few people, of course, would want a doctor to be allowed to practise before being qualified.)
Rightly or wrongly, management is not regarded as a “profession” and individuals require no previous qualification to undertake it. The argument for the MBA requiring some previous experience of work—whether as a manager or something entirely different—is that students can apply their experience to the theoretical concepts they meet in the classroom.
This is especially true in analysing case studies based on real situations. In many areas there are no rights or wrongs in management—it is not a “hard science”—just options and making decisions often requires drawing on previous experience of similar situations.
More cynically, it has also been suggested that MBA graduates with previous experience tend to do better in the recruitment market, and attract higher salaries. This looks good in alumni data and can also be important in rankings.
That said, you are incorrect in saying that all MBA programmes demand prior experience. Harvard and Stanford, for example, make it explicit that they will accept MBA applications from people straight from college (though usually they ask for a superior academic record and an indication of “leadership potential”). It is true, though, that it is almost universally expected at leading business schools in Europe.
There have been some concerns in the US that the insistence on work experience is narrowing the applicant base for MBA studies and it is possible that they may follow the European model of specialist masters degrees in areas such as finance or marketing and, particularly, the so-called “Master’s in Management”—a pre-experience MBA in all but name.
For anyone eager to get a qualification under their belt before starting work, a specialised masters or general masters in management is the obvious route. You can always take an MBA after gaining some experience.
George Bickerstaffe.
If you have any advice for our prospective student feel free to post it below. If you have a question for George Bickerstaffe please email it to: AskTheExpert@economist.com
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January 11, 2008 at 3:07 am
I would like to put my opinion slightly to different position. Even if there are schools that would accept candidates without any prior work experience, I would strongly recommend to anyone who is pursuing MBA degree to have some work experience. I did well on my undergrad in good school, but most of subjects seemed so abstract and intangible to me. However, after a certain time at work, I started to realize what I had to learn and what I missed to study at undergrad, which awakened my hunger to go back to academia again. MBA should not be just about study, get your credits and score higher GPA. I understand that by going to MBA straight from undergrad one may save a lot of time of his/her career life, but at this person, most likely will have “no food to put on table of discussion” and no personal experience to make parallels with subjects offered at MBA program.
January 16, 2008 at 9:53 am
can i do an mba after my hotel management diploma of two years and with my work experiance?
January 24, 2008 at 8:22 pm
I run my own business and have both theoretical background in business and a lot of practical experience - learned mostly the hard way.
I will not employ anyone without relevant practical experience, regardless of which business school/university they went to. Theory is easy and anything can be made to look good on paper. The reality of the business world is totally different from what the books say.
“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Thomas Alva Edison
The above is still true!
February 23, 2008 at 11:23 am
hi i’m an indian and want to go to Europe for any work being apart i’ve experiance for teaching specially for higher classes, i worked as computer lecturer now i’m in delhi and working in a international call center. plz help me to find how can i be there. ?
March 10, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Sir,
I am currently doing my final year in comp sc and engg.I would like to do an mba immediately after that.Im also preparin for my gmat.As im an average student only,my options are limited.Kindly advise.
March 23, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Sir,
I am currently doing an MBA and I agree that experience is an advantage but after having 5yrs experience in the legal field, I still find the modules I am being taught absolutely strange. I believe that a good MBA is the best personal develpoment anyone can give himself especially for people who want to have a career change or take on a managerial role. I think anybody planning a career change should think about getting a good internship experience whilst studying the MBA!
April 9, 2008 at 6:52 pm
I went straight from my business undergraduate into a finance/international business MBA. I also held a full time job throughout 3 out of 4 years for my undergradute. Around the time that I started the MBA, I began a career as an independent contractor with an financial services company. So although I did not the “management” experience, so far I have been able to apply most of the principles that we are learning to my career now. And like it has been stated elsewhere, I might not draw in the top salaries like someone with an MBA and 4-5 experience, I am gaining that experience while I’m finishing the degree. I’m “paying my dues.” I feel as though in a few years, I will be just as or more marketable than most others in the job market. Another advantage is that I am doing my MBA at night and on the weekends, which is when most other professionals and established individuals take it as well. This gives you access to amazing networking opportunities as you have some points of commonalty with them, and you can show off your skills in the classroom. I impressed one of my classmates enough that she introduced me to her boss, and that is how I got into my last position.