MBA - overhyped??

P

PeterGriffin

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I'd be interested to get people's opinions on whether they reckon MBA's are over-hyped or really do make a difference? I've been thinking of doing one for quite a while but looking at the cost (at least twice the cost of doing a regular masters) and wondering if they really offer good value for money?
If you have 2 candidates with similar experience and qualifications, the only difference being one has an MBA and the other a different business masters, is the fact that one has an MBA swing it? I'd be interested to get the views of any recruiters out there

This is in no way about the quality of what you study in an MBA, it's just about career prospects so, please, if you have done one don't get defensive!!
 
Have not done an MBA. Am not a recruiter. But I've been looking at the courses out there recently.

I would think that someone with an MBA would certainly be regarded more highly than someone with a different business oriented masters (except in cases where the masters is extremely specialised and the job equally specialised in the same area).

Although it does cost plenty of money, there's something to be said for that fact weeding out all but the most committed.
 
It depends on the school.

I did half an MBA (year 1 only) at a well know Dublin university. I did very well, academically speaking, in year one, but I didn't go back because I felt the quality of the teaching was very poor. The quality of the students didn't impress me either, to be honest.

That's not to say that there's anything wrong with an MBA per se, but put it this way, I felt no compunction to continue.
 
You need more specifics: why are you doing an MBA? If it's just to get a qualification that might get you ahead of other at an interview then you are wasting your time and money doing it. Approach your boss and discuss how a person with an MBA would benefit your organisation, it'll give you more to go on
 
I think that one of the biggest advantages of an MBA is that the signal it sends to employers. Irrespective of the academic value or otherwise of the qualification, it shows an employer that you are ambitious and willing to put in a lot of focussed hard work.

d
 
Thanks for all the input. What really got me thinking was the cost - anywhere up to 26k - versus a specialised Masters - in the region of 18k or less. I know you could argue that in time you'll make it back but it's kind of a cash flow thing at the moment!! I suppose I've just been starting to wonder how much of the whole MBA thing is about prestige/ego (no offence as it applies to me as much as anybody!!!) and how much is real, I mean would you pick a candidate who had less experience over a slightly more experienced candidate if they had an MBA?
The main reason I'm thinking of doing it is that while it's not particularly relevant to me at the moment I do want to move on and don't want to get to my mid 40s (about 15 years off) and realise I need one then, although it may be more relevant to study it at that stage when I can apply more of what I learn.
 
The MBA colleges are always very upfront in giving out details of how much past graduates do now earn. This kind of data will be available at ft.com for example, so it should be relatively easy to decide if it's worth it financially long-term. Of course it's not a guarantee but it is an indication.
 
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