MBA Not So Good After All? - Salary.sg Forums
Salary.sg Forums  

Go Back   Salary.sg Forums > The Salary.sg Discussion Forums: > Income and Jobs

Income and Jobs Discuss jobs, career options and of course salaries




MBA Not So Good After All?

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 11-04-2008, 11:22 AM
Salary.sg
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default MBA Not So Good After All?

He completed an Executive MBA programme at one of the world's most prestigious business schools - University of Chicago GSB.

Though he did it part-time and in the Singapore campus (I gather), it should not be too much to ask for at least a reasonable return on his S$124k investment.

Yes, he spent S$124k (US$90k) on this EMBA programme.

He wanted a mid-career switch from a high-tech MNC firm to the seemingly more lucrative management consulting industry.

What did he get in return?

Well, he got his mid-career switch. But he had to take a 25% pay cut. And he got into a junior position.

The 38-year-old Mr Loh has to start from the bottom, after trading his high-tech career and spending a fortune.

So, take all the nice reports and rankings of MBA programmes with a pinch of salt. The figures for "return on investment" and "payback in N years" are perhaps just too forward looking.

Or maybe you should not take EMBA if you want to switch careers. 

Mr Loh's story is reported in the Straits Times yesterday (link).

http://www.salary.sg/2008/mba-not-so-good-after-all/

Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 11-04-2008, 01:48 PM
komatineni---
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default 1360

IMHO, e it GSB,Chicago or Wharton or whatever. End of the day without a plan no school or degree can help. In fact going to Biz school should be evaluated based on ROI and if no ROI no point doing that.If a person can get double the pay just because he/she from GSB then we'll see much bigger q than cheap sales infront of GSB/Insead

Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 11-04-2008, 02:01 PM
hanneng---
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default 1361

From what I see, Mr Loh is not making enough friends in his school. While going back to school to gain new knowledge, Mr Loh should making new friends and build new connections (guanxi) with his Executive-level classmate.

With this, he can get help from the connection, to pull string to push up his careers.

Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 11-04-2008, 09:11 PM
wait and wait---
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default 1363

The tradition education system(pri=>sec=>tertiary) is already way old dated and should be overhauled. Today education means attending seminars, specific intensive short courses and training, specific certifications, boot camps and tons of book readings and research.

The person who insist on going thru the old way of educating oneself is doomed to be paid ordinarily. Remember, the professor who teaches you in university most probably isn't a millionaire.
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 12-04-2008, 01:11 AM
Zinkc---
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default 1366

Any MBA from any school is pretty much the equivalent of a glorified vocational diploma with the icing of prestige on the top. You don't go to Business School for the MBA, you go to make friends.
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 12-04-2008, 12:45 PM
Howcome---
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default 1373

I agree totally with hanneng. It's well-known that the whole point about MBA is the guanxi. Unfortunately, a lot of people especially in the tech industry thinks that MBA is about studying their behind off to absorb knowledge only. Geeking out only guarantees you poor ROI for MBA.
Reply With Quote

  #7 (permalink)  
Old 18-04-2008, 03:51 PM
WMF---
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default 1414

what a ridiculous subject. What exactly is the ROI of a MBA?

It is basically the knowledge, the diversity of working with multicultural team mates and many projects with tight deadlines.

In a way, i believe MBA is important for someone who has worked maybe 5-10 years and felt stagnant where he/she is.

Yes, the "guan xi" is important as most of the pple taking a MBA are either top executives or Future managers-to-be.Building up a good network from there, can expose you to many more opportunities than you thought there are.

However, thinking and EXPECTING incredible to happen after MBA is not that desirable as well. Most of the MBA graduates feel that they're different from everyone else.

Plesae.. You're still human.
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 20-04-2008, 10:27 PM
Jasmine---
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default 1444

basically, to get an MBA is to learn additional knowledge for you to have a chance to attain a top management position. Whether could you get a good position depend on how good you can apply your knowledge to work. You may start a low pay but if you have the potential, very soon , you will reach your mark.
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 21-04-2008, 04:02 PM
superman---
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default 1455

the mistakes that 'Mr Loh' made were:

1) he used an EMBA for a career switch. EMBA was never meant for a career switch. If Mr Loh wanted to change his career, he should have taken a full time MBA program when he was much younger.

2)he restricted his search to Singapore. Frankly, why bother to study in GSB (Chicago), if the plan is to work for a consulting firm in Singapore? If the person is not prepared to relocate or make sacrifices (being away from family etc), why study in schools like Chicago?
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 25-04-2008, 10:43 PM
Careerwork---
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default 1503

i knew of friends that got MBA but still work in government sector. Cannot understand as i think is a waste of money and time. The theories and knowledge learnt cannot be applied there ! They should study Master of Public Administration if want to stay forever in the Civil Service.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Be your own boss. How good is a retail business? quek Investments and Net Worth 31 18-05-2012 07:03 AM

» 30 Recent Threads
IMDA (under MCI) ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
1,255 Replies, 605,433 Views
Lawyer Salary ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
20,970 Replies, 10,282,406 Views
merit increment in civil service ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
228 Replies, 268,780 Views
MINDEF DXO (All FAQ on it) ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
5,806 Replies, 4,626,739 Views
Civil Svc/ Statboard - Typical... ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
6,103 Replies, 3,714,401 Views
Civil Service Performance Bonus ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
5,292 Replies, 4,704,374 Views
MAS for Mid Career Professionals ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
1,775 Replies, 1,030,530 Views
Q: Big4 - Yearly salary increment ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
15,049 Replies, 4,938,130 Views
HTX (Home Team Science and... ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
685 Replies, 342,894 Views
Career as Teacher ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
10,570 Replies, 6,553,690 Views
Local bank BO pay
2 Replies, 116 Views
ST Electronics ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
3,734 Replies, 1,528,316 Views
UOB Management Associate Program ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
1,388 Replies, 769,112 Views
GovTech ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
5,065 Replies, 2,135,710 Views
Roles in accenture singapore ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
7,263 Replies, 2,292,087 Views
NUS (National University of... ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
315 Replies, 315,146 Views
ITE Polytechnic Scheme ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
302 Replies, 362,376 Views
Aon Centre for Innovation and...
9 Replies, 6,052 Views
CSA (Cyber Security Agency) ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
904 Replies, 500,361 Views
Compare civil service salary ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
16,314 Replies, 12,397,957 Views
Standard Chartered International... ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
476 Replies, 262,774 Views
DSTA (under Mindef) ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
1,435 Replies, 1,363,012 Views
Ex-MOE Teachers ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
403 Replies, 485,921 Views
Engineer Pay ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
664 Replies, 454,381 Views
Cybersecurity/Info security career ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
501 Replies, 264,320 Views
LTA (Land Transport Authority) ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
651 Replies, 377,010 Views
OCBC Graduate Talent Programme... ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
1,165 Replies, 640,986 Views
DBS ACE Programme ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
119 Replies, 76,970 Views
How is life as a doctor in... ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
7,233 Replies, 3,376,491 Views
Work culture in IHiS ( 1 2 3... Last Page)
717 Replies, 535,576 Views
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2



All times are GMT +8. The time now is 05:27 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.3.2