A second masters degree?

PK2008

I did a master of business studies (MBS) a few years ago with Smurfit business school. I have recently been sent an email basically offering me a place on a part time MBA programme.

Im interested in it, I always kinda felt that the MBA was a bit more prestigious and might open more doors, particularly I would like to start my own consultancy business one day and have always felt the MBA is like a benchmark for consultancy.

Do you think having and MBS and an MBA would be overkill/pointless or do you think it would be good?

AARRRGH

I am considering doing a second masters also (maybe an MBA) but only in something totally unrelated to my original masters (computer science.)

I don't really rate MBS's (I think "someone who couldn't afford to do an MBA" or "someone who couldn't get into an MBA course", sorry) so I would think an MBA would certainly benefit you.

gerry87

AARRRGH wrote: »

I am considering doing a second masters also (maybe an MBA) but only in something totally unrelated to my original masters (computer science.)

I don't really rate MBS's (I think "someone who couldn't afford to do an MBA" or "someone who couldn't get into an MBA course", sorry) so I would think an MBA would certainly benefit you.

wow... how about 'someone who did an entirely different course to an MBA'. You don't even know what his MBS was in!

OP, are you working now? Would an MBA help you progress where you are? Are you hoping you learn things on the course that will help you in starting a consultancy firm or just to have it as a sort of badge for when you do start by yourself?

PK2008

gerry87 wrote: »

wow... how about 'someone who did an entirely different course to an MBA'. You don't even know what his MBS was in!

OP, are you working now? Would an MBA help you progress where you are? Are you hoping you learn things on the course that will help you in starting a consultancy firm or just to have it as a sort of badge for when you do start by yourself?

My MBS was actually in Management consulatancy but I wasnt successful in getting into a consulting firm after graduation. I am working as a technical consultant at the moment but its more of a product support type role, not like a fee earning consultant, who assesses a clients problem then puts together a solution/strategy- which is the type of thing Id like to do.

I dont think the MBA would help me in my current role but might help me move into management consulting??

Im not sure my MBS has really done much for me/opened any doors- I dont get the feeling that management consultants really rate the MBS all that much. Though I do get the feeling that the MBA (from a reputable school) is rated. (Plus if I did go out on my own I suppose it would be a kind of quality badge for potential clients)

What do you think?

gerry87

I don't know a great deal about MBA's just that they are a pretty big investment and undertaking... Nearly 2 years and 30k.

What I was getting at is that from my understanding, MBA's are extremely beneficial for progressing past a certain point in large firms, so if you ultimately wanted to set up by yourself you may be as qualified as you need to be, but sure more education is never a bad thing!

It probably wouldn't hurt your chances moving onto a different career path. Have you looked up people in the positions you want to be in? Are they littered with MBA's?

Why don't you see if you can have a word with the career guidance guy in smurfit, in my experience of him he's very frank and will be straight whether its a good idea or not.

PK2008

I suppose alot of the consultants in the big firms have come through the ranks from the grad programmes and/or have come from another big firm, so in that sence an MBA might not do anything for me.

Would having an MBA get me into one of the big firms despite not coming from a big firm background?

Thats kind of my dilemma- if I get my MBA would it open the doors or is it only MBA plus the big firm grad programme that they want?

If not then I suppose it might not be much use to me(although as you say its never a bad thing to continue education).

Would it be a good thing to have an MBS and an MBA on my CV or would it just be overkill?

gerry87

PK2008 wrote: »

I suppose alot of the consultants in the big firms have come through the ranks from the grad programmes and/or have come from another big firm, so in that sence an MBA might not do anything for me.

Would having an MBA get me into one of the big firms despite not coming from a big firm background?

Thats kind of my dilemma- if I get my MBA would it open the doors or is it only MBA plus the big firm grad programme that they want?

If not then I suppose it might not be much use to me(although as you say its never a bad thing to continue education).

Would it be a good thing to have an MBS and an MBA on my CV or would it just be overkill?

It wouldn't be overkill, mba after a masters is fairly common afaik, it is a further education. It's not really the same as getting 2 masters (nothing wrong with that either), as far as I know MBA is considered higher than masters in the ranking.

I'm really not sure what doors an MBA would open, obviously it would have to open some.

You should really talk to people w/ experience of this, as i mentioned the career guidance guy... maybe even talk to recruitment agency, they might get a lot of people in your situation and know exactly what effect the MBA had on it.

AARRRGH

gerry87 wrote: »

wow... how about 'someone who did an entirely different course to an MBA'. You don't even know what his MBS was in!

In fairness, an MBS is viewed as a poor man's MBA, and MBS's tend to be full of recent graduates, whereas MBA's are full of experienced managers.

gerry87

AARRRGH wrote: »

In fairness, an MBS is viewed as a poor man's MBA, and MBS's tend to be full of recent graduates, whereas MBA's are full of experienced managers.

Whats your point? Obviously MBS's are full of recent graduates and MBA's are full of experienced people... because MBA's require a minimium of 3 years work experience, MBS's don't.

Thats the same as saying a masters is a poor man's PhD... they're entirely different courses at different levels. Masters courses are in more specialised areas whereas MBA's give a broad teaching on a number of management and a grounding in the specialised areas.

A masters in accounting will have more accounting than an MBA, a masters in finance will have more finance than an MBA, a masters in HR will have more HR than an MBA. MBA's will have more of each area than the other courses.

Apples and oranges!

AARRRGH

gerry87 wrote: »

Whats your point?

This thread is about someone who has an MBS and is considering doing an MBA.

I am saying it is a good idea, as MBA's are viewed a lot more highly than MBS's.

The reality is most people who do an MBS would rather do an MBA, but they either don't qualify or don't have the money. Therefore, MBA > MBS.

ramblingcelt

I did a masters and an MBA over the last few years but my masters was in IT so I was adding business to technology. An MBA will be of value to you but only if :

a) it is from a good provider.
b) you do well in the course.

An MBA is only of real value in certain career paths such as consulting as firms can charge more for your services. If you want to go into finance etc, I would sooner follow professional qualifications such as ACCA, CIMA as you are able to work independently and not have to rely on consulting firms who are there to work you hard until you leave. Most my colleagues in consulting are doing 60 to 70 hours a week.

When looking at an MBA, take what the careers guys say in the business colleges with a degree of caution. Remember they are there to sell you a course. Look at the economist MBA rankings or other rankins as part of your research. The most value I got out of mine was the alumni contacts and the experience of working with people from 30 nationalities.

Above all else, focus your energies on what you like doing not what you think is prestigous. Have a great job title at a respected firm is of no use if you hate what you do. Without enjoying what you do you will never have the energy to excel no matter what your qualifications.

Hope this helps.