Applying for MBA? Work Experience Really Does Count

Which is better – doing MBA straight after graduation or after getting some work experience? This is a common question among students who are planning to enrol in reputed B-Schools of India to pursue management education.

As per the current scenario, most of the top business schools in the country place greater emphasis on an applicant’s professional experience. In fact, at the time of placements, employers prefer to hire graduates who have prior work experience of at least two to three years.

Considering this trend, many aspirants are opting for industry experience before applying for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) course at a reputed management institute.

But do you really think this should be the only reason for you to gain industry exposure before applying for an MBA degree?

If yes is your answer, then you should perhaps look at these reasons to understand why getting some work experience before applying for an MBA course is considered a big deal.

Leadership Role

Ideally, you should go for an MBA when you want to move into any leadership role and perform well. There are many concepts related to leadership and organization management in an MBA course. Getting some work exposure prior to applying for an MBA degree will provide you a platform where you can relate your own experience to classroom discussions and learn the basics of how one can climb up the corporate ladder.

Clarity of Goal

Getting some work exposure prior to joining an MBA institute will lead to clarity of goals. You will be more focused and successful in your career if you join an MBA institute with a plan in mind. The amount of maturity that you will gain after working will help you comprehend the dynamics of the subjects in your MBA programme.

Higher Pay Packages

Let’s face it; most of the candidates apply for an MBA degree to get better pay packages and to get associated with top companies. Having past experience on your CV certainly gives you that extra edge. You application becomes more visible to B-schools during admissions and recruiters too place their bets on candidates who have prior experience.

Financial Support

Another thing that you can consider before joining an MBA institute is your financial condition. The cost of living has gone up significantly in the last few years. The same stands true for cost of education. With MBA institutes charging up to Rs. 15 lakhs for a course, it would be a good idea to save some money for higher studies by working for at least three to four years.

Networking

Another advantage of gaining work experience prior to joining an MBA institute is the fact that you already know a lot of people in the industry. While working, you get to interact with people within as well as outside your office. Once you finish doing your MBA, you can get in touch with them for future prospects.

Experience Counts

Last but not the least, experience always counts! You will always have that extra edge because your knowledge will be based on practical experiences. You would be able to take your classroom discussions forward with a different perspective. You can also have knowledge and experience sharing sessions with you class mates and faculty members. It sure sounds like an interesting way to study. What do you think?