After completing graduation, most of the students who are planning to pursue higher education in any professional course like MBA, are on the crossroads: whether pursue full-time MBA or gather some work experience before applying for MBA?

The answer can be tricky i.e. ‘Both’. Having MBA degree from a reputed B-school or work experience or combination of both can be good for your resume. The choice whether to go for MBA or work experience before pursuing MBA depends largely on your skills and career goals.

On a clearer understanding, if you choose to do an MBA, then it should be from a good and recognized B-school in-line with your future career plans.

On the other hand, if you choose to have work experience, then it should be in relevance to career that you want to follow in future. Option of MBA would be better for some, while work experience option for some other people, it depends solely on the person who is choosing it. Let us see advantages and disadvantages of both the options.

What is the right decision, MBA or Job?

● An MBA degree can simply highlight itself in your CV and do not need any justification. It would carry more weightage if done from a reputed institution. If you choose work experience then, you will have to explain in detail about your work. Such detailed information could make your CV look attractive to the employers.

● A combination of both the worlds i.e. few years of work experience and MBA in relevant field would make you well-qualified with degree and job experience.

● It is quite a difficult task to have a complete work experience without a prior qualification. But if you get a chance to work in any business that is enjoyable, profitable and makes you learn, then it is a good deal indeed. Here you get paid to learn about professional work, develop skills of specialty in business and offer real-hand-on work experience. Whereas MBA does not offer great exposure to work in area of specialization. Hence prior working in area of interest could be your added advantage over other students.

● Work experience with MBA education would increase your chances of getting a good position in corporate jobs. During recruitment many companies are interested to know your work experience too and give equal weightage to degree. But remember, having multiple degrees without any job experience could create a negative impression for recruiters. Even top MBA colleges demand few years of relevant work experience from the applicants.

● Only work experience does not guarantee a good job. For instance- in a job interview there are two candidates with same years of work experience, but one has MBA degree whereas the second candidate has bachelor’s degree or diploma. The candidate with MBA degree would have competitive advantage and have better chances of getting the offer letter.

In a nutshell it could be concluded that, in today’s dynamic work atmosphere, the applicants should adopt a dual strategy of including both studies and work experience before applying to his/her dream job. This strategy will give momentum to your career after your studies.

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