MBA opening up additional doors - Not pure IT

N2IT

As I get closer to graduation I have noticed companies reaching out to me for non IT capacity positions. I have been pursued late for financial analyst positions and data analyst. This has been a pleasent surprised. Several ERP (order to cash) systems integration efforts have reached out to me as well. I just wanted to post this because the results I have received so far have been shocking.

Don't get me wrong no one is knocking on my door to be a SA or network engineer, but that's alright. The pay is comparable however the business roles seems to be more willing to bring you in as an FTE off the bat whereas the IT roles were mostly contractor positions with no benefits.So if you are getting burnt on IT or your current position it seems the MBA is a good way to pry yourself out of those roles and into the business side. (Of course if that is what you are looking for)

I personally will always try to keep one foot in IT, but I really want my role to stack out as business first then IT.

(Just my two cents)

geek4god

Mind letting us know what type of MBA you got, full-time, part-time, executive Also what type of school? Just curious as offers are coming to you.

N2IT

WGU MBA - Strategy

It's been a big time value add for me so far. Exciting times.

Chitownjedi

This is extremely motivational... I plan to enroll in the B.S in IT, then go on into the MBA... for similiar choice options and future positions... and hearing of any extra options that may arise from wgu mba program is comforting.

N2IT

A lot of those (how do you get positions) are becoming accessable from the outside.

Some that I have received an abundance of listed below

Project Manager
Business Analyst
Financial Analyst (Another I really want but the pay is lighter than the data analyst)
Account Manager
CRM
IT Sales
Data Analyst (One I am really wanting)
Excel guru (Building Cubes and other BI functions)
ERP Specialist - Order to Cash and other modules within PeopleSoft, SAP, and JDE etc

Keep in mind these are interviews and not job offers except for a financial analyst position that I am holding out for. I have a few others on my plate I am waiting to hear back from and interview with.

The MBA really does open doors at least in my market (midwest) Ever since I put expected graduation April 2013 the offers have been more lucrative and better overall position not to mention FTE / direct hire. On the pure IT side I didn't see hardly any FTE positions.

One last thing I ended up doing is taking off all my certification except office 2007 and ITIL V3 Foundation. So far it has worked out well.

MiikeB

Hoping for the same affect, not looking yet but I should graduate in May. From there I plan on getting my ITIL and PMP then posting my resume up. I would love to get a PM job involving telecommute or frequent travel, trying to avoid cube life.

N2IT

Miike Good luck with your goals! I'm sure you will achieve them!

petedude

N2IT wrote: »

As I get closer to graduation I have noticed companies reaching out to me for non IT capacity positions.

Again, stop that.

I had dropped the idea of a WGU MBA for various reasons, but with nice things like your post being said I might reconsider.

Polynomial

petedude wrote: »

Again, stop that.

I had dropped the idea of a WGU MBA for various reasons, but with nice things like your post being said I might reconsider.

I'm in the middle of my Masters and people already recognize me differently.

JoJoCal19

This is very true and why I'm looking at doing my MBA down the road.

N2IT

I understand if you want to go to a known brick and mortar school, that makes a lot of sense. But in my financial situation WGU really was the best option for myself. I understand Harvard, Stanford, Florida, etc have wonderful business schools and hold a lot more weight, but at the end of the day this worked for me and it's not all that bad, infact it's really good.

Just today I was interviewing for a pure analyst role (financial and data) and the hiring manager could tell just by the way I spoke that I had a solid understanding of management. I have some experience ~ 2 years but the MBA really helped fill in the knowledge gaps. Mid interview he said scrap this position I have another position I think will better align with your MBA. This was unsolicited, trust me I was completely floored. This may be one of those one off type of moments but I found it very interesting. That director just emailed me a few minutes ago and said things are looking good.

Just in the middle of an interview I went from possibly a position as a data analyst to something a little higher. No title given we will have to wait and see.....

I'm just saying......

-hype

Well it is a MBA after all. It's nice to see hard work and dedication are opening opportunities for you.

UnixGuy

I'm really glad it's working out for you. Great post N2IT

JoJoCal19

N2IT wrote: »

I understand if you want to go to a known brick and mortar school, that makes a lot of sense. But in my financial situation WGU really was the best option for myself. I understand Harvard, Stanford, Florida, etc have wonderful business schools and hold a lot more weight, but at the end of the day this worked for me and it's not all that bad, infact it's really good.

Just today I was interviewing for a pure analyst role (financial and data) and the hiring manager could tell just by the way I spoke that I had a solid understanding of management. I have some experience ~ 2 years but the MBA really helped fill in the knowledge gaps. Mid interview he said scrap this position I have another position I think will better align with your MBA. This was unsolicited, trust me I was completely floored. This may be one of those one off type of moments but I found it very interesting. That director just emailed me a few minutes ago and said things are looking good.

Just in the middle of an interview I went from possibly a position as a data analyst to something a little higher. No title given we will have to wait and see.....

I'm just saying......

That's great to hear! While I am planning on going back to UF for my MBA, it's more because I really just love being a Gator and I don't plan on relocating outside of Florida, so the network and name recognition in my market is unbeatable, but I am definitely keeping WGU's MBA program in mind too. I plan on starting the MSISA at WGU later this year and I will see how things go when I start applying for jobs here. I want to see how it's perceived by local employers (most likely in the Tampa/Orlando areas) and what kind of doors it opens for me. I'm of the opinion that if you're not either a kid fresh out of his undergrad with not much real world work experience and going straight through to MBA to get a finance position, or someone who is looking to be C level at a Fortune 100 company, dropping everything everything in life and dropping $100k+ for an MBA from a top 15 program is a not a good value and really not necessary.

Polynomial

JoJoCal19 wrote: »

That's great to hear! While I am planning on going back to UF for my MBA, it's more because I really just love being a Gator and I don't plan on relocating outside of Florida, so the network and name recognition in my market is unbeatable

I find this to be really important myself.

N2IT

I agree branding of the University is HUGE. No question about it and one of the biggest reason to stick with a school that is known in the area. For me it would be Washingtion University, Saint Louis University, University of Missouri, Missouri Science and Technology (EXCELLENT SCHOOL) for engineering, infact one of the best.

Infact my bachelors is from Missouri State University and that has helped in my early days applying to jobs. "Oh you went to MSU the parties on normal street where intense". "Yes, yes they were, I barely remember)

JoJo BS Business Administration and a MBA from U of F to back it would be insanely powerful.