Is it worth doing an Online MBA? A balanced guide for busy working professionals

by Mohinish K. Singh

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Is it worth doing an Online MBA?: Imagine you’re grinding hard, gaining real-world experience in the corporate world, and juggling through life – dreaming about higher education – MBA degree. You have heard about gaining an MBA degree online and how it can provide your promotions you desire. And now things have become easier – Online MBA at the click of a button.

But is an online MBA worth it? You want to gain higher education but what about losing touch with the professional world? What about working in the trenches? What about the placements if you do it online? What about attendance? What about internship – if any? And most importantly, is it worth it to resign from a job and go for an offline MBA? How much salary boost can you expect – if any? Let’s discover:

What’re some of the challenges you might be facing while pursuing higher education like an MBA?

  • You might be struggling to manage work load at office
  • You don’t have much time for personal growth and higher education
  • You want to study but aren’t sure how and where to begin
  • You don’t know whether the online MBA is really effective
  • You’re confused about the best options for courses and top universities for doing an online MBA

Is there any advantage of online MBA for govt job vacancy?

Absolutely, many govt agencies and organizations regularly advertise management trainee positions – and guess what? Most people aren’t able to apply as they aren’t qualified. Although the competition is same – but you have more opportunity to try. See you can apply for both 12th pass and MBA jobs also!

Is doing an online MBA worth it?

In my experience as an ex-bank officer, I can tell you that it’s absolutely worth it – if you have a higher education degree in your name. It’s good for promotions, it’s good for interviews, and it’s a great experience as well for your day-to-day work. So without a doubt – I’m totally in favor of doing an online MBA if you are a busy professional and seek better prospects in your career.

Online MBA vs Offline MBA

online MBA vs offline MBA

Now an actual immersive experience of offline MBA is irreplaceable. It’s like comparing Apples to Oranges. I’ve seen that sometimes stereotypes are created that online MBA doesn’t give you any advantage. It’s totally untrue. Online MBA is like distance education and for a serious person it’s a great tool to seek higher education.

Having said that, if you have an offline MBA – it gives you better placements and better opportunities. Imagine having a Cambridge or Harvard MBA? But if you are a working professional – you would need to ask whether you actually need need to go back doing internship or you would rather go for higher management positions – for which you’ll become eligible soon.

  • If you’re a working professional – and have an online MBA degree you maynot want placement help from your MBA college as you become eligible for promotions and higher management positions.
  • If you’re a working professional – your resume shines with an MBA (even if done online). And these days art of making resume stand out is what counts.
  • Even if you’ve an offline MBA – but your skills aren’t polished or you aren’t on the career path you deeply desire – you’ll end up more miserable than before. Because now you’ve greater expectations from yourself.
  • Overall, having an MBA degree in your name will provide greater return on investment (even if the degree was attained online). And to many extent – if you can sell your hard work during interviews you can outshine easily.
  • MBA helps you get into middle management positions – but when it comes to higher management positions – your field experience and your attitude matters.

Having said that, nothing is perfect. You better judge what works for you,

What are the advantages and disadvantages of an online MBA?

Advantages of Online MBADisadvantages of Online MBA
Flexibility: Online MBA allows your to learn at their own pace. You can adjust as per your work schedule and other family commitments.Limited Face-to-Face Interaction: Probably the biggest turn off is the lack of physical presence and reduced opportunities for networking. You network is your net worth!
Accessibility: You can quality education from anywhere in the world without relocating and without education loans.Technology Dependence: Online lectures, assignments, and communication can be a challenge especially if you have a limited access to internet.
Cost-Effectiveness: Online MBAs are more affordable than traditional on-campus programs so they’re highly attractive.Self-Motivation: if you struggle with self-discipline and time management you can easily miss the learning opportunity. Of course, peer-pressure of an offline MBA makes you work hard.
Diverse Learning Resources: Since you’re online you get access to a wide range of multimedia resources and books that inspire the practice of self-study.Perceived Credibility: Due to abuse by unscrupulous people some employers may view online degrees with skepticism. That’s why going to reputable institutes is a good idea (along with focusing on practical skills).
Career Advancement Opportunities: It suits well for working professionals who want to earn an advanced degree without interrupting their careers.Lack of Hands-On Experience: Certain skills can be challenging to learn in an online format so you may want to choose your course carefully.
Personalized Learning Experience: If you know your learning style you can customize your study plans to get the maximum value from your courses.Less Social Interaction: There’re very limited opportunities for face-to-face interaction with peers and teachers so your leadership and management skills might need some more attention.

Conclusion: Is it worth doing online MBA?

Yes, if you’re a hard-working professional who want to grow in career or you’re aiming for management positions – having a higher degree like MBA gives you a greater advantage. And there’s nothing better than doing it online and supporting yourself with a career on the side.

However, you may not see the same benefits like the offline MBA and if you can go for an offline MBA without putting a lot of things at risk – then you can explore offline MBA too.

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Posted By Mohinish K. Singh

I'm an ex-SBI Probationary Officer and blogger who loves to share information and news on govt job exams helping aspirants with tips so they get their dream jobs.

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