Does an MBA really pay off?

One thought to consider is a job with the federal government. They give anyone with an advanced degree quite a bit of consideration and start them out at a fairly high level...

 

I would be interested in your basis for this advice. Very few positions above the GS-12 carry a positive education requirement so any advance education would be considered but only if your resume makes the first cut.. Additionally degrees will normally only suffice for one year of experience. However, some occupations, engineers, attorneys, scientists, where the degree is a positive education requirement then the possibility exists that a degree will fulfill the entrance requirements. Most government jobs require one year at the next lower grade and documented as such whether it is civilian or government work experience. I would caveat that political appointees don't necessarily meet this criteria.

Best advice in this area might be from:
www.opm.gov
www.usajobs.opm.gov

I would agree that jobs are available in the federal government if someone is willing to move to where the job is located.

Regards,

 

The job I have now [with the Federal Government] is because of my masters degree. If I had not earned my masters, I would not be working where I am now today.

Networking is one aspect of earning your masters that no one mentioned.

One of my former professors [for my masters] was crucial in helping me get this job. He works where I work now and he has a lot of influence in my department. I had one course with him, in which I excelled, and kept in contact with him ever since.


From my experience; my experience with my former professor helped get me the job; my degree and experience helped me negotiate a higher grade and step level.

 

The hardest part with getting a job in the federal government is getting your foot in the door.

Every agency has a human resources department, which screens every resume before they go to a hiring manager. If a hiring manager doesn't get your resume from HR, they can't hire you. I had hiring managers that wanted to hire me (because of my former masters degree professor), but HR deemed my resume as not qualified because I did not meet the job's knowledge, skills, and attributes (KSAs) to a tee. It was very frustrating because I knew there were many vacant positions there, I had managers ready to hire me, and HR kept my resume from them. Talk about a real CF.

If you apply for a federal government job and you are getting letters from HR saying you are not qualified for the job you applied for, consider these options:

1) Rework your resume to match the KSAs (if you are not sure what the KSAs are, call the HR department and have them get the KSAs for you)
2) Look to someone you know in the government that can help elevate your name to the hiring managers
3) Apply for jobs in the government that would be considered less desirable (chances are if you don't want the job, others don't as well which means you have a better chance)...once you are hired, work in that job until you can get something that may be more of what you like.

Check out the jobs on this web site:
http://cpolwapp.belvoir.army.mil/iraq-pco/

Yes they are jobs in Iraq, but look at the benefits...also, like I said, you do that job for a while and it will line you up for a better job somewhere else.

Good luck!

 

If you need to secure a job, I wouldn't bother with an MBA. MBAs are dime a dozen nowadays and salaries are not as attractive.

If job is a concern, look for a more secure career as in nursing, pharmacy, accounting, education or any other field that has 100% placement.

 

Re: Re: Does an MBA really pay off?

Good advice!

If you are having trouble finding employment and you want to earn a masters degree to make you more marketable, consider completing a degree that can get you a new vocation.

 

Fed,

My basis for this advice is that I know several people employed by the government, including my husband who have said this. From what he says, a masters degree will bring you in at at least a GS12. While he may be wrong, and it may be dependent on the specific agency rather than an overall hiring policy, I have looked at the federal job website and pulled up jobs I am qualified for, which are IT jobs in the GS12/GS13 range. If I remember correctly, they required a large amount of experience - but then waived pretty much most of it in lieu of an advanced degree.

So I'll qualify what I said by emphasizing that getting a federal job is not easy. You do need to submit your paperwork exactly as requested including your resume, school transcripts and KSA's. In most cases it's not a job you will get quickly - from personal experience, it took about a year before the hiring/security clearance process was finished. Also, while the government relocated us from Indiana it would be substantially easier to get your foot in the door by already being in the D.C./Northern Virginia area.

All of this being said, a federal job is another option.

Nadine

 

kw_ATL

several federal agencie can use someone with telecommunications/sales background. DISA and GSA/FTS come to mind. Search the job website I posted and look under the following series: 0391, 0301, 0340

you may also want to search under "business" as a keyword.

Good luck,


Nadine,

hopefully the new personnel systems will evolve to all agencies and the lockstep career ending stuff will come to an end. I would recommend that folks look at agencies with the new personnel flexibilities (Homeland Security, DOD, etc...) as these more closely mirror the civilian sector and you can negotiate with the hiring agency. If you have never been a cvil servant there are provisions to bring you in at higer grades and rates for superior qualifications. Unfortunately, If you are a civil servant already these do not apply, so folks already in the system do not derive the same benefits as a new hire when looking at other jobs. This policy does not make for harmony among the employees.

If the government force relocated you then spousal preference for employment may apply.


Happy Holidays to everyone...

 

Re: Re: Does an MBA really pay off?

This may not be exactly what the original poster hoped to hear, but it is excellent advice.

I personally know people who have been victims of "downsizing" and outsourcing. Those in IT and business fields were either out of work for an extended time or ended up taking similar jobs but at greatly reduced salaries. All but one have at least a bachelor's degree, some have advanced degrees. On the other hand, a few friends and a couple relatives who are nurses have never been out of work. Quite the contrary, they have employers offering sign-on bonuses in the thousands of dollars and they can choose their shifts. (One even works 3 12-hour days which counts as full-time for benefits and salary, and it leaves her with more time with her children.) If nursing isn't for you, anything in healthcare is also in high demand and nearly recession proof. Nursing is just the one in highest demand.

Another friend in insurance sales has also never been out of work and makes quite a comfortable living. Then there's the CPA friend and two relatives who are school teachers, one elementary and one secondary. None of them have ever worried about the future of their jobs either.

Kit

 

Thanks for all the input, but honestly I don't think I have the personality type for nursing. I considered the option of looking into the healthcare field but I thought it was a 180 compared to what I'm doing at the present.

An earlier poster mentioned going into the mortgage industry but I've been there and done that and I'm very unhappy with it. For the past 3.5 years I have been in the mortgage industry on 100% commission. Honestly the money can be very good, but it's b2consumer sales which means long hours, high stress and pressure, depending on what company you work for, your college education makes no difference, oh and no benefits.

Right now I'm still working on my resume, all I seem to get are mortgage companies looking to hire me. The thought of working for ANOTHER mortgage company is very upsetting.

I know I have great marketing and sales skills but my resume is getting in the way. At the moment I've entertained software sales, recruiting and other financial sales jobs with a strong base salaries. BUT I'm open to anything.

 

Sounds like you may have worked at some not so good mortgage firms. I am with an excellent firm now that provides a base salary and benefits. I know of many others that provide salaries, and almost all legit ones are offering benefits.