Economy and that scary "R" word

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by mheisig

Did any of you do your MBA while maintaining a full-time job?

We're on the verge of hijacking, so I'll answer here but will be more than willing to discuss further via PM.

Yes I was working full-time when I went for it. I did two classes each semester, and then one during the first summer session, and one during the second summer session. It amounted to two nights each week of 3-hour classes. With a full-time job, plus the classes, plus the homework, it was pretty intense. But I just burned through it and got it over with in less than two years, that was the plus side.

Originally Posted by mheisig

And do you think it's helped at all in your career in terms of compensation or promotion?

For me, yes. I finished the MBA in 2003 and was immediately promoted from staff financial analyst to senior financial analyst. In 2004 I got moved up to the next level, which required an MBA. Another analyst in my department was good, but remained at his level because he didn't have the MBA. I'm now managing a small group of analysts. Compensation went up accordingly.

The degree really has nothing to do with how good you are at your job. But if an exec has two good people on his hands, and he can only promote one, he'll go with the MBA.