By Nick Corcodilos
Syndicated columnist
Q: I have a BA in marketing, and I’m making good money. The frustration? The people I work with are making about the same amount with no degrees and less experience. I have been thinking about getting an MBA, but I’m unsure if this is the right thing to do since my BA has not really gotten me anywhere. What do you suggest?
NICK’S REPLY: A good education is valuable for many reasons, and it can enhance a career dramatically. But don’t expect that having a certain degree is going to guarantee you a better salary or a better career. The problem is that the education industry (make no mistake, it is an industry) goes to great lengths to market its product, and people swallow the bait.
I believe more education is a good thing. Generally speaking, people with college degrees earn more than those without them. Your BA has likely helped your career. But I really get bugged when schools and the media tout “the relationship” between degrees and income. Depending on the person and the situation, it’s not always clear. I suggest you consider other factors that may be holding you back.
But let’s answer your question. Before you pursue another degree, find out what it’s worth to the employers you’re targeting. Select the industry, company and job you want. Then go talk to the relevant employers and people who do the work you want to do. Ask them what sort of education is necessary, sufficient and useful. Ask them what credentials really matter to them. What will pay off best? (Popular business magazines regularly run surveys listing the MBA programs that deliver the most bang for the buck. Big deal. What they fail to discuss is all the other ways talented people can do well.)
If you’re getting a degree to get ahead rather than just because you want to learn for learning’s sake (which is wonderful), the ultimate customer of all those schools isn’t you — it’s the employer you go to work for. So ask what degree the employer will pay for.
THE HEADHUNTER TIP:
Does “company plus you” equal “profit”?
Don’t let a job interview turn into a rote Q&A session about routine interview topics. Make it a working meeting where you and the hiring manager roll up your sleeves and discuss how to make the department more successful and the company more profitable.
– Create a business plan for the job you want. Outline the objectives of the job in terms of profit. How will you help increase efficiency? Lower costs? Speed up production cycles?
– Show how you will pull it off. Be prepared to present a five-minute plan. If you can’t demonstrate your ability to deliver profit, you simply don’t deserve the job.
– Confirm that you fit into the rest of the team. Volunteer to attend a project meeting as a guest. If you show you can participate profitably, you won’t have to answer “the top 10 silly interview questions.”
