YOUR BUSINESS PASSPORT
To a successful management career
Today’s business environment and shifting job markets are arguably more competitive than ever, and that’s why some students are looking at MBA programs as a key differentiator in their attempts to enter the business world.
“There is a tremendous opportunity in today’s business environment as firms are entering an era characterized by a fierce war for talent,” says Niki da Silva, director, recruitment and admissions, fulltime MBA program, at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. “The skills, knowledge, network and credentials of the MBA will position young professionals to compete effectively for the most sought after jobs, and in the future as they navigate their careers through various opportunities in different industries and functions.
“There will be tremendous leadership opportunities for talented professionals and it is an exciting time to be pursuing an MBA.”
The skills learned through an MBA program translate to all areas of business and beyond for successful candidates.
“I consider the MBA degree to be a passport to a successful management career,” says Milena Head, a professor in McMaster University’s MBA program and academic director of the school’s executive MBA program. “Being the most widely recognized graduate degree in the world, it opens doors and new career opportunities. Through an MBA program, one learns to think critically, holistically and strategically. These are essential skill sets in today’s complex business environment.”
Though pursuing any graduate degree involves a significant investment of both time and money, da Silva says the MBA program remains in high demand.
“The demand for the degree remains incredibly high in the market and our student demand far exceeds our capacity,” da Silva says. “The investment in MBA studies and a competitive job market are decision factors, but have actually created a climate where students are increasingly thorough and thoughtful about the importance of the commitment to an MBA program. And this has created a climate where prospective students are highly committed to pursuing an MBA at the right time in their career and at the right school that is best aligned with the goals and objectives.”
To find out whether an MBA is the right choice for you, students should review all their options.
“Regardless of timing, take the time to do the research and, importantly, talk to people to help you decide which program and which school is the best fit for you,” Head says. “It is an important decision that should not be rushed.”