What Does an MBA Teach You?

But what does an MBA degree teach you to make you qualified for your dream job? That’s exactly what we’re going to discuss in this article.

What Skills Does an MBA Give You?

MBA programs teach students fundamental skills that make them more competitive in the job market. These include:

Strategic Thinking

One of the most vital skills that make an MBA degree holder stand out in the job market is strategic thinking. More prominent companies require professionals capable of making critical business decisions using strategic thinking and planning.

Businesses that dedicate more resources to their overall strategy tend to perform better in their respective industries.

Communication Skills

An MBA teaches students how to communicate effectively, both internally with colleagues, team members, and managers, and externally with stakeholders, partners, customers, and suppliers.

Without proper communication, a company will have to deal with low employee morale, delayed projects, poor sales performance, and unachieved goals.

Versatility

In an MBA program, students learn versatile concepts and skills, qualifying them for numerous business roles. With a solid background, professionals with MBA degrees are more resilient to future changes in the workplace.

Things like AI automation and market changes can all change how a company does business, and the presence of versatile MBA holders can make the transition smoother.

Innovation

In today’s highly competitive market, continuous innovation is critical for businesses to survive. A company’s innovation efforts can either make or break its profitability.

MBA holders are capable of thinking innovatively, giving their companies a competitive edge.

Implementing New Technologies

Technological changes are happening faster than ever, requiring businesses to be adaptive and quick when it comes to implementing new technologies. MBA holders know how to navigate such technological disruption.

Classes Included in an MBA Program

So what exactly is taught in MBA? Well, a typical MBA program’s curriculum will include classes in most if not all of the following topics:

• Business Communication

• Business Ethics

• Economics

• Business Strategy

• Data Analytics

• Financing

• Leadership

• Accounting

• Operation Management

• Marketing

In addition, many MBA programs in Nigeria, Kenya, and other countries in Africa offer specializations, allowing students to specialize in a particular industry.

For example, an MBA program with a specialization in AI automation will probably include a few electives in AI and how to apply the core concepts taught in an MBA to this particular industry.

Regardless of an MBA program’s duration, the curriculum remains almost the same. The only difference is that a one-year MBA program is more intense, allowing students to finish it at an accelerated pace.

2-year and online MBA programs, on the other hand, have relaxed schedules that enable working professionals to finish the coursework without getting their jobs affected.

Other common MBA specializations include Sustainability, Artificial Intelligence, Fintech, Cybersecurity, International Business and E-commerce.

What Career Support Do You Get During an MBA?

MBA programs heavily focus on career development. Most students who enroll in an MBA program are aspiring to make a major career change or get promoted at their respective organizations, which is why business schools prioritize career growth for MBA students.

Along with classes and coursework, business schools offer career support through experts with an extensive network of professionals in many industries.

In addition, lots of business schools provide the following career services:

• One-to-one coaching that can help you tailor your post-graduation career path

• Networking events

• In-person and virtual recruitment fairs

• Connecting with alumni in your preferred industry

• Workshops that teach valuable skills such as interview success, resume-writing, and personal branding

How to Prepare for an MBA Program

If you’re considering applying for an MBA program, you need to acquaint yourself with the application requirements for the schools you’re interested in enrolling in.

Most MBA programs require a resume, academic transcripts, at least 2 letters of recommendation, and in many cases, a minimum number of years of relevant work experience.

Some MBA programs are tailored for fresh graduates and juniors. However, experts recommend that people should only enroll in MBA programs after they’ve acquired enough work experience to get the most out of their educational efforts.

Many business schools require GRE or GMAT test scores, but it’s not always mandatory to submit test scores. If it’s listed as a requirement, you may still apply for admission without submitting your score.

If your work experience and undergraduate GPA are impressive, the admission officer will probably overlook the lack of GMAT or GRE scores.

Demonstrating your achievements and how you progressed throughout your career is an excellent way to get accepted into an MBA program. The more impressive your work history, the higher your chances of getting accepted.

It’s also worth noting that some business schools conduct one-on-one interviews with the applicants. For schools where a large number of professionals apply, applicants are often required to submit video essays.

Cost of an MBA Degree

An MBA program can cost you anywhere from $3,000 all the way up to $100,000.

MBA costs vary from one school to another depending on the school’s reputation, ranking, and faculty. Accreditation also plays a significant role here; it proves that the school’s MBA program covers everything a student needs to be a successful MBA graduate.

You should also consider the program type. Online MBA programs tend to be more affordable than full-time, on-campus programs. Check out how much an online MBA would cost you at Nexford here. The same school might offer their MBA program in an online format at 50% lower than their on-campus program.

On a side note, consider checking if there are any business schools that offer scholarships or fellowships for MBA students. Also, if you work at a company, you might want to ask if it’s possible to get financial support for education.

How to Choose the Right MBA Program for Your Needs

All business schools offer MBA programs, so you need to set criteria for yourself to be able to narrow down your research. Here are some factors to consider:

Career Prospects

When choosing an MBA program, the first thing you need to think of is career prospects.

The whole point of earning an MBA degree is to reach your career goals faster and more easily. List down what you intend to do in your career, both in the short-term and long-term. This way, it’ll be easier for you to decide which MBA programs you should enroll in.

Flexibility

If you have a full-time job and are running a household, chances are you have too much on your plate already. Adding the classwork of an MBA program to your schedule can totally disrupt your work-life balance.

So, before enrolling in an MBA program, consider thinking about how you’ll dedicate time to classwork and studying.

Online and part-time MBA programs are great options for busy professionals that can’t commit to a full-time program. At Nexford, you’ll need between 10-20 hours a week to study, and can make these hours at any time — so your schedule fits around your life, and doesn’t change it.

As a working professional in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, or Kenya, you can apply for online MBA programs from business schools in the United States and other parts of the globe.

Curriculum

Checking the curriculum of an MBA program before applying is essential for you to decide whether it contains the topics you want to learn or not. But, again, this depends on your current job and what you’re planning to do with your career.

Will you remain in the same industry or break into a new one? What companies do you want to work in? By asking yourself these questions, you can easily decide whether the curriculum of a particular MBA program aligns with your goals or not.

Nexford’s MBA course curriculum emphasizes leading people, processes, strategies, and sustainability in developed and emerging economies – giving you the relevant skills to advance your career, whatever your profession.

Accreditation

Accreditation is a good sign that an MBA program is truly valuable. Accreditation bodies are responsible for accrediting business schools that demonstrate compliance with international academic standards.

Some of the well-known accreditation bodies include the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Access to Academic and Professional Support

MBA programs offer high-quality academic and professional support for students to expand their skillset and perform better at work.

However, not all programs provide the same level of support. So, before applying to a particular MBA program, asking current students for some feedback on the program’s academic and professional support can be helpful.

Alumni

Reaching out to alumni of a business school’s MBA program can provide you with valuable insights that’ll ultimately make it easier to assess the worthiness of the program.

Ask school alumni how long it took them to change jobs or make any significant career move after graduating. It’d also be good to know what companies and industries the program’s graduates worked in. Nexford’s community have shared their experiences — check out what they want you to know about the university.

If you’d like to speak to current Nexford learners and alumni from over 90+ countries yourself, join Nexford Network!

Conclusion

That was everything you needed to know about what an MBA program teaches you.

So what advantage does an MBA give you? Well, MBA programs are the gold standard when it comes to earning valuable business knowledge and skills. You’ll build a robust foundation that qualifies you to be a leader at your company, think strategically, and coordinate between different business functions.

Not to mention, you’ll be able to link theory with practice by learning fundamental business topics like financing and marketing and how they apply to the real world with industry case studies.

Ready to take the next step and discover how a Nexford MBA could increase your salary as a working professional? Download our brochure or book a call with our Nexford Advisors!