Today’s blog post is about the all important aspect of “what do recruiters think of online MBA degree programs?”. These are questions you should ask a recruiter BEFORE you start your study!. This is always a good question to ask before you embark on any course with the intension of improving your career prospects. Recruitment agents are the gatekeepers between you and the job that you desire, so it’s always a good idea to ask them whether the course you intend to study (and spend a lot of money, time and effort on) would be the best for the job that you are looking for.

The more relevant industry experience you have the more valuable you are to a recruiter, and there are certain online MBAs and business schools especially suited to students with prior experience in the industry.  However it goes without saying that any MBA received is better than nothing.

An online MBA will definitely put you ahead of the competition when competing against undergraduates, although you may be rejected running up against other MBA graduates especially job applicants with MBA degrees from distinguished universities will be more valuable because of the reputation of the program and the prestige of the business school (in the UK these are the Red brick universities and the Russell Group universities).

One important aspect of the online MBA degree program to most recruiters is if the MBA came from an accredited business school. Good accreditation at an International level (local and other types of accreditation is less important) is extremely important If a school is accredited this means it has been approved from an external source to make sure certain academic standards are met. Without being accredited, a school could have MBA programs that are at an undergraduate level and still produces MBA graduates. Certain inexperienced university departments under pressure to meet financial targets and deadlines sometimes combine existing undergraduate modules to make MBA programs with the existing teaching staff and existing resources. The value of such programs is less in a competitive job market. For more information about accreditation please read Accredited Online MBA Programs

In certain industries a MBA has little significance compared to other industries. For example, in the insurance industry a recruiter would rather have a candidate with a CPCU, Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, rather than a MBA. A CPCU is one of many designations in the insurance business that illustrates your expertise. Designations prove to recruiters that you have hands on experience in the specific job you are applying for. If you are in these types of industries you should concentrate on getting designated before you receive your MBA. Again the best thing to do is to ask a recruitment agent who is NOT a general recruiter but a specialist in the specific industry vertical that you are looking at (for example Insurance), BEFORE you spend your money, time and effort on an online MBA degree.

No matter what industry you are in education is valued and still remains one of the best investments that you can make for you and your family’s future. Unlike stocks, shares, bonds an education is a much better investment (even much better than houses). There are many online MBA degree programs that will land you the job you want, or the promotion you were looking forward to. Online MBAs have made it easier for you to obtain a good MBA without changing your job, and without having to move to another location or even another country. However should you decide to work in a foreign country, an MBA would give you a distinct advantage from an immigration point of view. You will be looked upon as a desirable immigrant with an ability to contribute immediately to the host country’s economy with your MBA and experience.  Online MBAs are usually much cheaper than the traditional classroom based MBAs.  When shopping for an online MBA program, look for the highest reputable school that is accredited in your price range and with qualified and experienced teaching staff.