Expert Advice
How MBA Programs Benefit the Corporate World
MBA programs help employers by providing highly qualified, motivated talent that is a vital part to any company's workforce. At the same time, earning an MBA can help employees advance their careers and gives them endless opportunities in a variety of fields.
"The training that most MBAs receive prepares them to come into companies with a broad managerial overview of operations, new insights, fresh ideas, and enthusiasm," says Rosberto McGinnis, director of investment and capital control at DaimlerChrysler. "These are all skills MBA [graduates] can contribute right away."
Earning an MBA can help employees expand their careers, and it can also help with career changes as well. Students often seek MBAs for both reasons.
"Obtaining an MBA can act as a bridge for employees who are transitioning from a lower-level position or a single functional perspective at a company into a broader-based strategic view after getting their MBA," says McGinnis.
"It also allows a person to look at the company and their role in it differently and move from being a worker at a tactical level to a manager at a strategic level."
Obtaining internships while in college can also help you decide if you want to pursue an MBA in your future. Internships offer valuable work experience where students can gain skills and talents from a variety of positions.
DaimlerChrysler offers internships through the college recruitment process.
"We have teams of people who visit campuses around the country and interview students in several different disciplines and offer internships to those who meet our needs and requirements," says McGinnis.
Internships give students the opportunity to see how companies function and allow them to learn the skills necessary to perform in the careers of their choice.
"It gives them the opportunity to see how companies operate firsthand," says McGinnis. "More importantly, it provides an up-close observation and comparison between classroom learning and practical application. That is critical to improving the student experience during the second year of the MBA process and making them more competitive when seeking full-time employment."
Many companies also provide scholarships to students going to college or tuition assistance to employees seeking to return to school for their MBA degree. DaimlerChrysler, for example, offers both.
"Our company strongly supports higher education," says McGinnis. "Employees are encouraged to pursue advanced degrees, and the company does provide financial assistance to those employees who are interested."
Many colleges and universities now have advanced degree programs that make it more convenient for working adults to earn their MBA or other degrees with evening and part-time classes.
In order to pursue an MBA at DaimlerChrysler and get financial assistance, employees must select the course of study they are interested in completing, apply with the proper institution, and complete the proper enrollment process.
The benefits of seeking an MBA in today's workforce are endless. Many companies today now offer tuition reimbursement programs that bring your MBA one step closer.
