Getting an MBA in a Weak Global Economy

[GMATTutor Admin]

I read an article in BusinessWeek earlier this month that expressed the concerns of MBA students in several countries that their job search was going to be longer and more competitive, and also that some business schools aren't getting as many recruiters to visit their campuses because of the problems in the global economy.

Personally, I think that choosing to pursue an MBA during an economic downturn is an intelligent choice. It's true that there are fewer jobs across the board, but having the specialized education that an MBA provides would definitely assist job seekers. When times are bad, experts are needed the most!

It is true, as the article said, that a lot of MBA students traditionally go into finance, and finance is the hardest-hit industry at the moment. However, there are industries like health care that haven't been hit hard at all; it never hurts to be open-minded.

Also, another interesting trend: students choosing to conduct their job searches back in their hometowns rather than stay in the city. What's your take on this?

[TerryS]

It's times like these that I really appreciate having my own business! I am going to make my own prediction and say that many new MBA grads will choose the path of entrepreneurship, especially in the field of offering discount or lower-cost services, for which there is increased demand, things like less-expensive home nurse agencies. I think that businesses like that will surely succeed in today's economy.

[jameswillow]

It is true, as the article said, that a lot of MBA students traditionally go into finance, and finance is the hardest-hit industry at the moment. However, there are industries like health care that haven't been hit hard at all; it never hurts to be open-minded.