10 Reasons Why You Should Get Work Experience Before Your MBA

Did you know that having work experience before MBA can be a game-changer, equipping you with real-world insights, problem-solving abilities, and leadership skills that set you apart? According to the GMAC Global Graduate Survey Report MBA graduates with 3 to 6 years of prior experience expected an 83% increase in earnings as compared to those without it. 

Hands-on experience gained before pursuing an MBA degree program allows you to apply concepts more effectively, thereby making you a stronger contributor in class and a more successful professional after graduation. This blog will help you learn the top 10 reasons to gain work experience before pursuing a Master of Business Administration course.

Also Read: Why Do an MBA Course?

10 Reasons to Get Work Experience Before Your MBA

Pursuing an MBA course is a significant investment of time and money, and having prior work experience can be a secret weapon to make it more rewarding. To make you understand the importance of work experience before MBA, we are now compiling a list of 10 reasons:

1. Better Understanding of the Business Concepts

Pursuing an MBA means studying subjects like marketing, finance, accounting, and operations. This is where work experience helps in relating these theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios. 

When studying these subjects, you can easily connect them with your past projects. This practical understanding makes learning more meaningful, and as a result, you are able to grasp complex business concepts more effectively. 

2. Higher Chances of Admission to Top MBA Programs

If you are aiming to get admission to one of the top business schools like Stanford GSB, Harvard Business School, or MIT Solan, then you must acquire work experience before an MBA. Top US universities often have a prerequisite for at least 2 to 3 years of work experience before they permit you admission to an MBA course.  

It simply boosts your chances of getting admission to top MBA programs offered by top-tier business schools around the world. 

3. Stronger Networking Opportunities

Having worked somewhere before commencing your Master of Business Administration course, will help you be part of a professional network, which will last during and beyond an MBA. 

You get to meet and interact with industry professionals, who can help you at a later stage when you pursue an MBA degree program to engage in meaningful discussions and gain valuable insights. 

4. Sets a Stage for an Easy Transition to Management Roles

Do you know that Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, worked in various technical and leadership roles before pursuing his MBA? Believe us, there is no better way to set the stage for an easy transition to management roles other than gaining work experience before a management course like an MBA. 

By working somewhere before this course, you learn to work in teams, understand the core business requirements, understand the statistics and navigate challenges. 

5. Better Job Placement Opportunities

Employers these days prefer MBA graduates with practical industry knowledge, problem-solving abilities, and leadership skills. All these and much more can be easily gained as you acquire work experience before doing an MBA program. 

One such big example for you is Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, who worked as an Engineer and gained technical experience and this pre-MBA experience helped him secure leadership roles at Google. 

6. Enhanced Perspective on Industry Trends

When discussing the advantages of gaining work experience before MBA, we have to mention that it helps gain firsthand exposure to industry trends, market dynamics, and business challenges. This further helps gain a deeper understanding of the field. Moreover, experienced MBA students are seen contributing richer insights in group discussions during their course, which benefits both peers and professors. 

For instance, Elon Musk worked in various tech and energy ventures before pursuing his formal business education, which helped him foresee industry trends and lead SpaceX and Tesla to groundbreaking innovations. 

7. Increased Salary and ROI

As you work, you gain experience, and this ultimately increases your chances of getting a higher salary and return on investment (ROI). The same can be experienced if you choose to first work somewhere for a couple of years and then start with your MBA journey. Employers happily offer higher starting salaries to experienced candidates and as a result one with prior experience gets faster career progression. 

Former CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi is one such inspiration to look at. She worked as a product manager at Johnson & Johnson before pursuing her MBA at Yale University. Her work experience before her MBA laid a strong foundation that helped her secure one of the highest-paid jobs at PepsiCo.

8. Helps Saving Up for MBA Fees

Finding it difficult to arrange the finances to pursue an MBA course? The best approach for you in that case would be to first work somewhere and earn both experience and money. These savings will help you pay your MBA fees and also meet your living expenses in case you relocate to a new place to enroll in a top B-school for an MBA degree program. 

Working for 2 to 3 years before starting your online MBA degree program can help you get financial stability. It always helps to have some savings under your belt before reaching out for a study loan. This way the student can focus on studying rather than stressing about the financial burden of the course. 

9. Better and Practical Approach

Real-world exposure is a big thing especially when it comes to a popular postgraduate course like MBA. It helps students to connect theoretical knowledge and concepts with actual business scenarios. 

Perhaps this is the reason that top B-Schools prefer candidates with prior experience because they have a better and more practical approach to complex situations. An MBA after a work experience of 2 to 3 years makes your learning process more interactive and applicable in the corporate world.

10. Teaches Time Management and Other Soft Skills

The ultimate benefit of gaining work experience before an MBA course is that it teaches you time management. Time is a crucial factor, especially for those who study in a B-school, but you can smartly learn how to manage time effectively by working for a couple of years before an MBA. 

Not just time management, you learn other soft skills like problem-solving skills, leadership skills, strategic planning, and organizational skills when you work somewhere before commencing your Master’s in Business Administration. By learning such skills, you will be in a better position to understand the curriculum better and use each skill as a powerful business management tool.

Career Impact of an MBA: With Prior Experience vs. Without Prior Experience

See for yourself where you stand if you pursue an MBA after work experience and vice versa:

Source: Ambitionbox

Kickstart Your MBA Journey with upGrad 

So, if you are ready to take the plunge into the world of management with or without experience, do so with upGrad. Gain access to expert faculty, global networking opportunities, and career support to maximize your MBA experience with upGrad’s world-class MBA programs. 

Explore some relevant online MBA degree programs from the World’s Top B-schools below:

• MBA from Paris School of Business
• MBA from Liverpool Business School
• MBA from Golden Gate University
• MBA from O.P. Jindal Global University
• MBA from UGNXT

You can get the best personalized career counseling and guidance with upGrad to make informed career decisions. You can visit your nearest upGrad center for hands-on training to choose the best course!

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Reference Links:
https://www.gmac.com/~/media/Files/gmac/Research/curriculum-insight/gmegs-2013-stats-brief.pdf 
https://www.itm.edu/blog/work-experience-mba/
https://insideiim.com/having-prior-work-experience-adds-value-to-your-mba
https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/mba-admissions-in-india-why-work-experience-matters