MBA: Yes or no???
This week has been a week of repeating information that I think is important in a medical sales job search. Today it’s whether or not you should go for the MBA (Master’s of Business Administration). Again, I have added links that I think will be helpful to you.
Many candidates ask me whether or not they should pursue an MBA. Will they make more money in their next position? Will they be promoted more rapidly? Many will not like my answers here but they are based on my experiences as a highly successful medical sales person, regional sales manager, and now medical sales recuiter. I, myself, have an MBA. So I can speak from my personal journey. First, should you get an MBA? The answer is yes! More education is always best–if you use that education to excel at your job, if you truly learn something in those courses and apply that to your job for greater productivity or a better thought process. But I would say that I have met many MBA’s who just check the box. In either case, the MBA on the resume may get you in the interview because it may be a gating factor. Some hiring managers buy into its’ value and give candidates with the degree more credence than candidates without the degree. (see article on transition into medical sales) Will you make more money? In my area of expertise (sales and marketing), the answer is that you will not be more highly compensated just because of the degree, but if you use the education to be better at what you do then invariably you will make more money. As a pharmaceutical sales representative, the financial experience I got in my MBA courses gave me tools to position my company and products for greater success. It follows that if you are more successful at your job you will be promoted faster! So, to summarize, yes you should get an MBA if you aspire to be more. If you will use it! Or if you want to avoid being passed over because you have a manager that uses education as a gating factor. One exception – I do not see the value if you already have a business degree.
I loved this….
I stole this graph from Alexander Kjerulf. Not sure that you should follow it but it is amusing. I find that people are too quick to quit and if they hung around and pursued other avenues within the organization their opportunities could be much greater than they are in the job market. Also, the only constant is change – maybe the boss you can’t stand will quit? So think it through. It is much easier to get a job when you have a job.
Is an emailed “thank you” note okay (after an interview)???
I have seen some articles where the authors felt that it must be a written note, and others that point out that it doesn’t matter how it’s delivered, just that it’s done. (Here’s a great form to follow for thank you notes.) I think that e-mail is fine. Most of the hiring managers I deal with in pharmaceutical and biotech sales are on the road, and snail mail doesn’t get to them in the lightning fast mode of communication that they are used to…..An email thank you gives you a chance to show your speed of response and to copy others on that response.
(This is a new and improved version of a post I did in December.)
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