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3.4 POST-MBA ASPIRATIONS

3.4.1 Reasons for Taking an MBA

The most important reason for taking an MBA remains to improve career prospects 73% ( 71%) ((74%)). Learning new skills still comes second with 57% (55%) ((66%)).
In strong third place comes a new category, the desire to build a professional network, which is selected by 42% of applicants. Enabling a career change - once the traditional reason for taking an MBA - has continued to fall this year with 37% (40%) ((47%)). Boosting salary stays at 29% (29%) ((34%)) and starting one’s own business immediately after the MBA falls slightly to 24% (25%) ((28%)). Although the number of respondents taking an MBA to 'improve their education' has increased again to 26% (22%) ((11%)), the overall data strongly reinforces the view that an MBA is a highly vocational course taken specifically to achieve career related goals.

3.4.2 Career Choices Post-MBA

Though not the prime motivator, an MBA is still seen as a route to a career change by a significant proportion of respondents. Most applicants pick more than one sector of interest, confirming a willingness to look at different options after their MBA. Consulting, though consistently declining in popularity year-on-year, remains, by far, the most popular target industry 60% (62%) ((66%)), followed by financial services and banking 47% (48%) ((50%)). IT and Telecoms rallies at 32% (30%) ((n.av.)) as does retail and consumer products 31% (30%) ((35%)). Employment sector interest does vary significantly by nationality.

3.4.3 Choice of Future Employer

Job satisfaction is the prime reason for selecting a post MBA or postgraduate employer. When evaluating the importance of job satisfaction, 70% of respondents selected the highest weighted category. This is followed by the potential for career progression, prospect of training and development, and international opportunities.

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Back to Index MBA Applicants 2006 Survey

Source: -
QS World MBA Tour - TopMBA.com Applicant Survey 2006
© QS Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd. 2006
Website: www.topmba.com