15 Myths and Misconceptions About Job-Hunting

by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.

How much of a job-hunting expert are you? Read over these 15 myths and misconceptions about job-hunting and see how many of them you believed in and how many you knew were incorrect. Once you know the truths about job-hunting, you should have more job search success -- and less stress.

Myth 1: Registering at Several Internet Job Boards Will Result in Multiple Job Offers
One of the most prevalent misconceptions in job-hunting is that job-hunting on the Web is some magic elixir that will result in employers lining up to interview you. While job-hunting on the Web should be one component of a job search for most job-seekers, it should not be viewed as having any higher success rates than applying to help-wanted ads in the newspaper or trade magazines. Only about 5 percent of job-seekers obtain jobs through ads. 



Myth 2: Want Ads and Other Job Postings Represent the Majority of Jobs Available
At the very most -- and some say this number is too high -- only about 15-20 percent of all available jobs are ever publicly advertised in any medium. The vast majority of job openings are part of the "hidden" or "closed" job market. And the higher the position and salary, the less likely the position will be advertised at all. How can job-seekers discover these jobs? Through networking. Networking is by far the most effective job search tool you can use. Networking is all about building relationships with people who can help you in your job search; it doesn't mean that you need to ask everyone you know if they have a job for you. 

Myth 3: Job-Seekers Who Change Jobs Often are Frowned Upon by Employers
The notion of "job-hoppers," those job-seekers who had multiple jobs with short stays listed on their resumes, has been disappearing for years. Ever since the great "downsizing" and "rightsizing" of companies during the 1980s and 1990s, employers have recognized that there rarely is any logical progression -- or corporate ladder -- within any one company anymore. To get ahead and gain new skill sets, job-seekers often need to make multiple moves. Avoid really short stints -- under a year -- but otherwise don't be too concerned with moving around. And if you are concerned, focus on your transferable skills with a functional rather than chronological resume. 


Myth 4: A Cover Letter is Not as Important as Other Job-Hunting Materials
Every time you apply for a job, you should send a cover letter written specifically for the position and company you are applying to. The only exception to this rule is when the employer explicitly states that it does not want a cover letter. A cover letter, also known as a letter of introduction or letter of application, must be an integral part of your job-search strategy. A resume is useless to an employer if s/he doesn't know what kind of job you are seeking. A cover letter tells the employer exactly what job you are seeking -- and how you are uniquely qualified for that position. 


Myth 5: A Resume Must Show a Logical Progression of Jobs and Increased Responsibility
The most important part of a resume is showing that you have the skills, education (or training), and experience that the employer seeks. Most employers will spend less than 20 seconds reviewing your resume, which means you need to focus on the key components of your resume that will result in getting a job interview.

Myth 6: As Long as You're Sending out Cover Letters and Resumes, You'll Get Interviews. Maybe in the tightest of job markets, or maybe if you are only applying to specific positions for which you are perfectly qualified, will this kind of passive job-search strategy produce any job interviews. Job-seekers must be proactive in your job search. You must follow-up every job lead. Call employers and request an interview. If you are under-qualified for a position or changing careers, request an interview anyway. You may not be qualified for that specific position, but the employer may have other openings (or know of other openings).

Myth 7: Lowering Your Salary Demands Will Make You a More Attractive Job Candidate Job-seekers should never lower reasonable salary demands because doing so will just make you appear desperate for the job -- and will likely result in your not getting the job offer. And even if you got the offer and accepted it, you would most likely never be happy in your job or with your employer because you would feel you were cheated out of the salary you deserved. As long as your salary demands are within acceptable range for the job you're seeking as well as the industry and location of the employer, stick to them. And never be the first to bring up salary; let the employer raise the issue. 


Myth 8: If You Can't Schedule Job Interviews Between 9 am and 5 pm You're Out of Luck While it's certainly true that a majority of job interviews are conducted during traditional business hours, employers will certainly find time during "off-hours" to interview desirable job-seekers. And it's often better to interview during these times because there are fewer distractions. 
Myth 9: The Most Qualified Job-Seekers Get the Best Jobs
Probably the biggest misconception about interviewing, it is not always the best qualified person who gets the job, but the job-seeker with the best mix of qualifications, interviewing skills, and rapport with his or her interviewer(s). So, don't be too cocky if you feel you are the most qualified person for the job - and don't be too discouraged if you don't feel you exactly match up with the job. If you get a job interview, it's because the employer thinks there is a strong enough match of your skills, education, and experience to do the job -- and at the interview, you need to prove why you are the best person to fill the job. 


Myth 10: Headhunters and Executive Recruiters Have Your Best Interests at Heart
Headhunters and executive recruiters get paid by the companies that hire them to fill their open positions, so where exactly is their loyalty? With their client companies, of course. Recruiters will not market job-seekers to companies; instead, they try to fit job-seekers into well-defined positions with the companies that employ their services.


Myth 11: Changing Careers is Nearly Impossible. As the workplace continues to change and evolve, more and more people will change careers in their lifetimes -- and many will change careers multiple times. As long as you have a plan and do your best to stick with it, you should be able to switch careers. That said, switching careers is not easy. It takes much effort to switch careers and may involve getting more education (or training), getting experience in the new career field, and focusing on how the skills you currently possess transfer to the new career field.

Myth 12: Job-Seekers Should Not Have to Sell Themselves to Employers
For better or worse, job-hunting is all about marketing yourself to employers -- which often means using some key selling skills to close the deal and get the job offer. You are the product, and you need to show the employer why you are the best product for the job. In today's job-hunting environment, the most successful job-seekers are those who understand the value of marketing and apply to themselves those principles that companies have used for years to successfully sell their products.

Myth 13: If You're Over 50, You Will Have a Hard Time Finding a Job
The baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) are completely redefining the meaning of age and older works, and thus older workers should theoretically have a lot fewer problems finding new jobs than in the past. The critical issues are whether you have the skills, education, and experience that the employer seeks -- and whether all those are current. You also have to have the proper attitude -- that you are a team player, not a seasoned professional who knows all the answers and is unwilling to change. And, of course, if you are employed in an industry that focuses more on youth, then it may still be harder for you to find a new job. 


Myth 14: It Takes One Month of Job Searching for Every $10,000 of Current Salary
No one seems to know where this calculation comes from -- and no one has ever substantiated it. The fact is that every job search is different. And external factors such as the economy and demand for your particular set of skills and experiences will impact your search time. Noted career expert Richard Bolles (of What Color is Your Parachute?) states in a Q&A we conducted with him: "I think people adopt unrealistic guesstimates about how long their job hunt is going to take. We should expect that our job-hunt may take months, but if we persevere, we will find a job."

Myth 15: When Times are Tough, Take the First Job Offer You Get
In all my years of experience, the one truth is that job-hunting is streaky. You'll have weeks where you interview for positions and you are sure you'll get an offer and no offer ever comes, and then there will be weeks when you get multiple interviews and perhaps multiple offers. Should you take the first job offer that comes along? Only if you are sure that the job and the compensation represent the right career move. If not, a better offer will come along -- and as long as you are not about to lose your house or suffer other financial or emotional consequences, you should hold out for the job offer that best fits the direction you want to move in.

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Decisions Executive MBA Students Face

The decision to enroll in an Executive MBA program is one rife with difficult questions, the answers to which may well determine the extent of your success as a future executive. Most people entering Executive MBA programs are young professionals aspiring to reach greater heights in their field; they want the education to temper their passion for leading a business in the right direction, but it’s not easy choosing the best program or teaching style. Business schools around the country design Executive MBA programs in any possible format: online education, classes that emphasize peer involvement, mentorships from industry professionals—the list goes on. I wish all MBA students could take the outstanding classes offered at various Executive MBA programs, but that’s hardly a realistic aspiration.

Let’s address some of the biggest decisions a student has to make when you look through potential Executive MBA programs.

Classes taught online or in person?

The difference between online and in person education is one of the biggest issues concerning graduate business degrees in general. There are strong arguments to be had on both sides, but I think the decision really hinges on whatever works for your unique lifestyle. If you’re simultaneously interning at another business or even running your own small enterprise on the side, you might see great appeal in taking an online Executive MBA program that offers a relatively freer schedule. You might be the lone wolf student who thrives on the challenge of completing coursework on your own, relying on your own philosophy of leadership to guide them through lessons and hypothetical management scenarios.

On the other hand, you might thrive in an environment where you’re among your peers, bouncing ideas and strategies off one another. The idea of working alongside a professor with real world experience leading a business and a team of trained professionals might appeal to you if you’ve never worked with someone like that before. If you’re looking for greater involvement and interaction from your faculty and classmates, taking your MBA classes in person is obvious the right choice for you.

Fulltime or balanced with work?

Once you’ve decided on the atmosphere of your Executive MBA program, it’s time to decide the extent to which you want to involve yourself in classwork. Some students prefer to get their degree out of the way as quickly as possible so they can enter the working world immediately. These ambitious students usually cram as many classes as they can per semester, trying to graduate in record time. You might prefer the lightning round MBA path, but there are more steadily paced options.

Though it’s tempting to choose the quickest path to your Executive MBA, not every student has the luxury of dropping everything in their life to go back to school. It takes a serious time commitment to complete an MBA, and you might not have the option of sacrificing your day job for it. If that’s the case, then I highly recommend completing your Executive MBA over a number of semesters, giving yourself only as much classwork as you can handle. There’s no use overloading yourself if you have obligations outside of class.

Where to find the best connections

And finally, you want to be careful about choosing the Executive MBA program that has the right connections for you to advance your business career. This isn’t as simple as choosing a business school with the most famous faculty; it’s a matter of researching business schools with professors and lecturers with experience and knowledge that’s relevant to your field of interests. If you have ambitions to found a startup tech company, you want to look at schools with faculty that have successfully founded small business venture in that field. Applying anywhere else would be to miss the most important aspect of graduate education in business: meeting the right people, absorbing their industry advice, and applying it to your own venture.

Alvina Lopez is a freelance writer and blog junkie, who blogs about accredited online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: alvina.lopez @gmail.com.

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Getting Rid of Misconceptions About Online Executive MBA Programs

Can online executive MBA programs actually improve your career opportunities? Whatever your specific career goals, you can be sure that the Executive MBA can provide a solid boost for you. However, no one can deny that for many nowadays, there are certain commitments that make its pursuance a bit difficult.

Those with a lot on their plate can still pursue the degree through distance learning, fortunately. Prior to applying for the course, you must of course learn as much as you can. That out of the way, we now move on to some false assumptions people often make about the course.

One often-made assertion is that it is faster and less expensive. Frankly, this is untrue given that most schools charge more or less similar rates for the actual lessons in the two kinds of courses. Even the packages offered by some colleges cannot present major budgetary advantages, at least not if the primary consideration is cost per credit.

Truth be told, there is indeed an element of truth to the statement that Web-based courses let you cut down costs. The true financial benefits of the Net-based classes are found in the fact that you need not pay for things like commuting to campus. And because many online instructors tend to save their studying materials in PDFs, you may skip buying more textbooks.

The typical number of credit hours asked of students is going to be around thirty-six credit hours. Thus, the average length of the course would be about a couple of years. Although there are several accelerated online EMBA options offered, if you encounter a program promising an EMBA in just a short year, you could be coming across a fraudulent school.

The Internet programs also suffer from a regularly cast disparagement that they are easy compared to the regular programs. The actual ease associated with EMBAs is more properly given to their accommodation. This obviously does not mean that you have simpler or more elementary lessons with which to contend.

It is in fact just as hard. The basic course demands and activities, even if adapted for the Internet format, are still the same. The absence of professors from your side may even render it harder than the conventional course if you are not used to studying by yourself.

Of course, there are other ways of communicating with class members, including instant messaging and so on. However, the response rate can be somewhat slow. There can be no doubt that only self-motivated people who do not need to depend on others can prosper in these courses.

One more misconception is that all Web-based courses are equal. One should refrain from holding them all in equal regard. To determine legitimate schools from fraudulent ones, check the school’s accreditation and visit the US Department of Education site if the online school you are eyeing is indeed legit.

It would be irrational to expect every last college in the country to be included in the USDE’s compilation, however. College Navigator can be a good alternative if the school is not on the USDE list. Overall, executive MBA programs are still worthwhile alternatives for those who cannot pursue an EMBA the conventional way.

Should small business owners do an MBA?

Could an MBA be the catalyst that your business needs?

There is a definite perception that an MBA is more suited to those who wish to pursue a career in the corporate world and that MBA graduates are the future CEOs of global business. Conversely, there is a perception that entrepreneurism is a built-in characteristic that only the lucky few are born with.

I would argue that the perfect businessperson should have a blend of both entrepreneurial spirit and solid business acumen.

So, what skills could a small business owner learn from an MBA? Here I have highlighted three key benefits that an MBA could provide to a small business owner.

Finance

One of the most important things about being a small business owner is to have a good handle on finance. After all, cash flow is probably the single most challenging aspect of being a small business and ultimately companies go bust because they run out of cash not because sales slip a few percent or the social media marketing campaign didn’t quite do as well as expected.

Finance is a core part of any MBA program and having a solid grasp of finance can only help small business owners to make better informed decisions and evaluate risk more effectively. Being an expert in the finances of your business could be difference between you or your competitor going bust in times of economic strife!

Sales & Marketing

Another core part of the MBA curriculum that would definitely help small business owners is sales & marketing. A lot of people think they know about sales & marketing and that they do it well, but if you ask them to provide proof that an activity or campaign has been successful they are unable to provide sound return on investment (ROI) figures. Measuring sales and marketing activities is key to understanding what works and what doesn’t and in a small business environment, where time and resource is precious, you need to know this!

Networking

The final benefit of doing an MBA (assuming you would not opt for an online MBA) is the opportunity to network with people from a range of different backgrounds and industries. The benefits here are twofold; firstly you may uncover a new customer or strategic business partner and secondly you could learn techniques from other industries and perhaps even be the first to apply these to your own sector.

Barriers

The main barriers to small business owners doing an MBA are obvious – time and money! To address the first problem of time, there are many options now for doing an MBA with many business schools recognising the need to provide flexible courses. Some schools even offer weekend classes to help people who are too busy to attend class during the week. Another option is to look for a course that has a blended curriculum of classroom and online study.

With regards to the second problem of cost, this may not be quite such an issue for a small business owner as it is for somebody who is trying to forge a career in the corporate world. The reason for this is that the requirement to get your MBA from a top business school is not there. If you are a small business owner you can freely choose the MBA that fits your needs and not worry about whether your MBA comes from a top ranking business school like Stanford. If budget is really tight then you could look at a completely online MBA, however, you would lose the benefit of networking opportunities mentioned above.

In summary, don’t exclude the idea of an MBA if you are a small business owner. It could be just the catalyst that your business needs!

How to Choose an Online MBA Program ?

Search for "online MBA programs" and you'll be met with a staggering array of options. These days, it seems every institute of higher learning offers an online MBA program.

Demand for business degrees is high, especially among engineering and IT professionals, for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, studies show that professionals who hold master's degrees earn more money than those with bachelor's degrees, says Bonnie Diehl, chief academic officer for the SANS Technology Institute, a for-profit educational institution offering advanced degrees in IT security management and engineering.

Second, many IT professionals who've worked in the field for a few years decide to pursue an MBA because they realize they may not be able to progress in their careers without one, says Susan Cates, executive director of the University of North Carolina's online MBA program, MBA@UNC.

"Engineers, for example, come out of their undergraduate experience and go into a functional role in a company with a very specific set of skills. As they grow and are given broader sets of responsibilities, they reach a point where their job becomes more about their leadership and management skills, their ability to think about strategy and financial decision-making, rather than about tech skills," says Cates. "When they need to broaden out their skillsets, it's a natural conclusion for folks with an IT or engineering background to see an MBA as a good path for expanding their career opportunities within their company or industry."

About half the students currently enrolled in UNC's online MBA program have a background in science, engineering or IT, adds Cates.

Martha Heller, president of Heller Search Associates, a retained executive search firm specializing in technology leaders, says that MBAs can be advantageous to CIOs with traditional technology backgrounds and to some of their direct reports, such as business relationship executives.

"What CEOs looking to hire CIOs care about is the CIO's ability to contribute as directly to the business as possible," says Heller. "The best way to demonstrate that experience is to have worked in the business, to have run a non-IT operations group, to have been a general manager. If you have that experience, the MBA is redundant."

However, if you lack that business management experience and are gunning for a career in industries that want their CIOs to make a direct contribution to the business, "an MBA will help," says Heller. "All things being equal as a recruiter, when I'm looking at a resume, I would rather see an MBA than not."

These trends have led online MBA programs to flourish. But with so many options, how can IT professionals determine which have the best reputations and meet their specific or needs Here's some advice.

1. Identify the characteristics of an online MBA program that are most important to you. Don't apply to an online MBA program just because you've heard of it, says Cates. Do some research first and consider what's most important to you in a program, whether that be the school's reputation, the quality of the teaching, the rigor of the academics, a particular concentration in a subject area, or the flexibility the program provides, she says. Your employer's HR personnel might be able to tell you which MBA programs have worked well for other employees.

2. Make sure the institutions you're considering are accredited.Some employers don't recognize degrees from non-accredited schools, notes Cates. Moreover, if a school is non-accredited, you may not be able to transfer any of your credits if you decide to enroll in an MBA program at a different institution.

3. Find the program that best fits your lifestyle and learning style.Cates says that professionals turn to online MBA programs for a variety of reasons: Many can't afford to drop out of the workforce for two years to pursue a traditional MBA. Others, due to demanding business travel schedules, can't be geographically tied to an evening or weekend executive MBA program. And some need the flexibility to take courses and complete the academics on their time.

Since online MBA programs vary in structure in style, to find the one that best suits your needs, Cates recommends asking the following questions:

• What learning formats are part of the program? Books? Webinars? Video conferences?

• Does the program repurpose on-site coursework for the Web, leaving you largely learning on your own? Or does it promote interaction with other students and faculty throughvideo conferencing and/or online discussion groups?

• Is there on-demand access to course materials?

• Is there real-time access to faculty for office hours?

• When are classes held? Are they offered during times that are clearly built for working professionals, such as evenings and weekends?

• Can you take classes anytime?

• Can you scale up or down the number of credit hours you're taking during any given term?

• Can you begin the program at different times of the year, or only in the fall?

4. Talk to current students. "There's no substitute for talking to current students to give you a sense of what is really happening in the program," says Cates. Conversations with professionals currently enrolled in the program will help you determine whether the program may meet your needs, she adds.

5. Evaluate whether the program offers career support. Good online MBA programs will offer leadership development and career coaching, says Cates. They also offer robust alumni networks that can come in handy when you're looking for a new job.

Meridith Levinson covers Careers, Security and Cloud Computing for CIO.com. Follow Meridith on Twitter target="_new">@meridith. Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter @CIOonline and on Facebook. Email Meridith at mlevinson@cio.com.

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The Advantages of Online MBAs for Parents

Working parents have major obligations which can be as rewarding as they are demanding. Is it realistic to earn an MBA while juggling a full-time job and a family? While it might not be easy, most most worthwhile endeavours aren’t — and online MBA programs, like Kenan-Flagler Business School’s MBA@UNC, now deliver some of the world’s highest-rated business education curricula in a more flexible and accessible format than ever before. While highly motivated and intrepid working parents have earned MBAs from all types of programs, online MBAs offer certain definite advantages.

Flexible Scheduling

Online MBA programs eliminate the time required for commuting to campus and allow much greater flexibility in scheduling than traditional, campus-centered graduate education. Asynchronous coursework can be completed at the student’s leisure, and advanced learning technology makes it easy to collaborate on projects with classmates around the world. Even those aspects of the program that do take place on a fixed schedule, like weekly virtual class sessions, can be completed from the comfort of the home or office. While the coursework is rigorous, these programs are designed to remove all unnecessary impediments between students and a high quality business education.

Synchronous and Asynchronous Technology

The best online MBA programs use a blend of synchronous and asynchronous learning technology to recreate the personal feel of a traditional MBA program while affording students maximum flexibility in how they complete about their coursework. Synchronous technology, such as video-conferencing for virtual classrooms, allows groups of students and faculty to interact in real time. Asynchronous technology, such as a specialized social network, message boards and email, allow students to respond to each other on a longer timeline, which is particularly important for working parents or students in different timezones. This mixture of balanced educational technology provides many of the benefits of face-to-face interaction, while offering the flexibility and accessibility that only online education can provide.

Work From Home

For parents who work from home, or those who would like to, an online MBA program provides a unique advantage. In many ways, business professionals must make their own schedules, meet with challenging deadlines, and communicate with distant clients and colleagues. These skills will be exercised and strengthened by an online education, while students learn the concepts and practices that will help them sharpen their business skills, expand their networks and advance their careers.

Acquiring a graduate level business education is a challenging and exciting process for anyone, but online MBA programs are particularly well suited to the lifestyles of working parents, who would miss out on priceless family moments by spending nights or weekends commuting to a campus. After all, bettering yourself and your career should not need to come at the cost of family. And online MBA programs will give you the most flexibility in how you choose to balance the demands and rewards of your personal, professional and educational commitments.

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Finding Importance in Online MBA Programmes

Because of the current state of the economy, you might be thinking about going for an online MBA program so that you can pursue your MBA without having to leave the job that you are currently in. Here, you have something that made an impact on all types of MBAs from the conventional ones to those that can be sourced online especially now that more and more people are considering the online options. Nowadays, MBAs are being changed because of the constant changes that are happening in the economy and this is why you should factor in the latter in your overall decision.

The fact is that offline as well as online MBA programs used to be very highly regarded some years ago. MBAs no longer have this reverence thanks to the downward spiral of the global market. When the economy took a plunge, a number of international financial institutions were questioned for the event and most of the people working for them had MBA degrees.

Because of the way things turned out, MBA degree holders were no longer seen as the smart ones and the theories that they have learned were deemed as ineffective. Maybe these firms and MBA programs have some responsibility when it comes to the economic downfall but they are not the only parties that caused this to happen. Nevertheless, a lot of people still think that they are the ones who made this happen.

Because of this, students in MBA programs are facing tons of problems. For individuals who will still be taking up their MBAs, they need to be critical of their options especially now that MBA programs have suffered a confidence demotion. More than ever, you should be vigilant in seeking out universities that do not only have high standards but which also provide lessons that are more in keeping with the economic theories of the day.

Educational facilities no longer rely on the same curriculum after the economy spiraled out of control. Before, MBA students dreamt of joining the highest corporate ranks but now, they are concerning themselves with the needs of small- and medium-scale businesses. Because of the kind of education being provided through such programs today, those who are focused on entrepreneurial elements will surely succeed.

These days, it is important for potential students to engage in online MBA programs that focus on the micro and macro perspectives of economics. It is better if people had a more comprehensive understanding of financial elements and this is exactly what most companies are looking for these days. This is vital at a time where the small business ventures are proving the most successful, and where major companies are forced to walk a treacherous tightrope for survival.

As much as possible, you want to enroll in a university that has a multidimensional approach when it comes to their business programs. Keep in mind that the recession was somewhat pinned on the past models of business and commerce that used the one dimensional approach. In this case, by changing the old models that led to the crisis, there are hopes of a complete economic reversal in the future.

Given that a lot of people still look down on MBA graduates, the curriculum is not the only thing that you should concern yourself with. Here is where you really need to find a well-known institution. Here, you are doing something to fend off the negative views that individuals have for MBA programs.

A good idea would be to seek out a university that is not only well-known school but also accredited. You will surely have better job opportunities if you manage to graduate from online MBA programs from accredited educational facilities. If you are eyeing positions in various fields of business, you should really make an effort to take advantage of all the professional credentials available to you.

If you are looking for online MBA programs, remember to take these into consideration. Remember that there is no point in making an effort to pursue something that will not be beneficial in the long run. Spend time researching schools and programs before you engage in any particular course.

Accredited and well-known school offering online mba programs should your priority in pursuing a degree online. Guaranteed that you will be well trained and developed.

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Is Getting An MBA On The Web A Worthwhile Investment?

Getting a graduate degree presents a number of advantages for professionals. It can open up the door to promotions, earnings increases, and provide the graduate an opportunity to compete for much-sought after jobs. A stumbling economy is often the motivation people require to return to school to bolster their educational experience.

A popular objective for students is to earn an MBA. The issue is, doing so at the leading educational institutions can cost more than $80,000. One alternative is to obtain your online business degrees. It is much less costly and much more easy, both important characteristics to the busy professional.

In the following paragraphs, we are going to take a look at whether or not an MBA obtained at an internet college is worth the time, effort, and hard earned cash. A lot of its value depends upon whether it is accepted by employers as a reputable degree.

Benefits Of Getting Your MBA Online
A web-based MBA program is comparable in many ways to the MBA programs offered by traditional (i.e. classroom-based) educational facilities. The courses concentrate on the exact same themes; pupils are expected to complete personal assignments as well as group projects; and participation in discussions is usually demanded as a part of the curriculum. With that in mind, attending a web-based college provides a number of unique advantages.

As an example, the online pupil is spared from having to commute to classes, saving time and funds. He or she can also keep clear of attending classes, many of which would likely be scheduled during the day when the gainfully employed pupil is working. The courses could be completed on the pupil’s schedule, which provides him or her the flexibility to work more efficiently in accordance with the demands placed upon them.

An additional is that a lot of web-based MBA programs make it possible for pupils to work at their own speed. For some, this means taking additional time to complete their courses; for others, it means graduating much earlier than would be feasible from a conventional college.

Are Potential Employers Going To Regard An Online MBA?
Not all the MBA diplomas are equally valuable. Some programs are better than others, regardless of whether they’re provided by online or classroom-based colleges. With all this, what variables establish whether an employer is going to consider an internet MBA warrant esteem? The response relies on whether or not the program is accredited as well as the agency that granted the college official certifications.

Certification is the course of action by which an outside organization assesses a college’s performance. The accrediting agency is going to observe classes, analyze the class work, and speak to instructors to check whether certain specifications are being met. If the university’s overall performance is considered adequate, it’s accredited.

Online schools – and by extension, the MBA programs they offer – that receive certification from a respected firm are regarded as legitimate. Employers understand this. As a result, they are more likely to recognize the degrees as a true representation of graduates’ practical knowledge.

Cost And Time Commitments
The cost for an internet MBA spans a wide range; the programs at a few universities may be completed for less than $15,000. At others, expect to pay as much as an MBA obtained at Wharton or Harvard. It’s essential to underscore that the cost of a degree should not be considered a reflection of its excellence

Additionally, there are several scholarships and numerous forms of financial aid available to help decrease the burden.

The time required to earn an MBA online is largely determined by the pupil. He or she can work through the program as swiftly or gradually as desired. Some pupils need four or five years to complete their courses and move on. Others are able to do so in 12 months or less.

How Important Is A School’s Reputation?
An MBA earned from one of the top-ranked (conventional) universities, such as Wharton, Stanford, and Kellogg, still commands a greater level of respect; it also leads to more opportunities, and often, a greater starting income

However, fewer companies nowadays are impressed by such universities, particularly since the diplomas command a salary premium. Many companies would rather hire an MBA graduate from a lower-tier (i.e. non-Ivy League) university, and train them at the job.

In summary, getting an MBA from an internet university can be well worth the investment. Make sure you select a reliable, certified university that offers a program that fits your educational focus.

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Top Value Online MBA Programs Globally

I was researching the fees for the various Online MBA programs , interestingly the Online MBA program by the London College of Business, UK is a couple of times cheaper than the cheapest ones here in the list , despite the reputation of its validating university, University of Wales, UK.

Here is the article

This is Top Colleges Online’s ranking of the best online value MBA programs for under $50,000. We’ve tried to balance between quality of education and affordable, low-cost tuition to show you how you can get the best bang for your buck. This is not a ranking of the cheapest MBA programs available. If you go that route, you will very likely end up getting a cheap degree from a sketchy school. Instead, our list contains all highly respected, regionally accredited MBA programs, all of which are rooted in real, traditional programs at reputable schools.

So what’s more important to you in choosing an online MBA degree program: high prestige or low cost? Choosing a highly regarded program will generally cost you more pfront in tuition and fees, but may pay off with better job prospects and higher earnings in the long run. Choosing a less prestigious, lower ranked program will probably save you money in terms of tuition and fees, but may cost you more over time if you’re unable to get the position or salary you would be able to demand with a degree from a higher ranked program.

Of course, nothing is guaranteed either way. Many students graduate from the top MBA programs in the country and struggle for years to pay off their debt because they can’t land a job. Other students earn their degree from second and third tier programs and become CEOs of major corporations. Indeed, a recent study showed that less than half of the highest-paid CEOs have an MBA degree at all! Finding an online MBA program with the right balance between reputation and cost is key.

The programs in our best value online MBA ranking offer the best combination of prestige and affordability we could find. All of the business schools on our list are accredited by the AACSB (the premier accreditation for business schools) and are nationally ranked. They also all offer an online MBA for less than $50,000. With the hiring of MBAs on the rise and the average starting salary for an MBA graduate now over $91,000 (having risen each of the last three years), these programs may be an excellent investment in your future.

#1. Florida International University (Chapman Graduate School of Business)

The Chapman Graduate School of Business at top-ranked Florida International University in Greater Miami, FL is an AACSB accredited leader in international business and entrepreneurship.

Program information

FIU offers an online Corporate MBA Program. Taking two classes each term, this accelerated distance MBA can be completed in as little as 18 months of dedicated study. Admitted students will be assigned to a peer cohort that they will stay with for the duration for the program. No GMAT is required for admission and no travel is required.

Financial information

$37,500 will cover tuition and fees for the entire program. Financial aid is available for qualifying students.

#2. University of Massachusetts Amherst (Isenberg School of Management)

The University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA is among the best public universities in the U.S. and the AASCB accredited Isenberg School of Management frequently earns top business school rankings.

Program information

UMass Amherst offers the Isenberg Online MBA for part-time students. The entire program can be completed in as little as two and a half years of part-time study. Students are allowed to take up to two courses before deciding whether the program is a good fit for them or not. An asynchronous class format allows students to access courses at their convenience. No travel is required.

Financial information

$27,750 will cover tuition. Financial aid is available for qualifying students.

#3. Washington State University (College of Business)

The nationally ranked Washington State University College of Business in Pullman, WA brings over twenty years experience in distance education to its AACSB accredited online MBA program.

Program information

WSU’s Online MBA Program is designed to be completed in two years. With an emphasis on entrepreneurship, students in the program must complete a full business plan in order to graduate. WSU also offers the Online Executive MBA Program for student with significant business experience. Travel is not mandatory, but students may attend graduation ceremonies at WSU’s campus.

Financial information

$29,250 is enough to cover tuition and fees. Financial aid is available for qualifying students.

#4. University of Scranton (Kania School of Business)

The University of Scranton’s AACSB accredited Kania School of Management is a top-ranked Jesuit business school in Scranton, PA with an emphasis on ethics and responsibility.

Program information

The University of Scranton’s Online MBA Degree can be completed in about two years and requires a minimum of 36 credit hours. In addition to the general track, students may choose from concentration tracks in Enterprise Resource Planning, Healthcare Management, and Operations Management. No travel is required.

Financial information

$30,312 covers tuition and fees for the minimum 36 credit hours. Financial aid is available for qualifying students.

#5. Quinnipiac University (School of Business)

Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT has taken its AACSB accredited and nationally ranked School of Business to new heights with significant recent investments in academic infrastructure and facilities.

Program information

Quinnipiac University offers a 46 credit hour online MBA program for working adults. Students can choose from electives in Computer Information Systems, Finance, Health Care Management, General Management, and Marketing. An intensive Health Care Management Track is offered for those planning to enter management in the health care industry. No campus visits are required.

Financial information

$39,330 will cover your tuition. Financial aid is available for qualifying students.

#6. University of Florida (Hough Graduate School of Business)

The University of Florida’s globally ranked Hough Graduate School of Business in Gainesville, FL was one of the first AACSB accredited business schools to put a complete MBA program online.

Program information

The University of Florida offers its Internet MBA Program in one-year (16 month) and two-year (27 month) options. The one-year option is only open to students who earned a bachelor’s in business within the last seven years. Both formats require students to travel to the University of Florida campus one weekend each term to meet with faculty and other students.

Financial information

$46,000 (1 yr.)/$52,500 (2 yr.) covers tuition. Financial aid is available for qualifying students.

#7. University of Texas at Dallas (Jindal School of Management)

The AACSB accredited Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas in Dallas, TX perennially ranks among the very best business schools in America.

Program information

UT-Dallas offers their Online Professional MBA as a part-time, 53 credit hour program. Students are given 24 hours of electives with which to craft their own specialization. Courses can be completed at the student’s own pace. No travel is required.

Financial information

$45,000 covers tuition and fees. Financial aid is available for qualifying students.

#8. Auburn University (College of Business)

Auburn University’s AACSB accredited College of Business in Auburn, AL has been moving up in the business school rankings in the last few years, establishing itself as a top public school for business degrees.

Program information

Auburn University offers a 36 credit hour Distance Learning MBA that can typically be completed within three years. All instructions, assignments and tests are identical to the campus-based MBA program. Students must attend a mandatory five day residency at the Auburn campus before graduating.

Financial information

$26,064 covers tuition. Financial aid is available for qualifying students.

#9. Oklahoma State University (Spears School of Business)

The AASCB accredited Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK is an established leader in business education with a history of offering innovative distance learning opportunities.

Program information

Oklahoma State University offers its Distance Learning MBA as a part-time, 36-48 credit hour program. The curriculum emphasizes teamwork and team building throughout. Professional experience is preferred but not a requirement for admission. Travel is not mandatory, but graduates of the program are invited to campus for commencement ceremonies.

Financial information

$14,000 (in-state)/$37,000 (out-state) covers tuition. Financial aid is available for qualifying students.

#10. Florida State University (College of Business)

Florida State University’s AACSB accredited College of Business in Tallahassee, FL is among the highest ranked public business schools in the country with an excellent job placement and minority graduation record.

Program information

Florida State University offers its Online MBA as a 39 credit hour program designed to be completed in a little over two years. Students can specialize in Marketing, Management Information Systems, Real Estate, or Risk Management and Insurance. Travel is not required.

Financial information

$28,350 covers tuition. Financial aid is available for qualifying students.