Why would you pursue an MBA? This is the question I ask myself frequently, why put yourself through the effort and pain? Then there is the cost, is it worth the loss of salary and the tuition fees?

In this current covid environment, I was lucky, I have already graduated so I will not join the rush to get educated. I understand that people want to use this period of weakness to gain knowledge, skills and enhance their employment opportunities. Without a strong alumni network, gaining a business based qualification is fraught with danger and missed opportunities.

One has to get out to gain solid employment opportunities and contacts, the internships were so important in this model, they provided the basis of opportunity. This is really the reputation of the business school, they need not only the business contacts, their courses should be designed with industry input. Without a dedicated alumni network to support graduates, you are just paying a course fee and you are on your own, this is the role of the business school.

This should include industry aligned associations such as the Institute of Company Directors, the Australian Institute of Management, the Project Management Institute, the Australian Human Resources Institute or the Australian Institute of Training and Development depending on what specialty you intend to pursue.