What can I do after my BBA for a successful career ahead?

That depends on the career path you've chosen, Saurabh. But there are a few givens regardless of what type of career you are interested in. For one, network as much as possible with potential mentors, fellow graduates and others whom you will "meet" digitally on LinkedIn. If you are interested in the corporate world, follow key individuals at several companies you are interested in on both Twitter and LinkedIn. If any of those people follow you back, engage them in conversation about what the company is up to. Make your interest clear and you will subtly build your value proposition in the industry. By networking, you increase the job opportunities you learn about.

Also, consider writing and publishing content about which you are knowledgeable; that's a great way to get discovered.

MBA Degree

What is an MBA Degree?

A Masters in Business Administration, or an MBA as it is more commonly known, is an advanced business degree. The MBA degree is widely believed to be one of the most prestigious and sought after degrees in the world. Earning an MBA can lead to a higher salary, a position in management, and marketability in an ever-evolving job market.

Increased Earnings with an MBA

Many people enroll in an Masters in Business Administration program with the hope of earning more money after graduation.

Business Degree Courses

Although there is no guarantee that you will make more money with an MBA, a higher salary is likely. However, the exact amount you earn is very dependent on the job you do and the business school you graduate from.

A recent study of MBA salaries from BusinessWeek found that Harvard Business School graduates earn an average starting salary of $134,000 while graduates of second tier schools, such as Arizona State (Carey) or Illinois-Urbana Champaign, earn an average starting salary of $72,000.

Cash compensation for MBAs is significant though regardless of school. The BusinessWeek study stated that median cash compensation over a 20-year period, for all the schools in the study, was $2.5 million. Read more about how much you can earn with an MBA.

Popular Job Options for MBA Graduates

After earning a Masters in Business Administration, most grads find work in the business field. They may accept jobs with large corporations, but just as often take jobs with small or mid-size companies and non-profit organizations. Other career options include consulting positions or entrepreneurship.

Popular Job Titles

Popular job titles for MBAs include but are not limited to:

• Accountant
• Advertising Executive
• Business Manager
• CEO (Chief Executive Officer)
• CIO (Chief Information Officer)
• Corporate Communications Manager
• Corporate Recruiter
• Executive Recruiter
• Finance Officer or Financial Manager
• Financial Analyst
• Hotel or Motel Manager
• Human Resources Director or Manager
• Management Analyst
• Management Consultant
• Marketing Director or Manager
• Marketing Research Analyst
• PR Specialist
• Product Manager
• Working in Management

MBA degrees frequently lead to upper management positions. A new grad may not start out in such a position, but certainly has the opportunity to move up the career ladder faster than non-MBA counterparts.

Companies That Hire MBAs

Companies in every industry around the world seek out business and management professionals with an MBA education. Every business, from tiny start-ups to large Fortune 500 companies, needs someone with experience and the necessary education to support common business processes like acocunting, finance, human resources, marketing, public relations, sales, and management. To learn more about where you can work after earning a Masters in Business Administration, check out this list of the 100 top MBA employers.

GMAT

What is the GMAT? Why should I take it?

GMAT stands for “Graduate Management Admission Test.” The GMAT is a standardized test that is required to apply for many MBA programs and other masters-level management programs around the world. It assesses skills that are important to management, including analytical and quantitative skills, as well as the test-taker’s ability verbal, reading and writing ability. All else considered, a good score indicates strong management aptitude.

How does the GMAT work?

The GMAT is delivered entirely on a computer, at test centers all over the world. Currently, the GMAT is divided into four categories:

1. An analytical writing assessment
2. An integrated reasoning component
3. A quantitative component
4. A verbal assessment

The test is 3.5 hours long; individual sections range from 30 minutes to 75 minutes each.

The verbal and quantitive sections are 30 minutes each. These two sections consist solely of multiple-choice questions, which are computer adaptive, meaning if a test-taker gets one question right, the next question will be more difficult.

For the integrated reasoning section, test-takers are asked to analyze data that is presented in tables, graphs, or other sources. It is 75 minutes long.

For the analytical writing assessment, test-takers are asked to analyze reasoning in an argument. It is also 75 minutes long.

How is the GMAT scored?

After test-takers complete the GMAT, they will be given a score between 200 and 800, which is based on scoring on the verbal and quantitative portions of the test. The analytical writing and integrated reasoning sections are graded separately, on scales of 1-6 and 1-8, respectively.

On test day, test-takers can choose to have their GMAT scores automatically sent to up to five business schools. A fee is required to send the score to additional schools.

What score do I need?

It depends. Some MBA programs have minimum score requirements. Also, many business schools will provide information, such as the median GMAT score of accepted students, from which you can determine your competitiveness. You can find some of this information on individual business school profiles at FIND MBA.

Are there alternatives to the GMAT?

Yes. Some business schools will accept a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score in lieu of a GMAT score. The GRE is another computer-adaptive test that is used when candidates apply to masters-level programs. Additionally, some business schools have their own admissions test.