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“Should I Stay or Should I Go?” — The Clash

It's never too late to get an MBA career changeIn today’s economy, people are finding that success isn’t obtained by years of hard work within the same company. While loyalty to a business may have helped employees work up the ladder in the past, today it can actually hinder career progression.

Earlier this year, Forbes posted an article about a study that revealed employees who stay with the same company for longer than two years actually make 50% less over a lifetime than those who move from company to company. The reason? Apparently the recent recession allowed businesses to freeze payroll and decrease salaries of new hires. While these were initially meant to be temporary changes, they’ve slowly become the norm.

And it’s not just the state of the working world that’s keeping some from progressing in their careers. With an influx of employees and a shortage of jobs, the market is extremely competitive. Typically, those with a bachelor’s degree will be immediately dismissed for those with higher education. An article in The New York Times claimed that in today’s market, a bachelor’s degree has become the new high school diploma. In other words, it’s now a minimum job requirement, and it no longer provides applicants with an edge.

The moral of the story here is that change leads to success.

While starting over with a new company (or a change of career path altogether) might not feel possible, it’s never too late. That’s especially true when it comes to obtaining your MBA. No matter your age, obtaining your master’s degree will make you more sought after for the career that you want. And if you are already in your desired field and looking to move up in the ranks, your experience and MBA are sure to make you a prime candidate.

Preparing for the MBA Application Process

If it’s been a while since you’ve been in school, you might be a little shocked at the amount of work that comes with applying for higher education. The application process is complex and ever-changing, far more so than what was required for undergrad when most of us were applying. It’s easy to get confused, and if you’re going in blind, you could hurt your chances for acceptance. So you need to be prepared.

Make more money with the benefits of an MBAAfter reading through the testimonials on Menlo Coaching, it became apparent that many older applicants looking for a breakthrough in their careers had the most to gain from guidance on MBA applications and essay writing. Depending on your field, it’s very possible that the skills required for writing eye-catching applications and captivating essays haven’t been fine-tuned over the years. However, as is to be expected with higher learning, your work should show your proficiency acquired in undergrad as well as within the work force. Maybe you haven’t had to write a paper in more than a decade, but that doesn’t mean that the admissions committees will cut you any slack. They will expect the same level of adroitness from you as they do from someone who has made a career out of doing so. The aid of a professional will help give your application an edge along with your essay, recommendation letters, and interview preparation.

Of course, you’ll need to set aside a significant amount of time to study for the GMAT as well. You might start by taking a free practice test from mba.com to see where you stand. You’ll probably find that you have quite a few math and verbal cobwebs to dust off, especially if it’s been a while since you’ve thought about quadratic equations or equations of a line. Thus, get as much help as possible beforehand. Join a study group, take online practice tests, and find a tutor to better explain areas you’re having trouble with.

Along with other changes that you might run into that will make the process more complicated—especially in regards to your GMAT—there is one difference you can look forward to. As we reported earlier on this site, you no longer have to decide on keeping or canceling your GMAT test scores before being able to see what they are. You can view your unofficial score on the test online, and you are presented with a two-minute window to decide whether you want to report or cancel them. While this takes a lot of the guesswork out of the equation, it’s also important to remember that this can cause scores to become more competitive.

Remember, it’s never too late to go back and get your MBA—and you’re never too old to ask for help. There are people in place who can help you make a stressful, complicated process much easier. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of the resources available to you.

Author Bio:

Patti Conner is a freelance writer and business entrepreneur. She lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband Hank and their two children. When she’s not working or spending time with her family you can find her whipping up a new recipe in the kitchen or kayaking in the Puget Sound.