What College Taught Me

[Mish]

And I'm saying you'd get all that and more if you actually did it instead of studied it. Marketing. I don't care how much you study or how well you do. You're not going to get it without on the job training. Will a few years of coursework better prepare you? Yes. Will two years of study beat a few months of experience? No. Resounding NO. I've worked in marketing. Did it for years. If you want to learn it, really learn it, you've just got to get down and dirty. Same as anything else.

I understand your point Grib. What I'm saying is that you will not have the same opportunity. For example if you are an accounts department manager, there's very little realistic chance of you getting an on the job training in marketing or in HR or in business analysis. That's not your career path. But here at uni there is an opportunity to learn all roles (not as in depth as on the job ofcourse, but enough to understand them) and in doing so become a better manager who understands how all components of a business tie in together to form a holistic entity and who is better equiped than other managers to deal with all factions. You COULD learn it on the job, by for example one year working in marketing, then one year working as an accountant, then one year working as an HR manager, but it would be a bit unrealistic.

[Incognito]

Let's face it, what manager gets a chance to be an economist, a marketing manager, a statistical analyst and an financial adviser all in one role? I'm sure there are a couple out there, but very few.

I think any employer that could get a person to do all of that would so that they don't have to hire more personnel.

Forgive my ignorance, but what all does an MBA encompass? It sounds like they will simply teach common sense practices that most should already know like interpersonal skills and how to be efficient.

[RdHrshyKss]

I think any employer that could get a person to do all of that would so that they don't have to hire more personnel.

Forgive my ignorance, but what all does an MBA encompass? It sounds like they will simply teach common sense practices that most should already know like interpersonal skills and how to be efficient.

i'm most likely going to go back to get my MBA. and as far as management is concerned, i really don't feel that it is something that people naturally learn through experience. i mean, i've only been in my position now for a few years, but all the managers here were put there because they've worked here a long time. just because someone has worked for a company for a long time doesn't mean they know how to manage people. as a matter of fact, most of the people here who are managers purely because of their length of time here SUCK at managing compared to people who actually have an MBA in management. i think graduate studies in this field really help open people up to all the different types of situations they may encounter and prepare them a bit more than say someone who just has experience working at the company for X number of years.

i still feel that higher education is corrupt, but i do know that certain things they offer (in more specialized fields) really prepare people a lot more. most of the people who go for their MBA already have experience in the field...they are just going to advance their knowledge in a way they wouldn't be able to in their position.

[Incognito]

Wow, are there THAT many people out there who can't be courteous, understanding, and inspiring while completing work related tasks? Actually that's a silly question because I see a lack of those things every day. I think it is sad that people have to pay to learn such basic human skills. Maybe I don't understand because of my personal situation. I try to be humble, but I'm an inspector. In order to balance getting everything done according to spec and not pissing people off too much I have learned to "say it with a smile" and the wording is crucial. You can say, "put the damned rebar in the way I said to because that is how it is supposed to be done according to spec 101.2" or you can say "look man I know its hard, but here is the spec [show it to him]. I'm not trying to burst your balls, but I have a job to do just like you.". There is always more than one way to say something, and keeping respect in mind will usually steer you in the right direction.

[RdHrshyKss]

i don't want to open up a can of worms here, especially because i am a woman, but my experience where i work right now is that female managers have a difficult time figuring out how to go about managing appropriately. they get way too emotional, take things personally, and create a lot of chaos in an almost common-sense situation. I'M NOT BASHING ALL FEMALE MANAGERS. i'm just saying from my experience, the ones that i've been working with who were promoted to their position (strictly after being here for awhile...no MBA) are just not good managers. maybe it's societal pressures because females haven't been permitted to take on management roles until relatively recently, maybe it's because they aren't trained properly...i think it's both. whatever the reason is, it sucks.

i also want to note that i have had experience with male managers who have sucked also. they didn't have proper training either. my experience with shitty male managers, is that they tend to be too insensitive and egotistical. so what's the common denominator...a lack of training in management specific studies. when it comes to management, i firmly believe that people need training in order to do it well. just my opinion.

[doppelgaenger]

Gribble, maybe this will make you happy - last night I got piss drunk with my friends and on the way back from the bars, I took a big steaming shit in the middle of my campus, directly into the hands of the sculpture of the founder of the university. The kicker is that he is making the "hand out" gesture, as if he is offering passersby my turd - a metaphor of our discussion here.

[Mish]

Forgive my ignorance, but what all does an MBA encompass? It sounds like they will simply teach common sense practices that most should already know like interpersonal skills and how to be efficient.

Yeh, that's right. The planet is full of walking genuises who can do accounting, economics, finance, marketing, statistics, give legal advice while at the same time following the best practices of human resource management all of the top of their head and without even studying.

That makes perfect sense.

[RdHrshyKss]

yeah, incognito is the bomb...i forgave him

[Petit Papillon]

"Cunt" - isn't it one of the most powerfull and offensive insults ever? Who's overreacting here?

[RdHrshyKss]

"Cunt" - isn't it one of the most powerfull and offensive insults ever? Who's overreacting here?

agree with that too. that word erks me to my core. if you had said that to me in person i'd probably either kick you in the groin or slap you really hard in the face. just sayin'...

[Gribble]

How long does it take to get an MBA? 6-7 years? Nobody's saying you jump into it one day after high school. But 6-7 years of work, and assuming you are intelligent and driven, and your employer gives you a chance (instead of holding you back for not having a degree) you will be better off than the guy who just came out of university. Not only that, but you will have been making money rather than hemorrhaging it.

One of the things managers don't seem to understand, and I hope you pick this up, Mish, it's great that you're studying. It really is. Having some knowledge is better than having no knowledge. However, you've got to be careful. Your classes are going to teach you just enough for you to get in the way of those who know what they're doing. Classic example of why managers are vilified and why, frankly, so many of them are unnecessary and exist simply due to executive circle jerking.

[RdHrshyKss]

How long does it take to get an MBA? 6-7 years?

part time, maybe 5. full time, way less.

[Gribble]

Starting from scratch I meant. Sorry. From day one as an undergrad clean through. Four years + two, right?

[vashti]

i don't want to open up a can of worms here, especially because i am a woman, but my experience where i work right now is that female managers have a difficult time figuring out how to go about managing appropriately. they get way too emotional, take things personally, and create a lot of chaos in an almost common-sense situation.

Most of the managers in my line of work are female, and I don't find this to be true at all.

[Mish]

How long does it take to get an MBA? 6-7 years? Nobody's saying you jump into it one day after high school. But 6-7 years of work, and assuming you are intelligent and driven, and your employer gives you a chance (instead of holding you back for not having a degree) you will be better off than the guy who just came out of university..

Straight out of university ofcourse. Work experience is better than just studying, but work experience just doesn't offer the same opportunity studying does. I only brought up mba because it's a good example of skills that you won't be able to get at work because of the diversity of the subjects.

Anyway, seems like it's starting to go round in circles so maybe I'll give this one a rest.