Applying to the MBA: Why Now, in a Strong Job Market?
From Business at Leeds 2022 | Full issue
John Helmers, left, with Kristi Ryujin, associate dean for graduate programs, in the Rustandy Building. Helmers completed his MBA at Leeds during the financial crisis; then, as now, global events made his graduate studies 鈥榓 bit of a petri dish, a live learning lab for leaders.鈥
A strong job market can be a deterrent to seeking an MBA鈥攚hy go to school when work is plentiful?
As it turns out, a strong economy is an ideal time to upskill. When John Helmers (MBA鈥07) was telling his uncle he was thinking about grad school, 鈥渉e said to me, 鈥楾he timing isn鈥檛 important. You鈥檒l never regret the investment in yourself.鈥欌
Employers won鈥檛 be this aggressive in recruiting candidates forever, and when that stops, having the blend of skills, perspective and leadership training that an MBA offers will be that much more valuable.
Helmers, director of graduate career management at Leeds, compared the classroom climate to the end of the 2008 financial crisis, which he called 鈥渁 bit of a petri dish, a live learning lab for leaders.鈥
鈥淭here鈥檚 still a lot of dust settling,鈥 Helmers said. 鈥淔or the next two years, there鈥檚 going to be a lot of lessons learned from the changing paradigm in work, in school and everything else. For employers, they want students who have those leadership skills, and who are learning from world-class experts who are equipping them for all the changes waiting for them after graduation.鈥