An MBA degree can be a bridge to career opportunities as well as advancement within a particular role or job field. This degree can drive greater job satisfaction, increased compensation, an enhanced career skill set, and employment security for the long term. Now is a great time to pursue a more advanced degree in business, to give you a greater edge over other candidates in this highly competitive job market.

Sharpen Your Leadership Skills

An MBA can establish or strengthen your foundation in leadership and management. Effectively managing personnel is a critical aspect of organizational leadership and a primary focus of an MBA degree program. You can gain the interpersonal tools necessary to work effectively with peers and guide those you manage.

Increase Your Job Marketability

An MBA degree can reflect your seriousness about your career to a current or potential employer. In the business field, there are few jobs that require an MBA, however, this degree is preferable to many employers, and all things being equal between two job candidates, your advanced degree can be the tie breaker.

Position Yourself for Success in Growing Fields

Johnson & Wales University offers several MBA programs with varying emphases. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), MBAs emphasizing these particular concentrations can expect the following projected job growth through 2022. Below is a breakdown of job outlooks for each concentration area.

Business Administration: This field is projected to add more than 260,000 new positions through 2022. Developing your leadership abilities and achieving an advanced degree — both possible through an MBA — plus possessing a strong management background are the best ways to capitalize on these prospects, according the the BLS.

Hospitality Management: While overall lodging managers only see a 1 percent increase in job openings, management positions overall expect a 7 percent jump. If your goal is to work at an upscale or luxury hotel, the BLS reports that applicants that focus their studies on “hospitality or hotel management are expected to have the best job opportunities.”

Finance: The BLS expects more than 47,000 financial manager jobs by 2022. Competition will be tight for openings, but the report states that a master’s degree is one of the best ways to stand out.

Human Resources: The expected employment change through 2022 is an increase in 13,600 jobs. The BLS states that candidates will a master’s degree “should have the best job prospects.”

Nonprofit Management: Benefit from a projected growth of 27,700 jobs through 2022. According to the BLS, “many employers prefer workers with a master’s degree in social work, public or business administration, public health, or a related field.”

Whether you’re motivated by advancement in your specialty, an increasingly competitive job market, or another factor, an MBA degree can set you apart in your job search and in your management or leadership role and help you gain the momentum needed to attain your career goals.

"An MBA degree can reflect your seriousness about your career to a current or potential employer."

Learn more about the JWU School of Online & Continuing Education's Master's of Business Administration (MBA) degree, MBA – Hospitality, MBA – Finance, MBA – HR Management, or MBA – Nonprofit Management.