What after MBA? Up Your Worth with A Strategy Certification
The death cries for MBA, for the most part, have been exaggerated. Recent trends show strong hiring trends for MBA graduates in the past few years. Fortune 100 and 500 companies seek MBAs for strategic roles. Furthermore, MBA hiring remains sturdiest in energy or utilities, healthcare, and technology sectors.
What, however, is changing for business graduates are the industry’s expectations!
In the post-pandemic world, businesses would look up to the candidates for consultant roles to fix that has been broken.
New graduates can pursue a professional business certification to place themselves strategically for their dream job and stand out from the rest. A roundabout of why pursuing a certification is a sound strategy to boost the value of your MBA and your candidature.
Why earn a strategy certification for a better career?
Consulting and strategic thinking are the most common job functions for which MBA graduates are hired. According to the GMAC, Corporate Recruiters Survey results,
Strategic thinking and innovation are the topmost tenacities for which hiring business graduates remain most in-demand. In these roles, MBAs record the median annual salaries of as much as $1,15,000.
As valued are strategic thinkers in businesses, it is as hard for MBA holders to prove their knack in strategic thinking to the recruiters.
Topping up your business degree with a professional certification in strategic thinking can help you demonstrate your readiness as a business strategist to deal with the challenges today.
The Benefits of Professional Business Certifications
In this digital age, proactive students and professionals would quickly fathom that the returns from their careers greatly depend on their willingness to invest in themselves.
A few pointers on how business strategist certification can prove a worthy bet:
1. Prove your deftness at leading management and leadership positions. The role of certifications isn’t limited to MBA holders, but also those from other disciplines. Professionals aiming to step up to executive roles can establish their credibility to turnaround businesses and drive diverse teams.
2. In a competitive market, certifications are a great way to differentiate yourself, even more so in jobs for MBA professionals where the race is neck to neck. Demonstrate the mastery of skills particular to new market trends with professional certification, and make sure your MBA degree pays off.
3. The addition of competent certifications and new credentials proves extremely beneficial in gaining promotion. The right certification can level up your current position via promotion and beget a promising outlook for your career.
4. The road from MBA to internship to recruitment is full of various facts, market trends and business jargon. Keep your knowledge latest and understand the market from practical viewpoint with a certification, which is periodically renewed.
5. Land towering compensation and high-end jobs with professional letters behind your name signaling proficiency.
Below is the list of the certifications you can choose after your MBA, or graduation. Irrespective of the graduate discipline, these business certifications will benefit those in management or leadership roles, especially MBA holders.
Top 3 Business Strategist Certifications
👉1. The Strategy Institute
The Strategy Institute is a top pick for aspirants looking to earn professional certification in business strategy.
It offers two rungs of business certifications — for junior- and mid-level, and another for senior professionals. Associate Business Strategy Professional (ABSP™) designation is awarded to the aspirants who complete former level, and Senior Business Strategy Professional (SBSP™) is accorded to those who ace the examinations of the latter.
COVID-19 Update: The examinations are completely online and can be taken from the comfort of your homes or offices. Aspirants are sent a mix of online and offline preparation material, through which they can prepare for the certification exams at their own pace.
Rewards: Those who pass the certification exams earn prized designations and become certified Business Strategy Professionals. The digital badge can be displayed online on LinkedIn and other profiles.
Registrations are open.
👉2. Chicago Booth for Executives
The course in strategic thinking at the Chicago Booth is designed for executives and mid to senior-level professionals. The program spans across two weeks and promises to impart in participants the perspective to determine pathways for long term sustainable growth for the business.
COVID-19 Update: The program is conducted LIVE in two time-zones on two days a week. Thus, in total four classes will be held.
Rewards: Participants will receive a certification of program completion.
👉3. eCornell
eCornell offers a certificate program in business strategy. It spans across three months and is instructor-led model. It is aimed at entrepreneurs, managers, senior executives, directors, and others.
COVID-19 Update: It follows an instructor-led model of teaching. The website doesn’t specifically mention any change in the instruction due to the pandemic situation.
Rewards: Upon completion of the program, you will receive a certificate.
No matter how you slice it, the need for a strategic management certification for MBA graduates becomes paramount as the expectations from them rise. Become the expert business strategist that businesses need to lead in these turbulent times!
