Ask HN: Should I get an MBA? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Should I get an MBA?

I'm graduating this year with a B. Tech in Computer Science. I have obtained a job at a leading tech company. Will getting an MBA benefit me if I wish to stay in the Tech industry?(I'm in india)

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Getting an MBA to advance in the business world is like going to culinary school. You don't really need to do it, it'll cost you an arm and a leg, and some experienced cooks will look down on you for doing it instead of learning the ropes in an actual kitchen. However, you will benefit from a structured curriculum, a few letters after your name, and hopefully a bit of a network.

There is not a right or wrong decision. However, the credentials are probably more useful if you want to join a big catering company and work your way up the ladder than if you just want to open your own restaurant (where nobody cares what letters you have after your name, just how good your food is, and you'll have to figure everything out yourself anyway).

Which job market are you targeting? Indian Tech/IT Job market is vastly different from Western World. Despite the chest thumping by startups and cool kids in khakis telling you that talent matters, it doesn't. Indian job market is about numbers and back-office work. A tech degree is not a pre-requisite, but an MBA, even from a third-tier college will help you manage people. Indian IT management is different than other management mostly because, again, it is a numbers game. The managers make up metrics like hours on desk or hours clocked.

A tech-degree, even from a first-tier college, is not worth in the Indian market, an MBA on the other hand will provide you with numerous opportunities and fantastic compensation.

No. It is not worth the money or time to do more formal schooling than you've already done. You already have the paper that proves you've done the whole college dance.

Go read "The Personal MBA" by Josh Kaufman, and read the books he recommends therein. That will get you the same education, and you won't have a tuition bill when you're done.

Also, you'll have work experience that you'd miss out on while taking MBA classes. Focus on strengthening your tech skills, and stay working. That'll be far more beneficial to you than another degree.

Seriously, it's not worth it like it used to be.

For the price of an MBA you can start a small business, and actually earn money.

Some people gets an MBA for the contacts: Don't do it. Not all the people you'll know will end in "high places". It is much better to call a high-level executive with a sound business proposal.

The piece of paper may or may not be worth much. But, especially coming from an Indian tech environment, an MBA provides important skills to analyse and understand the entire business environment -- marketing, finance, organisational behaviour, etc. This is important both as a developer to understand why decisions that might not make sense from a technical perspective are made and will also help you in a startup or other entrepreneurial environment where you need a wide approach.

Unfortunately MBAs are becoming too common and qualities vary widely so only some MBAs from top tier schools offer the salary boost that they used to provide.

You don't do an MBA for the education, you do it for the network and the branding. If you are able to get into a global Top50 program it is worth it. Or if you are relocating and trying to built a network in the city of the University. Otherwise it is a waste of money.

I would say more like Top 10.

Do you think getting an MBA would be a fun, enriching experience? This is the more important question, imho. Life is not all about your career.

Only get an MBA if you lack creativity and enjoy busy work.

I think the most beneficial case of MBA is firstly you are accustomed with macOS, secondly you have enough computing resource else where and thirdly you have stable network connection in case you are asking about MacBook Air

Not sure of this is a sarcastic response, but OP asked about the Master of Business Administration degree, not the Macbook Air.

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