I'm 24, graduated in 2004, joined a large multinational corporation with their finance training program. In two years I've had 4 assignments with various segments. I'm getting ready to graduate from the program in a few months and I'm trying to decide what my next move should be. I'm evaluating job offers from my employer and there's a lot of demand for my finance/accounting skillset within the company right now. My undergrad degree was in business/finance but I don't have a CPA or MBA.
I like working in finance and I expect that I'll be in this function for a while, so I don't have any desire to get a full-time MBA (don't want to take on massive loans and give up two years income for an uncertain payback). Long term, I hope to continue working in operational finance, but I may want to move towards the technology industry. If I could someday become a general manager, that would be great, but I may not be enough of a politico to pull that off.
However, I do wonder about how long I will stay with my current employer. I can see another 3-5 years here but after that the picture becomes more hazy...will depend on what kind of opportunities they keep offering me. I know that I'm getting great experience here, but without some more letters after my name I fear that I will be limited when it is time to start looking for greener pastures. This also means that I'll have less bargaining power if HR starts limiting my career (I've seen it happen). Another problem with my employer is that they require you to relocate every few years if you want to stay on the career fast-track. I want to continue moving up the ladder, but I don't think I should have to constantly move across the country to do this...plus I have a SO who is not so geographically mobile due to her own career.
One option is a private part-time MBA program. The school in my area wants $75k for a two year program. I think this is a lot given that they're not ivy league, not even top 20 in the rankings. It's unlikely that I could get my employer to spring for this; maybe they would pick up 50%. The 2nd option is to go to a public university that has a good regional program, but is not as well known nationwide. They want $25k, so there's a better chance my employer would reimburse me. Since I can't negotiate on salary, I may be able to get tuition reimbursement. I don't have any plans to leave this part of the country so I am thinking that the cheaper program is the better value. I have the right background to get in to either program.
Another benefit of either program is that it would allow me to get enough accounting credits to sit for the CPA exam. I don't have any desire to become an auditor but I think a CPA would give me even more credibility with potential employers. Plus, a CPA/MBA would help differentiate me from the hordes of freshly minted MBAs.
What would you do? Have I missed any other options?
I like working in finance and I expect that I'll be in this function for a while, so I don't have any desire to get a full-time MBA (don't want to take on massive loans and give up two years income for an uncertain payback). Long term, I hope to continue working in operational finance, but I may want to move towards the technology industry. If I could someday become a general manager, that would be great, but I may not be enough of a politico to pull that off.
However, I do wonder about how long I will stay with my current employer. I can see another 3-5 years here but after that the picture becomes more hazy...will depend on what kind of opportunities they keep offering me. I know that I'm getting great experience here, but without some more letters after my name I fear that I will be limited when it is time to start looking for greener pastures. This also means that I'll have less bargaining power if HR starts limiting my career (I've seen it happen). Another problem with my employer is that they require you to relocate every few years if you want to stay on the career fast-track. I want to continue moving up the ladder, but I don't think I should have to constantly move across the country to do this...plus I have a SO who is not so geographically mobile due to her own career.
One option is a private part-time MBA program. The school in my area wants $75k for a two year program. I think this is a lot given that they're not ivy league, not even top 20 in the rankings. It's unlikely that I could get my employer to spring for this; maybe they would pick up 50%. The 2nd option is to go to a public university that has a good regional program, but is not as well known nationwide. They want $25k, so there's a better chance my employer would reimburse me. Since I can't negotiate on salary, I may be able to get tuition reimbursement. I don't have any plans to leave this part of the country so I am thinking that the cheaper program is the better value. I have the right background to get in to either program.
Another benefit of either program is that it would allow me to get enough accounting credits to sit for the CPA exam. I don't have any desire to become an auditor but I think a CPA would give me even more credibility with potential employers. Plus, a CPA/MBA would help differentiate me from the hordes of freshly minted MBAs.
What would you do? Have I missed any other options?