different problem...

[uma kottur]

hello ppl..
My problem is a little different, I'm a graduate with certificates like SJCP, MCSD etc. Now I'm planning to do an MBA in IT. Looking at the market situation, I'm just wondering if its a smart move? Do you think there would be any market scope for it after an year?
Any comments and suggestions would be welcome. Thank you.

[Raghav Mathur]

hi
you have to ask this question to yourself whether you want to code further or not ........... getting an MBA degree would get you a job but what kind of a job you want to do .
You will be capable of handling the buisness module but it really depends upon if your company is willing to give you some tech stuff .
And for god sake don't crib over the job market .......... you can't make decissions looking at the present job situation .

[uma kottur]

hi raghav...
Thanx for the reply. Actually my dilemma is this, whether to look for a java programmer job(i've bout 9 months of experience plus SJCP!) or would it be better if i did my MBA-IT, would it stregthen my position...i was just musing over the topic, thought i'll take inputs frm diff ppl here at javaranch(which by the way has been very helpful for my SJCP preps)too...datz all!
Thanks anyway!

[Mark Herschberg]

As Raghav suggested, the decision to get an MBA is strategic, not tactical.
1) A MBA will move you onto more of a management type role, rather than engineering.
2) A MBA is a lot of time, money, and enegry. It's not somhting to take lightly.

The alternative is not whether to look for a programmer job or get another degree. Don't look at what it will do for you over the next 3 years. Instead, ask yourself what you wnat to be doing 10-20 years from now, and which of those choices will bring you closer to that goal.
Going back to school is not an alternative to a job, it's an alternative to your current career path.
--Mark

[John Coxey]

uma kottur:
What I would recommend is to get a job (preferrable using Java) in the IT industry.
Most employers will pay most or all of the tuition costs associated with graduate school. So let them pay for it. I can tell you that Lehigh charges around US$850/credit. This comes at 10 classes at 3 credits each --- to around US$26K. Then you need to add a few bucks for books/lab fees/. Plus, lets not forget lost wages (if you go full-time).
Like Mark said - going to graduate school is not a decision to be taken lightly.
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And again, like Mark said, it's more of a career decision (20-30 yrs of your life will benefit) versus a job decision (1-2 yrs of benefit).
The MBA-IT will lead you more down a management path. I hear though, that the University of Pittsburgh's - Katz School of management has a program where you get both an MBA degree and an MS-Computer Science degree in one shot. The classes are held on the weekends/evenings and are geared to working professionals. You may want to look into it.
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For me, the MS-Comp Sci degree has opened up a lot of doors - but other than a project for Osh-Kosh Clothing, did very little for my actual Java programming skills.
John Coxey
([e-mail])

[This message has been edited by John Coxey (edited August 02, 2001).]

[uma kottur]

Thank you mark and John,
After a lot of musing with family and with u guyz at javaranch, i've decided to stall doin my MBA for a couple of years. right now i'll try n get myself a good job n experience in programming field. thanx again all!