Is Getting an Advanced Degree a Good Career Move?

Chris Ohlendorf

August 15, 2014

Having spent the past 18 years in the recruiting industry, I have often been asked if getting an advanced degree is the right career move. This question is particularly intriguing to me due to my experience with higher education.

I graduated in 1986 with a BA in Business Administration and no idea what I wanted to do with my career. The conversation in my friend group revolved around taking the GMAT and attending graduate school, so I was happy to join them. Straight out of undergrad and with the GMAT behind me, I started my MBA.

While it’s generally accepted that getting an advanced degree can do nothing but good things for your career, there are a few important elements that should be considered before taking that step. As I worked toward completing my MBA, one factor in particular seemed to stand out to me: everyone in the program was getting more out of it than I was. This was because I had little real-life work experience to pull from.

Would an advanced degree be the right move for your career? Find out how to identify if it’s time to take that step in the rest of my blog, originally posted on the St. Thomas Opus Magnum site.

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Chris Ohlendorf / About Author

Chris Ohlendorf brings over 23 years of experience to the consulting and recruiting industries. As the Chief Operating Officer and one of the founders of Versique, Chris is responsible for guiding the overall internal recruitment and training strategies, including expansion into new divisions, and managing the overall operational functions. He is also involved in business development and is actively involved in Versique’s volunteer committee, which focuses on giving back to the community. Chris is a member of Allied Executives, a peer-to-peer membership organization for CEO’s and business owners. He is a graduate of Bethel University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and has an MBA in Marketing Management from University of Minnesota-Carlson School of Management.