Perceived effects of an MBA degree on employability and career advancement

Abstract

PurposeGiven this rapid expansion in business schools and MBA graduate numbers, the purpose of this paper is to assess whether and how graduate management education offered in Greece makes better managers.Design/methodology/approachTo this purpose an empirical research was conducted, interviewing 68 MBA graduates from a Greek business school, to assess whether and to what extent, MBA training can influence managerial competencies, employability and career development. More specifically, the paper tests the hypotheses that gaining an MBA will: provide graduates with business‐related competencies; enhance graduates' employability; promote career advancement and lead to increased compensation.FindingsAnalyzing graduates' perceptions and attitudes, the findings indicate that MBA studies have a positive effect on skills, employability and compensation and a much moderate effect on career advancement.Research limitations/implicationsThis is an exploratory study that seeks to analyze the self‐reports of a limited number of respondents. A large‐scale national survey involving graduates from numerous academic institutions across the country would result in a more comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of MBA studies on managers in Greece.Practical implicationsThis study has shown that an accredited MBA program seems to add value to graduates' managerial skills and employability in an ever‐changing labor market.Originality/valueGiven the dearth of empirical research on management education in Greece, this study contributes to debates in the wider academic community discussing the impact of MBA studies on managerial jobs.