The Benefits of Work Experience for MBA Students

Many MBA programs require that applicants have professional work experience to be admitted. Although Purdue Global does not have this requirement, having work experience can enhance your graduate school education.

We sat down with Jack Deem, DBA, and Bea Bourne, DM, faculty members in Purdue Global’s School of Business, to discuss the benefits of work experience for MBA students.

1. You Can Take What You Learn and Apply It Immediately

Students have the opportunity to take what they are learning in their MBA program and apply it to their daily work. “Purdue Global’s MBA curriculum is real-world based, so students can take what’s learned in the classroom and apply it to their jobs immediately,” says Deem. “This deepens the learning experience.”

In some courses, students have an opportunity to use their current employer to explore a problem or opportunity as the focus of an assignment.

“For example, in our marketing management course, learners develop a brand extension marketing plan,” says Bourne. “Many students focus their marketing plan on an opportunity they have uncovered based on their work and real-world experience.”

2. Professional Experience Benefits You and Your Classmates

MBA programs typically focus on hands-on, experiential learning and capitalize on students' practical experiences. This deepens an individual student’s learning while enhancing the learning environment for all participants. This system allows the real-world experiences of each student to become a collective learning experience.

For example, Deem explains that there are team projects that include experiential learning activities through simulations. These simulations place the student in a managerial position within a company. “Previous [professional] experience in a given area will be helpful to the team as they seek to accomplish their goals,” says Deem.

Additionally, students with work experience can more fully participate in discussion boards and assignments.

“These boards and assignments provide students an opportunity to reflect on their experiences relative to the topic under consideration,” Deem says. “This sharing of professional experience adds richness to the discussions and benefits all learners in the class.”

“The learning extends beyond assignments and textbook readings,” Bourne adds. “A substantial part of the MBA learning experience comes from the insights shared in these discussion boards."

3. Work Experience May Help You Choose a Concentration

Working professionals pursue an MBA to deepen their knowledge and advance their careers. Their work experiences and goals help them identify areas of opportunity and knowledge gaps that need to be filled. It also gives them a clear understanding of what they like, what they don’t like, and how to better align their education with their goals.

Having practical experience can also make it easier to select a concentration. With an MBA program, you are often able to select concentrations such as finance, global business, or information technology. By considering your current work situation and your desired career path, you can more easily hone in on a concentration aimed at helping you reach specific career goals.

“Choosing a concentration allows students to become specialists rather than generalists,” Bourne says. “This can provide deep expertise and may enhance [one’s] career opportunities."

As you work through your curriculum, you may also discover new areas of interest through coursework. Deem explains, “I have seen students change their concentrations after taking a course in a different discipline. For instance, students have decided to pursue the marketing concentration after taking our marketing management course.”

Purdue Global MBA concentrations:

• Finance
• Global Business
• Health Care Management
• Human Resources
• Information Technology
• Marketing
• Project Management

Earn an Online MBA With Purdue Global

Earning an MBA is an exciting academic journey that can transform students into well-rounded leaders in their field. Having real-world acumen from work experience can further enhance the journey by closing skill gaps, deepening industry insights, and allowing students to select a concentration that moves them closer to their unique professional goals.

Students interested in pursuing their MBA degree — even those without professional work experience — are encouraged to explore the Purdue Global online MBA program and reach out to an advisor for more information.