Hey all,

I've been thinking about career trajectory recently. I think RP people can provide great insight into what REALLY matters for developing a career. Not the bullshit we are fed. Hell, I could be brainwashed into thinking any Masters degree will help. That's why I want to ask.

To start with, I am a software engineer; graduated with a BS in CS. For a long time, I was planning on going back to school for a Masters in CS or Applied Math. I figured it would be an interesting journey to go through some research, leading to more interesting career opportunities in the long term.

What stopped me before from looking at MBA programs were:

  • course material is easy stuff which devalues the degree
  • unless its free or you're in a top 10 program, it won't help
  • a technical degree opens way more doors

These days, I'm starting to have different lines of reasoning such as:

  • an MBA program creates leaders. Leaders in the software industry are a rare breed and treated accordingly.
  • Leadership and communication skills are extremely important to have a successful career. These skills are even more important if I start a business or consulting company. An MBA improves these.
  • The networking pool you develop in an MBA program opens a lot of doors

Have you seen people with a technical background get an MBA instead of a Masters degree in a technical field? Did it work for them?