Do you REALLY need that MBA?
One of the most common phrases, or maybe excuses, I hear is:
“I am not qualified for the position or role I want, so I need to go get more training, more education, and more certifications……”
Certifications, additional training programs, advanced degrees, conferences, online workshops, masterclasses, MBA's… if you are searching on google or logging into any social media platform these days, there are a ton of ads being thrown at you about getting more degrees, more certifications, more training, more more more…. But before you dive in and spend your $$$ please be cautious before you make the investment!
Before you invest in any of these programs, ask yourself these 5 questions:
What will I gain out of this program?
Is there a more affordable way I can get the information from this program instead of investing thousands (if not more) of dollars?
What are my short term and long term career/life goals? Will this program help me reach these goals quicker? If yes, how so?
Is there an immediate ROI for the time and energy I will be putting into this program?
What is the opportunity cost for participating in these programs? What will you be giving up if/when you decide to participate in these programs?
A few examples of when to invest in these programs and examples of each:
Your employer is paying for it, and you do not need to pay them back
As a benefit many employers will include college credits, trainings, or certifications each fiscal year. Check in to make sure you do not need to pay them back if you leave your job
You are absolutely not qualified for the role
You want to be a neurosurgeon, but have not attended medical school
Learning is fun for you and you have the bandwidth to take courses
You are interested in learning more about wine, and there is a $40 online course that will teach you expert tips on how to be a newbie wine guru (I actually did this!)
The training is required for you to get the job or grow your business
Investing in a training program that will help you launch a Facebook ads campaign to increase your marketing/visibility, and to reach more people that you like working with (I just signed up for this because I’ve never done this before!)
If you need a refresher on information you’ve previously learned
You take a weekend seminar focused on Microsoft because it is required for your new role, and you have not learned about this topic since graduate school & you are currently using an Apple
NOT a solid reason to invest in these trainings or programs:
1) You don’t know what you want to do with your life so you think these certifications or trainings will be the solution
2) You think it will help you stand out on paper or as a freelancer or job seeker
3) You think it will help you get a promotion
4) You think you want to launch a business and think getting more training will help you
5) You are unemployed and do not know what to do next
6) You lack the courage to take the next steps in your career, and you believe more training or more certifications will help you build more confidence.
The major question here is: Do you really need this extra training or is it that you need more confidence in your career/life?
Keep in mind: MORE accolades, MORE certifications, and MORE degrees does NOT equal MORE success.
With all of this said, when do you think a good time to invest in a training program is?
Have an awesome week!
Let’s do this!!!
X,
Ash
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Ashlee Klevens Hayes, PharmD, MHA
Career Expert + Interview Prep Coach
e: HELLO@RXASHLEE.COM
(SHE/HER/HERS)
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