MBAs take a hike in salary, then take a hike

Keywords Master of Business Administration, Salaries, Stress, Working hours

Businesses reward their MBA-qualified employees with an immediate salary rise of 25 per cent and then fail to make use of their newly acquired skills,according the latest Association of MBAs salary and career survey. Research among the association's UK-based membership reveals that, while over 80 per cent of MBA students in work received some form of financial support from their employer, only two in five believe their employer is making the most of their knowledge – and, within one year of graduation, one in three has moved on.

The majority of MBAs say their qualification has opened doors for them and increased their assertiveness and confidence in the workplace. Over 40 per cent of respondents wish to become self-employed and over a quarter aspire to run their own business. Half of those surveyed wish to spend more time on their own professional development. The flip side is long hours and stress. Over 80 per cent work over 45 hours a week; 62 per cent of those earning more than £100,000 work over 55 hours a week. A third of respondents suffer from stress at work and over half wish to spend more time with friends and family.

Mike Jones, director general of the Association of MBAs, commented: "Organizations recognize the value of the MBA by offering financial support to students and salary rises when they graduate. However, unless they continue to challenge their MBAs, they are likely to lose them to consultancy or smaller companies,squandering their own investment in the process."