Vanessa is a 24-year-old stay-at-home mom, wife, military spouse, and veteran. She started her online education while she was still in the Navy. After receiving an honorable discharge, getting married, and having two beautiful girls in two years, she is still going strong with her education at Ashford University. She is currently doubling up on classes with hopes to attend graduation December 2009 with a Bachelor's in Business Administration.
So I’m learning a few things about the interplay of education and the corporate professional world. Earning a degree or credential is not an achievement necessarily, instead it is the beginning of a process in life long learning. My MBA helped to get me an interview, but it did not get me the job, the interview did. Additionally now that I’m in the job I feel like I’m trying to drink from a fire hose. The scope and amount of information I am having to process is unbelievable. They are not rehashing business fundamentals with me, instead we are applying business know how to existing problems. Sounds reasonable right? Wrong, what if someone is a marginal student, barely getting by just wanting that precious MBA credential? If they do not understand the concepts they are supposed to know then guess what? Out the door they go. Let’s take it one step further, what about all those low lifes and charlatans out there who are looking for “life experience” degrees AKA diploma mills, their chances in the office I work in now would probably be a hair above 0% if they were exceptionally fast learners and extremely quick thinkers. There really hasn’t been time to learn or “relearn” this material, I either know it or not. The MBA is not an entry level credential, if you reveal you have one you had better be ready for the onslaught if you are interviewed because of it. Once you have the job it is the education and how you apply it that will keep the job. Don’t be fooled the MBA alone won’t cut it. So make sure that while you are in school you actually learn. Just getting by is a bad idea that is likely to hurt you later down the road. This is just one guy's opinion though.
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About Cajun
Cajun is 31-years-old and currently employed as a Project Analyst for an Information Technology department at a major financial firm. He has recently changed careers after spending 7 years in Federal Law enforcement of which he spent 5 years as a supervisor. His management experience combined with the MBA he finished in October, 2008 allowed for a career change even in the face of these uncertain economic times.
Cajun was introduced to the concept of distance education while working full-time as a law enforcement officer with a demanding and unpredictable schedule, obtaining an Associate of Science degree in Criminal Justice from
Ashworth College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Southwestern College of Winfield, KS graduating Magna Cum Laude and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership from
Ashford University. To further his new career Cajun will be working towards a Master of Science in Management of Information Systems with an emphasis in Project Management from
Bellevue University.