Recently we have stumbled on a number of articles written around MBA’s and the trouble these fine business graduates are having all around North America and the struggles of finding work in this bleak job market. With the years of dedication through sweat and many tears, it is sad to see that for the past few years it has been very hard for anyone with an MBA or graduating with one to actually find work.

A girlfriend of mine finished her MBA here in Winnipeg a couple years ago after it almost killed her working full time and doing her MBA at night for nearly 3 years. Then came the next obstacle of finding a job. It took her 7 months and although she worked it to have a few choices to choose from she still finds herself lucky to have found a job when there are still people from her class that are working lower paid jobs or not working and not using their MBA skills at all.

A few years ago when I went back on my own, I was checking in with clients I had built a great relationship with in NYC for jobs whether in NYC or possibly working from home. Funny thing, is that even though I managed to support them in growing millions for the company they worked for, they loved me and what I did and what I knew, the question they asked was, ‘Do you have your MBA?’ leading into actually being able to work with them. I thought owning an interactive company, high experience working with other interactive agencies and promotional companies should give me the upper hand in ‘education’ then an MBA and my girlfriend who has her MBA also agrees.

So really, is education into business really worth the costs, time and sacrifice just to have those few letters by your name? I think more and more today it is not, but that will also depend on the company that you end up working for. As a business owner and entrepreneur you learn much more about real business than any degree because you lived it, had to deal with it and made decisions key to your survival.

Many designers that we know are self-taught, and they are the best designers that I know out there! Sure they don’t know everything, but who does. That is what a network of peers in business is all about?

Not to discount education however, we are some of the biggest promoters of post-secondary education. It proves you are willing to invest in yourself and work hard at being better then your competition or are trying to be.

So I guess this is a hard question to answer, but so far the line in the sand is definitely right in the middle!