Editorial
mba
The MBA and
the recession –
frequently asked questions
ross Geraghty, managing editor of the TopMBA Career Guide, answers the pertinent
questions put to him in February 2009.
Is there more MBA interest and sorts of reasons. Naturally there
applications during periods of is a high proportion of people
economic crisis? from within finance and
MBA education is counter-cyclical, consulting and other fields in
meaning that during an economic business. At the same time
downturn such as we’re facing today, MBAs come from medical,
there are several ambitious professionals legal, media and broadcasting,
considering their positions and how best self-employed, insurance, and
to progress their careers for when the all sorts of fields. Doctors want to
inevitable upswing occurs. QS, as the learn how to run their surgeries
world’s leading experts in the MBA and more efficiently, lawyers their
career space, as well as most of the chambers. TV production
schools attending the QS World MBA managers want to run TV
Tour, have reported a significant spike studios. Entrepreneurs want to
in interest in and applications for MBA improve several aspects of their
programs. This shows us that the MBA businesses. There are people
is just as relevant now as ever before. simply see that in a year or two the economy is who want to continue in their
going to need more business leaders than ever professions at a higher level, those who want to
Why would one do an MBA during a before, which is probable, getting into business learn about business practices within their
period of economic crisis? school is more than a viable option. The QS industry and those who want a complete career
As people leave jobs, particularly in finance but World MBA Tour is the place to start your change.
also in other industries, as a result of the search.
economic crisis, an MBA is a fantastic option Do the contents of an MBA adapt to the
to put ambitious leaders in a stronger position Where do applicants come from? economic crisis context?
to secure a better management position in a MBAs come from all walks of life and for all It is clear that during a recession, the content of
year or two. Some see courses is bound to
this as ‘riding out the change. This is partly
storm’ in business
“If you have lost your job as a result of the downturn, or perhaps
due to the fact that
school, but for most professors involved in
people it’s a lot more
simply see that in a year or two the economy is going to need more
MBA courses will create
strategic than that. If
business leaders than ever before, which is probable, getting into
case studies or
you have lost your job discussions on real-life
as a result of the
business school is more than a viable option.”
situations that failed,
downturn, or perhaps such as Enron or the
58 TopMBA CAreer Guide www.topmba.com

TopMBA CAreer Guide www.topmba.com 59
MBA_SPR09_pp_052-155.indd 58 17/2/09 15:14:54
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168  |  Page 169  |  Page 170  |  Page 171  |  Page 172  |  Page 173  |  Page 174  |  Page 175  |  Page 176  |  Page 177