In this morning’s Wall Street Journal, Alina Dizik identifies a new employment trend among graduates of the Class of 2009. Dizik posits that MBA students, chastened by the weak job market, are having difficulty changing careers. Instead of forging on to find that ideal new job, many are grudgingly returning to their previous fields. While this situation may be frustrating for some MBAs who are intent on starting anew, these candidates can at least find some solace in knowing they have the qualifications necessary to win jobs at their old firms, “defeating” candidates who, ironically enough, have limited experience and are trying to switch careers. Dizik suggests that the long-term nature of this problem could undermine the MBA itself as the “idea of returning to an old career has some soon-to-be grads questioning the value of their degrees.” Indeed, these students are unlikely to see the traditional 74% salary jump that MBAs experience (GMAC data), but we surmise that the career changers are not going to see that bump either.
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