Hi Maria, would love to get profile evaluation.
PROFILE:
* Background: I initially came to Canada as a student back in Dec 2010 from India. Am now a Canadian citizen. I was born in Dubai, raised in India and now in Canada.
* Education: Bachelors of Science in Biotechnology from Punjabi University in India and a grad certificate in Environmental from Sheridan College in Canada.
* Current location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
* Age: 34 (turns 35 in June)
* Experience: Over the past decade, my career has been rooted in the Canadian telecom industry, spanning various roles, from tech support to project coordination (with a focus on broadband fiber optics deployment) to project management (particularly in program finance operations for broadband fiber optics deployment) with big brand Canadian telcos.
* Certifications: PMP and PSM1
* Extracurricular: over the years I mentored a newcomer to Canada through a regional organization, was an area director at Toastmasters, supervisor at Heritage Festival (one of the biggest ones here), volunteered at JDRF
* Entrepreneurial activity: authored 3 books under my pen name that's sold over 9000+ units globally. Generates monthly passive income through royalties.
* Work experience around 11 years (3 years in telco tech support + around 8 years in telco project management).
* My role was recently impacted as part of a mass layoff.
* I am considering an MBA and am wondering about my chances/profile evaluation. I believe I am outside the typical 5 years average work experience.
* I have been feeling stagnant in my career and am thinking that an MBA will help boost my career, help with career pivot and upward mobility.
* I am also currently not sure about the MBA location - Canada vs internationally.
* There is the University of Alberta in my city but I don't see it ranked well for MBA and I understand MBA is usually about prestige/brand and network and one needs to be from the top financial times ranked programs.
* What do you think about my profile, thoughts on fit for full time vs part time/online MBA.
MBA FORMATS PROS AND CONS
1) The below is the pros and cons I am considering while looking at a full time MBA
Pros:
* Post experience degree. I already have more than a decade of work experience. Maybe my prior experience will be an asset and I may not start at the bottom.
* Opens up options: major employment outcomes seem to be consulting, IB/finance & tech (add-on are getting into leadership roles in other industries).The first two (consulting, finance/IB) seem to be very poor work-life balance but tech (like product management which is something I have been strongly considering trying to pivot into) seems better with less working hours, no travel and can even work from home remotely. Also, consulting and finance/IB don't seem to want older folks in 30s as I hear they have strict hierachy in their organizations.
* Good for career switch & seems to open up leadership roles.
* Network, brand, alumni connections can be valuable.
* On campus recruitment/internship.
***Cons:***
* The high cost (especially of top tier programs) potentially leads to debt.
* Limited chances of scholarships/stipend/full ride.
* More disruptive with potential need to relocate.
* Average work experience tends to be 5 years and I will be towards the upper end/even surpass it. Will be studying with a predominantly younger cohort.
* The major benefit of MBA is network, brand & alumni but not the curriculum which can be self-taught from MOOCs/books. It’s like paying to be a member of an elite/exclusive club.
* MBA is more of a requirement to get into Finance/Investment Banking/Consulting but not much for Tech business roles like product management but is a recruitment pipeline for it.
* Based on what I understand, I don't want to do the management consulting grind (travel, 60-70 hrs) or Investment Banking grind (even more hours) and don't currently have much of an interest in finance. Tech seems to be the remaining popular option but I have also heard tech companies don't care much for MBAs and CS background is more valued, especially for roles like product management. Product management seems to be the current sexy post MBA role taking over the baton from consulting/Investment Banking//finance. Maybe there’s more to this than what I know.
* I hear 1 year MBA isn’t good for career pivot but 2 year MBA is. Being currently 34, it might be around 37 or so when I might graduate.
2) The below are the pros and cons of online MBA (like from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign's iMBA)
***Pros***
* Cost-effective (like UIUC’s iMBA costs around USD 24k) and flexible to study from home.
* Less disruptive due to no need for relocation and can continue to work/earn money (less opportunity cost).
* Ideal for those seeking an MBA for knowledge or promotion purposes.
* Cohort tends to be more mature with more work experience.
***Cons***
* Not suitable for career switchers and more of a check in the box program to maybe get a promotion or just for MBA knowledge.
* Not ranked in financial times ranking since the program went online. Prior to that I hear it was ranked in 50s.
* No internship/post MBA recruitment opportunities.
* Limited networking opportunities.
* May not make any significant impact in my career.
3) The below are the pros and cons of an executive MBA program
***Pros***
* Suitable for more experienced professionals with a more mature cohort.
* Part time and hybrid program - can work and study
***Cons***
* Not an option right now as I am unemployed and one needs to be actively working while doing this program.
* Not meant for career switch. More for moving up within an existing industry/company.
* Limited networking opportunity.
* High cost. No scholarship provided.
* Employer should sponsor (chances of this I believe is negligible) otherwise you pay the hefty price tag out of pocket. Even if company sponsors, one need to stay there for a couple of years.
*More of a check in the box program.
* No internship/recruitment opportunity.
05 Nov 2023, 18:01 
