Best MBA in Trinidad? Need help choosing

[timelapse]

Is an MBA at a mid to low tier university in the US worth it?

If is journalism, you could qualify yourself as an expert for anything and get idiots to support you.

[khandman]

Always think about what outcome you want.

If you are in a company and want to switch from operations to corporate AND the company is willing to pay for it for you then go ahead.

If the company you are in gives you a salary increase for higher education AND helps pay for it then go ahead.

Don’t do something like this stand alone and definitely don’t do this if your company has no upward mobility.

I have HR friends. Not one of them ever hired someone based on the fact that they have an MBA.

A basic degree with experience and good people skills will get you way way way further than an MBA ever will.

Why invest time and money into something that may or may not work in your favor.

I know people who are senior managers with MBAs. The truth is, all of them have gotten to those same positions based on links and playing office politics and only did the MBA after.
It is what it is.

This has mostly been my experience in the industry

Bumping this thread for 2022 perspectives. Thinking about the logistics and supply chain mba at either CTS or SAMS. Main reason is because they are the most affordable and they are both uk universities. Any feedback from knowledgeable persons are appreciated.

A themed MBA will help career wise if you already in the field and looking for some leverage for upward mobility. If you planning to break into logistics and supply chain management without the experience, and hope this is the trump card you'll prb be disadvantaged a bit.

It's an investment (time/life/money), so try to strategise the best solution for your long term goals.

Thanks, I have always been in the field. Started in warehousing, sales, purchasing and even logistics over the years. Actually back in warehousing and also recently completed a diploma in supply chain management at lok jack. So yes, all my career experience has been in this area.

[khandman]

Do an MBA when you can/need to use an MBA otherwise you would just be pricing yourself out the market.

Interesting perspective, do you mean you would be considered overqualified?

[ProtonPowder]

Do an MBA when you can/need to use an MBA otherwise you would just be pricing yourself out the market.

Interesting perspective, do you mean you would be considered overqualified?

many people go fresh out of uwi to do an MBA and have to end up leaving it off their resume for many years

it looks strange and recruiters/HR consider you a risk to
1) feel like you too big to learn from anybody
2) jump ship very quickly out of the place after they spend time and money hiring you

[Numb3r4]

Do an MBA when you can/need to use an MBA otherwise you would just be pricing yourself out the market.

Interesting perspective, do you mean you would be considered overqualified?

many people go fresh out of uwi to do an MBA and have to end up leaving it off their resume for many years

it looks strange and recruiters/HR consider you a risk to
1) feel like you too big to learn from anybody
2) jump ship very quickly out of the place after they spend time and money hiring you

The term used is "flight risk".

[death365]

I see the international trend of asking for a MBA for almost every wok starting on sweet T&T too.

I Do not like this tend because it devaluates a master to an "entry level" certification.

[Animal Pak]

That’s because those jobs already have their candidates lined up.

HR makes ridiculous requests to justify turning away all other potentials to sidestep the system.

I can assure you, the persons who are hired do not meet the criteria requested.

[hover11]

That’s because those jobs already have their candidates lined up.

HR makes ridiculous requests to justify turning away all other potentials to sidestep the system.

I can assure you, the persons who are hired do not meet the criteria requested.

Exactly they advertise as a formality and in other cases as mandatory requirement if it is a unionized environment but they essentially know who they want from the get go.Tbh pursuing a masters to work for someone makes no sense similar to that of those who study PHds to work for someone. Most times you will either hear you are over qualified or you lack the experience required.

[alfa]

That’s because those jobs already have their candidates lined up.

HR makes ridiculous requests to justify turning away all other potentials to sidestep the system.

I can assure you, the persons who are hired do not meet the criteria requested.

I could attest to this, at least in the oil field. Most people in technical positions are promoted through the ranks and although they don't have the academic requirements they have the experience

[timelapse]

Where Max? Wasn't he an HR banton?

[agent007]

Do an MBA to get what job now? Dynamics of employability in T&T has changed drastically over the last 5 years, more so after the pandemic.

An MBA is worthless without a job and that is hard to come by because thousands more will be unemployed before the close of 2022.

1 vacant position have hundreds of applicants, some who don't even possess the qualifications for the position are applying. HR persons now have to sift properly to get who they looking for.

There was an IT position recently that typically requires your degree + certs etc and it had people with degree in law, medicine, business admin, political science, public sector management and biochem etc just to name a few that applied for the position.

What does that say? People so desperate for a job, they just sending out resumes like crazy, even though they don't fit the description required cause they hoping that they could cut a little break.

The money you would spend on an MBA right now, especially one from ALJGSB or SBCS, you might as well open up your own business. Think entrepreneurial and if you want access to possibly free business courses, pm me. I might be able to help you. You don't need an MBA to know what is leadership, marketing, strategy, finance, project management, logistics, supply chain management or corporate governance etc.

Them thing easy to learn online at your own pace for free especially if you want to speak and understand high level corporate jargon.

It better to not have an MBA and don't sound like a dodo head than to have an MBA and actually still be a dodo head.

[Dizzy28]

^ Last vacancy in my Department back in 2020 (pre-covid too) of the resumes received there were 3 PhDs and everybody had a Masters of some sort (not necessarily MBA). There was even one former CEO of a private food company.
The PhDs all interviewed horribly btw!

I can imagine what the market look like now.

[agent007]

Wow...yup things got really bad.

[Numb3r4]

How badly did the PhD's interview?

Serious question.

What were the criticisms?
Ego/arrogant, too little knowledge for the new field, personality issues, too insular, lack of experience in the greater corporate world?

[alfa]

^ Last vacancy in my Department back in 2020 (pre-covid too) of the resumes received there were 3 PhDs and everybody had a Masters of some sort (not necessarily MBA). There was even one former CEO of a private food company.
The PhDs all interviewed horribly btw!

I can imagine what the market look like now.

That was one of the downfalls of GATE, give everybody a degree without thinking of where they'll get employment

[Country_Bookie]

Do a cost benefit analysis before doing an MBA. Some questions to ask yourself:

What's the cost to me now, especially without GATE? Cost includes financial as well as your time.
What are my chances of realistically getting a promotion or career advancement with the MBA vs without it?
If I get the promotion, will the increased salary be worth the cost of the MBA?
Have other persons gotten this promotion without an MBA or is it a must have?
Are there any other qualifications I can pursue to improve my skills that are relevant to my job? Are these less costly than an MBA?

[hover11]

How badly did the PhD's interview?

Serious question.

What were the criticisms?
Ego/arrogant, too little knowledge for the new field, personality issues, too insular, lack of experience in the greater corporate world?

Imagine doing a PhD , you are basically called a Dr. Yet you applying to work for someone, the education system really failed tbh it created good workers not entrepreneurs

[st7]

how is that the education system's fault?

[hover11]

how is that the education system's fault?

I just said it created good workers not entrepreneurs...
How many entrepreneurs do you see in this country? Alot of ppl with degrees waiting for a job. That's the reality , going to school all those years just to work for someone....

[st7]

the education system ends at secondary school, no? correct me if i'm wrong as tertiary institutions are private and therefore not part of the system.

it's the individual's responsibility who is gathering all these degrees to work for someone or for themselves.

[Numb3r4]

Well in all honesty the way a country or any economy generates entrepreneurs has more to do with access to opportunities, capital and how dynamic and welcoming the market is to new ideas overall.

You will find that the reason folks went into securing jobs via educational qualification (as in TT) was largely due to the fact that business was very difficult to enter into for most, I mean how could you challenge the existing businesses, they were either very large or well connected or both.

If entrepreneurship was prioritized earlier on then the government wouldn't have soo many state companies.

To truly develop entrepreneurs you don't an need education (not up front anyway) but rather good institutions and a good financial system and a truly open healthy and dynamic market, then you need the education system to provide the labour to support the ideas, make them a reality and generate growth by introducing new or better or more efficient ways of doing more.

You need a system that has a fairly good support system and safety net one that would make people feel safe when taking a risk. If folks don't feel safe taking a risk they won't do it that's why many got and education for many it was low risk and a good return...going forward well we'll see.

[Dizzy28]

Horrible answers.
They seemingly came prepared to live off the PHD and did limited background work on the company or position.

One spent their whole life in academia so had no real world experience to speak off.

How badly did the PhD's interview?

Serious question.

What were the criticisms?
Ego/arrogant, too little knowledge for the new field, personality issues, too insular, lack of experience in the greater corporate world?

[Numb3r4]

Horrible answers.
They seemingly came prepared to live off the PHD and did limited background work on the company or position.

One spent their whole life in academia so had no real world experience to speak off.

How badly did the PhD's interview?

Serious question.

What were the criticisms?
Ego/arrogant, too little knowledge for the new field, personality issues, too insular, lack of experience in the greater corporate world?

Would it be fair to say that they viewed the academic qualification (PhD) more as a trophy than as a tool they could bring to the company and apply it?

It's a bit dis-appointing to hear that a candidate didn't know more about the company they were applying to.

Real world experience is tough to come by right now for a lot of folks.

Did any one eventually fill the position? How were they like compared?

Again serious question just asking for general info.
No real need to respond if you find the questions too probing.

[Dizzy28]

The candidate that filled the position is the best employee I ever had.
Background in Banking and Retail Consumer Goods and just checked all the right boxes.

Horrible answers.
They seemingly came prepared to live off the PHD and did limited background work on the company or position.

One spent their whole life in academia so had no real world experience to speak off.

How badly did the PhD's interview?

Serious question.

What were the criticisms?
Ego/arrogant, too little knowledge for the new field, personality issues, too insular, lack of experience in the greater corporate world?

Would it be fair to say that they viewed the academic qualification (PhD) more as a trophy than as a tool they could bring to the company and apply it?

It's a bit dis-appointing to hear that a candidate didn't know more about the company they were applying to.

Real world experience is tough to come by right now for a lot of folks.

Did any one eventually fill the position? How were they like compared?

Again serious question just asking for general info.
No real need to respond if you find the questions too probing.

[Numb3r4]

^^^Cool.

[khandman]

Do an MBA to get what job now? Dynamics of employability in T&T has changed drastically over the last 5 years, more so after the pandemic.

An MBA is worthless without a job and that is hard to come by because thousands more will be unemployed before the close of 2022.

1 vacant position have hundreds of applicants, some who don't even possess the qualifications for the position are applying. HR persons now have to sift properly to get who they looking for.

There was an IT position recently that typically requires your degree + certs etc and it had people with degree in law, medicine, business admin, political science, public sector management and biochem etc just to name a few that applied for the position.

What does that say? People so desperate for a job, they just sending out resumes like crazy, even though they don't fit the description required cause they hoping that they could cut a little break.

The money you would spend on an MBA right now, especially one from ALJGSB or SBCS, you might as well open up your own business. Think entrepreneurial and if you want access to possibly free business courses, pm me. I might be able to help you. You don't need an MBA to know what is leadership, marketing, strategy, finance, project management, logistics, supply chain management or corporate governance etc.

Them thing easy to learn online at your own pace for free especially if you want to speak and understand high level corporate jargon.

It better to not have an MBA and don't sound like a dodo head than to have an MBA and actually still be a dodo head.

Appreciate the feedback, I have over 13yrs experience in the different areas of supply chain and am just looking to increase my marketability to move from just a job to a career. I hear you on the entrepreneurial, but with the economic climate here, can one really take that chance and if so in what area that isn’t already saturated?

[agent007]

Agreed, however one must find a niche and carve out what makes their product or service unique. Now I don't want to derail the thread cause this can easily be discussed in the unemployment or entrepreneurial threads, but hear me out here for a bit:

Some MBA's have courses and specialisms in creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. These are all subsets of business strategy. Leverage on what our strengths are to derive competitive advantage.

So whilst there are saturation in many fields, I would encourage people to still think entrepreneurial, cause right now whether we are permanent or contract, there is nothing like guaranteed job stability/security right here in T&T and I would imagine this goes for many other countries too.

How much more hair dressers, land scapers, taxi drivers, plumbers, electricians, masons, carpenters, tile layers, welders/fabricators, mechanics, IT technicians, ac installers, small appliance repairers and barbers etc can we possible have?

It's a geographically small island with 1.4 million people and one can argue, if we add one more person to compete with any of the above fields, the question is, would it be sustainable?

Folks....if some people can repair shoes, hand bags and belts in the market and make it work for themselves and their family or another person is added to Facebook who makes cakes etc and is making it work, then what does that say? Look some people selling drinks on the main roads and highways; some sell nuts and some sell cocoyea broom by the flyover and them making it, so who is we?

How badly do you want it to work? An MBA does not prepare many to think outside the box. Yes it's tough but when you have a family to feed, somehow we will damn well make it work.

My point is, right now especially those looking in this thread for advice, don't feel in 2022 an MBA is the key for employability or promotion. The reality is, it's not! For those who are currently unemployed and think that adding a resume is going to give you a job, think again. It makes absolutely no sense to go put yourself in debt or parts ways with your solid cash savings to obtain an MBA if the cost benefit analysis proves otherwise.

Go out there and do something. What we Tringaonians lack is professionalism and someone who doesn't have a hustler mentality. If it's not about money and you're truly doing something you love to positively impact the lives of others, you could be cake maker #10,000 in this twin-island Republic....I guarantee you, you WILL be successful.

If I'm speaking to anyone just lurking around the forums, don't be afraid to pm me, I can help you and coach you accordingly. Nothing brings more satisfaction to me by helping others out.

We thank God for jobs but don't hold on to it. I think there's more to this life than working for someone. It takes time and it takes resources to do so. Step by step we can make it. I'm taking my own advice cause enough is enough. It's time we become the employer or business owner and not the employee or just another worker.

[DMan7]

MBA is a waste of time and money, those schools that pimping out their MBA's especially the ones that entice you by saying you can get one in 12 months are the equivalent of snake oil salesmen.

[AbstractPoetic]

Do an MBA to get what job now? Dynamics of employability in T&T has changed drastically over the last 5 years, more so after the pandemic.

An MBA is worthless without a job and that is hard to come by because thousands more will be unemployed before the close of 2022.

1 vacant position have hundreds of applicants, some who don't even possess the qualifications for the position are applying. HR persons now have to sift properly to get who they looking for.

There was an IT position recently that typically requires your degree + certs etc and it had people with degree in law, medicine, business admin, political science, public sector management and biochem etc just to name a few that applied for the position.

What does that say? People so desperate for a job, they just sending out resumes like crazy, even though they don't fit the description required cause they hoping that they could cut a little break.

The money you would spend on an MBA right now, especially one from ALJGSB or SBCS, you might as well open up your own business. Think entrepreneurial and if you want access to possibly free business courses, pm me. I might be able to help you. You don't need an MBA to know what is leadership, marketing, strategy, finance, project management, logistics, supply chain management or corporate governance etc.

Them thing easy to learn online at your own pace for free especially if you want to speak and understand high level corporate jargon.

It better to not have an MBA and don't sound like a dodo head than to have an MBA and actually still be a dodo head.

Appreciate the feedback, I have over 13yrs experience in the different areas of supply chain and am just looking to increase my marketability to move from just a job to a career. I hear you on the entrepreneurial, but with the economic climate here, can one really take that chance and if so in what area that isn’t already saturated?

My advice: before investing in any additional education, determine where you want your career to be in a few years. What type of company and role do you wish to land? Explore what it will take to get there. Look at the people currently in those roles and determine how you can match or exceed their qualifications.

You state you have 13 years of experience in supply chain. I am immediately thinking Six Sigma/process improvement certifications. Not everyone obtains those and can help you standout locally and internationally. That may prove significantly more beneficial for you than an MBA.

If you do ultimately decide to go the MBA route I highly suggest you get an Executive MBA. MBAs are generally for those with only a few years experience under their belt. You have over 10 years, and you need to solely explore Exec MBAs. You're almost at that C-suite level, and many need more managerial experience. I would solely go the international route for your Exec MBA. I don't even think Arthur Lok offers this program, but its worth confirming.

Six Sigma Certs + international Exec MBA = immediate standout. Also, it opens up many doors outside of TT if you go international route, as you have the ability to meet and tap into a global alumni database for leads and introductions. Always look at where graduates land. If most are still jobless or on LinkedIn saying they are in search for a job, its not the school for you. I understand you can even obtain an online MBA/Exec MBA degrees, but nothing beats being on the ground, in a classroom, meeting potential new employers.

UK/Europe Recommendations: London Business School, INSEAD, HEC Paris, IESE, National University (Singapore)

US Recommendations: Wharton, Kellogg, UChicago, Colombia, NYU, Cornell, Harvard, to name a few

Best of luck to you.

[Redress10]

Do an MBA to get what job now? Dynamics of employability in T&T has changed drastically over the last 5 years, more so after the pandemic.

An MBA is worthless without a job and that is hard to come by because thousands more will be unemployed before the close of 2022.

1 vacant position have hundreds of applicants, some who don't even possess the qualifications for the position are applying. HR persons now have to sift properly to get who they looking for.

There was an IT position recently that typically requires your degree + certs etc and it had people with degree in law, medicine, business admin, political science, public sector management and biochem etc just to name a few that applied for the position.

What does that say? People so desperate for a job, they just sending out resumes like crazy, even though they don't fit the description required cause they hoping that they could cut a little break.

The money you would spend on an MBA right now, especially one from ALJGSB or SBCS, you might as well open up your own business. Think entrepreneurial and if you want access to possibly free business courses, pm me. I might be able to help you. You don't need an MBA to know what is leadership, marketing, strategy, finance, project management, logistics, supply chain management or corporate governance etc.

Them thing easy to learn online at your own pace for free especially if you want to speak and understand high level corporate jargon.

It better to not have an MBA and don't sound like a dodo head than to have an MBA and actually still be a dodo head.

Appreciate the feedback, I have over 13yrs experience in the different areas of supply chain and am just looking to increase my marketability to move from just a job to a career. I hear you on the entrepreneurial, but with the economic climate here, can one really take that chance and if so in what area that isn’t already saturated?

My advice: before investing in any additional education, determine where you want your career to be in a few years. What type of company and role do you wish to land? Explore what it will take to get there. Look at the people currently in those roles and determine how you can match or exceed their qualifications.

You state you have 13 years of experience in supply chain. I am immediately thinking Six Sigma/process improvement certifications. Not everyone obtains those and can help you standout locally and internationally. That may prove significantly more beneficial for you than an MBA.

If you do ultimately decide to go the MBA route I highly suggest you get an Executive MBA. MBAs are generally for those with only a few years experience under their belt. You have over 10 years, and you need to solely explore Exec MBAs. You're almost at that C-suite level, and many need more managerial experience. I would solely go the international route for your Exec MBA. I don't even think Arthur Lok offers this program, but its worth confirming.

Six Sigma Certs + international Exec MBA = immediate standout. Also, it opens up many doors outside of TT if you go international route, as you have the ability to meet and tap into a global alumni database for leads and introductions. Always look at where graduates land. If most are still jobless or on LinkedIn saying they are in search for a job, its not the school for you. I understand you can even obtain an online MBA/Exec MBA degrees, but nothing beats being on the ground, in a classroom, meeting potential new employers.

UK/Europe Recommendations: London Business School, INSEAD, HEC Paris, IESE, National University (Singapore)

US Recommendations: Wharton, Kellogg, UChicago, Colombia, NYU, Cornell, Harvard, to name a few

Best of luck to you.

No offense but I don't think those options are available to the poster. Man is asking about the mbas offered at CTS and Sams. I'm guessing Paris, London and Singapore may be a little out of his reach.