Big Slick said:
I have a BBA and an MBA from average colleges. When I got furloughed, the only jobs I could find in the business world were entry-level jobs paying around $35,000 per year.
I've seen news reports of MBA grads starting at $80,000 or so, but I couldn't find any of those jobs. Maybe the high paying MBA jobs are only for the top business schools like Wharton or Harvard.
I guess I should have gone to better schools, but I did not find that having an MBA made my life all that much better. IMHO, if you get an MBA from an average school, you are not helping yourself out all that much. Unless, of course, you are happy to make $35,000 a year.
So, if you can get into a top business school you may make as much $ as an airline pilot. If you are planning to get an MBA from the University of Phoenix, ERAU, NCU, Touro or the local state school, you might end up disappointed.
Just my 2 cents.
You are exactly right. I have several buds who've graduated from Harvard BS and one from Kellogg (Northwestern BS) in the last couple years (ex-mil fighter dudes - HBS registrar loves 'em). While heavily recruited upon graduation, their starting salaries (locations - DFW, DC, BOS, BWI, CHI) were between $75,000K-$125,000K. That's pretty good cheese starting out, but all of them had just shelled out appr $130K for those fancy sheepskins, not to mention had two years without real salaries while in school. Plus, like I mentioned a couple of pages ago, they have the added bonus of working 60+ hours a week. And don't forget all of the 'Office Space' (mmmm TPS Reports)woes that go along with the high-pressure, fast-paced business world. A couple of them travel and are gone almost as much as I am.
They can have it. They have impressive resumes, but to me, the single biggest advantage they have is that when they go from company to company (which they do quite frequently) they don't start over at the bottom and likely can negotiate more money. That's about the end of the advantages (IMO).
If you get a MBA or JD from a second-tier and below school and were a mediocre student, you likely won't be seeing 6 figures for a few years. That's the plain, ugly truth with the token few exceptions. Sorry, I don't believe the story of the $300K Estate Law newbie.
While not everyone responding here has the opportunities, being able to balance airline life with some side gigs seems to be a good way to go. If you're thinking of bailing altogether, you can put the feelers out to see if the corporate world is for you before you give up your flying job. I keep them as full-time options ONLY IF my airline tanks and/or I couldn't get on with FEX/SWA/UPS in case my airline tanks.
To beat a dead horse, be careful what you wish for. I'd rather have 16-18 no-kidding days off/month with no one bugging me (I'm lucky) than work 12 hours/day, sometimes weekends if necessary, always on the cell/crackberry/Treo, have to kiss someone's a$$, etc. Remember, the grass is ALWAYS greener on the other side!
I'm following your lead and doing the Masters thing while I fly. But, it will take 2 years longer than if I could go full-time (while somehow being paid...). I was merely suggesting a more rapid, yet economical route.
