Are Online MBAs Recognised by Employers?

5 years ago, getting an online MBA degree could say that you don’t take your education seriously. But times have changed. Back then, it wasn’t always easy to find an accredited online MBA programme. Today you’ll find online MBAs with the best accreditations available.

But are online MBAs respected by employers?

Most professionals choose to study for an MBA qualification to enhance career prospects. So what employers think about online MBAs is a big deal. 

But before we dive in, there’s a couple of things to get out of the way first. 

• Online MBA degrees don’t say that you earned your qualification on the diploma.
• It’s not even necessary to state that your MBA was completed online on your CV. If the hiring manager is curious, they’ll ask. 

Today’s employers acknowledge the added-value online students can bring and there are many factors that make an online MBA just as respected as a traditional MBA.

1. Reputation of the School

The first thing that would be obvious to a recruiter is from where your online MBA degree has been awarded. A school with a solid reputation, especially one with a quality traditional on-campus programme, is always in good standing with employers. 

This is because most online MBAs share the same curriculum, outcomes and accreditations as their on-campus counterparts.

Another thing to keep in mind is that some countries are much more renowned than others for their higher education system. The UK, France, Netherlands, Germany and Spain offer the best higher education systems in Europe. 

Why not consider an online MBA degree from one of these countries with the highest education systems in the world:

1. United States
2. United Kingdom
3. Australia
4. Germany
5. Canada
6. France
7. Netherlands
8. China
9. South Korea
10. Japan
11. Italy
12. Spain

2. MBA accreditation

You might not have even thought about accreditation while doing research on MBA degrees. But companies will. Schools go through rigorous processes to get their MBA accredited. So having a double or triple accreditation means employers will have more respect for your MBA degree.

Most of the top-ranked schools in the world carry an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation, including Harvard, Stanford, and MIT Sloan. The other two are the Association of MBAs (AMBA), and the European Foundation for Management Development’s (EFMD) Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).

This tells your future employer that you’ve earned your online MBA qualification from an institution of quality. So the conversation can swiftly move on to how your skills, knowledge and confidence can transform their business!

3. Virtual Teamwork

Remote working is here to stay. And in the new normal, employers pay extra attention to the set of skills needed to thrive in the digital workplace.

So it should come as no surprise that technical knowledge is high up on the agenda for today’s recruiters. Even above organisation and problem-solving skills, according to one study.

Managing digital tools, exploiting the latest apps, getting to grips with state-of-the-art technologies. Computer skills bring huge value to the modern workplace where productivity is under the microscope.

Studying for an online MBA, you’ll start building virtual teamwork skills from day one. And it’s ultimately down to you to sell these types of advantages during an interview. 

But why not consider choosing an online MBA from a school with a strong profile in digital technology? This way, you can be sure to prepare yourself with the right tech skills. Have lots of ammo for your interview. And future-proof your CV.

Employers respect online MBAs from great candidates

At the end of the day, employers are looking for candidates with a strong work ethic. Did you pursue an MBA, even though you don’t have a traditional business background? Or perhaps you completed your MBA online while juggling career and family. Your drive to succeed will be obvious in your application and negates any doubt that you are a quality candidate.

In summary – employers are open to the idea of hiring MBA graduates who completed their education online. That said, employers will be checking the reputation of the school and the accreditations that the programme has.

If investing your time on campus is not an option then learning online is a great opportunity to do it on your own terms. Where you earned your degree is going to be more important than how, whether online or not. So remember – research, research, research. Use all the information you get to be sure you pick the right school!