Why an MBA Is Great for Military Veterans
An MBA (Master of Business Administration) equips people with the skills and knowledge they need to advance in their careers, take on higher roles, or start a business. An MBA for veterans is a fantastic opportunity because it allows veterans to gain new skills, build on their current skills, network with business professionals, broaden their careers, gain leadership opportunities, increase their earning potential, and become entrepreneurs. Let’s break down what skills a veteran might need to pursue an MBA and how they can benefit from earning one.
What Skills Are Right for an MBA?
Veterans have many military skills that can transfer to an MBA program. Some of these transferable skills include:
- Discipline. The military imparts a strong sense of discipline in service members, an important skill that can help students in a rigorous MBA program.
- Problem-solving. The ability to identify and solve problems involves creativity and analytical thinking and sometimes can be necessary in high-stress situations. Veterans bring this experience when studying in an MBA program.
- Flexibility and organization. Working well under pressure, paying attention to detail, and being organized are critical skills in the military. It’s also important in the ever-evolving business world.
- Teamwork. Military service encourages collaboration and working effectively in diverse teams. This is a crucial military skill veterans can bring to business school group projects and in corporate environments.
- Leadership. Military service members often must lead teams, make critical decisions, and manage complex operations. This skill can transfer into leadership roles in business, not to mention when organizing and leading teams in school group settings.
Just as veterans can bring knowledge into an MBA program, they can also learn skills they can transfer into civilian life. Some of these skills may piggyback on the knowledge they already learned but can also provide new concepts and information to help veterans in their civilian lives.
Military Transition to Civilian Life
Veterans can use many skills they learned in their MBA program, as well as during their service, to help them not only in the business world but also with the military transition to civilian life in general. A sampling of these skills include:
- Effective communication. Workplaces are a diverse mix of personalities that require the right communication. Just as communicating effectively and respectfully is a military skill veterans can transfer into an MBA program, it’s also a skill they can bring to the civilian world. In any work environment, communicating effectively ensures respectful cooperation, understanding, and good problem-solving.
- Discipline. Military service involves rigorous training and strict rules. This is a skill that others will enjoy because it proves you can persevere through adversity and remain dedicated to whatever problem or job lies in front of you.
- Performing under pressure. Veterans are used to performing under tight deadlines, having made critical decisions in demanding situations while in the military. Leading a team in a stressful situation at home or work can be easier for veterans in civilian life.
- Leadership. The military requires someone to lead teams to success. Veterans tend to have good teamwork skills, which can help you resolve personnel conflicts, delegate important tasks, and make important decisions in high-pressure situations—all important in the business environment.
- Dedication. Veterans know how important it is to serve, for their country and for themselves. Employers, family, and friends appreciate and value this attribute because it proves you’re willing to remain loyal to and strive for bigger goals with the rest of your team.
How to Advance Your Business Career After Earning Your MBA
Equipped with their military skills and an MBA, veterans can pursue a new career in business. If you want to advance or improve your business career, there are several steps you can take:
- Research. Understanding your industry is critical. Studying industry trends, insider news, new technologies and advances, and basic knowledge can give you the important background you need when taking the next step in your business career.
- Identify your fit. Many people enter a certain business field or start up a business because there’s a specific niche that needs to be filled. (For instance, a business might pop up because someone discovers people desire a certain product.) With the knowledge you gained from studying the industry, look at what expertise you can add to the business market.
- Network. Networking is an important part of getting a job in the business world. Networking with industry colleagues can support you in job searches, business advice, and learning about conferences and trade shows.
- Build yourself up. If you’re on the track to start your own business, developing your business plan is a crucial step. Use the strategies and knowledge you learned in your MBA program to develop a budget and business plan that outlines how you’re going to accomplish your goals. If you’re looking to enter the corporate workforce, padding your resume with internships, consulting practices, and continuous learning like certifications can make you stand out from other candidates.
An MBA can lead people to higher-level positions, better earning potential, and expanded professional networks. An MBA for veterans can be especially beneficial because it builds on skills they have mastered during their service and may lead to a smoother military transition to civilian life.
