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Why the MBA Alone is not Enough

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article | Why the MBA Alone is not EnoughThere was a time when simply achieving a Master’s in Business Administration would be enough to prepare someone for a launch into the executive role and C-suite. Today, even with an MBA from a top school, many are finding that specialization is essential, particularly for those who need to have a solid grip on the financial side and how the accounting records are generated.

While the role of an executive may not require one to have all the credentials of a certified public accountant, having a solid understanding of how accounting systems work and data is generated has become a bread and butter condition for anyone in a role that involves a budget and considerable company assets, as well as related decision-making. And as companies continue to move into enterprise systems where metrics are fed and re-utilized across disciplines, anything that is feeding into the accounting system as a measurement should be better understood by the manager whose program it affects.

Traditionally, accountants who want to win promotions and go higher in their organization than just a report supervisor or payables manager see the MBA as a natural stepping-stone level to achieve. However, for those coming from other disciplines such as sales or operations management, accounting may never have been a primary need at the time. Yet once they reach the executive level, everyone has to be familiar and versed in the income statements, cash flow reports, and balance sheets. It becomes the bread and butter of financial conversation in the company at the decision-making level. The standard MBA provides some training, but it doesn’t really expand on the accounting aspects with enough detail to really say one is versed in the field. The accounting concentration solves this problem effectively.

Where the typical MBA program will cover a summary of accounting, some attention to indirect cost accounting, and financial portfolio management, the MBA with an accounting concentration goes much further. It practically combines many of the key aspects of an accounting degree with an MBA, preparing the executive to not just be able to understand financial records and their generation fluently, but to also be able to oversee an accounting shop in a pinch if needed. For those who are going to be managing financial IT systems and related databases, the accounting concentration provides key details and aspects of how financial activity occurs and gets tracked, something that will never be obtained through a standard IT training path.

The added aspects of accounting training enhance one’s sense of ethics as well. When exposed to multiple classes and topics that focus on how compliance is provided, examined, and reported, a student walks away with an inherent understanding and sensitivity to staying on the right track, even when challenged to push the edges of the envelope in operational conditions. Upper-level managers and executives come out of an enhanced MBA program with a keen understanding of how to behave financially as well as what to avoid that can get them into serious trouble, both internally as well as with external regulatory controls where they operate, including international environments as well.


Students on the Masters of Business Administration accounting concentration path will also enjoy added specialization aspects also typically not available in other MBA programs. These topics include fraud examination, the marriage of accounting with information systems, government accounting, advanced auditing, and even non-profit organizational accounting, a key area of employment that is often overlooked but spans the country with opportunities in every city and state. No surprise, graduates find themselves easily starting in entry positions for high-level finance, and when married with database management they end up becoming key players in some of the latest financial activities today, such as data visualization and management dashboard design work.

Again, there are plenty of MBA programs to train one to be an executive in general, but the Master’s of Business Administration accounting concentration matches today’s demands far better, especially when it comes to understanding the finance that allows programs and businesses to operate and grow.

Getting Paid to Travel

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article | Getting Paid to Travel | Traveling Nurse | In home nurseWhen you think about travel nurse jobs, you probably think about the tasks of the job itself and not the travel part. If you enjoy traveling, being a travel nurse may be an ideal job for you. If the thought of being in the same office every day makes you feel bored or stuck, then travel nurse jobs may be ideal for you. While you are focused on the functions of nursing while at work, there is plenty of time to explore new cities and towns. You can find trails to hike, stores to shop, and new restaurants to enjoy.

You Get To Pick Your Location

You have control over the places where you get to work. This allows you to feel like you have control over your work and your career. Not only that, but it gives you control over where you get to travel. You even get to decide how long you want your assignment, as well as how many days per week you work. It is possible that you can select a job that aligns with an area where you have an event coming up, such as a wedding. Depending on which agency you work with, you can find lists of travel nurse jobs that give you the freedom to make the best selection for you.

Travel the Country

The most significant perk associated with travel nurse jobs is the traveling. It is a great way to get paid to travel the country. It may take some getting used to living out of a suitcase, but if you have the desire to travel, you can pair up your career with travel. It is important to remember to plan breaks between your travel time because it can be exhausting to always be on the road. When you are a travel nurse, you get to know the locals in an area in a way you never would. In many cases, if you really enjoy an area where you are working, you might be able to extend your assignment to stay there longer. In addition, your friends and family can visit you when you are in a specific area, and you can explore together.

Reimbursed Travel

My travel nurse agencies offer reimbursement to help offset your travel expenses. Depending on where you travel, you may be able to drive and have your car with you. Other places, you may need to fly and find some means of transportation when you are in the area. This may mean you need a rental car or must use public transportation. Therefore, you may benefit from a travel reimbursement plan. On the other hand, if the travel nurse agency does not offer a reimbursement plan, you may be eligible for tax deductions. Either way, you have the ability to be reimbursed for some or all of your expenses.

If you are excited by the thought of exploring and traveling across the country and getting paid while you do it, then travel nursing jobs may be the perfect job for you.

What Doors Can an Online Master’s Degree in Business Open for You?

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article | What Doors Can an Online Master's Degree in Business Open for You?What does it take to succeed in today’s competitive business environment? You’ll need information, skills, and a network to put those things to use. A master’s degree in business can provide you with a solid foundation to launch your career.

Advancing your career is a priority and an education can give you the skills you need to advance. The National Center for Education Statics states that there were over 7 million online learners in 2019 and 3 million of these were graduate level. A master’s degree puts you at the top of your game.

Here’s how earning your master’s degree in business can advance your career in the world of business.

Finance

A master’s in business can prepare you to work in finance departments across the nation. You’ll be able to work in a variety of specialized finance positions that will have you balancing the books in some of the most high-profile and complicated businesses around. The finance specialization gives you the experience and tools needed to handle money in today’s increasingly complicated environment.

The training that your master’s degree will provide you and finance gives you the skills you need to succeed when it comes to entrepreneurship.

Human Resource Management

Hiring practices have gotten more complicated no matter what industry you’re in. How we find new employees and how we engage with them isn’t as easy as putting a help wanted sign in the window. This means there’s a new demand for experienced human resource management professionals. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that these jobs are growing and their median salary is already over six figures.

An online masters in business degree will help you prepare to work in the human resources department. This advanced degree will set you up for a leadership role. You’ll be able to help companies navigate the increasingly complicated process of hiring and working with their staff.

Management

Management positions with the top of the pyramid in every company. These are high-stakes and high-profile positions that have you making complicated decisions that decide the fate of an entire company. A master’s degree is the perfect choice for individuals who are looking to jump into management roles with the most experience and information possible.

Management positions provide plenty of unique challenges. There are complicated decisions to be made about staffing, finance, and future direction for the company. An online master’s degree can help prepare you for balancing in this demanding role.

Business Analytics

What’s the number one factor running every single business today? There are plenty of important details, but the biggest one of them all is information. We’re an economy driven entirely by data and being able to gather and analyze this vast field of information is one of the most important and in-demand jobs today.

An online master’s in business degree will give you the potential to focus on business analytics. This allows you to get an in-depth understanding of how companies gather and analyze the information that they used to make business decisions. Experts in business analytics are some of the most well-paid individuals today because they gather and interpret the information that companies rely on.

Why Choose an Online Master’s in Business?

An online education changes how we look at learning. If you’re looking to advance in business, you’re already familiar with the challenge of balancing working and education. An online degree gives you new opportunities to advance your career, but with a schedule that’s flexible and works for you.

You can schedule online classes around your life. Whether you’re working on your own entrepreneurship or busy climbing the corporate ladder at an established company, you need all the time you can get to focus and build your education.

An online degree also lets you get some experience working in a digital environment. We’re seeing an increasing shift towards online working spaces as well as working from home. An online Masters in Business is just more experience and the latest technology used in businesses across the country.

What’s the Next Step

The next step in your career as a business leader and an entrepreneur is to investigate and get a master’s degree in business. This can open new doors and give you the resources you need to launch your career.

Resolve to Land Your Dream Job in 2022

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Land your dream job|Resolve to Land Your Dream Job in 2022It is the resolution many workers make each new year: “This is the year I get my dream job.”

For those truly motivated to land a new role, ascend to the next level, boost their salary—or all three—conditions have rarely been better. Due to the Great Resignation, job listings are plentiful, wages are rising, and employers are upping the ante to lure workers. The huge competition for talent has given employees the upper hand.

While it might be tempting to jump at the next opportunity you see on LinkedIn or make a lateral move for a raise, the last thing you want to do is leave a tolerable position for one that becomes quickly intolerable. When you are in a job you love, it feels custom-made just for you. You feel your values reflected in the company’s mission. You feel rewarded just for working there—“Thank God it’s Monday,” you think each week. And the paycheck is nice, too.

I have been writing about the job market for several years, and frankly, conditions have never been better to land your dream job. I believe that following these ten steps can bring you closer to your dream job in the coming months:

1. Take time to plan and dream

The important first step is to carve out time to think through the position you’d like to achieve. The ideal career awaits you if you do your homework. Keep careful lists of the qualities and talents you possess and which types of businesses will reward them. Put pen to paper—or fingers to keyboards—and allow yourself to follow ideas where they lead. This a valuable first step for finding the career that is right for you. (Need some inspiration? Take a personality test, such as that offered by Meyers-Briggs. Or ask your friends where they see you working and investigate those jobs.)

2. Work backwards

One way of figuring out what your “dream job” is right now is to imagine yourself five years from now (in an even dreamier job). Then work backwards to figure out the stepping-stone jobs you need to take to eventually land there. Maybe you can’t run a publishing empire or be a social media influencer with 20,000,000 Instagram followers yet—but if you take smaller, intentional baby steps, you will have a better chance of eventually reaching your aspiration.

3. Learn how to toot your own horn

Regardless of whether you’re a boisterous extrovert or a restrained introvert, let those around you know your capabilities. The most important place to start is within your own company. When you win a piece of business or create an attractive website or advance a project in any way, get the word out. Don’t be shy. Also, don’t assume that you can just dash off an email that the higher-ups will necessarily read. You need to get comfortable with promoting your achievements. No one will do this for you. You are your own best advocate.

4. Engage in general networking

Is there a young professionals group associated with your industry, such as a local chapter of Meetup.com, that you should join? Does your company offer a mentor program that will pair you with a senior employee who might become your advocate? If not, you may want to look into finding a mentor outside your company. Do you need to expand your LinkedIn presence and begin commenting and posting your own industry observations? There’s never enough time to network, so somehow you need to make the time.

5. Set up 15-minute informational interviews

Ask around to see if there is anyone you know who would spare a few minutes to discuss her field with you. It could be a friend, or a friend of a friend, or even one of your parents’ friends. You may be surprised to find that people often want to offer advice on the steps to take to start out in their field. Prepare some questions in advance—for example: ask how the person ended up in her field, what best prepared her for her career, which aspects she most enjoys, and how the field is changing. Depending on how forthcoming the person is, you might also ask if she would mind if you sent a resume to keep on file in case of any future openings.

6. Read job postings

Do you feel goosebumps zip down your spine when you read about certain jobs? It could be an indication that this is the job of your dreams. Start reading job postings in the two or three fields that excite you. You can find postings on LinkedIn, Monsterjobs, Indeed, Glassdoor, and Simply Hired. Familiarize yourself with job descriptions to learn common industry terms, roles, salaries, and in-demand skills.

7. Customize your resume

Your resume should reflect the skills you possess and your specific accomplishments—but be sure to customize and change your resume appropriately for each position you pursue. Don’t be afraid to parrot some of the words on the list of requirements back to the company. Many times, companies will use the key words mentioned in the job posting when screening resumes. Try to work in examples that have relevance to the company’s customers or clients or to issues taking place industry-wide. Show how you can add value by quantifying results you’ve achieved. For example, “Coordinated silent auction for children’s advocacy organization that brought in $49,000” or “Streamlined outdated accounting system to save the company 50 hours—and $3,900—per week.”

8. Show personality in your cover letter

Write a cover letter that truly reflects your own personality. Remember that you need to stand out, not just blend in to the hundreds of “blah-blah-blah” letters. Hiring managers look for candidates with dynamism behind their desire to work for the company. Choose words that reveal that you are passionate, not passive: instead of “helpful,” your findings were “game-changing.” Instead of “useful,” your discoveries proved “transformational.”

9. Consider the gig economy

If you dream of being your own boss, why not look into gig work? With so many upsides—including picking and choosing your clients and projects, as well as your hours and fees—it’s no wonder 40 percent of the U.S. workforce is employed in gig work. Ask yourself if your talents lend themselves to gig work. Also, do you have the expertise with technology and the ability to manage finances to work independently? Gig work could be a stepping stone to a full-time position or an end in itself. The rewards of gig work can be worth the effort as long as you enter into it thoughtfully and with an appropriate amount of preparation.

10. Thank those who helped you

Even if you don’t secure a job the first time around, when you remember to thank the people who granted you an interview, those people will remember you and think of you for other opportunities. While it may seem traditional, a handwritten thank-you card still carries cachet. Or, if you send a note electronically, sincerely show gratitude and help the person remember you by bringing up something he said that you found helpful or insightful.

You may not land the first few positions that you go for, but with each attempt, you will get better at the application and interview process. Stay motivated by keeping the prospect of landing your dream job in your sights.

About the Author

StrategyDriven Expert Contributor | Vicky Oliver

Vicky Oliver is a leading career development expert and the multi-best-selling author of five books, including 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions (Sourcebooks 2005), named in the top 10 list of “Best Books for HR Interview Prep,” 301 Smart Answers to Tough Business Etiquette Questions (Skyhorse, 2010), and Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers & Other Office Idiots (Sourcebooks, 2008). She is a sought-after speaker and seminar presenter and a popular media source, having made over 901 appearances in broadcast, print and online outlets. For more information, visit vickyoliver.com.

How Women Can Stand Out Professionally

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Professional Women|How Women Can Stand Out ProfessionallyTo stand out in the workplace, women must be proactive and differentiate themselves from their male counterparts. This can be done through networking, developing critical skills, and being mindful of personal branding. Additionally, it is vital to showcase your unique value proposition during job interviews and on the job.

Steps Women Can Take to Stand Out Professionally

There are several things that women can do to stand out professionally, like Cynthia Telles. Below are five steps to get started:

Step One: Commit to Continuous Learning

To stay ahead of the curve, women need to commit themselves to continuous learning. This means taking advantage of every opportunity to learn new skills and grow their knowledge base. Whether it’s reading articles online, attending webinars or workshops, or listening to podcasts, there are many ways for women to keep learning.

Step Two: Build a Strong Network

A strong network is critical for any professional woman looking to impact. Women should aim to build relationships with people who can help them advance their careers. This may include colleagues, mentors, and even former bosses. The more people someone knows, the more opportunities they will have.


Step Three: Stand Out from the Crowd

Women need to be creative and think outside the box to stand out from the competition. One way to do this is by developing their unique brand. This could involve creating a personal website or blog, participating in social media, or dressing in a unique way that sets them apart from other professionals.

Step Four: Be Confident and Assertive

Women often struggle with confidence and assertiveness in the workplace. However, these are two essential qualities for any woman looking to succeed. Women should aim to project confidence through their body language and voice. They should also learn how to be assertive without being aggressive or rude.

In addition to these steps, consider participating in an assertiveness training course to develop and enhance your communication skills in the workplace. This will not only help you assert your opinions and ideas confidently but also help you navigate difficult conversations and situations with ease.

Step Five: Take on New Challenges and Roles

Many women are afraid to take risks, but they shouldn’t be! Taking on new challenges and roles is one of the best ways to stand out professionally. This could involve applying for a promotion, taking on more responsibility at work, or even starting their own business. Women don’t have anything to lose by trying something new – so go ahead and give it a shot!

Know Your Worth and Ask for What You Want

The first step to standing out professionally is knowing your value and asking for what you want. This is important because if you don’t know how much money or other benefits are worth, you could end up getting less than what’s fair. It’s also essential that women ask for promotions when they deserve them instead of waiting until their boss recognizes this themselves. Women need to speak up in meetings so people will notice their expertise – even if it means interrupting someone else who may already be talking about an issue at hand! By putting yourself forward more often, others will recognize the value of your contributions and give credit where due.

In conclusion, there are many things that women can do to stand out professionally. These include committing to continuous learning, building a solid network, standing out from the crowd, being confident and assertive, and taking on new challenges and roles. By following these tips, women can increase their career chances.