MBA Career
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to construct and support an argument on decision I made to pursue an MBA degree to further my career as a senior manager within the Automotive industry. The argument will be based on a “What’s My Jungian 16-Type Personality?” test and a general benefits analysis of postgraduate and specifically speaking MBA programs.

The paper will evaluate on my personal score from the test. ENTP result describes individuals who are typically enthusiastic innovators, seeing new possibilities, different theories, and new ways of doing things.
Further in the paper we will look at the benefits of undertaking MBA program including: better career prospects, opportunity to gain not only theoretical knowledge, but also listen to experience class mates.
The paper will conclude with my personal expression regarding this topic.

MBA degree to further your career
Further education, which does not have to be limited to MBA program, is a major factor determining career opportunities and development. In the new fast paced world experience starts to play secondary role and personal abilities and education comes to the front (Barger, 1995). May we insist on the enormous importance of permanent knowledge acquisition for career development. Our career will hardly progress if we do not differentiate from our colleagues in terms of what specific knowledge we have and they do not. We may all be great managers, for instance, but if we also took MBA, we will certainly have a plus for a specific assignment, project or position. Specifically in Australia, where very low unemployment rate is making most of workers a bit lazy and unwilling to further their education. On top of that personality test results will help us to understand how we are perceived amongst our work colleagues and how to use our advantages and disadvantages to benefit ourselves with regards to our careers.

What’s My Jungian 16-Type Personality?
This type of personality tests are great tools to understand our personality and what is more important to understand how others are perceiving us as work colleagues. The What’s My Jungian 16-Type Personality? test is not a measure of our skills or abilities in any area. Rather it is a way to help us become aware of our particular style and to better understand and appreciate the helpful ways that people differ from one another.

My score in the mentioned test was ENTP, which stands for Extraversion, Intuition, Thinking and Perceiving. People with this type usually are enthusiastic innovators, seeing new possibilities, different theories, and new ways of doing things. They are quick to see patterns. They have a lot of imagination and initiative for starting projects. Being competent is very important to them. Their energy comes from what is new and different, and they enjoy spontaneity and taking action. They can become so interested in their current projects that they drop other less exciting things. They dislike routine and find it hard to apply themselves to the sometimes necessary details involved in finishing projects. They become bored easily.

They are most interested in logically analyzing ideas and theories. They can speak to all sides of an issue, and they may change sides if no one is championing the viewpoint of that side. The challenge of the discussion is more important to them than reaching agreement (Hirsh, 1989).
Regarding to Fitzgerald and Kirby (1997) people with ENTP personality type willing to gain more understanding and respect should understand the differences in types and gain perspective. Seeing others and us in the context of type can help us appreciate the legitimacy of other points of view. We can then avoid getting stuck in believing our way is the only way. No perspective is always right or always wrong. Further to that Fitzgerald and Kirby believes that ENTP’s need constant challenge, most importantly intellectual challenge.

Postgraduate degree to further career
Many new researches were conducted proving that higher education and especially postgraduate degrees are the crucial factor in career development. Fast paced world, globalization and organizational changes need regular education to understand them and stay on top of the game at all times. This is as important factor for us students to have the advantage of generating higher performance due to our extended knowledge, which cannot be gained via experience alone, as for our employers to keep their company competitive or to create a competitive advantage.

Unlike other masters degrees the MBA is both a postgraduate and post-experience qualification. It is not appropriate for the recent graduate, who would like to just make it for the title itself. The biggest benefit of this type of program is the fact of studying with well qualified fellow students, who brings lots of their knowledge and experience on top of what the course syllabus is. The MBA aims to build on the foundations of work experience and, by providing new skills and knowledge, to enable the student to make the transition to a higher level of responsibility. MBA itself is like 'currency' in the human resources marketplace. Employers know the value of the qualification and what they should be able to expect from an MBA, irrespective as to whether they studied in North America, Europe or elsewhere. They also recognize the commitment shown by MBAs in investing heavily in their careers. Such candidates are likely to be dynamic self-starters who will be an asset to any organization. An MBA from a good school will certainly open many doors, but one from the wrong school may have the opposite effect. But even in the cases of good schools, possession of an MBA cannot, in itself, guarantee career progression. Only successful utilization of newly acquired MBA skills and expertise can achieve this end. Research undertaken by the United Kingdom Association of MBAs clearly demonstrates that MBAs do exactly this. The MBA offers the ambitious manager a wider range of career opportunities and the chance of both increased responsibilities and a higher salary.

Conclusion
Results of my personality test indicated, that I would like to sustain my personal growth and develop my career, I need to challenge myself intellectually. Gain understanding of others types of personality was highly recommended as well. Postgraduate degree seems to look like a simple solution. In realty it is not as simple and easy. In the paper we highlighted the benefits of MBA programs, but we also discovered that education must be supported by experience and special personal skills to achieve our goals. Personally I have chosen the MBA program, an especially US based one, to differentiate myself from others, to create a competitive advantage on the human resources market place and to use the gained knowledge to help my organization being more competitive.

References
Barger, N. J., & Kirby, L. K. (1995). ‘The challenge of change in organizations: Helping employees thrive in the new frontier.’ Mountain View, CA: Davies-Black Publishing.

Fitzgerald, C., & Kirby, L. K. (eds.). (1997). ‘Developing leaders: Research and applications in psychological type and leadership development.’ Mountain View, CA: Davies-Black Publishing.

Hirsh, S. K., & Kummerow, J. M. (1989). LIFE Types. New York: Warner Books.

Pratt, J., Millier, Y. & Mace, J. (1999). 'Markets and motivation in part-time postgraduate education', Studies in Higher Education, Vol. 24