Hello folks, I’ve been living and working in Japan for just over a year. I recently got admitted into one of the top English based MBA programs in Tokyo.
I was just wondering how much exactly does this boost my career in-terms of pay and job roles being offered. Is MBA really valued in Japan ?
Since it’s an English based program, I know having JLPT N2/N1 would defiantly to boost my job prospects. But how would things look if I could just reach till N3 at the end of my course.
Any inputs regarding this would be much appreciated.
8 comments
MBA isn’t valued very much in Japan. It would definitely boost your value overseas, but Japanese companies don’t look at it much
Anecdotal but…
Every one of my pals who did the McGill MBA program in Tokyo went on to bigger positions/careers at both Japanese and foreign companies. Out of six pals, 2 went on to start their own businesses here in Japan and have been successful. Also out of the six, one was fluent Japanese and the others were no where near JLPT 3 let alone 1 or 2. The two who started their own businesses here were in the JLPT3 range at the time. They may be better now. They both have partners in their businesses. Like everything in life, it is what you make of it.
Curious to know what do you consider to be “one of the top”?
Edit: changed the word “big” to “bigger”
The value of an MBA, unless you’re being sponsored by your employer, is pretty much 0 since about 2007.
Source: am MBA holder
Which mba?
Do you know what you want to do with the MBA? Don’t listen to anyone on reddit trying to answer your question without a basic idea of what you want to do. It’s too easy to say “MBAs are meaningless!”. Instead get advice from someone who knows you and your goals.
Also, don’t expect to improve your Japanese in a meaningful way (i.e. from N3 to N2 or N1) if the program is conducted in English. If you feel N2/N1 is necessary to the next step do that instead of business school.
I have the feeling in Japan employers value 2 years work experience far more than going to university again for two years. Cant you do the MBA next to working? I know someone who does a MBA (not in Japan) and has classes in the evening or weekend. Besides, would you enjoy being a student again? And how much will the program cost?
Wont help much unless it is the absolute top like Harvard etc.
N1 is worth a lot more than MBA’s to companies here.
Pay ranges are generally fixed based on age and/or position. You will also need a lot of industry connections for manager+. By the way even N1 without almost perfect Japanese would make it very difficult to get manager+ positions. The only real way to so that without perfect Japanese is to get into the Singapore ASEAN office and transfer to Japan.
Japanese companies don’t do mba specific hiring, they treat you like any mid career hire. You may look better on paper but that’s about it. Foreign companies do mba specific hiring but they go to US to hire Japanese graduates from top US programs. The common belief is you only go to a Japan program if you can’t speak English to make it in the US or you got declined from US and Europe schools and are stuck with Keio or Hitotsubashi. Check out the companies that go to career forum, most hire new grads, but some will hire mba especially in Boston.