What Skills Do You Get From an MBA? And How to Highlight Them on Your Resume

Do you have an honours degree and want to study further?

Whether you want to improve your employability, gain higher income positions, or be known as an expert in your field, an MBA will help you achieve this. 

REGENT offers a Master of Business Administration that paves the way to top managerial positions in large or multinational companies. 

This article will discuss what an MBA is, the top eight skills you will gain with this degree, and how you can highlight these skills to get better jobs. 

What is an MBA?

A master of business administration (MBA) is an advanced degree that teaches students practical and theoretical knowledge of business principles and leadership. 

MBA students typically pursue this degree to improve their employability and increase their income potential. Some students may also follow this degree if they intend to build personal brands and become authorities in their areas of expertise. 

8 skills an MBA will teach you

An MBA will equip students with various skills that are helpful for management and in the business environment. 

1. Time management skills

You will learn to manage your and your team’s time effectively by organising and prioritising tasks. Almost all MBA courses require a solid commitment to the organisation and many hours of theoretical and practical study, social engagement, and professional obligations. As a result, you automatically gain the ability to manage time efficiently. 

2. Problem-solving skills

An MBA will help you come up with solutions to complex issues. You will learn to look at the bigger picture and dig deeper into problems. 

During your studies, you will collaborate with diverse groups of students. This will help you see things from different perspectives and find unique solutions. 

3. Communication skills

Communication is the most vital soft skill in business. You will learn verbal and written communication skills and listening abilities during your studies. 

Therefore, you will be taught how to express yourself clearly and concisely and become a great presenter and concise writer who can adjust a message to different audiences. This is one of the most sought-after skills by employers since everything revolves around it.

4. Tech savviness

As more South African businesses are incorporating technology into their companies, such as cloud migration, communication platforms, and digital security systems, managers need to be tech-savvy.  

Depending on the modules you take, your MBA will equip you with various digital skills, including analytics, web development, digital marketing, and coding. 

5. Strategic thinking

An MBA will teach you to think across business functions and formulate strategic action plans to help the company as a whole. You will learn to question your assumptions and biases — only looking at facts and relevant information. 

This way, you can better plan for the future while keeping crucial business trends and customer demands in mind. 

6. Entrepreneurial skills

During your MBA, you will learn valuable entrepreneurial skills like forecasting, innovation, and creativity. As a result, you can choose to start your own business or brand after completing this degree. 

Even if you decide to work for larger companies, your entrepreneurial skills will still come in handy as you can come up with fresh ideas and look ahead of the curve.

7. Leadership skills

Leadership is a vital part of any organisation. For a business to function properly and keep its processes running smoothly, it requires strong leaders and managers. Your MBA will teach you to effectively supervise, motivate, and manage a team.

Companies want empathetic and strategic leaders who can adapt to unforeseen circumstances. You will be even more employable if you have remote leadership abilities and can manage teams across time zones and locations.

8. Networking

One of the most powerful skills you will gain in an MBA is networking abilities. This degree will allow you to meet business professionals and leaders and create lifelong relationships with them. 

Building strong professional connections could benefit your employer since they could use you to network with potential investors and stakeholders. 

How will an MBA increase your employability?

In addition to helping you gain skills that make you a more desirable employee, an MBA also expands your professional network. This means you could meet other professionals or entrepreneurs who may help you find employment and get into senior or executive-level positions. 

How to highlight your skills on your resume

As mentioned earlier, having an MBA will increase your chances of getting a job. So, mentioning that you have an MBA on your cover letter and resume is very important. This is especially true if the position you are applying for is connected to your degree somehow.

You can list your degree under the education section and mention the invaluable skills you gained during your studies.

Furthermore, once you land an interview with a prospective employer, you can mention your MBA and highlight your ability to think critically, solve problems, and communicate well. You could even use the STAR method for this, where you:

• Describe a situation during your studies where you had to use one or more of these skills. 
• Talk about the task you had to perform and the problems you faced. 
• Describe what action you took to handle the situation most effectively. 
• State the results and benefits you achieved by taking this action. 

Study MBA with REGENT

Are you ready to take your business career to new heights? The Master of Business Administration will allow you to climb the corporate ladder to the top or start and grow your own profitable business.