Apparently my MBA degree won't impress many CIOs, at least the ones surveyed by Robert Half Technology. A survey of 1,400 CIOs found that only 1% of CIOs would consider an MBA to be the extra edge to pick a candidate between two candidates with similar skills. Instead, industry-specific experience was sited as the most important differentiator.
So the lesson for me here is to not expect my MBA degree to carry a huge amount of weight when applying for IT management positions. I'll have to make sure that my whole package is competitive.
I have no regrets about getting an MBA. Even if CIOs don't think it's a key differentiator, I'm sure that the knowledge and contacts I've gained from the MBA program will help me to perform my current and future jobs better, which in turn will lead to more opportunities.
For an article about the survey, see Industry insiders have the edge
