If you’re considering enrolling in a higher-education program this year, there are lots of different specialties you may be weighing up. However, if you’re thinking about getting into, or are already in, a business management or leadership career, or you want to become self-employed eventually, an MBA degree might be the perfect choice for you. Read on for some of the key reasons why you should look at studying an MBA in 2018.

Learn Practical Skills

To begin with, think about how an MBA degree can help you learn and develop various practical skills. During your studies, you will get to pick up all sorts of new skills which will enable you to better run a department, a business, a project or a team.

For example, no matter which business degree you choose, whether it’s an online MBA with no GMAT required or an MBA program at your local university, you will have to develop strengths in areas like time-management, critical-thinking, problem-solving, analysis, creativity, and scheduling. To complete your course you’ll also have to have a solid degree of competency when it comes to using computers, software, and other tech tools.

During your studies, you’ll have to practice focusing well and concentrating deeply on a task; and you’ll need to communicate effectively not just in individual presentations, but also when you have group projects to complete, and when you’re off on practical placements. Furthermore, helpfully, as part of your MBA studies you’ll be taught the essentials of vital topics such as accounting and finance, sales, marketing, and human resources.

Network and Build Relationships

Next, you probably already know that there are many benefits to networking, such as getting access to new ideas and opportunities, sharing resources, having a shoulder to lean on, and much more. However, have you stopped to think about how useful it can be to develop key relationships while you’re studying?

Many MBA graduates report that one of their favorite takeaways from their studies was the many great connections they made, and the chance they had to meet people from all over the world who they ordinarily would not have gotten to know.

When you enroll in an MBA program, you’ll meet like-minded people who could go on to become your support systems when you need advice or someone to listen, plus potentially even your business partners, investors, customers, suppliers, contractors, employees, and referrers. The international students you get to know can also open your eyes to the way things operate overseas, and give you helpful insight into international markets.

Make Yourself More Promotable and Interesting to Others

Lastly, another one of the major reasons to enroll in an MBA degree is that, by doing so, you will end up making yourself more promotable and interesting to others. Whether you want to receive regular promotions, be in contention for a top new job, or help your own venture to soar, having this higher degree behind you can really be an aid.

Once you have the qualification, HR managers and business owners are more likely to view your applications favorably when comparing them against candidates who aren’t so educated. This is particularly the case for upper-management positions. After all, hirers know that it’s incredibly important for leaders to have business acumen, a strong network, relevant personal strengths, and honed leadership ability, all of which is worked when completing an MBA.

Keep in mind, too, that increased job security can come from having this type of higher degree, because if times are tough and businesses have to let staff members go, they tend to hold on to their most qualified employees for as long as possible. Having an MBA can also lead to you being promoted over others who are not similarly qualified.

If, alternatively, you’re planning on launching your own business, your MBA studies can help you attract more interest from potential investors, partners, and lenders, who will want to feel that they’re backing a CEO with a good understanding of how to actually run a business.

In addition, a higher degree can help you to be more appealing to journalists when they’re deciding who to profile or quote in their publications; and to employees, who must decide on the likelihood of a venture succeeding when deciding whether or not to join a startup firm.