Looking for advice for MBA study, question from Japan

ShSak

3 6

Posted Feb 23, 2021 10:35

Hello, friends.

Would you please give advice for me?

First of all, my goal is to live and work abroad, and what I want to know is "an MBA programme will lead me to this goal?"

I am Japanese, 36years old and have been working in Japan as facility/office management person.

Recently, I have been accepted by Zagreb school of economics and management.
It is the best option for me as my budget is limited and I do not have GMAT score.
The total cost will be around 50000USD for a year including the school fee, living cost and so on.
However, I have started thinking that "is this really worth paying? Does a facility person need an MBA degree?"
I am not planning to be a consultant, an investment banker, a CEO or an entrepreneur.

I guess the chances of employment in Europe or other countries will be very low in terms of my age, nationality and career background, right?

I feel that getting facility/office management related online BA or MSc and learning English and technical skills will lead me to the goal closer...what do you think?

Your honest opinions are highly appreciated!

Thanks for reading.

SH

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Duncan

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Posted Feb 23, 2021 13:14

This is an interesting question. Something like the Master in Facility and Real Estate Management at the Zuyd University of Applied Sciences seems more focussed on your goals than an MBA. I think that language skills might be more of a barrier than your nationality if you attend a good school.

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ShSak

3 6

Posted Feb 24, 2021 10:49

Dear Duncan,

Thank you very much for your reply.
The Master's degree you mentioned sounds interesting and more appropriate to me.

Yes, English is what I need to improve the most, but I will commit myself to English learning more and more.

Do you think the fact that I will leave from work for one year will affect my future job hunting in the Netherlands or other countries?

Thank you, Duncan.

SH

Dear Duncan, Thank you very much for your reply. The Master's degree you mentioned sounds interesting and more appropriate to me. Yes, English is what I need to improve the most, but I will commit myself to English learning more and more. Do you think the fact that I will leave from work for one year will affect my future job hunting in the Netherlands or other countries? Thank you, Duncan. SH

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Duncan

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Posted Feb 24, 2021 12:21

No, I think it's worth not rushing into that degree, since I gave it just as an example. Start with your goals, think about where you can add value (is there somewhere that your Japanese can be useful), think about the gaps you need to fill. An intensive language course oriented to business can be more useful for many people than a degree.

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ShSak

3 6

Posted Feb 25, 2021 11:45

Thank you, Duncan.
To be honest, this year may be my last chance to apply for schools because my IELTS score is going to expire.
I know I should not rush into my decision, but....
Maybe my options are:
1. Apply for a master's degree programme to get to Europe(higher cost, but closer to my dream)
2. Take online English lessons and learn skills related to my job in Japan, then try to find a job overseas.(lower cost, but far from my dream and it will take more time, I guess)

Thank you, Duncan. To be honest, this year may be my last chance to apply for schools because my IELTS score is going to expire. I know I should not rush into my decision, but.... Maybe my options are: 1. Apply for a master's degree programme to get to Europe(higher cost, but closer to my dream) 2. Take online English lessons and learn skills related to my job in Japan, then try to find a job overseas.(lower cost, but far from my dream and it will take more time, I guess)

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Duncan

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Posted Feb 25, 2021 13:31

I think LinkedIn is a great tool for you, and I suggest you work with a coach or advisor to harrow your focus. Personally, I think the UK and Ireland are great targets because Japanese is more useful there. I see 1000 jobs in the UK on LinkedIN containing the word 'Japanese'.

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Duncan

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Posted Feb 25, 2021 13:42

Honestly, it doesn't seem to be that you want a masters' degree. You want a job in Europe. So, focus on what you can do now, and where you could add the most value in Europe (I am sure this will mean leveraging your language skills) and then look at the bottlenecks: what are the two or three things you need to work on to play that role. There is a sizable Japanese community in Düsseldorf and, of course, a much larger one in London. It's also worth looking at where Japanese tourists go: perhaps you can have a role in a organisation that works with them? https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272219866_Japanese_Tourists_in_Europe

Honestly, it doesn't seem to be that you want a masters' degree. You want a job in Europe.   So, focus on what you can do now, and where you could add the most value in Europe (I am sure this will mean leveraging your language skills) and then look at the bottlenecks: what are the two or three things you need to work on to play that role. There is a sizable Japanese community in Düsseldorf and, of course, a much larger one in London.  It's also worth looking at where Japanese tourists go: perhaps you can have a role in a organisation that works with them? https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272219866_Japanese_Tourists_in_Europe 

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ShSak

3 6

Posted Feb 26, 2021 13:59

Thank you very much for your advice, Duncan.
In all honesty, I love what I do. I mean Facility management.
The biggest goal is to work abroad, but the second one is to gain more experience, skills and knowledge about FM/Real Estate management.
I love to learn new things and would love to study how Facility Management is operated in Europe.
That's why what you suggested made perfect sense to me.

I have had spend enough time with Japanese, haha. So I would like to have more contacts and communication with people in Europe.

I use Linkedin and will apply for jobs in the UK and other European countries while trying to decide whether I should apply to Zuyd Uni or other ones or not.

[Edited by ShSak on Feb 26, 2021]

Thank you very much for your advice, Duncan. In all honesty, I love what I do. I mean Facility management. The biggest goal is to work abroad, but the second one is to gain more experience, skills and knowledge about FM/Real Estate management. I love to learn new things and would love to study how Facility  Management is operated in Europe. That's why what you suggested made perfect sense to me. I have had spend enough time with Japanese, haha. So I would like to have more contacts and communication with people in Europe. I use Linkedin and will apply for jobs in the UK and other European countries while trying to decide whether I should apply to Zuyd Uni or other ones or not.

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Duncan

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Posted Feb 26, 2021 14:43

You may be bored of Japan but someone will probably hire you _because_ you speak Japanese, and not _despite_ the fact you are Japanese.

[Edited by Duncan on Feb 26, 2021]

You may be bored of Japan but someone will probably hire you _because_ you speak Japanese, and not _despite_ the fact you are Japanese. 

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aslamo

720 219

Posted Feb 26, 2021 15:17

I agree with Duncan's assessment that an MBA might not really be suitable for your goals if you wish to stay in Facilities Management. In my experience, Facilities has traditionally been a bit of a poor relation compared to other corporate support functions like HR, IT or Finance. However with the Covid pandemic, there appears to be a renewed interest, with organisations looking at how to make their premises more Covid secure and how they might adapt to a large proportion of their workforce working 2-3 days a week at home. This will clearly have an impact of a reduction in office space required. I'm working with a technology startup that is starting to explore some interesting solutions in this area.

So your timing of doing a masters could be quite fortuitous and position you well for opportunities in the next year or two.

[Edited by aslamo on Feb 27, 2021]

I agree with Duncan's assessment that an MBA might not really be suitable for your goals if you wish to stay in Facilities Management. In my experience, Facilities has traditionally been a bit of a poor relation compared to other corporate support functions like HR, IT or Finance. However with the Covid pandemic, there appears to be a renewed interest, with organisations looking at how to make their premises more Covid secure and how they might adapt to a large proportion of their workforce working 2-3 days a week at home. This will clearly have an impact of a reduction in office space required. I'm working with a technology startup that is starting to explore some interesting solutions in this area. So your timing of doing a masters could be quite fortuitous and position you well for opportunities in the next year or two.

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ShSak

3 6

Posted Mar 01, 2021 14:05

Dear Duncan,

Thank you. Yes, I am bored of here and looking for new challenge and learning to develop my career.

Dear Aslamo,
Thank you for your comment.
You think so too? The feeling I had about my MBA study was not what I was looking for...
I thought I would be happier about the offer letter.

I have been working for my employees and clients to secure safe workplaces so far.
The company you are working with sounds very interesting.

Sorry for my poor English skill, but would you please tell me what "Position you well for opportunities well for opportunities in the next year or two" means?

Thank you, both of you!

Dear Duncan, Thank you. Yes, I am bored of here and looking for new challenge and learning to develop my career. Dear Aslamo, Thank you for your comment. You think so too? The feeling I had about my MBA study was not what I was looking for... I thought I would be happier about the offer letter. I have been working for my employees and clients to secure safe workplaces so far. The company you are working with sounds very interesting. Sorry for my poor English skill, but would you please tell me what  "Position you well for opportunities well for opportunities in the next year or two" means? Thank you, both of you!

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aslamo

720 219

Posted Mar 01, 2021 15:55

Dear Aslamo,
Thank you for your comment.
You think so too? The feeling I had about my MBA study was not what I was looking for...
I thought I would be happier about the offer letter.

Sorry for my poor English skill, but would you please tell me what "Position you well for opportunities well for opportunities in the next year or two" means?

By 'position you well for opportunities' I mean that if you do a course like Duncan suggested (such as Master in Facility and Real Estate Management), by the time you finish the course in one or two years time, there is a good chance there will be more jobs available due to increased interest of companies looking at facilities management because of Covid.

Hope that is easier to understand?

[Edited by aslamo on Mar 05, 2021]

[quote] Dear Aslamo, Thank you for your comment. You think so too? The feeling I had about my MBA study was not what I was looking for... I thought I would be happier about the offer letter. Sorry for my poor English skill, but would you please tell me what  "Position you well for opportunities well for opportunities in the next year or two" means? [/quote] By 'position you well for opportunities' I mean that if you do a course like Duncan suggested (such as Master in Facility and Real Estate Management), by the time you finish the course in one or two years time, there is a good chance there will be more jobs available due to increased interest of companies looking at facilities management because of Covid. Hope that is easier to understand?<div> 
</div>

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Duncan

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Posted Mar 01, 2021 18:40

I also wonder about Henley. Their MSc in facilities management is now part of their MRE: https://www.henley.ac.uk/study/masters/msc-real-estate

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ShSak

3 6

Posted Mar 02, 2021 15:26

Hi Aslamo.Thank you! Understood!

Hi Duncan. The school seems very nice. I've found another one in the Netherlands. Saxion University of Applied Science. Thanks for your help. I will contact these schools.

Hi Aslamo.Thank you! Understood! Hi Duncan. The school seems very nice. I've found another one in the Netherlands. Saxion University of Applied Science. Thanks for your help. I will contact these schools.

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