One of the main considerations for people who want to get a job overseas is how their qualifications acquired in other territories are valued by prospective employers. Moving to America to enhance your career prospects could well be on the cards. For those with an MBA from a Malaysian institution under their belt, how does one secure an attractive role and achieve a competitive salary? This article goes into a little more detail to explore your options if you have a Malaysian MBA.
Reputation Matters Most
First, it is worth pointing out that if the university where you attained an MBA has a good reputation, then you have a foot in the door in every job market.
Furthermore, if you want to study for an MBA online then consider Malaysia which has a number of reputable schools with remote courses to complete. So, you do not need to worry about traveling for in-person classes, as it is all done online.
This gives you the flexibility to pursue an MBA with an institution that companies in America and elsewhere worldwide recognize. If in doubt, check the QS rankings for a comprehensive overview of the state of play as it stands today.
Every Employer Is Different
Just because you have an MBA to your name, whether from a Malaysian university or any other school, do not assume that companies in the US throw open their doors to you. Organizations often take very different approaches to hiring new graduates. How your MBA holds over your success in the application process varies.
Some companies have an open-door policy to recruitment, meaning they look to hire the best possible candidate for any role, regardless of their country of origin. Others have policies which prioritize giving jobs to people who already live and work or study in the US. This is only because this makes things easier from an administrative perspective.
You best check to see how any employer handles recruitment before you apply. This lets you know whether or not you are wasting your time in attempting to get an interview for a role.
Competitiveness Is Relative
You must decide what competitive is in the context of getting an offer to work for a US company. For some, it is a case of comparing the salary offered by an American employer to a salary from an equivalent company in their current country — whether that is in Malaysia or anywhere else. Others find interest in how an offer compares with the job market in the US itself. Getting lowballed by a business which deliberately tries recruit MBAs from overseas in the hope of paying less is obviously a worst-case scenario. This is one which should be a big red flag for you as the candidate with a Malaysian MBA.
You must do your research and get an understanding of what competitive offers look like. This understanding is both objectively in the current market and subjectively from your own perspective.
Also, bear in mind that the cost of living in many parts of the US, especially in the coastal cities, are significantly higher than many other regions of the globe. So even if a salary offer sounds good on paper, if rent and grocery costs will eat your paycheck up, then it might be less appealing.
Final Thoughts
As with many things, the answer to whether US businesses give competitive offers to Malaysian MBAs is ‘it depends’. With a bit of investigation, you hopefully find a definitive answer to this question based on your circumstances and expectations.
