Using , MBA as a suffix

Reasons why you shouldn't do this

  1. Look at how frequently M7 MBAs do this and look at how frequently University of Phoenix MBAs do this.

  2. Look at linkedin and see the industries where this is most frequent. It is typically salesy kinds of jobs with zero barriers to entry such as selling whole life insurance or realtors, or something that involves wearing a name tag.

  3. The only people who it will impress will be people who can't help you.

  4. You put this on your card and anyone who can help you will assume you went to the University of Phoenix until proven otherwise.

  5. See above and when proven otherwise said person won't cut you a break for not knowing better.

I went to a top 40 program and I'm seeing a lot of people putting this on their LinkedIn profiles. This is getting under my skin because I'd hate to see my alma mater with its gray zone ranking (25-40) get a bad wrap. I also think this is totally cheesy to boot.

Just had to rant. Monkeys - feel free to add more to the list.

 

I did this for a while about a year after starting my current job when I got asked if I had to be let out of Home Room to attend a meeting.

Once I established myself, I stopped. It did help with some recognition at the onset, but after a while it very much becomes #6.

Director of Finance and Corporate Development: 2020 - Present Manager of FP&A and Corporate Development: 2019 - 2020 Corporate Finance, Strategy and Development: 2011 - 2019 "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." - Benjamin Franklin
 

I've always found this to be highly correlated to the school itself, so always just figured it was people in the career services at those schools telling everyone to do it.

The answer is don't do it. Ever. And if you're at one of those schools it's your duty to go forth and spread this message. Good luck.

 

Before you do it, make sure you had "Incoming MBA candidate" while you were waiting to enroll.

You killed the Greece spread goes up, spread goes down, from Wall Street they all play like a freak, Goldman Sachs 'o beat.
 
deMaestro:

What do you guys think about people who use the CFA suffix (John Smith, CFA)?

Way more acceptable, but I still think it looks bizarre. However, check any traditional AM big shot and if they've done it you'll still probably see it with CFA after the comma. Some firms simply put it on your business card regardless without even asking you, as long as you have the designation.

 

It's definitely cool to have the CFA if you work in AM or HF. So I really don't have anything against it. What I'm seing is that many people, who maybe didn't go to top schools, use it as a suffix behind their names. Usually if somebody went to H/W/S for an MBA, they just put the CFA on their resume without the suffix.

I'm not saying that one way is better than the other. This is simply an observation...

 

I think it's pretty ridiculous looking as well and I would personally never do it.

As OP put it, the only people who it will impress will be people who can't help you.

I agree that it's way more common though. And I believe in some jurisdictions (Canada, South Africa, maybe some others) it's a requirement for professionals in money management or securities dealing roles, so they put it in their name and business cards more often.

 
deMaestro:

What do you guys think about people who use the CFA suffix (John Smith, CFA)?

I'm a CPA, but don't list it after my name. That being said, listing CPA or CFA as a suffix is completely acceptable.

 

It's worse than the people who call themselves "a MBA" as in "I'm a MBA" but not by much.

Keeping your LinkedIn connections pure of stupidity is a very important part of LinkedIn being useful whatsoever.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 
deMaestro:

Some pretty high profile people (entrepeneurs, bank CEO's) in my home country list HBS one-week executive courses in their LinkedIn education section. I find it pathetic! Everyone can buy themselves on to those courses...

MBA in signature = Hold this L

Kanye will prob go to HBS next and do this

 

Even if you think that it should be OK, recognize that 50% of people in the professional world will think you're a jackass and laugh at you behind your back for putting MBA behind your name. So why risk the negative connotation?

Prof designations can and should be placed behind your name (CFA, CPA, etc) if you're working in a relevant industry, or even a semi-relevant industry/role. I.e. if you're a strategy consultant with a CPA, cool. If you did a career about face and work in medicine, there is zero value add to using it.

 

[quote="deMaestro"]

What do you guys think about people putting their GPA's or Final grades (magna cum laude, first class, distinction, etc...) on their degrees in their LinkedIn or on their resume?

[/]

If you're in your first five years out of school I don't see why you wouldn't, if they're good. Outside of that, it's at your discretion. Nobody will look or care at some point. I personally have my GMAT on my profile while I'm in business school, but plan to take it off post graduation until and unless I recruit for firms that care about it.

 

I mean I don't disagree - at all - and this was amusing. But the people I know who do this don't think they're in the MBA business schools ">M7 category, they're just likable people who drive Honda Odysseys.

This seems on par with picking on chubby girls or comparing shoes/watches with homeless people, or something.

 

I honestly think it comes down to two types of people:

  1. Those who feel like they've spent thousands of dollars on something and don't understand why they shouldn't be able to show it off, like a shiny new car, because they are special and everyone should know it (these mindset is highly correlated with people who probably won't accomplish much else in their life, so the MBA is a purchase that can help self-validate themselves - this explains why it's usually people who go to shitty programs who do this).

  2. Those who kind of understand that it's a little jackassey, but honestly believe it will get them more attention from recruiters (it won't) and that the benefits outweight the cons (they don't).

 

It seems that most pushback is stemming from individuals placing the suffix MBA on their LinkedIn profiles. The reasoning is linked in is a job recruiting site and their algorithms are created to exploit key terms for people searching for specific qualifications. The people who are doing this are just adapting to the technical environment and maximizing their exposure to recruiters/headhunters.

People who are resisting or bemoaning a harmless trend are at a disadvantage. The old standard is disappearing and the MBA suffix trend is growing like it or not because sites like Linkedin are built to recognize and exploit profile keywords. An example of the mistake some are making is Eastman Kodak. Kodak failed because they abandoned their digital camera operation because of their arrogance and comfort with film photography. If Kodak had fully embraced the technology and the trends, Kodak would not be in bankruptcy!

Some jobs weed out applicants based on academic credentials plus experience. Therefore, listing your experience and MBA, BS, BA... etc can be a distinct advantage.

 

Quibusdam ipsa nihil minima at dolorem qui voluptas. Rem maxime quibusdam et quos hic enim veniam delectus.

Doloribus neque nulla voluptatem dolorum ut voluptate unde ut. Repudiandae accusantium at harum. Assumenda molestiae beatae ratione ducimus qui quidem. Laudantium voluptate rerum placeat. Illo est necessitatibus repellat non. Qui impedit et beatae quisquam.

Ut impedit est mollitia possimus. Sint incidunt ut necessitatibus a deleniti. Omnis quaerat nihil libero voluptas quisquam. Modi sapiente reprehenderit sunt velit. Est quia magni quas officia.

Qui saepe omnis molestiae eius culpa velit pariatur. Doloribus dolorum possimus corrupti quae voluptates ducimus quo sint.

 

Quia harum doloribus nihil aspernatur eos aut blanditiis. Sed tempore commodi sunt id velit deserunt similique. Dignissimos dignissimos ex molestiae quia deleniti. Molestias enim quibusdam labore quaerat odio dolore. Corporis itaque quia magnam et dolore. Sequi consequuntur temporibus ratione deserunt nesciunt placeat tenetur.

Molestias adipisci facilis ducimus odio ipsum ut. Ut sint praesentium nisi dolorum. Rerum adipisci magni fuga tenetur sit.

"All men are alike in their dreams, and all men are alike in the promises they make. The difference is what they do."— Jean Baptiste Moliere
 

Magni tempora consequatur labore deleniti voluptas repellat repellendus quasi. Et molestiae ducimus molestiae dolore quo laborum sapiente. Esse quis iste ab et aut voluptas. Enim dolorum nesciunt qui est eligendi numquam velit sit. Qui iure sint fuga consequatur. Et ullam necessitatibus delectus ad repellat.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”