I live in Italy and have 3 years of experience in a multinational metallurgical company as a Process/Industrial Engineer. I intend to complement my experience & position with an MBA in future.

Main reasons of an MBA are somehow meant for:
1. An upper management position in future and chances to learn new things
2. A switch to another sector (FMCG, Conglomerates, Consultancy etc)

Problem:
At this point, I have 2 job opportunities which will influence shaping my future:

1.With existing company, which has done Joint venture with a Chinese group under which, A new integrated plant will be constructed in China, and I have been offered a role of a specialist who has first to learn Foundry fusion and casting processes for 1 year in Germany and then transfer this know-how to Chinese plant in year 2016 (It is a very technical role but also gives me a chance to increase my operational and managerial experience whilst training people, starting up the plant etc)

2. I have another opportunity to work as a Lean manufacturing Engineer in a small American MNC in its Italian plant which produces plastic and rubber components for Automotive, Medical and Consumer market (Lean in itself offers me chance to grow my leadership and team-working skills)

Considering future intention of an MBA, which of these two will sound a better experience? I have heard that working for 5 years in Metals and mining sector might decrease my chances of switching later on. Will they? Or an experience of working in 3 diverse countries and collaborating people help me with my MBA application plus allow me to switch later on, if I want to?

Any expert opinion will greatly help me as I am indecisive since a month on this.

Thanks

Hi.

I presume that you have already a few years of experiences and may be you are 30+ years old you could evaluate the following facts yor self. {along with Considering both the situations ( though sufficient information not available about your pay scale)}

- What is your future goal after completion of MBA . Do you want to be a consultant ? Take up a higher role and ocntinue with that for a longer duration in a corporate compny ? Do you want to hold a mix of domain spcialty and also want to be in a strategic position ? Have your own start up company where you would like to work with other consultant?

- In the current situation an MBA could certainy give you inishgts in to management practices ,, expose you to some tools for decision making , insights in to resource management , control etc ( this is again subjective to what type of MBA program you chose and where you study ) but hands on experience teaches you a lot more than what you learn in classes or in a full time program. A full time program just aquaints you with swimming in a pool.. whilst , your long term success is completely driven by what you teach yourself in a practical field.

The first job you mentioned will stretch your ability to work in broader multicultural environment , balancing between domain specific knowledge growth and intercultural management which couple with a specilized mmbA can prepare you to take up a variety of roles. The advantage of an MBA program is , that prepares you with basic skills of several management aspects with a spcialty ( in most cases) in a particular subject. So by presenting yourself in a desired way you can present yourself as a competent candidate.

The second job gives you a deeper insights in to qualit initiatives in to certain areas of practices which prepares you well for taking up controlling management job positions and also prepares you for an entrepreneurial initiatives.

Best.

I agree with this comment. The first role is riskier and better.

Thank you for such a detailed overview.

For sure, first opportunity provides me enough space to learn and put into practice many different things.

As far as pay is concerned, I will be earning twice in case 1 with respect to what I will earn in Italy (plus some benefits such as holiday air tickets+language course of German) but at this time as they say in Lean, I am thinking about Long term even at the cost of short term benefits and when I talk about that it mostly concerns the sector.

As mostly said, MBA can be helpful for even switching sector and considering worst case analysis, will it earn me a chance to switch even after being 5 years experienced professional in a metal fabrication industry? (I am sure worldwide the situation isnt that bad for metals and mining but as I work in a copper industry; its the worst hit sector of all and it forces me to think alot)

As far as my future goals are concerned, an MBA for me is to get deep insight and theoretical know-how of operations management or SCM which gives me a chance to become a potential industrial controller per se.

So the question remains: what are the chances to switch, in the case it is needed

First opportunity being riskier but more rewarding is definitely what I am inclined towards provided that I still manage to have flexibility in the market.

PS. As asked, I am 27 years old. If that might be of some help.

Mille grazie!

Thanks for this detailed information..

Taking a Job which gives you a 100% hike .. makes a way for you to go to next level.

if you are comfortable with taking this risk.. then the benefits would be 1. You learn several things 2. You save an amount for a period if you manage your funds wisely.

I would suggest stick to your job as much possible.. and try to get a sponsorship from your company by putting in hard and smart work. if you get a sponsorship you will manage the risks to some extent.You might have to server the company afterwards as a bond contract, costs could be you may lose out on more attractive positions externally.

27 years is a good time to take risks and experiment. if not now then when ?