Hey guys, i really need your advice regarding my career. I am moving to italy in 6 month, i have a bachelor degree in business adminstration, my previous experience was 2 years as marketing coordinator ( part time ) and 6 years as a cabin crew.i am turning 31 on march this year and i am thinking to apply for MBA. Do you think shifting career at this age is a wrong decision? Do you think i can get a good job after completing the masters with these experience ? Thank you for your help.

It's never too late to change career, but moving country is a hard time to do it. An MBA is a rather general degree. Something with more specific skills might be better. Of course if you are moving to Italy you might be better off taking an intensive course in Italian business language and etiquette.

It's never too late to change career, but moving country is a hard time to do it. An MBA is a rather general degree. Something with more specific skills might be better. Of course if you are moving to Italy you might be better off taking an intensive course in Italian business language and etiquette.

Thank you duncan for your reply . I already started Taking intensive italian language course back home.I want to work in marketing field , so do you think I will have a good chance After completing the program, especially that most of my experience in aviation? Sorry i am asking you too many questiones but it is hard a decision for me, so i have to gather all the information.

[Edited by Karim Abdrabo on Feb 04, 2019]

Hi Karim,

So, I think it's always hard and risky to move language, industry, role and continent all at the same time. And, of course, I know your name doesn't sound Italian so I can't take for granted that you have the right to work in Italy. Start this way: you'll perhaps have to jump into a series of roles. So, what's the most obvious first role for you? Is it, for example, working for Alitalia or in some role working with English- and Arabic-speaking customers? Take a look at https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/search/?keywords=arabic&location=Italy&locationId=it%3A0 and https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/search/?keywords=english&location=Italy&locationId=it%3A0 for example and see what sort of qualifications these roles are looking for. Almost certainly, you will be better off taking an MSc taught in Italian to develop your fluency and functional vocabulary, rather than an MBA in English.

[Edited by Duncan on Feb 04, 2019]

I have already sorted out the work permit there by one of my family. My point is I just don’t want to go there and work as customer service, it will be same as working as cabin crew. I want something can boost my career. Something can get me inside the marketing field but still i am not aware of the market there especially with my previous experience, that’s why i am asking could the MBA be key that can help me to have more opportunities?

I don't think it would be terrible to work initially in customer service is that allowed you to get a better grasp of written and spoken Italian, the business culture and so on. I see a lot of friends in the UK who have had to take a couple of steps down in order to accelerate later. If you can get into SDA Bocconi then clearly your experience is valuable. If not, then a degree in Italian might give you added leverage.

[Edited by Duncan on Feb 05, 2019]

My idea was learning italian while i am studying MBA to cut the long way short. But the idea of studying in italian will be diffcult. I checked SDA bocconi but it is expensive. Anyway i apperciate your help.

In terms of net present value, it's actually the cheapest option because it has a huge financial upside rather than a cost.

Ps You won't improve your Italian enough while studying in an English-speaking bubble. Look at the great Arabic of Europeans in the UAE.

[Edited by Duncan on Feb 04, 2019]

You have a good point here. May i ask you if your are in my place and you got that experience what actual steps you will take to shift your career?

I was 29 and did a specialised MSc to change industry, and then completed an EMBA was I was 36. That worked for me. But language skills beat qualifications all the time.

I agree with you. So as a start is better to apply for MSc marketing in italian to change the industry?

Is there any specific accreditation for MSc marketing ? To make sure that i choose the right school.

The prestige of the school will matter more. You know how elitist Italian business is. Private schools like Bocconi, LUISS, Sacre Coure, IULM, MIP have a huge advantage. But I would take a trade off on brand to study in Italian.

Maybe something in marketing analytics might be highly demanded?

Yeh, i think that’s a good choice. I have seen many comments saying that applying for MSc marketing it is just waste of time, either you get MBA or just try to get more experience in marketing rather than getting a master.

Take a look at the EMMS. The Bocconi network is great and the part time format allows you to look for work, or even start work.

I checked it. It looks interesting. Thank you so much for your help. Please if you got anything in your mind later let me know. So i can setup my plan correctly.