( CareerBuilder.com ) -- Some people view an MBA degree the same way that Charlie thought about his Golden Ticket in `` Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory '' : They believe a piece of paper can magically transport you to a place you only imagined . But can this addition to your résumé really be your dream ticket ? Yes . No . Maybe . There are no simple answers , but here are ways that an MBA might help you . MBA could get you hired in a tough economy . Let 's face it : If you had your pick between two candidates -- one with a BBA and one with an MBA -- who were both qualified for a job , would n't you take the one with the higher degree ? Because of the recession 's affect on employment , many companies have a wealth of talent to pick from at the moment and some can afford to be choosy in their hiring . Candidates need to score every point possible , and a graduate degree may give that extra edge . Read students trying to get a job in the tough economy . `` A category of jobs that begins to show up more in a recession is one that says MBA desired or preferred versus MBA required , '' says Dennis Grindle , director of the SMU Cox School of Business MBA Career Management Center in Dallas , Tex . `` These jobs tend to pay somewhere in between a BBA and an MBA . This allows an MBA to get into what they want to do by taking a step back to hopefully go forward later when economic times get better . '' MBA may get you where you want to go faster . `` Having an MBA -- as opposed to just a bachelor 's degree in business -- is sort of like traveling someplace by plane instead of taking the train . With either business degree , you may eventually wind up at your final 'destination ' -- but the MBA will get you there faster , '' says Elizabeth Freedman , author of `` The MBA Student 's Job-Seeking Bible '' and `` Work 101 : Learning the Ropes of the Workplace Without Hanging Yourself . '' Read top job hot spots for the next decade . Some of the opportunities an MBA degree may jump-start include : . • Managing larger teams • Running meetings • Greater interaction with clients • More decision-making power • Representing the company at events • `` Choicer '' projects • Responsibility for your own set of clients/projects . MBA is sometimes expected . `` In certain organizations ( top-tier consulting firms , for instance ) , having an MBA or an advanced degree is practically a requirement for certain positions , '' Freedman notes . `` It 's hard to move up without that credential , no matter how talented . '' In this situation , the degree basically becomes a minimum qualification -- not your ace in the hole . To land the position , you are then expected to bring what Grindle calls `` an A+ game '' to the table , meaning that you have everything the employer is looking for and then some . Grindle notes that whether a function requires an MBA or not may vary by company size , industry , state of the economy , and even geographical location . Still , there are fields that commonly utilize MBAs , including : . • Consumer Brand Marketing • Corporation Finance • Venture Capital • Investment Banking • Commercial Banking • Production/Operations Management • New Product Development • Management Consulting • Private Equity • Strategic Planning/Business Development . MBA can round out an education . Some workers hold undergraduate degrees in fields other than business . By seeking an MBA , these employees can fill in possible gaps in their education as well as show their commitment to their field . Likewise , a person who already holds an undergraduate business degree but perhaps has been working in a different area can update his skills by seeking a graduate degree . The decision whether or not to pursue an MBA is a tough one . It involves serious thought about money , time and career goals . But for those who decide that getting an MBA is the path they wish to take , the degree might open up a whole new world of possibilities . & copy CareerBuilder.com 2011 . All rights reserved . The information contained in this article may not be published , broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority .
In a tough economy , an MBA can open doors for a new job . An MBA can get you to a job faster than just having a bachelor 's degree . Jobs in investment banking or corporate finance may expect an MBA . An MBA can fill in gaps in one 's education .