EMPLOYEES who expect promotions and pay increments after getting an MBA degree will be disappointed,going by the findings of a recently released survey conducted last year.

The study by the United States-based Graduate Management Admission Council found that employers value work performance more, not degrees.

According to the survey, graduates of full-time MBA programmes expect to earn 54 per cent more, on average, after earning their degree.

Part-time students estimate their compensation would climb an average of 43 per cent, while those in executive MBA programmes foresee a 33 per cent average increase, Human Resources Online reported.

Companies do encourage their employees to upgrade themselves, but they do not see an MBA degree as a guarantee for a fatter pay cheque.

It would be wrong on the worker's part to take up a course just to earn more, Ms Tay Bee Sin, director of human capital and administration services at PhillipCapital Group, told Human Resources.

Mr Mark Sapsford, vice-president of human resources at Johnson & Johnson Medical (Asia-Pacific), said more important is how employees apply what they learn in the MBA programme, which would have an impact on how they perform at work.

"If you can deliver, and if you have a qualification, that should accelerate your move towards the next role."

And employees can forget about threatening to resign over not having their expectations met after earning their MBAs, as promotions and increments at most companies are based on established systems of performance appraisal.

Having the relevant skills, competence and the willingness to grow are important - but not as much as the ability to perform, say bosses.

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