Career Advice & News Center

Some American workers can spend years amassing the qualifications, education and work experience to nail their dream job, and according to new polls, an MBA degree may make the process all the easier in the coming year.

According to a survey administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), about 70 percent of companies that employ MBAs expect 2010 to yield a much healthier business climate than 2009. The results have led researchers to believe that hiring trends could experience a dramatic upswing as the year progresses.

"Although the economy remains challenging, the hiring environment for business school graduates is showing clear signs of improvement," said Dave Wilson, GMAC's president and CEO.

He added, "As employers look to bolster their ranks with talented new employees, the value of management education is shining through."

More than one-third of respondents to the GMAX poll said they will likely hire more recent MBA graduates in 2010 than last year, about 45 percent plan to hire the same number and just 20 percent expect to rein in MBA hiring in the next year.

As job hunting projections improve, some MBA programs are attempting to adapt to a corporate culture that has become increasingly reliant on technology from smartphones to teleconferencing.

Business programs at Yale, Cambridge and Duke have begun providing MBA students with their own personal iPod touch that is to be used as a database for learning materials, questions and filmed lectures, Business Week reports.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, MBA programs usually require two years of study beyond the undergraduate degree and include courses on finance, marketing, accounting, and management.

MBAs can earn more than $200 more a week than individuals with bachelor's degrees.