How important is a business school credential when evaluating a job candidate?
Mr. Williams: It depends on the industry and the specific value of the M.B.A. An M.B.A. generally diminishes over time, as accomplishments become more important. If someone was a chief executive officer already and has proven successful as the CEO of a company, it is not as important. The value of an M.B.A. would be less important when looking at candidates who are 40 to 50 years old than it would be when looking at a 35-year-old. CJ: Are some M.B.A.s more valuable than others? Mr. Williams: A name-brand M.B.A. retains its value longer. Programs like Wharton, Harvard, Stanford, Columbia and Dartmouth retain their values longer, because they are schools with very high admissions criteria, and they tend to bring in the highest quality applicants. There is also a certain marquee value that companies would look for — to be in prospectuses if they are going public or in the annual company report. It also has a marketing value to gain clients, especially in professional services and some se
