So you’ve just been admitted to your dream MBA programme. Congratulations! If you’re like most MBA students, one of your primary (if not sole) reasons for pursuing an MBA is to effect a shift in your career. Perhaps you feel the need for the degree to move ahead, or perhaps you want to make a major change in industry or function – say, moving from engineering to consulting or from law to investment banking.
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One of the enduring myths held by many prospective MBA students is that when it comes to the job search, once you’ve been admitted to business school, the hard work is over. Many aspiring MBAs assume that with that degree in hand, companies will be flocking to their doors, showering them with job offers. All they have to do is sit back and decide which one they will accept.
To fully leverage the opportunity that an MBA provides requires a career goal, a well thought out strategy, diligent research and significant effort
Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, the MBA job search process is hard work. It requires concentrated thought, persistence and just plain effort. No matter what school you attend, you can be sure that you’ll spend as much time on the job search as you do on your classes.
How do you prepare for this process and how can you make the most of the resources available to you? Here are a few tips that should help you land your dream job.
Start Early. You should begin thinking about potential positions and companies even before you arrive on campus. You’ll be expected to have a “publication ready” resume available soon after you arrive at school and you’ll want to make sure that it’s targeted toward the industry you are most interested in. Take the time before school starts to do some networking and research on careers and companies that interest you. With a bit of research behind you you’ll be able to hit the ground running and won’t be overwhelmed once the career process begins.
Work closely with your Career Services Office and follow their advice. In many cases, your careers office will reach out to you with information on workshops, presentations, deadlines and requirements. They’ll want you to participate in resume reviews, interview workshops and the like. They are a terrific resource and you should take advantage of all that they have to offer. Building a solid relationship with your career services team will ensure that you are as prepared as possible for the work ahead.
Recognise that the internship is key. For many industries (notably consulting and investment banking) the summer internship is the entrée to full time employment. Without the internship, your chances of landing a position on graduation drop to near zero. As a result, if you are considering a career in these industries, your time line is even more compressed.
Preparation, preparation, preparation. Your degree is not sufficient. Your personality and experience aren’t sufficient. Even your high-level connections aren’t sufficient. In order to land that coveted position, you must be able to demonstrate to the employer why they should hire you. You need to know what they do, what their key issues are and how your background, skills and experience can help meet their needs. This requires diligent research and practice. You need to devote the time necessary to show the recruiter that you understand her company and why you would be a good fit.
Even though an MBA by itself is no guarantee of a better job, it remains one of the most effective ways to boost your career or facilitate a major career shift. It signals to employers that you have developed important skills, are committed to a business career and that you have the drive and energy to complete a rigorous course of study. However, in today’s job market, that’s no longer enough. To fully leverage the opportunity that an MBA provides requires a career goal, a well thought out strategy, diligent research and significant effort. It’s not easy adding an extensive job search to your studies, but it is critical to your job search success.
