More Questions from a Listener!

We got a couple questions from a listener that we wanted to share. If you have any thoughts or questions, please send them along!

Q: What if I strongly desire an MBA to improve my skill set, but I don’t know exactly what I want to do with it?

A: Business schools know that many, if not most applicants don't know exactly what they want to do after getting an MBA. That's why they want an MBA, right? To get the skills to work in a different capacity whether that's in a alternate industry or function. Even those students that go to bschol with a clear idea may change their minds once they get there. Basically, you'd be tagged a 'career switcher' and even at the top schools, career switchers can make up somewhere between half to 90% or more of a class. This is the reason why business schools offer students many opportunities while on campus to learn about the various industries and job functions. Whether it's through special events with investment bankers, recruiter presentations from the entertainment industry, cocktail parties, or the various clubs on campus, students will be exposed to the many career options that are available to those with an MBA degree. Summer internships are also great to test out a job or industry.

But having said all this, before even filling out those MBA applications, you should have done some of this research yourself already. Learn about what other MBAs are doing, talk to MBA alumni, talk with collegues about what they do, discover your own interests, and most importantly know why you want a MBA over some other degree such as a Masters in Finance, Accouting, Economics, HR, etc. Business school is only 2 years and less at some schools. The more work you have done prior to getting to bschool, the more you'll be able to focus your time while in bschool and most importantly, use the little time you have wisely. Being open once you get on campus is important, but you don't want to be clueless.


Q: I understand the MBA admissions officers require a crystal clear picture of an applicant’s short-term and long-term goals. How specific do these need to be on an MBA application? For instance, does “leadership role in high tech printer industry” constitute a “specific” goal?

A: Going back to my previous statement about bschools knowing that many students don't know exactly what they want to do, even though that's a fact, admissions officers still want that crystal clear picture of your future goals in the essays. Doesn't make that much sense, right? Well, I had a conversation about this with an admissions consultant recently, and he said, if you said "I'm not sure what I want to do exactly with my MBA." Even though that's the truth, it's not telling of who you are as a person. Instead, if you chose one of your intersts and speak specifically to it, you're giving the admissions officers information into what you find interesting, how you think, if you've thought through the MBA thoroughly, where you see yourself in the future, and how you believe an MBA will help you reach your goals. These things are very telling of who you are and they want to get to know you. So, when writing your career goals essay, choose a career path that you can imagine yourself in. How specific do you want to be? VERY SPECIFIC.

Here is what author Brandon Royal said in our podcast about the career-goals essay.

"If you say things like, ‘My career goal is to obtain a national position with a multinational company,’ or ‘My goal is to do something entrepreneurial and some day own my own company,’ that would be considered career goals that are too general.

You want to be specific. You want to say something like my goal is to become a leading executive in the fast-moving consumer goods area in Asia. And my mid-range goal is to obtain my MBA and then join a leading consulting firm and gain a specialty in intensive marketing of goods. Then you’re starting to sound like a person who has a much more well-thought-out career goal."


Hope this helps and thanks for the questions!