Engaging with the Career Development Office from the time you begin your graduate program is where the real work happens, but you should start evaluating your career journey and prepping your job search materials now. Here are some things you can start doing before you begin your MBA program in order to best prepare for recruiting.
Self assess. Spend some time taking inventory of your values, interests, and strengths (strengths being things you are good at AND enjoy doing) and the types of problems you enjoy solving. Then, think about where your past roles have and have not aligned with these, so you can start to consider where, and in what roles, you will be most motivated and satisfied.
Once you have committed to Rice, we will add you to an online career course where you will begin this process of self-assessment and prepare for foundational career management basics. That being said, continue this self assessment well beyond the course into the summer prior to your first semester.
Research. Start researching what industries and roles are common for MBAs and narrow down areas of interest. Think about what skills and experience you bring that make you a competitive candidate. Many industries have nuanced requirements around recruiting, so use publications like Poets&Quants and BusinessBecause to educate yourself on relevant recruiting topics and trends. For example, if you are considering recruiting for consulting or investment banking, it’s important to note that a GMAT score is often required, especially for top firms, and they are looking for a 680 minimum, but often higher. If you haven’t taken the GMAT, or could use a higher score to be more competitive, you may want to consider taking or retaking it. Be sure to research thoroughly so you know what is expected of you from the industries where you want to target your recruiting.
Update your resume and LinkedIn profile. This is a great time to update your resume with your latest job, focusing on accomplishments and transferable skills. Update your LinkedIn as well, and consider asking for recommendations from current co-workers and supervisors while the value you have added in your role is fresh on their minds.
Start to craft your story, which is often called your “pitch.” Start to put together a brief (about 60 seconds) story that summarizes your experience, skills, and career goals. You can use the format of Past–Present–Future as a guide, outlining past experience, present reason for deciding to attend business school, and incorporating your future career goals. Really think about what sets you apart and be sure to communicate your enthusiasm.
Develop STAR stories. Write out 5-10 STAR stories highlighting the impact and learnings from your current and past roles. If you need a refresher on STAR, read up on it here. Craft stories on accomplishments and failures (including what you learned), as well as examples of teamwork, conflict, taking initiative, and influencing people. You will be more prepared to talk about your value-add when you begin networking and potentially interviewing during pre-MBA events.
Attend Pre-MBA events: Pre-MBA events — boot camps, seminars, networking events — typically occur the summer before you start the program. Students who meet the targeted criteria are introduced to MBA career paths and can engage with employers. Some pre-MBA opportunities are targeted to diverse candidates, such as Consortium, Forte, and JumpStart, while others are open to all and aim to educate future MBA students to potential career paths, including the Poets & Quants Pre-MBA Networking Festival. You can see more pre-MBA events listed here.
Begin to connect and build your network. Start reaching out to current students and alumni to learn about areas of interest and get advice before you start school. Use LinkedIn to search for the university’s business school page, click on “Alumni” and then search for people at companies/industries/roles of interest. Reach out to connect, introduce yourself, and ask for advice on getting the most out of your B-school experience.
Leave your current job on good terms. Your colleagues today will continue to be part of your network in the future, possibly serving as references, referrals, and trusted advisors. Do your part to give enough notice, wrap-up outstanding projects, and leave in great standing. Read The Muse’s advice here on How to Leave a Job On Great Terms for more ideas.
By taking the time to do some or all of the things listed above, you will walk into your MBA experience feeling more confident, connected, and self-aware. In your program, get to know your classmates and second year students, as they are, and will continue to be, your professional network. Come visit and get to know us in the Career Development Office. We are excited to get to know you and look forward to supporting you throughout your MBA journey.
