Switching Careers
Does B-School Help You Do This?
Michael Baisley
Issue date: 10/12/05 Section: Student Life
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Many of us come to business school to change career paths. Chip designers want to break into consulting. Military pilots want to break into finance. Investment bankers reach for the holy grail of hedge funds.
But in changing careers we leave behind the familiar for an unknown. As we turn to this uncharted territory, fears inevitability surface. Are my analytics sharp enough? Are my people skills sophisticated enough? Will I get a job in my chosen career?
It has been done before
First, understand that many an MBA has done this before you. Business school is an excellent opportunity to signal to new employers an interest in their field. If your career was previously guided by the opportunities presented to you out of undergrad, business school provides a new set of opportunities to guide your next steps. And thankfully, MBA employers know and expect this. So, don't feel overwhelmed that your trailblazing the path less taken.
Do your homework
Now that you've decided to switch into a new career, the signal is not enough. You must show perspective employers that you understand the choice being made. This entails doing your homework on the new career path and understanding the changes that this will entail for you. Employers are willing to teach you what they need but they don't want to teach you about what you need. Job fulfillment is much more than the paycheck and work life balance and employers don't want to be your testing ground.
Get involved
Lastly, use the mechanisms of business school to facilitate immersion in the fields that interest you. The opportunity to be involved in clubs, with alumni and other students interested in what you're interested in should be capitalized. Only by getting to know the lexicon, types of people and current issues in your new field will you be able to make a valid decision among the job choices that will be offered.
Plan B
Have one. Contrary to popular opinion having a plan B does not mean that you're not committed. Career switching is like applying to business school, having options allows you to choose the place that best fits your goals and personality. Besides, lets be honest, most people are not in the careers today that they thought they were going to be in when they left school.
You've already taken the first step to career changing by coming to business school. Now it's time to complete the path. You have many resources within the school that will help you along the way. Take advantage of help and move into the career that fits your goals.
But in changing careers we leave behind the familiar for an unknown. As we turn to this uncharted territory, fears inevitability surface. Are my analytics sharp enough? Are my people skills sophisticated enough? Will I get a job in my chosen career?
It has been done before
First, understand that many an MBA has done this before you. Business school is an excellent opportunity to signal to new employers an interest in their field. If your career was previously guided by the opportunities presented to you out of undergrad, business school provides a new set of opportunities to guide your next steps. And thankfully, MBA employers know and expect this. So, don't feel overwhelmed that your trailblazing the path less taken.
Do your homework
Now that you've decided to switch into a new career, the signal is not enough. You must show perspective employers that you understand the choice being made. This entails doing your homework on the new career path and understanding the changes that this will entail for you. Employers are willing to teach you what they need but they don't want to teach you about what you need. Job fulfillment is much more than the paycheck and work life balance and employers don't want to be your testing ground.
Get involved
Lastly, use the mechanisms of business school to facilitate immersion in the fields that interest you. The opportunity to be involved in clubs, with alumni and other students interested in what you're interested in should be capitalized. Only by getting to know the lexicon, types of people and current issues in your new field will you be able to make a valid decision among the job choices that will be offered.
Plan B
Have one. Contrary to popular opinion having a plan B does not mean that you're not committed. Career switching is like applying to business school, having options allows you to choose the place that best fits your goals and personality. Besides, lets be honest, most people are not in the careers today that they thought they were going to be in when they left school.
You've already taken the first step to career changing by coming to business school. Now it's time to complete the path. You have many resources within the school that will help you along the way. Take advantage of help and move into the career that fits your goals.