MBA Program Insights

I graduated from the Wharton MBA a year ago, and here’s what I wish someone had told me before I started about recruiting, mindset, and social life. If you're starting this fall, this is for you! 1️⃣ Business school is a buffet (and you'll get indigestion if you try everything) First few weeks - take stock of everything it has to offer. Internships, fellowships, clubs, accelerators, etc. Then ruthlessly prioritize. Take what serves you and leave the buffet. (You’ll still feel FOMO and take on more than you should because you “paid for it” - that’s all part of the process!) 2️⃣ Pivoting is harder than you think Most people don’t get this until it’s too late - employers don’t recruit from MBA programs because they care that you have an MBA. They do it because MBAs filter for experiences/skillsets they want. You need to show them why you can do the job. The degree just gets you in the door - use the network to get the experience and build the skills. More people than you'd think go back to their old industries. 3️⃣ You'll have your "maybe I should recruit for consulting" moment Or banking. Even if you swore you'd never. We all do. When everyone's doing it, you'll second-guess yourself. That's normal! Just remember why YOU came to school. Stick to your plan, not theirs. (Unless your plan was to recruit for consulting/banking) 4️⃣ The social scene is middle school, except people have money (but it’s not all bleak) Hundreds of type-A personalities in one place and a lot of bankers/consultants who didn’t have enough fun in their 20s = drama, hyper-socialization. Who's dating who, who got the Goldman interview, who wasn't invited to that trip…People will talk about you if you stand out (for good or bad reasons). First semester feels intense, especially if you’re an introvert. By second year, everyone chills out and you find your people. 5️⃣ You'll need to touch grass B-school is a bubble. If you're not careful, you'll think comparing signing bonuses and taking out loans to go on another trip with 20 people you just met are real life. See non-MBA friends. Call your family. There’s a hive-mindedness in business school. Don’t lose yourself in it. 6️⃣ The classes are hit or miss (so be strategic) You’ll keep some class notes for decades to come (If you’re going to Wharton - Negotiations, Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship, Scaling Operations to name a few). You’ll throw away others before the semester is over. Talk to second-years about which classes are actually worth optimizing to get into. Bonus: Do something unexpected. Join the club you think you'd hate. Take the class outside your comfort zone. I signed up for a week-long backpacking trip in the Andes despite every instinct not to and ended up leading a trip to Antarctica my 2nd year (best MBA memory!). People getting an MBA: What's the one thing you're nervous about as you start your MBA? People who have an MBA: What’s the piece of advice you wish you got before you started?

📢 How can you better position yourself to land a new job? 💼 A recent The Wall Street Journal article highlights the increasing difficulties MBA graduates face in securing employment. Notably, 23% of Harvard Business School's 2024 MBA graduates were still job hunting three months post-graduation, up from 20% the previous year. Despite the hurdles, MBAs who land jobs tend to secure sizable paychecks, with median base starting salaries around $175,000, according to school data. 💰💼 This reinforces the value of an MBA but also underscores the need for graduates to adapt and stand out in a competitive market. To enhance your employability, consider the following strategies: 1️⃣ Bridge the Skills and Knowledge Gap 🧠🔧 With companies like McKinsey & Company, Amazon and Google reducing MBA hires significantly, it's crucial to understand and acquire in-demand skills, such as AI proficiency and technical expertise. 2️⃣ Build Your Personal Brand 🌟🖥️ In a market where traditional recruiting methods are shifting, establishing a strong online presence through platforms like LinkedIn can set you apart. Share insights, showcase your expertise, and engage with industry professionals to enhance your visibility. 3️⃣ Reintroduce Yourself to Your Network 🤝📧 Given the reduction in on-campus recruitment, leveraging your existing network is more important than ever. Inform connections about your new degree/qualifications and seek opportunities through referrals and informational interviews. Adapting to the evolving job market requires a proactive approach. By #upskilling, enhancing your #personalbrand, and actively #networking, you can better position yourself for success. 💪🚀 #MBA #JobMarket #Careers #Leadership #Thinkers50 #Coach #Professor #Advisor #MG100 #BestAdvice #JennyFernandez   Read the full WSJ article here: https://lnkd.in/efZFPZ8U

If you are in the job market right now or will be graduating soon, I hope my job search experience will be helpful. Layoffs were at a 10 month high in January 2024. Landing a job in this market is going to be one of the hardest tasks that many of you will ever take on. Having walked on this road, I want you to focus on these 4 things: 1. Having the right skills: Most job postings I see today ask for 'X' amount of experience. In addition, most of the laid off workforce has worked for a good number of years at most of the top companies. What is the first thing that we can do in such a landscape, focus on our own skills and build our competitive advantage. Try testing your skills with free HackerRank and LeetCode practice problems and get certifications in the tools that are required for your target job. Although this may sound as if it doesn't matter, these factors amount to a lot throughout your interview process. 2. Leveraging your network:  Networking isn't about handing out your resume at a career fair, it is truly about building relationships. Attending seminars, meetups and engaging in meaningful conversations on LinkedIn with someone who is willing to help is what actually works. 3. Resume, Cover Letter and LinkedIn Profile: Before someone actually interviews you, these 3 things are usually the only tools that tell your story for you. For your resume, there are 100's of free tools that score your resume against the job description you are applying for. This helps you rank better in the ATS that many companies use and gets your foot in the door. For cover letters, make sure your story is conveyed with clarity and take occasional feedbacks from friends and professors. Lastly, search people on LinkedIn who are already working at your dream role and compare your LinkedIn profile with theirs. See what sets them apart and inculcate the same changes in your own profile. 4. Cracking the interviews:  Not a single interview will be the same and each one will be a learning experience. If you are struggling with lack of confidence, develop a sales pitch and record yourself delivering the pitch alone first. Listen to this pitch and try to be better the next time. Eventually you will realize your areas of improvement and repeat this till you perfect yourself to your limit. This technique will reduce stress during the actual interview and help boost your confidence. These 4 techniques helped me land my current job and I hope it does the same for you. 2023 was one of the toughest times to be in the job market and many people helped me during that process. I hope by writing this post I can return their favor and provide value to anyone who is in need of it. If there is anything I help with apart from these techniques, whether it be the tools I used, my interview experiences, even providing referrals, than do reach out in DM or in the comments below, I will be happy to help. All the best in your job search!

Our client was barely getting interviews, despite their 10+ years of experience and holding an MBA. After they joined our program, they pivoted into Tech in the European market. Here are 5 steps they used to make it happen: Context: When this client joined us, they were struggling with few interviews, no traction, and no network. On top of that, they were moving their job search to Europe, when most of their connections were in the U.S. They needed structure, clarity, and personalized support. 1. They Got Clear On What Mattered Before anything else, we defined their non-negotiables: – Role responsibilities – Ideal team structure – Compensation targets – Work culture must-haves This gave them a “north star” to evaluate opportunities and avoid settling. 2. They Localized Their Job Search Relocating to Europe meant starting from scratch. So we helped them: – Identify the right companies in-market – Craft a targeted outreach list – Navigate hiring challenges All in their new market. 3. Their Resume Got A Strategic Overhaul We tailored their resume to reflect: – Transferable skills – Measurable achievements, not just job duties They started hearing back from companies they actually wanted. 4. They Practiced Real Interviews, Not Just Questions We didn’t just hand them a list of questions. We ran mock interviews. We gave them targeted feedback. We helped them refine their answers until they felt confident, sharp, and compelling. 5. They Had A Coach To Support Them Whenever something came up (e.g., a tricky application, a second-round interview, a nagging doubt), they had support from their coach. No Googling. No guessing. But fast, personalized feedback from someone who knew their goals. The Result: A Tech Job In Their Terms After joining the program, they transitioned from working at a museum to landing a job in tech. They did it without compromising on: – Role – Compensation – The kind of work they wanted Their words: “This gave me the structure and feedback I didn’t even realize I was missing.” 🌍 Trying to pivot careers but not getting any traction? 👉 Grab a free call with our team and we'll show you how to map this same career change system to your job search: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

If a company won’t hire because you don’t have the experience, how can you get the experience if you can’t get a job in the first place? Create a faux company. No, it’s not what you think. Don’t file fraudulent paperwork and open fake bank accounts. Make up fake data. Imagine you’re running a startup. Consider what you’d do if you a contestant on Shark Tank. This is the advice I gave to a MBA graduate who wasn’t getting favorable results from her interviews. She had to think about what the future of the future business looks like, coming up with assumptions about: Sales Products Customers Margins Hiring And more. Experiences and critical thinking can grow through our own imaginations. This young woman did and then landed into a long-term rotation at a Fortune 500 financial leadership development program. She still works for the company many years later. —————————— The appropriate interview question isn’t: “how did you solve this problem you faced in your past?” The question should be: “how would you solve this problem if it arose in the future?” We mustn’t hire finance people solely based upon track records. And while past performance can be an indication of future behavior, we can’t solve future problems with the same level of awareness that created them. We hire people based upon their critical thinking, reasoning skills and ability to meet the challenges where they are. Create case studies of our own can fill a void when experience doesn’t come through other means.

Top MBA grads are finding it harder to land jobs. That's because things have changed. I've read this headline before. But, this time I'm seeing it up close. I'm having weekly conversations with MBA's from Stanford, Harvard, Booth, Colombia, and others. I think it's the early signs of a deeper shifts in the job market and tech hiring. Here's what I think is happening: • Less funding = less hiring. • Corporate hierarchies are flattening (startups too). • Companies are looking for recent (<1 yr) experience. • The unspoken/hidden job market is growing. MBA's were great for the middle management roles at growth stage startups but... • There are less growth stage startups • There are less middle management roles So, if they're struggling, what does that mean for the rest of us? 👉For MBA's: Temper expectations and get tactical. The golden ticket is now a skills-based strategy: • Double down on transferable skills. • Set appropriate expectations with level/comp. • Tap into networks and focus on conversations. 👉For Non-MBA's: The good news? You don't need a $200k degree to compete. What you do need: • Find mentors, build relationships, create opportunities. • Show you're mastering AI, analytics, and other tools. • Be crystal clear about the impact you bring. The job market isn't just bad, it's changing. The future belongs to those who can demonstrate their immediate impact. What's your take? How are you approaching the shifts in today's job market? Let's discuss👇

Are MBAs still worth it? 📉 23% of Harvard University MBA graduates from the Class of 2024 were still unemployed 3 months after graduation, which is a sharp rise from just 8% in 2021. 📉 Tech and finance firms, the biggest recruiters, have significantly slowed hiring MBA graduates. 📉 Even consulting giants like McKinsey & Company and Bain & Company have cut back offers, leaving even elite grads scrambling. Let’s understand the staggering shift in the job market: - Employers are shifting from brand-name degrees to real-world skills and experience. - AI and automation are redefining job roles, forcing professionals to upskill fast. - Networking, internships, and industry connections now matter more than ever—a degree alone won’t cut it. As an MBA graduate from Indiana University - Kelley School of Business and The University of Manchester’s Alliance Manchester Business School, I still believe MBAs have not lost their worth, but the value of MBA graduates is declining. To keep up with the evolving world, you need to keep evolving. If you are an MBA graduate or someone who is looking forward to doing your MBA, you should: ✅ Focus on skill-based learning—hands-on projects and real-world experience are becoming more valuable than traditional degrees. ✅ Leverage your network—85% of jobs are filled through networking, not applications. ✅ Adapt to market demand—growing fields like AI, sustainability, and cybersecurity offer new opportunities beyond traditional MBA pathways. ✅ Look for MBAs with scholarships. The opportunity cost of doing a part-time MBA program is higher than going for a full-time program; you can ask for employers to offset some of your tuition fee. My MBA program was $75,000. After scholarships and employer support, I spent about 60% out of pocket.   Even the world’s top business graduates are facing a tougher job market. The key takeaway? Your skills, adaptability, and network will determine your success—more than your degree. What do you think? Are MBAs losing their edge? P.S.- At Spark Careers, we help elevate your career, negotiate with confidence, and reach your career milestones. Let’s achieve your dream career together. DM me! #MBA #jobs #career #growth #harvard #hiring #USA

🎓 What I wish I knew going into my MBA as I head towards graduation next month at Columbia Business School: 1️⃣ Career pivoting is absolutely possible, but the MBA is not the magic wand many think it is. If you want to break into VC (or anything else), you should have a plan and go all in from the start. You can definitely explore, and attend all the events that you find interesting, but the earlier you decide which events, clubs, and employers are relevant to you - the better. Recruiting / prep for recruiting often happens the first few weeks of first year. Show up to every relevant event. Join the clubs you need to. Cold email with your .edu email. Do everything you can to get an in-semester internship to gain experience if you plan to pivot. Which brings me to… 2️⃣ In-semester internships are the ultimate #MBA cheat code. It’s the only time in your adult life when people will give you a shot without a perfect resume and train you like an intern in a new industry even if you’ve been a full-time operator before. While in school, I was able to break into VC, continue advising startups, and build a new venture. We're building BlueBox to make it easier than ever for aspiring VCs and operators to break in—and building a powerful alumni-driven network along the way. 3️⃣ There will always be 3 priorities that pull you in different directions: social, academic, career. Choose two top priorities if possible. Trying to max out on all three can lead to burnout. Most schools have grade non-disclosure, so you can take the classes you want to learn from without worrying about rankings. It makes for an incredibly collaborative environment with your classmates. This also allows you to really focus on your career and networking (social). 4️⃣ Say yes to (almost) everything in year one. Go to the random happy hour. Join the club. Crash the info session. You’re paying for access, so maximize it. The most unexpected events and happenstance meetings in the hallways will become the most meaningful. 5️⃣ Seriously, have fun. Yes, b-school is a meme sometimes. “A two-year vacation”. But it’s also a once-in-a-lifetime reset. Some of your closest friendships, wildest adventures, and best memories will come from just letting yourself live. 6️⃣ Spend more time with people, not Excel sheets. You’ll forget the deck/Excel. You’ll remember the karaoke nights, dinners out, founder brainstorms, and 2am “what are we doing with our lives” convos. 7️⃣ Ask for help early and often. Coffee chats change careers. Don’t wait to start building relationships that matter. Your fellow students who have had years of work experience prior to school are your greatest resource. Give and you shall receive. Good luck to all going to b-school this upcoming year / thinking of it soon! Truly the best 2 years of my life. So incredibly grateful to have met hundreds of new lifelong friends and colleagues along the way 😄 #linkedin #businessschool

As I read the Wall Street Journal article about many MBA students (primarily those seeking career changes) struggling to find work after attending programs costing nearly $200,000, I could not help but wonder if business programs are aligned with in-demand skills. For example, the Coursera Job Skills 2024 report highlights that the fastest-growing business skills are digital marketing and customer experience (UX design and services). Other key areas include leadership, cybersecurity, and AI. Furthermore, curated learning paths, such as professional certifications and specializations, are causing the most significant skill rank changes. See https://lnkd.in/g5_GAbpW At HPU College of Business Administration, every MBA student begins and ends the program by obtaining a new industry certification, which typically requires 120–180 hours of work. This makes a difference, as 72% of employers report that they are more likely to hire someone with a professional certificate. It is no longer about the money spent on a graduate program that correlates to success; rather, it is about the skills learned. Employers hire MBAs with skills. Felicity Dale, MCIM Jesús Rosario Jana Stern, MBA Jasmine K.