leveraging your mbafor career success...8/15/2013 1 leveraging your mbafor career success jennifer...
TRANSCRIPT
8/15/2013
1
LEVERAGING YOUR
MBA FOR CAREER
SUCCESS
JENNIFER L. JOHNSON
DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF CAREER SERVICES
CAREER ACTION PLAN
1. Self-Assessment
2. Establish Goals
3. Create Vision Statement
4. Set Goals – Turn your vision into reality!
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SELF-ASSESSMENT
• Why did you decide to pursue MBA?
• Take inventory
• Talents/strengths
• Current competencies, skills, knowledge,
experience
• What am I “known for” professionally - what do
colleagues, clients, supervisors, etc. think of me?
• Core values
• Key areas of interest
ESTABLISH CAREER GOALS
• What positions do you aspire to hold – do you want
to advance or change careers?
• Identify target industries, geographic locations and
companies
• What is your target salary range and level of
benefits you desire?
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CREATE A CAREER
VISION STATEMENT
• Consider education and career experience to-date
• Reflect your needs, interests and life goals
• Changes your mindset from “What can I do with an
MBA?” to “What do I want to do with my MBA?”
EXAMPLE: Within one year of completing the MBA
program, I will leverage my five years experience in
logistics to a management level position with a
large manufacturing company in the Midwest.
TURNING YOUR CAREER
VISION INTO REALITY
• Your personality
• Your strengths &
weaknesses
• Your values
• Work environment
• Location
• Industry
• Job functions
• Career growth
• Salary requirements
• Stability of employer & industry
• Flexibility of employer
• Training & professional
development
• Hours worked per week
• Work schedule
When Researching Career Opportunities, Consider…
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TURNING YOUR CAREER
VISION INTO REALITY
Build the Skills that Employers Desire…• View academic projects as more than just a grade
• Capitalize on opportunities to demonstrate leadership inside the
classroom and outside
• Save samples of your accomplishments to include in a
professional portfolio
• Understand how your experiences and skills will benefit your
company/future employers (what makes you different from other
MBAs?)
• Plan how you will communicate and/or demonstrate these skills
during the interview process
TURNING YOUR CAREER
VISION INTO REALITY
Refine Your Soft Skills
• Public speaking, listening skills, ability to
engage others and assertiveness are critical to
your success as a business leader
• Strategic thinking, communication, and
leadership skills = top soft skills that employers
value but are often under-represented
• Use this time to step outside of your comfort
zone to enhance any areas of weakness
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TURNING YOUR CAREER
VISION INTO REALITY
Gain Experience!
• If you are not working in your chosen field plan
to complete at least one MBA level internship in
a role related to your career interest
� Be proactive – register with Professional
Practice Department and Career Services
• Seek out projects or new experiences in current
position
• Don’t risk being over-educated but under-
experienced!
NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK!
• Establish meaningful connections with faculty & university personnel
• Attend guest speakers, career workshops/seminars, career fairs
• Develop relationships with other students
• BE ACTIVE! Join student organization, attend WCBA events
• Connect with YSU alumni – join Alumni Association
• Complete an internship
• Attend professional conferences
• Think strategically about social networking (i.e. LinkedIN)
• Keep in contact with your network on a regular basis
TURNING YOUR CAREER
VISION INTO REALITY
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Prepare and Job Search Early!
• Begin early - the first semester of your second year
• Perfect your resume, cover letter, and references
• Practice interview skills with a professional
• Utilize a diverse array of job search strategies
• Be PROACTIVE
• Take advantage of university resources!
TURNING YOUR CAREER
VISION INTO REALITY
CREATE AN ACTION PLAN
• S.M.A.R.T. goals that support your career goals and
vision statement
• Consider short-term and long-term goals that will …
• set the platform for advancement/career
opportunities
• expand your professional network
• help you develop the knowledge, skills and
experience needed for future career goals
• help you in your job search
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EXAMPLES
GOAL ACTION TIMING
Learn more about advancement opportunities in my company
• Discuss with my supervisor
• During next performance review
GOAL ACTION TIMING
Explore companies that utilize Enterprise Resource Planning certificate
• Web research• Schedule information
interview SAP specialist
• Fall 2013
GOAL ACTION TIMING
Become more versed in financial/budget management
• Concentrate electives in finance/accounting
• Ongoing
EXAMPLES
GOAL ACTION TIMING
Identify major employers in targetgeographic area
• Utilize Career Insider and other resources to build top 20 list
• Educate yourself on employers’ hiring practices
• Summer 2014
GOAL ACTION TIMING
Apply course work to current position
• Use current work project for class assignment
• Spring 2014
GOAL ACTION TIMING
Identify skills, qualifications and experiences employers seek for Brand Managers
• Research current job openings
• Determine how you will obtain the requirements you are lacking
• Fall 2013
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EXAMPLES
GOAL ACTION TIMING
Identify skills, qualifications and experiences employers seek for Brand Managers
• Research current job openings
• Determine how you will obtain the requirements you are lacking
• Fall 2013
GOAL ACTION TIMING
Improve public speaking skills
• Join local Toastmasters chapter
• Fall 2014
GOAL ACTION TIMING
Complete MBA level internship
• Register with WCBA professional practice
• Spring/Summer 2014
EXAMPLES
GOAL ACTION TIMING
Begin job searchbefore program completion
• Register with Career Services/PenguinLINK
• Attend YSU Career Fair
• Fall 2014
GOAL ACTION TIMING
Expand professional network in healthcare management
• Join professional association
• Attend 3 events per year• Follow healthcare
management groups on LinkedIN
• Spring 2014
GOAL ACTION TIMING
Update resume to reflect MBA competencies/ experiences
• Schedule appointment with Office of Career Services
• Fall 2014
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RESOURCES
CareerInsider by Vault.com
• Actionable, relevant and comprehensive career
information and management tools in 7 key content areas:
1. Industries/Professions
2. Employer research (insider intelligence)
3. Full-text Career e-books
4. Career advice articles
5. Internships/job postings
6. News and Commentary
7. Community Discussions
• Available starting Fall 2013 through PenguinLINK
RESOURCES
PenguinLINK
• Hundreds of job postings
• 24/7 access
• Post resume
• Notification of on-campus recruitment opportunities
and career events
• Open to alumni
• Access from Career Services Website
� COMING SOON: One-click access from MyYSU portal
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RESOURCES
YSU Office of Career Services
• Individualized career counseling
• Career planning
• Resume/Cover Letter Review
• Job Search
• Mock Interviews
• All Majors Career Fair
• On-Campus Recruiting and Networking Events
By Appointment or Walk-in Hours
330.941.3515
http://web.ysu.edu/careerservices
ALL MAJORS CAREER FAIR:
Tuesday, October 8
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Kilcawley Center - Chestnut Room
• Dress
professionally
• Bring copies of
your resume
• Login to
PenguinLINK for a
complete list
of participating
employers!
Open to current YSU students and alumni
Pre-registration encouraged (not required)
Questions?
Call Career Services at 330-941-3515
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SHOW, NOT JUST TELL!
Resumes from applicants for an operations position in a toy
company:
1. Managed eight reindeer.
2. Managed eight reindeer to distribute toys around the
globe.
3. Increased 2012 global gift giving distribution by 60% by
successfully hiring, training, and managing eight reindeer
to distribute toys around the globe.
Which applicant would you interview?
JONES HALL ROOM 1034
330.941.3515
http://web.ysu.edu/careerservices