MBA Career

Location is a factor: A university may have top-notch facilities and highly renowned academic staff and still be the wrong choice for you. Research shows that location is a prime factor when it comes down to picking a business school. Make sure that you are comfortable with the geographic area in which the university is located. For example, if you are bound by family or otherwise you may opt for a school that is closer to home. If, on the other hand, you are looking for an international and diverse milieu as well as new cultural experiences, an overseas MBA may be a good option.

The industry you want to work for may also determine your choice of university location. If finance and investments are your prime interests, then you’ll be advised to choose a university in one of the cities where the markets are based – New York, London, Frankfurt, Paris and Tokyo. It is important that you pick the geographic area that best fits your needs as you are likely to spend longer than two years there – a large number of MBA graduates decide to stay and pursue their career within the area of their alma mater.

Format: If you have decided to cross ‘the point of no return’ and change your career completely or...

Your reasons for pursuing an MBA may differ – a change of professional venue, gaining an advantage in a rather tough market, a bigger salary or a better job placement. Yet, before you get down to filling out those applications, there is one important question that you should ask yourself. What qualifications do you want to acquire? Making a realistic and a clear-sighted assessment of the professional skills that you want to develop or improve will help you gain a clearer vision of your future career track.

The majority of MBA candidates have 5 to 10 years of professional experience on their CV and career plans do come foremost when they get down to choosing a business school. Some, for example, are happy with their job but still want to add value to their services by moving up the career chain and a part-time MBA often proves to be the best route for them. Others have already reached a managerial level and are good at what they do, yet the fact that they can juggle tasks blindfolded has turned into a demotivating factor. They have lost interest in their job and they see a change of career functions as a way out of the impasse. For them, a local full time MBA with their company endorsement may be the best option. Finally, there are...

Many students are opting to pursue their MBA abroad, sometimes traveling halfway around the world. Though programs outside of the United States may not prove the best option for each and every student, there are many reasons to consider this opportunity.

1. OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND

Going abroad for your MBA education does not require a sacrifice in quality. There are many top-ranked and highly selective business schools outside the United States.

London Business School in England, for example, focuses on international business. For this reason, they require that each applicant achieve fluency in English and at least one other language.
Acceptance to the International Institute for Management Development in Switzerland involves quite an arduous process. After 10 essays and submission of test scores, applicants are interviewed, asked to participate in a case study discussion, and then give a presentation. In the end, about 30 percent of applicants are offered admission.

The Canadian Queen's School of Business places emphasis on team-based learning and focuses on their professors as leaders. The school maintains a 3:1 student/faculty ratio in order to foster accessibility and...

Ten years ago, the question on everyone’s mind was, “Am I too young?” Back then, the more experience the better…the older the better…

More recently, top schools such as Stanford and Harvard have stated that they are taking a closer look at younger candidates, and are even willing to admit candidates with no work experience. One reason behind this was that some candidates may be so successful two to three years out of school that they would not consider going back at that point. Thus, the schools would be missing an opportunity to admit some exceptional talent. Some applicants are just plain ready right out of college. A few have started and/or run a business in school, participated significantly in a family business, or gained applicable experiences via other avenues. They have focused goals, are personally mature, and are truly ready to take the plunge. Yes, some of these schools are opening their eyes more to less experienced candidates, but this does not mean that younger candidates overall have a better chance of success.

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F1GMAT: How do you go about finding the right MBA Program?  

Lee Milligan: The answer can be found in one word “research”.  You will be investing a huge amount in an MBA program; financially, time-wise and career-wise.  It is therefore vital for you to do as much personal research as possible to make the right choice for you.  In the MBA industry this is often know as the correct “fit”. 

1. Read all you can.  This includes brochures, websites,...