5 Job Hunting Tips for MBA Grads

It’s a good time to be entering the workforce with your MBA. Today, employers are looking for candidates who not only have experience but the transformative leadership, management and problem-solving skills they need to become future leaders and executives.

The Graduate Management Admission Council found that more companies are hiring MBA grads than in previous years. In fact, 86 percent of employers sought to hire MBA graduates in 2017, including nearly all Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies.

So, now that you have that extra degree, it’s time to find the right job. We asked our Career Development team for some tips to help MBA grads land the right role. Here’s what they had to say:

1. Make your resume pop

You’ve worked hard to advance your education, so make sure that you’re also putting in the extra effort to differentiate yourself from other candidates who may be applying for the same role. Don’t expect the “MBA” in your title to do all the hard work for you. Your resume should demonstrate the added value you can bring to a particular company or role, not just reiterate your accomplishments.

2. Know how to sell yourself

The job description is your best friend. Make sure your experience aligns with everything that is being sought after. Too often we get hung up on how awesome we feel our accomplishments are, forgetting that sometimes our experience doesn’t translate well outside of our industry or employer.

If you’ve found a position that’s a good fit, make sure to align each of your skills and accomplishments with the employer’s values and needs. Break down the skills you learned in your MBA program to showcase your talents and the depth of your experience. Go through your courses or the program outline to think about what you learned there and how you can represent it well in an interview or on your resume. Write in a voice that is quantitative, specific and concise.

3. Network your network

Let your network know you are talented, educated and ready to make a move. Been a while since you updated your LinkedIn? Get connected with your previous and current managers, as well as your professors and instructors. Upload your new resume and start to populate your profile.

You should also consider publishing content, sharing updates and engaging with your connections regularly. For added visibility, you can customize your LinkedIn URL with your name and/or degree title, which makes it easier for your professional peers to find you online. For more LinkedIn tips, check out this blog.

4. Label your resume

This one sounds simple, but even the smallest details can make a big difference in your job search success: Label your resume with your full name, your title and the position you are applying for.

For example: Sharon Rosin MBA Human Resources Resume.doc

Why is this important? Because having your name – and your new credentials—in the title of your resume document is one of the ways recruiters and sourcing specialists find qualified candidates. Don’t run the risk of letting your resume get buried in someone’s inbox. Make yourself easy to find.

5. Take advantage of your resources

It’s important to be continually working on your post-graduate career options. Whether you’re looking to advance your career at your current company or make a change, you should be networking and contemplating your options before you really need to. If you plan ahead, you could be in a new role before you graduate with your new degree.

Working with the career development team at your university can help you learn about opportunities you might not have found otherwise. Get involved with your alumni network from your undergrad institution, attend career events and work with your career advisors. With so many resources at your disposal, it’s easier than ever to find out about and position yourself for the roles you really want.