These career tracks can help you put your MBA to good use.
It might seem as though the ideal business school applicant has already plotted his or her dream job, target companies and career trajectory. That type of applicant, however, is rare. Many students are wavering on a specific job, and perhaps don't realize that being malleable and good MBA material aren't mutually exclusive.
"Knowing exactly what you want to do is almost dangerous," says Steve Dalton, senior associate director of daytime MBA student services for Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. "I see the MBA as being the tofu of graduate degrees because it takes on the taste of whatever sauce you add to it."
If you've received an acceptance letter to an outstanding MBA program but haven't cemented a career, read on. Here are six jobs that could be a good fit.
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6. Marketing manager: You'll work with sales and art departments, plus PR teams to analyze product demand and determine selling and pricing strategies. It's a field closely related to advertising, and also includes elements of financial analysis. Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and Duke's Fuqua School are top programs for studying marketing.
Taking the first steps: Many programs introduce students to campus career services immediately, but if yours doesn't, make that a priority. Dalton says Fuqua students have their first interaction with career services within 48 hours of orientation.
"A lot of emphasis in the first few weeks is on getting ready to drink from the fire hose. Learning to keep a calendar. Time management skills. ... Getting assigned to a second-year mentor."
5. Management analyst: This is a consulting field where you'll provide feedback on how to improve an organization's structure, efficiency and profitability. Many employers prefer to hire analysts who have an MBA. Schools that offer a management-consulting track include Stanford University's Graduate School of Business and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.
Starting the search: Dalton is the author of "The 2-Hour Job Search," which refers to the time spent per day on searching, not the total time it will take to receive the first offer.
"The main tip I give is to get organized," Dalton says. "This approach brings structure to the madness. The job-hunting process is only difficult when you look at it as a massive undertaking. This approach makes it far more straightforward."
Dalton says the Fuqua School teaches students to split job searching into three steps: prioritization, outreach and relationship building.
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4. HR specialist: A master's helps distinguish the best human resources professionals, particularly those interested in training. HR specialists directly affect employee productivity, and therefore, an organization's success. Some top schools for HR management are Stanford and the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business.
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